Robert Nesmith made the hardest decision of his life, debating it with himself for several weeks before he was able to make it. Even when he made the decision, it had taken a little over a year before he was even able to act upon it. He'd be losing them and he knew the house would be empty once again, but he knew it was for the best. He'd be putting them up for adoption in the morning. He knew he had to make two separate trips for it, it wasn't convenient but it would be best that way. They needed to be separated from one another, the sooner the better as it was painful and exhausting for both of the kids.

"Chordus?" He asked one of the boys, causing the child to giggle at the nickname.

"Hi!" Michael 2, now known as Apollo, grinned and waved at his father.

Robert smiled and bent down, helping the kid button his shirt.

"Are you ready to go?"

Apollo nodded happily, wrapping his arms around the man and pulling him into a hug. Robert tensed slightly at the embrace, it only made it harder, but smiled and lifted the boy up into his arms. The boy squealed and giggled as he was twirled around. Suddenly he was set back down onto the ground while his father said he'd be right back, he just needed to go upstairs for a minute.

Artemis, or Prima as his father always called him, remembered that day. Somehow, he did. He remembered being woken up and told that his brother would be going away. He didn't even know what that meant but nodded and sat on the stairs, just waiting for them to come back.

He didn't know how long it had been but it felt like an eternity before Robert Nesmith returned. When he heard the door click open, Artemis ran down the stairs at full speed, sobbing as he threw his arms around the man's legs.

Robert frowned but bent down to give the child a proper hug. In hindsight, it wasn't the greatest idea to leave his three and a half year old son alone for an hour.

"It's okay," he whispered, rubbing his back. "I'm here, I'm sorry."

Artemis sobbed into his father's shoulder, unable to stop himself. Eventually, Robert sat down on the floor, Artemis cuddling up against him.

"It's okay," Robert said softly, wrapping his arm around his son. "I'm sorry, but I'm here now."

As they sat there, Robert began thinking it all through. Tomorrow they'd go to put Artemis up for adoption.

Tomorrow became the next day, and the day after. The days became weeks, the weeks became months, and pretty soon years were passing and never once had he even tried to put him up for adoption. He could never bring himself to give him up so he raised Artemis as his son until the day of his death, not long before his son's 10th birthday.

A flood of memories came back to him that night, memories he had been suppressing for several years. After all, he was the one who had stayed with his father the whole time. Mike, or Artemis as he was known at the time, was the one who stayed.

He stared up at the ceiling, letting out a sigh, trying to ignore the intense feelings and memories that began to overtake him.

"Are you up?" A voice asked and Mike groaned slightly, feeling a pain in his chest growing. He closed his eyes and nodded.

"Sorry," the other half said, turning his back to face Mike. Mike only sighed and shrugged.

"It's fine," he said under his breath, something on his mind he needed to ask. "You came all this way for answers?"

The other nodded, smiling slightly.

"I-I was hoping you could…"

Mike sighed and shook his head.

"Afraid I can't help you there, Apollo," he admitted.

Michael frowned and rolled over onto his side to look over at him.

"What'd you call me?" He asked, feeling a familiarity in the nickname.

"Apollo," Mike said, not able to look over at his other half. "That's your name, isn't it?"

"Robert Michael, actually," he said with an amused smile. "Where'd you get Apollo from?"

Mike didn't answer that.

"Where are you from again?" He asked instead.

"You're deflecting," Michael pointed out. "Why aren't you talking to me?"

"You're deflecting my question," Mike shrugged. "Where are you from?"

He sighed.

"Minnesota."

Mike nodded.

"That's a long trip," he said, pulling the covers up to his shoulders. "Sorry it was all for nothing."

Michael frowned, staring at his other half.

"Well, I haven't been able to book another flight," he explained. "A-and I'm not leaving until I get some answers."

"Didn't mommy ever tell you the truth?"

"What?"

Mike sighed.

"My graduation gift in high school was a copy of 'The Concept of Family' essay. Ever heard of it?"

It sounded familiar, but he couldn't quite place where he had heard the name before.

"Micky has a copy if you wanna read it," he muttered, closing his eyes. "Or I can always give you mine…never read it all, I could never bring myself to read it all..."

He let out another sigh, hiding his eyes with a hand.

"I don't know how I'd ever tell Micky about that stupid essay…he'll never leave me alone…" he finally dropped his hand down, staring blindly up at the ceiling. "If you want answers, that's where you're gonna get it."

"Okay…" he said quietly.

"You'd need to ask Micky for his copy," he said. "Don't know what he'd say but…"

He cut himself off as he heard footsteps approaching the door, opening it.

"Oh," Micky said. "You're awake. Good."

"We're up," / "Thanks Micky," both said at the same time. Micky gave a slightly uncomfortable smile as he came in, bringing in two mugs of tea and setting them on the nightstand.

"Feeling any better?"

"Fine," Mike said, forcing himself to stand and get out of bed, pushing past Micky as he made his way out of the bedroom.