Hey guys!! I am currently sitting at my desk at work writing this. Since Sweet Frog is very slow this time of year, I got a lot of time on my hands to sit down and write. So here is the next upload. I want to say episode because I have been watching Novelas all this time and not writing!! Sorry not sorry hehe anyway, I hope you like it!!

XXI

The crackle of wood in the fireplace had startled her out of her mind. She had spaced off looking into the fire. As she drifted off, she hadn't realized her husband had walked off to answer the phone. She didn't really care who had been calling, she just wanted her son to hurry up and return. It had been too long since she had seen her little boy. The fire crackled again as she heard her husband shout with excitement.

  "Ethan my boy!"

  She immediately stood up and went to where her husband had been to answer the phone. She saw that he had walked into the office around the corner. He had sat down on his desk as he talked to his son. He looked happy to be talking to his little boy. She saw that she could see his smile reach up to his eyes just like they used to all those years ago. She smiled and walked further into the office. Vincent couldn't believe his oldest son had been the one to call. He never expected to hear from him again after what happened.

  "Hey dad, how have you been? It's been so long."

  Vincent wiped the tears he had on his cheek, he missed his little boy, he wished he could see him.

  "I have been good son, how are you? Where are you? Are you ever going to come home? You are always welcomed here son, this is your home. Come home my boy."

  Ethan laughed.

  "That is why I am calling, mom and I had agreed for me to come home. I was calling her to see if you are her weren't busy so I can come over. I am in my hotelroom. I wasn't sure if I still had my room back at the mansion."

  Vincent looked towards his wife and shook his head. He couldn't believe the surprise his wife and son had on him.

  "Of course you still have your room here at the mansion. You will always have a room here, does not matter what happens. You are always welcomed here Ethan. Get your ass here as quick as possible, cancel your room and stay here in the mansion with your mother and I. Camden would of been here too but she had decided to move back with Nikolai. Conrad had moved out into the penthouse a while back but I think your mother is making them stay the night here for the weekend."

  Ethan chuckled, of course his mother is forcing his siblings, he would of had as well. He then grabbed the rest of his things and walked out of the room. He had still been on the phone with his father. They talked about what they had been up to since the last time they had talked. Vincent asked him how his business was doing since he had just opened up a hotel and bar branch.

  "Dad, I've got to go, I am making my way towards you guys right now. I will see you in a bit. Love you dad."
  They said their goodbyes as Ethan placed his things in the car he had rented. He was anxious to get home, he wanted to see his siblings, to meet his nephew. To see his old friends again, would they hate him for packing up and leaving without saying anything? He shook those thoughts out of his head as he climbed into his rental and drove off to see his parents. As he drove home, his sister was just finished getting Michelangelo settled into the mansion. Her and Nikolai decided to just spend the rest of the day in. Her mother had called her earlier to remind her that they are gathering at their place tonight. She and Michelangelo will not be spending the night at the mansion until the next day. Camden's family hasn't had a sleepover in a while so it was nice that they were doing those again. Conrad will be bringing his fiance while Camden will be bringing Nik and Mickey. Stanley had packed an overnight bag for both Camden and Nikolai while Camden was packing the overnight bag for Mickey. He was very indecisive that day, didn't know what he wanted to wear for his pajamas or for the outfit he wanted to wear for the next day.

  "Momma? When will we be leaving? I wanna pway outside."

  Camden smiled and shook her head.

  "We are leaving soon Mickey, once Daddy comes back from running and taking a shower, we will leave. Now come here so I can finish getting you dressed. Do you want to go in your pajamas or do you want to change at Grandma's house?"

  Mickey smiled and agreed to change at his grandparents place. So all they needed to do was wait for Nikolai to get home and showered so they can go.  Soon after, Nikolai had returned and rushed up to the bathroom to shower. Camden packed up the car with all the bags for the night. She grabbed Mickey as she heard the door open upstairs and Nikolai came running down the staurs with his hair still wet/

  "Ready to go?"

  Camden smiles and they leave the house and get into the car and drove off. As they drove the song "Live To Party" by the Jonas Brothers came on the radio. Mickey gasped and asked for the radio to be turned up a little louder. He dance and sang along to the music, making Nikolai and Camden laugh, they sang along as well. They got to Camden's mansion and saw an unfamiliar car sitting in the driveway. Camden didn't know how it was, Conrad's car wasn't in the driveway. So who is it? The door opened and Susan came running out to greet her daughter and her little family. Camden got out and hugged her mother while Nikolai got Mickey out of his carseat. He immediately ran to his grandmother and hugged her legs.

  "Hi gwamma! I miss you!"

  She picked her grandson up and kissed his cheeks.

