Old Friends

**The next morning**

Waking up, I feel... good, my back's healed and I'm hangover free. A pretty goodmorning to start of my day, after using the bathroom I beeline straight for the fried eggs Chase cooked up, a short while later we're are already on a plane to Underhand Paradise.

**A Couple hours later**

after the airport, we grabbed a cabi and headed to a house I happen to own, it's a bit dusty so we spent about half an hour fixing the place. After that we head straight to the diner where Charlie & Rogue are already sitting up waving at us. Waving back me & Chase take our seat across them...

It's good to see you two. I miss you gals.

Charlie" we miss you too. So Chase how did you two meet?"

Chase" well I showed up to his house, and now we're here."

Rogue" hey, you know we're here. Right?"

......yeah.... I'm sorry, I was an idiot. So I see your appetites still the same.

Rogue" well... you know why{blush}."

so I'm guessing everyone's here?

Charlie" yeah, Aiden just got back a few days ago."

Rogue" so have you two unpacked yet?"

Chase" no, but we pack light. So there isn't much to unpack."

**a few hours later at Hugo's bar**

stepping through Hugo's door, the familiar smell of liquor, beer, and frozen mozzarella sticks hit me all at once... it's good to come back. And sitting by the bar is Aiden, Kye, Charlie & Rogue. And by his pool table I see Harris and next to her Marcel. And they welcome us with hugs and smiles.

Aiden" Leonardo, it's good to see you. How's New York?"

fine. How's being a doctor?

Aiden" good. We miss you, all of us."

I miss all of you too.

Kye" hey, who's your girlfriend?"

{blush}Kye, everyone meet my partner Chase.

Kye" oh, no wonder. Theres no way you'd have a girlfriend."

what makes you say that.

Kye" but for real, we miss you. So next time don't shut us out."

Hugo" Leo, do you still like a Manhattan General?"

I do. Especially yours Hugo, thanks.

so are your kids doing homework?

Rogue" they're, you should see them."

Charlie" they miss you too."

Harris" Leo, what the heck! How could you leave us for so long."

Marcel" buddy, you're screwed."

Harris I'm sorry, I promise, no more disappearing.

Harris" good. Now let's get this party started."

partying with everyone. This is just like the old days, I can't help shed a couple tears as I see everyone here. All the most important people in my life, they all welcome me back with open arms... They're right. No more disappearing, not when I got a family. After a few hours of partying we all decide to call it a night, heading back home we beeline straight for the bed. We're so sleepy that we could sleep on the floor. Falling to the bed we are out in a couple of seconds.

**the next morning**

Waking up, I stretch with a groan as I feel my muscle stretch. The tension disappearing. Getting out of bed I head to the bathroom... after using it, I head to the kitchen to drink a cup of water, as I do Chase is plating French toast for two. Taking a seat I start digging in, after a couple minutes... we finish our toasts and I take the plates washing them as Chase heads to the bathroom. After washing the plates I decide to go over to Hugo's, Kye is most likely there and if I'm right Aiden should also be there.

morning guys.

surprise goes through Hugo's face, so does Kye. They wave back, no longer wide-eyed.

surprise to see me?

Hugo" well, I think you know why."

Kye" but in case you don't, it's because you left us for a few years without even saying why."

yeah..... guys, I'm sorry. No excuses, I didn't know how to face all of you.

Hugo" Leo, we're your friends. We know you enough that you'd never cross the line."

Kye" so don't keep beating yourself, now while you're here... do you mind helping me get some boxes from the back."

sure thing.

following Kye, the backroom is still the same. though the boxes are definitely heavier, but I've carried more.

are we setting them on the bar?

Kye" yeah, just set them here."

setting the boxes with a huff... I catch Hugo chuckle under his breath while wiping a glass. Ringing the door bell, Aiden comes in going straight to Hugo. No doubt to get a drink, shortly followed by Charlie. Both surprise to see me give a smile.

Charlie" Aiden I think I went back to the past, or is this real?"

haha, very funny.

Aiden" my diagnosis, you're not. So where's your partner?"

she's taking a day off. So how's the clinic?

Aiden" good. Thankfully most are just check-ups, and Charlie how's your kids?"

Charlie" Tala's doing great, Indigo is loving every minute of taekwondo, and Callum is great at history."

good to know your kids are still the same.

Charlie" you know, I could ask Rogue to swing here after she picks them up."

It's okay... Rogue's already busy with her job.

Kye" oh, please... you're just nervous."

Kye" you know for someone who's middle name means death you sure get nervous easily."

Hugo" Kye, the boxes?".

Kye" ugh... fine, I'm going."

Aiden" you know, Rogue has most likely told them that you're here. If not, Charlie did."

alright, Charlie would it be ok if I-

Charlie" if you stopped by. Yes, I'll see you around six?"

sure.

after spending an hour getting ready, add a few minutes of walking, I'm at their house... oh gosh, Kye was right. Huh, that's not something you see everyday. After a light knock Rogue opens the door with a smile on her face. Stepping in I see Tala, Indigo and Callum at the dinner table. Simultaneously they're surprised to me. I guess Charlie & Rogue kept me a surprise, waving to me from the stove Charlie grins as she sees the look on my face.

hi. Surprised to see me.

Tala"... you're uncle Leo, right?"

yeah, we met when you were five. You three were so little.

taking a step closer, Tala looks at me for a moment before pulling me into a hug. And then Indigo and Callum join in to, it takes me a second to hug them back. And I do, hugging them tight.

Charlie" dinner's ready. C'mon kids, Leo."

Rogue" your cooking's smells delicious, babe."

Charlie" hey, don't forget yourself."

as Charlie & Rogue kiss, I see Tala, Indigo & Callum cringe slightly.

hey, your parents love each other. You three should be happy.

Callum" we're it's just...."

Charlie" it's just what?"

turning a bit sheepish Callum retreats a bit flustered, Tala and Indigo can't help but laugh at their brother.

Rogue" girls, stop teasing your brother."

Indigo" sorry Mom."

Tala" sorry."

as we eat, I didn't realize how much food there was... it's almost as much as a buffet, but that's normal. After helping to clean up, Rogue propose that we should go on a light run in the woods. After a few minutes the bell rings and Harris and Marcel are standing together, Harris with a huge toothy grin.

Harris" hey, Alphas so we ready to go?"

Rogue" let's go."

**a few hours later**

after a few hours of running and playing, we lie down on the grass with our face to the night sky, and the moon. This..... it feels just like yesterday. Even the woods are the same. The tress, the grass, all the fireflies. It's all the same, after dusting our selves off we decide to have a sleepover at my house.

a few minutes later

Chase" hey Leonardo.... oh, hey everyone. And you three must be Charlie & Rogue's kids. Hi I'm Chase."

Tala" hi, I'm Tala. And this is Indigo, and he's Callum."

Chase" well, it's nice to meet you. So let's get this sleepover started."

a couple hours later

Rogue" phew... finally got the kids to sleep, so Leo how's it going with A.D.O.A?"

it's... going well.

Charlie" so Chase, how's it living with Leo? He give you any trouble?"

Chase" no, he's been good. Although I thought he'd have better alcohol tolerance."

hey.. I usually drink one or three glass of wine.

Harris" oh, Leo is it true that a crazy lunatic is running around NY?"

..............