Okay, it's a day late but here it is....I hope it was worth the wait!!!

Jaidie

Rain was at the door of his house, his heart raced with the thought of seeing his family again. Oh, how he had longed for this day. He looked around.

Captain Shanks stood beside him a smile on his face, Bobbe stood on the other side of him an even bigger smile on his face. Rain looked behind him. Carter stood beside Noah, they both looked happy and a little nervous. Then Rain’s eyes rested on Jed, Jed’s face was pale and his whole body trembled.

Rain gently laid his left hand on Jed’s shoulder. “Jed,” he said softly, looking into his brother’s eyes. They were filled with fear and tears that ran down his dark cheeks. Jed looked at him. “Jed, what’s wrong?”

Jed backed away a little shaking his head and mumbling, “No, no, no, she doesn’t want me. She doesn’t want me. I’m just like him, just like him, she doesn’t want me. She doesn’t want me.”

Captain Shanks looked at them obviously unsure what to do. Rain stepped towards his brother. “Jed that’s not true, of course, she wants you, you’re her son.”

Jed shook his head. “No, she doesn’t want me, I’m not her son, ye are. I don’t share her blood, she doesn’t want me, she kicked me out, she doesn’t want me. She doesn’t want me, she doesn’t want me,” Jed said as he collapsed to his knees sobbing and mumbling, “She doesn’t want me,” over and over again.

Rain had never seen Jed like this before, what had happened to the strong, gruff Jed he had known. What was happening? Carter and Noah went over to him trying to calm him, but Jed only pushed them away.

Rain looked at Captain Shanks and Bobbe for help, Captain Shanks just stood there looking at Jed obviously trying to decide what to do. Bobbe walked over to Jed and knelt beside him and started to whisper to him.

“I’ve never seen him like this before,” Carter said as he and Noah walked up to Rain.

“Family causes a lot of pain sometimes, trust me, I know,” Captain Shanks said, a faraway look in his eyes as if he were remembering something from times past.

Noah touched Carter and signed something. Carter smiled and said, “Yes Noah, you’re right. Family can bring great pain but they can also bring even greater joy.”

Rain smiled as did Captain Shanks. “Yes, you are very right young Noah, they also bring great joy,” Captain Shanks said.

Noah looked down.

Bobbe and Jed walked over and Bobbe smiled weakly at Rain. Rain smiled back as he looked at Jed, his head was done but he wasn’t crying or mumbling anymore. Rain looked to Bobbe and mouthed, “Thank you.”

Bobbe smiled bigger then nodded at Captain Shanks who opened the door. Rain ran inside and looked around to see his Momma sitting in a chair weeping. Jana and Hazel sat on the floor beside her.

“Momma,” Rain said as he walked toward her.

She looked up and gasped. “Rain, Rain, my boy is that you? Is it really you?”

Hazel jumped to her feet and ran to Rain, embracing him. “It’s Rain, Momma, Jana, it's really him! You’re back! I knew you’d be back! I knew it, I knew it!” Hazel said squeezing him tighter.

“Ah, Hazel, I love you too but my arm, it hurts, ah.”

Hazel let go and looked down embarrassed. “Sorry.”

Rain smiled. “It’s fine.” He then went over and hugged his Momma. She embraced her son, rubbing the back of his head.

“Oh, Rain, my boy, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry for everything!”

Rain broke away from the hug and wiped the tears from his eyes. “It’s alright Momma, I forgive you. I’m sorry for running away. I’m sorry,” Rain said through sobs.

His Momma wiped the tears from her own eyes as Rain hugged Jana who apologized. “Rain your arm,” Jana said.

Rain smiled. “It’s fine really.”

Hazel jumped up. “Father!”

Rain looked to the doorway to see Jed standing there, tears in his eyes. “Hazel, that’s not father, that’s…” Rain started to say but his Momma stood up.

“Jed?”