VOCAB TIME

Nibling: the gender neutral term for nieces and nephews

Travis smiled when he saw Mitch sleeping next to him. The tenor looks so happy and relaxed. The Kirks had to go to the hospital to see if Scott is neutropenic or not. If he isn't, then he could find their children. Travis kissed Mitch's nose gently and he smiled when the younger man crinkled it. Mitch then woke up, smiling up at Travis.

"Hi," Mitch greeted quietly. Travis mouthed 'hi' himself and hugged Mitch gently. "How di-di-id you sle-sle-ep?"

"The best sleep I ever had in a long time and I think I know why," Travis answered, winking a bit. Mitch laughed as he held Travis' hand. "How is everything going?"

"I lo-lo-st my ot-ot-her dad," Mitch responded quietly. Travis nodded as he looked over Mitch's facial expressions. "I'm sa-sa-ad be-be-ca-ca-use he pa-pa-ssed away, but I'm hap-hap-oh be-be-ca-ca-use he's with my ot-ot-her dad."

Travis nodded as he kissed Mitch once more. He looked over Mitch one more time and couldn't help but notice how healthier he looks. The light is back in his eye. He couldn't help but realize how happy Mitch looks.

~~~

Lilliana smirked as she grabbed McKenna's arm to wake her up. The eight year old began to cry, causing Sara and Matt to wake up. Sara pushed Lilliana, smirking when the twelve year old hit her back on the ground.

"You think that's all you got?" Lilliana asked, managing to stand up. She looked at McKenna and shook her head. "That little bald freak. I wouldn't be surprised if Mitch threw a party when he realized that she is gone."

McKenna cried even harder and Matt went to quickly. He hugged her and glared at his other cousin.

"You're going to regret this day," Matt hissed, shaking his head.  Lilliana shrugged her shoulders and walked off. "I hate you, Lilliana!"

"Everyone does. Why should be affected when you say it?" She fought back. She left the room, slamming the door as loud as she can. Matt hugged McKenna tighter and put his arm around Sara, who began to cry too.

"It's okay. We'll all be okay."

~~~

Scott sat in the blooding drawing office, patiently waiting for the results. Alex sighed as he looked at his watch, wanting to find his kids right away. The blood drawer came in and smiled at the couple.

"Hello," she greeted, nodding her head. "I have your results."

"What are they?" Scott asked, not liking how she frowned. "No, no, no. I can't be!"

"I'm sorry, sir," the blood drawer apologized, her heart breaking when Scott began to cry. Alex hugged him, trying to fight off his own tears. "You are neutropenic."

~~~

Kirstin walked back and forth, wondering how in the world four children got kidnapped at the same time. Matthew stole their children. For all she could know, they could be...

"Kirst?" Ariana called out. Kirstin nodded and walked to her wife. "You need to look at the positive side.the children will be found. We already know what he looks like. Mitch could give the description the best."

"But what if there is not bright side?" Kirstin asked, stopping her pacing. Ariana stood up, wanting to calm down her wife. "Sara could be hurt easily! Lilliana will put up a fight, but there are people tougher than her that could hurt her in less than a second! McKenna...I can't even think about what he'll do to her! And Matt...oh my gosh, Matt. They'll kill him first. He's the strongest. They always go for the strongest ones. They always..."

Kirstin began to cry, covering her face with her hands. Ariana covered her mouth when Kirstin fell to the ground. The blond cried heavily, wanting all her niblings and daughter to be okay. Ariana knelt down to hug her, rubbing her back.

"We'll find them. We will win in the end."

"How do you know?"

Ariana looked at her wife seriously. Kirstin nodded, waiting for a response. Ariana took a deep breath, refusing to let anyone fight her point.

"Because the Olusola family refuses to give up without a fight."

~~~

Mitch and Travis came downstairs, noticing the somber mood right away. Scott and Alex both look like they've been crying for the longest time and Kirstin and Ariana look like they just been told they lost everything they have. Mitch walked over to his siblings and hugged them tightly, feeling his shirt get wet with tears instantly.

"Wha-wha-at's wro-wro-ong?" Mitch asked, letting go of his siblings. Scott wiped his eyes and looked up at Mitch.

"I'm neutropenic," Scott answered, his voice shaking. Mitch gasped and shook his head. "I can't save my kids. I need to save them. All of us need to save them."

"I can't believe it," Kirstin began, shaking her head. "We lost our children because of Matthew. Is this some ail form of revenge? What did we even do? Is it because of that prank we pulled of them?"

"What prank?" Alex asked, looking at Scott. Scott laughed as he thought back to that moment.

"Matthew wanted to take advantage of Mitch so they pretended that Mitch actually took pills and right before Matthew did it, Mitch poured ice water down his pants," Scott explained, laughing even more. Alex rolled his eyes but smiled nonetheless. "That's probably why. He probably threw a fit."

"We need extra help," Ariana brought up. Everyone nodded as they thought of someone. "Could we ask Vic?"

"She retired last year," Alex replied, frowning sadly. He looked over at Travis. "Got any ideas, Mr. Wright?"

"I could only think of finding clues that could lead us to them, but I've got nothing," Travis replied, feeling like his input sucked. When everyone sighed, he knew right away that it sucked. "I'm sorry, guys."

Mitch kissed him gently to show that it was okay. Nobody talked for the longest time. The only time they talked was when somebody offered to pray for their children and safety. It stayed quiet for the longest time until the doorbell rang. Mitch walked up to it, hoping that someone will be here to help him. He opened it and gasped at the person at the other side.

"I think I could help you find your children."

"Char-char-lotte?!"

A/N: BIGGEST PLOT TWIST EVER!!!

*thunder cracks*

Also, this book is ending maybe this week. I'm sorry.:( I might not write a third one, but I'll see how everything turns out. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter and remember that I love you all so much.:)

-Maddie🐧🐧🐧