This is book three in the Loving the Fighter series so if you haven't read the first two go back and read those before reading this one, nothing will make sense. All of you OGs already know, I'm dyslexic so there will be spelling and grammar errors. I know i've kept you waiting on this for plently of years now so let's jump in.- Emmitt 

Fighting Family; a Callum story, began March 16, 2024

Callum's POV

Boxes littered the house that we just sighed the papers to. My name was the main one on the sale paper but it was our home. We had all chipped in for the money up front and now it was here. All of our things were piled in boxes in the new bare living room, Jax was moving the big things one by one by himself, Liam moves the bigger boxes into the main rooms they would be going, Ryder started in the kitchen, and I was setting up the TV because Ryder refused to work without some sort of back ground noise. 

Everything was perfect. The home was a four bedroom, that planned for our bedroom, Jax's work out room, a shared office for Jax and Liam, and a guest bedroom/library for Ryder. And it was all ours. 

We had just moved in this morning but we thankfully with the four of us it was moving pretty fast. The bedroom was completely set up, the new couches had been moved around countless times already today but now found a permeant homes, the main bathroom was already completely put away, and now even most of the kitchen was done. 

Tomorrow we could deal with the guest room and office but now it was nearing 8 and we had been moving since 7; we were all pretty much done with unpacking for the day. 

"I ordered pizza," Ryder called out from the kitchen. "I'm not cooking after all of this so find a stopping point and get a movie ready."

I didn't need to be told twice. I flopped onto the couch as I turned the tv to a movie rather than what mind numbing show Ryder picked as background noise. 

Ryder came next. His hair had grown out, stopping a little before his chin but he was still the same Ryder I had fell in love with back at camp. 

Liam came next, he had gained more muscle now that he was working out with Jax more as a stress relief. Going to school and working at the same time had taken a toil on him, the stress had gotten to him one too many times and the last time Jax had convinced him to get it out of his system through the punching bag. Ever since then any time he started getting stressed he'd grab Jax and hit the bag or doing weight training. 

Jax came in last with a smile on his face as he planted himself on my lap. 

Jax had changed the most since leaving camp and I was so proud of him for it. He always had muscle but now he also had the healthy weight and build behind it. Several tattoos covered his arms, one was a small iris for Ryder's favorite flower, one was simple blue folder for Andrew with Carter's name on it, there was a king of hearts card on his shoulder for Liam, and though I told him not to, my tattoo was a big rooster tattoo on his inner bicep. I asked why when he told me the idea and he only laughed as said 'big cock' as he walked away. His hair was also shorter now. Not quite a buzz cut but a few guards away from it. 

"Do you love it," he asked as he looked around the living room. I had been the one in charge of moving the furniture and hanging up the art work, some that we bought, others that Jax made. I had a bit more to go but I could worry with that later. 

"I do love it. We bought a house," I whispered into his ear. He smiled as he looked around the room. 

"Show of hands," Liam said as he tucked Ryder into his side. "Who thought we would be buying a house together when you first got to camp."

"I hated all of you so most certainly not me," Jax said.

"I thought I would end up rotting in an apartment my whole life," Ryder admitted. "I thought my future cats would be my only friends and one day when I died they would eat my body for days until my nice neighbor noticed I died."

"Jesus Christ," Liam scoffed. "I'm so glad you went to camp."

"We own a home," I said again because I just couldn't believe it.

"We're the closest thing to married as we can get," Ryder said as he played with Liam's wedding band. 

We had a small ceremony a few months ago. Andrew, Patrick, Jem, Dayton, a few of our friends had come. We exchanged vows to each other, gave each other rings, and kissed one another before walking down an isle covered in iris leaves. 

None of us were married on paper, all of us agreeing if we couldn't all be labeled as spouses then we shouldn't legally have one at all. 

I loved the decision we made. We were a family even if the government refused to see it. 

A lot of things had changed since camp. It had been four years, Liam just graduated from school and thanks to Andrew already had a job, Jax was a decently big named tattoo artist and was Dayton's most asked for employees, Ryder and I had started out own bookstore and cafe and it was named a must go place in town. 

I had been convinced camp was a death sentence for me. That my life would be in ruins after I left but this was more than I could have ever asked for. 

"I love you all so much," I said as my head goes to lean on Liam's shoulder. 

"You're such a sap," Jax said as he got off my lap and slid into the spot beside me. 

"Well excuse me for telling my husbands that they are the loves of my life."

"Don't worry," Liam teased. "You're excused."

"Fuck both of you." Ryder gave a soft moan. 

"Name the place babe, you can fuck me anytime."

"You're awful," I scoffed just as the doorbell chimed. 

"That's probably the pizza. Not it," Ryder declared as he sank farther into the couch. Liam and Jax both beat me to saying the phrase so I was dubbed to be the one to do it. I groaned as I forced myself off the couch. 

My stomach growled and I was excited to finally eat for the first time today. 

I opened the door and was extremely disappointed to see two boys on my doorstep rather than my pizza box. 

