4.6 Figuring Things Out

"Daddy you need help" Kimberly protested. She had watched him suffer in silence as his husband walked out of his life. She couldn't just go back to school as if nothing had happened. Not to mention she was heartsick over letting Malachi leave. She should have stopped him.

"Sweetie" Heath's voice jolted her from her thoughts "I can do this."

She looked into his eyes and saw the conviction in them "I'm sorry" she cried realizing what he was saying. She was doing to him what Don had always done. Shouldering the responsibility, protecting him from the harsher realities. Essentially treating him like a child instead of the adult he was.

"I know sweetie. I know" he pulled her close "there comes a time in every one's life when you have no choice but to grow up."

"It wasn't your fault daddy" Kimberly cried "no one ever let you...."

"I was trying" Heath mumbled thinking back to what led him to making that fatal decision. The one that put him in the clutches of their enemy. Ever since he came back there was that undercurrent between him and Don that told him his decisions weren't to be trusted. Everything he did had to go through Don first. Every decision no matter how minor double checked. Decisions involving the children either vetoed out of hand or countermanded until he felt like another child in the house instead of someones life partner. He would have settled for a fully functional adult.

"I didn't know it had gotten so bad," Kimberly said after breaking into his thoughts.

Snorting Heath shook his head "you shouldn't be in my head." His gentle reprimand had her ducking her head in guilt "it wasn't always like that...not at first."

Kimberly remained silent casting her mind back. Don had always disliked her entering his mind but something had been different the last six months. His instance on her talking to him on the phone instead of popping into his mind whenever she felt like saying hi. In fact connecting to him had been actively discouraged. She couldn't believe she was thinking this but..."is dad, dad?"

Instead of dismissing her idea like she hoped he would Heath sighed shaking his head. "I've wondered that too. I just...don't know."

"All the more reason why I should stay," she inserted into the silence.

"No" Heath shook his head "you need to go back to school and I need to make preparations to move once the school year is over."

"If we're right and Dad isn't himself" she stopped. She tried to connect with Don but she encountered the same block she had when Gwen disappeared. "He needs our help," she looked towards Heath her eyes pleading.

***

Gwen lay with her face in her pillow. She couldn't bear to look at her fathers and see their pain reflected back at her from their eyes. She was so ashamed of herself. They had raised her better then how she had been acting.

She felt the bed move as one of them sat beside her. "Gwen tell us what happened" Elliot prompted his voice gentle, kind. It held none of the recriminations she expected.

"Oh daddy I'm so sorry," she cried throwing her arms around him sobbing. She felt another pair of strong arms engulf her and knew Kyle was holding her too.

"We were so worried about you," he cried.

"I know daddy and I'm sorry. I should have told you the first time that man approached me..."

"The first time" Kyle growled "how often has he been lurking on campus?"

She looked down at her hands clasped tightly in her lap "since the first day."

"What?" Kyle shouted in the small room as he paced the confined space like a predator.

Gwen ducked her face in Elliot's shoulder crying "I'm sorry. I know I should have said something...."

"Shh it's ok," Elliot soothed gently "you were scared." He looked up at Kyle as he continued "just tell us what happened."

"He...he...." she gulped for air "he said since dad wouldn't give him what he wanted it was up to me. That he would send suitable men to me and I was...I was..." she turned to Kyle pleading for understanding "I didn't want to but he said if I didn't I had three other sisters who could. He wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted."

Kyle knelt beside the bed "oh honey I'm so so sorry. You're not...are you?"

She shook her head sending her long blond hair flying "I thought I was once. Malachi found me crying. Tried to comfort me." She took a deep breath "that's when he showed up..."

***

Moaning softly Malachi opened his eyes frowning to find a pair of familiar light blue eyes staring down at him in concern "Where am I?" his voice was hoarse, his throat dry.

"Here this will help," the man said holding a glass to the boys lips.

The cool water helped soothe his parched throat. When he was done drinking he frowned at the man "you look different, sir."

Setting the glass down the man asked "how so?"

Shrugging Malachi looked around the room stopping as he saw the terrain outside the windows "where are we?" he asked getting to his feet. "Is this a bubble universe?"

"How do you know about bubble universes?" he looked at the boy with renewed interest.

"Kimberly told me" Malachi frowned looking at the older man "you're different."

"You keep saying that," he crossed his arms "but I've never met you."

It was Malachi's turn to be confused "but I...I just spent the past week at your house sir. I'm dating your daughter." He stared at the man "don't you remember any of this?"

He suddenly felt light headed as he gripped the younger man "no one knows I'm here do they? No one has been looking for me."

Malachi heard the despair in the other man's voice "do you have a twin?"

"I had a twin sister but she died years ago," the older man said letting Malachi help him to a chair. 

Feeling weak and wobbly on his feet "someone must be posing as me while I'm here."

Nodding Malachi watched him closely "that appears to be the case...but he's several years older then you. I don't understand why no one has noticed the difference."

