Andrew

At breakfast, we seem to be in a hurry. The boys are all buzzing, and I realize I need to figure out how to manage this very intimate issue with Max and Grayson, while entertaining Josh and Ryder. We get ready to go and head out. "Josh, Ryder, I'm taking you to the skate park and I'll be doing something with Max and Grayson.

"I hope Olivia is there!" Squeals Ryder. I know that the boys will have fun. I get them signed up and into the park and then head a few doors down where there's a cart that does henna. I explain to the girl working there what we want, but Max takes charge. I tell Max to put it on his debit card and I'll put money in for it, and head back to watch the boys skate.

As I walk into Van's, a sense of unease immediately washes over me. The place is unusually quiet, the lively sounds of skateboarding conspicuously absent. The staff seems to have dwindled to a minimum, and through the hangar doors, my eyes catch the ominous flash of red lights from an ambulance. My heart skips a beat.

The kids, usually scattered all over the ramps, are huddled at the edges, their faces etched with concern. I strain my eyes, trying to see who the paramedics are attending to, but can't make out any details. However, a familiar hoodie peeks out from the crowd - it looks just like Ryder's. My stomach knots in fear. "Please, not Ryder," I silently beg, while feeling a pang of guilt for hoping it's not my child hurt.

Scanning the area again, my gaze finally lands on Josh holding a sobbing Ryder. Relief floods through me, but it's quickly replaced by worry for the injured child. I head towards the skate area, only to be stopped by a staff member. "My sons are over there, could you please bring them here?" I ask urgently.

He nods and gestures to Amelia, who I hadn't noticed before. She quickly understands and hurries over to Josh and Ryder. Seeing me, they sprint to my side, their faces a mix of relief and shock.

Amelia approaches and informs me that Olivia wasn't present today, and that Ryder played the role of a hero. He helped prevent further injuries when two boys collided, using his hoodie to support one boy's head. She explains how a failed ollie led to a chain reaction, resulting in some blood but no serious harm. Both boys are okay, and the paramedics are here as a precaution.

Relieved, I take Josh and Ryder to the counter to sign out so we can go meet up with Max and Grayson. I apologize for the shortened skate session, but mention the free visit credit we've received.

At the snack stand, Max eagerly shows off his tattoo. Josh and Ryder, still recovering from the earlier scare, offer him subdued but genuine praise. They're puzzled by the semicolon design, so Max takes his time explaining its significance. I watch as they all embrace in a group hug, then rush to admire Grayson's freshly done arm.

In that moment, amidst the calm after the scare, I realize how these small interactions, these connections between brothers, are just as important as any skateboard trick they learn here. The resilience and care they show for each other makes me prouder than any skateboarding feat ever could.

"Dad, dad, dad," Josh tugs at me, "can we get tattoos too? We want skateboards, Dad! Right here," Josh exclaims as he points to his shoulder, his eyes sparkling with anticipation. Ryder, nods vigorously in agreement. They've been obsessed with skateboarding lately, and after witnessing the accident I'm glad they still have their enthusiasm.

"Shoulder tattoos, huh? That sounds cool," I say, and they both cheer in response. I remember how I used to love temporary tattoos as a kid, and it warms my heart to share this kind of joy with my sons.

We go back to the henna stand and the girl agrees and sits the boys down. The boys are practically vibrating with excitement as they sit down, carefully picking out the designs they want. The artist, listens patiently as they describe their dream tattoos.

As she begins to work on Josh's shoulder, I watch the design come to life. The skateboard, detailed and dynamic, seems to almost roll off his skin. Ryder watches in awe, waiting for his turn, already planning where he'll show off his new tattoo first.

The scent of the henna, earthy and rich, fills the air, mingling with the sounds of the people walking down the promenade between the stores.

When both tattoos are done, Josh and Ryder can't stop admiring them in the mirror. Their faces are lit up with the purest form of childlike wonder, and they chatter excitedly about showing their friends. Max and Grayson excitedly praise their brothers on their cool new tattoos.

"We're gonna be the coolest kids in school!" Ryder declares, his shyness forgotten in his excitement.

I laugh, ruffling their hair. "You already are," I tell them, and we head home, their laughter echoing around us, filling the day with the lightness of childhood dreams come true.

--

The next day, Ryder and I set out on a special outing, just the two of us. It's a chance for some father-son bonding, and also to get him a new hoodie since he used his recently purchased one to help the injured boy at the skatepark. I'm proud of his quick thinking and selflessness, and this is a small way to show it. Besides, I have some news to share with him.

As we drive to the store, Ryder seems unusually quiet, lost in thought. I decide to use this quiet moment to talk about something important. "Ryder, you know, you've been really brave and kind, not just yesterday but always," I start, glancing at him.

