Thank you to everyone that has read this story and my other one. I am so sorry for not updating sooner, but I have been really busy and will continue to be for the next few days. I will do my best to have another chapter up ASAP. I would like to send out an extra special thank you to islaboe for her continued help and support on both my stories. So heres chapter 2, it's pretty rough so I apologize for that but as I've said I've been busy and dealing with MAJOR writer's block. I hope you enjoy though, and as usual review and/or pm me with what you like or didn't like. thank you.

There was that same little voice that had woken Adam every day for the past 3 ½ years.

"Adam? It's time for you to wakey up now."

That little precious voice that owned his heart and soul from the very moment he had first seen its tiny owner. His darling little sister Chloè.

Adam grumbled something and turned over away from the tiny voice that had proceeded to climb on his bed in search of her brother's face. Adam knew this and had planned on pretending to be asleep.

Chloè pounced on her brother, she knew it wouldn't hurt him at 5 years old she was still quite small peteete as her favorite brother Adam had called her, but shh don't tell Hoss or Joe. Chloè searched the covers for Adam's face and finally found it underneath 2 pillows. She bent down right next to his ear and whispered," Adam is morning time; the sun has already beat you up this time." His only reply was a loud snore. Chloè sat back in a pout with a trembling protruding bottom lip that her twin Joe has showed her, it worked every time on her Pa, even better than Joe, which angered him into pushing her into a mud puddle which only got him into more trouble. Why won't Adam wake up? Gasp could he be sick? She bent down and checked his forehead for a fever. Nope not the slightest. Getting frustrated she took his face into her hands and started slapping it," ADAM WHY ARE YOU STILL SLEEPYING?!" When she still didn't get a response Chloè had had enough," PA ADAM WON'T WAKE UP..."

Adam grabbed her by the waist and covered her mouth," Don't yell for Pa I don't want to get into trouble before the day has even started."

Pulling his hand off her mouth," Well maybe you should have waked when I told you to."

Chloè snuggled up to Adam as he leaned back. Tucked away in her eldest brother's arms was the one place she always felt safe, especially after her Ma had died. Chloè had been so traumatized she had spent 48 hours straight in Adam's arms as he did his best to comfort her and the rest of his family. After Marie was buried Joe moved back into Chloè's room and has been there ever since and that was 8 months ago. Adam watched his little sister lie there for the longest time. Her short, curly brown hair framed her face just so, it sat a little longer than her shoulders and as she rested snuggled up to his side Adam gently tucked a loose curl behind her ear. Chloè was wearing her favorite peach colored dress that she had convinced Adam to let her try on last week, after seeing how happy she was in it Adam bought it for her as a going away present that she didn't even know about. Now Adam was leaving for college in a week. One more week of wake ups from his little sister, one more week of swimming with Joe, one more week of ranch work with Hoss, and one more week of being at home with Pa and his entire family for 4 years. By the time he returned Joe and Chloè would be 9. He would miss so much and he just didn't know how to tell Joe and Chloè that he was leaving, especially little Chloè, he knew that she wouldn't understand completely ,but he knew that the longer he waited the worse it would be. So he took a deep breath in and.

"Adam, Chloè? You 2 are still in bed?"

"And what busyness is it of you Joey?"

"All of it since he's my brother to ya know." Feeling jealous, but not wanting to show it to Chloè, Joe climbed up into Adam's bed and sat down on the edge. Adam could only smile and try to stifle his chuckles at his youngest siblings.

"What do you want Joey, we don't want you here."

Joe's head shot around to look at his sister with hurt eyes. Adam turned to look at Chloè as well, he couldn't believe that his beloved little sister would say such a hurtful thing, and to her own twin brother.

"Chloè Faith, we do not speak to each other that way. Joe has as much right to be here as you do. This is my room so I can whoever I choose in here. I love him just as much as I do you. Now apologize to your brother."

Chloè started sulking again, but after seeing that Adam wasn't budging she went ahead and apologized." I'm sorry Joey."