"When Kimberly told you about bubble universes did she tell you how time works in them?"

"She tried," he scrunched up his face thinking "the bubble universe she was in she aged a year for every one of our weeks. Then the one Heath was in for everyone of his months was a year to us." He shook his head "it's confusing..."

Don nodded sadly "it is" he agreed "If I'm right about this universe time is moving backwards."

"Backwards sir?"

"Stop calling me sir. Call me Don," he told the boy "you say I'm younger then my impostor. What's
different about me?" He could feel the boy's eyes gazing at him, observing him closely, making comparisons.

"The gray hair, the lines and wrinkles" the boy said "you don't have any."

Nodding Don rubbed his chin "I look the way I did before I hit my thirties." Standing up he continued "if I'm right I've been aging backwards since I got here six months ago."

Staring out the window at the strange world He found himself in Malachi asked "how fast?"

"If my calculations are correct I've been aging backwards a year for every month I've been her." Don watched the boy swallow convulsively.

"At that rate I'll be twelve years old in six months" his eyes grew large with fright "in a year and half I could age myself right out of existence."

***

Kimberly stared at Heath in numb disbelief. How could he just sit there and plan to move when his husband, her dad was in trouble. She couldn't believe he would just sit back and do nothing. She concentrated on getting inside his head. It shouldn't be this difficult. She pushed harder. Past his defenses. She gasped in shock.

Heath turned frowning "I told you to stay out of my head."

"You can't daddy," she protested "we just got you back..."

"If there was any other way" he pulled her close "that's why I need to make sure the kids are settled in Moonlight Falls. I need to make sure they're safe. I'd move right now if Lillianna wouldn't throw a fit at leaving all her friends behind."

Nodding she took a deep breath "I'll talk to her. She'll listen to me." She bit her lip looking at the floor "she loves you daddy. She's just hurt."

"I know baby but I'm not the one she wants or needs" Heath got up taking a few steps away. "I'm not relevant in their lives anymore. I've been away too long."

"Don't say that daddy. The little ones need you." She nibbled on her bottom lip as she watched him "Owen needs you."

That brought a brief smile to his lips "I had hoped I'd be around at least for him." He shook his head "the others look up to Lillianna and follow her lead. I'm a stranger to them. They're better off without me."

She watched him leave her room. She wanted to deny what he said but she knew what he said was all too true. She didn't need to read her sister's mind to see it. The twins were her little minions, following her example in shutting Heath out of their lives. Eight years was a long time to show back up in their lives. She didn't want to believe it. She wouldn't accept it.

***

"What kind of deal did Malachi make with my father?" Kyle demanded.

"It didn't make sense," Gwen cried turning to face her dad "he said when he called Malachi was to come. That I'd be released from my deal with him."

"Which was what exactly? To produce a male heir?" Elliot asked piecing it together.

Nodding she gulped back fresh tears "yes. What does he want with Malachi?"

"I don't know sweetie" Elliot smoothed her hair back "don't worry about it. We'll get him back."

She smiled at him letting him believe she believed his bravado while inside she worried that Kimberly would hate her if Malachi was lost to her forever.

Once Elliot had her settled in bed resting if not a sleep. He stood up and motioned for Kyle to follow. 

Once they were outside their daughters room Elliot asked "what are we going to do now?"

"We move to Moonlight Falls" Kyle told him.

"Are you sure?" Elliot asked "don't you want to be with other IF's in Midnight Hollow?"

Shaking his head "I'd never feel comfortable there. I know my father isn't welcome there but you and the kids would be outsiders, humans in a hostile environment."

"I want to go where ever you and the kids will be safe," Elliot told him.

"Moonlight Falls it is," Kyle gave him a sheepish grin "I already told your dad and Heath we were moving. I trust Adam to protect us. Plus it's time Percy took his place at Adam's side as his bondsmen. His magic will be stronger there as well."

"You've thought of everything," Elliot leaned into him "I love you."

"I love you more," Kyle wrapped his arms around him pulling Elliot close.

"Even when I'm all wrinkled and gray?" Elliot asked.

"Even then" Kyle told him refusing to believe that day was coming even though it was inevitable.

***

"Lillianna we need to talk," Kimberly grabbed her sister's arm and pulled her to their room.

Yanking herself free Lillianna glared at her older sister "why don't you go back to university?"

"Oh you'd like that wouldn't you?" Kimberly snarled back at her. They eyed each other in silence before Lillianna looked away. "Why are you so beastly to daddy?"Kimberly asked.

Crossing her arms the teenager shrugged refusing to meet her sisters gaze "He left us."

"But he's back now," Kimberly snapped at her.

"So what. It's not the same. We don't need him. We had dad and now he's gone because of him."

"You blame daddy that dad left" Kimberly stated saddened to her very core.

"Makes sense doesn't it," Lillianna wiped a tears away "he comes back and the only one who loved us leaves."

