3.21 Not Again

Author's Note: I apologize for skipping Irissa's graduation and Quentin's wedding. Every time I went to write about those events I came up blank. Instead of forcing a chapter that wouldn't in the end move the story forward not mention I had no inspiration for it I elected to move on. Both events are briefly mentioned again I apologize if anyone is disappointed that they didn't get more attention.

Heath stood staring at the blank canvas mind anywhere but on his work. The past four months had been busy. They had stayed in Moonlight Falls longer then they planned. They had gone for Irissa's graduation. Stayed for Quentin's wedding three months later. It had been great being with the family again. Being a part of their lives. Sighing softly Heath stepped away from the painting he was working on. Back in Dragon Valley he felt the same old feelings of isolation rising up inside him.

"Babe what's wrong?" Don asked from the nearby computer.

"Nothing" he mumbled raking a hand through his hair.

"Are you worried about Kimberly's first day of school?" Don asked keeping his voice gentle, soothing like he was talking to a skittish horse.

"Yes, no. I mean...." his voice faded replaced with confusion "I don't know. I just feel off."

"Missing your family?" Don asked getting up and pulling Heath to him "the offer still stands. We can move to Moonlight Falls."

"Thank you" Heath relaxed into Don's embrace "I appreciate the offer but you're family is here. I can't ask you to move just because of me."

"Babe you wouldn't be making me do anything I wouldn't want to do. I've seen the light in your eyes diminish and go out since we got back." Don kissed his neck right behind the ear. Breathing lightly on his skin ruffling his hair. "You more than me need to be close to their family."

"It's not like I don't have family here," he tried to break free from Don's embrace. Suddenly feeling trapped "I'm sorry I'm so pathetic..."

"You're not..." Don began only to be cut off by the angry almost hostile look Heath gave him. He let his arms drop limp to his sides "I'm sorry. It's just that I don't see you that way."

"What do you see?" Heath asked his voice vibrated with suppressed anger while his eyes were pleading.

"I see someone I love who's in pain," Don took a step closer to where Heath stood arms crossed "I see someone who was forced to grow up too quick. Someone who is unsure of himself and his strength. You are stronger than you think you are. Even at your weakest you never compromised who you are. More then once I relied upon your strength when I had nothing else to give. You kept me going in the bubble universe."

"How can you think I'm strong? All I am is a pathetic mess who feels lost without his dad." His eyes bulged at his admission. His dad was his anchor, his support. "I'm sorry," he stammered.

"Sorry for what?" Don asked his voice gentle. He took a step closer growing concerned as Heath stepped backwards into the wall behind him. "You have nothing to be sorry for. I love you. I know you love me. I'm willing to wait for you to figure out how you feel. If being near your family so you can talk to your dad I'm willing to do that." Standing close to him with mere inches separating them he stopped "I love you Heath. I love all of you including foibles and strengths."

Breathing deeply of the pine scent he always associated with Don he looked into Don's eyes. Saw the steady honest gage and the love shining crystal clear in his light blue eyes. Leaning forward he pressed his lips against Don's soft pliable mouth. "I love you," he murmured "more than I can say." He pressed harder against Don as if he wanted to prove how much.

***

About a month later Kimberly came  home from school. Heath had been pacing the floor in the kitchen followed closely by Lillianna in her walker. She giggled each time she bumped into him thinking it was a game. "Daddy funny" she announced when he stopped to rub his shins. He looked up relieved when Kimberly walked in smiling. "How was your day?" he asked.

Sitting her stuff down she looked up at him saying "I hate school." She laughed up at him a bundle of contradictions "I love the kids. A couple might even become friends but I still hate school."

"Why?" he asked confused. He never like school. He never had the knack of making friends easily but he loved to learn. 

"It's too easy" she complained "I know all the answers. It's boring" she drawled out the word "do I have to go back?"

"Yes you do" Don said having come into the room when he heard his daughter come home.

"But dad the teacher hates me..."

Don looked at her sternly. Lifting his eyes to Heath shaking his head slightly indicating for Heath not to say anything. "Kimberly your teacher called me. I know what you did...."

She looked down pulling on her fingers "I'm sorry" she offered.

Heath looked down at his daughter than back to Don. He had been all for jumping to his little girl's defense. Mentally chastising himself he turned his attention to his daughter "What did you do?"

"Dad already knows," she protested sitting down at the table.

