Hunter was conflicted, he had a difficult choice to make. Continue his studies or go for this new job opportunity, one that would take him to learn new skills but the only problem was it was across the world. Meaning he would have to leave his family behind. His brothers reassured him that they would be okay. His little brothers made sure he would be okay. Being the oldest wasn't always the easiest but at least he had help from his immediate younger brother in raising the youngest two.
Currently he is 21 and as much as he said he was sensible and a responsible adult. He definitely ignored all the stuff he did in his free time when he described himself.
"Wrecker, what do you think?" Hunter turned to his immediate younger brother.
"Hunter, I've told you. If you want it, take it, you can always study more later on in life. What's stopping you? Take it and go. I've got things here. Yes, we may miss you but I can handle the troublesome twins"
"Both sets?"
"Yes both sets, Tech and Crosshair have sworn to behave otherwise I've told them they will not be seeing their boyfriends" Wrecker explained, "Echo and Fives understand, trust me. I've given them the big brother talk with them being 22 and our brothers being 17".
Hunter could only nod, he picked up his phone ready to ring and accept the job when the doorbell went. Something just didn't sit right in his decision. As much as he wanted to leave, Tech had explained a strange feeling he had a couple of weeks ago when Hunter got offered to join this 'Empire' company. Thinking his younger brother was just paranoid, Hunter answered the door only to see no one there.
He froze, not understanding, he went to close the door when a sharp cry had him looking down where he found a baby carrier with a very small baby in it. He immediately kneeled down only to gasp, a note was in the carrier. He looked around the street to see if he could catch anyone when he found no one. He picked up the baby carrier and entered the living room where he left Wrecker who looked at him strangely.
"Who's this?"
"I don't know, I found her on the step. Someone left her. Can you get Tech to check the cameras"
"Blimey, she doesn't even look a few months old" Wrecker exclaimed as he ran up the stairs to where Tech and Echo were chilling in Techs bedroom.
Hunter could only stare at the blond baby who reached for him, she had hazel coloured eyes. Oh god, he hoped Tech hadn't done something. He rocked the carrier as he picked the note up only to read:
To Hunter Dawson,
I don't know if you will remember me. But we met ten months ago when I found you at 79s, I was the blond waitress, you were in a state of mourning and I took care of you. I drove you home only to end up in your bed. The morning after, you told me it was a mistake and I understood at the time.
So I left in a hurry, I left my contact details on your night stand if you ever wanted to talk but you never reached out. I wanted to be there in your life but I understood we weren't meant to be.
Then I found out I was pregnant, I didn't know what to do. I was in a bit of a difficult position so I made sure an opportunity to this world could be made. I gave birth to your daughter, at first I wanted to raise her myself and not include you but then I realised the trouble on my back would catch up to her.
So, I made the decision to leave her with you.
Her name is: Megan Dawson,
She is two months old and requires her father.
She can't be raised by me, I'm sorry for this but I know you will love her the way I can't.
As much as I thought I was in love with you, at the time I was in my own mourning and this just happened. Tell Megan that her mother is with the angels.
Yours Sincerely,
Crystal Harper
Hunter could only gasp looking at the documents attached to the letter. One was of a DNA test done by Crystal who showed Hunter was the father and another letter was documents of Crystal who had been diagnosed with Cancer. Life-threatening, Megan didn't have any trace and Hunter now understood. There was a folder with all of Megan's information in.
He froze hearing a cry and within seconds his father instincts kicked in as he pulled the baby girl into his arms. His daughter. Oh god, he looked at her and didn't know what to do. Her mother gave her away so she didn't have to be sad about her dying.
"Wrecker, said you wanted me to check the cameras for…" Tech cut himself off seeing his oldest brother swaying to keep the baby silent. Echo walked straight into Techs back in shock at the baby.
"Oh god, what happened?" Echo asked, as Hunter passed over the letter to Wrecker who read it out loud for the rest of them. Echo could only grimace.
"So, she didn't even come in"
"Who?"
"Crystal?"
"No, there was a knock and it took me a minute to answer and then I found Megan"
"Oh god, well what do you want to do?"
"I don't know" Hunter answered in defeat, just as the front door opened with a loud bang and storming footsteps ran up the stairs. They all heard a sigh as the door shut and Fives appeared in the doorway of the kitchen only to grimace. He gulped seeing the baby in Hunter's arms.
