Lucio's POV:

I was in the living room watching Paw Patrol with the kids. The sounds of their laughter filled the air as their eyes stayed glued to the screen. If you had asked me a year ago, I never would have pictured myself in a scene like this, but here I was, on Kate's couch, surrounded by small, sticky hands and high-pitched giggles. It felt... odd. Almost peaceful, but with an underlying tension I couldn't quite shake.

Then my phone buzzed, vibrating across the coffee table. I glanced at the caller ID and frowned. Hasley? Why the hell was Hasley calling me? I almost ignored it, but then I remembered—I hadn't gone home last night.

I sighed and picked up, barely putting the phone to my ear before she started in on me. "Where the hell are you, Lucio? Do you have any idea what time it is? You didn't come home! Do you even care? Have you completely lost your shame? You're acting like a—"

"Hasley, can you just shut up for a second?" I interrupted, running a hand through my hair. "I'm at Kate's place. No, we're not back together, in case that's your next question."

Before I could finish, I heard Kate's voice from behind me. "And why do you think I'd ever want to get back with you?" she asked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. I turned to see her leaning against the doorway, arms crossed, eyes narrowed in that way that made me feel like I was still somehow under scrutiny.

I opened my mouth to respond but thought better of it, turning my attention back to Hasley on the phone. "So, why exactly are you calling?"

There was a pause on the other end, and when she spoke again, her voice was more tired than angry. "We need Kate's help... about Michen."

I frowned, confusion washing over me. "Michen? What do you need Kate's help for?"

"It's Emerald," she said with a sigh. "Can you ask Kate if we could come over?"

Emerald? That didn't make sense. Kate hadn't spoken to Hasley or the others for months, and now they were asking for her help out of nowhere?

"Kate," I said, turning toward her. She was still standing in the doorway, watching me carefully. "Hasley wants to know if they can come over. She says it's urgent."

Kate's expression didn't change, but after a beat, she nodded. "Fine," she muttered before disappearing down the hallway.

"She said yes," I relayed to Hasley. "I'll text you the address."

After hanging up, I tossed the phone onto the couch and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. My mind raced. What could be so urgent that they needed Kate's help? It was only yesterday that they all saw each other, and that interaction hadn't exactly been friendly. Kate had barely spoken to them at all, which was understandable considering everything that had gone down.

The doorbell rang, startling me. I glanced at my watch. They couldn't have gotten here that fast. It was at least a thirty-minute drive. How had they made it in ten?

With a knot forming in my stomach, I walked over and opened the door. Sure enough, there they were—Michen, Hasley, Jordan, and the rest of the crew. I furrowed my brows, confusion deepening as I looked at their faces. Something was off. Michen in particular looked... exhausted. His usual cocky demeanor was nowhere to be found, replaced by something much more vulnerable.

"What the hell are you guys doing here?" I asked, stepping aside to let them in. The kids were still in the living room, oblivious to the sudden tension that had entered the house.

Michen didn't say anything at first. He just stared at me for a moment, then at the kids playing on the floor. His eyes lingered there a little too long for my liking. Did he know about Kate's children all along? And if he did... why hadn't he said anything? Why hadn't anyone told me?

Jordan walked past me, his expression unreadable. He had his hands stuffed in his pockets, but there was something off about his posture. Something tense, like he was waiting for something to go wrong.

I clenched my fists, an unspoken frustration bubbling beneath the surface. They had all known something, hadn't they? About Kate, about the kids. Hell, maybe even about why she had disappeared in the first place.

"Lucio, we didn't tell you because..." Hasley's voice broke through my thoughts as she stepped forward, her face softening in a way that made me feel like I was about to be hit with something big. "We thought we were protecting you."

"Protecting me?" I scoffed, the bitterness in my voice surprising even myself. "From what? From my own life?"

Hasley opened her mouth to respond, but I didn't let her. "You think I didn't deserve to know? That you all got to make that decision for me?" My voice was rising now, frustration blending with a simmering anger I'd been pushing down for months. "What, was it too inconvenient for me to be a part of whatever this is?"

"Lucio, calm down—" Jordan started, but I cut him off.

"Don't tell me to calm down! What's going on here? Why are you all really here? And why now?"

Michen finally spoke, his voice quieter than I'd ever heard it. "We didn't know how to tell you, okay? This... this is complicated."

"Complicated?" I repeated, incredulous. "What the hell could be so complicated that you couldn't even give me the decency of a heads-up?"