"That's not the point," Heath said sitting across from her at the table.

She stared at him before heaving a dramatic sigh. "I disrupted class. At least that's the word the teacher used among others. She also calls me annoying know it all, pest, spoiled brat, evil spawn of homo's and" her mouth opened to continue when she shut it abruptly "I'm sorry daddy."

"Does she call you names in front of the whole class?" Heath asked looking at her. It was one thing to get in trouble for disrupting class but it's another thing for the teacher to be calling any of her students names. 

"Yes daddy," she murmured "she does it all the time. Why should I be good when she's so mean?"

"Her bad behavior is not an excuse for your bad behavior" Don said sitting next to Heath "we'll talk to your teach. For now I want you to behave and do what the teacher tells you."

"But...."

"No buts young lady. You know better" he gave her a stern look.

"Alright I'll try. She makes me so mad" she said opening her book "i have some vocabulary words to work on." She poured over the list obviously hoping her parents would drop the subject.

"Do you want some help?" Heath asked more to spend time with her than any belief she needed any help.

Nodding "sure daddy" she smiled up at him giving him list "lets see if I can remember the definitions when you say the words."

As the became immersed in homework Don watched them with a worried expression. He hadn't expected this kind of prejudice; especially not in Dragon Valley. He wondered if Gwen was experiencing the same kind of treatment since they were in the same class. Getting up he walked into the bedroom closing the door behind him. "Hey Kyle how's everything?"

There was a pause while Kyle walked into another room to speak. "Sorry about that but I wanted to talk in private. I was going to call you anyway to see if Kimberly has been experiencing ill treatment from her teacher."

"That's what I was calling about" Don confirmed "I take it Gwen has been called names by the teacher too."

"Yeah. She comes home in tears almost everyday. It's really starting to concern me. It's one thing to discipline a child because they're misbehaving but it's unnecessary to call them names. There's something wrong with the teacher if that's the way she deals with kids."

"What really concerns me is her disdain for their parents" Don sighed into the phone "I don't appreciate my daughter being called evil spawn of homo's because of her parents sexual orientation."

"Neither do I" Kyle agreed. He lowered his voice as he added "the most disturbing thing is their teacher is my brothers ex-wife."

"So this could be a personal vendetta" Don scowled at the thought "I really don't like the sound of that."

"Neither do I" Kyle admitted "I don't dare tell Elliot. He's already upset enough over this he doesn't need this worry on top of it."

"I have the same concern with Heath. They're both likely to go off half cocked and make things worse" Don agreed "how about you and I go in and talk to this woman before things get any worse?"

"Ok" Kyle agreed hesitating.

"What's wrong?" 

"I don't know. It's just the idea that my ex-sister-in-law could be working for my father..."

"I hadn't thought of that....I guess the sooner we confront her the better." Don said "we'll go tomorrow."

"Ok" Kyle agreed "I'll meet you there."

***

"Why didn't you tell me you were going to see Kim's teacher? Heath asked sitting on the edge of the bed staring at his partner in a mixture of anger and disappointment. He shrugged off Don's hand as he reached out to comfort him.

"Babe I'm sorry I thought..."

"I know what you thought," Heath stood up walking away running his hands through his hair. "You thought I couldn't handle it. That I'd explode and make things worse." He wheeled around pointing at Don "isn't that it?

Rolling out of bed Don approached Heath. Reached out and put his hands on his partners shoulders. "Kyle and I thought we could handle it. We didn't want to worry you or Elliot..."

Hanging his head Heath took a step back from Don letting his hands fall from his shoulders. "We're supposed to be partners. Sharing in the good and the bad things. I don't need protecting. I need to be treated like an equal."

Running his hand through his hair that he was letting grow out some Don swallowed his first angry words. Heath was right. When had he started to treat Heath like his child then his equal, his partner? He shifted his gaze looking around the room "I'm sorry," he murmured taking a step forward. "You have every right to be upset. I should have told you. You should have come with me." Heath turned around watching him, listening. Don saw the tension release in Heath's shoulders, the lifting of he frown lines. "I promise to do better in the future."

Heath smiled taking a step forward towards Don closing the gap between them "apology accepted." He pulled him close to him feeling Don wrap his arms around him "tell me how it went," he requested after several minutes of silence elapsed between them.

