The guys didn't know what surprised them more. The fact that the ever serious and stoic Mr. Blackbourne had laughed, even if at their expense, or that he was now wearing a t-shirt as ridiculous as the ones they all had put on to make Sang happy.

Gabriel was the first one brave enough to comment. Of course it might have nothing to do with bravery and everything to do with his obsession with clothes.

"Fuck! You look just weird with that t-shirt and the slacks, Mr. B!" he had stood up from where he was previously sitting on the floor, besides Luke. His hands were on his air, as if he was going to pull out all of it, his blue eyes wide and distressed. Mr. Blackbourne was always dressed to perfection and he couldn't stand seeing him in such an unfashionable ensemble.

Mr. Blackbourne raised an eyebrow at Gabriel. "I don't see what is so weird with my clothing Mr. Bubbles, at least I don't have one of the Powerpuff girls on my shirt." His face was completely serious, but Gabriel could swear he saw a hint of laugher on the steel grey eyes.

It seemed like they had fallen down the rabbit hole. He didn't know what was more surprising about the whole situation, the sudden change of behavior in their very serious boss, or the fact that he knew who the Powerpuff girls were...

The sound of hysterical and infectious giggling broke the stunned silence that had befallen the room.

Everyone started laughing together.

"I can't..." giggles "... believe..." takes a deep breathe "...you called him Mr. Bubbles, Owen!" gasped Sang, who was now rolling on the floor at Nathan's and Silas' feet.

"Stop with that giggling, Pookie!" Dr. Green gasped. "Or I will have to cure you!"

Sang didn't know what he meant by that, but stood up from her place on the floor and walked to the kitchen while trying to control herself.

"I will start on dinner." She said without looking back.

The boys all quieted once she was gone. Mr. Blackbourne and Dr. Green were sitting on the chairs and talking between the two of them.

Nathan, Silas, Luke and North started to play a videogame, Kota was checking something on his phone and Gabriel was back to staring uncomfortably at Mr. B.

Victor stood up from his place by the floor and went into the kitchen. He didn't know how to cook. He'd never needed to learn since his family hired people to handle that for them. But if Sang were patient with him he would like to help her.

He wanted to do things for her. He knew she didn't really care about all the money he spent on her, so he needed to find other ways to impress her.

Walking up to where she was standing by the sink, washing some vegetables, he put his hands on her hips and leaned forward so his mouth was by her ear.

"Hello, Princess." He whispered to her, smiling at the slight tremble ran over her body.

"Victor." She breathed his name on a sight and leaned her back against his front, making his smile widen a little. She fit him perfectly.

He nuzzled her neck a little before pulling back to ask, "Do you need any help, here? I am no cook, but I can learn." She turned around and smiled up at me. Her beautiful smile was a truly happy one. Not the slightly uncomfortable one she gave him whenever he bought something for her.

"I would love to have a little help. Even if you don't know how to cook I would like having you around, Victor." She blushed a little while saying that and his smile became blinding. She liked having him around.

She put me in front of the counter, cutting the carrots and broccoli that she would need to make her vegetable pie. While I was cutting she was cooking something that smelled delicious on a large pot. We kept on a light conversation about music and our preferences. I offered to play for her when she came to the studio and she gave me the prettiest smile I ever had directed my way.

Now I know how to impress her... if playing the piano makes this girl so happy then I will play until my fingers fall off.

Her obvious enjoyment at simply talking with me while we did something as domestic as cooking was like a balm to my bruised soul. Knowing that this girl cared about me and liked me as a person was very warming, I could feel my heart melting by the minute as I stayed in her presence. I was getting worse, at this rate I would end up giving her all my heart before even knowing if she would accept it.

Her giggles were a sweet melody, her low voice a musical sound. Her movements as she worked around the kitchen were fluid and graceful, like a dance. I couldn't take my eyes from her.

That is probably why I cut my finger.

"Ouch!" I exclaimed and automatically put my bleeding finger in my mouth.

Suddenly I felt tiny, soft hands on my arm, tugging my hand closer to worried, green eyes.

"Let me see, sweetheart." Her voice was worried and distracted, like she wasn't really paying attention to what she was saying, her focus completely on my hurt finger.

I blushed, her nickname to me causing my heart to tumble in my chest. Did she mean anything by it? "Sweetheart" was one of those sweet nicknames that he dreamed of one day calling a girlfriend and being called back, but he knew that some people called friends and family members "sweethearts" too.

My princess, my sweetheart...

She let go of his hand and ran to grab the first aid kit. Coming back she tugged him over to the sink and let the water clean his wound a little before using the peroxide and putting a Band-Aid over the cut.

"There you go." She crooned to me before kissing the back of my hand. I could feel my cheeks heating at her gesture. Leaning down I kissed her cheek, letting my breath fan over her ear as I whispered a thank you to her. Goose bumps rose in her arms and I smiled even while my heart sped up at having her so close and knowing that I was affecting her too.