"You're wrong" Kimberly shouted at the girl causing her to jump "daddy didn't leave because he wanted to. He was kidnapped against his will by a mad man..."

"That's not what dad told me. He said he met some old man and took off with him. He wanted to live a life that didn't include kids. It would have worked too if he hadn't gotten pregnant." She looked up at her sister "he never loved us and now we don't have anyone."

"When did dad tell you this? When daddy was gone?" Lillianna shook her head refusing to answer. Shaking her a little Kimberly demanded "when Lillianna it's important."

"What does it matter? He wouldn't lie."

"It matters if it's only been within the last six months. After daddy came home. Don't you find it odd that while daddy was gone dad told us how much he loved and missed him. Not once blaming him for his own disappearance. But now, after they're reunited dad tells you how daddy didn't love us."

Grudgingly Lillianna nodded "their has to be a reason why. Dad wouldn't lie."

"No he wouldn't but what if the person we thought was dad really wasn't?" she knew she was getting through to her sister when she looked up and her hard as nails attitude slipped.

"But...where...how..." the girl stammered unsure what to ask first as her thoughts became muddled "what are going to do?"

Don found the boy outside on the deck staring out across the alien landscape. Reminiscent to the times he and Heath had done the same. There was so little to do here to keep yourself occupied with. A small smile spread across his face as he remembered their favorite past time. His smile faded as he wondered if his impostor had...no he wouldn't think about that. It wouldn't be Heath's fault if he had. What if he became pregnant? Would he be able to raise another man's child? It had been a terrible shock to find out Heath was pregnant the entire time he had been gone. All those long endless nights for those eight years alone yearning for Heath's touch, to taste his lips, to explore his body only to find he had was pregnant. He immediately thought of Gerald and he didn't want to believe that Heath would be with anyone else but what if he had no choice? The paternity test he had insisted upon had help to put his fears to rest but it only reawakened Heath's doubts. 

When it was all said and done Owen was a product of their love but the damage was done. He could see it in the way Heath was less confidant full of doubts. This time it was his fault. Don had wanted to make it up to him. He had gone to Adam for help. Had made arrangements to move to Moonlight Falls knowing how much Heath wanted to be closer to his family. It was Don who wanted to stay in a primarily human environment. It was on his way back from seeing Adam that he fell through the opening. Found himself alone in another bubble universe staring at the hated face of Silver laughing down at him.

"Sorry sir I mean Don," the boy stammered upon seeing the older man standing there "I didn't know you were there."

"It's ok. I understand the fascination even though I no longer share it," Don said turning his back on the splendor "now it just hurts too much to look at."

"Sir I mean Don do you think we'll ever get out of here?" the boy wore a wistful expression.

Don smiled at him "are you thinking about my daughter?"

Blushing Malachi looked at his feet "I love her." When he looked up he had tears in his green eyes "but the longer I'm here the younger I become."

Don didn't know what to say. What could he say? The boy had been eighteen when he arrived now he looked like a scared sixteen year old. Two months had passed. How many more before they were found? Would Silver leave them here until they vanished from existence? Why bring Malachi here? What purpose did that accomplish?

4.5 Truth, Lies and Sacifice

"Should you be up?" Malachi asked in concern as he came into Kimberly's room.

"I'm fine" she said brushing his hands aside "I don't need your help."

"Whatever" he mumbled backing towards the door.

"Malachi wait," she cried "I'm sorry."

He stopped "I was worried about you. I am worried about you," he amended taking a step towards her "you don't know how awful it was to find you face down in the mud and water." He looked away a tear sliding down  his cheek unheeded "I thought you were dead."

She frowned imagining what he saw yesterday. She shivered in the coolness of the room. "I am sorry," she repeated closing the gap between them. "It must have been awful for you. She reached up and wiped a tear away for his eye.

He leaned forward resting his forehead on hers. His hands slipping around her waist. "What happened? Your dads all seemed to know what was happening. No one would tell me though. They kept saying that you would tell me when you were feeling better." He gave her a worried glance his green eyes clouded adding depth to his concern "are you ill? Epileptic? Diabetic? Please tell me."

"I...I'm not ill," she said trying to pull away from him "you won't understand," she mumbled.

He put a finger beneath her chin "let me be the judge of that."

She gazed into his emerald green eyes hoping that once she told him they would still look at her with the same warmth. "I ..." she licked her lips her stomach twisting in anticipation of his response. "I can connect to people's minds. Know what they're thinking and feeling...." she watched him recoil from her stepping back as if she smelled bad.

"Are you saying you can read my mind?" he demanded " a mind reader..."

"No I...I mean yes," she pleaded as he paced the floor in front of her "it's limited..." she crossed her arms looking away. She could feel tears burning behind her eyes but she wouldn't give in to them. She wouldn't let him see her as a weakling "I knew you wouldn't understand," her tone hurt and accusatory.

"How do you think I'd feel? I just found out my girlfriend is a mind reader," he ran his hands through his purple tinged hair. "How do I know you haven't influenced my thinking or...or..."

