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"What's coming will come and we'll meet it when it does." - Hagrid

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💫 Maya 💫

The next three days went by pretty quickly and normally. Go to school, come home, hang out with my brothers or dad, eat dinner, go on a walk and go to bed. 

The only out of the ordinary thing was getting my cast off today. The docter also wanted to take another look at my back and ribs but dad said that he could just look himself and that he would contact the docter if anything looked different.

It's nice to have a few days without changes. 

But today is the day I've been silently dreading, thursday. The day I will meet 18 new people who are supposed to be my family. The day one of my brothers will be the center of attention.

They probably don't even know my birthday is tomorrow, I mean, how would they know? It's listed in the file the police had on me and gave to dad almost two weeks ago but I don't think he really looked at it.

Getting up in the morning was a little harder then the last few days, I'm really not looking forward to meet everyone at once. 

And I can't talk about it with Lucas because he and the others don't know they are coming. 

I've become pretty close to Lucas the last week, he just feels like someone who will listen to you talk until you are tired of hearing your own voice. 

A listening ear, sometimes that's the only thing you need. 

When I get downstairs for breakfast I see everyone except Hugo is already seated and there is a cake on the counter. 

"Good morning, mi amore. It's a chocolate cake, I hope you like it, it's Hugo's favorite." I look at dad and give a small nod and a smile that doesn't seem to reach my eyes. 

"What's wrong mariposa?" Lucas cuts in. I turn towards him and just slightly shake my head, mouthing a 'nothing'. 

I've talked to lucas and dad when we were alone the last few days but I still feel uncomfortable talking when there is more than one person to hear me. 

I'm guessing the next few days will be quiet days for me. 

Getting pulled out of my own thoughts by a "Oh my god! Chocolate cake! My favoriteeeeee!" coming from the doorway. Hugo's awake. 

"Happy birthday!" Everyone chants at the same time, I didn't know we were going to do that, shit, now I didn't congratulate him. 

"Thank you guysss. It feels great to finally be mature." 
"Hugo, you may be 18 but you are far from mature." Mateo buds in. 

I walk towards Hugo and give him a small hug, mouthing 'happy birthday'. "Thank you codelincuente. Now, let's eat some cake!"

Breakfast was spent by Hugo talking a lot about all his plans now he can legally do all kinds of stuff and dad saying he could do it but wouldn't have a place to call home when he does. 

School was all just a bit of a blur, I couldn't get my mind to stop thinking about everything that could go wrong this afternoon. 

Aella asked what's wrong a few times but I just dismissed the question with 'I'm not feeling well' everytime. I don't think she believes me to be honest. 

On the way home my nerves are really skyrocketing, I have no idea if they will be there when we get home or if they will come right before dinner. 

It's stressing me out.

Pulling up to the big house I see a number of cars standing on the driveway, they're here. 

"Wait, is that aunt Azura's car?" Martín asks while pointing at a red sportscar. 

"Yes it is! And that's uncle Santiago's. And aunt Sierra's! Everyone is here!" Hugo says excitedly and turns to me "Ay Dios Mio, you're going to meet everyone! They are going to love you!"

Thanks, I didn't know....

Everyone gets out the car but I can't seem to get my legs moving. Whatever I try to do I can't move my legs or even my arm to open the door.  

After Hugo and Mateo are already at the front door Martín notices I'm not following. He walks towards my door and opens it for me. 

"Maya, preciosa? Are you okay?" I don't know, I'm okay, but I'm not, you know?

I still can't get anything to move and my breathing is getting shallower. "Maya, listen to me okay. I know it's scary to meet a lot of new people, but our entire family already love you. They know you won't talk and they know you don't like physical touch. If any one of them doesn't respect any of your boundaries, we will personally kick them out of the house okay? We got you, preciosa."

This calms me down a bit, knowing they have my back when I don't feel comfortable.

