A few days later, Vincent helped set the table at Stella's house. With her permission and help, he had invited his mother, her husband, and son over for dinner. Since Stella and Rolando wanted to meet them, he thought dinner would be a good idea. Rolando and Brandon seemed to have hit it off quite well and were acting like best friends, to a certain extent.

Stella opened the oven and checked on the coq au vin she had put in. The smell floated through the house as she closed it back. "Oh, I can't wait to meet your mother." She turned to Vincent, placing her hand on the counter and putting her weight on it. "Along with your stepfather and stepbrother. I can only imagine what your mother looks like from looking at you."

Vincent poured the mixture of apples and sweet spices into the pie crust from the boiling hot pot. "She is very beautiful. I find myself more like a mix of my father and my mother, rather than just one." He explained, scooping out what was left in the pot with a wooden spoon as the aroma filled his nostrils.

Stella bent down and checked on the bread she had put in the bottom oven, which was barely risen so she dared not open the door. "Most children are a mix, or some take one single parent's look or they may take on a family member. Genetics is something I will never understand." She mused, tapping her nails on the counter.

Vincent picked up the pie crust and laid it over the top. He was wondering how things were going with Risa. He hadn't asked lately because he felt it might have been a little too nosy and if she found out he was asking it might now go well. "In speaking, has Risa gotten any closer to finding her family?" He asked, cutting the excess off and using the handle of the wooden spoon to create ridges in the edges.

Stella wet a rag from the sink then walked over to him, standing beside him and wiping up the flour on the counter. "Sunday is when Rolando is taking her to the clock workshop to see if the creator remembered who all had gotten that specific watch. I am hoping he has those records back but it seems very unlikely." She sighed heavily, pushing some hair from her face with the back of her hand.

Vincent picked up the pie and put it into the other oven on the other side of the sink. "I am sure he would. I hope that ends her journey to find her family and she has found what she came looking for." He knew deep down that it would uncover that the watch belonged to the Count and Countess as a gift to Clarissa when she was a young girl. "I'm proud of her and how far she has come."

Stella stopped cleaning and gave a gentle smile. She could tell what Vincent was thinking, it was obvious that even if the proof was presented she might not believe it. "You have changed a lot, and I am very proud of you." She hoped that little bit of praise did him good. He never really got to be praised before so any chance she could do just that she would take it.

Vincent was touched and even blushed a little at her words. "That is very kind of you to say. I have been trying my best to always do the right thing and continue to change and mend my old ways." It was hard, yes, but he wasn't going to quit just because things got tough. He then sighed, if only Risa could find the heart to forgive him for what he did and give him some time to explain things. He knew that was wishful thinking.

Stella placed her hand on his shoulder and gently squeezed it. "You have many who support you and Risa will eventually come around." She had to keep reminding him that Risa needed time and as much as he wished she could come around soon, that was something she was unable to do. She couldn't find it in her to forgive him just yet.

Vincent was just an impatient person and that was a habit that was hard to break. He knew she would eventually come around, or at least he hoped that she would. You never did quite know with that girl. She was unpredictable. "I know, I know." He smiled softly, continuing to help Stella prepare dinner and check on the coq au vin once again since it had been cooking all day.

In the living room, Rolando and Brandon were having a good time. Their hearty laughter filled the room, which to anyone who heard it made them happy. The smell of the kitchen floated into the living room, and they had offered to help but Stella shooed them away from everything they tried to come into her domain.

Rolando took a deep breath and smiled, he hadn't had coq au vin in such a long time. It was a familiar smell. "Hmm, you will love Stella's cooking. She knows the way to the heart. Even when we were younger, she would always practice baking and cooking. So whatever she made she would give it to me to taste. I always looked forward to those days." Those were some good times, quite vivid and he could almost smell and taste them.

Brandon chuckled at the dreamy look on Rolando's face. "Can't say I have ever had real cooking other than at a restaurant. Reneé back then wasn't good at cooking, it was a lot of canned goods we ate from except for dishes from her mother. I couldn't even cook to save my life either, my father had always said that cooking was a woman's job, not a man's." He knew now that was misogynistic thinking.

