Peter reviewed the test results, rubbing his eyes he re-read them. It couldn't be denied, no amount of re-reading the results was going to change them. His son and his friend were both pregnant with alien offspring. Wearily getting to his feet, Peter moved towards the door of his office, walking towards the boys room. Upon entering both boys looked up at him with hopeful eyes that vanished as Peter silently shook his head.
"We're pregnant?" Robert asked sitting down heavily on the edge of the bed as if the burden was to great to bear.
"I'm sorry," Peter was about to continue when someone entered the room. Turning around Peter said "William I'm so glad you're here," Peter greeted shaking his hand. "I was about to tell the boys their options."
"Options?" Adam echoed wondering what his father was talking about.
"Yes you do have options but I want you to think seriously about your decision before making it." Peter sighed looking at each of the young men sitting in front of him before speaking. "I want both of you to know it may be possible to terminate the pregnancies. Plus we may be able to remove the alien modifications."
"Wait a minute that was tried before and it wasn't possible," Robert interrupted him. He remembered all to well the pain and the near death experience he went through from the scientists that tried it.
"I know what you're thinking and you're right to be skeptical, it's never been tried before and there may be risks. I've learned a lot from the alien information I was given and I'm sure we can remove it. My concern is whether we should." Looking at William before continuing "both of you have alien tracking devices embedded in you. I think they are there so the aliens can locate you wherever you are when they want to take you and it enables them to keep track of how their experiments are progressing."
"What you're saying is the aliens will know if the modifications have been removed and the pregnancies were terminated," William said.
"Yes, it would definitely alert the aliens that we are onto them and give them a chance to change their methods before we've had a chance to release the cure. If it weren't for that concern I would be all for doing this."
"Dad I know you mean well but I wouldn't be able to terminate the pregnancy," Adam objected. "No matter how it came about, the baby's a part of me, I just can't ...." "I know son and normally I'd agree with you," Peter said putting his had on Adam's shoulder. "I'm concerned about your welfare. From what I've learned about this process, the aliens haven't allowed enough time for your body to adjust to the modifications yet. Coupled with the torment they put you through there could be complications that could jeopardize your health if not your life." Squeezing Adam's shoulder Peter continued "all I ask is think about it before you decide."
"I will Dad, I promise but from where I sit I don't think I have much of a choice. If the aliens are tracking us, I have to go through with this pregnancy." Smiling up at Peter he said "I've defied the odds before, let's hope my luck holds up."
Robert who had been quiet throughout this exchange cleared his throat before speaking "What about the pheromone? We'll start producing it as soon as we give birth, won't we?" Turning to William he said "Dad I don't want what happened to mom to happen to Patricia. I can't have this child if it puts her in danger."
William turned pleading eyes to Peter seeking help, someway to reassure his son. Peter taking the cue spoke up "Robert I understand your concerns believe me I'd feel the same way if I were in your shoes. From what I can tell and the tests we've run on your mom the effects are accumulative, it builds up over time as the pheromone grows in potency. It'll take years before your wife feels any effects from it and once we've released the cure she should be fine."
"How long before we're ready?" Robert insisted. "I need to know the danger I'll be putting my family in before I go through with this. I won't put my children through the same experience as I did growing up." Turning to William he said "I'm sorry your the best dad anyone could ask for but mom was horrible. I know now it wasn't her fault but it doesn't make the past go away."
"We need someone to go to Oasis Landing and learn all they can of their technology. Adam could do it with his background he's the best qualified among us, plus he has a firm grasp on the scientific side of things too. He could probably go in a couple of years."
"Why so long? Why not now?" Robert interrupted agitated with the delay.
"For several reasons. One he's pregnant and can't travel through the time portal without fatal complications. Then he would need to wait for the infant to be old enough to travel through time without experiencing any ill effects." Peter explained knowing that Adam wouldn't want to spend a large amount of time in Oasis Landing without his children even if he returned to the same time as he left. Adam would still feel the pangs of separation.
Adam nodded in agreement to what his father was saying. Seeing the look of disappointment on Robert's face Adam turned to him saying "I know your concerned about your wife but we have to do this the right way or we risk the aliens finding out and destroying everything we hold dear."
Robert looked at Adam knowing what he said made sense, he just wished it wouldn't take so long. "Ok I'll go along with it," he grumbled not happy but feeling he was doing his part to foil the aliens plans.
