Never Judge

"Kids, what are you all doing here?" Jose Sebstian asked in a happy mood as he and the other dads arrived.

"Well, we decided that we could all use some fatherly bonding." Alexi said with a shrug. "Everyone has been so busy that we've all neglected family time."

"Where is your wife, Cedric?" Emilio Reyes asked his son. Everyone knew that Cedric and Adrianna were inseparable, they spent almost all of their free time together because they were normally extremely busy.

"We thought it would be best if we didn't bring any wives or girlfriends or boyfriends." Cedric said with a shrug. "Of course, Katerina, Nicole, Veronica, and Ayanna are a different case." Cedric said with a laugh as his sister rolled her eyes at him.

"Lunch?" Alexi asked as he gestured towards a large table set up for them.

The fathers looked at each other and smiled, they had no idea that their children actually had ulterior motives to today's lunch.

"So how was the game?" Cedric asked as the waters brought over their food and drinks.

"It was good." Raphael Chan said with a nod. "Your father beat us all." 

"I'm surprised  you had free time today, Cedric." Emilio Reyes said as a waiter refilled his glass of wine. "I know how busy the Reyes Group is about to get with all of your plans."

"I wanted to get some family and friends time before that happened." Cedric said with a shrug. "I'm planning on going on a vacation abroad with my wife and son next week because I'm already dreading the late nights I will be spending in the office."

"Cherish those moments son." Emilio Reyes advised Cedric as he gave a weak smile.

"How did you manage it dad?" Eric suddenly asked Raphael Chan. "I know you were extremely busy running Saints Hospital, and yet you were there for us quite often."

Raphael Chan frowned at Eric's question, it was as if Eric had hit a nerve and brought up a sensitive topic.

"I'm curious too, dad." Miguel added. "As you know, V and I are adopting, and we want to be as visible in our son's life as possible."

"Miguel, Eric, you boys already know the answer to the questions you are asking. Don't push it." Raphael Chan warned as looked sternly at his sons.

"I don't dad." Nicole suddenly said. "Tristan is growing up, Ian and I have another little one on the way, and the Saints Hospital just keeps on expanding. I want to be there for my children too. Why won't you tell us dad?" Nicole asked as she pouted.

"Nicole, you are an amazing woman and an even better mother, I don't think you need my advice." Rphale Chan said, shaking his head. 

"Why won't you tell me dad?" Nicole asked again, this time acting like a spoiled child that didn't get her way.

From his seat, Cedric could see Alexi smirking as he tried not to laugh. Nicole was really laying it on thick, acting like her father's little princess so he would finally admit what they wanted to hear,

"Nicole." Raphael Chan groaned as he looked at his daughter's frown.

It was no secret that Nicole was Raphael Chan's favorite child, it wasn't just because she was his only daughter, rather, it was because she was the one that stood up and challenged traditions.

She spent more time with her father when she was learning the ropes on how to run the hospital, making the father and daughter pair even closer.

"Dad." Nicole insisted, standing her ground.

"It's because dad had uncle Miguel." Eric finally said, answering for his father.

Raphael Chan frowned at his eldest son's words. He knew that Eric and Miguel remembered that his younger brother used to help out a lot in the hospital. He was quite good at the business end of things and had even helped the hospital grow at the time.

"I didn't know that Uncle Miguel worked at Saints." Nicole said as she looked at her older brother.

"He did before marrying his wife, then when he came back he worked again." Eric explained, surprising even Raphael Chan.

"How did you know that he worked there before getting married?" Raphael Chan asked his eldest son.

"The staff told me." Eric said with a shrug. "Remember Uncle Miguel used to bring me along, the staff told me that they were happy my Uncle had come back to work at the hospital. They said they were sure that he would leave the Chan family."

"I feel bad for his son." Nicole suddenly said, making the fathers suddenly turn towards her direction. "He didn't even live long enough to know his father. Is he really not Lucius Ting?" Nicole asked as she looked up at her father.

"No, Nicole, Lucius is not your cousin." Raphael Chan said, shaking his head.

"How do you know for sure?" Miguel asked his father in a threatening tone. "You have all lied to us one too many times, why should we trust you?"

"The only thing that would make me think Lucius Ting is not Uncle Miguel's son is a negative DNA test." Eric added. "And you keep refusing to have the test done, what are you hiding dad."

"Your father is telling you the truth." James Abad suddenly said in a threatening tone. 

Everyone was surprised when he came to Raphael Chan's defense, they had expected Emilio Reyes to be the one to speak up. James Abad had always been the more silent one among the fathers when they were together.

"Dad." Ram said with a frown as he noticed his father getting angry. "Watch your blood pressure."

"You kids need to believe us on this." Jose Sebastian said as he looked Cedric and his friends in the eyes. "Miguel Chan's son, the older Miguel Chan's son, is long dead. We placed everything into finding the boy and all we got was a corpse."

"You had proof that he died?" Cedric asked, surprised at this new development.

"Yes." Emilio Reyes told his son with a nod. "Lucius Ting is an impostor you can ignore, he will leave eventually." 

"Tell us everything." Miguel said with a shaky voice.

"Miguel, I don't think -" Alexi began to say when his friend cut him off mid sentence.

"They have lied to us too much, I want the details and I want proof." Miguel demanded. "I want to see the grave."

"Alright, we'll tell you everything." Raphael Chan said with a nod as he watched Miguel calm back down.