"I told you it was limited," she yelled at him "I can't connect with you."

"Oh and how am I supposed to know that?" he demanded.

"You were supposed to be different," she curled her fingers into fists. Her nails biting into her palms reminding her not to give in to the tears stinging her eyes.

"How did you think I'd react?" he asked his tone less belligerent not as loud.

"I thought...I hoped you'd understand," she lifted her chin up refusing to feel ashamed for who she was or the ability she had. "You don't have anything to worry about. I'll leave you alone..." she could feel the weight of her disappointment crushing the air from her lungs.

He moved towards the door. Sure that he'd walk out and never turn back. How could she not tell him she could read minds? What did she mean it was limited? Limited to what? To whom? Could he turn his back on her and walk out of her life forever? Swallowing he looked over his shoulder. Saw the shimmering tears in her crystal blue eyes. He yearned to pull her close. To feel her head on his shoulder while he wiped her tears away. He rubbed the bridge of his nose feeling as if he had lost a piece of the puzzle "I wish I knew what I should do?" He took a step away from the door "help me to understand."

She glanced at his genuine confusion in his eyes "if I could read your mind don't you think I'd have done it by now?"

"I guess so" he said slowly "so your ability really is limited? It's not like the movies where you know everything about a person by just looking at them."

A slight smile quirked the corners of her mouth "don't be ridiculous. This isn't science fiction. I should have explained better. Limited means only those I'm blood related to. So even if we to get married I'd never be able to read your mind."

"So you want to marry me," Malachi smirked moving closer to her.

"I didn't say that," she swatted his hands away.

"Alright you don't want to marry me," he smiled when she glared at him "how did you get this ability?"

Shrugging "I was born with it," sighing she went into detail about Silver and her early years alone in the bubble universe "I want to make sure Silver never gets out again. My grandparents are all working on it but..."

"You want to do your part to help," he finished for her. This time he trusted the instinct he had to pull her close, kiss her cheek "thank you for telling me." It was all he could think to say. It didn't seem like enough and yet it meant everything.

***

Kimberly jumped as her Uncle began shouting at her for the millionth time. "Why didn't you tell us she was in trouble?"

"I...I..." she floundered trying to find the words to say from her suddenly blank brain.

"It's not her fault," Heath said standing in front of his distraught Uncles "we all sensed something was off about Gwen's behavior. Don't lay all the blame on Kimberly. It's not fair to expect her to know everything just because of her ability."

Elliot put a restraining arm across Kyle's taut shoulders "Kyle this isn't her fault." He tried to get his husband to sit but Kyle persisted on pacing around the large living room.

"I'm sorry," Kimberly cried watching her Uncle pace and the miserable look he cast towards her. She took a step forward only to be brought up short when someone took her by the arm. Turning she found herself facing Malachi. His green eyes bright with an emotion she couldn't identify. He shook his head slightly towards the stairs.

She followed him curious to know what was up that couldn't wait. "Don't talk just listen," he said when he closed her bedroom door "a few months ago I ran into Gwen on campus. She was crying. I couldn't just leave her like everyone else was doing. So I sat beside her in silence while she cried so she'd know she wasn't alone."

Gasping Kimberly reached forward touching his arm "she's the reason you missed your concert. The reason why you lost your scholarship."

Nodding he shrugged "I'd do it again. I couldn't leave her. Not in the state she was in. I watched a lot of the guys who had gone out with her simply walk past her without an ounce of concern. Some even laughed. It made my blood boil to be honest. She didn't deserve that no matter how she much she's slept around."

Kimberly took his hand in hers "that's why I like you. You're always thinking about others." She felt him squeeze her hand in response "but I don't understand why you didn't tell me."

"If she wasn't in trouble now I still wouldn't be telling you," Malachi shivered as memories bombarded him of an unpleasant bald man with evil blue eyes. "I met him."

"Met who?" she asked looking up at him.

"Him the one everyone is upset about."

"Kyle's father?" Kimberly said in a low scared voice. "When?" she demanded walking away from him.

"Gwen begged me not to tell," his voice high with stress "I gave her my word..."

"Can't you see how worried we all are? Her parents are worried sick. We can't find her. She checked out of her hotel room. She's not at the house. I can't connect with her," she whirled around to face him. Clutching his shirt "tell me what you know. Please we have to find her."

"I..." he sighed pulling the distraught girl closer to him. He kissed the top of her head "I think I have an idea where she might be..."

She jerked her head up demanding "where? Tell me."

"I promised," he sighed at the look she gave him "Kim I gave my word." He ran a shaky hand through his hair "I have to go. I'm sorry." He turned and began to throw his things into his bag.

"You're just going to leave? Just like that" she cried watching him "you're not even going to tell me where. What am I supposed to tell everyone?"

"Kimberly do you trust me?" he asked coming to stand in front of her.

She stared at the boy wanting to say no "I trust you" she grumbled instead.