"Great," Adam said in genuine enthusiasm throwing an arm across his shoulders. "Now do you know of anyone who has a background in technology that would be willing to help?"
William nodded before saying "my daughter Beverly is studying computer programming at university. She'd be willing to help."
"What about Evelyn? She has a degree in technology?" Robert suggested.
"The more the better," Adam said warming to the idea of going to Oasis Landing away from the pressures of his life here and away from any contact with Windy. Now that she was cleared of any involvement of what her husband did to him he was afraid of what she might do.
Peter turned to William saying "would it be possible to have Evelyn come here? I need to see if she's producing pheromones after the birth of her son. I'm worried that with her alien DNA she could be developing it at a faster rate and may start experiencing the ill effects sooner."
William abruptly sat down next to Robert on the bed. "She can't come." Looking at his son he continued "I didn't want to tell you like this but Evelyn was in a really bad car accident a couple weeks ago."
"She's alright isn't she?" Robert asked wishing he could go to her.
"She's still unconscious but the doctors are hopeful she'll pull through," William explained pulling Robert into a hug.
After comforting Robert for awhile, William said goodnight and walked out of the room to speak to Peter. Upon entering Peter's office, Peter stood up saying "I'm sorry about your daughter."
William nodded looking at Peter with tear filled eyes "her brakes failed causing her to lose control of her car. The car went over a cliff and rolled multiple times before exploding. It's amazing she managed to get out and survived at all."
"William I'm sorry but we really do need to run tests on her and gather samples. We'll be as quick and gentle as we can be and won't do anything if her doctor feels it would put her in jeopardy. It really can't be put off."
William nodded his understanding "will you do the tests? I don't trust anyone else."
Peter smiled at him "I'll leave to night to be their first thing in the morning. We'll have to postpone your surgery, unless you want one of my colleagues to perform it during my absence."
"No I'll wait for you. I know you have my best interests at heart, I'm not so confident about anyone else."
"While I'm gone, try to keep the boys calm and upbeat. Also inform security if anyone tries to visit them that are not on the approved visitors list."
"I'll take good care of them, don't worry," William assured him. "I'll call Shon to let him know you're coming and to expect you."
Adam woke up in the all too familiar cold, bare cell he had been in before. He groaned out loud, knowing he was once again on board the alien ship. Sitting up he heard rustling beside him turning he saw a figure huddled in fear. Crawling over to him he lightly shook the young man's shoulder.
The man's eyes opened and widened as he looked into Adam's face, "where am I?" he asked groggily.
Smirking a little "an all inclusive honeymoon suite aboard the alien ship." Adam shrugged "from what I can tell it's the same cell I was in before."
Sitting up rubbing his eyes Robert asked "you were here before?" Leaning back against the wall Robert closed his eyes, his nightmare was becoming a reality. Opening his eyes he noted Adam was kneeling beside him concern written all over his face.
"Are you alright?" Adam asked.
"Yeah if you can be alright on an alien ship."
Squinting his eyes Adam stated "you've been through this before I take it."
"Once," he said "I was hoping not to repeat the pleasure." Sighing he slowly got to his feet "I wonder why the aliens take our clothes. It's cold in here," he said rubbing his arms. Robert eyed Adam, noting he was maybe a couple years older than him, probably closer to Shon's age. He stuck his hand out "I'm Robert."
"Adam" he said shaking his hand. "Wish I could say it's a pleasure but I wish I was anywhere but here." Staring intently at Robert he was struck at the similarity he had to his last. "Are you by chance related to William Bennett?"
Robert shook his head "how do you know my dad?"
"He was my last roommate in this cell. We spent many hours talking about our families."
"Oh he mentioned you," Robert said as a smile flickered and faded. "He said you helped him endure the experience." He shuffled over to the airlock, wondering what was beyond it. "Thanks by the way."
"For what?"
"For helping my dad." Robert shrugged "I know it was rough. He refuses to talk about it other than to tell me about you and how he believes your dad will come up with a solution." Turning to look at Adam he asked "Do you think he can?"
Nodding his head Adam said "I believe he can. Although right now I wish he had already. He's a brilliant scientist and he's come up with some theories." Adam hesitated to mention the theories were based upon the information an alien had given them. He wasn't sure if the cell they were in was monitored or not. It was best to keep that information to himself for now.
