There were more cars than usual in the driveway when he arrived at his dad and Grace’s house for the week. He was still getting used to the fact that he had a dad. And a Step mom and sister. There had always felt like something was missing from his life, and when his biology teacher had brought up DNA testing with companies like 23andme, he thought it might give him the answers his mom hadn’t been able too.
He knew that she had always felt guilty when she wasn’t able to give him a specific answer when he asked who his father was. She had always told him that he was a man that she had met one night, and afterwards when she found out she was pregnant, she decided to just go it alone. She hadn’t even been sure where to look, or anything beyond the fact that his brothers had called him “J” which in Texas, wasn’t much to go by. Wyatt wasn’t mad at his mom about the lack of information, but he also hadn’t been willing to go his whole life without knowing where the rest of his DNA came from.
He hadn’t been prepared when he had met his father for the first time, in hindsight confronting him at work was probably not the best idea, but he had thought it would be better than surprising the man at his home. Especially when he wasn’t sure what Judd Ryder’s reaction or current family life would be. He had been both scared and impressed with the man when he immediately told his wife who the teenager standing in front of him claimed to be. He didn’t really blame him for the reaction either, finding out you have a child that is almost an adult would be a bit jarring and even unbelievable. He had been surprised when his father’s wife asked for his phone number so that they could contact him.
He still couldn’t believe that after that less than awesome first meeting, Wyatt felt like he was truly a member of the Ryder family. He loved getting to know his dad, Grace, his little sister Charlie, and his grandpa Stuart. He wasn’t sure who all the cars belonged too, but he did spot his grandfather’s truck as he walked closer to the house. He was soon able to hear the laughter of the Vega twins who were being chased by a big furry dog, he had to quickly jump out of the way when he was almost barreled over by them.
“Sorry Wyatt” was shouted by both of the twins as they ran back towards the crowd of people.
Grace happened to look up as he turned the corner “Wyatt, so glad you are here. Your sister has been waiting for you all day.”.
He followed her gaze to the blanket that was on ground next to a chair holding his father. Charlie must have heard his name, because she turned her head towards him, shrieking with laughter when she spotted him. He loved it every time she did that, like he was one of her favorite people and she was happy to see him. He walked over to the duo, leaning in to hug his dad before he sat on the blanket, causing Charlie to waddle over to him. “Hey dad. How is the leg?”
“Still there.” Was the deadpan answer from his dad, one he really should have expected at this point. “Just kidding, its not too bad, just itches like crazy. Your sister sure is happy to see you” Judd noticed with a smile.
“Yeah, I am happy to see her too. Who is all here? I saw grandpa’s truck, and obviously the twins, but I didn’t recognize any other cars.” Wyatt asked as Charlie settled in his lap.
“We wanted to have a cookout to officially welcome you to the family, and everyone at the 126 was dying to meet you, so here we are.” Judd answered with the pride for his family clear in his words.
“Wow. Thanks. So, who and where is everyone?” Wyatt asked as he looked around, spotting a couple holding hands as they walked around the side of the house.
“Right there is TK and Carlos. You will rarely see one without the other, unless they are on shift that is. TK was a firefighter that came to Texas with his dad, Captain Strand. He transferred over to being a paramedic awhile back. His boyfriend is Carlos, he is a member of the APD. We are all placing bets on when they get engaged, but no one has won yet.” Judd informed them, then pointed out the foursome heading towards them from the inside the house. “Right there are Marjan, Paul, Mateo, and Nancy. Nancy is TK’s paramedic partner at the 126, and the other three are firefighters with me.”
Wyatt watched as the two women shook their heads at whatever the two men were arguing about, as they got closer to the trio at the blanket, Wyatt was able to hear “Seriously Bro, corn chips are a necessary ingredient for chili.” Come from Mateo.
“For the hundredth time Mateo, no they aren’t. I had never even heard of that before moving to Texas, where people are strangely obsessed with corn chips.” Paul objected.
“They literally have this argument at least once a week, more if we actually have chili at the fire house.” Judd confides as the others sit down.
“We aren’t that bad.” Paul challenged with a grin.
“Yes, yes you really are Dude.” Nancy breaks in.
“I met you and TK when we went to that radiation zone right?” Wyatt asked Nancy.
“Yeah, never a dull moment with Captain Strand.” Nancy answered.
“Or his son” was added by Carlos with a smile for his boyfriend.
“Oh, you love it.” TK retorted as he poked Carlos in the side.
As the six new arrivals officially introduced themselves to him, Wyatt had laughed at the comments the other members made as each person spoke. He had heard his dad talk about how the 126 was a family, but now he could see it. He could feel it in every joke, shriek of laughter, and every offer of friendship.
