Paul's story

Hercules and Mercy sat in formation in front of sunny and caden as Paul had hired a professional dog trainer to help with Bethany's nerves as the little demons were having a bad habit of tearing up things and slobbering all over the place and them being the breed called kane corso they were massive as they grew bigger every day.

Sunny put down two bowls of beef tips and rice smothered in gravy as she held her hand to teach them patience as she didn't want them to be food aggressive when they would eat because they tore into entire bags of dog food and still wanted more . Paul hired a professional to help them behave better now Bethany was getting bigger and unable to move around just as fast .

Axel was at the gym as he had two new members Sunny's age a girl and a boy group as he was taking on more younger fighters to have a bracket for young fighters in the upcoming tournament.as a gimic of young fighters for the future of the gym. So far he had ten members ranging from eight up to twelve as the bracket was slim as it was still new .

Sunny raised her hand as she saw mercy tapping her massive paws in impatient tapping as she said loudly her command to stop the impatient dog and focus her attention to her hand. Caden had an easier time with training Hercules as he was the gentler between the two as he stood up proud and faced Caden as his hand was balled up as a hold position. Hercules didn't flench or move as he was dutiful and patient.

Bethany watched the two kids amazed how well Paul's gift paid off in the management of the two dogs that were a bit disruptive their first few months. Now Bethany was pregnant she couldn't fight with the dogs and she didn't have the heart to get rid of them. So Paul sent them to obedience school.

Paul never really talked about his past and she was grateful for all he did for her during this pregnancy . She thought of him as a fitting uncle to Sunny and Caden and a future doteing Uncle to the two new babies she was still undecided on the names since she found out the genders.

Caden released his hand as Hercules ate his food and Sunny held her hand in the air not moving as mercy grew impatient as she saw Hercules enjoying his high protein meal. Sunny did this on purpose because mercy would gulp down her food fast then push Hercules out of the way to finish his bowl all the while daring him to challenge her.

Sunny was teaching mercy patience in waiting for a command. Hercules sat up licking his lips in satisfaction and Sunny released her hand and mercy ate greedly. Sunny held her hand up as she scolded mercy to stop and start over doing this two more times as she was doing a corrective behavior method on Mercy needing to be greedy and possessive of her food.

When mercy and Hercules finished she ordered them to lay down in their designated dog beds since they were too big to get on the beds anymore without taking over the entire bed.

Bethany looked amazed at how far the two monstrosities are well behaved now after a few months training. She honestly couldn't.do.it without Paul's intervention of the two out of control puppies.

" Paul can I ask you a personal question? Of course I will understand if you don't want to answer it?" Said Bethany as Paul helped her set the table waiting for Axel to come home for their weekly dinner.

"Shoot!" Said Paul as he placed the glasses on the table . Bethany wanted to set the table but he didn't want her lifting anything she could break and hurt herself.

" You don't speak a lot about your family . You do have family. If it's an over reach I'm sorry." Asked Bethany and her and Paul were on familiar terms with each other. Bethany chopped the lettuce for a salad as the pasta was baking in the oven.

" I did have a family once. Yes. " He said in a softer tone as he looked like he was reflecting on something dark.

" I'm sorry you don't have to tell me. I was just curious and I didn't mean to pry about something you don't want to talk about." Said Bethany as she bad about asking something so personal.

" It is okay. Yes I had a entire family once as I grew up running with a rough crowd. My family were the Blackburn's of the underground Black market . We ran with two other families . The Hardfords and the up and coming Toosleys' . My parents were taken out by the Hardfords and I was sent to live with my uncle Henry the leader of the Blackburn's family. When I graduated highschool I went into the Marines as an enlisted ranked member and came out a lance corporal . You know trying to break away from my families path and be beyond my crime related background. " Said Paul as he watched her reaction as Bethany recognized the Toosley and swore she might have heard about the Blackburn's as her father mentioned them in passing . She couldn't remember what he said exactly as she was only five at the time she overheard him talking about them. Bethany didn't realize the path connected to her in a way.

" Semper fidelis that's means always faithful. Oooorrraahh!" Said Paul like a found memory in his serving days as he smiled a small saddened smile as he remembered something tragic. Bethany put the salad in the refrigerator as she pulled out the pasta to cool and set.