"I hope you're right," Robert said sitting on the floor. "I really don't want to be here," he said wiping at his eyes as he fought to remain calm.
"I know," Adam said beside him. "I dread what my son will be feeling when he wakes up and finds me gone again." Adam broke down and began to sob. His son's been through so much and now he was alone again. He knew his Dad would take care of him and make sure he was ok, but in the long run he wasn't there. He was never there when his son needed him.
Robert gently held Adam as he cried on his shoulder, giving what comfort he could. He wondered how his wife was coping and he was thankful that Evelyn and Shon were there to help her. "I know how you're feeling. My little girl is going to wonder where I'm at too." He continued to hold Adam until his sobs ceased and all he heard was an occasional sniffle. "We have to be strong for them. We'll see our loved ones again."
As they sat huddled together on the floor, a fine mist was pumped into the room. As the mist thickened they began to wheeze and cough as it became harder to breathe. Writhing on the floor as they fought to breathe they were soon unconscious.
Opening his eyes, he squinted at the too bright light shining in his face. Attempting to move, straps chafed at his tender skin around his torso. Heart hammering in his chest he laid there listening to low voices around him and the muffled sounds of movement as several people approached. He squeezed his eyes shut, hoping they weren't coming to him. Someone grabbed his arm and viciously stabbed something sharp into it. Screaming out in pain and panic, Adam opened his eyes to stare directly into the impassive face of an alien as he leaned over him.
"You will tell us what we need to know," the alien announced.
Lifting his head Adam tried to locate Robert but couldn't see beyond the aliens crowding around him. "Where's Robert? What have you done to him?"
"The other specimen is of no concern of yours. Tell us what we want to know. Tell us and you can go home."
"Not until I know Robert's ok," Adam shouted at them. An alien fiddled with something that brought a jolt of energy through Adam's body causing him to scream out in pain. All thoughts of Robert fled his mind as he was overwhelmed with agony. After several agonizing minutes that left Adam pleading "Please, please no more ... I can't please."
"You will tell us what we want to know," the alien repeated.
"I don't understand, what do I know that you don't?" Adam wondered aloud. The alien sent another pulsing shock wave of agony through his body. Gasping for breath Adam said "I'll tell you anything, just make the pain stop."
"Tell us about the other specimen" the alien demanded "the older one you were with before."
"William?" Adam wondered confused.
"If that is the specimen from before, yes. Did the specimen produce progeny since you were here last?"
"Why ask me? Don't you already know?" Adam asked as he struggled on the table he was strapped to. He couldn't help but feel none of this was making any sense. Why would they care if William had an alien child, wasn't that the point of all of this?
The aliens conferred together before the spokesman said "We have lost the specimens tracking beacon. Without it we are unable to ascertain it's location or status. It may be a malfunction but more likely sabotage." An alien assistant approached with a new device that caused Adam's skin to crawl as he hoped it wasn't the start of another session of agony. Adam felt tremors shake his body as he tried to sink into the table as the alien took the device and pointed it above him. "Now you will tell us what we want to know," the alien announced bringing the device into contact with Adam's stomach. Screeching in agony, Adam's mind melted, unable to think or reason beyond the sheer agony of the moment. The alien lifted the device allowing Adam to gasp air into his oxygen deprived lungs. "Tell us and the pain will stop."
Adam squirmed on the table, eyes glued to the device expecting it to come to life and strike. He ran his tongue across his dry lips seeking moisture to form the words he needed. Growing impatient the alien brought the device closer causing Adam to whimper "please no more, I'll tell you what you want to know."
The alien lifted the device a fraction higher but close enough for Adam to feel it's heat on his sensitive skin. Closing his eyes, Adam prayed that he was doing the right thing. He opened his mouth but words failed him. The alien touched the device down on his skin sending another jolt of pain through his body. As he rode the tidal wave of agony Adam jumped against his restraints, his mind made up to tell them what they wanted he shouted "No!" The alien as if not hearing him intensified the setting and another wave of agony pulsed through him. Head lolling to the side Adam worked his mouth until he could form words, "The ... specimen ... did .... not." His voice drained away as another more intense wave of pain invaded his entire being. Everything stopped as everything went dark and slowly came back into fuzzy detail. "Why won't you stop," Adam whimpered "I told you what you wanted to know."
