Seb picks me up and wraps me in a soft blanket the second Micah finishes with dressing me.

I don't help one bit. It's their problem, I'll be asleep in a second anyway. And by the way, they fucked me stupid, they can dress me. It's fair like that.

While he carries me to the living room, I place little kisses on his jawline. I'm sweet like that.

Ada gives me a smile. I grin back, happily. "So, baby, are you awake enough to still host the quiz?" she softly asks.

I nod, feeling excitement buzzing in my veins. I'm so curious about who'll know the most about me, and I really have some hard questions.

But first, Sebastian. He said he'll call his mom and dads to tell them he's changing his last name to theirs. Anyone can sense he's nervous as hell. I feel it because his fingerprints are graved in the skin of my waist.

I don't comment on him using me as a squeeze ball. It's actually a nice feeling, knowing he's comfortable around me to out his nervousness and doubts.

It's also great knowledge, me not being the only one who breaks down sometimes. I always search comfort around them, and it makes me happy to see they know I'll gladly return the favor.

When I found him earlier today, I was fully convinced he didn't want anyone around. He was hiding because he heard someone come in and because he was ashamed.

Fortunately, I made it there soon enough to prevent him drinking. Or worse, taking pills. I just gave him a hug, and that seemed enough for him. He just wanted some love, some comfort.

People treat him horribly. All because of a last name.

I think it'll be a relief for everyone who loves Seb to know he's making this big step. It's a large change, but not a bad one.

We sit down on the couch. I curl up around him like a monkey, with blanket and all. He deserves some warmth after a childhood of coldness.

He draws out a deep breath. "Am I really doing this?"

I frown. Look up and grab his cheeks. Gently, of course. I'm not rude like them. "Yes, you are. Don't doubt, please. You deserve this, Sebbie. I know it's big, but it's a benefit for you. Yes?"

His eye twitches as he looks down at me. "As big as my dick?"

Micah pipes in. "Is that possible, Aaron? Imagine a stick that big up your ass," he whispers, and not so subtly points at Aiden. Aiden's light-hearted expression changes in a scowl.

"Prepare, Templeton, prepare. I'm coming for you in your sleep."

Micah's grin disappears as his face whitens. "I-it was an obvious joke, babe. Please don't kill me."

I shift a little, now both hugging Seb and Micah. Turning my head to glare at Aiden, I warn him, "Don't hurt my babies. Or I'm ruining every slide of your PowerPoint with not so flattering pictures of you."

Aiden raises an eyebrow, just a little bit intimidated. Ha. He should know about my collection of pictures of all of them. It could fill an art gallery at this point.

"Show one, then." I shrug and point to the kitchen table. He stands up and takes the phone, then frowns at the screen. "What's your password?"

I smile. "It's my birthday!"

His frown disappears and changes into a blank expression. My jaw drops. This bastard.

Hurt, I scoff and turn my head back to Sebbie. "Call. Or I'm tickling you."

Seb obviously knows what's best for him, because he reaches for his phone. I look at Micah, asking him with no words if it's okay if I hug Seb alone while he does that. It's important for him.

Micah knows that too, because he smiles, kisses my forehead and rearranges me on Seb's lap. Ada gives me a wink. She then continues to tell Seb he'll be doing great.

"Ha! May sixth! I fucking knew it!" Aiden shouts. We all look up at him doing a small dance before searching my pictures of him.

The sound of a phone calling someone brings my attention back to Seb. I hug him closer, placing my face in the hollow of his neck.

"Hello? Seb! Such a great surprise!" Daisy excitedly answers. I close my eyes in a silent moment of relief. Thank God she picked up—and thank God again because she's not busy or annoyed.

"Hello, mom," Seb softly says, immediately making it obvious there's something going on. He's cautious, both with words and how he behaves.

"Oh no. Did Micah insult your cooking talents again? I swear, they're better than mine? Ask Ada, she'll— oh for fuck's sake, Nicky! What in hell is your problem?"

My eyes widen, out of the camera. Is there trouble in paradise?

"But, kitten, it's not my fault! I really thought—" "Why on God's earth would I be pregnant, Dominic? Why? Why would I want another kid?"

Seb's body goes rigid. I immediately know what's going on and am fast to soothe him. "They don't mean it like that, Sebastian. Daisy just doesn't want a baby. But you're already their kid."

Still, he seems even more unsure. So I turn to the screen with a frown. "Daisy! Daisy, focus! Yes, good. There's something your son wants to tell you, and it's important for him. So can you just tell Easton to stop licking your neck for a second and listen to him?"

With an annoyed sigh directed at her husband, she pushes him away. When that doesn't work, she takes the phone and runs away. We hear the click of a lock, and then there's silence. She gives a smile at Seb. "Go on, sweetheart. I'm sorry about the interruption."

Sebastian looks at his lap and fiddles with his shirt a little. "W-well, I've-I've come to a conclusion, a-and I wanted to tell all of you. But-but are you sure you don't want another kid?"