"Good," he said dropping his bag at his feet drawing her close. He lowered his mouth to hers "I wish it could be different," he mumbled "I love you." He picked up his bags and walked out the door saying "don't ever forget that."

***

The door closed behind him. Kimberly stood frozen, fingers tracing her lips where they still tingled from his kiss. Her ears still rang with his words. He loved her. He said it and she....she hadn't said anything. Running to the door she called his name. No response. She ran down the stairs and out the front door in time to see him getting into a cab. "Malachi wait," she shouted. She didn't know whether he heard her or not but the cab pulled away from the curb and drove away.

She ran back inside the house where Heath had come to look for her. He stopped taking in her frantic appearance "what's wrong? Did you get a read on her?"

Shaking her head she burst into tears "he left, he left."

"He who?" he asked without thinking.

"Malachi" she wailed as he drew her to him "he left to go find her. Thought he knew where she'd be."

"Gwen? He went to find Gwen?" Heath asked pushing her from him "How does he know where she is?"

"He wouldn't tell me" she cried "just asked me to trust him." She looked up at her dad "I'm scared. Daddy I'm afraid I'm never going to see him again."

"Of course you are," he kissed her forehead but his eyes held the same fear hers did. 

"You feel it too, don't you?" she asked.

Heath hesitated before nodding "I've felt his presence since the night we found you unconscious." 

"That's when I sensed him too," she said quietly "what if Gwen's grandfather is working for him?"

"That doesn't make sense. He was working for the Watchers. The Watchers don't like Silver." Heath pointed out.

"Like that would stop that evil old man. He'd sell his soul to the highest bidder" she gave her dad a small sad smile "I told Malachi everything. Now that I think about it he wasn't shocked when I told him about Silver and the bubble universe."

"Now you do have me concerned," Heath told her rubbing his chin "why do you suppose that was?"

"It's like he already knew. He asked questions about what it was like living in one. Almost as if..." her voice faded as she lost herself in thought "what if he plans on trading himself for Gwen?"

"Honey you're jumping to conclusions," he pulled her close "I'm sure that by tomorrow he'll have called."

She heard the words her dad was saying. Watched his lips move while the words came out. Her eyes grew large as she reached out and touched his mind "I knew it" she said inside his head "your just as worried as I am."

***

With each successive day that passed and spring break came to a close Kimberly grew more and more withdrawn. "Come on Sweetie come and join us for breakfast," Heath cajoled her every morning. She shook her head closing her eyes.

The bedroom door opened and Don walked over to her. Sitting on the edge of the bed "Kimberly I know you miss him but you can't shut yourself off from the rest of us."

She wiped a tear way that dropped from her eye almost unnoticed "I never understood."

"Never understood what?" he asked.

"What you went through when Daddy wasn't here. Knowing that he was somewhere but unsure whether you'd ever see him again."

"Sweetie you don't know that," Don protested softly "It may not even be Silver..."

"It is," she nodded sitting up "daddy and I both feel him." She saw the way Don tensed up "I'm sorry I thought you knew. I thought..."

"Yes did I" Don mumbled a troubled look in his eyes.

"Dad is everything alright between you and daddy?" She watched him closely trying to pick up signs that he was lying to her.

"Kimberly," he sighed "it's been difficult. I've had years of raising you and your siblings on my own. I never stopped loving your dad but I had to move on. With Heath he didn't experience the same passage of time as we did. He didn't move one. He's still the same person now he was when he left. I'm older ..."

"Are you saying you no longer want to be with daddy?" she asked in a small frightened voice.  She hoped he'd deny it. She wanted him to deny it. She needed him to deny it.

"Yeah I think that's what I'm saying," he looked down into her eyes and flinched from the anger he saw in them. "Don't look at me like that."

"You'll break daddy's heart if you leave him. He loves you," she cried.

"I know but what about my happiness. My life didn't stop because he was gone. I'm sorry." He stood up shaking his head "It'd be more cruel to both of us to continue to live this lie."

"I hate you," she cried "you're a heartless beast." She threw herself on her bed hugging her pillow close to her.

***

Several hours later Kimberly opened her eyes to find Heath sitting by her beside. His eyes red and swollen. "Daddy he told you didn't he?"

Nodding he put his head into his hands. He didn't have to say anything to confirm her suspicions. 

"He left soon after he talked to you," Heath told her "said it was time he lived his life." He took a deep breath as he jumped to his feet "He just left. No second glance. No message for the kids." The more he talked the more upset he became.

"Daddy you'll be ok without him," she stood up mustering all of her strength to push back her own heartbreak to help her tenderhearted father.

"I'll have to be," he said straightening his shoulders "I can't stay here."

"Moonlight Falls," she said.

"I've wanted to move there when you were little but Don didn't want to move. So we stayed."

"We?" she prompted.

