10 months later

"Hey Lils, are you still packing?" Cain said as he walked into the girl's bedroom.

"I'm just not too sure what I need to take with me?"

"Clothes, a few personal items, but don't take too much, those dorms aren't very big. Besides, the academy keeps you so busy, you will not have time for much else."

"Thanks, Wy, I think I'll put a few things back. I'm just down the ways, I can always come by and pick up a few things if I feel I need them." Cain nodded.

"Your brother should be here in about ten minutes, you need to be ready to go by then." he said as he left her room.

"Will do, Boss man." She called back, which caused Cain to smile. He walked into the living area and heard a giggling come from the living room. He turned to see Jeb, standing up in his playpen, looking at him.

"And I thought you were supposed to be napping, little boy." Cain said.

"Dada." Jeb cried, holding his hands out to him.

"Oh so that what it is? You want to be held." Cain said

"Up!" Jeb said and Cain rolled his eyes, picking his son up, letting him rest on his hip.

"I think the others spoil you too much." Cain said as Jeb snuggled into his father.

"And why are you not sleeping, I know you're tired, Jeb." Jeb just buried his face within Cain's chest, yawning.

"So that's it, just want me to hold you while you sleep, to bad we're leaving soon." Cain said, sitting on the couch, letting Jeb sit next him as he cuddle into Cain. Cain let his hand run through Jeb's dirty blond hair as Jeb yawned again.

Jeb perked his sleepy head up when they heard the door open. Cain saw Zero enter the apartment, and smiled at him. Jeb squealed at this, now wide awake.

"PAPA!!!" He screamed as Zero scooped up the boy into his arm.

"And how's my little boy doing today?" Zero said, plopping on the couch next to Cain, Jeb in his lap.

"He's going to be a cranky little boy, he refused to take his nap." Cain said.

"Aww, that's not good, Jeb." Zero said, as Jeb snuggled into Zero's chest now. Zero kissed Cain on the cheek. "And how's my other favorite boy."

"I'm fine."

"Is she packed?" Zero asked.

"She's getting there."

"Lilly! You better be ready soon, or we are leaving without you." Zero yelled.

"And what are you going to do without me, check Jeb into the dorm?" She yelled back.

"Fine, if you're not ready soon, we're leaving without your stuff." Zero yelled again.

"FINE! I'll be ready in a few minutes." Lilly said with a sigh.

---

The walk to the Tin Man academy was not bad. Zero held Jeb, while Cain and Lilly carried her three bags. They got her into the Dorm, and got her to her room, which consisted of nothing more than a bed, desk and a closet.

"You where not kidding about it being small, Wyatt." Lilly said.

"Yep, and this will be your home for the next six months."

"Lovely." She said putting her bag on her bed. They helped her unpack, and helped her get situated. Before long, Jeb started to make a racket, cry and fussing for his lack of nap earlier. Lilly picked him up.

"Hey buddy, I'm going off to start my new life, that's not how I want to remember you, Mr. cranky pants." Jeb just ignored her, holding his hands out to Zero. "Hey little man, I'm talking to you.

"No sissy, Papa!" Jeb said. She just rolled her eyes, handing the boy back to Zero.

"I guess we better get him home, so he can sleep." Cain said, sadly, moving in to give Lilly a hug. After Cain was done, Zero moved in, giving her a side hug, kissing the top of her head.

"If you need anything, just call. And remember, you can come back on the weekends if you want."

"I know, Adrian, but I will be fine." She said with a smile. She moved in to look at Jeb.

"Want to give me a hug, little man." holding out her hands to him. Jeb just buried his face within Zero's chest.

"Well fine! Be that way." she said as she leaned in, hugging his back and kissing him on the head. "OK OUT! I have things to do, friends to make and classes to study for." Lilly said.

"We will see you later." Cain said as the three of them left her dorm.

They walked back to the apartment and by the time they made it, Jeb was nearly asleep. They walked in, and Zero placed Jeb within the playpen, watching as his hazel eyes fluttered a few times before he fell asleep. Zero turned, seeing Cain sitting on the couch. Zero sat next to him, letting his head rest on Cain's shoulder.

"She's growing up. Soon, she'll be out on her own." Cain said, softly.

"Think about the positive parts of that." Zero said.

"And what's that?" Cain asked

"Well.... Jeb's asleep, Lilly's gone. We are alone, together." Zero said, brushing his lips lightly against Cain's neck as he spoke.

