The following day dawned bright and clear, the sun casting a golden glow on the freshly renovated house. It had been a busy morning, but by lunch, Nolan and the boys had completed the majority of the work. The house was looking good—more space for everyone, with enough room for training and play.
"Alright, guys," Nolan said as he looked around at the completed renovations. "We did good. You all worked hard."
Naruto, still buzzing with energy, grinned. "I feel like I could've built the whole house myself! The clones were awesome!"
Sasuke gave him a side glance but didn't respond. Instead, he looked over at Itachi, who simply nodded in approval. Itachi had been quieter, observing the boys' interactions and trying to adapt to this new life with the Graysons.
Debbie came out from the kitchen, holding a phone. "Nolan, I ordered us some lunch. It should be here soon."
"Perfect," Nolan replied, smiling. "After lunch, I think we could all use a break. How about a trip to the amusement park?"
Mark, who had been quietly observing his family, lit up at the suggestion. "That sounds awesome! I haven't been to one in ages!"
"Good. Let's make it a family day," Nolan said. "But Mark... if you want to meet up with your friends, you can. It's your day too."
Mark paused, glancing over at Nolan with a thoughtful look. "You're sure?"
Nolan nodded. "Yeah. Just have fun, Mark. We'll be here if you need us."
The lunch arrived just in time, and after everyone ate, Nolan led the family out the door. Mark grabbed his jacket and immediately left to find his friends. Naruto and Sasuke followed closely behind, eager to explore, while Itachi stayed a little farther behind, his ever-present calm aura blending with the chaos around him.
The amusement park was lively, filled with sounds of laughter and the smell of popcorn, cotton candy, and fried food. Children ran past them, some screaming with excitement while others clutched tickets and maps. It was a different kind of energy from what they had been used to—this was Earth at its most joyful and carefree.
"Alright, Naruto, Sasuke, and Itachi," Nolan said, looking down at the trio of boys. "We're going to have some fun today. But if you need anything, just let me know."
Debbie gave them a reassuring smile. "Go ahead, enjoy yourselves. We'll be watching."
Naruto, always the more enthusiastic of the group, immediately ran towards the nearest roller coaster. "I'm gonna ride this first!" he yelled, jumping up and down.
Sasuke's expression was neutral, but he followed Naruto with a resigned look. "Do I have to ride that thing?"
"It's the best!" Naruto said with excitement, "You'll love it!"
Itachi, as expected, was quiet, but his gaze followed his younger brothers. "I'll keep an eye on them," he said to Nolan, his voice calm.
Nolan nodded, satisfied. "Thanks, Itachi. We'll just be over here watching."
Debbie and Nolan found a nearby bench, settled in, and watched as Naruto dragged Sasuke onto the roller coaster. Itachi stood nearby, his eyes on them, ensuring that they were safe and having fun.
As they settled down to enjoy the snacks Nolan had bought—cotton candy and bags of popcorn—Mark appeared again, but this time he wasn't alone. He was with his friends—William, Amber, and Eve. He waved at Nolan, and his friends followed him over to where they were sitting.
"Hey, Dad," Mark said casually, taking a seat beside Nolan. "I ran into William, Amber, and Eve. They're here too."
Nolan smiled warmly at Mark and nodded. "That's fine. You can hang out with them. We're just here to relax."
William, ever curious, grinned. "So, what's the deal with the new family? I saw you with them before. They're all... different. What's going on?"
Mark hesitated, but Eve stepped in before he could say anything. "It's fine, William. Mark has his own life. Let him enjoy the day."
William looked between them, but after a moment, he shrugged. "Alright. Just checking."
Nolan, watching the interaction, spoke up. "Mark, if you want to stay with your friends, go ahead. We're not going anywhere."
Mark smiled, clearly relieved. "Thanks, Dad. I think I'll hang with them for a while. I'll come find you guys later."
Naruto, meanwhile, had already dragged Sasuke onto a ferris wheel, both of them looking a bit nervous but excited. Itachi, following them, stayed close to make sure nothing went wrong.
"I didn't think Naruto would go for that," Debbie said, amused, as she watched the boys. "But Sasuke seems like he's enjoying it."
Nolan chuckled. "I think Naruto's enthusiasm is contagious. They're good kids."
The rest of the day was filled with excitement, the sounds of children's laughter, and the rush of rides. Naruto was the most active, racing from one ride to the next, while Sasuke followed reluctantly but seemed to enjoy himself more than he'd admit. Itachi was quiet, watching over them all, and Nolan found a quiet satisfaction in seeing his new family members finding joy in something so simple.
Mark, for his part, had a good time with his friends. They spent the afternoon riding the attractions, getting snacks, and chatting, but Nolan could tell Mark was more relaxed around them, even if he still kept some distance.
As the day came to a close and the sun began to set, Nolan and Debbie waited at the entrance of the park. Mark waved his friends goodbye and walked over to them, a big smile on his face.
"Thanks, Dad. I needed that," Mark said as he approached. "It was nice to just... be normal for a bit."
Nolan smiled. "Glad you had fun, Mark. Let's head home. We've got a lot of work to do tomorrow."
As they all headed back to the car, the atmosphere was light and happy. The day had been a success—a much-needed break for everyone. Even Itachi, Naruto, and Sasuke seemed to have enjoyed themselves, despite their initial hesitations. It was a simple moment, but it felt like a small piece of peace in the otherwise chaotic world they lived in.