My Champion(17)

"Now how did I break them?" Meryn groaned. She laid her head on her crossed forearms on the table. Avery rubbed her back. "I don't think they are broken, Meryn. I think they are just fine," he whispered.

"We are. We are. We are. We are!" Noah sobbed.

Meryn lifted her head, looking angry. "You stop that! No crying, Noah, I can't help you from here!" Meryn twisted her hands together anxiously.

A sniff then a giggle escaped Noah. "Like you would know what to do even if you were here."

Meryn's face relaxed at his laughter. "Probably not."

"Meryn, I understand Noah and Jaxon, you've known them longer, but you've only just met us." Nigel pointed between him and his brother.

"So?"

"We just met."

"Yes, you said that."

"How can you possibly love us enough to call us brothers?" Neil asked. His eyes were hopeful but leery. As if he was afraid to believe that Meryn could possibly care for them that much.

Kari understood his concern, but knew exactly where Meryn was coming from. She knew the moment she laid eyes on Avery that he was going to be someone special to her. She was willing to bet that Meryn had known that the four men were important to her the moment she met them as well.

"Do I or do I not have this empathy, feeling thing?" Meryn demanded.

They both nodded.

"I just know." She looked them both in the eye. "I know what it's like to have no one. No one to share things with or to care if you eat Hot Pockets for a month straight." All four men shuddered. "So, when I see someone as amazing as the two of you, who stuck up for me and see the fun in the dreariest situations, I want to give you what I didn't have." She shrugged. "No one should be all alone, not ever." Her last few words were pain filled whispers, but everyone heard them clearly.

"I accept!" Noah blurted out, startling everyone.

Jaxon swallowed hard. "I do too. Gods only know what the four of us would do without you around." He looked at the twins. "It would be four right?" The question hung in the air.

"Of course!" Nigel practically shouted.

"Try to send us away! We're like two bad pennies, we'll always turn up," Neil said, wiping his eyes.

"So my minions and my Baby Keelans are my brothers; that's awesome!" She pursed her lips. "Should we get tattoos?"

"That would be totally badass," Noah nodded.

Noah's eyes widened. "Won't that hurt?" Nigel exchanged worried looks with Noah. Jaxon and Neil shrugged.

Meryn tilted her head and then looked back at Kari. "What do brothers do? Beth is my Yoda and keeps me from making too many political blunders, and Amelia hugs me a lot. What do I do with them?"

Kari blinked. "Did none of your friends growing up have brothers?"

Meryn shook her head. "I never had any friends."

Kari's heart turned over. "Well..." She glanced at Avery. "Brothers are there for you when no one else is. They are always on your side, even if you are wrong, and they bring you the best snacks when you are upset."

Avery giggled. "I don't think I should be used as a universal template for brothers, Kari."

Kari sniffed. "Why not? You are perfect."

Avery rolled his eyes and turned to Meryn. "What about just continuing on doing what you have been doing?"

Meryn shook her head. "No, because that is minion and Baby Keelan stuff. We need to do brother stuff now."

Jaxon chuckled while Noah and the twins exchanged looks. Finally, Neil spoke up. "Actually Meryn, your minion and Baby Keelan stuff is brother stuff, you just didn't know what to call it at the time."

Jaxon nodded. "He's right. Playing Xbox, designing tech toys, implementing world domination plans, and binge watching shows on Netflix while eating junk food are practically essential brother-like activities."

Neil turned to the screen. "What shows are you watching?"

Noah practically began bouncing in his seat. "Well, ever since Netflix dropped Doctor Who, we've been watching Supernatural."

"What?" Meryn whispered.

"We're three seasons behind. Our cable was spotty before Meryn arrived," Neil said.

"What?" Meryn gasped low.

Kari became concerned when Ryuu hurried over to his charge's side and began rubbing her back. "It will be okay, denka."

"Oh shit! She didn't know," Jaxon hissed.

"All is lost!" Meryn wailed loudly, throwing her hands in the air.

Neil turned to Jaxon and Noah. "What do we do?"

Noah's eyes were wide as he shook his head helplessly. "I don't know. This is major! Find her some chocolate, coffee, Cheetos, anything!"