"I can't believe Mr. Dew gave us this research paper for English," Edmond said, looking at the assignment paper they had gotten three days ago. "On top of the hundred math questions"

"I guess that's what parents mean when they say don't procrastinate," Flea said looking at Porthos. "So are you sure it's cool for us to come over today?"

"I already said yes," Porthos laughed. "You guys are making it sound like you're going to be interrogated or something."

"Well, you said your dad was a police officer," Charon said. "So, yeah we think we're going to be interrogated. He's never met us."

"But I've told him all about your guys."

"And didn't you say you have younger brothers too?" Gabriel asked, turning the corner to go down Porthos street.

"Yes, three younger brothers. That a problem?"

Gabriel held his hands up in defense. "No dude, I just know how sneaky little brothers can be. Especially around new people."

Porthos laughed and slapped Gabriel on the shoulder. "I'm messing with you Gab. Believe me, I know how sneaky little brothers can be but I promise they are good." Porthos stopped in front of his house and looked at his friends. "Sad to ask but are you guys ready to met my dad?"

"You're having way too much fun with this," Flea giggled, patting Porthos on the shoulder and walked through the open gate he held open for them. "This is a very nice house. No offence but not what I was expecting from a police officer."

"None taken. Dad has always been careful with money and never spends more than he thinks he needs." Porthos opened his front door and listened for his brothers but all seemed quiet. So that meant they were up to no good. "Dad, I'm home."

"How was school?"

"Same old same old. We're here to work on the research."

"That's due tomorrow I assume?" Treville walked out of the kitchen with a smile on his face. "I'm not going to tell you I told you so but I told you not to put that research paper off until the last minute."

"You just said you won't say that," Porthos exclaimed. "Oh dad, this is Charon, Flea, Edmond, and Gabriel. Guys, this is my dad Jean Treville."

"Nice to finally meet you guys," Treville said with a nod. "Would you guys like a snack while you work?"

"That would be great, thank you Mr. Treville," Flea said with a smile. She walked over to the couch and set her backpack down as her friends joined her. The moment Treville walked back into the kitchen and Porthos sat down on the floor and whispered to him, "So that's your dad."

"Yeah, real nice guy unless you get him real mad. Which can happen time to time with my brothers."

"Uh, will we meet your mom?" Edmond asked, clearing his throat.

"No. My mom died in a car accident."

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay." Porthos looked up when Treville walked in with a bowl of chips. "Thanks dad."

"No problem. Have fun."

Charon gave s small snort. "Yeah, as much fun as homework can get."

"This is what happens when you hold off on something," Treville said walking into the kitchen.

"Okay, lets get this research done," Edmond said, dropping his head on his arms. "So who wants to do my paper?"

"No one but you," Gabriel laughed. "This can't be very hard. I mean, it's taking notes and putting them in order. Not too hard." He looked up when he heard giggling and looked around as his friends just opened their books. He shook his head, grabbed some chips and opened his book when he felt something hit him in the back of the head. "What the hell?"

"What's wrong Gab?" Porthos asked, not looking up from his notes.

"Something hit me in the back."

"You just started the paper, Gab," Flea laughed. "You can't be going crazy yet. Wait until at lest page three and then start seeing or feeling things." She turned the page when something hit her in the back. She turned around and held up a nerf dart. She looked around the family room but didn't see anyone except them.

"Are you okay Flea?" Charon asked. He looked at the nerf dart in his friend's hand and looked at Porthos. "Say Porthos, your little brothers home?"

"They should be," Porthos said not look up from his paper. "Not sure where they are though."

"And do they like nerf guns?" Edmond asked, holding up his own nerf dart that hit him in the chest. "I didn't see it coming or hear anyone."

"Yea…" Porthos never finished when a little boy jumped him on from behind.

"I got you!"

"You sure did Aramis," Porthos laughed, pulling Aramis from around his back and put him in a headlock. "Where are Athos and d'Artagnan?"

"I don't know."

"Fire one!" a voice yelled from somewhere in the room and soon two nerf darts flew and landed on the table where their books were. Then, out of nowhere Athos jumps from behind the couch and lands right between Charon and Flea. "We got you guys so good!"

"There's runt number two, where's runt number three?" Porthos asked.

"BOO!"

From out of the entertainment center cabinet came d'Artagnan, nerf gun in hand. "Did we win?"

"We sure did. They didn't know what hit them," Aramis said.

Porthos laughed. "And there's runt number three. Guys, these are my little brothers: Aramis, Athos, and d'Artagnan. Bros, these are my friends: Charon, Flea, Edmond, and Gabriel."

"Hiya," d'Artagnan said, grabbing some chips. "What are you guys doing?"

"Homework," Flea said.

"That sounds boring," Athos said, still between Charon and Flea. "We already did our homework."

"Well we still need to do our own," Porthos said. "Go on back up to your rooms and we can play once we're done." Porthos released Aramis and watched as his brothers walked around the couch and than ran up the stairs, yelling about who was going to jump higher on the bed.

"Cute kids," Charon said. "Sneaky but very cute."

"Try living with them," Porthos said, finally going to let them in on his secret. "When dad adopted us, he wasn't expecting it to be this crazy."

"Well, he's got his hands full with you alone," Edmond said with a smile.

Porthos laughed. He purposely didn't tell his friends about his adoption because he wanted to see their reaction. Last time he told his friends he was adopted straight out they treated him very differently or never talked to him again because they didn't want to hang out with a person that was adopted.

Two hours later they all closed their books and notes with a sigh. "Finally done!" Charon said. "That math homework can wait until I get home."

"Don't hold off on the homework again!" Treville yelled from the kitchen.

"Yeah yeah," Porthos said. He laughed when he heard a herd of elephants running down the stairs and watched as his brothers jumped over couch once again, landing between his friends. "Were you guys sitting on the stairs waiting for us to get done?"

"Well duh," Aramis said, grabbing the PS3 controller from the coffee table. "We can't play games if you guys are still doing homework."

"What are you playing?" Charon asked.

"Call of Duty."

"I'm game."

For another hour, the family room was filled with laughter, yelling, threatening, and giggling as everyone took their turn with the game. Treville was in the kitchen making dinner and just smiled. Porthos had told him he was scared of his friends meeting them, because of past experiences but Treville had pushed him to face that fear. It saddens him that kids would treat one another differently just because someone was adopted. The moment Porthos friends met him he knew they would be okay and the moment the three runts (yes, Porthos got him calling them runts too) made their appearance and Porthos friends never bat an eye, he knew they would be seeing more of his friends.