Adam woke up on the floor of the cell, groaning he sat up looking around him. Robert was nearby watching him with a worried expression, when he saw Adam's eyes were open he said "I'm sorry."
"For what?" Adam asked confused. He attempted to get to his feet but stopped half way up as he was overcome by waves of dizziness. Leaning against the wall he slowly sank to the floor.
"For not telling them what they wanted to know," Robert said hanging his head in his hands.
"It's alright," Adam told him "you did the right thing." Adam swallowed convulsively trying to overcome the need to throw up. "How did you know about what they were asking?"
"They made me watch," Robert said refusing to look him in the eye. "They said they would stop if I told them what they wanted to know. I .... I didn't know what to do. You were in so much pain, screaming for them to stop and I .... I did nothing but watch. I should have told them. I'm sorry I couldn't, I just couldn't." He turned guilt ridden eyes towards Adam hoping he understood. "He's my dad, I couldn't tell them and give him up to save you. So I, I let them torture you while I stood back and did nothing."
Touching Robert's shoulder, Adam gently said "you did the only thing you could do. I don't know why but I have a feeling it's important." Adam stopped waving his hands around saying "we need to be careful what we say, the walls might have ears."
Robert's eyes grew large with fear as he nodded his head to indicate he understood. "Do you think they'll question us again? I ... I don't think I can watch it again."
"I hope not. Next time our positions might be reversed." Adam tried to smile as he tried to stand up despite the pain that made him flinch.
The cell was filled with a bright beam of light, as it dimmed a figure of a man could be seen. Motioning for them to be silent the man set up a devise in the middle of the room. When he was finished he came over to the boys and knelt before them "I don't have much time." He turned towards Adam saying "it's vital you give your father this information," he held out a familiar device "I'm sorry you've been through so much already."
Gritting his teeth Adam nodded "just do it." The pain was excruciating as his brain was overloaded with new information. He struggled to stay conscious and aware. Removing the device the man helped Adam sit up against the wall repeating "I'm sorry."
As the man got to his feet, Robert blurted out "what are you? Some sort of resistance fighter?"
"No I'm a timekeeper," the man answered. Kneeling beside them again he looked at Adam "You know Emit Relevart." Adam shook his head slightly unable to form thought into words. "I'm the alien equivalent of him. I'm trying to correct the timeline. My people have diverged from the correct timeline that will eventually lead both our people to destruction." Turning to Adam he said "your father many years ago when you were a boy explored a crashed alien ship in Oasis Landing."
Adam nodded croaking "yes" as he remembered that night. The man said "at the time your father felt he had discovered nothing in the ship. What he didn't know was he inadvertently activated a control that released me from my stasis chamber that set me free from my imprisonment. My people's supreme leader had sent people to stop me from my mission. He didn't want the cure distributed to the people. He commanded the scientists to begin the experiments, no where did they find a species that could be altered until they stumbled upon this planet. With their initial success the supreme leader knew it would be possible to control who could produce the next generation. Motivated by greed and a thirst for power the experiments continued, while the insanity of our females increased and people were dying by the thousands. Now the insanity is starting on your planet." He turned to Robert "your mother is experiencing it and it'll only get worse the longer she's exposed to the pheromones your father is producing. Eventually both of you will be producing it as well, spreading the insanity to others. Soon your planet will be thrown into chaos and the supreme leader will come in and take control."
"What can we do to prevent this?" Robert asked as fear gripped his heart like a vice. All he could think about was Patricia and how he'd rather die than let her slowly lose her mind because of him.
"Help me correct the time line. Help me disburse the cure to both my people and yours."
"What can we do to help?" Robert and Adam asked together.
Looking straight at Robert the man said "convince your father to bring the child to Oasis Landing."
"What child?" Robert asked confused.
Adam glared at him "the child the aliens were interrogating us about. The child we denied exists." Robert mouthed oh feeling stupid. The child was his brother. Glancing at the man he asked "why is he so important?"
The man smiled "the controls on my ship can only be activated by someone with my DNA. The child has my DNA."
Adam gasped as he realized the implications of what the man said. It was lost to Robert though as he asked "Why can't you activate your own ship?"
The man shook his head "I've been genetically altered. First to disguise my identity from my own people then modified to fit in among your people. My own ship won't even recognize me now but it will recognize the child's DNA."
