Caitlyn Brooks giggled as she ran down the stairs, her blond locks of hair bouncing on her shoulders as she moved. But she didn't care. She knew who had rung the doorbell-her two best friends, Katerina and Elisa. Before their maid could even reach the door, Caitlyn opened it and beamed.

"Oh, hi Mr. and Mrs. Rochester!" Caitlyn greeted the couple who stood at the door. She stretched her neck and smiled when she saw Katerina and Elisa standing behind their parents.

"Well, hello, my darling," Mr. Rochester smiled. "My, you have grown so much since I last saw you! You look more beautiful every time!" Caitlyn blushed.

"Please, Mr. Rochester, you will spoil her beyond recognition," a voice called from behind Caitlyn. Caitlyn looked around in dismay at her annoying brother, Michael. He might be two years older than her, but he was still a pain to be with. She knew why he came down too. He wanted to talk to his crush, Katerina. But Caitlyn wouldn't give him that opportunity. She immediately grabbed Katerina's and Elisa's hands and led them up the stairs to her room.

Just as she was heading up the stairs with them, she bumped into her father. "Caitlyn, please," Daniel Brooks scolded his daughter warmly. "Where are your manners? Please forgive her immaturity, Rob. She has just been out of control lately." Daniel Brooks smiled at his guests. "Please come with me to the dining table. My wife is waiting."

Rob Rochester immediately laughed. "Don't worry about Caitlyn. I like her spunk! I don't know if any of my boys would be so lucky as to win her heart!" Rob laughed while he turned around and looked at his two sons, who had still been silent until now.

"Father!" his eldest son, Rick, turned red. With that, he started for the stairs, heading after Caitlyn, Katerina, Elisa, and Michael. His younger brother, Chad, followed him as well. Soon, all six friends rushed up the stairs where they would hide until dinner.

Caitlyn was the first one in her room. She closed the door after Elisa and Katerina entered, locking Michael, Chad and Rick out. The guys began to whine. "Oh come on, sis!" Michael called out to Caitlyn. "What fun would it be without us?" The three guys began to call out to the girls.

Katerina laughed the loudest, her beautiful dark eyes filled with tears. "Guys, why would you want to listen in on our little womanly discussions?" None of the guys answered her question. All became quiet. Katerina looked at the Caitlyn and Elisa, puzzled. The other two girls just shrugged.

"Guys?" Katerina asked, but no one answered. Suddenly, something was slipped under the door. It was a little envelop. All three girls laughed. Elisa picked it up and cocked her eye brow at the other two, who just shrugged and motioned for her to open the envelop. As Elisa opened the envelop, out popped a photo. She glanced at it and shrieked. "AHHHHHHH!!!!"

"What is it?" Caitlyn and Katerina grabbed the photo. Both of them screamed as well. "Okay. They are going to die!!!!" The photo was a picture of the three girls undressing. It wasn't too revealing, but it was enough to drive them crazy.

"This has got to be Andy's doing!" Caitlyn said, referring to her second oldest brother. Caitlyn quickly unlocked the door and jumped out, only to see the four guys bursting out in laughter. She quickly ran towards Andy and punched him in the chest. Andy doubled over in laughter, the punch barely affecting him.

"Come on, Caitlyn," Rick laughed. "You gotta admit, that was fun!"

"You call that fun?" Katerina ran over and punched Rick as well. "Some brother you are, you perverted jerk!"

"Well, you wouldn't let us in," Chad argued playfully. "Come on, all we want is to listen in on your girlish gossip."

Elisa giggled. "You have to admit, it was funny!" Katerina and Caitlyn glared at her. With that, all seven friends crowded into Caitlyn's room, chatting like there was no tomorrow.

Meanwhile, both Rob Rochester and his wife and Daniel Brooks and his wife were enjoying themselves, recalling the past. The two families had been close ever since the children were born. Actually, Rob and Daniel had been best friends since elementary school. They knew each other's darkest secrets and shared their happiest moments together. Daniel had been so pleased when all his children got along so well with all of Rob's children.. That's why he had invited the Rochesters' over for a little Christmas eve dinner. To him, they were like family. All four of Rob's children were sweet and wonderful.

"So Daniel, I've heard about what happened to Caitlyn the other day. Is she doing okay?" Rob asked, concerned.

