Caleb POV

"Papa!"  Altan said tackling me as we walked in. 

"Hey baby boy, I missed you." I said and kissed his forehead.

"I missed you too papa." He said and kissed my cheek. I smiled at him and so did my husbands. Holt came down the stairs along with Kase and Holt crashed into my arms and hugged me.

"I was wondering when you all would come home." Dad said wiping his hands off with a kitchen towel as he walked towards us. 

"We were gone a week, dad." I chuckled. 

"Can you let me be dramatic for a minute?" Dad said making me chuckle and we hugged then he hugged my husbands. 

"How was your vacation?" Dad asked as we all sat down in the living area. 

"It was good, we mostly stayed in the hotel after we toured the islands, we went on a safari as well as fishing and being on the beach. Some of us went diving, we rode jet skis as well as… sleeping." I hope he got that sleeping meant mating. 

"That sounds like a wonderful week. I'm glad you had all had fun, baby boy. Your dads will be so happy to see you guys." Dad said. 

"Where are they? We bought souvenirs." I said. 

"They're out back, we decided to grill for today." He said and I nodded. 

"Well we'll be back, we're going to go unpack." I said as we all headed upstairs. 

"Papa let's play Soccer!" Altan asked and so we did. 

It felt so good being home.

"Who's ready for gifts?" I said as I grabbed all the gifts we brought back from Bora Bora. Seeing everyone so happy and content only made me smile bigger.

"Um, guys." Eric said as all color drained from his face and there was a puddle at his feet. Shit, his water broke. 

"God this is so embarrassing." He whined.

Good thing we were already back downstairs and so we rushed to Dr. Balwin's. 

"Dad, Eric is in labor so we're at the pack doctor." I said. 

"We'll be there soon." He said.

As if Dr. Balwin had been expecting us, he came out of a room. 

"Right this way, hurry now." He said, leading Eric to the room. 

We began to follow but Dr. Balwin shook his head making my fidgety. Why can't we go in with our mate, our husband? 

"Where is he? Where's my boy?" Drew said running in with my dads and Altan behind as well as Holt and Kase. Wow, everyone was here. 

"He's…" I started to say and we heard Eric scream to high heaven and Raja growled in my head. 

What the hell was going on in there and why do I smell so much iron?

"Caleb calm down kiddo." Dad said stroking my hair and I inhaled his scent calming me down along with my husbands. 

"Who's ready to see the most adorable angels?" Dr. Balwin said smiling. 

When he said that we all piled in. 

"What was with us staying outside." I pouted. 

"Eric began to hemorrhage and one twin had the umbilical cord wrapped around their neck." Dr. Balwin said. 

"I'm sorry you've had to wait, but please welcome your babies to the world." He said smiling as he moved aside. 

"The crib to the left is Nolan Tanner Blackstone and the other is Eden Archer Blackstone." Eric said weakly with a raspy voice. Probably from screaming so loud. 

"They're beautiful, babe." I said and my mates nodded. 

Soon enough my phone vibrated. 

"Hello?" I answered. 

"Hey bro how was vacation?" Baine asked.

"It was amazing, I've seen your missed calls but service was spotty in the hotel." I chuckled. 

"Yea, I called to tell you the trial is next week. I know you mentioned your mates looked as if they were going to pop any day now so I called in a favor." He chuckled. 

"Well thank you for that bro, I owe you one." I smiled to myself. 

"It's no biggie, how was the trip? Tell me everything. Did you use the toys I packed?" I groaned and I could hear him snicker through the phone. 

"No, I didn't ya nasty." I chuckled. God, he's dirty as hell. 

"Dammit, I guess Gio and I will have to put them to good use." I gagged trying to get the image of my friend and his mate having sex out of my head. 

"Ha, you thought about us." Asshole. 

"Anyway… the trip was amazing, we did a bunch of activities. All in all, it was good. Eric gave birth by the way." I instantly pulled the phone from my ear as he got a little too hyped up.

"Thank you for now making me deaf, I appreciate that." I grumbled sarcastically. 

"Sorry bro, you know I have a weak spot for kids if you couldn't tell by Gio and I being outnumbered by all our kids." He chuckled. 

"I get it, I understand. Maybe you guys can stop by and hang out." I said. 

"We'll see, Gio hasn't gotten home yet so we'll let you all know." He said. 

"Ok great, see you then." I said hanging up. 

After I got off the phone with Baine, the rest of the family came to see the twins. 

"Papa, look, the triplets are smiling at them." Altan said smiling and pointing to Dad and pop holding the triplets. 

I love my crazy growing family. 