He looks at me, a bit surprised but attentive. "Thanks, Dad," he says softly, a small smile appearing.

We reach the store and start looking through the hoodies. He seems to like this design, so I pick one up, holding it against him to see the fit, and then, taking a deep breath, I broach the topic that's been on my mind. "Ryder, I know I've asked you before, but I wanted to ask you again... how do you really feel about staying with us? You know, permanently?"

Ryder's eyes widen a little, and he pauses, his fingers playing with the sleeve of a hoodie. "Like I told you before, I'd love that," he replies, his voice tentative but hopeful. "You and Daddy Ethan, you're always so caring and attentive. I feel safe and happy here. I want to stay with you guys forever."

Hearing those words, I feel a wave of emotion. It's one thing to provide a home for a child in need, but to hear that he wants us to be his family forever -- it's overwhelming. "We'd love that too, Ryder. You're part of our family, and we want to make that official, I say, my voice thick with emotion.

"The paperwork for your permanent foster placement has come through. This means we can now start working on the adoption process, since it sounds like that's what you want."

Ryder's eyes light up, a mix of excitement and disbelief in his expression. "Really, Dad?" he asks, his voice tinged with hope. "I'm permanent?"

"Yes, really," I reply with a smile. "We're going to start the process to make it even more permanent. You will be a Thomas!"

The joy on Ryder's face is undeniable, and it warms my heart to see it. I give him a moment to let the news sink in, and then decide to bring up another important topic.

"There's something else we need to talk about, Ryder," I continue. "Now that you're going to be with us permanently, we need to decide about your living arrangements. You've been sharing a room with Josh, and you two seem to get along great. But if you'd like, you can have your own room. The guest room is available if you want some more space."

Ryder takes a moment, thinking it over. "I like sharing with Josh," he finally says. "We're the same age, and it's fun having him around. Can I stay in our room? Besides, the guest room is where Eric and Robert stay when they visit."

"Of course, you can stay with Josh. We can always add on if we need more space. Besides, we have the entire lodge we can use if we need to," I assure him, happy to support whatever makes him feel most comfortable. "We just wanted to make sure you had a choice in this."

Ryder nods, a content smile on his face. "Thanks, Dad. I'm really happy here."

We spend the rest of our outing talking about what this means for us as a family, discussing plans, and of course, finding the perfect hoodie, and a few extra items for our little hero. I see him eyeing a Spiderman costume. It's one of those skin tight ones and I ask him if he wants it. His eyes light up, so I grab it and make sure it will fit. I think I get it more for me than for him. Not that having a naked boy running around isn't sexy enough, that costume is sexy too. Our outing is more than just a shopping trip; it's a celebration of a new chapter in our lives. "I think you take after your other dad, rescuing people."

"But you rescue people too, just in a different way," Ryder so smartly says.

On the drive back, Ryder is more talkative, excitedly discussing how he wants to talk to Josh about re-decorating the room and the things he wants to do with us. He strips off his clothes and slides into the Spiderman suit and I was right, it's very hot on him. I need to keep my eye on the road. I listen as he talks about the room and how excited he is, my heart full, knowing that this is just the beginning of many more wonderful moments together.

As we pull up to the house, I barely stop before Ryder jumps out and goes running in search of Josh. I see him head to the pool. He dances around showing off his new suit, but it's short lived as he quickly strips it off to jump in the pool. I follow behind to pick up the laundry and see him do a cannonball into the pool and swim to Josh. He grabs Josh in a hug,

"Did you hear? My foster papers came through, I'm your brother."

"Silly, you've been my brother since you showed up!" Josh tells him.

"Dad says we can redecorate our room, that is, if you don't mind me sharing."

"Of course, I love having you as a brother, especially since you don't mind cuddling at night."

I watch as the brothers swim over to the lazy river and hop the wall and start floating. They grab one of the figure eight floating rings and hop in so they can face each other. Around here we call it the figure eight, sixty-nine. They jabber up a storm as they slowly circle the pool and grotto without a worry in the world.

The older boys are in the pool playing with a volleyball and somehow they've been able to convince Robert and Eric to come join them. It's nice to see that regardless of age, these boys all get along and truly enjoy each others company. I'm sure they plan on having some fun after the pool, those boys can't seem to keep their dicks to themselves.
The frolicking goes on for hours, and as usual, they all beg me to make hotdogs and hamburgers. We enjoy a lively lunch and as expected, the boys approach me.

"Dad, can we go inside?" Max asks.

"Sure, you know you don't need to ask."

"But, well, we want to use your room, and we want you to join us. Josh and Ryder said they will just play video games while we play, well, you know."
I'm hard just thinking it, in fact all four boys are hard. I see Eric and Robert whispering to each other. I don't know what they said to each other, but they escort me into my own bedroom.