"But he's only a toddler," Robert protested.
Adam jumping ahead blurted out "it doesn't matter, he can still activate the controls so that someone else can operate it."
The man nodded in agreement "I see you share your father's intelligence. Once my ship is activated and the cure disbursed it could save billions of lives." Looking at the young men standing in front of him he explained "that's why it's important the child's existence is kept hidden from these people. They will do anything to keep the cure from being released. They crashed my ship, imprisoned me and will kill all of us to get to the child to prevent the cure from being disbursed." Checking his device he turned to them "My time is almost up. Take precautions to protect the child." Turning to Adam he cautioned "protect your father. When he was on my ship I altered his brain waves so that he would understand the information I've given him. Without him or the child no one will be able to activate the ship or operate it."
"What about you?" Adam asked as the man got up to leave.
"At this point I'm disposable. I've passed on my DNA and my knowledge. Now my task is to act as a decoy and divert their attention from you. I may or may not survive but I'm confident we will be successful. If not I'll trust Emit to correct what went wrong. Good luck." With that he was gone.
Calm Before the Storm
The months leading up to the girls wedding were filled with excitement. The girls dragged their Dad out dress shopping and tuxedo fittings. Adam tried to get out of most of the tedious shopping excursions but found he couldn't avoid the tuxedo fitting. He dragged his protesting son with him. Upon arriving at the bridal store, Heath launched himself into a tantrum refusing the attempts of the assistants to fit him for his tuxedo. Adam watched attempting to smother his giggles and wished he could throw his own tantrum.
"Do something," Doloris demanded by his side "he's embarrassing us."
"Not us, you." Adam stated. She shot him a look that would have shriveled a lesser person. Sighing Adam knelt down beside his son "Heath, honey I know you don't want to be here but the sooner you let these nice people fit you for your tux the sooner we can go."
"No I don't want to," Heath protested louder.
Running his hands through his hair Adam asked "Do you want to be part of your Aunts wedding?" Sniffling Heath nodded crossing his arms. "Then you need to be fitted for a tuxedo. Grandpa and I have been and you watched. It wasn't that bad, was it?"
Heath began to nod his head only to stop mid way, sticking his lip out he shouted "no I don't want to."
Shaking his head in frustration, Adam felt like shrugging and letting him have his way. He sensed that would only upset his sisters so he pressed on "Heath why don't you want to do this?"
Coming close to whisper in his Dad's ear, Heath said "I'm not a monkey."
Adam quickly smothered a smile, choking down a chuckle "of course you not. What gave you that idea?"
Heath turned away, hanging his head "Dean."
"The boy from the bus?" Adam asked "the one whose always picking on you?"
Heath nodded his head "he said only monkeys wear tuxedos."
"This is ridiculous," Doloris grunted becoming irritated. "Just make him do this so we can leave."
"You're not helping," Adam glared at her. He knew his son well enough to know he wasn't going to do anything he didn't want to do. The best way to handle this was to get him to reason through his feelings. Turning his attention back to his son he asked "Do you think your Grandpa or me are monkeys?" Heath shook his head no. "But we'll be wearing tuxes."
"That's different," Heath muttered.
"How?" Adam continued pressing him to reason it through.
"I don't know," he mumbled. "I guess there isn't any." Sighing he looked up at his Dad "Alright I'll do it.
"Good," Adam said ruffling his hair.
**********
A couple weeks before the wedding everyone gathered for Brian's college graduation. It was the first time Brian introduced them to his girlfriend. "Shannon this is my brother Adam."
Shannon gave him a shy smile shaking his hand, "it's nice to meet you."
"I've heard so much about you," Adam said smiling warmly at her. Shannon looked at Brian a twinkle in her eyes as she said "all nice I hope."
"Nothing but praise," Adam confirmed. "I've never seen him so happy."
"I'm glad," turning to Brian she asked "Brian could you get me something to drink?"
"Sure honey," Brian said kissing her cheek. Turning to Adam he said "remember this girl's taken."
Adam smiled knowing Brian was joking as he replied "pity I always did enjoy a challenge." After Brian left Adam looked at Shannon "what did you want to talk about that you sent Brian away?"