"You're Uncles, Great Grandparents. They all stayed." Heath shrugged"sooner or later we would have had to move anyway. Kyle and I won't age while our children and spouses will. It would have caused a lot of questions from people wondering where the fountain of youth was. Even Grandpa has to fake his age because he hasn't aged due to his extended time in the future. It messed up his aging." Heath turned to smile at his daughter "moving will be a good thing. A chance to start over."

"Daddy I love you," she could tell he was suppressing his feelings. She could feel his heartache and her heart ached for him. After all the years of questioning his feelings he had finally accepted his love for the man that just walked out of his life.

"I love you too sweetheart.

***

Malachi arrived at the designated spot. The one old man Lawrence said to arrive at when the time came. He had been expecting the call when Gwen went missing. He knew then he would have to sacrifice himself to save her. It would be worth it. Her family loved her. His family would miss the fame and notoriety that he would bring to them but not him.

His biggest regret was having to leave Kimberly. His heart had ached the last few days they were together. He wanted to gather her in his arms and tell her he loved her. In the end he mumbled the words too afraid she wouldn't reciprocate it.

Movement to his right alerted him that he wasn't alone. Gwen approached, her eyes red and swollen, make up smeared all over her face from crying. "You shouldn't have come," she said coming to a stop in front of him.

"I had to. I gave my word."

She nodded turning to her hated grandfather "can I go now? You have what you want."

"Yes go," when she moved to leave he grabbed her arm twisting it until she hissed in pain "remember what I told you. Tell anyone and I'll comeback for you or one of your sisters."

Nodding Gwen whimpered as  he brought his face close to hers "I...I won't tell." She stumbled when he released her. She heard his laughter follow her as she ran.

Malachi watched her go before turning to face the bald older man "care to tell me why you went through all this trouble to get me?"

"Who said I wanted you?" he pushed the boy towards what looked like a door in time and space. Bubble universe Malachi told himself as he fell through it. Then nothing at all.

4.4 Visit Home

The weeks leading up to spring break were filled with excitement and new experiences. Kimberly couldn't wait to introduce her boyfriend to her parents. She smiled up at Malachi as he walked into the room. "I can't believe I'm going to meet your dads."

She heard the excitement in his voice and she couldn't resist the smile tugging at her lips. "you sound like a fangirl after she finds out she has backstage tickets."

"That's how I feel too," Malachi put an arm around her as he plopped on the couch beside her "I'm going to meet the son of my idol. Who wouldn't be excited in my shoes?"

"He's just my dad," she told him despite her pleasure that he genuinely seemed to want to meet them.
"Please don't gush over him. You'll make him nervous."

"I promise I'll be on my best behavior" he pulled into her into his lap and kissed her soundly on the mouth.

They both screamed in shock as cold water poured over their heads. "Take it to your room," Gwen demanded a severe scowl upon her pretty face.

Kimberly scrambled to her feet to face her cousin. "What was that for?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Gwen arched an eyebrow "you needed cooling off."

"Come on sweetheart," Malachi took her arm trying to persuade her to go with him "let's go upstairs and dry off."

Shaking his hands off she glared at Gwen. "That was so uncalled for and you know it."

"Says you," Gwen put her hands on her hips taking a step nearer the irate girl. "Your the one who made the rule, no PDA in common areas."

"Now you're playing house marm?" Kimberly threw her hands up in exasperation "fine have it your way." She turned to follow Malachi upstairs who she stopped. "Are you coming home with us for Spring Break?"

Rolling her eyes Gwen grunted "what do you think?"

"I think no you're not," Kimberly sighed dreading what she was going to have to do when she got home. "Gwen please come home with us..."

Eyes narrowing to slits "why should I? So I can be as big a dweeb as you. No thanks."

"All this partying isn't good for you," Kimberly pleaded trying to convey her concern to the girl.

Crossing her arms "why don't you keep your nose out of my business little miss perfect?" She whirled around and stormed out of the house.

***

The night before their flight Kimberly lay in Malachi's arms on the floor in her room. Her suitcases scattered around the room. "Aren't you finished packing yet?" 

"I am but I'm not ready to close everything up yet. What if I forgot something then I'd have to open everything up to see where I should put it."

"Can't you just leave one open?" he asked "then I could load everything up tonight instead of in the morning."

"I suppose," she bit her lip "but...."

"But what?" he asked with a smile.

"What if it's an item that belongs in this bag and I have to put it in that bag because it's the only one open?" Her eyes belied the worry she felt at the thought of the chaos that would create. 

Shaking his head he kissed her nose "you win. I'll load the car in the morning. I don't want to upset your organizational skills."

Lowering her eyes she mumbled "you think I'm being ridiculous don't you?"

"A little" he admitted "but it's a little thing that can be tolerated."

"You're making fun of me," she playfully scowled at him.

"Maybe just a little," he admitted "but your attention to detail is probably what helps in becoming a top notch scientist. So I'm not complaining."

"Have you ever talked to your parents about your interest in science?" she asked.

"I've tried," his arms tightened around her "they just refuse to listen."

