Hermanos de Sangre

[Alonso Fernandez]

"I'll see you tonight," Alonso pecked his wife on the cheek as he walked out the door. "Long day at the site, need to get the framing finished or we will never hit our deadline."

Stephanie Fernandez clucked her tongue, and pulled her husband back for a more satisfying kiss, then released him. "Okay. Te amo, Alonso." The children were sitting at the table, eating breakfast and calling good-bye to their papa as he walked to his Ford truck.

Joaquin and Antonio were meeting him at the job site - hopefully on time. Since 'Tonio had been back from college he'd been staying up too late and dragging his feet in the morning. Alonso tossed his tool belt into the passenger side, and backed the black truck out of the driveway, rumbling off down the street.

To his surprise his younger brothers were waiting for him, although not to his surprise they weren't working yet. "Uh oh," he teased, broad smile lighting up his face as he strode toward them. "What is going on? Am I late?"

[Antonio Fernandez]

"Hey!" Antonio grinned, looking a little like the cat that swallowed the canary. "Mama says hi, and she's expecting us all to show up early on the Fourth to help set up. Anna's bringing all her delinquents along to corrupt your children."

Joaquin shoved him, and Antonio slipped off the stack of 2x4s he'd been perched on, flailing a bit to keep his balance as he landed on his feet. "Sheesh, man! Watch it!" He made a big show of dusting off his clothes, despite the fact they were just about to start sawing and nailing things together and he'd be covered in dirt before noon.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

Joaquin rolled his eyes at his brother's theatrics.

"What, do you think you're going to impress anyone in those rags? Hate to break it to you, little brother, but you didn't get the looks," he clucked sorrowfully and smacked the back of Antonio's head as he passed, winking slyly.

As a general rule Joaquin preferred to show up at the site as close to starting time as possible, eke out as much sleep as he could. But this was crunch time as they said and he knew Alonso was quietly stressed over their progress, even if he didn't show it. He figured they gave him enough grief during the day already; punctuality was a small courtesy.

"I have Stephanie's dish in the truck. Tell her she can send me leftovers any time," Joaquin said as he reached out to clap hands with Alonso, both of them pulling into a brief one-shouldered hug.

[Alonso Fernandez]

"Will do," Alonso rumbled, turning his attention to the youngest brother. "And Mama already spoke to Steph on the phone a week ago about the Fourth. Good to hear Anna's going to make it too."

He socked Antonio in the shoulder, and then adjusted his tool belt. "We have electricians coming tomorrow to wire up the addition, so lets get to it. Where's your tool belt?"

[Antonio Fernandez]

He reeled from all the abuse, and staggered to the pile of wood to retrieve his tools. "Right here, brother." Antonio buckled it on and smirked at Joaquin. "Now this here - I make this look good." He ducked another friendly punch, and trailed his older brothers into the bare bones addition they were building.

"You say she talked to Mama last week?" So they didn't know yet. He couldn't help but grin, it had killed him to keep the secret this long. "Because I heard some news..." He twirled his hammer idly, whistling as they went to work, finishing up the inner walls to the customer's specifications.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"Yes, it's true: Papa tried to sell you to a circus once. Bargain price, too, but they wouldn't take you - already had enough apes."

Joaquin sighed sadly as though it were the single greatest tragedy in his life and carried on marking off a line on the end of the existing framework, measuring tape in hand. Antonio was a fantastic procrastinator and he could use up the better part of a morning spinning more stories than work.

He sent the youngest Fernandez a look. "Come on, man, vamanos. Your lazy ass is supposed to be contributing."

[Alonso Fernandez]

He chuckled at Joaquin's comment, and eyed Antonio who was practically hopping about in the middle of the room they were trying to frame. "Make yourself useful and cut some 2x4s to four feet. Don't forget your safety glasses."

"Yeah when do I?" Antonio looked around a bit, and added, "Hey is anyone else coming?"

"Yeah I got a couple guys coming in after lunch to help us finish up." Alonso looked up from what he was doing again and narrowed his eyes at his youngest brother. "Get moving! We need those cut... today."