Rolando pulled his pocket watch out of his vest and popped it open looking at the time. "Since she now has a family, I am sure she knows how to cook." He closed the pocket watch and put it back into his vest. "Which, in speaking, Vincent can cook and bake. It was surprising but he said it was the fastest way towards someone's heart to get what he wanted." He chuckled, then quickly added. "I don't know where he learned it from though. I never taught him."

Brandon nodded with a smile and a hearty chuckle. That sounded logical.  "I can see how that logic works, perhaps if I used it I wouldn't have been in prison." He joked, being able to now joke about it since it no longer bothered him to talk about it. "Reneé and I had in common and other than being attracted to each other we had nothing else that we shared. Our lifestyle views were even different. I still wonder how we managed to stay together for the time that we did." He pondered on it for a moment, not recalling anything particularly good about their relationship.

Rolando could understand. He had been in love and young, of course, it had always been towards Stella. "Sometimes with young love that can happen. You're infatuated with the appearance and not what is beyond that. Some others only stay for trivial reasons because that is what they like and can't bear to part with something better." He mused as he rubbed the side of his cheek.

Brandon admired Rolando and his wisdom, and yes he wasn't that much older than him, but he seemed to be more knowledgeable than he ever had been. "If only I knew that as a young man then perhaps I would have never left Reneé to care for Vincent all by herself being so young." He held a bit of guilt over it, even if it was in the past. "I can't change the past though no matter how much I want to."

Before any more was said, there was a knock at the door and Stella's voice came from the kitchen. "Coming! Be right there." She called out as she hurried to the door. She wiped her hands on her apron and smiled as she opened it up. "Bonjour, come on in." She greeted the Davidsons, moving out of the way so they could come in.

Reneé smiled at Stella, giving her head a curt nod, returning the greeting. "Hello, thank you for having us." She stepped inside the hallway, taking off her coat and hanging it up on the coat rack, along with her hat and purse. She took a deep breath at the delicious aroma in the air. "Oh my, that smells delightful."

Edwin looked around and hummed, taking off his coat and scarf, hanging it beside his wife's.  "Nice place you got here. It is like stepping back in time a few decades." He noticed the Victoria Era furniture within the house, not to mention the wallpaper and other features. They had to be at least ten or more years old, save for a few modern ideas like a record player, telephone hanging on the wall, and so forth.

Stella laughed softly. It was true, she didn't change the house much from when she acquired it fully furnished. "Yes. It reminds me of my childhood, not to mention most was here before I bought the house. I could bear to part with such history. I have added a few of my touches to make it my own." She exclaimed, closing the door behind them.

Noah allowed his mother to take off his coat, gloves, hat, and scarf as he shifted his gaze over to Éclair, who was laying on a big fluffy bed beside Rolando on the floor. "Oh my, she is so cute. What is her name?" He asked, walking over and kneeling beside her after his mother was done.

Éclair lifted her head and gave him a skeptical look. "Please don't let him touch me with those grubby hands. I haven't a clue where they have been." She prayed as she darted her head as he tried to pet her. Thankfully, he had taken the hint and was just watching her as Stella answered his question.

Stella leads Edwin and Reneé into the living room. "Éclair, oui, she is a cutie. You should have seen her as a puppy, she was ten times as cute. Now she is beautiful, and a little temperamental, she isn't fond of strangers so be careful. She won't bite, but she will growl. Her bark is much worse than her bite." She reminded the young boy.

Noah nodded and stood up, sitting down on the loveseat that was behind him. "I have always wanted a dog but my mother says I would have to take care of it alone. I don't think I am ready for that. I am not that responsible and I am man enough to admit it." He nonchalantly explained, knowing that it was true. He could barely keep his room clean or make it to school on time, let alone take care of a dog.

Rolando chuckled at how mature this young boy was. It was astonishing that someone his age could already have not a problem owning up to his mistakes, shortcomings, and flaws. "It is honorable you're able to admit that. Not many can admit them no matter what age they may be." He glanced over at Vincent who was still busy in the kitchen. He had just now learned how to own up to his flaws, mistakes, and shortcomings at the age of twenty-one.

