#mavdad

-

Bradley wasn't planning on intervening in the twin's walk.

He really wasn't!

Unless, of course, they actually started doing something daft.

And of course they did!

Or at least Jake did.

Bradley didn't hear what they fought about because he was too far away, but it clearly pissed off Jake enough that he decided that he needed to cool down.

Like literally cool down.

And when Bradley noticed that Jake had gone into the water at an unguarded part of the beach, he realized he could be just as much of a hypocrite as Mav.

He and his high school friends had done the same plenty of times, and the only reason they really stopped was because one time Mav and Ice ran into them while on the run.

(Bradley got grounded, his Dads read them the Riot Act, called those guys' parents later, and most of them got grounded too. In general those friends would never even dare to visit Bradley's home again after that, and risk running into Mav and Ice.

A bit of overreaction! They aren't that scary!)

"Jake get the fuck out the water! This isn't a patrolled beach!" He screamed, as soon as got close enough that he thought Jake would hear him.

Little shit just showed him the middle finger before disappearing under the water.

"Bradley?" Natasha asked surprised, before just throwing herself at him. She started hugging him so hard it was almost painful.

Bradley realized she was full on ugly crying.

He was so whopping that little shit ass for that, he didn't care that Ice and Mav don't believe in corporal punishment! Jake deserved it!

-

Once Natasha seemed to calm down at least enough that she stopped crying, Bradley went to drag Jake out of the water.

Thankfully he only needed to get knees deep in the cold as fuck water (who were those bunch of masochists that they were swimming in this water, that he saw before?) before Jake screamed. "Fine, I'm getting out! You don't have to come and drag me! Chill the fuck out!"

He planned to ask Jake about this whole fight since Natasha wouldn't tell him shit, but as soon as Jake got close enough that he could see his face, Bradley realized he had been crying too. His eyes were probably even more bloody red, than Natasha's. So he figured out it, probably wasn't time or place for that.

Especially since it started to get windy, and his new dumbass little brother went swimming in his jean shorts, when they didn't have any towels with them.

"If you get sick from this, I won't be taking care of you." He just lied, since he was still a bit annoyed.

"I won't get sick." Jake said with an eye roll. "It's prime swimming weather."

"No, it isn't." Bradley just huffed and grabbed Jake's hand to force him to exit water faster, since Jake was dragging his feet. "Beside you can't swim at an unguarded beach, it isn't safe."

"Chill, you remember I'm literally in the Academy Aquatic Club? I know how to swim." Jake huffed back annoyed, but didn't even try to get free from Bradley's hand.

"Only a third of those who drown can’t swim! Most people who can’t swim simply avoid the water." Bradley said, and realized it was almost a direct quote by Ice from the Riot Act he got as a teenager. "You can't be that restless. Mav would probably end up having a heart attack if you lost you so soon, after finding you."

In response Jake just mumbled something under his breath that Bradley didn't hear.

Before he could respond Natasha hugged Jake, as they just got out of the water already.

Bradley wanted to stop her, because it was getting even more windy, and really the last thing they needed was for them to get sick, but he couldn't bring himself to intervene, especially when he noticed how surprised Jake was by Natasha coming closer.

"I'll call Ice to pick us up." He said deciding to give them a little privacy, and figuring out that Ice was a safer choice of a ride. "If we walk all the way back Jake will end up sick for sure."

"Fuck you, I'll be fine." Jake said, but then he sneezed. "You can call him I guess, if it will make you worry-ass feel better or something, but I don't need it!"

So Bradley called his Pops.

-

By the time Ice showed up, Jake already had a runny nose, and was sneezing every other minute.

It didn't help that they used Jake's and Natasha's shirts for make-shift towels, and Bradley literally switched his clothes with Jake.

Bradley ended up in a wet jeans short and damp t-shirt, that he could barely fit into, while Jake was "drowning" in his shorts and Hawaiian shirt, that were like three sizes too big on him.

Jake looked even younger like that.