[Antonio Fernandez]

"Ha ha," Antonio said, putting on his safety glasses and starting to head towards where the circular saw was set up. "Oh," he said, over his shoulder, "Anna's having a baby."

Then he sauntered over to the saw and turned it on, filling the site with noise while he measured off the wood that needed cutting.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"Wha - shit!"

The nail that had been just about to be hammered into the pale wood support escaped it's natural fate. Unfortunately, Joaquin's thumb took it's place and the man yipped and started cursing as he shook his throbbing hand.

Antonio's low, gleeful chuckle only compounded his irritation and Joaquin glowered at the little bastard. "That's not funny, retard."

[Alonso Fernandez]

Alonso shook his head, and then walked over to the saw and switched it off. "What was that? Anna's... pregnant?!"

As Antonio nodded, satisfied that he'd gotten the reaction he wanted, Alonso ran a hand through his hair. His little sister was going to have a baby. His kids would have a cousin!

"Wait, who is the father?" He frowned, hands flexing unconsciously at his sides.

[Antonio Fernandez]

He kept measuring sections of 2x4, not wanting anyone to accuse him of slacking off while Alonso and Joaquin struggled with the infobomb he'd exploded in their midst. "Well, that's the thing. She wouldn't say."

Antonio shook his head, studiously marking his lines. "That's never good news, man."

[Joaquin Fernandez]

Joaquin grunted, arms crossing over his chest as he rocked back and forth on his heels. The news had put an effective lull on the start and by some reversal of the universe, Antonio was the only one actually working.

"Maybe he's a convict, on the run," he mused, still trying to absorb the announcement. "Or, shit, what if he's one of those polygamist guys? There was this lady on Oprah, didn't even know, man. She just thought her boyfriend was going on business trips but it turns out the asshole had three wives in three states. Soon as she found out she kicked him to the curb - what if Anna was just one in a long line of ladies?"

The ensuing silence that followed was answer enough. Joaquin shrugged, arms wide, at his brothers' blank faces. It could happen!

"Do Mama and Papa know?" he asked suddenly. Then he clarified: "That she's knocked up, not about polygamists."

[Antonio Fernandez]

"I am pretty sure they know about polygamists," Alonso said drily, pulling his work gloves off and folding them in his hand.

Antonio rocked back on his heels where he was crouched by the wood. "Yeah, yeah, they know. When I was there doing laundry last week Anna called 'em. Spilled the beans! But the only thing she'd say was the dad's not that Greek guy who used to hang around all the time. Apollos something? Jake's talked about him a bit."

[Joaquin Fernandez]

Huh. So Anna had told them and they hadn't told anyone. That was unusual. Secrets were a hard thing to keep in the Fernandez family. Joaquin remembered the first time he'd been approached for a photo shoot - he had still only been considering it when 'Tonio and Jake started leaving European underwear ads on his bed. Male European underwear ads.

"Why didn't she say anything to us?" Joaquin raised his brows. "I talked to her two, three days ago, and not a word."

[Alonso Fernandez]

He pulled his gloves back on, flexing his hands. "She's their little girl. Mama would want her to tell us her own way." Alonso sighed. He wished that Anna had told him.

They'd used to be close. His brow creased and he turned, picking up the nailgun and going back to work.

[Antonio Fernandez]

Antonio's mouth twisted a little as his big brother turned away, and he stood up, shrugging. "Yeah, I guess. Who knows, she's a girl. Females be strange."

He considered for a moment. "Maybe she's planning on telling us all at once on the Fourth. Like a surprise...that I just ruined, of course." He grinned. "Jake knows too, I'm sure of it."

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"That'll be a great finale to Papa's fireworks," Joaquin laughed. "'Happy Independence Day! Estoy embarazada!'"

The idea that somebody had gotten his sister pregnant and apparently wasn't man enough to take credit for it bothered him fiercely but they could bide their time; Jake would pass on anything he found out, once he knew they were in on the whole thing.

Jeez, Anna having a baby; Joaquin couldn't help but marvel at the idea that there would be another little one soon enough. It was still surreal to think that he was an uncle at all and his oldest nephew, Johnny, was seven.

