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''You're strong, Mavis. Stronger than you should have to be.''

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THE AIR AT the Chateau felt lighter than it had in weeks. The sight of John B standing there, alive and well, was enough to erase a little of the stress that had weighed on all of us. After our initial flurry of hugs and chaos—JJ practically tackling him and Kiara holding back tears—we'd settled into something resembling calm.

Big John wasn't far behind, his imposing figure softened by his broad smile as he stepped forward. His arms were open, and one by one, we all took turns embracing him. When it was my turn, he pulled me into a tight hug, his rough hands warm against my back.

''Thank you for taking care of my boy,'' he murmured near my ear. He pulled back slightly to look at me, his eyes scanning my face. ''You look so much like her,'' he added quietly, his expression softening with something I couldn't quite place.

I felt my throat tighten, but I managed a smile. ''Thank you,'' I whispered back, leaning in to hug him again. 

Before I could say more, JJ hopped onto Big John's back like an oversized kid. ''Come on, old man! Let's see what you've got!'' JJ hollered, his laughter ringing out as Big John twisted around, trying to shake him off.

''Get down, you little punk!'' Big John grumbled through his own laughter, his sturdy frame holding up surprisingly well as JJ clung on like a monkey.

''Never!'' JJ exclaimed, his grin wide. The rest of us laughed as Big John finally managed to pry JJ off, both of them grinning like they'd just won a wrestling match.

Later, we all sat around outside, the sunset casting an amber glow over the yard. The air smelled faintly of salt and pine, and cicadas buzzed in the distance. John B had fetched beers for everyone, and we settled into a circle, the sound of bottles clinking filling the quiet.

''Yeah, yeah, so we, um... we went to the archives in Charleston,'' John B started, taking a swig from his beer. ''And, uh... it was—it was a dead end. A dry hole. So...'' He shrugged, leaving the rest unspoken.

Pope leaned forward, shaking his head. ''So that's the gold, the cross, and now El Dorado,'' he recounted, counting off on his fingers.

Big John gave a small nod of approval, a half-smile tugging at his lips as he clapped his son on the shoulder. ''We're three for three, guys,'' Pope continued, standing and tossing the stick he'd been fiddling with to the side. ''The streak continues.'' His voice carried a hint of sarcasm as he turned to walk off.

''That's great,'' Cleo quipped, rolling her eyes as she trailed after him. ''See you, John B,'' Kiara called out, giving him a quick wave before heading off toward her car.

''I'm going fishing,'' JJ announced, holding up his beer like a salute as he walked toward the dock. ''Thanks for the beer.''

One by one, the group thinned out, leaving just me, John B, and Big John sitting under the fading light. The quiet was comfortable, the kind of easy silence you could only have with people who felt like family.

Big John looked over at me, his expression thoughtful. ''So, Mavis,'' he started. ''You ever hear anything more about your mom?''

The question caught me off guard, but I should've seen it coming. Big John had always been the kind of man who noticed things, who paid attention. I shook my head, wrapping my fingers around my bottle. ''No,'' I admitted softly. ''Still nothing. And now... my dad, he—he disowned me. So it's just me now.'' I forced a smile, trying to make light of it, but my voice wavered at the edges.

Big John's brows furrowed, and he leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. ''Your dad did what?'' 

''Yeah,'' I said, shrugging. ''It's fine. I've got the Pogues. That's enough.''

Big John sat back, crossing his arms, his gaze heavy with thought. Then he spoke, his tone resolute. ''You know, I could adopt you.''

My eyes widened, and I stared at him, unsure if I'd heard him right. ''What?'' I managed to stammer.

John B looked at me, a grin already spreading across his face. ''That's a great idea!'' he exclaimed, leaning forward with sudden excitement.

Big John chuckled, his expression softening as he looked between us. ''You two are already like siblings. It wouldn't be much of a stretch. I'm not sure if it'll work with the paperwork, though.''

My heart raced as the words sank in. ''Are you serious?'' I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

Big John nodded, his gaze steady. ''Dead serious, kid. I'll try and take care of it, of course, if you're okay with it.''

I launched myself forward, wrapping him in a tight hug. ''Yes,'' I blurted out, my voice muffled against his shoulder. ''Yes, of course!''

John B clapped his hands together, laughing. ''Looks like you're officially stuck with us now,'' he joked, pulling me into a side hug as soon as I let go of Big John.