Before Michen could answer, Kate reappeared, her presence immediately grounding the room. Her gaze flicked between me and the group, clearly sensing the tension.

"You guys came here for a reason," she said, her voice calm but firm. "What is it? What's going on with Emerald?"

Michen looked at Kate, his face a mix of guilt and something else I couldn't quite place. He hesitated for a long moment before finally speaking.

"It's not just about Emerald," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "It's about all of us."

Your the cause of everything.

I frowned thinking about what I did I mean it's all my fault she deserves way better.

"Are you even going to let us in I'm not here to see you and what are you doing here anyways". He asked pushing me out the way.

With the guys trailing behind him but left us to talk Jordan and Joseph avoided eye contact with me while Steven sent me a death glare.

I didn't even see that Kay was there the way how she was tiny comparing to my height she sent me a small smile then walked away.

She too even hates me.

"You know even if I don't live here your still not welcome in my wife's house". I slammed the door shut turning towards him and he cocked a brow.

"Wife? Are you sure your not injured in the head because I could swore I heard my best friend spoke crap".

Soon there was giggling in the living room and men's laughter and I'm guessing Joseph is giving jokes.

"So did you find out what we did?". I was lost what was he talking about.

"Find out what exactly?" I asked curious not knowing what he's talking about.

"Nothing I just came here to see my loving nieces and nephews". He smirked at me before giving me a box and walking away.

What's the box all about even.

"Uncle Chen". I heard Lucy shouted giggling, I remembered the name Kate use to call him back then but he'd normally frown by the name.

"What's in the box". I snapped my head up and saw Kate walking down the stairs in Nike slides, ripped jeans and a crop top and her hair in a high pony tail. I didn't realize I was staring at her for God knows when.

"Um hello to earth, what's in the box?". She said snapping her fingers.

I looked down on the box and back at her and shrugged my shoulders.

"Well then aren't you going to open it?". She asked a little furious, I don't know but it's like she knows something I don't, why is she bothering me about the stupid box anyways.

"Why are you tempting me about what's inside the box did you and Michen plan something?" I asked taking step towards her and she took a step back.

"I'm as curious as you so why don't you just open the damn box". Is she doing this right now.

I walked to the kitchen and plopped down one of the stools her eyes were still trained on the box that was on the counter in front of me.

"Well then?". She stated and I shook my head and tore the box open carefully.

I looked at the pictures frame and Kate took up one and smiled.

"I'm keeping these two". She said hugging the pictures.

"And why can't I decide on what I want to keep it was given to me you know". I got up and caged her in by the counter.

She looked away not wanting to meet my eyes.

"Kate look at me". She hugged on to the picture frame and looked the other way when I touched her and I chuckled.

I used my finger and lift up her chin and looked at her.

"Love now let me see the pictures shall we". She shook her head in a yes and showed me the image Michen took yesterday and I smiled.

"Now let's see the last one". She changed over the picture and I smiled at this once it's actually my favourite with me kissing Kate's cheek and she having a shocked expression while the kids looked at us smiling.

"You can have them". I pulled away from her walking to the fridge as if this is my house.

"Really?". She asked surprised.

"Yeah why not infact you won't be living alone for long". She tilted yet head and looked at me in confusion.

"What do you mean I live with my children and that's okay with me and we are so not getting together you know?". My blood was boiling when she said that but Kate is so talkitive.

"You know I'm not listening to your crap and you know I'm not giving up that easily I'll make you mine again remember that mine". She gulped and walked out the kitchen.

The door bell rang and I walked out the kitchen seeing Michen opening the door.

His face fell when he saw my sister's at the front door and he walked away.

After there conversation the other day I decided to stay out of it.

"Michen, Michen please listen to me". Emerald walked behind him saying.

"No I'm not going to listen to you, do you have something to say about Kate again because she's the only person you ever talk about". He stopped and she hit into him.

"No that's not why I'm here and I'm sorry". She said crying.

I'm so not getting in this conversation.

"Sorry won't bring back the fact we missed on so much when Kate was gone and you", he said pointing at me, Hasley and Emerald "your a bunch of idiots to think Kate did all that". He snapped and my eyes widen.

"Don't act all surprised King, your a idiot and Hasley you'll be good as dead so don't speak". Michen said putting up his hands silencing Hasley.

"I-m pregnant Michen I know that you don't-". He turned around and looked at her shocked.

I was even shocked I'm going to be an uncle.