Of course, whatever their sister's reasons for withholding the big announcement, Alonso was taking it as personal commentary that he'd somehow fallen down on his Oldest Brother duties.

Joaquin lobbed a woodchip at him as he passed, for the sake of fraternal solidarity. "Hey, I'm leaving at three today, okay? College Boy here can pick up the slack."

[Alonso Fernandez]

"Ha!" Alonso said, but he winked at Antonio to show he had faith the slack would be picked up. "We should be okay with Steve and the other guys coming over later." He nodded at Joaquin.

They had an easy work rhythm between them - Joaquin worked hard, had good instincts and skills, and gave one hundred percent when he was on the job. In exchange Alonso paid him for his time, and didn't ask too many questions when he had an early afternoon or a weekend off for a photoshoot.

Or a woman. Alonso wasn't sure what suspect to blame in today. Thankfully Antonio was there to pick up the slack when it came to finding out the pertinent information.

[Antonio Fernandez]

"Hot date?" Antonio leaned against the table saw, arms folded in front of him. "Or gonna be doing some shooting?"

He pretended to take some pictures with a camera, complete with obnoxious sound effects. "It's so awesome," he added with a bit of an exaggerated lisp. "You're so beautiful!"

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"Beautiful all the way to the bank," Joaquin retorted. His brothers could tease all they wanted but a couple hours in designer duds paid his rent, easy. And the other perks...

Hefting a plank on his shoulder that needed a couple inches cut off the end, he made his way over to the saw and dropped the board on the braces. 'Tonio was too tempting a target and before he could move, Joaquin jumped on his back and wrapped an arm around his neck.

"Do not worry, little brother," he taunted, laughing as Antonio tried to fling him off and only succeeded in knocking a sawhorse over. "When I'm famous, you can come and work for me, eh? Clean the pool, do my laundry..."

[Antonio Fernandez]

"I'll resort to the Breaking Bad model for Chem majors before that happens." Antonio managed to get away from Joaquin at last, glaring as he had to pick up the sawhorse. "Anyway we didn't decide."

"Decide what?" Alonso looked through the wall he was completing, narrowing his eyes at the mayhem.

"What we're gonna do about this joker who leaves Anna with a bebe and no forwarding address." Antonio straightened his safety glasses and flipped the saw on, starting on the 2x4s he'd measured.

[Alonso Fernandez]

Alonso grunted at 'Tonio's sudden enthusiasm for work, and looked at Joaquin who was walking towards him. "I hate to say it, but he has a point." He secured the brace he was working on with another nail, and gave the framing a tug to make sure it was secure.

"If the guy is out of the picture, fine, but if he comes back later there could be messy custody issues." Without knowing...anything, really, it was hard to know how to express the sudden surge of frustration that was building up inside him. "We should try to find out what we can. Without bothering Anna."

Jake would help; surely he had to know something. Alonso was fond of the kid, misguided though his path through life had been up to this point, but hadn't talked to him much since he'd moved in at Redención House. He was really doing a great job at this big brother thing. He grabbed another piece of wood to put into place, movements practiced and sure.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"What's all this deciding business?" Joaquin scoffed, stretching his neck to one side until it popped loudly. "We find out who he is, I know exactly what I'm gonna do."

There was nothing quite like a motivating chat with the concerned advocates of a slighted woman to ensure that any potential legal matters were swept under the rug.

While Antonio set to work cutting the planks, Joaquin crossed to the T-frame that Alonso was shoring up with a focus that was a little too intent. Squinting at the opposite end casually as though inspecting the progress, Joaquin caught his older brother's eyes and looked at him pointedly.

"Man, you're making that face," he said, voice low to keep the conversation just between them. "You really think there might be problems?"

[Alonso Fernandez]

"Where there are women concerned, there are always problems. Anna keeping this a secret for so long..." Alonso shrugged. "I do not like it. The guy obviously does not want to be involved, from what we can guess."

He sighed, rubbing the back of his hand across his brow. "And let's be honest, Jake's making an effort these past few years, but he has his own problems to deal with. Something like this could set him off in a big way." Jake going back to jail would be the worst possible scenario. Mama would be heartbroken.