A bit like a sad gigantic toddler.

For a second Bradley wondered what life would be like if he actually had known Jake and Natasha as toddlers.

Toddler Natasha would definitely end up having him wrapped around her finger, and if he was being honest, he probably wouldn't be able to resist Toddler Jake better, since he already felt so bad for this sad sneezing teenager Jake, even after he made Natasha cry so hard.

(Bradley still hasn't found out about what exactly they were screaming about, even if he had a vague idea, after all they just got DNA results back, so that fight definitely was related to that.)

In general Jake just looked so miserable, that Bradley couldn't stay mad at him. Even if an idiot will probably end up sick because of his own stupidity.

Ice clearly must have thought something similar about how pathetic Jake looked, because unlike Bradley, Jake's whole scolding for swimming on an unguarded beach was 'Just please, don't ever do that again, okay Jakey?'

Like hello?!

How is THIS fair?

And okay, circumstances were very different, but c'mon?!

Bradley got two separate lectures about it!

One together with his friends (that traumatized them!) and then one even longer back at home!

Jake got one sentence, and he even got 'please' and Jakey?

Bradley got full 'Bradley Peter Bradshaw' and he was even threatened with a belt if he ever did that again! And fine, he knew that threat was so empty, he almost laughed when he heard that, but that's not the point.

It's about the principle!

Then he realized that somewhere in Ohio there's someone he needs to apologize to.

It was his roommate from University, because Bradley always called him a whiny bitch for getting so fucking annoyed every time he heard from his younger sister, that she got away with something that would lend him in hot waters when he was her age.

Bradley could only now see the truth.

Ricky was right!

It's all about the principles!!!

Ricky will probably end up laughing at him at first, but then they can complain together about injustice that is happening to the oldest siblings everywhere!

-

"I'm sorry, I should have stopped him." Natasha told Ice, after Jake got sent to take a hot bath. "Now he could end up sick and it's my fault."

Bradley thought that 'could end up sick' was wishful thinking. Jake was 99,99% ending up with the common cold at least.

"At least he's probably going to have a cold." Ice actually said what Bradley was thinking. "But, it's not your fault Natasha. Jake did something stupid and now he's going to pay the price with hopefully a small cold. Children sadly get sick sometimes, it's not–" Bradley knew he wanted to say 'the end of the world' but he got interrupted by Jake's whiny voice.

"I think I need help."

"Okay, he's definitely getting sick if he's even asking for help." Bradley thought, but didn't say it, because Natasha seemed really worried over that possibility?

"I'll go." Natasha said quietly.

"Preferably not Natasha." Jake added screaming, as if he could sense that by some twin telepathy, because he definitely shouldn't be able to hear that. "Or Bradley."

Since Ice told them in the car, that Mav went for a ride, that was probably Jake's way of asking for Ice's help, without directly asking.

After Ice went to help Jake, Natasha started crying again.

"Hey, it's okay." He said as he hugged her. "Jake getting sick is not the end of the world."

"I ruined this for him." She whispered. "He actually needs them, but now he's going to be sick because of me and they are going to leave."

Bradley thought he must have heard something wrong.

"Why would they leave?" He was confused.

"Jake is going to be sick." She said as if explained everything. "They are going to leave."

"Why would they leave if Jake was sick?" He asked.

"Why wouldn't they?" Natasha was confused. "Parents leave when kids get sick."

"What? Where did you get that idea, Nat. They never left me alone when I was sick."

Natasha seemed even more confused. "My parents would always stay away from us kids when any one of us would get sick. They didn't want to get sick too, so they would even pay Nannies extra to stay overnight. When we got a little older they would just start leaving for vacation." She said it was the most normal thing in the world, not something incredibly cruel.

Bradley knew from experience that there's nothing a sick kid wants more than the comfort of a parent.

His Mom dying hit him the hardest the first time he got sick after. It was just a common cold, but he remembered crying in Mav's arms that he wanted his Mom. He was beyond miserable, that he couldn't have her while being sick.

