A/N: I'm sorry for the long delay between chapters. Life has been rather crazy. I appreciate the support you all have been giving me toward this story. See the first chapter for the disclaimer. I hope you guys enjoy this chapter, and please review. :)

Chapter 7

The ringing doorbell was the only reprieve from the silence as Adam stood on the front step of his childhood home. Greg stood beside him, with Nancy and the kids behind them. The door swung open suddenly, and Steve smiled at the group.

"Welcome," he said, stepping back. "It's good to see you again." Steve gave Adam a hug as Adam stepped in. "I'm sorry for your loss."

Adam nodded, saying nothing as he stepped back from Steve. "This is my friend, Greg," Adam introduced. "Greg's mom, Nancy, and Greg's kids, Caden and Alexa."

"It's nice to meet ya'll. Everyone's in the kitchen. C'mon in."

They followed Steve deeper into the house, where further introductions were made. Keri and Mike both shared hugs with Adam, and Keri hugged Greg as well.

"Thanks for always being there for him," she whispered to him. "He needs a friend like you in his life."

"He's a good person," Greg replied, matching her tone.

Keri nodded as she backed away.

They all sat down to dinner, talking about happy memories and their current lives. Keri talked about her photography studio, and Nate, the boyfriend they would all meet tomorrow. Mike and Steve talked about their wedding, and the kids they wanted to have. Harriet, Adam's mother, offered to move closer so she could spoil them. Greg and Adam briefly referenced where they worked and what types of jobs they were doing. Alexa and Caden talked about school, while Nancy talked about her new job. All in all, it was a successful dinner.

Once it was over, Alexa and Caden moved to the living room to watch TV while Keri, Mike, and Steve went outside for a drink and a smoke. Nancy helped Harriet clean up in spite of the protests from the latter. Adam walked around the house with Greg in tow, saying nothing at first.

"Nothing's changed," Adam whispered after a moment.

Greg looked over, but said nothing.

Adam shook his head. "I left so long ago… and everything is still in the same place." He walked into a room, and Greg followed silently. Adam scoffed bitterly. "They didn't touch a single thing."

Greg looked around at the furniture that was scattered throughout the room, a matching set. At least, it was at one point. Now it looked like what it stood for- the remnants of Adam's broken childhood. He remembered move in day, freshman year at Stanford, Adam had a broken arm and no one to help him get his stuff from the car to the fourth floor. So Greg and Nancy had helped him out. Since Greg lived in the same hallway, the two became good friends. But throughout all these years, Greg had never once asked how Adam broke his arm. Looking at the broken dresser was the final answer to his unasked question.

"Dad threw me against it the night before I left," Adam said, his voice so soft Greg could barely hear it. "The drive… w-was so long… I… m-my arm hurt so bad I pulled o-off at a hospital in R-Reno… found out it was br-broken. Collarbone too. Dad's parting shot, I g-guess."

"I'm sorry," Greg replied, matching Adam's tone.

Adam shrugged, as if to brush it off. "It healed."

"Did you?"

Adam paused, sitting on the broken bed. Greg followed suit silently, patiently. "Depends on your definition of healed," Adam finally answered.

"You made it back here," Greg said softly.

"Yeah, but I don't know if that means anything. It's s-safe now. He's not here."

"You've grown stronger."

"I guess."

"You have," Greg repeated.

Adam didn't say anything, looking around the room dismally. Greg sat silently beside him, looking at his hands.

"Closet door broke in another fight," Adam muttered, catching Greg's attention. "Nightstand, another. Bed broke in the same fight as the dresser."

Greg sighed softly. "I'm sorry."

"Dad didn't want me going to Stanford because of the distance. Which is why I chose it. He thought it was too expensive, so I got scholarships and loans. I was determined to get away from him." Adam shook his head. "I even ran away a few times as a kid. But, with nowhere to run to…"

"You went home," Greg finished for him.

Adam nodded. "College… it gave me somewhere to run to," he said. "And, I had this friend, whose mother always gave me a place to go when the dorm closed…"

Greg smiled. "Yeah, Nancy's good for that."

Adam's reciprocal smile faded. "I only talked to my mom on days when Dad wasn't around. He didn't even want her talking to me. Or Mike. But Keri… Keri wasn't even allowed any contact. Dad knew that Mom called me and Mike, and he allowed that. But he put her in the hospital when she called Keri." Adam shook his head sadly. "Ellen… she lived next door at the time… she called me when that happened. Mom… sh-she refused to go to th-the police. B-but it was b-bad." Adam bit his lip as he looked down, fiddling with his hands.

Greg allowed the silence, unsure mostly of what to say.

Adam stood up suddenly. "We should get out of here," he said.

"It's up to you," Greg replied softly. "We don't have to go anywhere if you don't want to."

Adam moved and leaned against the wall, covering up one of the holes it contained with his head. "I'm sorry to unload on you like this."

"It's okay. That's what friends are for."

Adam shook his head again. "It's not fair to you."

"It was never fair to you," Greg replied.

Adam sank down the wall quietly, sliding to the floor. Greg stayed on the bed, but turned toward his friend. Again, he allowed the silence to creep over the room, letting Adam control the conversation.

Or, in this case, lack thereof.