Which was probably why Anna was keeping her cards close to her chest. Protecting her family, both of them. Which begged the question - from what?

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"Great: he doesn't want to be involved, then there's no issue," Joaquin spread his arms as if to say, what else is there to do? It seemed pretty clear cut to him, if a bit skeevy.

The comment about Jake gave him pause, though. It was true that their brother had a colorful - and that was a polite expression - past and a short fuse but he was a good man and the turbulence that often surrounded him had eased substantially since his teen years. Jake was a big boy, he could handle himself - and, if 'Tonio was right and he did know, then he was obviously taking it well enough to keep it on the down low. But that was no surprise; they were a close family and concern for Anna would eclipse any other reaction, for all of them.

No, Joaquin decided, as surprising as the news was, there did not seem to be anything suspicious about it other than the fact that it was Anna they were talking about. Alonso was just being Alonso.

"You stress too much, old man," Joaquin said. "Look, we will all get together and have a few beers, find out if there is anything to know. If so, we deal with it and if not... " he shrugged. "Guys night out and Anna will make her announcement when she's ready. She's probably just embarrassed, she's supposed to be the responsible one."

[Alonso Fernandez]

"Tiene usted razón, por supuesto," he said, staring past Joaquin to where Antonio was still hard at work, against all odds. For a long moment he seemed to be elsewhere, and then he focused again and a half smile twitched up the corner of his mouth.

"If Jake has a name, Paolo could run a check on him, get his address." The smile spread into a roguish grin. "We could pay him a visit."

[Joaquin Fernandez]

Joaquin smirked broadly and reached out to smack Alonso's shoulder with the back of his hand.

"Now you're talking," he crowed. "Vamos a helar la sangre del hijo de puta."

Satisfied that they were getting somewhere productive, Joaquin rapped his knuckles on the framing.

"My... appointment is in Laguna, I'll stop later and talk to Father Marcelo." He paused and chuckled. Marcelo Fernandez was an introspective, quiet soul who preferred logical negotiations to physical confrontation. It made him excellent at his job but trying to imagine him intimidating anyone was a stretch. "He might not approve, you know how he is. Twenty bucks says he thinks we should send a legal notice to the loser or some fancy PR stunt like that."

[Antonio Fernandez]

"Legal notice that if he comes near Anna again I get to kick his ass?" Antonio swaggered up, planks on his shoulder balanced with a gloved hand. He was covered with sawdust.

He dropped the 2x4s in a pile, and straightened, trying to dust off his pants. As he did so he caught sight of the house across the street where an older woman was doing yoga on her wrap around porch. He grinned at Joaquin.

"Looks like Mrs. Collins is out again." He made a show of stretching slowly. "I should take off my shirt, give her something to really drool over."

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"Why, you wanna scare her back inside?"

Joaquin jostled Antonio out of the way good-naturedly, vying for prime viewing location. At best guess, Mrs. Collins was somewhere between 40 and 45 and was a breathing advertisement for what a lifelong dedication to yoga could do to a body - or rather bodies, because any man with a heartbeat couldn't watch her pert little behind slither from chaturanga to cobra and not offer up a full salute.

"C'mon, downward dog," Joaquin begged. He whistled low as the lithe PTA member bent forward. "Every day this week. She's gotta know we're watching."

[Alonso Fernandez]

"Oh, she knows all right," Alonso said. "Mostly because you are standing there, staring."

He glanced over to where the cougar was stretching out and threw a wood chip at Joaquin. "Get over here and help me put this wall together. This addition isn't going to build itself you know." He raised an eyebrow and gestured to the concrete floor where he was planning on piecing together a section of wall before setting it in place.

"Yeah, get to work," said Antonio, still shaking sawdust off his t-shirt. "Some of us have to be here all day. Oh, speaking of, can I get a ride home, 'Lonso?" He didn't move from where he was, still looking across the street. Alonso was surprised he didn't wave.

"Sure," he said. "No problem." He went back to work, knowing that Antonio would get tired of the show across the street before too long.