"It's okey Chlo." Joe bent over and gave his sister a big hug as a familiar voice came from the door.

"Ya'll might wanna come on down to breakfast before Hop Sing goes back to China."

Adam's oldest little brother Hoss stood there in the doorway with a worried look on his face, Hoss desperately did not want Hop Sing leaving, he didn't know what he would do if that happened.

Chloè broke from her hug to find her big brother Hoss had appeared.

"Good morning Hoss, what is Hop Sing cooking for breakfast, I'm starving."

"I'm not sure yet little miss, how 'bout we go down an' check."

Chloè smiled and reached her hands up to Hoss who happily lifted her onto his shoulders and took off downstairs like a horse while Chloè laughed and giggled. Adam looked on with pride at his beloved family. Adam looked down at Joe who was feeling left out and scooped him up onto his shoulders and took off after Hoss. All was merry as the 4 siblings ran around the great room with the children, until Ben came in.

Ben didn't know what to think at first seeing his 2 oldest sons running around neighing like horse and his 2 babies hollering like cowboys, but the first thing he did was smile. It was rare for all his children to be getting along so well so he didn't want to ruin the moment. As Ben stood looking on smiling Chloè noticed her Pa and waved," Look at me Pa I'm a cowgirl, ride along little pony." Hoss bucked and didn't notice the stray boot on the ground and tripped falling head first onto the settee. Hoss's head fell on the cushion so he wasn't hurt as bad, but his knee was scraped. Chloè, however, fell over the back of the settee and hit hard on the ground, knocking her instantly unconscious. Ben quickly ran over to check on Chloè, he picked her up and the first the he noticed was a bloody whelp on her forehead, instant panic washed through him of his beloved Marie after the accident. Adam and Joe had stopped and Adam had rushed over to check on Chloè while Joe went to stand by Hoss who looked on with tear filled eyes.

"Pa is she?" Hoss choked out, as he wiped a tear from his face, he remembered all too well the last time Pa had made that face. Hoss shut his eyes tight and shook his head, No he thought he just couldn't have killed his baby sister. Joe hugged his brother tight, as his own tears fell as he looked at his twin limp in his father arms, he too remembered.

When Adam reached his Pa's side his heart sank as he got a good look at his sister's body. He fell to his knees and hesitantly put a hand on his sister's wrist to check for a pulse.

Adam's eyes shot open as he felt a tiny pulse," She's alive, it's but she's alive."

Everyone breathed a relived breath, and if on cue Chloè's eyes opened.

"Oh Chloè, my baby girl you're alright." Ben wrapped Chloè in a tight hug.

"Pa you're squishing me."

Ben held on for a few more seconds, he wanted to hold on to his baby girl forever, but she had started to squirm in his tight grip. Ben reluctantly released her as she sat up and looked around at everyone.

"Why is everyone crying? Did something bad happen?" She was scared, her big brother or Pa never cried, the only time she had seen them cry was when her Ma had died.

Ben placed his hand on his daughters head," Everything is ok now sweetie how's your head?"

Chloè hadn't noticed until now that her head hurt," It hurts, but not that bad Pa, why does my head hurt?"

"You just fell and hit your head."

Accepting the answer Chloè looked around at everyone again," So can we eat now, I'm hungry."

Everyone broke out into relieved laughter," Of course we can sweetheart," Adam bent down to pick up his little sister, and wrapped her into a tight hug. He came to realize one again how quickly you could lose someone, then came the thought of what all could happen while he was away at college for 4 years.

Later that night Adam was carrying both his brother and sister up to bed to tuck them in after a long day. Adam had been thinking all day about whether or not he should even go to college now. The incident with Chloè had really shaken him. As Adam entered the room he placed both kids down on the beds.

"Alright you two we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow and ya'll need plenty of rest."

As Adam walked over to tuck in Chloè she looked up at him with pleading eyes," Adam can you sing for us tonight?"

"Yeah Adam can you sing for us please?"

They were both doing that same pouting lip thing that just melted his heart, with a roll of his eyes and a deep sigh he walked out and over to his room to grab his guitar.

