Author's Note: I am so so sorry. I was supposed to update this a couple weeks ago and then time just got away from me. I've even had the most recent chapter up on my computer for the past month or two as a reminder, but I've just been so busy. But here I am. Still alive. This chapter was a bit hard to write, so I hope it's okay. Thank you so much for reading and sticking with me.

After such an exhausting day, rather than going back to the dorms, Adam stayed with the Halls for dinner and just crashed there for the night. Thankfully, it was Friday, so he didn't have to get up early to make it back to school.

He could spend the whole night here. In his new home.

He still couldn't believe it. He had a real home.

Everyone slept in the next morning, Terry rolling out of bed around 10:00. It wasn't much later that Jesse began to shift, slowly coming into wakefulness.

He heard an unintelligible noise before an arm collapsed across his chest. He opened his eyes to see Adam's own still closed, but his brow furrowed in irritation. He began to shift again when his boyfriend spoke again, his voice forming actual words this time.

"No."

Jesse smiled. Adam sounded so serious but looked like a little kid not wanting to get up to go to school.

"What was that?" he asked in pure amusement.

"You stay here. Don't wanna get up yet."

Jesse couldn't hold his laugh in this time. In his refusal to acknowledge the morning, Adam's eyes were still closed.

"We gotta get up eventually. Come on." Jesse placed a quick peck on the other boy's temple, the easiest place to reach, before rolling out of bed, laughing as he watched Adam plop over onto his stomach, pulling Jesse's pillow closer and burying his head in it.

Jesse walked out into the living room to see Terry eating cereal and watching TV on the couch and their dad drinking coffee at the table.

Morning greetings were exchanged before Jesse made his way to the kitchen. He was just pouring milk into his own cereal when the door to the boys' room opened and Adam stumbled out, his hair all over the place. Jesse thought he looked adorable.

As all three boys ate their cereal on the couch, James eventually felt it was a safe time to broach the task for the day.

"So…Adam…I was thinking we'd go over to your old house in a little bit and pick up the rest of your stuff."

Adam's eyes immediately grew wide in fear. Jesse gripped his arm in support.

"Are…Are you sure? I mean…" He didn't quite know how to put his fears into words. What if his dad tried to take him back? Worse…what if he tried to hurt any one of them?

James could clearly understand the boy's thoughts.

"It'll be okay, Adam. I'll be there with you the whole time. Your dad won't be able to touch you. We'll go in there, you'll get your stuff, and if he tries to pull anything, I'll call Gordon as soon as we get back here. No matter what happens, he can't make you stay there. You have my word."

Adam let out a shaky breath, still nervous about the whole thing, but nodded. He knew he had to get it over with sooner or later.

Once they'd finished their breakfast, everyone got dressed for the day. Jesse was just putting on his shoes when his dad grabbed his arm.

"Listen, son. I think it would probably be best if you stayed here while Adam and I went to his parents' house."

Jesse was having none of that.

"What?! No! I need to be there."

"Jess, I know you. The second you see his dad, you'll do something you'll regret later. Something to get you in trouble. And that is not what we need right now. In order for this to work, we need cooler heads to prevail."

Jesse let out an aggravated huff.

"If anything happens, I'll protect Adam and get him the hell out of there. I promise."

Still a bit pissed that he wouldn't have the opportunity to clock Philip Banks in the face like he deserved, Jesse went back to the living room and tried to work off his frustration by restlessly pacing around.

When Adam heard Jesse wouldn't be coming, he too was apprehensive, but was assured by James that they would be fine. He couldn't help but laugh when the older man told him the reason Jesse wouldn't be coming.

"Yup. My little hothead." He placed both hands on either side of his boyfriend's head and shook it back and forth teasingly. Jesse was broken out of his dark mood and both boys laughed before quickly kissing goodbye.

As he watched the door close, Jesse could only hope that everything would turn out okay.

James pulled into the Banks' driveway, putting his car in park before turning to look at the young man next to him, face a bit pale and breathing coming fast.

"Hey. Are you ready for this?"

Adam turned and looked at him uncertainly.

"It'll be fine. You can do this. You can."

Letting out one last breath, Adam opened the passenger door and stepped out of the car.

The two of them walked up to the front door, Adam knocking gently.

A few moments later, the door opened to reveal Mrs. Banks, her expression upon seeing them the epitome of a 'deer in the headlights' look. After taking a moment or two, she collected herself and called for her husband.

Philip Banks emerged, a deep scowl on his face as he saw who was at his door.

"You have got some nerve showing your face here. And you," he sneered, looking at James. "I take it you're that little brat's father? Some kid you raised-"

Before he could continue, James cut him off, thankful he had had the forethought to tell Jesse not to come along.

"Listen." His voice was stern and forceful. "We're only here so Adam can pick up the rest of his things. You've made it clear that he is no longer welcome here, but he is more than welcome in my home, so that's where he's going to be staying."

Philip gasped. "How dare you? There is no way I will allow my son to live in that…that…"

James used his size to shift his body forward, his chest pushing Philip Banks' further into the house.

"Adam." His voice was short, his eyes piercing the man in front of him. "Go on and start packing up the rest of your stuff. I'll be there in a minute."

Without a word, Adam raced for his old room and began piling his things into a suitcase.

Once he was gone, James began speaking again.

"You listen here. I know what you said to Adam yesterday. What you called him and what you called my son. You're lucky I have enough restraint to not break your bones right here and now. Adam is going to be moving in with us, where he will be a part of our family. Where he will have a home. Now, if I were you, I wouldn't fight this. You wouldn't want what you said or the fact that you disowned your own son to get out now would you? That probably wouldn't look best for your business. So you're going to let Adam go and I won't ask you for a dime to support him." He took a step even closer, now towering over the smaller man. "What do you say?"

Clearly pissed but knowing his limited options, Philip Banks huffed and looked away.

"Fine. Take him. But I don't ever want to see him again."

James nodded stiffly. He turned to help Adam finish packing before turning back and grabbing the defeated man's elbow so tightly Philip couldn't hold back his wince or the accompanying hiss.

"Oh, and one more thing. If I hear you've said anything to them, or you come near any of my boys again, and I'm including Adam in that now, you will regret it." He gave one more harsh squeeze and let go with a push, throwing the other man off balance as he went to go help Adam pack.

TBC