[Antonio Fernandez]

"Thanks, hermano," he said, as Mrs. Deanna Collins stretched into Downward Dog. "Oh man, you missed it, Joaquin. Sun Salutations all the way."

She was moving on to Warrior poses, still sexy as hell, and as she extended her arms her head turned toward him. "Oh my God she winked at me!" Antonio winked back, casually stretching out his arms and then bending down to pick up a length of wood. Cougars were awesome. Really. Awesome.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

Damn it.

Joaquin craned over his shoulder, hoping for a repeat performance but it was no use. She was already on to balance poses, the loose grey shirt she wore slipping off one elegant shoulder and revealing the line of her collarbone that he could just imagine kissing his way down, a treasure trail right to the bounty of her possibly-enhanced breasts.

It was only nine, not that hot yet. But then again the air had a funny way of collecting on job sites, clung to lumber like a whiny child. In fact, it was stifling this morning.

With a casual overhead stretch, Joaquin tugged his v-neck off and tucked it into his toolbelt so it hung stylishly off the side. He flicked his tousled hair out of his eyes and twisted over the laid out 2x4's, abs popping at the purposeful angle.

[Antonio Fernandez]

Antonio narrowed his eyes at Joaquin's flagrant shirtless scene, and sauntered over to Alonso's side. They worked in silence for a few long minutes, the wall coming together quickly despite the meaningful glances Joaquin and Antonio kept throwing towards Mrs. Collins and then at each other.

"Man, its too quiet out here," he complained, while Joaquin and Alonso readied the wall for final placement. "Gonna find some tunes, I'll be right back." Out by the outer wall of the addition he turned on the dusty radio, finding Z100 and some Top 40 songs. Antonio be-bopped around the foundation towards his brothers, stopping to drink from the hose in plain sight of Mrs. Collins' porch.

While he was at it he used it to clean his face from any residual sawdust. Sawdust... just gets everywhere! What a shame, isn't it, Mrs. Collins. He turned off the hose and pulled his shirt off, turning it inside out to dry off his face and hair, flexing his abs as impressively as he dared. Didn't want to give the woman a heart attack, after all.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

The little bastard was trying to outdo him - and if the way Mrs. Collin's hips were angling as she bowed back into Camel pose were any indication, it was working.

Oh hell no.

"En tres: uno... dos... tres," Joaquin grunted as he and Alonso hefted the bare-bones framing up and shuffled awkwardly, their boots scraping across the rough concrete foundation to prop it in place against the existing work until they could secure it. Straining (maybe a bit more than necessary) the man pushed his end closer to the stud and then stepped back, panting.

Alonso raised a brow as he ducked through the skeleton wall and jumped down to ground. "Where are you going?"

"I'm thirsty," came Joaquin's reply. He grinned at Antonio as he passed, bumping his shoulder and twisting the faucet back on with one clean jerk. The radio played (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlJ27Dcv4fc) some ridiculously over synthesized tune but there was a sort of lazy undertone to it that worked well. Joaquin bent and took a long slurp of water, eyes darting up once, and then straightened to his full height and lifted the hose high so the water drenched his hair and cascaded down his bare chest in sparkling rivulets.

Yeah, it's gonna be a scorcher today.

The water slowed to a trickle as he turned the faucet again and Joaquin ran a broad hand through his hair, sweeping it back, and sent droplets flying with a shake of his head. He loped back to the addition, a confident swagger in his gait.

Alonso looked like he was just about out of patience.

"What?" Joaquin shrugged. "It's hot out."

[Alonso Fernandez]

Antonio snorted, and Alonso just rolled his eyes. When they got like this there was nothing to do but wait it out. Anyway, they usually ended up working harder after Mrs. Collins... yep here she came.

He checked his watch. Not even nine thirty, and she was already coming over with lemonade. Alonso straightened up, adjusting his tool belt as the trim forty-five year old mother of two waved from across the street, walking over suggestively in her yoga outfit with a tray of glasses.

"You two have outdone yourselves this time," he grunted, but he wasn't mad. She made some damn good lemonade.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

Low snickers were shared but by the time Mrs. Collins rolled in, they were the picture of humble, hardworking men. The sort that their Mama would have been proud to introduce in church on Sunday, provided there was more clothing involved.

