Finding Them

It had been a few days and everyone was exhausted. The twins were slowly on the mend and Darcy could move without vomiting. Daniel was a zombie but that's part of being a parent. He had been up every night with the twins and stayed in the guest room downstairs so his older sons could get some sleep. They still had school, and uni and Mitchell had to be at work so he wanted them to get some rest. The twins had spent the time laying on Daniel and wanting him to make them feel better which he loved. He didn't love the fact his children were sick, he loved the growth they had and the fact they now trusted him to help them.

Mitchell had tried to take the day off to help but Daniel assured him he was capable of caring for sick children. He had done it for his other children and would do it for the twins too. When the boys returned for the night they helped where they could trying to give Daniel a break but the twins wouldn't have it, so the older boys cooked and cleaned. He was so proud of the men he had raised because they truly had stepped up.

Daniel wasn't aware that his eldest boys had sat outside the guest room listening in case Daniel needed help through the night. He thought they had at least got some sleep. But no one complained, they chugged coffee and got on with it because that's what families do. Bill had called several times to check in on Daniel and the twins and even dropped lunch around for Daniel when he heard how exhausted he was. When Bill had arrived Daniel had just gotten the twins to sleep and had been ignoring calls from his parents for two days. He welcomed his brother in for some solace and adult company, he loved his kids but there was nothing like catching up with your brother.

After the third call from Angie which Daniel ignored Bill couldn't help but question Daniel. "What's going on? You were such a mummas boy now you are ignoring her" Bill asked his brother. "She keeps blaming the twins especially Darcy for her behaviour. I just can't help but feel she doesn't get she was in the wrong" Daniel answered his brother honestly. Bill nodded his head, he knew exactly what Daniel was thinking because he had grown up with the woman and she had treated him and Daniel very differently. Daniel had been the golden boy where as Bill had been the disappointment and Angie made it known.

Daniel's phone rang for the fifth and he finally picked up the phone. "Do not ignore me, Daniel, I am your mother" Angie bit out into the phone. "I'm tired of this mum, you hurt my kids and you think you did nothing wrong" Daniel replied. He was oh so tired and had reached his limit even Bill could see that. "They need discipline, Daniel, children can not pretend to die and be taught that's acceptable. I won't have my grandchildren be a disappointment" Angie fumed out. Bill put his head down knowing full well what that meant to the woman. "They aren't a disappointment, they were abused and learnt to survive the best they could. You are the disappointment" Daniel fumed right back, no one and I mean no one would speak badly about the twins. Darcy and Dakota had survived so much and yet they were thriving now. They had made so much progress in such a short amount of time and Daniel was damn proud of them.

"You never cared when I hit your other children, in fact, you left them with me while you went away" Angie sassed out. She had no idea what she had just done. "You hit my children? You put your fucking hands on my kids? How dare you? I trusted you and you did that?" Daniel fumed out startling the twins from their sleep. Bill heard the soft cry of Darcy and acted quickly. He grabbed the phone from Daniel hanging up on his mother. "She isn't worth it mate, your kids need you" Bill gently told his brother. Daniel had just learnt of the monster that was his mother and he was fuming. Bill had known this side of their mother all along.

Daniel and Bill made their way into the lounge room where the twins had been napping to see Darcy crying into Dakota's chest. "Hi bud, hi princess. I'm sorry you woke up with the yelling. I was angry at the woman who hurt you" Daniel whispered to his kids, he didn't want to lie to them at all but he knew he had to own up to his mistake of yelling around the twins. He has also taken several deep breaths to calm himself so as not to scare the twins any more than he already had.

Darcy looked at her dad "Addy" she cried out to him. Dakota whipped his head around to see Daniel and he too began to cry. The twins had thought Daniel had left them. "Addy" Darcy sobbed louder. Daniel quickly made his way over to the twins. "I'm right here princess it's ok. Bud, it's ok. I'm right here both of you are safe here" Daniel assured his twins. "Addy no leave us" Dakota whispered quietly. Daniel looked at his twins and his heart ached for his babies, they thought he had left. "I will never leave you, either of you. I promise" he told the twins. Dakota sighed in relief and pulled Darcy and him over to Daniel climbing into his lap. "Wuv you" Dakota mumbled to Daniel as he settled on his chest. "Wuv Addy" Darcy added leaning on Daniel's chest too.

Daniel wiped the tears from his eyes and held his twins before choking out "I love you, Darcy and Dakota". Daniel looked at his brother and smiled. After a good five minutes cuddling together Daniel spoke up, "Darcy, Dakota, I want you to meet someone very important. This is my brother Uncle Bill" he told them while pointing to his brother Bill who had taken a seat opposite. Bill waved at his niece and nephew and softly said hi to them. Darcy and Dakota were studying Bill's face and then looking at Daniel. They looked similar and always had done. Darcy smiled a little and waved back at Bill, Dakota watched to make sure he didn't hurt Addy or his sister. Dakota was protective of those he loved and that now included Addy. After Dakota was sure he was no threat, Dakota gave Bill a little nod of his head which meant the world to Bill. He had been a child who was abused by a trusted adult and that small gesture from a little boy who had been hurt by adults was worth more than all the money in the world. Bill smiled at the twins and his brother knowing this house was safe and free from the monster who he had grown up with, his mother.