Archive of Our Own ^beta

The day was hot and sunny. There wasn’t a breeze going which only made the weather even more sweaty. Time had entirely planned to let his boys do as they wished during their summer break which was the reason he was quite taken off guard when the seven youngsters actually helped him around the ranch. He kept trying to usher them into doing something different and more in the line of fun. Yet, when the kids of his gave him that puppy-dog-look and asking if he didn’t want them around…. Yeah, he could NOT deny them from helping him with the work. Seriously, though, that look and those words just broke his heart, really.

The one eyed male was working at the stables with Sky close by. Wild was at the house handling off some cooling drinks and simple meals. Four was aiding Legend with the apple trees out of curiosity. Wind was dealing with the Cuccos. Twilight was teaching the currently newest boy of the ranch, Hyrule, to deal with the horses. Epona was doing great work in getting the youngster to leave his fear behind and just enjoy of the company of the big animals.

The ranch’s owner straightened up and bit stretched. He glanced at the boy to check on him and bit smiled. The kid was mainly leaning against the digging fork and daydreaming. He didn’t mind about it even though it left far more of work on his shoulders. Still, this was summer break and if daydreaming was what his boy wanted to do, then he could do just that.

Time took off the sweaty shirt and continued to work. It took a while before he realized the feeling of someone staring at him. With slight frown he looked around until noticing his boy’s curiosity. “Interested of what you see?” He inquired with a slight grin.

Sky yelped and snapped his gaze off. He blushed and swiftly returned into cleaning the stall. His caretaker chuckled a bit. “I don’t mind talking if you got questions.” The one eyed male told calmly even though the scars around his body weren’t exactly something he really wanted to talk about. Yet, he wanted to help his boys and if by talking about his past helped, then he’d do exactly that.

“I’m not sure I should… I mean that… It’s not…” The youngster started before sighing and bit slumping. “You got lot of scars.” He finally half mumbled.

“Yeah, true that…” Time replied with a slight sigh. “You interested of specific one or all in overall?” He inquired while putting the digging fork to lean against the stall’s wall and going over to the stall his boy was at. He leaned against the doorway and watched the youngster until the younger male turned around.

“Um… You keep telling us that we don’t need to tell anything we don’t want to so, um… It goes the other way around too, you know.” Sky told hesitantly.

“I know but you’re all curious.” The one eyed male shrugged before pulling himself off from leaning against the wood. “Come on. One question from everyone.” He told while nodding sharply to show to follow. The youngster felt bit uncertain but he left the digging fork into the stall and followed his caretaker out of the stable.

Once out, Time gave out a sharp whistle to catch everyone’s notion. “Twi, fetch Wild over too, please.” He requested as the boys gathered around. The first boy he had brought in nodded firmly and dashed to the house. Meanwhile, their caretaker led the others into middle of the horse pen and sat down.

Soon enough all eight residents of the Lon-Lon Ranch were sitting in on the grass. “I know you all have been curious about my scars. And I know I haven’t talked much about them.” The place’s owner started as calmly as he could while knowing he was putting himself into really rough situation. “Now…” He hesitated for a second before sighing. “Just take a check around and pick a scar you want to know about. One at a time you can ask the story behind one specific scar.” He told before standing up and letting the boys see his back’s markings too. Once he sat back down, he raised and turned his arms to let them see the old traces of the hell he had gone through in his past.

“Sky, you can start if you wish.” Time suggested but the youngster shook his head.

“I’d rather we go in order.” Sky answered while bit slumping. “I started this but…” He felt uncertain and bad of having put his caretaker into this situation.

“Someone might ask about the scar you’re interested of.” The one eyed male warned warmly.

Sky shrugged and gave a weak smile. “Don’t mind.” He half whispered while wishing to finding a way to end this. He glanced at the others around him. They all were curious but none of them wanted to hurt their caretaker. And the amount and roughness of the scars very clearly implied for very cruel past.

“Are you sure of this, Time?” Legend inquired while feeling more worried than curious at the moment. He hated the fact of having already picked a scar he was curious of. And yet, he would never ask if the older male wasn’t hundred percent certain of this.