Sighing sadly Shannon said "Brian talks highly of you and I hope you will help me convince him to ... I don't know, not get his hopes up that I'll marry him." She looked at Adam with tears swimming in her eyes "I don't want to hurt him but I can't let him waste his life with me."
Motioning for her to follow him over to a bench so they could talk Adam asked "Do you love him?"
"What?" she asked surprised "of course I do. That's why I don't want to get involved with him."
"It's too late for that, you're already involved," Adam told her. "I know Brian, he'd be more hurt if you shut him out. He knows about your illness and the odds of you staying in remission. He loves you and wants to be with you regardless of how long that might be."
"How could he? He doesn't know what it's like to live in fear of it coming back or how it effects those you love."
"That's where you're wrong," Adam said taking her hand he explained. "Our Dad had cancer and we thought we were going to lose him before it went into remission," he said omitting the cure from the future, sticking to the official story. "He knows what it's like to watch someone he cares about slowly fade away. He's strong enough to risk going through it again because he loves you." Looking straight into her eyes he asked "Do you love him enough to let him?"
Wiping tears from hers she smiled at him "I never thought of it like that. I do love him and I thought I was doing the right thing by keeping him at a distance." Looking up her face brightened as she spotted Brian walking towards them .
"So did you have a nice chat?" Brian asked them.
"Yes we did," Shannon told him, turning to Adam she hugged him. "Thank you," she whispered in his ear.
"Glad I could help," Adam whispered back. He left them to discuss things. It wasn't long afterwards that Adam received a call from Brian announcing his engagement. Adam was somewhat depressed after receiving the news. Somehow he felt jealous of all his siblings, they were all happy, moving on with their lives and here he was living at home, raising his son alone. It wasn't the way he envisioned his life turning out like.
**********
The day of the wedding dawned and Adam tried to share in the joy but he felt like a stranger looking in. He sighed feeling weighed down and unsure of himself. He wanted what they had but he couldn't overcome his fear to put himself out there. He looked at his reflection in the mirror wondering when he had become so emotionally stunted, unable to move forwards, always looking behind waiting for the next catastrophe to happen. He wondered when he stopped looking forwards to the future, he no longer felt there was going to be a happy ever after for him. Sighing as he finished dressing, he looked in the mirror one last time before joining the others.
His Dad was there talking to Kanoa Parrott, as he emerged from the room his father excused himself and came up to him "are you ok?" Adam shrugged remaining silent. "I know this is going to be difficult day for you," Peter said putting his hand on Adam's shoulder "but you're doing great."
"How did you know?" Adam marveled at his Dad and how he always knew how he was feeling.
"I was once in your shoes," Peter told him "feeling that happiness and love was for other people not me." Turning to face Adam he continued "I do understand. I'll always remember my mom telling me I would meet someone I could share my life with. At the time I didn't believe her. I felt like one catastrophe was enough."
Adam chuckled at that "yeah I know the feeling. I always seem to be looking over my shoulder, expecting something awful to happen."
"You can't let Windy ruin your future, son. She's not worth it. There's someone out there for you. You just have to be open to it."
"I know," Adam sighed "but how do you overcome the fear of making the same mistake twice."
"Time, give yourself time," Peter said giving him a hug. "Trust me it'll happen."
The wedding was about to begin and Adam found himself standing beside Ethan watching his father walking the girls down the aisle. He smiled, thinking his sisters never looked more beautiful or happy than at this moment.
**********
Heath was enjoying his time off from school, playing in the tree house with Grace. One evening while they enjoyed the cool breeze Heath said "Gracie?"
"Yeah," Grace replied waiting for him to continue.
"Do you think the aliens will come back?"
"Probably, why?"
"I don't want them to take my Dad," Heath stopped swiping at a tear that ran down his cheek. "What if they don't bring him back next time?"
"Then you'll live with us and my Dad will become your Dad."
"No I don't want Grandpa to become my dad. I want my own Dad." Heath fell silent unsure how to explain his feelings. He knew Grandpa loved him and would take care of him like he did before but it wasn't the same. He missed his Dad all the time he was gone. He had tried to be brave but at night, alone in his room he would cry himself to sleep. He worried all the time now that something would happen to his Dad and he'd be left alone. His Dad was everything to him. He stared silently into the night until Grace jolted him out of his thoughts.
"Do you miss having a mom?" she asked.
