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Uncle Chuck and Aunt Rachel sat the triplets down.
“Kids, your parents have been released from prison.” Uncle Chuck said. “They’ve gotten help and they’re talking about trying to make amends.”
“I don’t know if I want to see them.” Sonic replied.
“Me either.” Sonia added.
Manic ran his hand through his spines. “You two didn’t adopt us.” He said. “So they can get us back?”
“What?!” Sonia and Sonic shrieked.
“Calm down. We talked with them.” Uncle Chuck replied. “You three will live here until they can regain your trust.”
“If we still don’t want to?” Manic asked. “Then what?”
“You’ll live here.” Aunt Rachel replied.
The triplets sighed in relief.
“We really want to live here.” Sonic said. “We love you two.”
Sonia and Manic nodded.
“You can stay if that’s what you want.” Uncle Chuck replied. “We love you too.”
“Listen, we talked with them.” Aunt Rachel said. “They are trying to mend their relationship first, then they want to try to reconnect and go to counseling with you three.”
“It does sound like they’re trying.” Sonia said.
“Now, you should know why your dad had issues with his anger.” Aunt Rachel said. “He got so frustrated with the situation, your mother’s relapse, and working so much that he burned himself out. Had a breakdown of sorts.”
“But it’s no excuse.” Uncle Chuck added.
Aunt Rachel nodded. “Your mother… I don’t know all the details,” She said. “But she was horribly abused throughout her childhood. It didn’t stop until she eloped with your dad at eighteen. She self medicated with drugs and alcohol up until your dad got her in rehab. The stress from raising you three while he worked so much just triggered the relapse. She was nineteen when you three were born.”
“That’s awful.” Sonia said.
Manic and Sonic nodded.
“I guess we could hear them out.” Sonic said.
*
Brenden and Aleena sat down across from the triplets, Uncle Chuck, and Aunt Rachel.
Aleena gasped. “Oh, you’ve grown up.”
Manic nodded.
“How have you been?” Brenden asked.
“Great.” Manic replied. “I won an art contest, got a job doing commission art.”
“I’m on the track team.” Sonic said. “We have a band. It’s called Sonic Underground.”
“I’ve learned to do video editing for our music videos.” Sonia said.
“Wow, it sounds like you’ve been busy.” Brenden replied.
The triplets nodded.
“So… are you still seeing Shadow?” Aleena asked. “Boys, are you dating anyone?”
“Yeah, I’m still with Shadow.” Sonia replied.
“Sally and I have been together for two years.” Sonic said. “You remember her, right?”
“I started dating Surge last year.” Manic said. He showed Aleena and Brenden pictures of Surge.
Aleena smiled. “Definitely your type.”
Manic half smiled.
Brenden cleared his throat. “I’m sorry for all the pain I’ve caused you all.”
“I’m deeply sorry too.” Aleena said.
The siblings exchanged glances, then nodded.
“We forgive you.” The triplets said.
“But we’re not comfortable living with you.” Sonia replied. “We’d love to visit.”
“We understand.” Brenden said. “We didn’t expect you to immediately trust us.”
“Our counselor said it would be best to start small.” Aleena replied. “That we should all go to counseling together for a while. You can stay with Uncle Chuck and Aunt Rachel for as long as you’ll need. We’ll send some money to cover expenses.”
“We can do that.” Sonic said.