"Oh I see, yeah that is a nice way to look at it." Cain said with a smile before he turned, capturing Zero's lips in a kiss.

"Bed, now!" Cain said, getting to his feet, pulling Zero with him, dragging him to the bedroom.

"It's been a while." Zero teased.

"Too long," Cain said, pulling Zero into another kiss, as they fell to the bed, Zero on top of Cain. Zero leaned up, quickly removing his shirt before he started to work at the buttons of Cain's button up. He got about half way done before he gave up, pulling the annoying garment over Cain's head.

"Your right, it's been too long." Zero said, moving in to nibble at Cain's neck. Cain moaned out at that. Cain's hands went between them, working at the button of Zero's pants before slipping his hand within those pants and started to stroke Zero's erection. Zero gasped loudly at the touch.

"Shhh, sweetheart, or you'll wake Jeb." Cain said softly, still stroking Zero's cock, wicked little smile.

"But how can I be quiet when you make it feel so good." Zero said.

"I want you, Adrian. I want you now." Cain said, voice low, filled with lust. Zero moaned at that, slipping off the bed, removing his pants before moving to the button's of Cain's pants, removing them as well. Zero pulled the tube that was in the nightstand out, smiling down at his lover. He grabbed Cain's leg, moving him so that his ass hung off the edge of the bed.

"Mmm so that's how you want me?" Cain purred out, hand on his erection, stroking himself lightly as he stared directly into Zero's lustful steely gray eyes.

"If you keep talking like that, and looking that sexy, love, this will be a very short ride." Zero said, before putting some of the lubricant on his fingers before thrusting them into Cain, causing the man to whimper and pant. He started to prepare his lover, but soon Cain couldn't take it anymore.

"Oh, stop teasing and just fuck me already!" Cain said with a shout.

"Shh, love, or you'll wake Jeb." Zero said, with a smile before putting some of the lubricant on his erection. He put one of Cain's legs on his shoulder, before positioning himself at Cain's entrance before pushing in, causing them both to gasp.

"Mmm, Oh I so missed this." Zero purred as he began to thrust, hard and deep within Cain, causing Cain to moan loudly as he stroked himself with Zero's thrusts. It wasn't long before Cain came, with a shout, with Zero's name on his lips. A few short thrusts and Zero cried out, loosing himself within Cain. Zero collapsed next to Cain, as they laid there within each other's arms.

"Yeah, we need to do this more." Cain said, snuggling into Zero as Zero just chuckled.

"Maybe we can have a weekend to ourselves every so often. Schedule time off together, send Jeb off to Alyssa's..." at that Cain stiffen slightly. "Love, I know you feel uncomfortable having Jeb away, but we've had him for nearly a year, he's old enough to spend a few nights without his parents." Zero said, stroking Cain's chest lazily.

"I don't know. I feel like I would be imposing on Alyssa..." Cain said.

"She offered it, love."

"I just, don't feel, right, letting him out of my sight anymore then I have to." Cain explained.

"He will still be there when we go get him love."

"Are you sure?" Cain said sadly. Zero propped his head up with his arm, looking into Cain's face.

"You're scared.... of what love?"

"I'm just scared. What if, she wants him back? What if we send him off and she comes and takes him back, there be nothing I could do to stop her. I couldn't bear to lose him, Adrian." Zero moved Cain into a hug.

"Wyatt, I will never allow that to happen. Jeb is our child and he always will be. No one is taking our son away from us and I'll do my best to protect him, no matter the cost."

---

2 years later

Jeb was unsure about what was going on, but he could tell that this was not the time to be messing with his parents. Jeb decided his room was the safest place and was in there playing with his toys when his papa found him. Jeb noticed his papa was dressed up; it was that funny suit that his papa and daddy had to wear whenever something special happened, like a few months ago when daddy won that shiny medal.

"Hey, Jebby. We need to get you dressed." Papa said.

"What for?" Jeb asked, confused since he was already dressed for the day. Was something going on, papa and daddy hadn't told him about anything.

"We have to go out. Remember that outfit we bought you yesterday, I need to put you in it now." Jeb remembered the outfit alright, it was that black tight, uncomfortable thing. Jeb made a face at that.

"I don't wanna." Jeb whined.

"I know you don't, Jeb, but we still have too." Papa said.