Time took a deep breath and nodded. “I want to help each of you to heal. Being open and facing your past isn’t easy but it’ll help.” He started and smiled sorrowfully. “Malon taught me that.” He half whispered before taking a deep but shaky breath. Even after the past years, he still wasn’t able to talk about her without being close of breaking down. “Besides, sometimes the worst scars aren’t seen. They’re within us. So… If we can talk about what’s already in sight, then, maybe, we can be capable of talking of the scars that are buried deep within us. And, if I’m capable of telling the stories behind my scars that I’ve only revealed to Malon and her father, then maybe someday you seven will have the same ability. But, remember, no-one’s forced into anything. It is still your own choice. It is fully up to you whether or not you wish to talk and reveal the hell from the past.” He explained while regaining bit of his earlier calmness.

“Just, Time, remember that you’re not obliged to tell anything you don’t want to reveal.” Wild reminded sorrowfully. “If you don’t want to tell a story behind some specific scar or if things are getting too hard to continue, we’ll stop. We don’t want to hurt you, Time. Please. What you tell us goes for you too.” He told gently while thinking back all that the one eyed male had already done for him. Of some of those actions he wasn’t happy of but Time, even though clearly not having liked of it, had accepted and allowed it. He still remembered how Time had been trembling and fighting to keep his breathing calm when he had traced one of the scars in his back. He hadn’t asked for such rights ever since and he had very much hugged the one eyed male tightly afterwards in hopes of comforting him.

Time nodded in understanding but it was clear he wasn’t going to back down from this. “So, go ahead and ask. Who wants to go first?” He inquired instead while looking around his boys. It was kinda funny how they were in the order he had brought them here with Twilight on his left side and Hyrule on his right. Eventually, just like they had sat down in the given order, they also began their questions and observation in the same given order.

“I… I guess I start…?” Twilight more of asked than commented. He still felt as uncertain as his adopted brothers but their caretaker was up for this. He hesitated and glanced at the others before taking a deep breath and wishing he wasn’t starting from anything of too rough. “The scar on your right wrist.” He finally mumbled while tad slumping.

Time blinked once in slight start and bit flinched. “Yeah, you go and start from the most recent one…” He half muttered while sighing and raising his arm to show the scar. He took a deep breath and bit absentmindedly traced the scar. “Unfortunately, this isn’t what I caught during my first ten years at the orphanage. This…” He hesitated for a moment before sighing heavily and tad slumping. “It’s self-made. I…” He trailed off while biting down to his lower lip. He closed his eye and let his ears droop. “After Malon died I was in pretty dark place. By mind, that is. Still had the ranch and the animals but… It didn’t feel enough. I had lost my older brother six months earlier and…” He shook his head. “I hit the rock bottom and… First attempt was too shallow. Second attempt was better but Epona was able to call for help. Third…” He explained and bit smiled. “Never got a chance to happen. When I was up for trying, I saw the Luck Bird. And year later I brought you here, Twilight.”

The seven youngsters stared shocked at the one eyed male. The way their caretaker was, it hadn’t even hit them that he would’ve done as much as thought about suicide let alone tried such. Without thinking they moved like from one thought and quickly created a group hug around Time.

“Boys…” Time bit chuckled gently and shook his head. “I’m fine, boys. I had rough time back then but I’m fine now. You seven make sure of that.” He mused fondly before gently forcing the youngster off. “Now, come on, I guess it’s Legend’s turn next, hmm?” He half queried, half commented calmly.

The seven adopted sons of the ranch’s owner felt even more uncertain of the situation. “Come on now. This is your chance to ask stuff. I don’t know when I’ll have the courage and readiness to answer questions considering the scars and my past. Please?” He coaxed as gently as he could.

“You sure about this?” Hyrule inquired worriedly.

Time nodded firmly while having calmed down quite a bit by the loving hold by the seven boys of his. “I am.” He replied firmly and noticed the seven glance at each other before bit nodding. He knew it would get rough but he also knew the boys would help him heal and calm down too.

Legend took a deep breath before nodding towards his caretaker’s left shoulder. “That looks like a blast mark.” He commented while being entirely contradicted about whether or not he wanted the answer.

Time unconsciously brought his hand over the scar. “Because it is.” He half whispered before forcing himself to drop his hand down to his lap.

“Quite small to be such.” Four commented before flinching at the fact of having said the words out loud.

The one eyed male gave a short chuckle and bit shrugged. “It might’ve been small but it was devastating.” He told sorrowfully. “I was seven. I was snooping around areas where according to Wars I shouldn’t have been. But, such command only got me more curious and certain to go to such places.” He started with a slight grin. “And, like so many times before and turns to come, one of the keepers of the orphanage caught me red handed from a room I shouldn’t have been at. The room was…” He trailed off while bit frowning. “It was like from a horror movie or such. Stuff that seriously didn’t belong to there.” He shrugged a bit.

