Five years later

“Daddy! Daddy! Are they already here?” Isabella rushed through the door and dropped her schoolbag on the floor. Hector, who was following right behind her shook his head and picked it up. His mother smiled and gave him a short kiss.

It was her sixth birthday today and she was waiting impatiently for days that her uncles would arrive.

“I don’t know mi corazón. Why don’t you check the back yard?” Tico told her after a hug and a kiss.

“Ok, daddy!” she ran through the open living room out into the backyard. The BBQ was already set up and the big trampoline she got for her birthday was occupying a big part of the garden, but the chairs around the big table were still empty. Isabella frowned.

“Papa? Dónde están?” she asked a little sad.

“I don’t know mi corazon…look around a bit.” Tico hugged her shortly. His daughter only called him ‘Papa’ when she was sad or hurt.

Slowly she walked closer to her birthday present and tried to find Jon, David and Richie. Hector giggled when he saw the three men hiding on the opposite side of the trampoline.

“Tio Jon?” Isabella whispered softly, when she rounded the trampoline, but she didn’t see him. Her shoulders slumped lightly and she turned around to her father pouting.

“Daddy, they ain’t here!”

Tico chuckled and watch Jon stepping close to her, ending the hide and seek.

“Hello little Lady.” He said grinning

She spun around… “TIO JON!”… and threw herself into his arms. Jon laughed.

“Happy birthday Isabella.”

“Gracias.” She answered smiling.

“Tio Richie, Tio David.” She ran over to the two men and hugged them happily.

“Happy Birthday sweetheart.” David kissed her cheek softly and had to chuckle when Isabella immediately reached for his hair. His curls still fascinated her and she simply had to touch them when they met.

“Don’t pull his hair, Bella.” Ali told her grinning.

“No, Mama.” The girl said, while pulling her hand back.

“Feliz cumpleaños, princess.” Richie’s voice let her turn his head.

“Thank you, Tio Richie. Where is Ava?” She asked curious.

“Oh, she is still in LA, princess.”

Isabella pouted lightly. Tico hurried over to her.

“Bella, we told you that all the kids will come the day after tomorrow and celebrate your birthday with you. You will have a huge party, but today they all have to be at school and college…just like you.” Tico told her in a calming voice. His little girl was well known for showing her temper and he really wanted to have a quiet and happy birthday celebration today.

“Ok, daddy.” She sighed. “But I can celebrate with my uncles today.”

Everybody laughed. “Yes, you can Little Lady. We will have a great party today.” Jon promised.

Tico specifically asked them all to come today and not with their families in two days. They all wondered why he wanted them to be there today, but he didn’t tell them yet.

“So, how about we get this party started.” David clapped his hands. “Hector get the music going and you sweetheart can start un-wrapping this.”

“Oh, what’s in it?” Isabella asked with big eyes when David carefully handed her a big package.

“Open it and you’ll find out.” He told her when loud techno music waved through the back yard.

“HECTOR!” Tico bellowed. Isabella covered her ears and ran over to her brother, who was sitting on his laptop.

“Play my music. You promised, Teto.” She pulled his hands away from the keyboard. Hector sighed and opened another playlist.

“Better?” he asked when Springsteen’s “Dancing in the dark” started. Isabella loved his music.

“Si. Gracias.” She placed a quick kiss on his cheek and rushed back to her birthday presents.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

“Why do you want us here today, Tico?” Jon whispered when Isabella ran over to Hector. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing is wrong. I’ll tell you when she’s finished with her presents.” The drummer told him in a low voice as well.

“You got much better taste in music than Hector, sweetheart.” David said loudly when the girl hurried back to them and made his two friends stop whispering.

“I know.” She said seriously and made them laugh.

Isabella ripped the paper apart and squealed in excitement.

“Mama, Daddy look….the Lego Fire Brigade!” she held the big package up.

“That looks great, mi corazón. I’ll help you build it up tomorrow.” Tico promised.

“I can do it on my own Daddy, I’m six now. I’m a big girl.” She told him with a serious look on her face. The men chuckled.

“Of course, Bella.” Her father hurried to say. Ali grinned at him.

“Well, now you can open this one.” Richie pointed at another big present after Isabella thanked David. “But you gotta be a little careful, princess.”

The girl nodded and carefully un-wrapped the present.

“Oh, daddy…look!” Isabella stared at the beautiful deep purple kids’ guitar Richie got her. She looked at the guitarist.

“Is she really for me?”

“Yes, princess…here, look…it says ‘Isabella’.” Rich pointed at the silver engraving of the guitar.

“Thank you, Richie.” She whispered while gently running her fingers over the shining body. She was playing piano already and her father taught her drums, but she always wanted a guitar and she was driving Ali and Tico crazy with her begging in the last couple weeks.

“You are welcome, princess. Promise me to practice, ok?”

“I will, I promise.” She told him and turned to her mother.

“Can I get lessons, Mama? Please!” Ali smiled.

“Sure, sweetie. We will look for a teacher tomorrow, ok?”

“Yes!” Isabella rushed over to her mother and wrapped her arms around her waist. “Thank you, Mama.”

Ali smiled, but stiffened lightly when her daughter crashed into her. Tico watched them worried.