Heath shrugged "I never had one, so I'm not sure what I'm missing. But I'm sure a mom wouldn't be any better than Grandma Jean."
"Yeah she's the best mom in the whole world," Grace agreed. She fell silent looking at him for awhile before asking "would you want to meet your mom if you had the chance?"
"No," he replied without thinking then added "well maybe just to ask her why. Why she didn't want me, why did she hate my Dad that her new husband hurt him. She's a bad person and I wish she wasn't my mom." He wiped tears away as he added "do you think I'll be a bad person because I come from her?" It was a thought that troubled him often.
"Don't be silly," Grace laughed at him. "Your dad's not a bad person and neither is your Grandpa. You came from both of them too, didn't you?"
Looking at her, thinking over what she told him, he smiled in relief "you're right."
"See you just have trust your Auntie Grace," she said smugly. "Now let's play."
**********
The next morning Heath was in his room playing on his horse, pretending to be a cowboy chasing the bad guys. His Dad came in watching him with a smile on his face. Heath noticed he was still in his pajamas and he asked "Dad did I wake you up?"
"You did," Adam told him leaning against the wall "but it's ok. It gives us a chance to be alone before everyone else gets up." He smothered a yawn, wondering how his son had become such a morning person.
Heath smiled at him getting off his horse. "Dad do you think I could have a real one?"
"A real one what?" Adam asked feeling he had missed a beat.
"A horse, a real horse," Heath said jumping up and grabbing onto Adam's arm. "Please I'll take care of it. You wouldn't have to do anything."
Adam laughed as he flexed his arm. He was definitely stronger, almost back to the way he was before the accident. "Heath you don't know anything about taking care of a horse and neither do I."
"We can learn," Heath persisted turning puppy dog eyes towards his Dad. "Please," he pleaded.
Shaking his head Adam fought himself not to give in. Then he thought of an alternative "how about we get you signed up for riding lessons? Would you like that?"
"On a real horse?" Adam nodded. "Yipee," Heath shouted jumping up and down in excitement. Then running into his fathers arms "you're the best. Thank you."
**********
Later that evening Doloris and Elias came over for supper. Afterwards Doloris whispered in his ear and smiled. Clearing his throat Elias announced "we want you all to be the first to hear that we're expecting twins."
Doloris nodded her head smiling around the table at everyone. "We just found out today. Our house is really going to be crowded."
"If you need help finding ..."
"Dad thank you but it's not necessary," Doloris said cutting him off. "We've been planning an addition to the house for a while. We'll just do it sooner rather than later."
"Plus Corina and Ethan will be moving in. So we'll have plenty of help when the babies arrive."
"How's Ethan doing since he lost his job?" Adam asked.
"A little depressed but excited at a chance to try something new," Elias said.
"Corina has gone back to work as a dispatcher at the police department," Doloris added. "They'll be back on their feet in no time."
"With Ethan out of work we have a built in nanny for when the twins arrive," Elias joked. "Seriously though I hope it doesn't take that long. With both of us home it's getting a bit old."
"How's the novel coming?" Jean asked.
"Not well," Elias shrugged "writers block and too many distractions. It'll get done but I'm not sure it'll be any good."
"It'll be good," Doloris told him.
"I hope you're right. I can't afford too many flops on my resume." Turning to Doloris Elias said "Honey it's getting late and you have the early shift tomorrow. We should be going."
"Thanks for supper," Doloris said to Jean, giving everyone a hug goodnight.
**********
After putting Heath to bed, Adam went outside feeling restless and dissatisfied with how his life was progressing. He couldn't seem to get a grip on things and he felt more and more like his life was stagnating while everyone else was leaving him behind. It was time he made some changes and started working towards his goals again.
His phone began to vibrate, pulling it out he answered it without looking at the caller ID. "Hello" his greeting was answered by silence. He said hello again and still nothing but silence. He was about to disconnect when a familiar voice spoke in his ear. "I want to see my son."
Shaking his head Adam disconnected the call without acknowledging her. His mind racing he wondered how she had gotten his number. He had it changed after the last time she harassed him, shrugging he made a mental note to get a new number in the morning and to tell the police that Windy was contacting him again. Sighing he walked slowly towards the house wondering when the next confrontation would come. So distracted by her call Adam didn't notice the alien ship above him or the light that enveloped him until it was too late. He was gone before he even knew he was in trouble.