Pulling back I saw her pupils had dilated a little making her eyes darken in desire. I couldn't take it anymore, her eyes were killing me. I was almost afraid, my heart thundering n my chest.

"Princess..." I chocked through my strangled throat. My arms went around her to hug her tight to me, my fingers slipping over her ribs, trying to express how I felt what I couldn't with words.

Somehow she seemed to understand me, like she always did with all of us, sometimes knowing what we needed before we even realized it ourselves.

One of her arms slipped around my waist, hugging me tight to her while the other one rose so she could spear her fingers through my hair, pulling my head down until I had my face hidden on her neck. I sucked in a deep breath of her sweet smell; her warmth and caring while holding me calming my heart, making me feel lighter than I ever had before.

She cared, I told myself, she really cared about me.

......

As soon as I walked into the kitchen I saw Cupcake and Vic spring apart like teenagers caught in the act, their cheeks cherry red.

I smirked. Teasing these two would be far too easy but I chose to refrain for now. I didn't want to mar this relationship that was growing between all of us;

I might be a prankster but I wasn't a callous one. I really cared about my family.

Cupcake' nightmares worried me. I had a feeling they happened every night considering how she and Kota met that first night.

I had spoken with the guys and I hoped we could come up with a plan to help her sleep better from now on. Today's sleepover was actually a way to asses if she slept any better when we were around. He knew that she had calmed when he slipped into bed with her but he didn't think curing her from her bad dreams would be easy like that.

These things took time and even after years she'd still have nightmares when she was stressed. He knew it and he didn't like it one bit.

Walking over to her I gave her a peck on her head and said. "Uncles has been whining about you not being around, Cupcake. He misses your sweet presence in the kitchen."

She smirked. "I bet what he misses is my keeping North from killing you when you try to steal the chocolate you are supposed to sell to the customers."

Now that she was back to studying she couldn't spend as much time at the dinner as she did before. Uncle had said that he understood, education was more important, but he'd still pouted like a child at the prospect of his best pastry chef not being around. Not to mention that the old man had developed a soft spot for their tiny cook. She was now family for him too.

They made quick work of preparing the dessert, a chocolate and cinnamon cake that was god's gift to men.

Soon the whole family was sitting around the table enjoying their dinner, conversation was loud and raucous. Once we had all eaten me, Gabe and Mr. B went back to the kitchen to clean up while the rest went to the living room. After washing the dishes I turned back to the refrigerator with the intention of grabbing another slice of cake. Upon opening the door to the refrigerator I was faced with a multitude of judging eyes. Someone had pasted plastic eyes in all of the contents in the refrigerator and they were all staring at me in accusation, the cake nowhere in sight, a single apple standing front and center in the top shelf with a note written: "Eat healthy."

For a moment I thought it had been North, but then I concluded that there was no way my mammoth of a brother could have sneaked into the kitchen while I was here and done this.

Turning around I stared at the only other person who could possibly be responsible for this prank. He watched me with stoic grey eyes but I could see smug satisfaction in them.

"Something wrong Mr. Taylor?" he asked, his voice expressionless.

"None whatsoever, Mr. B." I told him, my eyes narrowing, a plan forming in my mind as I grabbed the lone apple and closed the refrigerator' door.

He would pay for this. Mr. Blackbourne had pranked the prankster king, the game was on.

......

In the living room Nathan, Kota and Victor sat on the couch playing videogames, Sang and Victor were talking quietly while sitting in the chairs and the two giants of the family had again separated themselves from the rest of the family, choosing to sit alone together in a corner of the room talking in Greek, quietly.

"I don't know what to do with Theo anymore, brother." Silas said his voice bitter.

Since his brother had joined that gang, back on Greece, and started setting fires he'd been changing; the once bright youth was now a man with a dark past and Silas felt he'd become too dangerous to leave unchecked.

At first, when his mother died during a fire caused by his brother, and Theo tried to kill himself, Silas had thought the man felt guilt over the "accident" and that removing him from Greece would take away the bad influence that the gang had on him and help him change.

However, the more time went on it seemed that Theo's guilt lessened and he became darker.

It was causing Silas to fear what his brother would do, and regret deeply having stopped his suicide attempt.

"Is he still sneaking out in the middle on the night?" asked North. His friend and Mr. Blackbourne knew about everything that had happened on Greece. The other boys knew bits and pieces. Sang was still unaware of his family situation. He feared bringing her home to meet his father and have Theo there. He wanted her as far away from him as he could keep her.

"Not anymore. At least I don't think so. It's hard to keep one eye on him." I answered. We were speaking in Greek but still had to keep our voices lowered so Sang wouldn't hear us either.

I knew we were supposed to trust our family, and we did, but we still didn't want to burden them with our problems. Besides, I didn't know how to tell them. How does one explain to the people they care about that his own brother was becoming a rabid beast that could bit at any moment?

"We should at least talk with Mr. Blackbourne." Said North, his usual frown on his face. His friend didn't like having to ask for help either, but they both knew that Theo was a problem too big for them to handle alone.

Mr. Blackbourne would know what to do. Of that they were sure.

od