" I met a beautiful girl there the time I was enlisted Rebecca was my world. She was in intelligence division. We met one night in crossing and we just clicked. She was as strong as any man and as tough to beat in a fight . She could compete with any man on a state regulated test on the field in training and she was smart so smart. I remember her blue eyes and her ebony hair . Her way she talked and how she would out drink half the men in the bar. " He reminissed as he smiled talking about her.

Bethany smiled as she listened intensively . It was nice to know what happened to Paul as he was a huge part of her life.

" We were crazy in love and decided to run off and just get married in secret. Then she fell pregnant." He said as he was guilty of something.

" Is that a problem?"said Bethany confused about why there marriage was a problem .

" The Marines don't like fratinization in service members with out reporting it prior to the relationship .We didn't go through the chain of command to inform anyone about our involvement and just recklessly went with it. Because of her role in intelligence she was removed from her command and stripped of her rank because of the pregnancy . She took it better than I did when her career ended. " Explained Paul as he looked like he was beating himself up over the results .

" Oh I see. " Said Bethany sad as she felt bad for her friend.

" When I left for a tour she was alone and pregnant. It was the last time I saw her. The Toosley and the remaining Hardfords teamed up against my uncle and eliminated the entire family executioner style. Including my wife since I left her with my uncle when I left. I'm not proud of what I did afterwards but I wasn't going to let it go . I admit my families past caught up with me and I paid for it dearly." Said Paul as he looked defeated and down.

" Oh my God Paul I am so sorry. You don't need to tell me anymore." Said Bethany bringing food to the table. To set it .

"It's good to get it out. It's been so long since I've talked about it . After I found out I took out the Toosley and the Hardfords one by one. Because of my specialist rank in the Marines I was court marshalled and served some time. I lost my rank, my title my honor . When I got out I just took a walk. I walked until I came to the gym and I never really left there. That was twenty years ago. I met Axel as I was starting over. He reminded me of what I thought my son would look like . " He said as he smiled remembering meeting Axel.

" What was Axel like as a kid?" Mused Bethany trying to get off the morbid subject of Paul's past that she regretted asking about.

" Strong willed, stubborn, and very wild ."laughed as Paul saw Bethany's face at the last description.

" Yeah he was wild. Got in all kinds of trouble. It's why his dad brought him to me . To straighten him out ." Laughed Paul as Bethany made a face hard to imagining a wild out of control Axel .

" Paul can I tell you something?" Said Bethany feeling bad about the things she knew.

" Sure." He said as he grabbed the drinks to put on the table .

" Toosley was the name you said you arraticated . Sunny's father married a Toosley when I was pregnant . It's the reason I left because I thought he didn't want the baby and wanted me to give her up for adoption." She watched Paul's face as he looked like he was searching for something he lost and then he nodded his head in confirmation.

" Down to the dog my uncle said.damn it that young woman that was pregnet I took Mercy on her as I have a soft spot for pregnant women. It reminds me of what I could have had with Rebecca . " Said Paul with a sad smile .

" I understand my family was a power house too. I came from the Grigorii and Brunos and we had the Toosley to the east and the Zehetii's to the west." Said Bethany as she felt for Paul .

"We had the Hardfords to the North and the Blackburns's were in the south . I'm the last remaining Blackburn. " Said Paul in a sad all knowing way of his shrinking family name.

Axel came home as he came in and saw Paul setting the table as he smirked at how well trained Bethany had him . He kissed Bethany as he went to the cooled pasta dish and put his hand in it as Bethany smacked his hand scolding him.

" I see where Paul gets it from. Heavens help me axel Jing the same threat I made Paul last week I'm making you. Don't try me I will cook you too." Scolded Bethany as Axel looked dejected.

" See I told you it was a threat. Original or extra crispy recipe is the question." Laughed Paul as Axel shook his head as he didn't like Paul making fun of Bethany moods.

"Why do you think he learned it from me. He is older than me I learned it from him." Defended Axel as Bethany looked angry now at Axel.

" What ? Don't blame that one on me. And I do agree if we cook him no body no crime ." Said Paul as Axel didn't like him encouraging his wife in her madness.

" Don't encourage her. Didn't anyone tell you not to give a woman an idea she didn't already have before ." Fussed Axel at Paul .

