Chapter XI

Part I

Sighing, Adam smiled, making his way to the stairs to go down for breakfast.

Today, Lily would come over to meet his family, which, to his surprise, he couldn't wait for. The concept of dating still shook his nerves, but excited him the same.

"Aunt Mary?", he called, slightly nervous when he didn't see her downstairs like usual. "Where are you?"

The next moment he was startled, hearing a cry from Henry, seeing his Aunt emerging from what used to be his parents' room.

"Aunt Mary? What's going on?", he asked, walking over to where she stood.

"Morning sweetie... I'm sorry... I've had to look after Henry... He... He's got a fever and I'm not sure what else.", she said, giving her nephew a weary smile.

Shocked, Adam laid a hand on her back, giving her a look of concern. "Y-You want me... to hold him? Or get breakfast ready for you?", he asked walking with her.

Letting out a sigh, Mary sat in her chair near the fireplace. "No, I'll get it sweetie. Just give me a moment.", she whispered, slightly gasping as she spoke.

"Aunt Mary?", Adam asked, laying a hand on her arm.

"Just give me a minute and I'll get breakfast started.", she replied, attempting to rock Henry all-the-while.

Wincing a bit Adam reached down, taking his brother from her arms. "I'll hold him while you handle that."

Looking at her nephew, Aunt Mary, gasped, giving him a confused expression as she stood up. "A-Adam?", she whispered.

Looking up, he swallowed. "Please. I can take care of him. Breakfast won't take as much work, especially if you make grits.", he told her, panting between breaths.

Not knowing what to say, Aunt Mary merely stared at Adam for a few seconds when-

"Aunt Mary?"

Looking up, Adam gasped. "Tom!", he called to his oldest brother. "C-Can you help Aunt Mary with breakfast?", he asked, wishing he knew what to do.

Nodding, Thomas walked over to his Aunt and gently taking her arm, he lowered her back down into her chair. Then, letting out a sigh, he gave her a slightly serious look. "I'll do breakfast. You just rest while me and Adam take care of it.

Slightly confused, Aunt Mary merely nodded. "You're so much like your father, Tommy.", she whispered.

A short while later, Simon walked in the back door slightly surprised at the scene in front of him. Looking to his sister he saw that she still sat in her chair, slowly lifting a spoonful of grits to her mouth.

"Everything alright Mary?", he asked, gently laying a hand on the arm of her chair.

Looking up at him she merely nodded. "Tommy made breakfast and Adam has Henry.", she explained.

Nodding, Simon looked to his boys, smiling with pride. "They're good boys. You just rest for now.", he told her before walking to the table to eat his own breakfast.

A short while later, Adam stood, drying the last of the dishes as the others got ready for the day ahead.

Looking first to his Aunt who sat in her chair, Henry in her arms, he sighed. He watched Thomas, who stood behind her, trying to quiet his brother, who his Aunt couldn't seem to make happy.

Walking over to them, he sighed, gently taking his two-year old brother's hand. "Do you know what's wrong with him?", he asked, concern in his eyes.

Looking at her nephew, a weary smile on her lips, Aunt Mary replied, "Yes. Your brothers are going to find what I need to cure him or at the least help."

Nodding, he swallowed the lump in his throat, reaching forward, gently laying a hand on his brother's chest. "Don't worry... I'll stay here and take care of you.", he whispered.

"I can do it... You need to meet Lily sweetie.", his aunt replied, giving him what she could of a smile.

Sighing, Adam shook his head. "No. This is more important... What if it gets worse and... something happens to Henry while I'm gone?... Something I could've prevented?", he asked, his eyes glazed over with fear.

Slightly startled by what her nephew had just said, Aunt Mary had to blink a couple times in order to get her thoughts straight. Now, slowly letting out a sigh, she took Adam's hand, looking up into his eyes. "Sweetie, whatever happens, Henry will be fine.", she whispered as calmly as she could.

"Y-You don't know that.", Adam countered, drawing his eyebrows together.

"I can go get Lily for you or... or something.", Thomas suggested, gently laying a hand on his brother's shoulder.

Looking up, he merely gave his brother a slow nod of his head. "You think she'll... mind?", he asked, his thoughts still on his youngest brother.

"Well, I admit it's not the best... I'm sure she'll understand.", Thomas answered with a sigh.

Giving him a determined look, Adam reached down, gently taking Henry from his Aunt's Arms

Slowly letting out a sigh, Thomas gently slid a hand behind his Aunt's back. "Come on. Go back to bed for awhile and rest.", he told her, gently urging her from her chair.

Turning her head to give her nephew a look, she merely sighed and allowed him to lead her into the next room.

Looking down at Henry, Adam sighed, settling down in his Aunt's chair where he cuddled his brother close to his chest.

"Thomas, I'll be fine.", Mary told her nephew as he pulled her covers up.

Nodding, he sighed. "I know that, but I also know you've been up half the night with Henry. I'll be here to help Adam, so don't worry.", he said as she closed her eyes. Then, after kissing her cheek, he quietly left to go help his brother.

When he saw him, Thomas merely smiled, slowly taking a few steps in his direction. "Adam?", he whispered, hoping to get his attention.

Looking up at his older brother, he gave him a questioning look.

"You want me to take Henry, while you get Lily?", Thomas asked.

"I-I guess.", Adam stuttered in response.

Smiling, Thomas gently took Henry into his arms. "Go on. I can take care of everything here."

"You sure?", Adam hesitantly asked, truthfully scared to leave in case something happened to Henry while he was gone.

"Of course."

And with that Adam walked out the door, headed for Lily's house.

A short while later, Adam walked up to Lily's yard, seeing both she and her father at work in their yard.

"H-Hey Lily.", he called, causing the girl to look up.

"Hey Adam!", she answered with a smile.

"Would your Pa mind if you came with me for awhile?", he asked, slightly hesitant.

"Of course not.", she replied with a giggle as she put down the basket of what she had picked edible from her garden.

"O-ok.", Adam stuttered, the situation still making him nervous.

"Let me take these to Pa, then I'll be right back.", she replied with a giggle.

Once she closed the door, Adam sighed, glad that the first part was over.