He couldn't imagine not having his Mom while sick because she decided to take vacation.

Mav or Ice would usually take free time from work if it was possible to take care of him.

Natasha didn't seem to realize how affected he was by her words, and just kept on going. "My mother said it was like killing two birds with one stone. Not only would they not get sick, but they could use the fact that they were already paying extra for overnight care, and take a spontaneous trip. Ice and Mav are in the Navy, it's more important that they won't get infected by Jake. It's obvious that they need to leave."

Only in my darkest moments can I see the light

I think I'm prone to getting blinded when it's bright

Well, this December, I'll remember

Want you to see it when I do, ooh

I'm alright if you're alright

And I'm okay if you're okay

It's this state in this state I'm living in

It's just a little bit, it's just a little bit

Lonely in this home, it's always colder on your own

My darlin', I, I let the season change my mind

This December - Ricky Montgomery

-

-

One of the worst nights of Jake's life started with a simple question.

"I need a favor, you're sober right?"

It was surprisingly warm Saturday evening in December, so almost all plebes from Naval Academy were still gone using town liberty (including his roommate Javy) when Natasha Trace came to his room without even knocking.

Normally Jake would joke about the rudeness of that or how he was underage and he would never drink illegally, but Natasha looked like shit.

She was pale sweaty and holding her stomach, so he just answered her. "Yes. Do you need me to drive you to the hospital or something?"

He asked right away, because he can be nice and he never really saw her look that bad before, so maybe he was a little worried about her.

"What? No, I'm fine. Don't be ridiculous." She said like she didn't look half dead.

"You don't look fine."

"I'm fine! It's just... I just started my period. It's not that bad usually, but today it's hell." She whispered while looking away after he gave her a look.

"Okay, do you need me to buy tampons, pads or anything like that?" She looked surprised at that offer, and Jake felt very offended by that, but she started moaning before he could say anything about it.

"Just shut up and let me talk." She whined. "I'm fine on the period front, but I can't drive like that and promised Bradley I would pick him up."

Jake only then noticed she was holding the car keys in the hand that wasn't clutching her stomach. "Can you pick him up for me?"

He rolled his eyes at that, because of course this is about Bradshaw.

"He is a big boy, I'm sure he can find his way home."

Because fine, Jake is aware that he is what some people might consider acquired taste, but he really tried particularly in these early weeks, and Bradley Bradshaw literally took one look at him and he decided he didn't like him, as if Jake's very existence triggered him.

"I'm sure one of the guys will give him a ride or something." He added after Natasha gave him a look this time.

"No, because he went on a date and it's in Washington. I tried calling him so he wouldn't wait for me and get a taxi or something but I think his phone is dead."

Natasha gave him a pleading look and with how pathetically she already looked, it was very effective on Jake. He already knew he was going to waste his evening on that tasteless asshole Bradshaw, instead of studying (those Hawaiian shirts are fashion crime).

"Please, I don't want him to miss curfew because of me." Natasha didn't even need to add that.

"I'll really owe you one for this." And she definitely didn't need to add that, but since she did, Jake would be a fool not want a favor from her.

"Fine. I'll hold you to that. Just tell me where to pick him up. "

"You're not Natasha." Is the first thing Bradshaw said after he got in the car. He looked so very confused that Jake had trouble refraining from laughing.

"No shit, Sherlock."

"Did you steal her car?"

So Bradley Bradshaw is one of those really stupid drunks. Jake thought. This might be fun actually.

"Yes, I stole her car, and came to the one place she was supposed to be right now, because that is more likely than her just asking me to pick you up instead of her."

And Bradley looked as if he was actually considering this possibility, at least until Jake started laughing, then he mumbled. "Right, that was a stupid question."

"You're really drunk, aren't you?" Jake asked rhetorically. He saw Bradshaw staggering the car earlier but still, he didn't expect that level of drunkenness from Mister Perfect. Bradshaw just flipped him a bird in response.

