The knock was repeated. Aiden opened his eyes, and lifted his head, then kissed Tina's hand as it landed on her own middle under him. She woke as well. Groggy, she said, "Someone's at the door."
He still didn't want to move. He was half-intoxicated by the closeness they had shared not long before. He put his head back down, and then all four of their eyes sprung open when they heard, "Aiden, me Matie, open up!" It was Todd doing his best imitation of an Irishman.
Tina covered Aiden's mouth. "It's my brother!" she whispered, frantically.
Aiden smirked below her hand. He also raised an eyebrow.
Tina said, in a whisper, "Are you going to be quiet?"
He nodded. She took her hand away. He said, "Ya don't want y'ar brother to know that ya'r with me?"
She looked into his eyes, which were filled with self-doubt. She whispered, "No, it's not that."
"Are ya embarrassed?" He asked her.
The knock was louder. "Hey, you?"
They listened closely, and could hear Blair with him. "Maybe he's napping, Todd."
"Napping? Hmf. AIDEN!" He slammed his fists on the door. Both Aiden and Tina jumped.
Aiden looked at Tina, and not wanting him to think she was ashamed of him, she said, "Go ahead."
He got up, opened the door, and blocked the view into the room with his body. "Hi, Todd. What's the matter, Pal?"
"Nothing, Blair and I have something to tell you. It's important."
"I was sleeping, Mate. I need me beauty rest," he said, trying to shut the door with a large smile.
"Hey, it's important, Aiden, what's up with you?" Todd said.
"I, uh . . ."
"Come on, let us in, it's like major, life changing stuff," Todd said, gently pushing the door. To his surprise, the bed was unmade, but empty. It appeared Blair was right. "Oh, you were really sleeping?"
"I was."
Todd walked in anyway, followed by Blair, and she looked at Tina's shoes along side the bed, and pointed, "Uh, Todd?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Aww, Geez," he seemed disgusted. Then looked at Aiden, questioningly.
"Aiden, Todd means . . ." Blair began.
"I'm just . . . never mind me, Aiden, but it's my sister." Todd stumbled.
Aiden laughed. "Ya may as well come out, Little Tina."
From inside the bathroom and wrapped in sheet, Tina walked into the room.
"Nice toga," Todd said to her.
She smirked sarcastically.
"We're going now," Blair said.
"Huh? We have to talk to Aiden, Blair!" Todd said.
"We're going now," she repeated, and took his arm.
"What's the matter, Matie? Something wrong?" Aiden asked.
"Nothing's wrong, we're just going," Blair said, practically dragging Todd out of the room.
Tina sat on the bed. "Wait, guys, I'll go," she started to put her shoes on. She kept the sheet as a gown around her.
"You wouldn't have to leave, Tina." Blair said, "If Aiden wanted us to stay, and talk now, you would stay, too."
Todd's eyes shifted to the side. Blair said, "Wouldn't she, Todd?" and widened her eyes.
He folded his arms, and stayed silent. Then, catching Blair's look, he said, "Yeah, well, whatever Aiden wants." Todd gave in.
"It's settled. What is it? What have ya got to tell me?" Aiden said, sitting beside Tina and taking her hand.
Tina said, "I'll be right back, Aiden, I'm going to get dressed." She got up, keeping her sheet gown, and went into the bathroom.
"Well, we, uh, found something out that you might want to know." He sat in the side chair.
Blair stood watching him with her arms folded over her chest, and they were resting on her baby bump. "Go on," she said.
Aiden interrupted. "All right, what is this about? Ya went to see Aman and Lily, didn't ya? Are they all right, Mates?"
"Oh, they're fine, don't worry," Blair said.
"Tell me, then," Aiden said, and he looked wide-eyed and innocent.
Todd didn't know where to start. His impulse was to blurt out the truth to him, and just say the words that he was Timothy's son. He looked at Blair, and then stood up, "Sit here, Babe," he said, and walked toward her.