He had been sitting there with the group for almost thirty minutes when he heard the booming voice of Stuart Ryder.
“Where is my grandson hiding himself?” Stuart asked the group, acting like he couldn’t see Wyatt sitting there with Charlie still on his lap, causing Wyatt to smile.
“I am right here grandpa.” Wyatt told him as he handed his sister off to Carlos so he could stand and greet the man.
“I wouldn’t know it since I hadn’t seen you yet. I thought to myself that there was no way my grandson would forget to come say hello, he wouldn’t do that to an old man, now would he?” Stuart asked with a raised brow before adding “Then I see that you have that little princess in your arms, so I will forgive you this time.” Finishing with a wink and a bear hug for Wyatt.
He could hear his dad laugh as he told his grandpa “Sorry grandpa, but Charlie is the boss around here.” Causing the rest of the group to laugh.
“The food smells so good, I can’t wait to eat.” Mateo told the group as Grace walked outside again.
“Food is ready. Babe, I will get your plate in a moment, do you want me to take the little monster?” Grace asked with her signature smile.
“Probably a good idea, otherwise no one will be able to eat, Charlie will go around and try to steal their food.” Judd answered his wife.
“Are you comparing our daughter to a dog Judd?” Grace asked.
“Uh, no?” Was all his father was able to come up with on the fly.
“I will grab her portable high chair, that way she is happy and not stealing our food.” Wyatt told his dad and Grace.
“Thank you Wyatt.” Grace told him.
He quickly stepped into the garage to grab the chair, then got in the food line with everyone else. He was shocked at the number of vegan items available. He had noticed that since that first dinner with his father and Grace, they always made a point to have multiple vegan items for their meals. They had gone above and beyond any expectations that he could have had each time he has been with them. Now, meeting the other part of their family was just as special to him as when he had met his grandpa, he just hoped that this outing didn’t result in any injuries.
Once everyone had finished eating, the twins took Charlie to play in the sandbox while the rest of them recovered from their food coma. Wyatt looked around at the assembled group, Mrs. Vega with Grace and his dad, Nancy and Marjan were sitting on the top of a picnic table with Paul and Mateo sitting on the bench seat in front of them. Carlos was leaning against at tree while sitting on a blanket with TK and Owen. TK was laying down with his head on his boyfriends lap. Captain Strand was trying to convince Buttercup that he didn’t need to try to steal the cookie that was sitting on Charlie’s high chair. His grandpa was setting up the fire pit for the smores that were on the menu for later, along with some vegan skillet brownies that Captain Strand had wanted to try.
As the night wound down, Wyatt truly felt accepted, not just by his father, but by all of the people that love his father. These were all people that would do anything for each other. He remembered his dad telling him that TK and Mateo were like the annoying little brothers that he never wanted until they chose him to be their big brother. He recalled how close he had become with Paul and Marjan when the 126 had been closed for close to a year. He had heard so many Vega family stories that he felt like he knew Charles Vega as if they had really known each other. He loved watching Nancy tease TK and Carlos for being “that couple”, the one that could communicate without words, always holding hands or touching in some casual way. He had noticed his dad and Grace communicate in the same way many times.
He still couldn’t believe how lucky he had been. He had really only hoped to introduce himself to the man that shared his DNA, maybe even a dinner or something. He hadn’t expected to be taken in so completely. He also loved that his mom and Stanley were developing a good relationship with his dad and Grace, he loved that he was learning new things about himself each day.
He had learned that he loved cooking with his dad and Grace, he was happy to be the human jungle gym that his adorable sister climbed all over. He loved that he had another grandpa, one that was so happy to have another grandchild that he had welcomed Wyatt with open arms. He had learned that while he and his father might not have a lot of the same interests, his dad will do anything to make the best of their time together, the alien hunting being a prime example. He liked that he was getting to know new parts of himself, seeing what similarities he had to the other man. With this introduction to the remainder of his dad’s family, he felt like he had always belonged. He couldn’t wait to get to know each of these people better, they all seemed so nice and fun.
He loved the family he had with his mom and Stanley, he felt that he would have been content it the DNA test route hadn’t worked, but he was so grateful that it had. He was done being mad about the time he had missed with his dad, he just wanted to focus on their future. Today was the first day of the rest of his life, this one with a dad, step mom, and baby sister & all the rest in addition to his mom and Stanley. As they watched everyone head to their cars, Wyatt realized that he couldn’t wait until the next time they all got together.
*Also on AO3
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