"I guess the date didn't work out." Jake added because he couldn't help himself.

"It is none of your business. Besides, so what if I'm drunk? I'm over 21! I can drink if I want!" Bradshaw sounded angry now.

Bradshaw is stupid and angry drunk, this won't be fun.

But fine, Jake could handle this, so he stopped himself from making some old man joke, because the fact that he's on the older side of plebs seems to be a very sore spot for Bradshaw.

Jake decided to be nice, he definitely didn't joke about it, because he never saw Bradshaw that drunk before and he might be worried about his reaction.

"Just please fasten your seat belt, so we can leave and not miss the curfew." He just said instead, because he realized Bradshaw had no intention to do so. "It's over an hour away, so we only have a few minutes extra."

"Fuck you, you can't tell me what to do Mav!"

Mav? Who the fuck is Mav?

Jake just looked at Bradshaw while blinking, because dude not only turned fully into a moody teenager from alcohol, but was also having some kind of hallucination or something?

"I'm not Mav? I'm Jake." He tried to be reasonable. "This is literally the law. I'm not starting this car until you do so."

"Whatever." Bradshaw answered with an eye roll but he actually did buckle up, so Jake started driving.

"Wait, why did Natasha ask you to do this? Did something happen to her?" Bradshaw suddenly asked after a few minutes of silent drive.

"She's fine. She just started her period and it's a rather bad one, but she's fine beside that."

Bradshaw relaxed his head against the window again after hearing that, and after a while he started snoring.

The last thing Jake remembers is mostly that snoring, and that he looked at the time thinking they would easily make it before curfew.

He didn't know that they would not even get to leave Washington that night.

The thing is he ended up not remembering the crash, but apparently this is the case sometimes, and this is not something to worry about.

Jake didn't really mind that, because he always wished he could also forget what he did remember. All that blood, noise and pain.

He knows, but doesn't remember, that at the junction they were hit by a drunk driver who ignored a red light.

Apparently there was nothing he could have done to avoid that, and Jake wasn't sure he believed that, but he really didn't remember anything about the crash, so he tried to believe official reports that all the blame was on the other driver.

(He felt guilty anyway.)

What he ended up remembering is waking up in a car thinking his head and left arm were killing him.

Someone was screaming outside the car (Please shut up.) and he could smell the sharp stench of petrol and blood.

He also remembered realizing the car is wrecked and thinking Natasha is going to kill him.

And then he remembered looking at the bloodied and stiff Bradshaw, and forgetting about his own pain because Bradshaw looked like he was dead.

He remembered blooding (there was so much blood everywhere) his shaky hands while trying to find his pulse and swearing when he couldn't.

"Don't you die on me you fucking asshole."

The last thing he remembers before darkness came is thinking he killed Bradshaw and now Natasha was really going to kill him.

Jake was used to waking up in a hospital bed, so at first he didn't panic.

Even when he noticed that his left arm was in a cast, he still didn't panic.

Then he looked around the room, and noticed Bradshaw lying in the next bed, all in bandages like a mummy, recalled last night and he perhaps did panic a little.

He almost killed Bradshaw, his social life was over.

So a slight panic was very much in order.

The nurse who came to reassure him was young and beautiful, but after having a panic attack in front of her, he was unlikely to have a chance with her.

After he calmed down, they had a typical conversation with questions like ‘how many fingers am I holding up?’ and ‘do you know your name?’ to see if his brain was working.

"Do you remember what happened?"

Yes?

No?

Kinda?

When she noticed that he was considering his answer she added. "This is normal if you don't remember everything."

"Car crash?" She nodded in response.

"I don't remember crashing, but I know that I was driving, and then I woke up in a wrecked car. Bradshaw was fully covered in blood. Is he all right?" As soon as he asked about it he felt stupid.

Bradshaw was literally drowning in bandages next to him and he asked if he was all right.

"Don't worry, you and your friend seem to be very lucky." She smiles, but he can tell she's hiding something.