"Where'd he go?"

"Did he really just walk out without even a nighty night kiss?" Chloè looked over at her twin with a worried expression Adam always tucked her in even when he was mad at her. Joe had the same thought this was unlike Adam even when they had some of their worst fights Adam was always there to tuck them in.

"Alright, but just one song okay?"

In unison, "Adam you came back."

"Of course did ya'll actually think I wouldn't be here to tuck you in? Have I ever missed a night?"

Both shook their heads and climbed gleefully into bed as Adam began singing.

Adam bent over to kiss both Joe and Chloè's foreheads goodnight, both were sound asleep. Adam once again had the same feeling as earlier, he would miss so much while away, but it was something he had to do. Tomorrow morning, that's when he would tell them.

Adam fell heavily onto his bed that night; he was not looking forward to morning now. He couldn't stand to see Chloè cry, and now he would be the reason for her broken heart. He, her eldest brother the reason for her first broken heart. His own heart ached as he imagined her reaction. He could guess how Joe would react, he would be mad and resent him for the rest of the time he was sure, he would probably hide his hurt, but Chloè, no she would share every emotion and be sure to show and tell Adam exactly how she felt in hopes of changing his mind. Just as Adam had started to slip into deep sleep he heard a tiny voice.

"Adam, are you awake?"

Chloè." I am now."

Chloè shifted her feet nervously she had hoped Adam would be awake reading, but he hadn't she had woke him up and now felt badly for disturbing his sleep.

"Oh I'm sorry; I didn't want to wake you. I thought maybe you would be reading."

"It's ok Chlo, what did you want?" He already knew the answer before she said anything. She had had a nightmare, Chloè always came to Adam when she had a nightmare, because she said that her big brother knew exactly how to run the bad dreams away, she had called him her hero. Now he thought to himself how much of a hero she would think he was when he told her he was leaving tomorrow.

"Another bad dream?"

She shook her head softly; big brother always knew what was wrong and how to fix it. She just couldn't imagine life without him or what she would do.

Adam flipped the covers down and motioned for her to crawl in. Chloè happily ran over and hopped up into his bed and snuggled up against Adam's side. Adam wrapped his arm around her in a tight hug. Oh he thought how much I love you dear sister you will never know.

"Want to talk about it?"

Chloè nodded her head and began," You went away like Momma did." Adam could feel his heart break apart as she spoke," I tried to come find you but I was too little, and Pa said you had to go but that you would be back. But you never came back, I tried to go find you but they wouldn't let me, they said you were gone and would never come back." Adam sat silently and listened to his sister speak. It took everything in him to keep it to together.

Chloè smiled to herself and snuggled closer to Adam," But I know you would never leave me like that, right big brother?" Chloè noticing Adam's hesitation turned around to look at Adam, Chloè and Adam's eyes locked onto each other; Adam felt her eyes peering into his soul. Before she could catch onto him, he quickly gathered her up in his arms and began tickling her.

"Adam stop it," she spoke breathlessly in between youthful giggles," You're being silly."

"Oh am I little sister."

Adam smiled down at her and stopped and rewrapped her into a tight hug and laid her onto his chest.

After a few moments Chloè propped herself up and looked deep into Adam's eyes," Are you ok big brother? You're real quiet tonight?"

Adam could only force a smile at her," I'm alright Chloè; just have a lot on my mind. Hey Chloè you know that no matter what happens that I love you right, it might not seem that way but that I will always love you more than anything else."

Chloè looked at Adam like he had just said the silliest thing ever," Of course Adam an I love you too," She bent down and gave Adam a kiss on the cheek," You wouldn't ever actually leave me right?." Adam felt his heart twist as he took in a deep shaky breath," No sweetie not unless I had no choice." Chloè smiled at Adam, satisfied with his answer and snuggled back up to his right side and fell asleep. He watched her sleep for the longest time with tears streaming down his face; he had lied to his baby sister. He was going to leave her, and he was going to break his sister's heart.