THE AIRPORT WAS A HIVE of activity as travelers rushed to their gates. Luggage wheeled across the polished floors, and the hum of conversations in a symphony of different languages. Santiago hung back against the wall of the baggage claim area. Waited as a crowd of folks that had been dropped off came to gather around the carousel to find their bags.

Guadalupe spotted the boy as he flagged her down, she let out a relieved sigh.

The mother beamed as she held his face between her hands, “When did you get so tall?”

Santiago patted the top of her hair. “I think you’re just shrinking with old age.”

“You little brat.” She pinched his cheeks roughly.

Outside Alejo ran up arms out, to give the woman a hug. “Mama Yago, I missed you. This boy’s been driving me crazy.”

“Thank you for always looking out for him, mijo.” Lupe said warmly.

“Just returning the favor.” Alejo lightly punched his friend in the shoulder, taking her luggage to the trunk.

After a couple weeks things started to get back to normal or close to it. Santiago was not sure that he had ever really had a normal life. The last piece was finally falling into place in being able to bring home his mother.

He had moved back into Rosenia’s house, it was safer.

Also, Alejo deserved to have his space back to himself despite his insistence on Santiago being able to stay as long as he liked.

It would be better for his mother too. Out here she would be further away from all the people that would get her back into the same trouble. Under Rosenia’s watchful eye Santiago knew that he could trust she would be okay.

While his faith in Rosenia had not fully been recovered, he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she would never turn away a soul in need. Also, if Eliana snapped and decided to go after his mother, he had thought it best that Rosenia could be there to keep her in line.

She held onto his arm as they walked up the steps to their new home. “You ready ma?”

“I am.” She said softly.

Alejo followed them in closing the door behind him, he threw an arm over Santiago’s shoulder. “Hey, man I forgot to tell you something.”

Santiago raised a brow.

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“Nah, you should tell him.” Alejo waved at Lupe.

She brushed a stray curl from his face as they walked into the den, “Happy Birthday.”

“Wha—” Santiago started.

“SURPRISE!!!:” They all shouted in unison.

Party poppers blasted him with confetti as the whine of the kazoo’s rang out.

Marisol toddled over to him with a mischievous grin, party hat in hand.

“No, absolutely not.” Santiago swatted her hand away, stifled a laugh as his mother wrapped her arms around him in a flimsy attempt to pin him.

A parade of hugs and birthday wishes came as he made his way around the living room.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen you outside of a suit Doc.” Said Santiago. “You look different.”

“A good difference I hope.” Thompson smiled, “Congratulations, you made it through your mandated therapy. You’ll be free of me.”

Santiago shook his head as he embraced him, “Nah, you ain’t getting rid of me that easy.”

“There he is!” Bennett boomed, the two exchanged a peculiar handshake before the older man gripped his shoulder. “Here. This is for you.”

Santiago opened the card his eyes scanning it before he opened the folded over slip of paper inside. His eyes bugged as he tried to hand it back to him. “No, I cannot—”

“Nope. It’s yours.”

“I can’t take this man. That’s a lot of damn money.” He whispered as he leaned in, “I don’t need all that.”

“Remember that future we talked about?”

“Yeah.”

“This is where it starts. You got choices now Santiago. You decide what comes next.”

Santiago let out an shaky breath and gave a nod.

Bennett patted the kids back before he threw an arm over Thompson's shoulder. “Don’t think I forgot about you—”

Santiago missed what Bennett was about to tell his counselor when Sylvia pulled him into a tight embrace.

Santiago chuckled, “Hey now, don’t start something you not going to finish.”

She punched him in the chest, “Don’t be an ass.”

“Santiago!” Ettiene called he sauntered over in his boot, bumped knuckles with him while taking a sip from a red solo cup.

It was an unexpected friendship to say the least. While they got off to a rocky start, Etienne quickly embedded himself in with the rest of his boys. He was as brash and reckless as the rest of them.

Fortunately for Marisol some level heads managed to worm their way into his circle as well. Sylvia and Mia were quick to calm and put them in line when need be. He still was not sure if Mia and him were exactly friends though he figured he would wear her down eventually.

For the first time in a long time Santiago could say he was happy.

It felt good to be in a house full of people who loved him. People who fought for him. People that made the life he held little value in, worth something.

The streamers, gifts, and food didn’t mean anything if they were not here to share it with.

As the off-tune song rang out in the candle lit room. They all surrounded him and the round tiered cake. Santiago watched the wax drip from the numbered candles marking his eighteenth birthday.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. He did not make a wish. He did not need to.

This was enough.

Santiago did not always believe he would make it to this moment. Still, he was glad that he did.