"Why?" Jeb asked.

"Because we have to go… we have to go to a ceremony."

"What is a ceremony?" Jeb asked again.

"A special event." Papa explained.

"Oh like when daddy got that metal?" Papa just smiled at that.

"Yes, just like that."

"So are you getting a metal this time?" Jeb asked.

"No, this one is a different kind of event."

"Then what makes it special?"

"Because it doesn't happen that often."

"What doesn't?" Jeb asked again. Papa didn't answer that. He instead pulled out the uncomfortable outfit from the closet. Jeb really didn't want to wear it. He put his arms over his chest shaking his head no as he glared at his papa.

"Jebby, don't be that way!" Papa said. He took one step towards Jeb and Jeb took off running.

"Jebediah! Stop right there." Papa said causing Jeb to stop in his tracks. "Come back here this instant." Papa said and Jeb did what he was told. Jeb pouted as his papa undressed him, getting him dressed in the tight, uncomfortable outfit. Jeb was letting them know just how unhappy he was to be place in the clothes but he also noticed that his parents didn't seem to see his unhappiness, which frustrated the boy to no end. He hated to be ignored.

They walked down the street, Jeb within his papa's arms, even with the annoying suit he wore, that had hard buttons that made it uncomfortable to be held by his parents. Jeb didn't care, it was better than having to walk. Jeb asked his daddy what they were doing, but all he said was that it was something called a memorial service, but wouldn't explain to Jeb what that meant. Jeb just watched as everyone gathered, all sad, and Jeb just couldn't figure out why.

Jeb saw Lilly there and squealed when he saw her. She smiled sadly at him, also in one of those dressed up suits. He was happy that she held him, but noticed she was also sad. She said something about a girl being gone and couldn't believe it. When Jeb asked who was gone, all he got was that it was a princess, but what was a princess. Jeb hated being confused.

Jeb listened as a boring guy talked as most people stood around, some were crying, some were just silent. He heard words like loss, and sadness, but he didn't understand what they were, his parents left all the time, but they always came back. He was sure that this princess person would just come back soon, why should people be all sad about it. Jeb was getting fidgety and wanted nothing more than to take the clothes he wore off and run around, but he could tell that it would just upset his parents, so he tried his best to stay still as the boring man continued to speak.

After the boring man was done, people talked with one another. Jeb saw friends of his papa and daddy from their Job. He saw daddy's partner, Mr. Morgan, and his wife, she was crying and Jeb hugged her, telling her not to be sad any more. He did not like people crying, he liked it when people where happy.

He then saw papa's partner and wanted to go play with his kids, even if they were older than him, but papa wouldn't let him go, saying that they were leaving soon. Jeb pouted but just did what he was told. They soon left the area, when Jeb was getting sleepy, and went back to their home. As soon as Jeb was through the door he was stripping off his clothes as his parents went to their room to change as well. When they came back into the living-room, both dressed in more comfortable clothes, Jeb was sitting on the couch, dressed in what he thought was the most comfortable thing in the world, nothing.

"And what are you doing there, you little nudist?" Daddy said to him. Jeb just smiled. He didn't care, he was comfortable. When he saw daddy reaching down to grab him, he ran to his room with his daddy on his heels. He was laughing and when daddy caught him, pulling him into his arms, Jeb just squealed. Daddy just smiled, shaking his head, before moving to the dresser drawer and pulling out some comfortable play clothes. Jeb smiled as his daddy dressed him.

"I glad daddy happy. I not like you sad." Daddy just looked at him giving him a sad smile. Jeb's hands went to either side of his daddy's face forcing him to smile wider. "I want daddy happy." Daddy chuckled at this and Jeb smiled.

"Why was everyone sad?" Jeb asked knowing it was the time for answers now as his daddy tucked him into his bed getting him ready for his nap.

"They where sad cause an important girl, a princess, died." Ok Princess was an important girl, Jeb thought.

"Died?" Jeb didn't understand that word.

"She's gone." Daddy explained.

"Ok, when is she coming back?" Jeb asked.

"She's not. Dead means you're gone, and you're not coming back." Jeb was still confused, but he could also understand why people where sad. He'd be sad too if someone left and did not come back.

"Ok, I see, thank you, daddy." Jeb said with a yawn, giving his daddy a kiss on his cheek before snuggling into his blankets and taking his nap.

---