"And don't worry about the naval academy." She changed the topic. "They were informed of the situation right away because you both had emergency contacts set up as staff from the academy. They can't come, but they said to not worry about your absence, it will be excused."

Normally Jake would feel a little offended by the sympathy in her voice, but he's too focused on the fact that Bradshaw also has no one private he can set up as an emergency contact.

He is always surrounded by people, does he seriously not have normal contact in case of an accident?

Not even Natasha? They seemed to have been non-stop connected since the beginning of the academic year.

Although, all in all, it only has been a few months.

Fuck, speaking of Natasha, he really needed to call her.

He put on his best smile. "Is it possible for me to get my phone back?"

After a little negotiation he got his phone.

A phone that was almost discharged, because it turned out that Natasha and surprisingly also Javy tried to contact him practically all night.

He was most surprised by the number of worried text messages from Javy.

He did not expect that he would care so much about him.

His last message was from an hour ago. "We know about the accident but they didn't tell us much and they won't let me and Natasha leave to come to the hospital. Please get back to me when you are able to"

Jake definitely did not expect Javy to want to visit him in hospital.

He texted Javy "it's fine and i'm fine" (He didn't say anything about Bradshaw because he was still laying like mummy next to him, so he couldn't really say that he's fine).

He tried to force himself to call Natasha next, since she didn't text, only tried to call him, but before he could do this, Javy started calling.

It was almost like he started calling the second he got his text.

Weird.

Weird, but nice. He was a little scared to call Natasha anyway. Not only he wrecked her car but also wrecked her best friend.

Any excuse was good to postpone that conversation.

So he picked a call from Javy, and that conversation was even weirder because Javy seemed so sincerely worried about Jake.

And it turned out that just before he was together with Natasha and they were worried together, but now she went to the bathroom.

He figured out that he will allow himself to be a coward this time and will take the easy way out, so he tried to finish that conversation fast, before Natasha could come back and yell at him.

He asked Javy to pass everything on to Natasha, not that he knew a lot to be honest and that he will call when Bradshaw wakes up, but right now he's getting tired.

He fell asleep almost as soon as he finished talking, so he didn't even really lie by saying that he's tired.

He was woken up by Bradshaw talking to some other nurse.

-

-

-

-

-

Then he was quickly reassured by the fact that Bradshaw sounded reasonably functional.

Once the nurse left, there was an awkward silence between them, before Bradshaw asked to borrow Jake's phone to call Natasha, since his own phone didn't survive the crash.

Despite it feeling a little wrong, Jake let him have his phone since it's the least thing he could do for him after landing both of them in the hospital.

Jake turned his back to Bradshaw to give him the illusion of privacy, during that call, even though he could hear every word Bradshaw said, and could figure out from context most of Natasha's responses.

"You can call someone else if you want too. I didn't mind." He said when Bradshaw didn't move to give him back phone back, even after the call clearly ended.

That seemed to spook him. "I don't want to call anyone!" He said like he was trying to convince himself of that, before throwing Jake's phone back at him. And that was rude! They are already down to one phone and who knows for how long they will keep them here.

Not to mention Jake couldn't afford the replacement!

"Hey, Mister I don't want to call anyone, what's that then?" Jake said when he noticed Bradshaw put in some unknown phone number in his phone, but didn't end up calling. "Your date from last night's number? Maybe I should call her? Show her what the real good time looks like?" Jake added because he really can't stop himself sometimes.

"Fuck! Delete that fucking number! Now!!?" Bradshaw's sudden angry scream spooked Jake so badly he accidentally started calling this number, and he even dropped his phone on the hospital bed.

"Geez, chill! I'm deleting your failed date's number." He said as he picked up his phone, and canceled that call. Hopefully she wouldn't call back, because he didn't want to piss Bradshaw even more, by admitting what he accidentally clicked.

"Sorry." Bradshaw said after a moment, and Jake wondered what kind of drugs they gave him, because Bradshaw never apologized to him before. "I didn't mean to scare you." He added quietly.