Noah nodded his head. He was told that a lot by older people. Not many kids his ages were thrilled that he was able to easily admit it and hold no shame. "Father is that way, so I take after him." He grinned, placing his hands on the armrests beside him and kicking his feet in the air.

Edwin smiled sitting down beside his son and placing his arm behind him on the back of the couch. "Can't say I've always been that way. I suppose it is up to me in my late teens to grow out of that phase. Thankfully my parents were easygoing and had patience, taking time to show me the way." He knew not everyone had a family like him.

Rolando had tried his best to take that approach with Vincent, but it never worked. "Ah, well, I have always been that way. Vincent just now learned that and I am proud of him." He once again glanced at Vincent. He felt like a proud father whenever he looked at how far that young man had come.

Reneé smiled as the two men conversed and turned back to Stella. "Thank you again for having us, Ms. Reneau. You are too kind to allow us to have dinner here, truly, we are grateful." She sat down beside her husband and crossed her ankles, resting her folded hands on her lap.

Stella waved her off as she approached the couch. "Oh, call me Stella. Everyone calls me that, no one is that formal, not even my own family and they have rights too." With that being politely said, she walked back into the kitchen to continue to help Vincent, who was solely focused on checking the dishes and or preparing them.

Rolando looked over at Noah, taking the time to study the young boy a bit more. "So, Noah, Vincent spoke about how he had a little brother. The whole idea was known to him so he hardly knows how to act, so go easy on him." He was glad Vincent now had a sibling, perhaps things would have been different if he had had a sibling or even a friend.

Brandon studied Noah and glanced into the dining room at Vincent, who was now helping Stella set the table. "The resemblance is striking, seeing as Reneé is both your mother and Vincent's. She always did have strong genes, alas that is something I can't say other than for Vincent's height." He chuckled softly before coughing into his hand after wheezing a little.

Noah turned his attention to Brandon and had wide big eyes. "You're Vincent's father, is it true you were in prison?" He asked, curious to see if it was true. He had never met a convict before and it was exciting. Not that he had committed crimes but had been in prison and survived all these years.

Reneé frowned at her son, seeing how happy he was that Brandon had been in prison. "Noah, what did we talk about on our way here?" She reminded him since she didn't specifically say not to bring that up. But she did go over the general gist of what not to say and what to say. She figured it would have been common sense.

Brandon waved her off. It wasn't a big deal. It wasn't like he was ashamed. It happened because of what he had done and he had to pay for his crimes. "Oh Reneé, it's fine. Yes, I was but now I am a changed man and did my time. I am not proud of it but it makes me who I am and it helped me see the error in my ways." He replied, giving her a weakly reassuring smile.

Rolando was glad things were going so well so far. This of course would be a learning experience for Noah. "Sometimes you have to hit rock bottom before you turn your life around, and it seems both you and Vincent had hit rock bottom to change, in different ways of course." He met his eyes with Brandon, giving him a reassuring smile.

Edwin smiled looking at the two men, so different with the paths they took but had Vincent which seemed to be the only thing they had in common."It is nice to finally meet Vincent's father and adoptive father. You raised him well Rolando, he seems such a gentleman." He couldn't believe Vincent had done anything like that. He seemed so honorable.

Rolando chuckled softly. He was flattered but he wasn't going to take the credit for it. "He wasn't always that way. I did my best to raise him, even if his bitterness for the world was always there, I hope I could at least teach him something. It took him hitting rock bottom to change his life and realize that he did learn something." He twisted his watch on his wrist as he spoke.

Vincent walked into the room and leaned against the door frame, crossing his arms over his chest. "That I did. I couldn't be more grateful for Rolando putting up with me, since I wasn't the easiest child. Even though he didn't think I heard, I did and after all these years it had come back." He smiled at his guardian, knowing he had taken it all to heart now.

Reneé walked over to her son and gave him a hug, which he returned. "Vincent." She didn't want to let him go. How could she? She had finally been reunited with her son and he wanted to spend time with her. He wasn't mad that she'd abandoned him.  "Have you been in the kitchen this whole time?" She asked pulling away and moving some hair off his forehead.