“Anyway, she locked the door behind her with that door being the only way out of there. I was pretty much trapped. It was just matter of time before she snatched me.” Time continued while dropping his gaze down while falling into his memories. “I fought. Hard. Scratched and screamed and kicked and punched but…” He shook his head and closed his eye. “She didn’t seem to care. Left hand at my chest and right knee over my left hand to keep me to the floor.” He shivered and shook his head slowly again while trying to stay calm and collected.

The caretaker of the seven youngster smiled sorrowfully. “S-she…” He gulped once in hopes of keeping his voice strong and steady. “She took out this small, thin bottle of green liquid. Smirked as she only let one drop out onto my shoulder. It didn’t seem bad at first as it hit my shirt. I was confused…” He trembled and unintentionally brought his hand over his shoulder. “Until the blast came. Small and pointed downwards. Like a drill it struck roughly and cruelly with force and suddenness inside of me. I screamed. She just laughed while pulling off. She left me there without a glance behind. The pain was too much to get myself to move.” He dried the tears off before shrugging. “I don’t know how long it took before Wars found me and did what he could to fix my shoulder. Didn’t think I’d ever use my arm again but Wars didn’t allow such to happen. He helped me through that hell.”

“Did you ever whimper?” Wind inquired quietly in shock.

Time sighed heavily. “The last time I whimpered was when I was two.” He replied sorrowfully before tad gasping as the seven boys nearly glomped him and held him tight. He took a moment to relax and enjoy of the love the boys were showing towards him. After that he gently pushed them away again. “Wild, you’re next.” He gave a slight nod and small smile while being quite certain what the scarred boy of his was up for asking

The cook-to-be bit down to his lower lip with ears drooping. He was curious but he didn’t really dare to ask. “The whip marks, right?” The one eyed male queried and startled the third boy of his to snap his bit shocked gaze up. The youngster slumped but nodded. “I was five. Good at sneaking around, bad at keeping notion of my surroundings. I had followed one of the men to the cellar where they kept the “bad kids” as they called them. Chained and…” He trailed off while shaking his head. “They caught me red handed as I tried to set them free. Never heard them come. The kids at there were either too terrified to make a sound or then unconscious. They never warned me. I only realized to have been caught in action when the three headed whip struck.”

Time shivered before bit trembling while dropping his gaze into the ground again. “I screamed. Fell to my knees. I think… There were three strikes…?” He half asked while frowning as he tried to recall it. “The hits struck more or less into same spot so, yeah, their aim was pretty dam good. Made them deeper by that. I… I think I crashed to the floor after the third hit… I…” He trailed off for a moment. “I woke up elsewhere. I’m not sure what happened or how. Wars was by me. I was bandaged pretty thoroughly.” He snorted and shook his head with a slight grin. “Wars called me mummy for as long as I had the bandages on.” He half mused.

Even though the explanation ended with happier note, the seven still moved in to embrace their caretaker. The one eyed male gave a light-hearted huff and shook his head with a slight grin. “Is this going to happen after each turn?” He inquired and chuckled a bit when his boys nodded simultaneously. “Well, I don’t mind. I pretty much like it.” He told while letting the situation calm him down from the bad memories. The seven adopted sons of his just smiled a bit and slightly tightened their hold. Once he was certain he was capable to continue again, he gently got the youngsters off of him.

“About that whimpering…” Wind started hesitantly while searching for the right words.

“That’s not part of the scars.” Time countered with a slight lopsided grin.

“I… I know… I just…” The youngest boy admitted while raising his sorrowful gaze up. “It’s still part of you. What happened? Why don’t you whimper? That what you’ve already told…” He trailed off uncertainly and in slight anguish.

The one eyed male sighed sorrowfully and reached out to Wind. He carefully pulled the kid into a his lap and comforting hug. “It’s okay. You can ask about the scars too.” He whispered before taking a deep breath. “The docs at the orphanage weren’t nice ones. It’s part of where my needle fear comes from. They said…” He trailed off while bit gritting his teeth.