She was still looking at him, admonishingly. She sat down, and said, "Aiden, what did you learn when you were at Aman and Lily's?"
He recited back what he had found out from talking to the only parents he had known. When he was finished, Blair said, "Well, when Todd heard that story, he put some facts together. It's something extremely good, but also very sad. Hard to explain. But I will say this; you'll be fortunate to be part of it once you know."
Tina came back into the main room, and sat beside Aiden again. Blair noticed that he fumbled for her hand. "I am confused, Dear Girl, I wonder what y'ar trying to tell me."
"I am trying to tell you that, well, we know who your father is. Your biological father," she said.
Aiden's expression changed, and Blair knew she saw a hint of moisture in his eyes, as well as a prevailing hope. "Ya do?"
"Yeah. It was easy for me to figure out, once I heard Aman talking. It was too big of a coincidence to be anything else." Todd chimed in.
A knock on the door was heard. Everyone sat in silence for a moment, and Tina stood. "I'll get it, I guess." She went to the door, and Todd, Blair and Aiden waited to see who was there.
Todd shook his head in amazement, and Blair, covered her mouth. There at the door was Timothy Broderick.
***
"I know y'ar worried, but ya shouldn't be. Timothy is a grown fellow, who takes care of himself, and has had to for many years," the nun said to Dorian.
"I suppose," she answered.
"He's off chasing something, a dream, perhaps. He hasn't had a chance to let us know yet, but I am sure it's a big one, it is."
"I'm just concerned, you know, he seemed so driven when he left here."
"He did. But ya have to have faith that he's doing what needs to be done."
"I just wish he'd call, that's all," Dorian said.
The nun walked into Dorian's little kitchenette. "I'll make us tea."
"All right, thank you," she answered, and found herself on the couch. "Are the kids all right?"
"With Lieutenant Shaun? They'll be fine," she laughed.
"That's true. Let's just hope Little Ray doesn't run off and hide again, the dickens. He's getting to be quite a handful."
"And then some. A little dickens indeed!"
Within a few minutes, the teapot whistled. "Ah, tea, something that fixes what ails ya." She poured, and brought it to the coffee table. She noticed Dorian's face. "Me thinks ya love my brother, Dorian."
"I just might, Rebecca."
"No one calls me that, and it's surprising to hear. Not bad, mind ya, just different. I am not used to just hearing my name."
"What made you go into the convent?"
"A very long story for another day, Dear."
"Think he'll call us," she said, sipping.
"I have no doubt."
They sat in silence.
***
"Ah, y'ar all here." Timothy said, entering the room.
"Hey, Old Man, how did you get out here?" Todd asked.
"I have my resources, just as you do, Son." Timothy said to Todd.
Blair was on her feet and hugging him within minutes. "Dad, glad you came."
"Yes, I felt it was important for me to come and tell Aiden something. Something I discovered. Of course, I am glad that the two of ya are here, and you, Tina."
Aiden looked up, and at that moment, his face illustrated a dawning. He slowly went to his feet, and stood eye to eye with the older man. The room was very quiet before he finally spoke, "Timothy . . . y'ar my father, aren't ya?"
The reactions in the room were silent but powerful.
"Yes, Aiden, I believe I am. I've been given information from the RA21, put together bits and pieces. Y'ar eyes. They . . . let's just say I recognized ya, early on, but couldn't fathom it."
Blair's hand went back to her mouth, and she was crying. Todd went beside her and put an arm around her shoulders, pulling her against his side. Tina sat, still on the bed, her eyes fixed on Timothy and Aiden's exchange. Todd heard a small sigh escape from her.
Aiden said, "How, then? What's the rest of it? My mother was killed, that was . . . that was . . ."
"That was my wife, her name was Erin. Erin McCarthy Broderick."
Tears began to stream down Aiden's face. Todd averted his eyes, and swallowed. Blair rested her head on his shoulder.
"Were ya there?" Aiden asked.