"Hola, Mrs. Collins," Joaquin beamed. "What a nice surprise."

"You all just looked like you were working so hard," the woman explained, hips swaying a bit even as she talked. "I thought I'd bring out some refreshments. We can't have you boys getting heatstroke - it can be fatal, you know!"

"Ain't the sun's gonna kill me," Antonio mumbled, eyes fixed on the morsel in their midst. Then, louder: "That's really thoughtful of you, Mrs. Collins, gracias. Hey, have you been workin' out? You're looking awesome."

"Oh!" Mrs. Collins shrugged modestly, a gleam to her eyes. "A little. Honestly when you get to be my age it becomes as necessary as flossing!"

She giggled and handed Alonso a glass of ice-cold lemonade, hand lingering on his just a moment too long.

[Alonso Fernandez]

Alonso smiled graciously as she handed him a glass, then noticed the extra hand contact and froze momentarily. She gave him a look that could only be described as suggestive, before turning back to Joaquin and laughing at something he'd said. She kept looking back to Alonso, though, and he drank the lemonade as quickly as be could, wedding ring in plain evidence.

Mrs. Collins was angling towards him again, and he moved slightly, putting Antonio in the line of fire as his younger brother was nonchalantly saying something about an eight mile run he did the other day.

[Antonio Fernandez]

Antonio ran a hand over his short hair as Mrs. Collins turned toward him. "Yeah, I run a lot. Have to stay in shape, so I do a lot of endurance training."

"That's obvious," she purred, daring to nudge him as she walked around him. Alonso moved to the other side of the unfinished room, gently setting his glass down on the tray as he passed it.

"Well, it's important to take care of yourself, like you do, Mrs. Collins." Antonio twisted around, flashing her a winning smile.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"You know, I would love to take some photographs of you," Joaquin cut in, lowering himself from between a pair of sawhorses where he'd been doing tricep dips. Subtlety was his favorite flavor.

Mrs. Collins looked like she wasn't quite sure whether to be flattered or offended, though she was definitely leaning toward the former and the latter would have been a token effort for the sake of propriety.

A few months ago Joaquin had done a cologne ad. The shoot had involved stalking out of the ocean with a casual look of smoldering indifference plastered on his face, a feat that was difficult with the sun shining directly in one's eyes and wearing a pair of tiny swim trunks that had left chafe-marks for a full week. But the walk - that slow, predatory roll - was killer and he used it now.

"I need new workups for my portfolio," he said. "And you would be perfect for a tandem shoot."

"Are you a model?" Deanna's cheeks were flushed.

Joaquin shrugged. "I don't like to put a label on it. I'm an artist of life."

"I was once a Sunshine Girl. In the paper in my hometown. There was a full-page spread, they brought in professional hair and makeup, the works."

"Yes, you can tell by the way you move. En español we would say... como una perra en celo."

Mrs. Collins looked faint. She confessed in a breathy tone: "I've always wanted to learn Spanish."

Joaquin leaned in close and whispered so she had to cant forward to hear. "I will teach you. Voy a sacudir tu mundo."

Antonio cleared his throat. Loudly. The spell broken, bendy Mrs. Robins... Collins fluttered aimlessly for a minute and then gathered her tray.

"Well, I'll... just," she said as she tried to lope away with as much come-hither grace as she'd arrived, "let you boys get back to your work."

"Please, let me help you to your house. It's the least I can do," Joaquin said and lifted the tray from her hands. He winked back at his brothers as he trailed after the woman, crossing the street right behind her and following into the stately three-tiered home.

When he returned, some fifteen minutes later, it was with a piece of heavy paper that he brandished in the air like a trophy. "Ha. Her number - and that was just the afterthought!"

[Antonio Fernandez]

Antonio snatched at it, using his two inch height advantage ineffectively as Joaquin expertly fended him off. "You are unbelievable. Como una perra en celo? You've got some cojones, hermano."

He leaned closer, and sniffed suspiciously. "You smell a little floral, pool boy."

