Old Friends

Frankie smiled and kissed the top of his head.

Kari smiled and hugged him tightly.

"Still don't like it." Jacen sighed.

Jasper got up and went over to Dante. "Want to hold Soren?"

"I know love... But at least you feel better now." Frankie said softly.

Dante smiled widely and nodded, "Of course I do!" He said as he took Soren.

Jacen nodded, hugging him tightly. "Always good."

Jasper smiled and leaned close to kiss his head.

Frankie smiled, "So did you wish your nephew happy birthday?"

Dante smiled happily before whispering to Jasper, "I love you."

Jacen frowned, looking away. "...not yet."

"I love you too." Jasper grinned.

Frankie nodded slowly though he was surprised, "Oh?"

Dante smiled happily at that.

Alex stood in the doorway.

"...I got distracted."

Artemis smiled as he watched them before turning to look at Alex, holding a hand out to him. "Come here."

Frankie nodded understandingly, "I'm sure its okay."

Alex smiled and took his hand.

"I take it they didn't tell you what I was doing...?" Jacen said quietly.

Artemis gently pulled him into the room and led him over to Dante.

Frankie shook his head. "Just that you left without telling anyone."

Dante smiled happily and hugged Alex.
Alex smiled and kissed the top of his head, "Happy birthday." He said softly before pulling away and handing Dante his gift. "Open it."
Dante smiled and opened the small box.

Jacen sighed and hesitated before speaking. "I went to find Peter..."

Artemis held Soren while Dante got his present, Jasper sitting on the floor with the twins.

"O-OH..." Frankie said softly, "That was dangerous! What if he had grabbed you again?"

Dante smiled, "Papa this is great!" He lifted a locket out.

Jacen jumped slightly, hanging his head. "...I kind of threatened them with a gun." He said quietly.

Artemis moved closer to look at it properly. "Oh, so you did end up getting it for him?"

Frankie looked at Jacen in shook, "What?"

Alex smiled and nodded, "Yep, open it up Dante."
Dante opened it up and smiled softly.

"I- I thought they had him..." Jacen said quietly.

"What is it?" Jasper asked curiously.

"Him..? You mean...?" Frankie said softly.

Dante showed him, the locket had on one side a picture of Dante with his parents and sister and on the other Jasper, the little ones and himself.

Jacen nodded, curling up against Frankie. "Yeah..."

"Oh, so that's why they took those pictures." Jasper smiled.

Frankie hugged him tightly.

Alex smiled and nodded, "Yep."

"He- ...Peter thinks Raven has him though." Jacen mumbled, biting his lip.

Jasper shook his head before sticking his tongue out at Alex.

"R-Rav..." Frankie started worriedly.

Alex grinned and stuck his tongue out back at Jasper.

"I-I know..." Jacen said quietly, lowering his head in hope that Frankie didn't see he was trying not to cry.

"What's that papa?" Cole asked as he came over to them, standing on his toes to try and see.

Frankie just hugged even tighter.

Dante knelt down and showed his locket to Cole, "Its a locket."

Jacen curled up against Frankie as much as possible, clinging to him.

"Oh...necklace?" Cole said as he looked, suddenly smiling. "It's you papa!" He said as he pointed at the pictures.

Frankie started to hum softly to Jacen.

"And you, Kari and Soren are in there as well little one." Dante chuckled.