"And you don't want to disappoint them," she added throwing her arms around him.

He kept his eyes focused on the floor as he spoke "they spent so much money on my music lessons, concerts, the best art schools. They can't afford to put me through college too. I'm here, well was here on scholarship."

"What happened to your scholarship?" she asked curious. She had wondered for a while but hadn't wanted to pry into his affairs.

"I missed a concert...."

Frowning "why would that..."

"It was a large percentage of my grade. I missed it so I failed" he sighed "I couldn't help it. I had a good excuse for why I wasn't there but it didn't make a difference. I still lost my scholarship because my grades weren't what they should be."

"You'll be able to apply for it again next semester right?" she asked.

"I can" he looked away "I wasn't going to though. I thought maybe I'd change majors and switch to science."

"That's good isn't it?" she looked at him in concern "you always wanted to study science anyway. Now's your chance."

"It's not that easy. When I first lost my scholarship I approached my parents about switching majors. They..." he gulped back a sob. He felt rather than saw Kimberly turn her face towards him. His eyes swam with unshed tears. "Dad said if I did that I wouldn't be able to go home again. I'd be disowned 

if I threw everything away that they worked so hard to give me."

"That's awful," she cried pulling him close.

"They're not bad people," Malachi was quick to assert "they just don't understand why I would want to do anything else. It's not easy having a talent for something when your heart wants to do something else."

"I'm glad I have the parents I have. They'd never dream of forcing me to do something I didn't want to do," Kimberly sighed resting her head on his shoulder.

"They sound too good to be real," Malachi said wistfully.

"Maybe next time we'll be able to arrange for you to meet grandpa," she said with a sly smile.

"Will there be a next time?" he asked.

"If you play your cards right, there will be," she told him closing her eyes content to be in his arms.

***

"Daddy I need to talk to you," Kimberly said as she walked beside Heath towards her favorite park in Dragon Valley. They had left Malachi at home with Don so they could do some bonding. 

"What's on your mind?" he asked taking her hand "if it's about Malachi don't worry we like him. He's seems to be a very nice young man."

"That's reassuring. I'm glad you like him but um," she looked away watching a squirrel run around a tree "that's not what I wanted to discuss."

"Gwen?" he asked "her dad's have been worried about her odd behavior. She never calls and when they do get through to her she never wants to talk to them."

"She parties a lot," Kimberly blurted out as if she had been holding in the information for way too long. It wasn't what she wanted to say at least not the way she wanted to say it. She idea had been to try and cover for her, offer some excuse for her behavior but she couldn't. Her desire to be Gwen's friend was over shadowed by her concern for her welfare. "I'm sorry daddy. She's out of control. I've tried to talk to her but she won't listen."

"How much is a lot?" Heath asked.

"At first it was only on the weekends now it's practically every night. I'm afraid something will happen to her while she's partying with her friends on Spring Break. I tried to get her to come with me but that obviously failed since she's not here."

"Why didn't you tell us what was going on?" Heath asked already sure he knew the answer. Kimberly and Gwen had grown up together. He knew his daughter wouldn't want to be the teller of tales and getting her cousin in trouble. He knew the situation must be bad if she was telling him now. He had known for a while she had been holding something back but he had thought it was in regards to her and Malachi and private moments he didn't want to be privy of. If he was any judge to the two young people that was something they both still needed to work on. He had hoped his children would be less backwards in that regard than he had been at their age.

She looked towards the ground kicking at a stone with her toes. "I know I should have said something sooner...I thought I could reach her somehow." Shrugging she looked up "she doesn't like me very much."

"Don't say that sweetie," Heath pulled her close "she's lost a the moment."

"She doesn't like me because of my ability to connect with her if I wanted to," Kimberly continued as if she hadn't heard him "she's been pushing me away..."

"Almost as if she's daring you to take a look in her mind."

"Exactly" she said in relief "but I promised I'd never do that to her."

"Honey sometimes you don't have a choice..."

"So you think I should" she asked turning troubled eyes towards her dad

"I think she's in trouble and doesn't know how to ask for help," Heath told  her "what would you do if I suddenly started acting strangely?"

"I'd...." she bit her lip to hold the words back.

"Uh huh," Heath nodded " then why are you hesitating with Gwen? She may be right there in the house with you but she's gone none the less."

"I never thought of it like that before," she wiped a tear away "I need to think about this before I do anything."

Kissing her cheek Heath smiled encouragingly at her "I'll leave you to your thinking. If you need to talk, you know who to reach me."

***

Gwen walked out onto the hotel balcony. The wind whipped her long blond hair around her face. She stared towards the ocean, the waves crashing onto the beach without a care or worry. The white caps perfectly reflected her thoughts and feelings. It's the way she pretended to be most days. The way she wished she was.

Leaning on the railing she wondered what would happen if she lost her balance. A sudden fleeting picture of her twisted broken body on the ground below filled her mind. She was so alone. Would anyone even care?