She laughs, not realizing he's talking about himself. "Oh sweetheart, doesn't Aiden act childish enough? No, I don't want another kid. God, can you imagine me pregnant again? Hell no, Aiden and Camilla were enough. Do you want me to get your dads and let them behave so you can tell us?"

Seb nods. His eyes never meet hers and while she walks to get her husbands, I can see she's not happy with that fact.

"Your son wants to tell you something important. So please, behave. Your son's obviously nervous, and each of you acting like a horny teenager does not make this easier for him. Yes? It's hard enough to see him like this, with that fucking bastard of a sperm donor dragging him down all the time, so what he needs is responsible dads right now. Got it?"

She thinks she muted her phone, but she didn't. I look at Seb, who looks like he's about to cry again. "She called me her son," he whispers to me, "even when she thinks I'm not listening. She called me her true son."

I nod. "Of course, Seb. You are their son."

"Okay—oh shit. Did you just hear Easton cursing at Dominic for eating his sandwich? I'm sorry for that," daisy rambles before putting the phone on table and joining her husbands on the chairs. All of their heads are in the screen, waiting for Seb to talk.

He takes a deep breath. "If it's okay with you, I want to change my last name to Whitlock."

One second passes, and nothing happens. On the second, Asher slowly turns his head from the screen to lock eyes with Dominic. And on the third, the three men jump up with fist bumps in the air. "Hell yeah!"

Daisy grabs the phone. "Oh, Sebastian, that's amazing! That's truly, truly fucking fantastic. When are you changing it?"

Now that the news is gone, Seb looks like a wholly new man. He's smiling through his tears. "Soon enough that when you see me next time, I'll be a Whitlock."

She waves that away. "You've always been a Whitlock. What kind of nonsense is that? Speaking of meeting, around which time would the case start? I know it's over two days, but I wanted to know when we should start getting ready?"

I frown. Which case?

But Sebastian obviously knows what she means and starts talking about a parking lot, how late said case starts and where they should be. I tap his arm, wanting to know. "What do you mean?"

"Oh, Aaron! Hi! Don't worry, I'll be there to support you! And my men will come along, so they won't get to you again! Right, Sebastian?"

Get to me again? Support me?

With confusion spreading through me, I look from the screen to Ada, Seb and Micah. They all look frozen in place, even Aiden in the kitchen. My phone falls flat on the floor, right out of his hands.

"Eh, yeah, by, mom," Seb mumbles and ends the call in a record tempo. I untangle from his hold, slowly walking backwards to the door. "She-she doesn't mean—right?"

Each of them looks down in guilt. I gasp. "And when were you going to tell me? Oh God. Oh no no no. This can't be happening. You said they'd be in prison forever!" I accuse Micah.

Of course I'm aware I'm yelling. I'm panicking and shouting to the people I love the most in this whole world, fucking everything up because of the same reason as always.

I'm having a case against Ezra and Silas. In two days. I'll have to face them again.

"Baby, we wanted to tell you tonight. We only know from this afternoon too. But this is urgent, and Stansley paid a lot of money to have it so soon. He wants them out of jail fast, so the case is sooner. But don't worry, they're in there for life—"

Stop talking, please. Everything needs to be quiet.

I turn around and find the door. I slip through it and run through the hallway, on my way to my own room. This can't be happening. Please. Not after everything.

Looking behind me before I get in my room, I see Ada following me. but I can't talk to her right now. I need peace and silence right now. Mainly for my mind to come to rest, but also because there's a small part of me that wishes they would have told me sooner.

The door locks in just time. I slide down it, ending on my floor with my back against the door. My sobs make my whole body shake, but it's fine. It's just a small panic attack, nothing I can't handle.

Ada knocks on the door. Her voice is soft and calm, like she knows what I need right now. "I'll give you your alone time, Aaron. But I'll be here when you're ready."

And then she's silent. There's no sound coming from the other end of the door, so I blow out a deep breath in relief. I'm so glad no one is forcing themselves onto me. They understand me well enough, which I'm thankful for.

Slowly, I calm down. I've had enough panic attacks to be able to make peace with myself again, and knowing I can always open the door and walk back for comfort helps too.

The other thing that helps is that this is the only thing I can panic over. My past attacks always went from one thing to another: from Ezra or Silas's prank to blaming myself to my dad. But now that I'm way happier with my life, there's little to overthink about my past.

I'm meeting them in court. So what?

I've handled them the past years too. In way worse conditions. In court, they can't touch me. There'll be guards, my boyfriends and girlfriend will be close to me and so will their dads, the broad men anyone gets intimidated by.

My tears stain. It's not like there are much of them, and they're mainly from the first shock. I take another deep breath and wipe them away. I'm okay.

With that, I decide I'm not letting them ruin my life anymore. I don't fear them anymore. And so what they used to abuse me? I'm stronger than them. Ada's told me so, and Micah did, and Aiden and Seb did.

I've started to believe it too. I'm strong.