Taking Heath's hand he led him to the bed where they sat before he spoke "I didn't accomplish much other than a grudging admission that she shouldn't be calling the kid's names."

"So her ill treatment of our daughter will probably continue," Heath said his voice cold, angry "if it does I will talk to the principle. I won't tolerate this kind of behavior."

"Nor will I" Don assured him putting an arm around him "I have a feeling this teacher isn't here to teach anyway..."

Looking at him in confusion Heath asked "what makes you say that?"

"You'll have to promise not to tell Elliot what I tell you," Don told him looking into his eyes.

"If it's something he should know I can't promise not to tell him," Heath said pulling away from Don.

"I understand. If you feel you need to tell Elliot I won't stop you," Don said looking him in the eye 

"I'm hoping Kyle will tell him." Looking away for a moment to gather his thoughts he said "Kim's teacher is Kyle's ex-sister-in-law."

"Oh" the word escaped from Heath's mouth. He had vague memories of the trial and how Kyle's father had tried to get him declared as unfit to make his own decisions. That was the start of all his nightmares at least of the supernatural kind.

"Yeah" Don agreed "Kyle's afraid that she's working for his dad to find him."

"Why would she do that?" Heath asked "if she's divorced why would she be dealing with her ex-father-in-law?"

"Kyle's brother has cut off all ties with his dad. I guess he wanted a clean start and a new life. His wife didn't agree and elected to stay behind. Kyle suspects she's the new mistress." Don explained.

"It seems to me that Kyle's brother is in as much danger as Kyle is."

"Not really since he can't produce an heir. Only Kyle can...."

Laughing Heath shook his head "I don't understand why that's even important. The dad is an IF he'll live forever and never age. Why is having an heir so important to him?"

"I ....don't know," Don said slowly pondering his words "when does obsession make sense? Which makes him even more dangerous."

"Elliot definitely needs to know this" Heath said "but I'll give Kyle time to tell him." He pulled Don close kissing his cheek "I don't like Kim being so close to that woman."

"Neither do I but I'll be more cautious from now on when the teacher calls to complain about her behavior. After meeting the woman I believe Kim's bad behavior is her attempt to protect Gwen."

***

Another month passed. They received no more calls from the teacher informing them their daughter was misbehaving in class. However the abuse and name calling didn't cease. Kimberly continued to tell them what the teacher said to them. Gwen seemed to be the main target according to Kimberly she only became a target when she took it upon herself to defend Gwen after finding her crying as recess. The two girls had become inseparable.

Glancing at the clock Heath fidgeted with the few dishes in the sink. Where were they? They should have been home an hour ago. As the minutes ticked by he became more and more convinced something was wrong. Taking his phone out he wondered if the girls had become confused and gone to the wrong house. "Hey El are the girls over there?"

"No weren't they going over there?" the lightness in his voice was replaced with a sense of dread.

"I thought maybe they went there first," Heath explained staring at the door hoping it would burst open and two little girls would come bouncing into the room talking a mile a minute.

"Heath," Elliot shouted "are you telling me the girls are missing?"

"I...I..." Heath stammered as the reality sunk in. His daughter was gone...missing. He dropped the phone from his cold numb hand. Not again his mind screamed he would not lose his daughter again.

"Daddy," Lillianna cried sensing something was wrong as  he stumbled past her.

"Don" he yelled coming into the room where Don was typing on the computer "the girls haven't come home..."

"They're probably at Kyle's...." he stood up and moved quickly to Heath's side who was shaking.

"No no no they're not," Heath stammered "I just called Elliot and they're not there either. They're gone."

Some of Heath's shock was seeping into Don's senses as he pulled Heath close and held him as he cried on his shoulder. Where were the girls? Had they gone somewhere alone and lost track of time? Did that awful teacher keep them after class? Did someone take them? Oh god not that! Please not that! Don pleaded to anyone who cared.

***

Kimberly ran up to where Gwen was standing immobilized by the angry glare of the bald man in front of  her. "Gwenie we have to go or we'll miss the bus."

"She's not going anywhere" the man's deep voice sent chills down her spine. It reminded her of thunder it was so harsh and grumbly.

Taking Gwen's hand Kimberly tugged on her arm "come on we have to go. My dads will worry if we're late." Gwen took a couple of steps with her when the man stooped and picked her up. 