"I was. I was meeting ya, both of ya, for lunch at Leo Burdock's . . ."
"The fish and chips fare." Aiden's eyes became distant a moment, and then he looked back at Timothy. "I . . . know where that is."
"I was waiting, for ya and y'ar mother to come and meet me for lunch. Ya came across the street, both of ya. She had y'ar hand. She . . . was shot first." Timothy's voice wilted, and crackled in his throat.
Todd stepped forward, and put a hand on his shoulder. "I can do this, if you want."
The old man touched Todd's hand, and patted it. "No, Son, let me tell the rest to y'ar brother."
At this, Todd was overcome and went back toward Blair, who reached up and just put her arms around him.
"She was shot first, she pulled ya to her, to cover ya. I see it plain as day. But don't try and remember it, just believe. It's painful enough for me, and I don't have the injury ya do."
Aiden's throat worked, and the tears continued to streak down his cheeks. He reached his hand back behind him, and Tina, seeing it, took it. Through her tears, she held it, and covered it with her other hand.
"After this, I was dragged off screaming. Ya and y'ar Mam, ya were dead. I was carried off, out of my mind. But ya didn't die, Son. Ya made it. The Men of 21 got ya, but ya made it." Aiden didn't speak, he just listened, and then nodded for Timothy to continue. "The RA21 got ya back. A man named Owen Leary relayed everything to me. The Men of 21 had ya for a while. Did some damage to y'ar mind. But it's nothing that can't be fixed."
Todd, still in Blair embrace, whispered to her, "Brainwashing." She tried to push the thought of the little boy, not quite Sam's age, having his mind played with by sick sadists.
Timothy said, "There's a bit more to that, but right now, I feel that what's important is . . ."
"That y'ar my father. My Pappy. And I'm not an orphan, anymore." Aiden's voice was husky, and soft.
"Yes, I'm y'ar Pappy. And Todd is y'ar brother, for what it's worth. And his wife and children are y'ar family, too. And my sister, she's y'ar aunt."
Both Tina and Blair were close to sobbing, but controlled themselves as much as possible. Todd held his own, but Blair noticed a singular tear beginning when she brought her hand up to touch his face.
Even though he was crying, Aiden smiled his large, genuine grin. "What's my name then, please?"
"Y'ar name is Eric Broderick, Son. Eric is eternal ruler, and Broderick is a loose translation for brother."
Aiden gulped; Timothy could see it as the younger man broke down, and Timothy put his arms around him and embraced him. "I missed ya, Son."
At this, the soft but audible sobs of Aiden and Tina, and the sniffling of Blair could be heard in the quiet of the room. Todd was still holding fast to his wife, his eyes closed and a few tears making their way down his face. Blair's hand was in his hair in the back of his head, and her other was over his back, lovingly comforting him.
Aiden broke the silence, and pulled back from his father at last. "This is a big day, and I'm glad all of ya were here for it."
Timothy turned to Todd and Blair, and could see Blair's face, complete with tears, over Todd's shoulder. She shook her head "no" slightly, so that Timothy would realize something was off with Todd. In her heart, she knew the difference between the reception of Aiden by his father and the news from Aman and Lily about Todd's painful experiences in their home years back was playing on his mind and heart.
Aiden sat on the bed, and embraced Tina. She softly said, "I'm so happy that you've found something you've wanted for so long."
Timothy walked toward Todd and Blair, and put a strong hand on Todd's shoulder. He said, "Todd. Son?"
Blair let go of her husband, and he turned, "Old Man," he said, running a hand through his hair, and unceremoniously wiping his eyes on his sleeve.
"Come here, Lad," Timothy said, and put his arms around Todd. "Whatever it is ya've learned means nothing anymore. Ya have y'ar family, Bea, who's working to get well, Blair and the children, my sister, a new brother, and me, your old Dad. You're all right, Boy. I'm not going leave ya," he said, patting Todd's back, strong and protectively.
*** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** ***
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