I slowly try to move my legs and they actually work. "Thank you, Martín." 
"No problem, we'll always have your back, just remember that Maya."

I get out of the car and walk to the front door, which is still open after Hugo and Mateo came through. 

"I think they're in the lounge, I can hear people in there. Are you ready preciosa?" I look up at Martín and give a small nod. 

Okay, let's do this. 

When we get to the lounge there are a lot of people. Like, a lot a lot. I didn't think 18 people would look like so much people. 

I start to panic a little again but Martín grabs my hand and gives it a little squeeze to bring me back to earth. 

It works.

"Martín, mi nieto (my grandson). And this must be mi nieta (my granddaughter), Maya." An elderly woman says, I think she is my grandma, she looks like the sweetest person alive. 

She walks towards us and gives Martín a big hug, when she turns towards me with her arms still open, I get a little nervous but she stays where she was standing and slowly lowers her arms again. 

"Nice to meet you, mi pequeña nieta (my little granddaughter), I am Daphne, your grandmother and this old man is my husband, your grandfather Stefano. 

"Very nice to meet you Maya, you look just like your brothers." The old man, my grandfather says. I give them both a smile, they seem really nice. 

"Okay everyone, let's introduce yourselves to the newest member of our family." Dad says. 

The first one to talk is an older looking man, he doesn't look old, but definetely older than dad. "Hey there, mi amore. I am Antonio, your fathers older brother and this is my wife Sierra. These are our sons Pedro, Ruben, Alfonso and Cortez." He says while pointing to each one as he says their names. I give them all a little wave.

The next one to talk is a woman standing in the corner, she looks quite a bit younger than Antonio. "Maya, sweetie, I am your fathers little sister Azura and this is my husband, José, and our sons Emiliano and Ramiro. It's very nice to finally meet you." She says with the sweetest smile on her face. I give them a little wave as well. 

The last one is also a woman talking "Santiago, don't be such a baby. Anyways, I am Manuela, the wife of your father's brother, this big baby." She says while pointing to a man that doesn't look happy to be there at all. Did I do something to him? 
"And these are our sons Fernando, Carlos, Dante and Alejandro. We are very happy to have you with us after so long." She finishes with a big smile on her face, she gives me golden retriever vibes just like Hugo. 

After everyone has been introduced they get back to talking to eachother and congratulating Hugo. 

I take a seat on the couch next to Lucas because he was keeping a place for me and lean into him. My social battery is already out. 

"You okay, mariposa?" I nod my head a little, not confident in my answer, and I think Lucas notices. "It's okay, we can talk about it later if you want." I look up and give him a smile, he knows exactely what to say. 

After a few hours of just sitting there and answering a few questions with either a shake or nod of my head it's time for dinner. Since we don't have enough room at the diningroom table, we are eating at a different table, Lucas said it's the 'guest dining room' which can seat 50 people at once.

Everyone takes a seat and apparently they have a thought out seating arrangement because dad is at the head with Antonio on Daniel's usual seat and Santiago on my usual seat. 

When Lucas notices I am just standing there, looking a little lost because I don't know where to sit, he says "uncle Santiago, would it be okay if Maya sat there? It's her usual seat and she likes to be close to dad." I silently thank Lucas. 

"Why is a usual seat so important? She can survive a dinner or two at another seat, can you Maya?" He says while looking at me with a little edge in his voice. 

Before dad can interrupt and probably fight with his brother, I nod my head and walk to the end of the table, taking a seat inbetween Lucas and Martín with the other children. I don't want anyone to fight because of me.

The entire dinner just goes by in a blur, people keep talking and talking around me but not a word comes through. 

I don't think I can survive another two days of this. 

A/N - ANDDD ANOTHER ONE. Who's ready for some family drama? Cause I know I am hehehehehe :)

I will also post an updated character list simultaniously with this chapter. I know I always like to have a nice list of everyone with their ages so I thought I would just make it easier for you all ;)

I love you <3