  "I missed you too my little puppy. Well why don't we all go inside, I have a surprise for everyone. It's waiting inside."

  Mickey was excited. He clapped his hands as his grandmother brought him inside.

  "Is it a puppy grwamma?"

  Susan chuckled and pinched his chubby cheeks.

  "No sweet heart, it's not a puppy. It's someone you haven't met yet. But they are very excited to meet you Mickey."

  Mickey suddenly got quiet and shy, he wasn't really into meeting new people. He looked to his mother and his father who also seem to be nervous. Who is it that is here?

  They entered the house and went into the living room to see a man sitting nervously on the couch. Camden gasped and ran towards the man who immediately got up when he saw they come in. He hugged his baby sister tight as she jumped into his arms. His nerves slowly came down, he didn't know what his sister would do after so long with no contact. He has to admit, he missed his little sister the most. He laughed and twirled her around as she giggled, just like she used to when they were younger. He placed her back on the ground and grabbed her face. He kissed her cheeks and smiled.

  "What are you doing here Ethan? Where have you been all this time?"

  He smiled and kissed her forehead.

  "In due time I will tell you what happened. Let's wait until Conrad gets here. I want everyone to be here before I tell you my story."

  Nikolai then came towards him and slapped his hand on his shoulder. Ethan smiled and hugged his brother in law. He hasn't seen Nikolai in a while, he also heard about what happened between them and was hoping they would fix things.

  "Nik! How are you? I heard what is going on, you are lucky that I like you, or you would of had a blue face."

  Nikolai laughed.

  "I'm good Ethan, it's nice to see you again. Yeah things are going well now. I want you to meet someone. Michelangelo, come here."

Michelangelo had been placed on the ground and he hid behind his grandmother's legs. He had no idea of who this man was or why he was hugging his parents. He walked closer to his father which picked him up when he reached him. Mickey hid his face in his father's neck. Ethan smiled at the boy's shyness. He saw his nephew and couldn't believe he was an uncle. He hadn't believed it when his mother had told him, but now that he is seeing his little nephew, he knew he was his nephew. He looked so much like Camden and Nikolai.

  "Piccolo, this is your zio Ethan, he is mommy's brother."

  Mickey lifted his head up from his dad's shoulder.

  "So he is like zio Conwad? You my zio Effin? Why I no know you?"

  Ethan smiled and ruffled his hair. Mickey then reached out for him and Ethan took him in his arms. Ethan was about to tell him why his nephew didn't know about him but he was interrupted by Conrad walking into the living room. He stopped when he saw who was holding Michelangelo, he did not expect him to come back. Conrad never let anyone see him cry but his only brother finally came home.

  "Hey Conrad... It's been a while."

  Michelangelo hugged his new uncle as Conrad processed what he is seeing.

  "Ethan? Is that really you or am I just imagining it?"

  Ethan laughed and passed Mickey back to Nikolai and went to hug his baby brother who had started crying. They embraced each other tightly, like it would be the last thing they would ever do. Ethan missed his little brother immensely, he really didn't want to leave his siblings, but he had no other choice.

  "What are you doing back? I thought you would never come back. Why'd you leave anyway? Is it because of Alexia?"

  Ethan sighed and sat down on the couch. Everyone else took their seats as well. Mickey played with the necklace Nikolai had been wearing while everyone listened to what Ethan had to say.

  "I left because of what happened to Elisa. Mom wanted to keep it a secret but I didn't want to. I wanted to tell you guys but mom would not let me. That was one of the reasons why I left. The other one is because Alexia left me. I had to get away, I couldn't stay here and see her everyday, so I packed up and left. But since mom decided to tell you guys what was going on, I decided to come back and here I am. I got to meet my nephew Michelangelo and I got to see my siblings again. I missed you guys so much."

  Camden smiled and placed her hand on his and squeezed it. Conrad slapped his back. Nikolai smiled and shook his head.

  "You know, Lexia left too, we haven't seen or heard from her in as long as you were gone. So whatever happened between you two was so bad that both of you packed up and left without a word. What happened Ethan? All I know is that she never made it to the church, that you got a letter and then you ran out of the church like a madman."

  Ethan sighed.

  "She wrote in a letter that she couldn't marry me, that I was just fling that went on too long. I was nothing to her, she didn't want me. Later on I found out that she was being forced to end things with me. I don't know who was forcing her, I just know that she was being forced."

  Nikolai sighed.

  "I know who... Alexia was desperatley in love with you Ethan, she wouldn't just pack up and leave like that. I know who exactly is blackmailing my sister, because she did it with me too."

  Camden looked at Nikolai with big eyes.

  "It's my mother."