Disclaimer: I don't own Digimon.

A/N: Mickey, Matty, and Rina are up next with a new parent POV! I don't think I'll get back to writing till hopefully next week because I have to work some really stupid shifts tomorrow and the day after. You're all free to yell at my boss for me!

Following the Footsteps of Destiny

"Most times, the right thing to do is easy to see if you're willing to look and do what's necessary." -Angemon (Season Four, Episode 40: The Bully Pulpit)

Chapter 48: Living By the Crest

Ken Ichijouji

Odaiba, Japan, Earth

Ken slowly closed the front door behind himself and glanced towards the kitchen.

I wonder if Sam's home yet.

He let out a sigh and shook his head. Sam had been avoiding him ever since yesterday evening, and he was afraid of what that might mean.

Something's definitely bothering him. If only he would open up to me and let me know what's wrong. I can't help him if he doesn't want to tell me anything.

"Hey, Dad."

Ken looked up in surprise and smiled at his daughter. Miya had just come into the room, and she gave him an odd look. "Where's Mom?"

"She's still at the store. She said she'd be back in time for supper," he replied, bending over slightly to kiss her cheek. "Where's Nao?"

"He's in the kitchen having a snack."

Miya had offered to look after Nao while he and Yolei were at the store, and he was extremely grateful for her help. He had been so busy worrying about Sam that it had taken all of his concentration just to help run the store properly. Having to worry about Nao would have only made him even more of a nervous wreck.

"Is Sam here?" he asked quietly, glancing towards the stairs.

Miya gazed curiously at him for a moment and nodded. "Yeah, he's in the living room."

"Thanks," he replied. He wrapped his arms around her in a quick hug and managed a brief smile. "I'm just going to go talk to him for a moment, and then I'll meet you in the kitchen, alright?"

Miya stared at him. "Um...Dad? Are you okay? You're home earlier than I thought you'd be."

He gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile and nodded. "Don't worry, Miya, I'm fine."

At least I hope I am. I guess that'll depend on Sam.

He headed into the living room and paused at the door when he spotted his oldest son. Sam's head was resting against the arm of the couch, and there was a textbook lying in his lap. His dark hair gleamed under the living room lights, and his sapphire eyes twinkled. Several more books were scattered on the floor in front of him, along with his backpack. It looked like he was doing his homework.

Ken crossed his arms and frowned. Sam's face was very pale, and there were dark purple shadows under his eyes. He looked like he had not slept at all last night.

Poor Sam. I've never seen him look so upset before. What am I going to do if he refuses to tell me what's wrong?

"Hey, Sam," he said quietly.

Sam's head jerked up, and he let out a gasp. "Dad! What are you doing here? I thought you were at the store!"

Ken raised an eyebrow at the look of fear on Sam's face and gave his son a tentative smile. Obviously Sam did not want to talk to him, and that made his heart ache with sadness.

What is it that he's afraid to tell me?

"I just got home," he said quietly, moving slowly towards the couch. "Your mother should be home soon, as well. She just wanted to finish up a few things at the store first. What's wrong?"

Sam's face turned pink, and he lowered his eyes to his textbook. "Nothing. I just didn't expect you to be home so soon."

Ken smiled sadly and sat down on the couch next to his son.

Sam was hoping to avoid me again. I can tell by the look on his face. There has to be something I can do to get him talking.

"I didn't want Miya to have to spend her whole evening looking after Nao," he said softly.

He had decided to come home a bit earlier than he normally would have that day because he had been hoping for a chance to talk to Sam. He did not bother mentioning that little fact, though, because he had a feeling it would only make his son even more upset. He studied Sam's face for a moment and sighed. He wanted nothing more than to throw his arms around his son and hug him tightly, but he was afraid that Sam would push him away if he tried.

I can't let that happen. He needs me, and I need him.

Sam tugged nervously on one of his socks and glanced anxiously towards the door. "I should probably finish the rest of my homework upstairs. Mom's not going to be too happy with me if she sees the mess I've made all over the floor."

Ken stared at his son's pale face, and the look in Sam's eyes made his heart ache with despair.

I love you, Sam. I love you so much.

He hesitated and slowly pulled Sam into a hug. "Sam, listen to me," he said softly, resting his cheek against his son's raven hair. "I'm not mad at you. I just want to talk."

Sam let out a gasp and tried to wriggle away from him, but Ken held his son's smaller body tightly against his chest and squeezed his eyes shut.

I can't stand seeing him like this. What am I going to do?

Sam finally stopped struggling in his arms, and he let out a small sigh of relief.

"No, you're not mad," Sam mumbled into his shoulder. "You're upset, and that's even worse."

Ken gazed into Sam's deep blue eyes and smiled. "Of course I'm upset," he murmured. "You've been acting really strange lately, and I'm worried about you."

"You don't have to worry about me. I'm fine," Sam whispered, snuggling against his side.

"Are you?" he whispered. "You seem pretty quiet to me, more so than usual."

Sam suddenly pulled away from him and turned to gaze out the window. "I'm sorry about trying to keep Dai's condition a secret from you and Davis," he said quietly. "I didn't want to, but Ryoko and I were worried that Davis and Noriko would be really mad. Besides, Dai made us promise not to tell his parents because he didn't want them to worry."