Time sighed heavily, kissed the top of Wind’s head and gently returned him to his earlier place. “First of all, I want you all to know that whimpering is accepted. It’s part to show it hurts, be it mental or physical. I was… Conditioned, in a way, I think. Kinda my own fault, really. Just…” He trailed off with a sigh. “I don’t want any of you to hurt in the way you’d end up whimpering. And if you do, you have all the rights to create that sound no matter what others say. At then I just want to remove the reason you’re whimpering and make it all right again. I want this place to be safe and sound for each of you.” He told as firmly as he could.

The ranch’s owner smiled a bit and slightly calmed down at the confirming nods. “Good.” He half whispered before taking a deep breath. “The reason I don’t whimper… Well, Wars, Malon and her father have all tried to assure me that I can whimper if I feel like it but…” He trailed off and gave a sorrowful lopsided grin before shrugging. “It’s pretty roughly integrated already into me. The thing is…” He took a deep breath and let it out bit waveringly. “They said that kids whimper to get their way. So, I thought I wouldn’t give them that satisfaction of thinking I couldn’t take it. Obviously, a hellishly idiotic decision since it only dropped me down into worse hell. They kinda… S-searched out my pain tolerance which, sadly, obviously, grew by each shit they put me through. And, I just… T-taught myself to stay silent. That I won’t whimper. I won’t let them know. I don’t…” He bit down to his lower lip and took few breaths to stay calm enough. “I… I don’t know if I’m capable of that sound anymore. I just… I just unconsciously fight it down. It’s what I’ve always done. It’s… Part of me. I… S-sometimes… Sometimes I want to whimper but that line just pops up in my mind and I fight it down. T-that… That I’m stronger than what they wait of me. That I won’t let them know that they’re hurting me.”

“Time…” Sky whispered in sorrow while feeling like crying.

Time gave a weak smile and shrugged. He dried the few tears off and gave a slight chuckle. “That’s a bad teaching, really. Don’t follow my example of that. Okay?” He half requested and the boys nodded in understanding. “If you want to whimper and you feel like it, just let it out. Don’t be ashamed of it.” He stated out and the seven youngsters nodded again. “Maybe, if I had kept whimpering back then… Maybe they wouldn’t have hurt me like that but…” He half concluded before shrugging. “What’s done is done. Can’t change that no matter how much I want to.”

The one eyed male took a deep breath to calm down bit more. “Anyway—“ He started before yelping as the seven almost knocked him to the ground by the force of their glomp. He partly laughed, partly chuckled. “Okay… Okay, all’s fine, boys. I appreciate this. I really do. Just… We’ll run out of the daylight before we get everyone having their turn with the questions about my scars.” He mused and chuckled again when the youngster only tightened their hold. “Alright, alright, let’s give it a moment.” He half whispered while calming down and letting the company of his boys comfort him.

“You’re allowed to whimper, Time.” Legend stated out after a moment. He, as well all of his brothers, could feel Time jerk a bit at the words. Yet, he soon sighed and relaxed again. “Don’t hold it back anymore. Just let it out. When you feel like it, remember you’re allowed to make that sound. Please. Take your own words to heart too.”

“I’ll try.” The ranch’s owner whispered. “I promise I’ll try.”

Since that was as much as the boys could get for now, they pulled off before Time could gently push them away. Their caretaker just nodded to his youngest adopted son and Wind took a deep breath to stay calm. “That burn mark.” He chose while unintentionally glancing at Wild. The older boy had shivered at the slight reminder of sorts but he nodded once in acceptance. They were here to help their guardian instead of him at the moment.

The one eyed male glanced at the area and bit grimaced at the memory. He took a deep breath to stay calm before facing his boys again. “I was nine. I had been pretty much a pain in the ass for the orphanage’s owners and they chose, once again, to make me as a lesson for the others. The ones at charge… I’m not entirely certain but I think they were some kind of scientist of sorts with some of the stuff they used. That what burned my arm…” He shook his head. “It wasn’t normal fire and it wasn’t acid. The liquid they poured down on my arm… At first I thought it wasn’t gonna work. That they had failed and so I just relaxed. I was ready to really strike up some rough words and whatnot but… That’s when it hit. The flames just appeared out of nowhere. It didn’t spread. It just burned the area which was marked by the liquid.”