Screaming Kimberly launched herself at the large scary man. "Let her go," she swung her fists  at his tree trunk like legs. Her blows bouncing off having little to no effect on him. She looked around in desperation. The buses were all gone. Most of the teachers and other students were out of sight. The only one she saw was her teacher who smiled and closed the door to the class room ignoring their please for help. "Let her go" she demanded again refusing to give up as she followed the bald man to  his car.

The man tossed Gwen into the trunk then snatched Kimberly's wrist as she tried to jump away from him. She realized too late the danger she was in. She should have ran to the principles office for help instead of following him. The man slammed the trunk lid down silencing Gwen's sobs and screams. He dragged Kim towards the car opening the back door. "Let me go" she cried struggling to get free knowing it was too late to escape.

He tossed her to the other side of the car making sure the child proof locks had been thrown before she had the chance to get out. Kimberly curled up into a ball on the seat crying as they man got in the front seat and drove away. Where were they going? Who was this man? Would she ever see her dad's again?

3.20 Visiting Family

Staring into the night sky Heath waited for his dad to come home. He could hear the laughter from inside the house but it held little to no appeal to him. He was happy for his brother, he deserved to be happy. That was the problem. Everyone was happy but him. Heath leaned against a nearby tree wondering what his life would have been like if he hadn't been stupid enough to go out on his own to rescue Don. He should have gone to his dad for help. He had no one else to blame but himself. Did he really regret how things had turned out?

"Son?" Adam said from the darkness "your mother said you were out here." Breathing deeply of the cold night air Adam moved closer to his son until he was standing beside him. "Why aren't you inside with the others?"

Heath exhaled loudly "I didn't feel I belonged in there..." exhaling "I don't feel like I belong anywhere." He almost pulled away when his father slipped an arm around him.

"Son I won't bother to tell you that your wrong. A whole houseful of people love and care about you if you'd only let them in." Heath opened his mouth to protest but Adam continued before he could say anything "why don't you tell me what's wrong?" Adam fell silent waiting for his son to speak. Adam knew he could make this easier for both of them by just reading his mind but Adam had never felt comfortable reading someone elses mind. It felt invasive and stalkerish to him.

Silence fell between them as Heath pondered his thoughts "how did you know that mom loved you?"

"It was all the little things. The way she took care of you and your sister. The way she'd touch my hand and how my heart seemed to freeze and race at the same time. A certain look in her eyes that me go weak in the knees," he chuckled remembering "I was reluctant at first. Scared really after the horrors of dealing with Windy. I wasn't sure I could ever let anyone get that close to me again."

Turning his gaze from the stars to his dad's face Heath asked "how did you? How did you overcome your fear?"

"By letting it go. Facing it. It was the only way to appreciate the things I had." Putting a hand on his son's shoulder he continued "don't get me wrong it wasn't easy. Even when Beverly and I finally got together I still experienced overwhelming anxiety. Still do. Sometimes it's like I can't breathe. I never want her to get hurt but things happen and sometimes bad things happen and you can't prevent your loved ones from getting hurt."

"It feels like I'm always looking over my shoulder. Waiting, expecting for the next bad thing to happen." Heath added "dad I don't know how I feel anymore. I'm so confused and mixed up."

Adam pulled Heath close as he broke down into sobs. He ran his hands through his son's dark blue hair as he rubbed his back. "Son tell me everything," he entreated "together we'll come up with a plan."

After putting the girls down for the night Don walked out into the living room where Quentin was sucking face with Reggie. "Get a room" he tossed a pillow at them "have you seen Heath?" he asked when the couple pulled a part.

He watched the two exchange glances before Quentin replied "he's outside with dad." He stood up and went over to stand in front of Don "are you and Heath breaking up?" he asked his voice low, concerned.

"What? No!" Don almost shouted at him stepping back eyes alarmed "what gives you that idea?"

Quentin glanced towards Reggie seeking support. Reggie stood up and squeezed his fiance's hand "at the airport" he shrugged "you don't act like a couple in love."

"We have kids. It's different." Don told them "it's not like we can get lost in each other like you guys can."

"Hear that babe?" Reggie snickered to Quentin "we can't show affection once we have kids."

"I heard it but I don't believe it," Quentin growled softly "didn't you hear Kimberly at the airport? She said that you and Heath should kiss more. I thought it curious then but now I understand. I bet you didn't even notice how sad she was when she said it."

"She is?" Don asked almost to himself rubbing his face wondering if that was Heath's problem. 