Ken stared at the back of his son's head for a moment and frowned. "There's something else you're not telling me, isn't there?" He hesitated and slowly placed his hand on Sam's shoulder. Sam flinched at his sudden touch, and he quickly pulled his hand back again. "Sam, you know you can tell me anything," he whispered. "I want to help you, and you know I'll always be here when you need me."

Sam remained silent, and Ken felt his heart fill with sudden fear. "Please?" he whispered. His tone sounded urgent, even to him, and he quickly snapped his mouth shut. If he did not keep his emotions under control, he was going to end up scaring Sam even more than he already had, and that was the last thing he wanted to do.

Sam slowly turned towards him, and he let out a gasp. His son's sapphire eyes were filled with uncertainty and fear.

"Dad?" he whispered. "Do you think I'm a good person?"

Ken stared at his son in shock, unable to speak. "Sam, I don't understand," he said quietly. "Why would you ask me something like that?"

Does this have something to do with why he's been acting so funny lately?

"Am I?" Sam whispered, ignoring his question.

Ken froze and gazed into his son's dark blue eyes. He felt a strong desire to wrap his arms around Sam in a tight hug, but the look on his son's face convinced him to wait until Sam was ready to make the first move. He had a feeling that if he tried to hug his son now, he would only end up making Sam even more upset.

"Of course you are," he murmured. "Everytime I look at you, I can't help but wonder what I did to deserve such a precious gift. The same goes for Miya and Nao. I'm so proud of you, Sam, and I don't want you to ever forget that. You're a good person, and you always will be. Nothing is ever going to change that."

Sam's eyes began to sparkle with tears, and he threw his textbook onto the floor.

Oh, Sam. Please don't do this...

He tried to say something, but Sam suddenly scrambled into his arms and hugged him tightly.

"I'm sorry," his son whispered into his chest.

Ken smiled and gently stroked Sam's dark hair. The heat of his son's body soaked into his skin, and he felt himself start to relax. It looked like Sam had finally decided to bridge the gap between them, and Ken no longer felt as if his son was trying to push him away. He had never felt so relieved in his life.

"It's okay," he murmured, holding Sam close. "You might get into trouble sometimes, but you're still my son, and I will always love you, no matter what."

"I love you, too," Sam whispered.

Ken rested his cheek against the top of his son's head and smiled. I guess it doesn't matter how old my children get. I'm always going to feel as if I have to protect them from anyone or anything that tries to hurt them. We all need someone to turn to in times of trouble. Davis was the one who taught me that, and somehow I'm going to have to pass that same message onto Sam.

Ken let out a deep sigh and gently rubbed his son's back. "Sam, what's hurting you so much? I can't help you if you won't let me."

Sam slowly looked up at him and smiled. "Nothing. I was upset before, but I'm not anymore. It doesn't matter what they call me. If you say I'm a good person, then that's all that matters."

"Huh?" Ken stared at his son in confusion and frowned. Sam's eyes were sparkling with happiness, and all of the fear that had consumed him earlier was gone.

I don't understand. Has someone been tormenting my son?

He wrapped his arms around Sam's slim shoulders and sighed. He could feel his son's heart beating against his side, but the steady rhythm did not comfort him as it normally would have.

What's going on? If someone is hurting Sam...

"Hey, Dad?"

Ken glanced curiously at his son, and Sam smiled softly at him.

"What is it, Sam?"

Sam gazed thoughtfully at the ceiling for a moment and sighed. "I wish I could have had a chance to meet my uncle."

Ken was so startled by the sudden change in subject that he jerked his head up and stared at his son in surprise. He gazed into Sam's eyes for a moment and smiled sadly, his face a mask of sorrows. "I wish you could have, too. He would have been so proud of you."

Sam pulled his legs up onto the couch and wrapped his arms around his knees. "You really think so?"

He looked a little unsure of himself, and Ken wrapped an arm around him. "Yes. You are everything he could have ever wanted in a nephew, and so is Nao."

"Don't forget about Miya. She's the one with the abnormally large brain! I'm sure she and Uncle Sam would have gotten along great!"

Ken laughed and gently tugged on one of his son's grey socks. "It might not have always seemed like it, but your uncle was a good brother to me. I loved him, and that's why your mother and I named you after him. As long as we continue to remember him, he'll never really be gone. A part of him will always be with us, and that's something that death can never take away from the living."

"Yeah," his son whispered. Sam's feet came to rest against his thigh, and he smiled. "I love you. You know that, don't you?"

Sam nodded and turned to stare out the window again. "I know," he said softly. "You already told me that."

Ken pulled Sam into his arms again and gently kissed the top of his son's head. "Good. You know what, Sam? I'm never going to let you forget it."

Sam's arms went around his neck, and he felt his son lean against him.

"Hey, Dad? I promise I'll tell you and Mom everything as soon as I can."

So he is hiding something from us.

"Just don't wait too long, okay?" he whispered into his son's raven hair.

Sam nodded and gave him a warm hug. "I won't."

There were still some things that Sam did not want to discuss, but at least he was talking, and that was a start.

That's the reason he changed the subject and started talking about his uncle. He wanted to distract me in order to stop me from finding out the truth about what's going on.

There were still some things he did not understand, but there was one thing he was sure of beyond a shadow of a doubt. He would die before he would ever let anyone hurt his son, and that was a promise to himself that he intended to keep.