We shared another round of hugs and laughter, the tension of the past few days melting away for a little while. As we sat back and sipped our beers, I couldn't help but feel a warmth settle in my chest.

I leaned back against the porch railing, sipping my beer. John B had wandered inside to grab more, leaving me and Big John in the kind of quiet that didn't need filling. Or so I thought.

Big John shifted, his heavy boots scraping against the wooden boards as he turned toward me. ''Mavis,'' he started, his voice lowe. ''Can we talk about your mom for a minute?''

I froze, my fingers tightening around the neck of the bottle. That wasn't a subject that came up often, and for good reason. ''I mean, yeah,'' I answered, shrugging. ''If you want.''

Big John sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. ''I know it's not easy. It's not easy for me either. I've been stuck in the past for a long time now, and I know that's not fair to you.'' He paused, his gaze locking onto mine. ''I know you figured it out—me, your dad, and your mom... we were looking for the gold.''

The words hit me like a cold wave, even though I'd known the truth for a while now. Hearing it from him, though—it made it more real, heavier somehow. I straightened, setting the bottle down beside me. ''Yeah,'' I admitted, my voice quieter than I intended. ''Father told me after he found out I'm looking for it. That's why he disowned me.''

Big John leaned back in his chair, his large hands resting on his thighs. ''Your dad told me not to say anything to you,'' he continued, his voice tinged with regret. ''Said it was for your own good. I didn't agree with him, but he was your father, and my friend, I made a promise to him.'' His eyes clouded. ''I kept it, Mavis. I kept it even when it cost us—me and him. After that, we didn't talk much.''

I stared at him. ''Why? Why didn't he want me to know?'' My voice cracked slightly, and I hated myself for it.

''I don't know,'' Big John admitted, shaking his head slowly. ''He never really told me. Just said you didn't need to be burdened with it. Maybe he thought he was protecting you. Maybe he was wrong.'' He paused, his eyes softening. ''I'm sorry you didn't find out sooner. And I'm sorry... I don't know what happened to her.''

The sincerity in his voice broke down whatever wall I'd tried to build. I let out a shaky breath, my fingers running through my hair as I tried to keep it together. ''It's okay,'' I murmured, though it wasn't entirely true. ''It's not your fault. And my dad—he made his choices. It's fine.''

Big John reached over, placing a heavy hand on my shoulder. ''You're strong, Mavis. Stronger than you should have to be.'' He gave my shoulder a squeeze, his grip warm.

Before I could say more, the screen door creaked open, and John B stepped out, balancing a couple of beers in one hand. ''What'd I miss?'' he asked, raising a brow as he handed us each a bottle.

''Nothing,'' I said quickly, brushing away the lingering emotion in my voice. ''Just your dad being sentimental.''

''Oh, that's dangerous,'' John B teased, plopping down beside me on the porch. ''What, is he crying now? Did you break him, Mave?''

I shot him a look, but Big John chuckled, leaning back in his chair with a grin. ''Watch it, kid. I'm still your old man.''

John B grinned, but his gaze shifted to me. ''So, Mavis Routledge, huh?'' he teased, nudging me lightly with his elbow. ''How's it feel to be officially one of us?''

I rolled my eyes, though I couldn't keep the smile off my face. ''Weird,'' I admitted. ''But in a good way.''

Big John raised his beer in a small toast. ''To family,'' he said simply.

John B and I raised our bottles, clinking them against his. ''To family,'' we echoed.

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

THE NEXT MORNING, my bags sat open on my bed, half-packed. As I folded one of my old shirts, my eyes wandered up to the ceiling—the spot where the roof had once caved in during a storm. The memory made me pause, a faint smile tugging at my lips despite the ache in my chest.

I could still see my dad and me, both soaked to the bone, laughing as rain poured through the gaping hole. We'd slapped some tape on it that night, thinking it was a quick fix. Of course, it wasn't, and the next day, we'd climbed up there with a board and some nails to patch it up properly. I could almost hear his voice, the low rumble of his laugh as he joked about our "fine craftsmanship."

But he was gone now, and the house felt hollow without him. Not that he'd ever been the best dad—distant most of the time, caught up in his own world—but he was still my dad.

The sharp trill of my phone snapped me out of the memory. I grabbed it off the bedside table, glancing at the screen. ''John B'' flashed across it.

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