"Fuck you. I wasn't scared." Jake lied.

"Sure, Jan." Bradshaw said, so Jake showed him the middle finger with a hand that wasn't in the cast. In response Bradshaw rolled his eyes at him and turned his back to Jake.

Before he could figure out what to respond verbally to that disrespect, Bradshaw's failed date started calling.

Jake rejected that incoming call.

She started calling again.

Jake rejected that call even faster.

He quickly texted "sorry, wrong numbers." before she could start calling again.

She texted back "Bradley?"

Fuck, I'm fucked. Fuck.

He looked at Bradshaw, he didn't dare to admit that he accidentally contacted that girl from yesterday. Considering how badly that date ended with Bradshaw getting so fucking drunk, he figured he was safe in assuming Bradley wasn't planning on meeting her again.

So he texted back impersonating Bradshaw. "Yes, but forget it. I'm in hospital so I must have suffered a momentary lapse in judgement by trying to contact you." He figured that was more or less what happened.

Since that date clearly was a disaster, he figured that, this girl wouldn't care.

Surprisingly he got a text back almost immediately.

"If you don't call me in the next five minutes to tell me if you're fine, I'll call Steven F. Thompson's personal number to find out if you're fine, and then I'll call Him."

What the fuck?

Steven F. Thompson's personal number?!?!

That's the current superintendent of the United States Naval Academy?!?

And who the fuck is this Him, that apparently more important than superintendent?!

Just who the fuck was Bradshaw on date with?!

It sadly turned out that Ice had to work practically the whole Friday, he even left before Jake woke up! But at least Jake could be very proud of himself because he didn't cry about it, even if he wanted to.

Bradley was extra nice to him throughout the day anyway, so it helped.

In general Bradley was almost suspiciously nice to Jake since his talk with Natasha the day before. Neither he or Natasha would tell Jake what exactly they talked about, but he's pretty sure Natasha might have threatened him in some way, or maybe Bradley was just relieved to finally talk and make up with his best friend.

Anyway Jake wouldn't complain about it.

-

It was an afternoon when Mav and Jerry were helping Bradley and Jake study in the living room, and unexpected guests showed up.

(Jake really hoped that they didn't end up having to repeat that year or anything like that. Jake thought that Bradley especially wouldn't take that well.)

Leonard "Wolfman" Wolfe and Rick "Hollywood" Neven. Or according to Bradley, Uncle Wolf and Uncle Wood. Or according to annoyed Mav, stupid Furry and Holly. Both retired from Navy over six years ago, so Jake wasn't that intimidated by them.

"What part of "Don't come yet" you didn't understand." Mav was annoyed when he opened the door.

"We were in the neighborhood." Wolfe said with a sheepish smile.

"You live four hours away Dogman." Mav answered with a glare.

"Give us a break, we're leaving for the Barabados tomorrow. We wanted to see your new baby before we go. Slider already met him, so if you won't let us it will be homophobic." Hollywood whined. "Not to mention Bradley-"

He stopped once he realized Bradley and "new baby" (JAKE WAS OFFENDED!) where actually in his line of sight. "Wow, he looks like your and Ice's lovebaby."

Jake was pretty sure he might have blushed a little.

Jerry laughed and clapped his hands. "That's what I said!"

Bradley looked like he was actually trying to melt into the couch to hide.

Mav just signed heavily. "I'll make you guys something to drink. Jake and Bradley, come help me in the kitchen. Jerry will entrain our guests."

Everyone knew it was just an excuse, since Jake couldn't really 'help', and Jake felt even more embarrassed.

"What am I, your butler?" Jerry joked, but moved towards newcomers.

"Hello, smarter yet more annoying Kazansky, I read your latest article about penguins." Wood clearly took a hint, and focused on Jerry, while he and Bradley evacuated to the kitchen with Mav.