[Alonso Fernandez]

Alonso cleared his throat, holding up a hammer. "Now that we have had a break, maybe we can get back to work so I don't have to explain to Mr. and Mrs. Harrison why the addition went over budget?"

He gave Joaquin a look of gratitude, though. "Not that I don't appreciate you taking one for the team."

"Taking one for the team?!" blustered Antonio as he got back to work. "He totally sniped that sweet ass - don't give me that look, she was totally into me before he pulled that whole sleazy photographer act." He rolled his eyes, "I can't believe women fall for that."

Alonso clapped him on the shoulder. "Sometimes I do not think you are as smart as you think you are, little brother."

[Joaquin Fernandez]

Joaquin clucked his tongue and grazed a hand over Antonio's short hair as he passed.

"Eh, don't worry so much, poco académico," he soothed in a crooning imitation of Teresa Fernandez in top (s)mothering form. "One day if you work hard maybe you will be as smooth as me. Besides, you get to practice on campus." Joaquin whistled reverently. "College girls, man."

The good-natured barbs flew back and forth as the morning ticked by and by the time early afternoon rolled around the brothers had somehow managed to make up for lost hours and make headway on the addition. Progress was helped along of course with the arrival of the rest of Alonso's crew, their presence shifting the atmosphere subtly from a fraternal air of jostling camaraderie to one of a more industrious bend.

Eventually Joaquin stepped back, stretching his arms over his head. He whistled a sharp burst across the room, drawing Alonso's attention.

"Bueno, he terminado. I will see you tomorrow morning," he said, unslinging his toolbelt from around his waist as he crossed the floor to his older brother with a grin. "Call me about the thing. You know Marcelo - he will want an exact date for his little book."

[Alonso Fernandez]

Alonso looked up and nodded. "Sounds good. I have to talk to Stephanie but probably sometime next week." He looked at Antonio across the addition from them and added, "Tonio offered to invite Jake."

He wiped his face with a clean rag. "I'm glad we are getting together. Circumstances aside, it's been too long. Anyway," he clapped Joaquin on the shoulder, "I'll see you tomorrow."

-------

Outside of P. F. Changs, Alonso looked at his watch. Traffic had been worse than usual and everyone was running a little late, including him, but he'd still somehow managed to get there first. The hostess assured him it would just be a few minutes until their table was ready, and so he was hanging out in the cool night air, waiting for his brothers to arrive.

[Marcelo Fernandez]

A lilting whistle danced through the summer air and Marcelo Fernandez grinned and lifted a hand to his older brother as he briskly walked up the street. Still clad in a pair of smartly pressed stone-washed slacks and dark dress shirt, hair stylishly combed back, the young man looked like a typical Los Angelenos flak catcher with the perpetually-buzzing Blackberry and practical company car that came with the juggling act that was public relations.

Glancing down at the watch on his wrist, Marcelo frowned. He disliked being late, an inclination from his youth that was only compounded now by his busy schedule and need to be on time for clients. Alonso wouldn't consider it an inconvenience and it wasn't as though Marcelo could have done anything about it - traffic was a brick wall this time of evening as the second round of commuters began their journeys home - but it still bothered him.

"Sorry," Marcelo apologized with a sheepish grin, slapping his brother on the shoulder and leaning back to study him. "Traffic was terrible. You're looking well, hermano."

Marcelo glanced behind Alonso and his eyes sparkled merrily. "Ah, don't tell me I'm the first one here - have you been waiting long?"

[Alonso Fernandez]

"The niños keep me young," Alonso said, a wide grin on his face. "I only just got here, myself." He held up his hand with the restaurant pager in it. "Should be seated soon though."

He looked past Marcelo into the parking lot, adding, "I think I just saw Joaquin's car, though, so then we are only missing two."

[Marcelo Fernandez]

Marcelo nodded and glanced absently over his shoulder at the parking lot, though if Joaquin's car was there it was out of view.

"He wouldn't tell me what this was about," Marcelo said, face set in open appraisal that seemed to invite confession. "Just stopped by the office to tell me and then tried to convince Janet to give him Lindsay Lohan's cell number."

