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?