After we spent some time with Eric and the twins, I helped my dads grill, and unsurprisingly, we found ourselves back in Eric's room. 

"We brought you food baby. I brought you mashed potatoes with gravy with a pulled pork sandwich." I said. 

"Aw... thanks, lover." He said kissing me. 

"No problem, Baine and Gio are coming to see you a bit later, or at least try to. For now, eat up. You need to regain your strength." I said, making him nod. 

A little while later, Baine and Gio came with all the kids. 

"Hey guys." I said. 

"Hey Caleb." Gio and Baine said.

"Hi, uncle Caleb!" The kids said. 

"Hey, my lovelies." I smiled hugging them. 

They all came in and said hi to Eric and the twins. 

"Caleb, they're cuter than I could have imagined." Baine said. 

"Aren't they." I smiled. 

"What are their names?" Gio asked. 

"Eden and Nolan." I said smiling. 

Baine and Gio spent a few hours talking with us until the kiddos started getting cranky. 

"Hey Caleb, your dad…" Drew began to say just staring at Gio and Baine. 

"Mate!" The three yelled. Well shit, I did not see that coming. 

The rest of the night, we spent it with Eric and the babies. 

A week later, it was finally the day of the trial. 

“It’s ok Holt. You won’t need to worry about them, just focus on me and what I ask you alright? You know the defense attorney will try to discredit you but I won’t let him. Just focus on me and your family and it’ll be over before you know it.” Baine said to Holt as he was on the verge of having a breakdown because we are waiting for the time to go in and him getting questioned about what happened. Kase was beside him holding his hand and rubbing his back trying to calm him down and I was standing across them leaning against the wall just watching them.

“I’m ready.” Holt said and Baine smiled at him.

“You got this.” Kase said and Holt smiled at him and nodded and took a deep breath.

“I got this.” He repeated and he stood up and we all walked into the courtroom and he sat beside Baine and I sat right behind him along with my other mates and Kase, Garrold and Nash. My mates were also sitting down waiting. We have been here through the whole trial but Holt didn’t need to be, just today for him to get questioned. 

He went over to the stand and placed his hand on the bible and was sworn in and took a seat. 

“Mr. Blackstone, would you care to tell us why we are here today?” Baine said and put his hands in his pockets looking at me and at the jury before looking at Holt.

“I was kidnapped, beaten and left for dead.” Holt said

“Why?” He asked.

“Because they didn’t like that I am gay and am dating their friend who they thought was straight but he isn’t.”

“So they kidnapped you, beat you and left you for dead all because you are dating their friend?” Baine asked and looked at the jury again.

“Yes that is correct.” 

“What were you doing at the time you were kidnapped?” He asked and Holt closed his eyes and could see the tears already forming when he opened his eyes.

“I was running away.” He said and his voice cracked some.

“Why were you running away?” He asked and put his hands on the stand in front of Holt.

“Because I felt I didn’t belong, I felt that I wasn’t loved and I just wanted to go away before I caused anyone heartache.” Holt said and he looked over at me and I saw pain in his eyes.

“So you were leaving town. What did you do the morning you left?” 

“I woke up, ate and grabbed my bag and left the house. Everyone thought I was going to school but I went in the opposite direction and stopped at a gas station to get gas when I spotted them.” Holt said and Baine went to the table that had stuff on it and came back over to Holt.

“These are the four people you saw?” He asked and showed him a photo.

“Yes, that’s them.” Holt said and he nodded and showed the jury the photo and a minute later the door opened and in they came, all had shackles on their wrists and around their feet wearing orange jumpsuits. 

“Do you remember what happened next?” Baine asked and looked back at them before looking at Holt

“Yes. I was walking to my car when I was jumped from behind and felt something hit the back of my head knocking me to my knees and I felt a few more hits before I passed out. I remember getting thrown in the back of my car and they got in and drove off. We were in the car for hours before it stopped. They dragged me out of it and started beating me, stabbing me, kicking me and just doing everything they could while yelling ‘faggot’ ‘queer’ ‘you deserve to die for being a wasted space’ ‘dick lover’ and many other horrible things. I remember every single stab, hit, punch, kick and even them dousing me with gas but before they could light me on fire, something scared them off and they all kicked me one more time before running away with my car. I felt myself going to sleep and I was thinking I would give anything to see my dad again. I woke up in the hospital with my family there. I was told I was found in a park and was almost dead.” He wiped his tears from his cheeks and he looked at me and I had tears in my eyes but I smiled at him to let him know I’m ok.

“I’m very sorry you had to go through that Holt.” Baine said and sat down.

“Does the defense have any questions?” The judge asked and he got up from his seat.