"You know, Rob, she's been a little shaken. Thank goodness those two men didn't try anything else on her. I'm really glad that your Rick was there to help her. I shudder to think if something worse had happened to her." Dan gave Rob an appreciative smile as he recalled how Caitlyn had been approached and harassed by these two men.

"Which reminds me," Daniel continued, "I have an extra guest for today."

Rob and his wife looked in surprise. "A new guest, eh? Who?" they asked in unison.

"Yes, who?" Daniel's wife asked as well. The Rochesters' were surprised that not even Dan's wife knew.

Daniel laughed. "Please don't look at me like I'm about to introduce you to a celebrity. His name is Nick. He's a nephew of mine. He just finished college and is out here taking a little vacation. Plus, I wanted to do my brother a favor and teach the boy a thing or two."

"So which of your twenty brothers does this boy belong to?" Rob joked, knowing the extent of Daniel's family.

Dan laughed even harder. "I don't even recall!"

The Rochesters and Dan laughed-all except Daniel's wife, who looked in concern. "You should have given me more notice. So what do we do with him? Is he staying at a hotel?"

"No, no, dear." Dan immediately replied. "He's staying with us."

"Better not be like your last relative, Dan," Rob smiled. "That was a nightmare. I could have sworn that he would have destroyed your whole house with all those strange scientific experiments of his. Wasn't that a nightmare?" Rob's wife chuckled.

Before anyone could reply, the maid came in. "Sir, there's a gentleman at the door. His name is Nick. He did not give a last name."

"Perfect timing, isn't it?" Daniel laughed. "Tell him to come in."

The maid scurried off and swiftly invited Nick into the house. Nick carefully stepped in. The house was so large and spacious. He had lived in a mansion before, but this was different. There was a strange ambience to it, one he had never felt before. The house he had lived in with his adopted father had been bigger than this, but in a way, it seemed colder, more lifeless. This house seemed warm and inviting.

Unwilling to let this strange vibe get to him, Nick shrugged it off and followed the housemaid to the dining hall. He stopped a few feet away from the dining hall and politely waited until Daniel Brooks was notified. "Please come in," he heard a man's voice call from inside the dining hall.

Inside, all four adults waited patiently for the youth. As the door was gently opened, in came a tall, well-built young man with the most stunning face. All four of them stared at him intently, not realizing that they had each ceased to make any noise. Nick looked around him at 4 sets of piercing eyes, remaining poised.

Rob was the first to comment. "My, Dan," Rob finally managed to utter. "If you didn't tell me he was your nephew, I would have thought that he was your son! He looks just like you. Now that's scary!" Rob began to laugh at his little comment, still amazed at this stunning-looking young man before him.

Daniel never once tore his gaze from Nick. For some reason, he felt something strange. The sight of this young, handsome man had shocked him. But there was another feeling, one of delight. Daniel had not felt this since the birth of his children. He quickly memorized the young man's sharp, angled face, the soft blond hair and those calm blue eyes. He did not realize that the young man was uncomfortable under his gaze until the man tilted his head a little.

"Oh, yes, um . . . " Daniel was at a lost for words? That could not be. Nothing had ever made him unsettled before. So why was he so unsure now?

"Nick," the young man provided with a soft voice. It was not gentle nor soothing, just quiet.

"Yes, um, Nick," Daniel began, thinking that he sounded like a lovestruck teenager. "Have a seat." He finally managed.

"Actually, Uncle, may I put my stuff away?" Nick's voice was quiet, but commanding. The whole room became quiet. Usually, that's not how relatives greet each other. Nick's first words were rather callus and straightforward. He reminded them of a businessman.

"Yes, yes," Daniel finally replied. He called out to the housemaid. "Clara, get Nick here into his room and show him where the showers are. He must be tired after that long trip. And also, Clara, get the other kids down here. We're about to start dinner."

Nick nodded and followed the housemaid as she led him out the dining hall. When he was out of ear shot, the four adults were silent once again. Daniel was deep in thought. He hadn't expected the meeting to turn out like this. Something about Nick touched him. Was it his face? Or was it the way he acted-so calm, so mature for his age? His eyes revealed nothing, no hint of happiness, sadness or fear. He was interesting.

And he looked so youthful. Daniel could tell because his skin was very smooth. Was this Urgof's best man? He looked to be still a boy. Daniel pushed those thoughts aside for now. They will have a cozy, happy dinner. He was sure Nick would fit in with his children. And maybe, Nick might teach them a thing or two about maturity, Daniel smiled smugly.

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