First I'd like to say sorry for not updating in over two months but I had been stuck on how to continue. Now that have sorted out a general plan on how this will continue I should update sooner but don't hold your breath. I hope you like this chapter.

When Don woke up the next morning to find Charlie had gone already. He looked over at the clock and realized that Charlie might be down stairs considering he may not want to go to work after what had happened. Calming down slightly he went and had a shower and headed down to have breakfast all though it would be called lunch by anyone else.

"Good afternoon Don, I was starting to wonder if you were planning on staying in bed all day." Alan said without even looking up from the paper he was reading.

"Hey dad, do you know-"

"-where Charlie is?" Alan finished. "He decided to go to work but he didn't want to wake you."

"Actually I was going to ask is how are we going to tell everyone." He said, not wanting his dad to realize he was right. Alan looked at him skeptically but answered him anyway.

"Charlie said he was going to invite Amita, Larry and Megan over for dinner tonight and we will tell them then. Although I must admit he didn't look too keen on telling Amita that he was her long lost cousin."

"Yeah well he was practically in love with her, and even though they weren't allowed to date before because of the rules he was always hoping that he would be able to once she had finished. Now he finds out that he will never be able to since they're related." Don said sympathetically.

"About that, I was thinking that it would be best if you were there with him when he tells her." Alan advised as he folded up the paper and stood up.

"Sure, why wouldn't I be?" Don asked but Alan quickly side stepped the question by saying...

"Before I head off to the charity luncheon I was wondering if you could take care of dinner seeing as Charlie is at work and I will be out." After Don nodded he rushed out the door after realizing he was now late. Don sighed as he glanced around the now empty house and deciding that he should probably have breakfast or lunch.

When he had finished he had wandered around the house aimlessly until he found himself standing in front of the cabinet in the lounge room. Taking the key out from inside a nearby vase he placed it in the lock and opened it and drew out a photo album labeled Charlie. Flipping through it he stopped as he came across a photo taken of a 13 year Charlie beaming and Don found himself smiling to as he remembered back to the day it had been taken…

Flashback

Don had just got home from baseball practice to find Charlie racing towards him grinning from ear to ear and Don felt his stomach clench lightly upon seeing it.

"Don, Don I can't believe it people said hello to me today and they were smiling, SMILING! Also not one single person picked on me today!" Charlie said bouncing. Don did know it however and it was because of him telling everyone to leave Charlie alone. Thankfully far from having a negative affect on his social status it actually made him more popular with the ladies and from that the guys assumed he was pulling the protective older brother act to impress the ladies which resulted in him becoming one of the most popular people at school. He would NEVER even dream of telling Charlie about that though.

End of flash back

Don turned the page and glanced down at the next photo. He remembered this day really well it had been Charlie's 21st birthday and it was the first day that he had really seen Charlie let loose and have fun for a change while doing something non maths related. Even now that night would have had to have been the most fun he had ever had. Before they went out to celebrate it they had to make a pact that Charlie wouldn't talk about maths if Don did not bring up his floozy of the week. Don returned to flipping through the pages but when he reached the back something caught his eye. It was an inscription by his mom to Charlie dated from when they had just found out how ill she was…

To my dear Charlie,

Life can be unfair how it tears people apart when it is time for them to go and I only wish I could be there to watch you grow into the great man I know you will become. Even though I will soon be gone I wanted to give you something so you will always now how truly special you are and how much I love you and that no matter what happens I will always be looking out for you. Ever since I had first laid my eyes on you I loved you more than I could ever express and as I watched you grow and you talent for maths grew I was honored to be a part of it. It will soon be my time to go and I hope that you use this to put in all your happy times you may have in the future.

Your ever loving mother.

Don finished reading the inscription and carried the book out to the kitchen where he could show Charlie before the guests arrive. He checked the time and realizing that if he was ever going to get dinner cooked and the house looking respectable in time he had better start now.

Thanks for reading this chapter and please review and tell me what you thought about it.