“How did they know you and your boyfriend were even together?” He asked as he walked up to the stand.

“They came into Kase’s house one night and caught us.” 

“Caught you, doing what?”

“Kissing.” Holt  answered.

“Why wasn’t the door locked? I mean anyone could just walk into the house to see you and him kissing on the couch so why wasn’t the door locked?” 

“It shouldn’t need to be locked. No one has the right to just walk into someone's house, especially when they weren’t invited.” Holt said.

“But Kase did know they were coming over.” He said and went to his table and grabbed a piece of paper and walked over to Holt and handed it to him. I looked at Baine and he seemed confused. 

“See these are phone records of Kase’s. Read the text that came in at seven ten.” 

“We’re on our way man. We got the beer and snacks for movie night.” Holt said and I thought back to the time and around that time they were watching TV and Kase was on his phone Holt told me that before.

“So Kase knew they were coming over so they walked in thinking he was alone because he sent a reply, read it please.” 

“Ok, doors open you know the drill.” Holt read and I looked over at Kase and he wasn’t looking at Holt.

“So you see, your ‘boyfriend’ knew they were coming over and made no attempt to lock the door. It seemed to me that he wanted to get caught. For what reason I don’t know but what do you think the reason is, why Kase didn’t lock the door or even tell you his friends were on their way. I mean you were on the couch kissing when they walked in and they didn’t know he was gay so when they walked in, all they saw was you kissing him. They didn’t know if you were making him, taking advantage of him or what.” 

“I would never do that! I don’t know why he didn’t tell me or why he didn’t lock the door but it still doesn’t make what they did to me right! They almost killed me!” Holt said and Kase got up from his seat and ran out of the room. I wanted to find out what the hell was going on but I needed to be here for my son.

“Nothing further your honor.” The attorney said and sat down. The four teens were already questioned earlier this week so Holt was the last to be questioned so hopefully the jury comes back quickly with a guilty verdict. 

Two hours later we are called back in and the jury is brought back in and we all stand and wait for the judge.

"You all may be seated." He said so we all sat down except the four teens, their attorney and Holt along with Baine.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" The judge asked and a man stood up and handed the security guy a piece of paper and he handed it to the judge.

"On the charge of attempted murder in the first degree how do you find?" The judge asked.

"Guilty."

"On the charge of a hate crime, how do you find?"

"Guilty."

"On the charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon how do you find?"

"Guilty." The man said and I along with everyone else sighed in relief and Holt was crying so I walked over to him and hugged him.

"Thank you ladies and gentlemen of the jury for your service. We will have a hearing for sentencing next week. Court is adjourned." The judge said so everyone walked out of the courtroom and Holt kept looking for Kase but he was nowhere to be seen. I wonder where he went.

“Come on kiddo, let’s go get something to eat. Are you doing ok?” I asked him and he laid his head on my shoulder and sighed.

“Yea just want to know why Kase didn’t tell me they were coming over. He knows how they are so why didn’t he tell me?” He asked and I sighed and rubbed his back.

I really want to know what is going on in Kase's head but that's for another day.

“I don’t know son, I wish I did.” We walked outside and went to my truck. Everyone else was already at their vehicles and we all got in and left to go have dinner to celebrate the win. 

When we got to the Restaurant, Darrold and Kase were already there. 

"To the best attorney in California." I said as we cheered to Baine. 

"We definitely couldn't have done it without you." I added. 

I looked to see Holt and Kase looking at his phone and Holt smiled and kissed his cheek. Weird hormonal teenagers I swear. 

The rest of the night was spent partying and celebrating this victory and a major win for Holt. A couple hours later we went home and Holt went up to his room.

Just before he went to bed, I stopped Kase from following him. 

"I know what you're going to say Mr. Blackstone and I swear it wasn't a set up. I would never hurt Holt like that. I love him and would die for him before I let anyone touch him again. The text did come from me but it wasn't what that jerk made it seem. We got into a heated make out session and we lost track of time. My plan was to have Holt leave before those jerks got there and I was going to tell them off and tell them I was gay and fell in love with Holt and they can't change my mind otherwise. I swear to you that's the truth." I sighed. Damn teenagers are idiots. 

"I believe you, your heart rate didn't change and you have no training to lie to me so therefore I trust you. However, you are on thin ice so I'll be watching you. Don't make me regret giving you another chance. You're like another son to me and I'd hate to lose you as a part of this family. Now go up there and be with your mate." I said and he hugged me. 

"Thank you, thank you, thank you." He said kissing my cheek and running upstairs. I really can't wait until things go back to normal.