Time shivered and shook his head. “I was screaming and trashing and fighting but they just held me down, my arm straight to let others see. It took a while before I realized they were going to burn my arm off. It freaked the crap out of me even worse. I fought even harder but I couldn’t really do anything.” He gulped once and smiled bit sorrowfully. “I don’t know what Wars did but suddenly they poured something else into the flames and slowly those died away. They let go and let me crash into the ground. Wars came to there and… He couldn’t really heal all but at least the worst of it with whatever the liquid he had gained was. I had to keep the bandages for quite a while. Yet, it still took longer to really get my arm back into working.”

This time the caretaker of the seven youngster was ready for the impact as his boys came over to hug him tightly.  “You boys still capable and willing to continue?” He inquired while trying to soothe and comfort his adopted kids. Yet, it was clear they were calm and collected as long as he was too. They really wanted to help him and be there to support him through this.

“Only if you are.” Four replied as calmly as he could.

“Alright.” The one eyed male nodded. “Your turn, Sky. What caught your notion earlier?” He inquired gently while bit feeling like just letting the boys stay close to him. It seemed like the best place at the moment as it gave comfort for all eight of them. He knew they were all right and got the same support he was needing and the boys were aware of the help and comfort they were giving.

The seven different aged males clearly realized the situation too as they didn’t move away. They also noticed the fact that Time didn’t gently push them away either which clearly told that he was fine with the current situation. “The swirly one in your left arm.” Sky half whispered while feeling tad bad for having started this and how rough things had been for their caretaker.

Time shivered and carefully moved his right hand to bit run his hand up and down over the marking. “I… I have bit hazy memory of that one…” He confessed while bit frowning and trying to recall the situation. “I’m not sure how it happened but I think I was drugged. Or then just sick. Either way, I wasn’t fully aware of my surroundings. One of the owners just carried me into one of the underground rooms. I… I was strapped down, I think… I was… Four or five, maybe. He just…” He blinked few times while frowning more as he only remembered flashes but nothing of coherent. “I think it was a wire. Wrapped it around my arm tightly and then… J-just…” He flinched like he would’ve just gained the wound. “Yanked it.” He nearly mumbled.

The owner of the Lon-Lon Ranch barely even realized to have started to tremble. He shook his head while trying to push the memories out of his mind. “Time?” The call almost went past his trapped mind but he snapped his gaze towards the sound and blinked few times. “It’s okay, Time. We’re here. You’re safe. They’re not gonna harm you ever again.” Twilight swore firmly.

Time sighed a bit and smiled bit sorrowfully. “Shouldn’t I be saying those words?” He half inquired before chuckling a bit at the startled look. “Thank you, Cub.” He half whispered and gently kissed his first boy’s forehead. After that he turned his notion into the rest of the boys. “Thank you all.” He kept his voice quiet and the youngsters just nodded.

The eight residents of the ranch took a moment to calm down again. It was much needed as there still were two to go. Eventually, once everyone was calm and relaxed, Four voiced out the scar he was curious about. “That V-scar on your chest. Starts from both shoulders.” He felt as uncertain as his brothers but he knew Time would start to inquire about the scars he had just to find the one his boy was interested about before explaining things.

The one eyed male slumped a bit before sighing. “It happened during the same incident as the swirly one on my arm.” He started bit hesitantly while unintentionally starting to tremble a bit. “The guy… He… Um…” He gulped and closed his eye while hitting his ears back. After a moment he took a deep breath and just blurted it all out. “He was up for cutting me open. Like one does to a dead body. But, obviously, up for keeping me alive and awake through it all. I… I wasn’t aware of what he was up for doing. Either just because I was a kid and just didn’t know or then by the drugs. Either way, his words told enough of what was going to happen.” He explained before shaking his head to clear his mind from the hazy memory. “Wars came before he could get further than those two cuts. I… I just remember his scream and the sound of a scuffle. A moment later he was there freeing me and bandaging the wounds.” He chuckled shortly. “He saved my life like so many times before.”

“He sounds amazing.” Sky whispered softly. “Your big brother. Wish I could meet him.”

“He was.” Time replied quietly with a small sorrowful smile. “I really wish you guys could’ve met him. He was about five years older than me. Very protective even though I slipped out of his sight often enough to get into the troubles.” He told and chuckled slightly. “Dear Goddesses how I miss him…” He mumbled quietly while fighting back against the tears while having raised his gaze up into the sky.

“I bet he’s proud of you.” Wild commented gently.

Time snorted gently and grinned a bit. “Nah, I bet he’s sighed in relief that I’m not that daredevil anymore.”