"Baby, just say a word, and I'll kick them out." Mav said to Jake as soon as he closed the doors to the kitchen. "The same goes for you Bradley. We told them not to come. I can't believe they couldn't listen to such simple instructions." He complained while shaking his head.

"Ironic coming from you." Bradley dared to comment quietly and Mav swatted his arm gently for that. Then he said way louder. "If it's up to me, they can stay. I would rather have this awkwardness over already, then just postpone it."

Both of them looked at Jake.

He hated making those kinds of decisions.

He wasn't sure if he was up to that visit, but they were already here, and came all this way just to meet him and re-met Bradley. It would be rude to make them go back.

"It's fine." He said quietly.

Bradley raised his eyebrow at him, and Mav smiled sadly.

"Honey, you don't have to force yourself. They are the ones who showed up uninvited, so don't worry about them." Mav touched his face gently. "If you're not up to it, I'll make them go away, and they would understand that. They can be tone-deaf sometimes but they are good people."

"We can say that I wasn't up to it." Bradley offered, and Jake wanted to cry. Bradley was too nice sometimes!

"I want to try." He said honestly this time. "But I'm not sure how long-"

"Okay, how about this, we'll have a codeword." Mav interrupted him. "When you feel like you have enough, say that 'Larry texted me and he wants to call." Then you will have an excuse to leave, and I'll know that it's time to kick them out. That's okay with you, baby?"

"Okay, but don't call me baby in front of them!" Jake whined a little, but he was happy with the new plan.

"Why are you trying to feed into Pop's paranoia about that plushie?" Bradley asked. "You know he'll pop a vein if this will become our codeword."

"Don't be so dramatic." Mav laughed. "It's only for today."

(It became a standard family codeword for wanting to leave or make someone leave. Ice definitely wasn't happy about that.)

-

When they returned from the kitchen with teas, Jerry was in the middle of arm wrestling with Wolfe, while Hollywood was laughing and clearly trying to make Wolfe lose by tickling him.

"Traitor, why are you helping him." Wolfe grunted, and Hollywood just showed him his tongue like a child.

"You know that if you break Mouse's arm, and he ends up having to stay with us, Ice will literally kill you." Mav said loudly.

Wolfe immediately let Jerry win. Jerry didn't care that his victory wasn't exactly clear, and just whooped.

"Coward." Hollywood laughed even louder, before getting serious. "I see you actually did get us some teas. Does it mean that we can stay?"

"For now, but any of you make one joke about my height and you're out." Mav made 'I'm watching you' gesture with his fingers.

"Why must you rob me of small joys in life." Wolfe said. "And that didn't count!"

Mav rolled his eyes, before he placed the tray of teas on the table, before gesturing toward Jake to come closer. "Jake, those are your new stupid Uncles. Stupid Uncles, met my new amazing kid."

Wolfe showed Mav his middle finger for 'stupid uncles', while Hollywood was just staring at Jake like he was really amazing or something.

"Hi." Jake waved awkwardly, even though they were standing so close to each other that Jake could touch him if he reached out his hand.

"Hi." Hollywood waved back with a smile.

"And I believe that you might have met my old amazing kid before." Mav added, shifting attention to Bradley who was standing while hugging himself under the wall next to the huge oil painting of three ships in the sea.

"I think we have met once or twice." Wolfe joked. "But I think I might need a hug to make sure it's the same kid."

Bradley rolled his eyes, but he seemed to relax at Wolfe's words, and went to hug him.

-

Jake decided that he liked Wolf and Hollywood.

He didn't have to use his codeword, even though they stayed for a few hours.

They even ended up helping them study for most of the time (without complaining unlike Jerry).

Wolf was great at explaining math, and Hollywood was very helpful with literature.

And both of them seemed to like Jake.

They decided to leave or rather do a tactical retreat, when Ice called that he would be back soon. He was very pissed, when Mav told him that they showed up uninvited.

"Wait, we have almost forgotten." Hollywood said while they were saying goodbye by their car. "We brought something for Jake."

