AN: This is, yet again, another origin story. In this story, they meet much earlier than we usually think. I hope you enjoy. This story is completed and I'll post a new chapter every Wednesday. Please leave a review and let me know what you think. I'd love to know.

October 1980

The chalk scraped against the blackboard at a fast pace. Henry McCord sat in the third row of his Trigonometry class furiously trying to keep up with the teacher. Math was the subject he struggled in the most and he was determined not to get behind.

There was a sharp rap at the door and 18 heads whipped up and stared through the glass to see who dared interrupt Dr. James's math class. The man's lips curled into a scowl, but it quickly faded away as he saw Headmaster Norton peek through at him. James strode across the floor and opened the door. The two men spoke in hushed tones as the students pretended not to pay attention.

Dr. James dropped his head for the briefest of moments before looking over the classroom. "Mr. McCord, Headmaster Norton needs to speak with you." Terror ripped through the young man as he stood. Had he done something wrong? His grades were good, but maybe his scholarship had been pulled for some other reason. He knew that his parents were paying what they could to send him to boarding school to start with. If he lost his scholarship, he wouldn't be allowed to stay. Henry moved to take a step and Dr. James spoke once again. "Henry, go ahead and take your things." Henry felt a boulder form in the pit of his stomach and he couldn't swallow past the lump in his throat. This couldn't be good.

Four hours later, Henry was on a bus headed back to his family home in Pittsburgh. His mother had died-brain aneurysm. Henry was beside himself, although he showed no outward emotion. Pamela McCord was a wonderful mother. She was Henry's best friend and his staunch advocate. Henry wondered how he would survive this loss.

Henry's father, Patrick, was a man of little fanfare and less emotion. He didn't want a big wake or even a meal after the funeral. It was over in short order. Henry sat in the front pew of St. Michael's with his father on one side and his sister, Maureen, next to him. Henry's other siblings, Erin and Shane sat further down the pew. Henry tried to focus on the priest, who was most likely saying lovely things about his mother, but he couldn't. He could only stare at the casket with the white cloth draped over it. The silver crucifix carefully centered in the middle, directly over when his mother's heart would be. She was a woman of strong faith, and she fought to instill that in her children.

Pamela helped Henry lean on his faith when his friend, Tommy, had died in a skating accident years before. Now, Henry wished more than anything, she could guide him through this. He felt woefully unprepared. She was only 43. She wasn't supposed to die yet. She had so much life to live. Henry let out a ragged breath and suddenly felt his father's eyes boring into the side of his head. "Real men don't cry," were the words Henry could feel his father communicating through that stare. He swallowed back his tears and pushed his mind to go some other place where the hurt wasn't so deep.

Two days later, Henry sat his suitcase down in the living room and observed his father. Patrick sat rigidly in a wingback chair, the morning newspaper open in front of him. "What do you think you're doing?"

Patrick's terse tone surprised Henry. "I was wondering if you could take me to the bus station. I can't just be missing a bunch of days of school. I'll never get caught up."

"You're not going back. That fancy boarding school was your mother's idea and she's not here, so you're going to the local high school." Patrick's piercing eyes studied Henry over the top of the paper.

"But Dad, I have a scholarship. It pays for a lot of the cost. Mom said it was doable." Henry's heart raced. He never wanted to go to the local high school. He didn't feel like he could ever thrive there. Pamela had understood that. She understood Henry's point of view and wanted to help him be successful.

"It was doable. Now your mother is dead, so she's obviously not working to send you to that fancy boarding school. I won't take away from the others just so you can have more." Patrick dipped his head down, turning his attention back to the paper.

"I will figure out how to pay for it myself. Would you at least be willing to give me enough for a bus ticket?" Henry struggled to keep his voice even. He had some cash back in his room at school, but he hadn't been thinking that this would happen. He hadn't really been thinking at all. "Even if that doesn't work out, I still need to get my things." Patrick raised the paper higher, completely covering his face and Henry knew the discussion was over. Quietly, he retreated to the kitchen and tried to figure out what to do.

Only a few moments passed, and Henry found himself with his head buried in his hands. He desperately tried not to break down, but the sorrow of his mother dying, along with his dreams, weighed heavily on him. A small hand stroked his arm, and he quickly covered it and tried to put himself back together. His little sister didn't need to see him fall apart. Looking up, he saw his own sad, brown eyes staring back at him. She was so much like him.