“Bella, be careful. Don’t run into Mama like that. You are too strong already.” He pulled the girl softly away from his wife.

His friends watched him surprised. Rich exchanged a quick glance with Jon and David. Could it be possible?

“I’m fine, mi amor.” Ali kissed his cheek, but Tico didn’t look convinced.

“How about you open Jon’s present now, sweetie?” Ali tried to distract her daughter who was watching them confused.

“Oh,…yeah!” she turned her attention to the last present and didn’t see her mother assuring Tico that everything was fine.

“Here Little Lady.” Jon handed her the neatly wrapped present.

“Uhm, tio Jon. What is this?” Isabella asked after she un-wrapped the package.

“Well, you know what it is… it’s a suitcase.” Jon told her grinning.

“Why do I need a suitcase?” she looked at him confused.

“It’s a special suitcase. Open it.” He told her still grinning and helped her to unlock it.

“Mama, look… a Bear for my collection.” Isabella held up a white Teddy Bear.

Ali smiled. Ever since Richie gave the little bear to her five years ago at the stadium, her daughter loved teddy bears and all of them sent her bears over the last years when they were touring.

“There is more, Bella.” Tico pointed at the open suitcase while keeping one arm wrapped protectively around his wife.

“Oh, a photo camera…and a purple pillow and a blanket…and …pencils…and writing paper.” She took all the items out of the suitcase.

“I’m not very good and writing yet.” She told Jon a little contrite.

“Ah, don’t worry. In a couple months, you’ll do just fine. I’m sure.” He hugged her softly. She nodded.

“So, sweetie. What do you think? When will you need all those items?” Ali asked and took a picture of her daughter.

“I don’t know Mama.”

“Well, when do you need a suitcase?” Ali sat down next to her.

“When you travel like Daddy does.”

“Right. And what do you need a pillow and a blanket for?”

“Uhm…for sleeping?” the girl answered a little unsure.

“Right. So…when does Daddy travel again?” Ali asked her grinning.

“Next summer. He’ll be way after Steph’s birthday.” She said without having to think about it. The men shook their heads. It seems all their kids knew always very well when they would be gone.

“And what will you do at that time?” David wanted to know.

“Probably get on Teto’s nerves.” Isabella grinned at her brother. They all laughed.

“Very funny!” the 12-year old muttered.

“Oh, come on big guy. Find your humor.” Jon pulled him close with one arm. Hector snorted.

“Well, Bella…Hector will be not here.” Tico said and watched her amused. “He’ll be travelling with me…and Mama.”

Isabella’s eyes grew wide in shock. “You’ll leave me alone?”

“Oh, no…mi corazón…we would never leave you alone.” Tico pulled her into his arms.

“You are coming with us, genius.” Hector told her a little annoyed. His sister looked at him.

“Really?” She wasn’t allowed to go on long trips yet. She only visited her dad for one or two shows and then had to go home again.

“Yep, you are a big girl now, right?” Tico asked. She nodded excited.

“And then I can take pictures with the camera and sleep with the pillow and blanket.”

“Yes, she got it!” David exclaimed. They laughed.

“How about we start the BBQ now.” Ali asked.

“Good idea. I’ll help you.” Richie offered and followed her into the house. She laughed.

“Hungry?”

“Starving!” he clarified.

After the BBQ when Isabella was sitting together with Hector, who was explaining to her how to use the new camera, Jon turned to Ali and Tico.

“So, I’ll take it we will have a fifth Torres on the Tour next year.”

Ali grinned and protectively put her hands over her belly. “Yeah, if everything goes well.”

“It will, sweetheart, you’ll see.” Richie hugged her carefully. “Congrats.”

“Yeah, congrats man. Who would have thought you make it happen with over 60 again.” Jon slapped Tico’s shoulder.

“Well, thanks.” Was the dry comment by his drummer, but you could see his eyes shining happily.

“So, this was the big news. That’s why you wanted us here?” David wondered. “Why couldn’t it wait?”

Tico and Ali exchanged a look. “Well, there is something else…and it’s just perfect that it happened today.” She said smiling and looked over to her children.

The men watched her irritated.

“We got this today.” Tico handed Jon a paper. “We already knew it for a couple days, but with this document it’s official…finally.”

Jon scanned the paper, while David and Richie watched him curious.

“She is yours? They finally agreed to the adoption?”

“Yes.” Ali whispered.

“Oh, my God! That’s wonderful!” Rich jumped up and hugged her again.

Tico and Ali already asked to adopt Isabella years ago, but all the time they were told that it had to be sure that there were no other relatives. Seems the search was finally over now.

“Five long years, but now nobody can take her away from us anymore.” Tico said while hugging his crying wife.

“I’m pretty sure nobody would have dared to do so.” David said and grinned at Ali. She chuckled.

“Yeah, but…” she started, but was interrupted by her daughter.

“Look Tio Jon, I took a picture all on my own.” The girl handed him the camera.

“Hey, that looks great.” He paused shortly. “How about I take a picture of you, Hector, Mama and Daddy together.”

Ali smiled at him thankfully and waved her son over.

“Ok, everybody ready?...Here we go.” He snapped the picture and handed the camera to Ali.

“May I introduce:…The Torres Family!”

~ End ~