Never Judge

Cedric didn't forget that Dominic's experience growing up had made him afraid of meeting new people and potentially making a connection with them.

The child once told Cedric that if his real parents didn't like him, then people who weren't his parents would probably like him even less. 

Luckily, when Dominic met Veronica and Miguel, he quickly took a liking to the couple and trusted them. Although Cedric was sure that the kid was still constantly worried about being abandoned, he still felt some sort of security with the couple.

The Chans had always been careful when it came to introducing Dominic to new people. They knew that a simple mistake could end up ruining the months of improvement they have managed to get.

Introducing him to Jonathan was actually quite a risk, one that Cedric was surprised that his friends Miguel and Veronica were willing to take. 

"Dad is this person you want us to meet, nice?" Yoyo asked as he looked up at his father.

"Yes, he is a very nice person and I think the three of you will like him very much." Cedric said with a smile. 

Then an idea hit him, making him grin.

When they reached the ground floor of the house Cedric quickly asked a maid to tell the others to stay in the dining room while he spoke to the boys. 

"Tell them to just trust me." Cedric added before sending the maid off to send his message. 

"This way boys." Cedric told the children with a wink as he pulled them aside.

Yoyo and Dominic gave each other a curious glance, before following Cedric and Tristan to the side. 

"I have a secret to tell you." Cedric said as he crouched down to the same height as the two little boys. "It's something you can't tell anyone but you need to help me with it."

"Sure dad!" Yoyo said excitedly, always eager to help his father in any way he could.

"Of course, uncle." Dominic responded with a nod in a more reserved tone. Unlike Yoyo, he was simply respectful as he admired the older man and he was the first person to gain the young boy's trust.

"Good, good." Cedric said as he adjusted himself and sat down crossed legged on the ground. "The person I'm about to introduce to you is the brother of Yoyo's Auntie Julia. She's a good friend of your Auntie Adrianna and they have known each other since they were children."

"I love Auntie Julia!" Yoyo said with a sweet smile. "She's very pretty, but not prettier than mom. But she always looks sad."

"Auntie Julia's brother is named Jonathan." Cedric explained.

"So we can call him Uncle Jonathan?" Yoyo asked.

"I think that all three of you should call him Uncle Jonathan, you see he has a secret." Cedric whispered to the three boys. "He doesn't like meeting new people."

"Won't he get scared if we call him Uncle Jonathan? It's our first time meeting him." Dominic pointed out.

"No, it won't." Cedric let a smile form on his face as he carefully set his plan in motion. "As a matter of fact it will help him deal with his struggle in meeting new people."

"He is like me." Dominic said slowly as soon as he realized what Cedric had meant.

"Yes, Dominic, he is like you. He is actually most worried about meeting little children, he is afraid you won't like him." Cedric said in a sad tone as he frowned.

"We'll try to make him happy, dad!" Yoyo said with a proud smile on his face.

"Yes Uncle Cedric, we will." Dominic told Cedric as he nodded in agreement with Yoyo.

"That's good, just keep talking to him, hug him. If he asks you a question you should answer truthfully, alright?" Cedric asked the boys as he gave them instructions on how to behave.

"Will my mom and dad be alright with that?" Dominic said. "I don't want them to think that I love someone more than them. I love my mom and dad." He said with a shaky voice.

"Dominic, your parents love you and they know how much you love them." Cedric told the little boy as he tried to reassure him. "Your parents know Jonathat too, and I even asked their permission if you could meet him."

"Okay." Dominic replied with a determined smile.

It seemed hearing about an adult that was worried about meeting a child built some confidence in Dominic. 

"Great, let's go." Cedric told the boys as he stood back up and walked with them towards the dining room.

Inside, the adults were anxiously waiting for the three little boys and there was very little chatter between them.

When they finally spotted them, their mothers, Adrianna, Nicole, and Veronica. Quickly rushed up and hugged their sons.

"Good morning little one." Nicole said as she held her son tightly. "Are you hungry?" She asked the little boy.

Tristan simply nodded in her arms and he was whisked away by his mother.

"Are you ready to meet Auntie Julia's brother?" Cedric asked the two older boys who both nodded in their mothers' arms. 

The two women continued to carry the little boys as they walked over to Jonathan, who was seated at the other end of the table.

"Let me carry Yoyo." Cedric told his wife as he took their son from her arms. "You shouldn't be carrying him with how far along you are."

"All the doctors said I could." Adrianna argued back as she rolled her eyes at Cedric.

"Ah Jonathan!" Cedric greeted. "There are two little boys here that I think you should meet, this is your Auntie Julia's younger brother, Jonathan."

With that, Cedric placed Yoyo back down on the ground as Veronica did the same thing to Dominic.

"This is my son, Emilio Reyes IV, but we like to call him Yoyo." Cedric introduced his son proudly.

The little boy remembered his father's instructions, he quickly ran up to Jonathan and hugged the man's leg.

"Nice to meet you, Yoyo." Jonathan said with a smile as he looked down at the little boy.

"It's nice to meet you too Uncle Jonathan." Yoyo responded as he was ecstatic when Jonathan smiled in response to being called uncle.

"And this young man is Dominic Chan, he is Miguel's and Veronica's kid." Cedric said as he waved to encourage Dominic to say hi.

Dominic stayed glued to his spot, unwilling to move. His reaction worried Cedric and everyone in the dining room. 

"You look familiar.." Dominic suddenly said, catching everyone by surprise.