Thinking back Don recalled times when he had brushed off Heath's attempts to hold his hand or kiss him in public. Don had always been a private person but had he gone overboard?

"Yeah she did" Quentin nodded eyeing Don carefully.

"I bet you didn't get the very unsubtle hint that she wants her dads to get married," Reggie added "what's wrong with you? Heath is fine real estate. If you don't want him someone else will."

Swallowing hard Don gazed into his hands. He hadn't even considered getting married. Not that he was opposed to the idea he just hadn't thought Heath was ready yet. Heath told him he needed time. Had he inadvertently given Heath the idea he didn't want him?

Reggie turned to Quentin "come on babe let's go to bed. We're obviously wasting our time with this guy. I was right when I said he didn't know a good thing when he had it."

After they left Don sat down on the couch. Was Reggie right? Did he not know when he had a good thing? Was he pushing Heath away on purpose?

***

Guiding his son to a nearby bench Adam held him until he lifted his head from his shoulder.  "Son tell me what's on your mind?" he made it a request but he hoped Heath took the hint and talked.

Sniffling Heath sat up "I don't know how I feel. One minute I feel like it's all going to fast and the next I wonder why Don doesn't like me any more."

Adam's first instinct was to tell him he was wrong. That of course Don liked him. Then the question popped to mind 'did he really?' There had to be a reason why Heath felt the way he did. The last thing he wanted to do was invalidate Heath's feelings. "What makes you feel that way?" he asked instead.

"He never let's me hold his hand or kiss him public. It's like he's ashamed of me." Heath gulped in air trying to keep the tears at bay.

"Have you talked to him about it?" Adam asked him "maybe he has a problem with PDA. Does he act like that at home?" Adam's heart sank as he watched Heath's head slowly nod in answer to his question. 

"He only ever wants to show affection in the bedroom behind closed doors. Always worried about the kids seeing." He turned sad liquefied eyes towards his dad "is it wrong to show affection to your boyfriend in front of your kids? I remember you and mom kissing and hugging in front of us. So what's wrong with me that he doesn't want to?"

Pulling hims close heart breaking over his son's unhappiness. He could feel his fangs extending as he felt his ire rise in response. His son has been through enough. He didn't need to feel unworthy on top of everything else. Heath moved in his arms mumbling from his shoulder "he doesn't even want to get married" gulping he continued "he used to mention it all the time in the bubble universe. He hasn't even mentioned it once since we got home. What am I doing wrong?"

Pulling him from his shoulder Adam held his son's face between his hands "you've done nothing wrong..."

"I only asked for a little time Time figure out how I felt. I didn't think he'd shut me out completely." Heath stammered clinging to his father.

Adam pulled him close allowing him to cry upon his shoulder. He looked up as a shadow fell upon them. Looking up eyes glowing he watched Don approach. If his hands had been free Adam might have done something he may have regretted later on but at the moment he wanted to avenge his son. How dare this person break his son's heart!

***

Gulping a the sight of Adam's glowing eyes and the extended fangs. Don forced himself to step forward. Forced his mouth to from the words he needed to say. "May I speak to him please," He nearly jumped back from the glare Adam speared him with "please" he begged.

Shifting in his fathers arms Heath took several shuddering breaths before responding "what do you want?"

"To apologize," Don told him taking a hesitant step forward under the disapproving gaze of Adam in full vampire mode.

"I'm listening," Heath muttered into the night clinging to his dad for support.

"I never meant to make you feel unworthy. I didn't know I was doing that until tonight. I'm sorry." Don knelt in front of the bench where Heath all but cowered in front of him. 

"You're ashamed of me," Heath accused him "always pushing me away."

"No no babe I'm so sorry. I have never been ashamed of you. I...." he sat back on his heals looking down avoiding eye contact with Adam "you asked for time. I was afraid I'd push you too fast if I didn't put limits up. I never thought or tried to make you feel unwanted I..." Running a hand through is short dark hair "I handled it all wrong."

Adam stood up towering above them eyes glowing but no longer in the grim of his vampire rage pulsing through him. His fangs had retracted enough for him to say "I'm going inside now to give you two privacy to talk." He walked away confidant with his brief mind scan that Don meant what he was saying. It was up to Heath now.

Hanging his head mumbling "I'm sorry I'm such a mess. You deserve someone who doesn't constantly need reassurance."