"You didn't have to." Jake said, because it was a polite thing to say, but he was curious what could have guys who never met him before, brought for him.

"Fuck, right." Wolf said, and then he went to open the car's trunk. Inside there was a bit of a mess, so Jake wasn't sure what he was supposed to be his gift.

"He's seventeen, if it's something inappropriate, I'll kill you myself." Mav said while standing between Wolf and Jake, clearly planning to check the gift, as if he was the TSA.

"Chill, mama Bear. I swear it's not inappropriate." Hollywood said. "We would never give a minor something inappropriate." He winked at Bradley while Mav wasn't looking (because he was so focused on what Wolf was looking for), so they probably did give teenage Bradley something inappropriate before.

Wolf finally pulled out a rather small unassuming cartoon box.

Jake felt a little disappointed. Damn he was becoming spoiled.

Mav immediately grabbed that box, and opened it discreetly so Jake and Bradley wouldn't be able to see shit.

"Oh." He just said clearly surprised, then smiled at Wolf. "I guess it's fine, even if I'm sure some of those are a little inappropriate."

"Don't worry, we kept the worst ones." Hollywood said.

"Wait, no way-" Bradley made a move to grab that box, but Mav tutted at him.

"Honey, this isn't for you." Their Dad said, but he was clearly joking. "This is Jakey's present." He said and offered the box towards Jake.

"This is bullying." Bradley whined, but he was smiling, so he probably wasn't really mad

Now Jake was interested.

He grabbed the mystery box, and Mav just laughed.

Inside there were photos of Mav, Ice and Bradley.

Rather embarrassing ones, or just ones where they came out weirdly or ugly looking.

It was prime blackmail material, even if nothing was really inappropriate.

The only one that could be almost inappropriate was the photo of younger Ice without a shirt with a pink tiara on his head. He was clearly hungover and had "Ice king" written on his bare chest in blue marker. He was showing middle finger to whoever was taking that photo. In the background there was someone sleeping on the floor, and Jake was 95% sure that it was Mav.

"You're welcome, kid." Wolf said as he closed the trunk.

That made Jake realize he hasn't actually thanked them.

"Thank you!" Jake screamed, and actually hugged Wolf. He could hear Mav, Bradley and Hollywood laughing at him, but he didn't care about it at the moment.

"Welcome to the family, kiddo." Wolf whispered while hugging back Jake.

"This is seriously the best non-parental gift ever!" Jake declared, because he couldn't forget how insanely Ice spoiled him during Christmas.

"Hey, I bought you a car!" Jerry suddenly said behind Jake. He didn't realize Jerry showed up outside too.

"I know that was a second best non-parental gift ever." Jake said seriously.

"Second?! What could be better?" Jerry asked, and Jake showed him the Ice king photo of his brother.

"Okay, this is better." Jerry said after blinking three times. "I need a copy." He tried to take away that photo from Jake, but Jake wouldn't let him!

"No! This is mine!" He glared at Jerry.

"I'll buy you another car and motorcycle, if you let me copy that photo." Jerry said seriously.

"Jerry!" Mav slapped his brother-in-law's arm. "Don't teach bribery to my innocent child!"

Before Jerry could respond, suddenly Hollywood cursed very loudly. "Fuck! That's Ice's car! Fuck! Get inside! We need to go!" He screamed at Wolf.

Before Jake could blink, Wolf was in a car and they were driving away from their driveway.

The only problem was that they lived in the dead end Street, so they had to try to pass Ice's car to leave.

Ice obviously noticed his lifelong friends passing by him.

And he took a dramatic U-turn as soon as he realized who just passed him, and chased after them.

It was a bit ridiculous car chase, because both cars still followed the low speed limit for their little neighborhood street, so unlike in movies it actually took a minute for them to disappear from their line of sight.

Jake blinked a few times. He couldn't quite believe his eyes.

The rest of his family didn't seem at all surprised by what happened.

Jerry just shook his head, and Bradley rolled his eyes once again.