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While he was growing up, Jordan ‘Sparklez’ Craft didn’t see himself being the ‘fatherly type’. Sure, he used to look after his younger brother, Phil, and often watched their neighbor, Sneeg. But that was easy!
Fatherhood? That was a completely different ballgame. One he really didn’t want to play.
But as he got older, things began to change. It started with him as a teenager, becoming the one that parents on the street trusted to look out for their kids while they were playing. Then it moved on to him as a young adult, volunteering at the local children’s food bank.
It all ended in Jordan volunteering to become a foster parent.
The conversation came up one day while helping Phil, who was, at the time, recovering from a leg injury. Phil had joked that Jordan was like a parent taking care of his son.
The thought just… never left his mind.
His first foster came in the form of a teenage girl named Puffy. Puffy was a sweetheart, albeit one with one hell of a sailor mouth. She was already seventeen, about to age out of the foster system. Jordan picked her specifically because he thought she at least deserved a chance at help before moving on to being an adult.
She only stayed with him for a few months before turning eighteen, but those months meant so much to them both. So much in fact that Puffy left his house with the nickname ‘Captain’, something that she had called him while staying with him.
Jordan couldn’t lie, he shed a few tears the day she said goodbye.
The next, he couldn’t say goodbye to.
She was a baby. Such a small baby.
Her name was Crumb, and she was an angel.
Jordan had never taken care of a baby on his own. His years taking care of a baby Phil were always with the help of his parents. But they were gone now, and Jordan only had himself and Phil. And what a help Phil was.
When Jordan one day called Phil, in tears because Crumb was sick and couldn’t stop crying, Phil dropped everything to come and stay with him for a few days
But no amount of sleepless nights or sick days would make him give up his baby. Choosing to sign those adoption papers was the easiest decision he had ever made.
Then next came his oldest.
Schlatt was… complicated. Coming from a horrible background involving horrible parents, he was distrusting to say the least. From ignoring Jordan’s requests to straight up yelling, it was like Schlatt was trying to see how far he could push Jordan before he snapped at the kid.
But Jordan refused to give up on him. Besides, he had experience in dealing with asshole preteen boys. He didn’t bring it up anymore, but Phil was a huge prick sometimes while they were growing up…
One thing that Jordan noticed, however, is that as cruel as he tried to be to him, Schlatt was never cruel to Crumb. He never so much as raised his voice at her, even when her crying occasionally woke him up in the middle of the night. The first time Jordan and Schlatt had an actual conversation, it was when Jordan walked in on Schlatt rocking Crumb in his arms. Schlatt had noticed Jordan walk in, and his face had turned red. He looked like he was stuck in between wanting to yell at Jordan and wanting to stay calm for Crumb’s sake. He decided on the latter, sighing as Jordan sat on the floor.
“You’re really good with her.” Jordan had commented. Schlatt only made a noise and shrugged. “Have you dealt with babies before?”
It took a moment, Jordan staying silent to give the boy some thinking time, but Schlatt eventually nodded.
“Did you grow up around one?”
Another nod.
“...Was it a sibling?”
Schlatt froze. He glared at Jordan, immediately and quickly standing up. The sudden movement, mixed with the sudden change in emotion, startled Crumb, causing her to start crying. Both Jordan and Schlatt immediately dropped the subject, Jordan standing as Schlatt tried to gently bounce Crumb up and down.
“Shit. Shh, I’m sorry.” Schlatt tried to comfort Crumb, but his panic made her cry more.
“Here, let me.” Jordan took Crumb from Schlatt, Schlatt letting it happen, not willing to harm Crumb by putting up a fight.
“There, there. It’s okay.” Jordan gently cooed. He looked Schlatt in the eyes. “It’s okay.”
They both knew it wasn’t Crumb he was speaking to. Clenching his hands into fists, Schlatt quickly brushed past Jordan and ran into his room, slamming the door a bit too hard. It took a bit to calm Crumb, but after she had fallen back asleep and was put back into her crib, Jordan walked to Schlatt’s room. He gently knocked on the door and opened it slowly.
Schlatt was sitting on the floor against the wall, next to his bed with his head on his knees. Sighing gently, Jordan walked in and sat on the chair by Schlatt’s desk.
The bed was Schlatt’s, and Jordan would not be violating that privacy.
They sat in silence a moment, Jordan trying to put his words together.