He rolled his eyes and then shrugged. "Not that I'm not glad we're finally getting together but when Joaquin tries to be mysterious, problemas no se queda atrás." Marcelo winced. "Remember that Guatemalan girl?"

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"She was Colombian and I didn't know she was married," Joaquin's voice cut in and he slung an arm around Marcelo's neck, dragging his little brother down and knuckling roughly at his precise hair. "And what's with the judgement, Padre - that celibacy deal wearing a little thin, heh?"

Marcelo slapped at his arms and Joaquin let go with a laugh, nodding to Alonso and dodging a half-hearted punch from the former with the practiced ease of someone who'd avoided many a blow.

"Man, look at this kid," Joaquin rocked back on his heels with a grin. "All decked out like a proper businessman. Mama would be so proud." He skirted a glance to Antonio who'd ridden along with him. "You taking notes, 'Tonio?"

[Antonio Fernandez]

"Yeah, yeah," Antonio said, hugging Marcelo with a grin on his face. "I'm starved, we're all out of food at Casá de Joaquín. If only we could eat hair gel."

He clapped Marcelo on the back, releasing him and snagging the pager from Alonso. "This thing working? Ahh!" It buzzed and lit up, and he grinned, holding it up. "Proof God loves me!"

[Jacob Foley]

"You ladies turnin' tricks?"

An old Ford pickup truck stopped alongside the congregation of men, and Jake leaned out the window, giving Marcelo a leering once over. He jerked a thumb at the passenger seat and eased into a sleazy drawl.

"'Cause if so, I'm after a slice o' yo pie, sweet thang."

[Marcelo Fernandez]

That the ability to rattle his sensibilities hadn't been beaten out of him at an early age was some kind of miracle, Marcelo knew. His brothers took it as something of a filial mission to rid him of his modesty but throughout the years he had remained steadfast - a fact that only cemented to him that God really was on his side.

Still, he'd stopped blushing around fifteen or so and while he didn't quite have the volleying down to a fine art, he could deflect with the precision of an NHL goalie.

"Too rich for your blood," Marcelo winked and his eyes flicked over to Antonio and Joaquin. "But my boys here run a package deal more your style."

[Antonio Fernandez]

Antonio whistled at Jake, sauntering over and leaning against the door. "I'll cut you a deal on account of your purty mouth." He pushed up off the ground with his feet, climbing halfway into the window and hollering as Jake tapped the gas a little.

He shoved Jake's head to the side and hopped down and out. "Get parked, asshole, our table's ready!" Alonso was already heading into the restaurant.

[Joaquin Fernandez]

"Ho, the Padre's unclenching!" Joaquin whooped and thumped Marcelo on the back as he passed, trailing after Alonso. "I knew we'd corrupt you one day, ese!"

He received a long-suffering roll of the eyes in response and it only further propelled his laughter. Walking backwards, Joaquin tilted his head back and mimed downing a shot at Jake, flashing a thumbs up and a challenging grin.

[Jacob Foley]

"When are you gonna learn, cholo?"

In pity, he gave Joaquin a sad shake of the head and drove off with a creeping smile. It took him a minute to get parked up, and then another minute to backtrack and double-check the doors were locked, haunted by a recent experience which cost him a car stereo. Scrubbing up for Changs meant a smart shirt and t-shirt combo, which in turn meant he was a step closer to looking like a typical country music bumpkin - Julie even offered to buy him a stetson.

It wasn't difficult to locate the party of familiar faces, and even as he approached the table, a change came over him; an old familiar warmth which put a swagger in his step and a cheese-eating grin across his face. Alonso, who was nearest, and still standing as the waitress left, was greeted with a hefty embrace.

"Hey, old man. Good to see you," he said, and turned to address the raucous table at large, "Sup, brethren!"

[Alonso Fernandez]

Alonso slapped Jake on the back and released him from their hug. "Its been too long, Jake. Glad you could make it." His younger brothers were loud, but not obnoxiously so, as Jake found a seat at their table, and Alonso sat too, picking up a menu.

"Paolo said he'd be late, some sort of meeting with the LAPD in the afternoon and he didn't know how long it would be," he offered. "A working vacation, he called it, but seems like more work than vacation."