2. The Homecoming

"How much time is left?" A very anxious Skylar asked. 

"Is it even true? Or is it some kind of sick joke. Is it a prank that someone is playing on us?" Leo asked pacing around the area. "Maybe or maybe not. This has become a very old prank and everytime, we fall for it. We never get tired of driving all the way here even when we know that this is not going to happen" Skylar replied looking at the endless stars in the sky. 

"If this is some kind off sick joke again, I am gonna kill those. And shit we didn't mention this to Nick. He would kill us tomorrow. He would have wanted to be here. What do we do and how do we face him?" Ryan asked shaking his head sideways. 

"Just shut the fuck up and stop whining Ry. He is sick and you out of all know his condition well. Just stop and let's wait" Wylan yelled at Ryan. It is not likely for Wylan to actually shout at someone. I know the situation is getting on to their nerves and there is an internal turmoil running in them. 

"Is it that serious for him to not move for a few days" Rowan asked looking at his brother. "And how could he have lost soo much blood from a scratch. My baby is stained coz of him" Rowan said scrunching up his nose in disgust.

"Scratch. Do you think it's just a scratch. If you have cared less about your car and more about him, you would have seen the seriousness of his injury. The fucking bullet pierced through him and was stuck in his shoulder blade you idiot" Ryan yelled at his brother. Worry flashed across everyone's faces thinking about Nick.

Losing even one would tare them apart and they all know that they can't survive that. When they heard the screeching of the tyres, they all turned to look in the direction of the sound. Valentino and Arius jumped out of the car without turning the engine off. If this was a prank, they would not have been here. Does that mean the message is true.

"Thanks for coming" Arius told looking at the boys. "The does that mean that the message is true?" They all asked in unison and looked Arius who turned to look at his father for an explanation.

"Dad told me to text you all and then asked me to drive him here. So yeah I guess it is true" Arius said scratching the back of his head. They all turned to look at Val who was looking at the runway. They were all in the airport waiting for one plane to land and that is all what they want now.

"We better ask someone to leave a note for Nick. That would decrease the tormenting we would face when he is okay" Wylan suggested and everyone nodded. "What happened to him?" Val asked. He spoke for the first time today and his voiced is laced with concern.

"Umm, when we were dealing with the bugs, he was distracted a bit and then it stung it. But later, he killed it" Ryan said looking in all directions except for Val's direction. 

"How many times did I tell you to inform me before and not after" Val yelled and all of them flinched. They all fear him soo much. "It was a last minute operation and we didn't have time to ask for backup. But you know we were all well prepared" Skylar said stepping infront of Val and placed a hand on his shoulder. Val relaxed a bit and nodded. 

"He'll be okay in a few" Ryan said looking at Val and he nodded in return. Arius had been silent all through the conversation. 

They all went in to get some coffee and just as in cue, the plane landed. They ran out to the runway and stood there waiting for the one person to get down that damn plane. As it is a private jet, they need not wait for many people to get down.

An elderly man, with black and grey hair stepped out first holding a cigar in one hand and a hip flask in his another hand. He took slow steps towards the stairs and descended them fast. Arius ran to him and helped him to which the old man replied with a genuine and warm smile.

"Welcome nonno" Arius said beaming at the person infront of him. This single interaction cleared all the questions that were running in the boys brains. "Thank you nipote and happy homecoming to me" the old man said still eyeing up his grandson with pride. 

"Hello there Val, you look as good as the fist day I saw you" the old man said patting Val's back and gave him a man hug. Val hugged back and gave him a small smile. "Nice to see you Franco and thanks for everything" Val said but he kept looking behind Franco searching for something or someone. 

"Yeah I know you are not here for seeing me, but can you atleast act like you are happy to see me" Franco said raising his eyebrows and all chuckled. "Well hello boys. I have heard a lot about you and I think one of you is missing?" Franco asked looking at the boys. They nodded and Ryan  told him about Nick's condition. 

"Oh my poor boy. Hope he gets well soon. Is it is Ivanov boy who got hurt" he asked sipping his drink and the boys nodded with confused faces. "From the color choices of yours and your eye colors, I can tell who is who if they didn't change over the years" Franco said giggling and they joined him. 

"Umm, White is for Rowan

Blue is for Wylan

Silver for Skylar

Gold for the Leonardo the great as he loves to be called

Black for the Ivanov boy

Red for the other Ferrari boy" Franco said and laughed at their dumbstruck faces. 

"It's Ryan" Ryan said pouting. "Yeah the one who flirts with everyone. Sorry I forgot your name" Franco said giggling and everyone broke into fits of laughter.

"Nonno, why do you have five bags and I have only two" they all heard a sweet voice emerging from the top of the staircase. They all turned to look at her. There she came. Their light, their soul, their happiness. Their princess.