Never Judge

"I look familiar? Really?" Jonathan asked as he took a step closer to Dominic. "Do you think we have met before?"

"No, we've never met." Dominic said as he shook his head and took a step back.

For some reason he seemed to be very afraid of Jonathan despite never meeting the guy.

"So why do you think I look familiar?" He asked the young boy as he stopped his advance, he too noticed that Dominic was scared of him.

"You look a little bit like the man that used to visit me." Dominic said as he reached out and held Veronica's hand. "He was nice, but. . ." 

"But?" Jonathan asked in a kind tone as he squatted on the ground to look at the little boy at eye level.

"The janitors that took care of me said he was the reason I was sent away." Dominic explained as tears began to fall from his eyes. "They said that he was the one that dropped me off at the school."

"Dad. . ." Jonathan mumbled. "That person was my dad." He admitted to Dominic. 

"Uncle Cedric said that you were afraid to meet us, why?" Dominic asked Jonathan as he held Veronica's hand tightly, making her give him a concerned look.

Jonathan gave him an awkward smile before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. He didn't know that this was the story Cedric had told the boys so he was caught by surprise.

He couldn't help but think that what Cedric said was true. He was scared to meet Dominic, but why? What answer would be acceptable to a little boy like him?

"You look like a smart kid, Dominic." Jonathan said when he opened his eyes. "I won't lie to you because I know you will figure out that I'm not telling you the truth. Yes, I was afraid to meet you."

"Why?" Dominic asked as he tilted his head, slowly letting go of his mother's hand.

"Well, because a long time ago I lost my nephew." Jonathan admitted, shocking all of the adults.

None of them expected that Jonathan would mention losing Dominic. As a matter of fact they were worried that mentioning a lost nephew would make things worse for Jonathan's introduction to Dominic.

"I lost my whole family too." Dominic said as he let go of his mother's hand and looked at Jonathan with sad eyes. "But I have a new family now."

"I know." Jonathan said as he smiled at Dominic. "And your family loves you very much."

"What happened to your nephew?" Dominic asked as he took a step closer to Jonathan.

"My sister couldn't take care of him, so my dad decided to send him to another family." Jonathan said as he frowned at Dominic. "I didn't want him to go, but it wasn't my decision to make."

"I wish you were his dad instead of his uncle." Dominic said as he walked closer to Jonathan. "Maybe you wouldn't have given him away."

"I would never." Jonathan quickly replied.

"Have you seen him since your sister gave him away?" Dominic asked.

Jonathan nodded slowly and sighed.

"I have, I wish I could hold him, hug him, apologize to him." Jonathan felt a tear roll down his cheek, he quickly wiped it away. "I wish I could have done something back then, I really do."

"Jonathan, you were too young." Adrianna told him as she placed a hand on the younger man's back and patted it. "You were still in school, it's not your fault."

"I could have saved him, Adri, I could have given him a better life." Jonathan said as he sobbed.

"Don't worry Uncle Jonathan, I'm sure he is with a better family now." Yoyo told Jonathan as he hugged him. The little boy tried his best to comfort the man.

Jonathan ended up sitting on the floor, hugging Yoyo as he sobbed.

"Uncle Jonathan, am I your nephew?" Dominic suddenly asked, surprising the adults once more.

Cedric, who was seated to the side, simply smiled as he watched the smart little boy connect the dots.

"I am." Jonathan said as he continued to cry. "I'm so sorry Dominic."

"U- u- uncle." Dominic slowly managed to say as he walked towards Jonathan.

"Dominic, I never wanted you to go." Jonathan explained. "Dad told us you died. He said you were gone. I was so heartbroken, your mom was too."

Something Jonathan said suddenly made Dominic stop and frown.

"My mom didn't want me. She gave me away." Dominic told Jonathan.

"Your mom loved you Dominic, she just wasn't ready." Jonathan explained.

"Dominic, your mom may have given you up, but it's because of what she did that you are our son now." Miguel said as he came over to join his son and wife. "I will never stop loving you, Dominic, don't forget that."

"I love you too dad." Dominic said as he looked back at his father.

"Your Uncle Jonathan loves you too, that's why he is here." Miguel said as he urged his son to reconcile with his biological uncle.

Jonathan was nervous, even scared about what Dominic would do next. It was, of course, hard to predict what a young boy would do. 

Dominic looked at Jonathan and slowly walked up to him. 

"I'm sorry." Jonathan told the little boy. "I'm very sorry. I wish I could have done something, Dominic. I wish I could have taken you away."

"It's okay, Uncle Jonathan." Dominic told him as he wrapped his arms around the older man's neck, hugging him. "I know it's not your fault."

"Oh Dominic." Jonathan cried out as he hugged the little boy back. "Thank you. I promise if you ever need me I will be here for you. I can be here for you now."

"Thank you, Uncle." Dominic said as he began to cry as well.

Everyone kept silent and the pair continued to sob in each other's arms. 

When they finally parted, Dominic gave Jonathan a curious look then asked him something.

"Uncle Jonathan, who are my parents?" The little boy asked, making Jonathan look up at Cedric.