"Hey Erin, how are you doing?" He scooted his chair back and pulled her into his lap.

"I overheard. Dad said you couldn't go back to school," she said sadly. Henry gave her a slight nod, fearing that he wouldn't be able to contain his own emotions if he attempted to speak.. "How would you pay for it?" she whispered.

"I don't know. Maybe see if I can work at the school in exchange for the money I owe, or see if they would let me walk into town and get a job there. I really don't know." Henry wasn't sure what he thought would happen, but the thought of just giving it up was more than he could take. He knew the sacrifice his mother had made, and if he didn't go back, it would be like all that extra work would be wasted.

"How much does it cost to ride the bus?" she asked. "You should get to go. I have birthday money." With that she slipped a wad of cash into Henry's hand. "I can't think of anything I'd like more than for you to be happy."

Henry looked at the money, close to $50, he guessed. He could no longer keep the tears contained. He swept his sister into a tight hug and whispered. "You are the best 11 year old sister a guy could ever have. You know I love you, right?"

"You should. I'm pretty nice," she giggled as Henry tickled her side.

"I have some money back at school. I'll mail it back to you. This is just a loan," Henry said seriously.

"Give it to the school instead so they know you mean business, okay?" Erin gave him a watery grin. "I miss you lots when you're gone. Just promise you'll come back to see me."

"Of course." Erin pulled away and peeked around the corner into the living room. She disappeared and was back a few seconds later carrying Henry's suitcase.

"Go out the back door. I'll keep Dad occupied until I think you're already on the bus."

"Tell Shane and Maureen goodbye for me. I'll miss you." He gave Erin one last hug and walked out the back door, headed for the bus station. He prayed that he could make it all work out.

Fourteen hours later, Henry sat outside Headmaster Norton's office. "He can see you now Henry," Mrs. Albert, the secretary paused, "And Henry, I'm sorry to hear about your mother. She was a very kind lady."

Henry was suddenly struck, not expecting to have to deal with those kinds of statements at school. He choked back his tears and said, "Thank you, ma'am." Rising, he moved toward the Headmaster's door.

"Henry. I'm surprised to see you. I spoke with your father a few days ago and he said you wouldn't be returning." The tall, slender man gestured to Henry to have a seat, and Henry moved quickly to do so. "What can I do for you?"

"Headmaster Norton, I want more than anything to be able to stay here at Virginia Preparatory Academy. I am aware that my scholarship doesn't cover all of my expenses. I want to see if I can make an arrangement to pay the difference myself." Henry watched the man draw in a deep breath and immediately felt insecure. "Sir, I know that this is a huge request, but I can do lots of different things around campus, but if given permission to leave campus, I can work in town and make money quicker." Henry knew his expression gave him away, but he could no longer control it. "I need this sir, and I will do whatever I have to. I just want to stay."

The older man sighed. "Henry, I don't know that it's feasible for you to try and do this. You'd need to work several hours a week to make up the difference and if your grades suffer and you lose your scholarship, then you'll still be in the same boat." Even as he spoke, he studied Henry and knew the young man was determined. "If we allowed you to do this and your balance was such that you couldn't pay it off before graduation, would you be willing to stay in the area and continue to work until the balance is taken care of?"

"Sir, I was serious when I said I would do whatever I had to. If that means graduating and attending the University of Virginia so I could stay in town and continue to pay off my debt, I would do it. I just," he stuttered a bit as his emotions got the better of him. "I just want to make her proud, sir."

Headmaster Norton lounged back in his chair. There was no way he could say no to that, and besides, he liked Henry. He was a good kid and he had no doubt that Henry would make good on his promise. "I do need to clear it with your father, and given my discussion with him the other day, I question whether or not he knows you are here."

"I'm sure he knows by now. My sister said she would detain him until she knew I was on the bus." The older man smirked at the determination of Henry and guessed that it was a trait that ran in all of the McCord siblings.

"Well then, I will speak with him and let you know, but for right now, we have a deal."

Henry enthusiastically shook the man's hand and headed out of the office. For the first time in several days, Henry McCord smiled.