"Um, hi," I said as I took in the bags on their backs and in their hands. "I think you have the wrong house." The one on the left frowned while the one on the right scowled.

"Mom left," the one with the scowl said. "Lily left too. Found you on Facebook. Can we come in or do you want us to freeze out here?"

My heart stopped beating as my breathe got caught in my throat. I could feel my palms begin to sweat as I stared down at the twins. 

Axel and Weylyn. I hadn't seen them since I was arrested. I hadn't tried to see them since then. I hadn't even talked about them since my first year at camp with Andrew talking about how I got into dealing. Yet here they were. 

"Who's at the door," Cater's voice echoed through the house as he got up to stand behind me. I could tell by the way Weylyn shrank behind Axel, Carter had been glaring at the two of him. "Who the hell are you?"

"We're Callum's brothers. It's cold as shit out here. Can we come in?" 

I could feel my hands shaking as I fought with myself. A very big part of me wanted to just close the door. To ignore them and pray they would just go away. Yet my arm pulled the door open farther to let them in despite the fact that it was the last thing I wanted to do.

"Oh my god," Ryder said as he looked at the two of them. "You look so much like Callum. Oh my god Jax, that's what Callum looked like when he first got to camp." A smile covered his face as he rushed to meet them. Liam's eyes cut to me and the twins were forgotten by him in a matter of seconds. 

"Breathe," he instructed. He took my hands into his before placing them on his chest, letting me feel his heart beat. "Breathe and pull a thought together. What's going through you head right now?"

"I want them to leave. I can't do this again."

"We can make them leave," Liam whispered. 

"And go where," Axel scoffed. "Did you not here me? Lily is gone. Mom left. Haven't seen dad since before you left. Noah is at college. Where else were we supposed to go?"

"What do you mean mom left," I managed out through the panic in my chest. 

"I mean she left," he said as pulled out a letter from his back pocket. "Left a note on the table with some money and then walked right out the door." 

"And you didn't follow her or go to the cops?"

"She said she was going to work. It was only after we read the note that we knew she was leaving," Weylyn said barely above a whisper. He hadn't changed a bit. 

"And the cops," Liam asked a bit harshly. 

"So we can get thrown into foster care? Not in this lifetime. We just need a place to crash. We're self sufficient. You'll hardly know we're here."

"You can't just stay here," I all but screeched. "People will think we kidnapped you! We can't provide for you, we have no where to put you, I will not parent you anymore. I refuse to do it. First thing tomorrow we are going to report mom for child abandonment and then we're finding you a social worker."

"If you won't take us then we'll just leave," Axel said as he went to go back to the door. Weylyn looked torn between who he was supposed to follow but Carter cut Axel's path short as he stepped in front of his way. 

"You're staying here until we talk to the social worker. I'll call Francis tomorrow and we'll see what she says."

"Get out of my way old man," Axel seethed. "I'll beat your old ass until you're chocking on your own blood." Carter throws his head back and laughs before squaring his shoulder and staring down at my little brother. 

"I'd like to see your scrawny ass try." The two of them glare at each other and I have to give it to Axel, I've seen full grown men back down from that glare yet he was meeting it head on. 

I still felt a bit pissed off that Axel was able to get a rise out of Carter that easily. It had always been a talent of his, to pick out the exact thing that would piss someone off the most and use it in the worst way possible. It's been years since I've seen Carter get this pissed off so fast. I wouldn't be surprised if he threw Axel against the wall after a few more choice words. 

"That's enough," I said after taking a deep breathe. Carter immediately backed down but Axel only pushed harder. 

"I don't have to listen to you," he scoffed.  

"You do if you want to sleep here tonight," Liam said with a glare on his own. "And you're going to drop the attitude. We're letting you crash here tonight. We're actively helping you. Be grateful."

Axel looked around the room for the first time since stepping through the door. Liam was a solid foot taller than him, Jax was practically the size of him, Ryder was still a twink but even he was glaring now. 

"Let's all just take a deep breathe," Ryder suggests, Weylyn visibly takes his advice, still hiding behind Axel as much as he could. "Nothing is happening tonight. For now, we have more than enough pizza coming, a movie we could be watching, and couches that would out into beds. Let's just pause this for now, and then tomorrow we'll go see Patrick and talk to Francis, and we'll go from there."

My heart was still beating out of my chest, Axel still looked pissed, Carter was still seething, Liam was masking his face around the two new comers but I'm sure the four of us saw right through that to the underlying anger. 

"Fine," Axel spat out. He stepped around Ryder and found a spot on the couch. 

I forced myself to take a deep breathe. 

"Hi Weylyn," I said with forced calmness. "How have you been?"

"Hi. Fine. Can I have a hug?" I only sighed as I pulled him into my chest. He relaxed into my body as his arms wrapped around me. My hand found his hair as I played with it, while my other hand wrapped around his back. "I've missed you." 

"I missed you too," I said, hoping he couldn't hear the lie in my voice.