"Oh god, please tell me it was Echo, I've been waiting for him to trip up" Fives teased, earning himself several glares.
"Not she's Hunters according to our information" Tech said overlooking the documents with Echo helping while Wrecker had grabbed his phone to research what they may need.
"Are you keeping her?" Fives asked, all attention turned towards Hunter who could only sigh looking down at his possible future vision.
"I don't know" Hunter was quick to answer.
"Hunter, if you still want to take the job. I can raise her" Wrecker suggested, all heads turned towards the giant in the room.
"Wreck, I can't ask you to…"
"Hunter, if you want this job, take it but I will not abandon my niece just because you don't know what to do…"
"Thanks, Wrecker but I think I'm going to raise her. This job may be a big opportunity but something doesn't feel right about it so I think this was why I wasn't able to make my decision. I know you will help me knowing baby Megan will need her uncles in her life to fill in for her missing mother" Hunter exclaimed, he then passed over his daughter to Wrecker who took her with gentle hands. The others could only smile while Hunter was quick to ring back and explain his decision, leaving out his daughter knowing the company didn't need to know that.
A few minutes of silence passed before Fives realised why he came in the kitchen in the first place, he moved past Echo who watched him as Fives grabbed the bottle of vodka and some pop.
"Woah, where are you going with that?"
"Crosshairs room," Fives answered.
"No, I've told you he can't drink unless he's under supervision, put it back" Hunter said in his stubborn older brother tone. Fives could only shake his head, putting them back and grabbing some sweets and water.
"Dare I ask, what happened?" Echo asked, knowing Fives didn't normally grab Alcohol unless it was serious.
"Crosshairs best-friend died"
Silence filled the kitchen, "What? Are you sure? The one he went hiking with and adrenaline jumping?" Wrecker asked.
"That's the one" Fives bluntly answered, grabbing himself a beer and drinking it. Hunter could only shake his head.
"What happened?" Tech questioned.
"Terminal Cancer, she was clear of it a couple of years ago but six months ago, she was losing the battle drastically" Fives explained, looking out the window.
"What was her name?"
"Why?" Fives turned to Echo who only raised an eyebrow.
"Just answer the question"
"Crystal Harper, why?"
Hunter gasped in shock, he looked at the others who were wide eyed.
"What have I missed?" Fives questioned only for him to be given a letter, "Oh shit. Did you know who she was?" Hunter only shook his head.
"I will tell Cross" Fives said, "No let me" Tech grunted out, walking up the stairs to comfort his twin.
"Woah! So what do you need, I think Kix and Jesse still have Kaiser's old crib. Want me to ask?" Fives turned to Hunter who could only nod as Tech reappeared with a teary eyed Crosshair who took one look at Hunter and launched himself at him. Hunter pulled him close, feeling sobs rack his brother's much smaller frame. Crosshair wasn't one for emotions but Crystal had been in his life for a long-time. She was his best-friend.
"Crystal's mother sent me a text, at first it was confusing but I now understand. She was the one who dropped off Megan, she said: raise her right and love her" Crosshair muttered, pulling away from his older brother and moving over to Fives who wrapped him up. Hunter could only nod, passing over a few tissues to his brother who cleaned himself up. The others only sent gentle smiles.
"So, what do we do?" Echo pointed at the baby in Wreckers arms, the one keeping the giant silent.
"We raise her," Hunter said with a smile, as his daughter cried. He acted on instinct alone as he took her into his arms and started to hum an old lullaby he knew off heart.
The others could only smile listening to the familiar tune as they looked towards their bright new hope for the future. A miracle created out of the love of a father. Even Crosshair allowed a smile to settle on his face as he lay his head on Five's neck, his boyfriend holding him close as they swayed with the tune. Wrecker smirked, grabbing his keys to go and get some stuff with Tech and Echo. They left the room silently as Fives received a text back from Jesse. He smirked, leading Crosshair out of the room to his car.
The only thing left in the house bar the silence was the loving lullaby of a father meeting his daughter for the first time. Hunter smiled to himself looking at the little miracle, he sent a silent thankful message to the angels above knowing Crystal would get it.
The End…