"I would care," Kimberly's sweet voice filled her head.

"Why?" the girl screamed into the wind unconcerned if anyone was around to hear.

"Your my cousin, my best friend. I love you."

Shaking Gwen wrapped her arms around her herself "I've been so mean to you. I've done so much I'm not proud of." The tears she fought to keep at bay threatened to break loose like the the storm clouds overhead. 

"It doesn't matter," Kimberly told her "those are just things you've done. They're not who you are."

"I've hurt a lot of people," Gwen cried "you. My parents. Everyone. I've slept with so many guys that I can't remember all all of them."

"Why?" Kimberly asked.

"I...I was afraid..."

"Afraid of what?" Kimberly asked as fear clutched her heart. She could feel the other girls terror. It was the same terror she experienced when they had been kidnapped by her terrible grandfather. The same fear that prevented her from connecting with her and comforting  her. "Gwennie don't lose hope. Stay with me."

Shaking in the stiff cool wind coming if off the ocean Gwen fell to the floor. "I saw him...he came to the house...."

"Your Grandfather?" Kimberly asked hoping she was wrong. They had hoped he was dead, caught in the explosion of one of his warehouses.

"Yes" Gwen's voice sounded terrified "Kimmie I don't want to talk about this."

"I know, I know but how else can I help?" 

"I'm scared. I didn't do as I was told and he's going to come back...."

***

Kimberly cried out holding her head when the connection was broken between her and Gwen. It was sudden. It was abrupt. It was painful. Little black dots danced before her eyes as her head throbbed in pain. She tried to get t her feet, stumbled a couple steps before falling over. She lay with her nose in a little depression in the ground as the first drops of rain began to fall. She tried to left her head, to move, nothing obeyed her commands. "Daddy help" she mumbled as the rain began to pelt her.

Malachi jumped to his feet Heath entered the living room where he and Don were talking. Well perhaps staring at each other was a better description. "Where's Kimberly" he asked his voice high 

with anxiety.

"She stayed behind. She had things to think about."

"It's raining," Malachi fretted.

"There are shelters for her to go under if necessary," Heath told him as he started to pick up on the boys concern.

Nodding Malachi turned towards the door "something doesn't feel right."

Heath frowned at the boys words and tried to reach out to his daughter. Nothing. He had never felt nothing before. He had always felt something even when she was blocking him. This was ominous. This was terrifying.

Malachi gave him a concerned look "are you alright sir? You blacked out for a moment there."

Shaking his head Heath waved the boys helpful hands away "no I'm fine." He knew the boy was unaware of their ability but he was uncommonly perceptive. "I think you might be right. We should go look for her."

***

Walking into the pouring rain Malachi looked towards the older man waiting for him to take the lead. Most of the time Malachi viewed him as a sort of older brother rather than a father figure. Don felt more fatherly, older, wiser, calmer. He was the one who elected to stay behind and watch the younger children while they went in search of Kimberly. He could practically feel the tension, the anxiety pouring off of Heath as they ran towards the park.

Malachi had a feeling there was a lot of things he didn't know. Like the black outs that both Kimberly and Heath had in common. Could it be a health problem? One day he hoped they would trust him enough to tell him. He had tried to ask Don but it seemed to be a touchy subject to him. He wished he had pursued it. It might have answered a lot of the questions he had as he ran through the pouring rain.

They were soaked to the skin by the time they reached the park. "Where did you last see her?" Malachi shouted above the rain.

Pointing Heath led the way down a path "she always liked this path even when she was a little girl," he explained a they kept a watchful eye out for her.

"OMG" Malachi cried upon seeing her lying face down in the mud and water. Running past Heath he dropped to his knees beside her. Carefully he rolled her over wiping mud from  he nose and mouth. He felt rather than saw Heath kneel beside him in the mud.

"Is she breathing? he asked the fear in his voice almost palatable.

With shaky fingers Malachi felt for a pulse. Sighing in relief he nodded "she has a pulse." The low moan from her confirmed she was also breathing.

"Oh thank god," Heath muttered under his breath running a hand through his hair. He moved to pick her up.

"I've got her," Malachi said before Heath a chance to touch her.

***

"Daddy," Kimberly said opening  her eyes.

"Shh baby" Heath soothed "it's late. Go back to sleep."

Shaking her head she struggled to sit up. "How?" her eyes opened wide "how did I get home?"

"Malachi had a feeling something was wrong. So we came looking for you." Heath took her hand "what happened?"

"I...don't...know," she turned to look into his worried blue eyes "I was talking to Gwen when I felt a sharp pain in my head."

"Is she in trouble?" Heath asked.

Nodding Kimberly squeezing his hand "that horrible man is back..."

"Her Grandfather?"

"Yes, she's real scared daddy."

"We'll find her," Heath assured her "don't worry about it." He pushed her back onto the pillow. He got up, kissed her cheek smiling down at her "I'll tell Malachi you're awake. He'll want to see you."