L.A.'s POV

It feels sort of comforting to have James sitting here beside of me. He has a calming effect on me. Well usually. Then I saw his cross necklace. It was like the instant I saw it something tore at me. Reminding me with great power just how lost and out there I have felt.

James and I just sit there not even talking for I can't even honestly say how long. Him beside me and the river just below has a calming for me. At least as long as I don't look at him right now. "Would you want to go check out the dance studio with me now?" I say breaking the silence.

"Sure thing, chicken wing." James says with a laugh, then helps me to my feet. I try to fight off the blush that heats my cheeks but to no avail. He stands smiling at me, and I try not to stare. "You ready?"

"Yeah. Yeah. Let's go." I murmur as we make our way to his car, nothing really fancy, but a good beginner car, and we both get in. I read off the directions that Madison texted me and in a matter of minutes we are there. The studio is in the downstairs of a building and they live in the upstairs. "So this is it." I lead the way, once we are out of the car, and I knock on the door. "Madison. It's me, L.A.."

Within seconds, the bubbly blonde is at the door and she has James and I both wrapped in a bear hug. Boy, for such a little thing she sure is strong. "Madison, this is James. James, this is Madison."

"The last name's Holden." They both say as they shake hands.

Okay... so that was a little odd. Then I hear Madison's husband, Max, call something out from the other room. He's at the doorway and can't take his eyes off of James.

Max's POV

A knock came at the door and Madison went to answer it. She was talking in a happy voice, so I went to see who it could be. I hadn't expected to see who I did.

Standing there, with L.A., the girl Susanna had sort of adopted, was someone who I had almost began to believe was just a mirage that day at church. But there he was again. As real as life itself. "...James...." My voice came out in a crackle, not very manly, but I couldn't help myself.

"Yes. That's...." James voice trailed off as he locked eyes with me. He had her eyes. Our Mom's eyes.

James' POV

A blonde haired man came to the doorway, he was staring at me and whispered my name. "Do I know..." I opened my mouth and started to say. But then things started flashing through my mind.

Like one night, when we lived in New York, a younger version of the man in front of me was with a gang of thugs. Or at least that was what I had thought at the time. They were telling him to beat the kid down. He took me to a back alley, said he would do this job in private. That's when his countenance changed, he was still rough and tough and definitely not someone to mess with, but his eyes were softer. "Go home, kid." I remember his saying, with his eyes looking all watery. He grabbed a nearby glass bottle and threw it against a brick wall and then hopped on a motorcycle and took off. I had not seen that guy since but here he was. "Your the guy from New York. The one who saved me?" I said, it somehow coming out as a question.

"And more actually. Come upstairs. We can sit and talk." He waved to me and I followed him not knowing what to expect. We left L.A. and Madison downstairs in the dance studio.

"So what did you mean by more?" I ask when we reach their living room, and each sit down on chairs opposite one another. He asks who my parents are, and I answer, still not totally sure where this could be going.

"I thought so..." He whispers. "James. I'm your brother." He looks up at me, and it hits me. He looks so much like a mix of our parents that it's uncanny. There's no denying that he is my brother.

"Wow. They told me just a little about you. They have gotten their lives straightened out now, James. They really regret having done you the way you did." I say, looking up at my brother. Finally getting to see him face to face.... well it's pretty amazing.

"I have changed too, James. I lived a pretty rough life. But I was made new by Jesus Christ." Max said calmy, as he laid his hand on a well used Bible.

"So were all Christians now." I breath out the words. My heart is rattling in my chest at all of this. It's so much to take in. I don't care if it's not manly in some people's eyes, the tears are worth coming now.

"Brother hug." Max says, and I notice he's crying too.

"The first of many, big bro." I add.