" Who said I didn't think of getting a pig farm.You don't know me as well as you think .if either of you put your hands in my food like savages I will make you wish you didn't so help me . " Said Bethany as she glared at Axel.

" Axel Bethany's psycho mode has been activated abort I say abort ." Said Paul as him and Paul shuffled away from Bethany as she shook her head at their jest ." Thanks Axel we are both now on the chopping block." Complained Paul as he shoved Axel playfully.

Sunny and Caden came in as dinner was done and Axel ran to try to pick up the two kids as he put them down as he leaned over our of breathe. He leaned over as he tried to regain his energy.

" What has your momma been feeding you. I don't remember you being that heavy when we first got you here " complained axel as Paul chucked at his lack of strength.

" Our momma has been feeding us the same thing she feeds you . I'm a growing boy I need my protein." Said Caden as that was the first time he heard him refer to Bethany nas his mother. Sunny looked at Caden in a strange look as she narrowed her eyes at Caden . Axel noticed and stood up . He glared at sunny as she made a twisted dirty look at Caden with her hand on her hip and head all cocked.

" Excuse us Bethany I want to ask sunny about her day for a moment . We will be right back as soon as we are done." Said Axel as he led sunny out of the room.

" Yes sir ." She said as she thought she was in trouble as she was being pulled out to talk to alone.

" How do you feel about what just happened in there, sunshine?" He asked her as he saw the look she gave Caden referring Bethany as his mom too.

" I feel fine. It doesn't bother me. " She said as she shrugged her shoulders.

" Sunshine." Axel said knowing she felt a certain way about how Caden addressed her mother.

" It bothered me a little. Not for the reasons your thinking." Said Sunny not liking when Axel said her full name .

" Which reasons are those?" Asked Axel as he tried to understand his daughter.

" I know miss Avery is his true mom and she is gone and you adopted him and he is my brother and cousin at the same time which can be confusing. I just don't want him to count his mom out and try to replace her with my mom. A mom is an important job and I don't want him to say it one day and when his mom comes back he say it to her and treat my mom differently. " Said Sunny expressing her concerns over her mom and Caden.

" That's a valid point and I understand that. Avery will always be his mom like she will always be my sister no matter how long I live . I can't change that. But what I can change is my perspective how I see and react to things. Caden finds comfort in your mom it's an honor. Are you going to be weirded out when your brother and sister arrives as well." Said Axel trying not to use the word jealousy in an accusatory manner.

" No I suppose I have no choice then . They are my brother and sister." Said Sunny feeling small about her misunderstanding.

" Since the adoption so is Caden. He is your brother now. Just like your new baby brother and sister on the way." Said Axel as Sunny began to see his point.

" I see. I'm sorry I gave Caden a dirty look as he called my mom his mom. I will work on that I promise. " Said Sunny feeling guilty about her reaction to Caden calling her mom his mom .Axel gave sunny a look of her words.

" I meant he called our mom " sunny corrected herself.

" So we are going to go in there and not give dirty looks at people now are we . I understand we all get upset when others take our familiarity away,but that's not their fault that's yours. We can't make people think one way or another about another person, Sunshine ." Said Axel as she nodded as Sunny and Axel returned to the table Bethany gawking at them for making dinner run late.

" Your mom is really scary when she is pregnant." Said Axel as he smiled at her from a distance.

" You know I'm going to tell her you said that about her." Sassed sunny as she looked up at Axel.

" Don't tell her that she is already talking about pig farms and making me dinner ." Said Axel as Sunny looked in bewilderment.

" What does a pig farm have to do with making dinner." Asked Sunny as she sat down as Paul stiffed a laugh as he heard Sunny's remark.

Bethany shot Paul a glare as she saw him eat his food lowering his head and went completely silent.

" Your still an option on the menu , Paul ." Snipped Bethany.

" Good to know. Please don't eat me. I want to live to see our babies born.would you deny your children their second daddy and possibly a free babysitter. Ooohhh a grandpa yes call me gramps." Said Paul as Axel as he shook his head as Bethany understood what he meant since he shared his story with her. Bethany had some respect for him knowing they had similar back grounds. Paul's kindness towards her was because he missed his wife and child he never got to know. She felt a soft spot for him and sad for him at the same time.