“I’m sorry that my questions upset you.” Schlatt looked up, noticing the ‘when’ not ‘if’. Jordan took that as his signal to continue. That was not my intention.”
Schlatt didn’t answer, but Jordan could see that he was paying attention.
“...I’m sorry if this gets in the realm of ‘too personal’, but I need to know so I know where to go from here.” He put his hands up gently as Schlatt tensed. “You’re not in trouble, nor will your willingness to answer or not cause me to kick you out.”
He opened his mouth and closed it a couple of times before forming the words in his head.
“Schlatt, is this why you’ve been so distant? So angry? Do you have a sibling you were separated from?”
“...”
“You don’t have to answer if you don’t-”
“Yes.”
“Oh.” Jordan blinked in surprise, not expecting an answer.
“A brother.”
“Have you… been acting the way you have in the hopes I send you back? So that you can try to find him?”
“...I’m sorry.”
“You’re- Schlatt, you have nothing to apologize for.” Jordan said gently, getting up and walking over to sit next to Schlatt. He sat far enough to give the boy some space, just in case. “None of this is your fault. Heck, if I had been separated from my own brother, I might have acted the same way.”
“...I don’t think you would have…”
“Huh?”
“I just can’t see you swearing like me.” Schlatt gave a small smile. Jordan stared a moment, before laughing. He covered his mouth, trying to muffle his snorts and laughter. Schlatt chuckled a bit as well.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry.” Jordan cleared his throat, calming down. “I shouldn’t laugh like that.” He sighed, giving Schlatt a gentle smile. “You’re a good kid, Schlatt. Swearing or no swearing. And I promise you, I will do everything in my power to find him. We will bring him home. No matter the co- oof!”
Jordan was caught off guard as Schlatt threw himself at him, hugging him tight. Jordan hugged him back immediately, letting the boy cry into his shirt. He shed a few tears himself, already signing the papers within his mind.
His middle child was the hardest to get.
Nights of sleepless searching, days of unending phone calls.
Days turned to weeks, which turned to months.
Jordan never gave up faith, Schlatt did his best to change his attitude.
It was hard for them both.
But one day, Jordan found himself being called.
A young boy, a bit older than Crumb. His name was Tubbo.
Schlatt was terrified. What if Tubbo didn’t know who he was? He was so young… What if Tubbo… forgot?
All fears vanished the day that the social worker came to their house.
A little boy with familiar eyes and familiar hair, bolting past all of the adults and into the arms of a sobbing Schlatt. One look to the social worker, and Jordan knew.
The papers would be his soon. Both sets.
And he would never be letting go.
--
“Schlatt, Wilbur, stop throwing things at each other.”
Jordan snickered as his brother scolded the two men, who both looked away as if they weren’t just throwing paper balls from across the room at each other. Crumb looked up from her book, a dangerous look in her eye.
“I’m getting to the good part, and if I get hit, so help me…”
Somehow the non-threat coming from the youngest person in the room caused them to stop quicker than Phil’s scolding.
Jordan sighed contently.
Even after all these years, everyone getting together made things so lively. Even without Tommy and Tubbo, who were still in another state with Ranboo
The front door opened, getting the attention of Jordan and Phil. Jordan gave a big wave as Purpled and Punz walked in the house.
“Hey, boys.” Phil smiled at them. “How was traffic?”
“Punz threatened an old woman.” Purpled grinned, not flinching as his older brother gave him a thwack on the arm.
“Mate, you’re going to get your license taken away one day.”
“Not my fault they let old people drive.” Punz shrugged. “You should be getting yours taken away any day, right?”
“Oh, you little shit!”
“Oooh!” Jordan and Crumb taunted together.
“Shut!” Phil pointed at Jordan. “You’re older than me!”
“Ah, but I still have less records against me.”
“You have records against you??” Wilbur cackled. Phil gave Jordan a blank stare.
“Perfect timing!” Kristin popped her head in the room from the kitchen. “Dinner’s about ready!”
“Get in here before you get nothing!” Techno called from in the kitchen, causing Wilbur and Schlatt to practically race each other to the other room.
“That man has a kid.” Crumb commented as they ran. “And the other is running a business.”
“Don’t question it, Crumb. Just don’t question it.” Phil pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a chuckle, following his son and nephew. Crumb shrugged, walking to the kitchen.
Jordan couldn’t fight the smile on his face.
His family was good. A bit broken, but still good.