Generation 2, Chapter 9 - Life Goes On

Life Goes On

Adam worked hard and progressed rapidly at Gaming Central. It was enjoyable work but it wasn't what he really wanted to do with his life. He dreamed of creating new technology but he felt he  had to put his dreams aside in order to provide the things Heath needed.

Heath's first birthday came and went. Adam was depressed because he couldn't afford to throw a party like the ones his father threw for him when he was growing up. He just didn't see how he could manage it with the bills piling up and the house needing repairs and a much needed expansion before Heath was old enough to need his own bedroom. As Heath grew he looked more and more like his mother it was sometimes painful for Adam to know she abandoned her child.  He often worried about what he would tell Heath when he got old enough to start asking questions.  Dark thoughts of what might have been would disturb his sleep at night and Adam wondered if he would be enough to raise this little boy on his own.

Wiping Heath's face off Adam laughed at his son "Little man let's see if you can keep yourself clean for at least 10 minutes while I rest."

Nodding Heath grinned up at his Dad. Tussling his hair, Adam laid down on the couch wishing he could just close his eyes for a moment but he had to many things he had to get done.

Absently he watched Heath crawl around the kitchen floor playing with his trucks. Adam smiled thankful that his Dad remembered Heath's birthday and dropped off several packages, the trucks being among them. He frowned remembering the other package that arrived. It still made him furious that Windy sent his son a ragged doll on his birthday. It may have been unreasonable but looking at that doll repulsed him so much he threw it away. He couldn't/wouldn't let his son play with that thing. He couldn't run the chance that Heath would develop an attachment to an imaginary friend. It was already going to be difficult enough explaining to him who his mother is let alone explaining what she is, he didn't need that complication on top of it.

He must have dozed off as the next thing he knew Heath was giggling in his ear. He opened his eyes to find his son had crawled over to the couch and pulled himself up so that he was standing in front of him. Hands covering his mouth trying to smother the giggles as they escaped, only getting louder the harder he tried.

"Daddy sleeping?" he asked noticing Adam looking at him.

"I was."

"Why?" he asked "Still light outside."

Laughing softly Adam said "Your daddy's tired. Would you like to watch cartoons?"

"No," Heath said stomping his little foot. "Want Daddy to watch."

"Watch what?" Adam asked confused. Turning to follow his son, it dawned on him that his son was walking.   Smiling Adam sat up saying "My little man's walking."

"Yes, me big boy now," Heath stated his voice full of pride in his accomplishment.

"Daddy's very proud of you," Adam said picking him up and tossing in the air. Giggling in excitement Heath cried "I luv's you Daddy."

"And I love you," Adam said snuggling Heath close to him. Holding his little boy in his arms, Adam knew that everything he had gone through was worth it just to have this little boy in his life.

The following day Adam rushed home to pick Heath up. "Where we going?" Heath asked.

"We're going to Grandpa's house."

"Play with Faith and Grace?" Heath asked excitedly.

Glancing in the rearview mirror Adam laughed as he watched his son dancing happily in his car seat. "Do you like playing with your Aunties?"

"Not Aunties, Faith and Grace," Heath corrected. Sighing Adam let it go. No matter how many times he tried to explain that Faith and Grace were his Aunts he refused to refer to them as such. He figured it must be because the age difference wasn't that much between them. "Today is your Aunt Corina and Doloris' birthday."

"Have cake?" Heath asked hopefully.

"Yes two cakes."

"Good. I likes cake."

They arrived at the house and Heath immediately demanded to be let down so he could play. Adam hugged his parents and joined in the festivities of watching the twins grow into beautiful young women.

Both girls were planning on going to college. Adam was proud of both his sisters; especially Doloris who had won several scholarships for medical school. She was adamant on becoming an oncologist. Doloris was still faithfully dating Elias and he knew that Elias was planning on asking her to marry him before they went off to college.

Adam tried to convince Elias to wait, arguing that they were too young. However Adam wished them every happiness as there was no reason to believe their relationship would end as disastrously as his did. Corina on the other hand was still playing the field. Thankfully both Chase and Dakota had moved on and were dating other people. Adam was afraid that Corina would find things a lot different in college. But as hard as he tried to reason with her, she just wouldn't listen.

A few months later Corina and Doloris graduated from high school. Doloris was valedictorian and voted most likely to take over the world and Corina was voted most likely to offend others. She had come a long way from the sweet little girl she used to be and Adam wondered if that girl still existed.

They were full of plans and excited for college to begin. Elias had decided to go to college to be near Doloris and he talked his older brother into joining them. They were sharing expenses on a three bedroom house. Adam smiled to himself thinking about how his Dad had taken the news. Peter wasn't exactly happy about it but he had to except it as they were adults.

A part of him wished he was going with them. He wanted to finish his degree, to pursue his goals. He just didn't see any of that happening. He feared that he had messed up his chance at ever accomplishing his goal of becoming the Pioneer in Robotics. He just didn't have the time or energy anymore. Someone else would have to make the discoveries he had been meant to make. He would have to content himself with having preserved the ancestry line of Emit Revelart.

One evening towards the end of summer Adam came home late from work. He was exhausted after having worked overtime to correct a coding issue on a game they hoped to launch in the next couple of months. He knew he shouldn't sit down before going over to his parents house for the little girls birthday party but the temptation was too great. He stretched out on the couch turning on the TV for Heath. He was soon fast asleep with Heath laying on top of him.

Waking with a jolt Adam looked at the clock seeing he had slept for over an hour making them late for the party. Heath was lying on top of his chest breathing softly. "Hey little man we've got to get going."

"No Daddy, tired," Heath mumbled.

"We'll miss Faith and Grace's birthday party."

"Faith? Grace?" Heath lifted his head yawning "lets go."

When they arrived the party was in full swing. Adam smiled remembering previous parties his father had hosted in the past. It appeared he hadn't lost his touch and everyone was enjoying themselves. He scooped up Heath so that he wouldn't get trampled on and  he would be able to see the girls blowing out their candles. Heath clapped his hands in excitement as he watched.

Adam was glad that Heath had someone he was close too even if they were his Aunties. He knew they would look out for him and he them as the got older.