"That's not so," Don protested sitting beside him on the bench "Reggie and Quentin both have confidence oozing out of them but I've never wanted them. I've only ever wanted you."

Heath perked up at hearing those words. "You're not just saying that are you?"

"No babe I meant every word of it," Don put an arm around Heath pulling the boy to him "I understand why your confused. I'm willing to wait for you to figure it out on your own. I'll do better at showing affection in public too. Just don't expect me to be sucking face at every moment of every day regardless of where we are."

Laughing softly Heath tilted his head a little to look up at Don "that wouldn't be you. It'd be nice but I'd wonder what was wrong with you."

Gazing into Heath's blue eyes Don leaned forward and pressed his lips to Heath's. Deepening the kiss as he felt Heath respond to him. "I do want to marry you" he told him once they pulled apart to breathe "I want it to be right for both of us. Not because we have two kids or because we've been together for years and it's expected of us. I love you"

Smiling Heath cuddled into Don's embrace leaning back resting his head on his shoulder. "I love you too." Heath replied back and this time there was no hesitance or doubt in his voice. "I love you" he repeated listening to the steady beat of Don's heart knowing he was safe, he was wanted and he was home.

***

"Ew gross," Irissa announced coming into the kitchen to find her brother making out at the breakfast table. "Get a room" she told them as she helped herself to waffles.

Chuckling a little Heath pulled himself away from Don noticing his reddening cheeks and finding it adorable. "It's nothing you haven't seen before" he retorted.

Rolling her eyes she took a mammoth sized bite before responding "tell me about it." 

"Those look good," Heath said moving to get a plate.

"They're the best," Irissa eyed him for a moment "when are you gonna get married?"

"When the times right" Heath told her slathering strawberry jam onto his waffles. Licking his fingers he asked "when are you?"

A mysterious smile flashed across her alien features "before you probably."

Frowning he put his fork down finding the idea of his little sister dating somewhat unsettling. "When do I get to meet him?"

Giggling as she got up to put her plate in the dishwasher "who said it was a him?"

"Err her then," When am I going to meet her?" Heath corrected as he tried to digest that his little sister was growing up.

Shaking her head she stopped in the doorway laughing at him "at graduation you'll meet them."

"Them?" he choked forgetting his breakfast as he moved to follow her "you have some explaining to do little missy."

"All will be revealed at graduation," she called from the stairs "it's really not as bad as it sounds."

He watched her run up the stairs unsure whether to follow and demand an explanation or to wait. The voice of his young daughter stopped him as she asked "when are you and daddy going to have another baby?"

"Hmm what?" he turned his head to stare at Kimberly as she played with her 'Uncle' Keenan. He walked towards them his mind still occupied with the conversation he just had with his sister. "What was that sweetie?"

"I want a little brother," she announced "when are you and daddy going to have another baby?"

"After we're married," he told her sitting on the couch absently rubbing his chin.

"When will that be?" she persisted "you're not getting any younger you know."

"No sweetie we're not" he agreed with a her knowing that to her 21 was ancient when to him it left him struggling to catch up.

His dad came into the room searching for something. Upon seeing Keenan he visibly relaxed "good there's the little scamp. He has a habit of hiding from us." He sat down beside Heath and watched the kids playing on the floor.

"Dad?" Heath queried

"Yeah" he turned to look at Heath "what's on your mind?"

"Do you ever think about how it'll be when mom ages and you don't?" Heath looked at him with a slight frown.

"Sometimes but even though I know what will reverse the vampirism I can't do it. At least not yet." He nodded towards the two year old boy giggling on the floor. "He's not ready to become ruler of Moonlight Falls. Even when he is, he'll still need someone he can trust to guide him. It's a lot of responsibility and I want to be sure he can handle it before I relinquish my rule to him."

"What about mom? How does she feel about that?"

"She doesn't like it. The idea of her growing old while I still look thirty-two is hard for to deal with. She'll soon pass me up when she is quite a bit younger then me. We've discussed it. We may not like it but neither of us want her to become a vampire either." He looked at his son "are you thinking about Don?"

"I am" Heath admitted "I'm not a full IF but I'll still age slower than him..."

"Do you think you'll love him less because he'll grow old and you won't?" Adam asked him.

"Well no but I don't know what I'll do without him," he admitted.

"We'll figure it out together," Adam told him "don't forget I'll be in the same boat as you."