Nancy brought the last of the dishes into the kitchen as Harriet began filling up the sink to wash them. "Caden sure can eat, huh?" she commented.

Nancy smiled. "Reminds me of my son when he was that age," she replied.

Harriet frowned. "I don't remember much about my boys at that age. Except Adam was almost done with middle school at that point. He was a smart kid… still is. I can't help but think that how he grew up brought him to his job now."

"Well, Greg probably helped there. He's been working at the Vegas Crime Lab since… early 2000, I think."

Harriet shook her head as she started washing dishes. "I wish I could've done half the job as a mother as you have."

Nancy snorted slightly. "I wouldn't say that. You've got three great, successful kids."

"I wish I could take credit for that. Tori, Steve, and Greg deserve that. And the kids themselves. The three of them stuck together to survive. Molly… she… she was different. Left out, but not because of the others, you know?" Harriet sniffed slightly. "Her, I failed. She… she killed herself to get away from Charles."

Nancy frowned as she dried the dishes.

"I couldn't leave him, though," Harriet continued. "I had nowhere to go. No money. He watched everything I did and everywhere I went. I had to ask him for money when I wanted to get something. Even food or clothes for the kids. He knew all my friends, because they were his friends too. He didn't even like me talking to the kids after they moved out. Especially Keri. I'm surprised she's even here."

"They're here more for you than for him," Nancy said.

Harriet shrugged.

"You know, you survived too, Harriet," Nancy added. "He's gone, and you're not."

"I don't know how to live without him, though," Harriet admitted quietly.

"That's why therapists exist. My son's does wonders for him."

Harriet furrowed her brow. "Your son has a therapist?"

"Yeah. The poor kid got blown up about five years ago, had a hard time going back to the lab after that. And then about two years ago, he was trying to stop a beating, and ended up killing one of the kids and getting beat up himself. And about a month or so ago, his friend was murdered by the undersheriff."

"I heard about some of that stuff on the news. I didn't realize it was Adam's Greg." Harriet shook her head. "Then again, I don't know that Adam ever told me Greg's last name. And I never really thought to ask. Guess I'm really bad as a mother. I don't even know my kid's friends."

"You're a good mother," Nancy said, putting her hand on Harriet's shoulder. "Your kids love you. They came here for you. And that's the true testament to their love for you."

"I should've protected them better," Harriet muttered. "Especially Adam. Charles really targeted him. I think it's because Adam was born early, and then was sick a lot as a young kid. And he was always so smart. I mean, for a little while, I couldn't let him do much more than read and be the smart kid. He got better, though. And got into hockey with Mike. Keri played field hockey. I think the outlet helped them all, brought them all closer. Molly wasn't into that, though."

"Greg always wanted to play sports," Nancy said. "I wouldn't let him. He was my miracle… I wasn't supposed to be able to have kids, but I got lucky with him. I knew it wouldn't happen again. I was so worried he'd get hurt and I lose him. I protected him too much. And, granted, it made me close to my son, but it made him lie to me when he went into the field. You did the best you could, Harriet. That's what matters. And the kids don't blame you. And they're great kids."

"They are," Harriet agreed. "You must think I'm a mess, spilling my guts to a complete stranger."

Nancy chuckled. "With what our sons have told us about each other over the years, doesn't feel like strangers."

Harriet smiled. "I wanted to thank you for taking Adam into your home. I can tell by how he talks that you're like another mother to him."

Nancy shook her head. "Like I said, he's a great kid."

"So's Greg."

Nancy shrugged with a smirk. "He's alright."

Harriet chuckled.

Adam finally broke the silence with, "I forgot how bad this room looked when I left."

Greg glanced around, but said nothing.

"I would've thought they'd have fixed it, but I guess he liked to admire his own handiwork or something."

Greg shook his head bitterly.

"He was a bastard."

Greg nodded quietly.

"Why did your parents divorce?"

Greg furrowed his brow. "What?" he asked.

"I don't think you ever told me," Adam replied.

Greg shrugged. "My mom's idea. Dad just went with it, I think. Something like they grew apart. They loved each other, they just weren't in love with each other. I think he's been trying to replace her for years. Trish might be it."

"How old were you?"

"When they divorced?" At Adam's nod, Greg said, "two. I don't really remember them together. It's mostly what I've pieced together through the years."

"Nancy and Eric never told you?"

Greg shook his head. "Not in so many words, but I also never asked. I just assumed everyone's parents did that. Especially with Dad's constant marriages. I swear, he's had more wives than Henry VIII."

Adam smiled slightly. "What about Nancy? I mean, I know she hasn't married since I've known you, but…"

Greg shook his head again. "Never."

Adam shrugged. "Polar opposites."

"Always were." Greg paused, thinking. "So, wait. Does that make me the medium? Because I kinda have a thing for Patricia Arquette…"

Adam rolled his eyes. "We should go find your kids."

"Yeah, I guess." Greg stood up, walking over and giving Adam a hand getting up from the floor.

"Thanks. For listening to me. And always being there for me."

"I told you. That's what friends are for."

"Well, you're a good friend."

"So are you."

Adam nodded slightly.

"So, do we hug it out, or do you wanna pay me, or…?" Greg joked.

Adam shoved his friend lightly with a smile before the two of them left the room.