Vincent nodded his head with a smile, pulling away as well. "I have. I have been helping Stella prepare our meal and setting the table so when dinner is ready we can eat." He replied, pushing up his rolled-up sleeves higher up his arms since they had been falling.

Edwin sat back and turned his head towards Vincent and his wife. "Ah, a warm home-cooked meal, that is something I love and Reneé makes the best home-cooked meals. Full of love." He said, smiling at his wife beside him who had just sat back down.

Reneé blushed a little as she walked back over towards him. Giving him a peaceful slap on the shoulder she pushed her hair behind her ear. "Oh Edwin, you were the one to teach me. I am only as good as my teacher." She admitted sheepishly, trying to hide her blushing face.

Noah cringed at how his parents were acting, it wasn't something he was happy about and he found it gross. "Bleh. I am gonna be sick if you keep that up." He stuck out his tongue and fake gagged as he closed his eyes. That was something he never liked to heat or see. It made him feel uncomfortable.

Brandon laughed along with all the grown-ups, finding his childish innocence adorable. "That will be you one day Mister, and you will look back and realize how fickle you were to think it was mushy." He jabbed his finger at the boy with a smile.

Vincent gave his father a playful nudge standing beside him. "He is a kid, Father. When I was his age I thought it was gross too. Until I realized I could use it to my advantage to get what I want." He then paused and quickly added. "Do not try that, Noah, it won't turn out good for you." He looked at his brother with a serious face and tone to his voice.

Noah put his hands up in front of him as he nodded his head. "I never plan on using it for as long as I am alive. The only love I have is for my parents and animals, everything is disgusting." He admitted, having no shame in it. He was stubborn and persistent in his feelings as any child about such things would.

Vincent chuckled at his younger brother and glanced at his watch. "Stella, do you think it is done yet? It's been there all afternoon?" He asked, turning and walking towards the kitchen. It was much warmer in the kitchen than it was in the living room, mainly because of all the ovens that were going on rather than a sole fireplace.

Stella nodded, clapping her hands together with a beaming smile. "Indeed. Alright, the washroom is to the left of the hall, second door, and then comes to the table with clean hands." She instructed them to do as she walked into the kitchen. "Dinner is ready."

Everyone dispersed and went to wash their hands before coming back and sitting down at the table. Stella and Vincent placed the food in the middle for everyone to dig in. There couldn't be anything more mouth-watering and delightful than the aroma of food. It was heavenly.

Stella began to dish out the coq au vin, quite proud of how it turned out. She had spent hours trying to make sure that this roast was perfect. "I do hope it is something you like. I figured how could I go wrong with coq au vin?" She said, sitting back down and dishing herself out some.

Noah didn't hesitate to dive into the dish, stuffing the carrots into his mouth. "Hmm, delicious." He mumbled with a found full of food. He knew he should be using manners but he was hungry and didn't care. He'd take any scolding from his mother since it was worth it.

Reneé cleared her throat looking at him as she stopped up some of the coq au vin with her spoon. "Noah, please mind your manners. Don't speak with food in your mouth and eat slowly." She whispered to her son in his ear, keeping her smile on her face.

Noah nodded and swallowed his food before he spoke again. "From what I've read in history, don't people who are associated with other people, like royals, that are hated by one's people, get branded a criminal or something? So, how did you avoid that?" He asked, making everyone at the table stop eating for a brief moment.

Rolando broke the silence with a chuckle, setting down the glass that he took a sip out of. "One may think, however, I always had the people's favor. Even with what happened, most people believed I had done nothing wrong, and even the few who thought otherwise didn't do much about it. So, I was held as a hero since I did stay behind to help those in the castle and innocent civilians caught in the crossfire."

Noah thought about what Rolando had said and smiled. "That makes sense! I've been curious about it since Mother told me." He grinned and he began to eat more of his food. He reached out and grabbed a dinner roll, taking a bite out of it with a smile.

Edwin looked over at Vincent and spoke after his son was finished. "I heard you are leaving soon. How long will you be gone?" He asked. He had heard through Reneé that he was leaving back to Canada for some time to deal with a few things.