“I would disagree.” Legend deadpanned while remembering the fight his caretaker had put up against the old comrades of his. He hadn’t seen all but three against one wasn’t something to take lightly. Especially when those three didn’t play it fair.

The one eyed male whined and slumped. “Oh come on! I’m not that bad.”

“Well, at least you’re not actively searching for danger.” Twilight pointed out and raised an eyebrow at the ranch’s owner’s nervous chuckle.

“….Well… Not actively searching for it, no, but it seems to find me anyways.” Time replied bit sheepishly.

Wild shrugged and smiled. “Either way, we’re having pretty calm life at here anyways.” He told quite contently. Everyone nodded in agreement while calming down again. After that the notion fell into Hyrule.

The newest boy of the Lon-Lon Ranch slumped a bit and slightly blushed at the attention he gained. He wasn’t entirely certain of which scar he wanted to know about but he eventually made his choice. “Your left wrist. It looks like a binding mark but those should’ve healed long ago… Right?” He half notated and half queried.

“Normally, yes.” Time answered bit sorrowfully while bringing his wrist into sight. “Rope burns and handcuff markings. At first, sure, those healed but later….” He shook his head. “Like I said, they were quite a bit of scientists and, well…” He shrugged. “Those markings just ended up being unhealable. Hurt as hell when they used the ropes and handcuffs that were coated with whatever stuff they had created. No burn or acid as such but… Like the liquid they used to burn my upper arm. Just their own messed up creations.”

“When was the first time…” Hyrule started before just trailing off. He didn’t want to ask but he had already let out too much of his question. That simply made him slump in shame.

“The first time I was tied and or handcuffed or the first time the markings of those tyings were imprinted in my skin?” The guardian of the seven youngster inquired. The younger male just shrugged while not daring to face his gaze. “First time I was tied in one way or another was when I was… Um… Year and half, I think…?” He started while hating how well he recalled his past because of what had been done to him and how much back then that information had been crucial in bringing down the place. He had just forced himself to remember it all even though he would’ve loved to forget absolutely everything else than his big brother. “The first time the markings stayed for good… I was four. They claimed it was to keep me from coming for more.” He shrugged and grinned bit mischievously. “I was bad at taking a lesson.”

The boys chuckled a bit and nodded. After all, they had just heard quite a few stories of what their caretaker had gone through so, clearly, he hadn’t learned to stay away from trouble back then. “Those scars… They shouldn’t, um…” Four started while having, unintentionally, put lot of notion into their working of sorts during the couple of hours or so.

“Whatever they did, they got the scars to act like normal skin. I feel and sweat from them.” Time answered bit sorrowfully. “Anyway…” He started while beginning to get up and half forcing his boys up too. “…let’s just finish the works around here.” He turned his notion into Wild and bit crouched down to his level. “So, master chef of mine, actual meal or hot chocos and pancakes?” He queried while tilting his head a bit. He kept his grin off of his face while noticing the puppy-dog-eyes the others were trying not to show but they more or less sported on their faces.

The boy with rough burn marks around his body frowned while thinking the given offer through. Yet, he already knew what he’d be up for but he just wanted to prolong the moment. “Hot chocolates, strawberry milkshakes, pancakes, different jams and berries.” He finally decided while turning his gaze into his caretaker.

“Sounds absolutely perfect.” The owner of the ranch stated out with a wide smile. “Need supervising?” He queried but Wild shook his head. “Okay. Get going then.” He ushered after having given the boy a tight hug and kiss to side of his head.

Time turned towards the rest of the boys and, one by one, he hugged them tight and gave a kiss either to top of the head or to side of the head before sending them off back to work. He was grateful of how calm and collected the boys were even after the topic of their conversation. It had been rough on both sides, him and his boys, but he was certain it had helped them all. He was bit more comfortable with the markings and the youngsters had gotten some answers considering his past.

Few hours later they all were in the movie room watching comedies instead of anything else. They all had done one part of the snacks and were enjoying of the happier and calmer situation. The seven boys still stayed very close to their caretaker while, after all he had revealed, still wanting to give their support and comfort. On that night, instead of sleeping in their own rooms, they followed Time like little ducklings and gave him full puppy-dog-eyes at the doorway just to get to pile on him for the night. The one eyed male had been bit taken off guard about the situation but he smiled and fully enjoyed of the closeness of his boys. Together like that, none of the eight had any bad dreams at that night.