Vincent nodded, picking up his glass and taking a sip of his drink. "I am not sure. It depends on how long it will take to make amends. I still am waiting for some replies before I leave. But it could be a few weeks to a few months." He replied, setting down the glass.

Rolando raised his glass to his lips and sipped on it. "I am proud of Vincent. Never in a million years did I ever think I'd see him turning over a new leaf. Like I always say, all things happen for a reason." Setting his glass down on the table, he smiled, giving a nod towards Vincent.

Brandon smiled looking over at his son, feeling also very proud of him. "I am proud too. I never thought Vincent would end up going down my path and not even have known me. But then ended up turning his life around like I am doing. We both have a lot in common, which will help us both work our lives out." He was both glad and sad he had someone who had the same thing in common.

Reneé was touched and was trying everything not to cry. "As a family, we will. You two have my complete support. I was given a second chance. I am not going to let it slip away. I'm going to use it to its fullest extent." She meant every word because after all, she had her son and old love back.

Noah bounced a little in his chair. "I am just happy to have an older brother who was raised by the former head military sergeant for the former king of Frontrance and Stella who is the late queen's sister! I know royalty personally." He squealed softly, speaking in one long breath as a spark lit up in his eyes.

Edwin chuckled at his excitement but then turned stern. "Don't even think about using that to your advantage, especially at school. I am saying it again to firmly have it stick in your mind. It isn't right to take advantage of it." He said, pointing his knife at the boy before turning into the beef.

Noah sighed, grabbing his glass and drinking his water. "I know, Father. I wasn't planning on using it to make more friends. I am just excited, and I haven't told a single person about it. But I did only my friends and I have a brother and they thought that was awesome." He exclaimed setting it back up on the table.

Vincent looked over at his brother. "I do hope to be a good role model for you from now on and spend a lot of time with you doing what um brothers do - which is . . . I don't know." He was a mix of ashamed and upset that he knew nothing about being a brother.

Noah smiled, waving him off. "Don't worry. I have made a whole list of everything brothers do and oh boy will it be awesome! We can do it all when you return from Canada." He exclaimed. He even patted his jacket pocket where the notebook was at. "I have it with me right now."

Vincent was surprised that his brother had come up with a list. "Oh wow. You seem very prepared. That is a good thing." He said as he went back to eating his food. This felt so new and he liked the feeling. Not only did he have his birth father and mother back in his life, but he also had her son and husband, Rolando and Stella, since Rolando planned on asking her hand in marriage soon.

He felt blessed. He hoped that Risa would find her family and have the feeling that he felt. One of belonging, being loved and cared about, having people there to support you. Yes, Risa had friends, they seemed to be the closest she had to family.

He smiled as he looked around the table, seeing everyone talk and smile, which made him feel good. Never did he think that this would happen, yet it did, he couldn't have been happier. "Oh, we forgot to toast!" He lifted his glass. "Let's toast to second chances and new beginnings?"

Brandon grinned as he was the first to raise his glass in the air. "I can surely toast to that." He was glad to have a second chance. This was a blessing for him, an answered prayer. "Second chances and new beginnings can happen in many forms." He grinned brightly.

The others raised their glasses in the air and echoed in chorus what Vincent had said. "To second chances and new beginnings!" The words were echoed around the table as glasses clicked together. It was a momentous dinner, bringing a family together and making it grow bigger.

❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅~❅

A/N: 
Aye. This took a little longer than I hope, both because I was really busy and was trying to figure out how to expand on this chapter. So I kinda cut it a little short just to add on to it later.

Chapter Talk: 
Rolando and Stella finally get to meet Vincent's father, mother and her family. I enjoyed writing this little chapter. Their interaction was a lot of fun to write, and it was so sweet too. I will expand on it more later. But don't worry, nothing will change the plot of this chapter. Everything will be the same save for a few extra conversations.

And lastly, anything else I forgot to ask my pals. I am happy to answer anything!

In closing, all rude, impolite and mean comments will be replied to in a diplomatic way, reported or deleted if I feel like it is attacking me personally.

Thanks for reading!