Chapter XII

The whole way home, Adam thought, worrying about his baby brother, hoping he would still alright when both Lily and himself returned to the house.

However, as nervous as he was on the way back, when they reached the house it only increased.

Now tuning the front door's knob, he wondered what he would find, how Henry would be.

"My brothers are out helping my dad, but they should be back soon... And this is my Aunt Mary and my youngest brother, Henry."

Lily merely nodded.

"Come on and meet Henry, sweetie.", Aunt Mary called, waving Lily over to where she sat.

Nervously, Adam walked Lily over to where his Aunt sat with his brother. "I thought you were in bed and Tom had Henry.", Adam whispered in his aunt's ear.

"Tommy brought him back to me when the others got back with what I said they needed to find... Sweetie, are you alright?", she asked, as her nephew's face had now gone white.

"Y-Yeah... Why would you ask?", he questioned, his mind still fuzzy.

"Because you look like you've seen a ghost."

"Oh...", he replied with a sigh.

"W-What's wrong with your brother?", Lily asked as she had yet to hear this information.

"He just has a little something dear. He's not contagious or anything.", Aunt Mary explained, continuing to gently rub her nephew's back.

"Aww. I hope it's not that bad.", she whispered.

"Me too.", Adam thought to himself, looking toward the door then back to his Aunt.

"Lily, would you mind if Adam went to see what his brothers are doing?", Aunt Mary gently asked, knowing her nephew was worried.

"Of course not.", she replied, laying a hand on his arm. "Go on."

Nodding, Adam hesitantly left his Aunt's side and headed toward the door. Opening it, he let out a sigh, and with one last look at the girls and Henry he was gone.

"Think he's alright?", Lily asked.

"I think so.", Aunt Mary replied, though truthfully she was unsure.

Nodding, Lily stood up." Would Henry be alright if I held him?", she asked.

Looking slightly surprised at the question, Aunt Mary hesitantly gave her a nod. "I suppose he would."

"Well..." Reaching forward, Lily surprised Aunt Mary as she slowly took Henry from her arms. "Let me take him. You go back to bed.", she said, knowing the older woman was tired.

"I suppose it'll be fine, the boys are out back and I'll be here if you need me."

"Pa?", Adam called when he saw the group gathered in a circle.

Surprised, Simon looked up, not having expected to see him. "Hey son... I thought you were on a date with Lily?"

"I am.", he whispered, looking slightly embarrassed. "She's in the house with Aunt Mary. I just came out..."

Nodding, Simon gently laid a hand on son's shoulder. "Go on back in. We're almost done. Hopefully Henry will be better soon. The medicine should help him."

"Ok, Pa.", he replied, and turned to head back, when he was suddenly startled by a new hand on his shoulder.

Turning, he gave a slight smile seeing his older brother. "Thomas?", he asked, slightly surprised, yet glad.

"I was gonna come in with you to check on Henry.", he replied. "All that's left to do is bottle the Medicine and Pa can do that himself."

"Ok.", Adam sighed, his lips curling up a bit at the thought that he wouldn't be alone with his brother if something happened.

However, when the boys walked in the house, they were met with an unpleasant surprise.

"Lily?", Adam whispered, walking up to her.

"Take this thing away from me, would you!?", she demanded, the annoyance in her eyes obvious.

Thomas merely stood, obviously confused while Adam gently took Henry into his arms.

Tuning toward his older brother, he gasped, holding a hand to Henry's forehead. "Tom, he's burning up!", Adam cried. His heart suddenly beginning to pump harder, he felt his hands starting to shake as he, gently as he could, handed Henry to his brother.

"Just shut that thing up, will you!?", Lily cried, again startling both brothers.

"Lily?", Adam asked, his eyes wide with disbelief.

"Yes?", she asked, raising an eyebrow, crossing her arms over her chest. "Are you ready to give me some attention?"

"Son?"

Startled, all three turned to face Simon.

"Pa?", Adam squeaked, hating that he was caught in such a moment, despite the fact that it wasn't his fault.

"Do you have the medicine?", Thomas asked in attempt to cover up his brother's embarrassment.

"Yes. I just need to pour it in some milk so Henry can take it.", Simon replied, still slightly lost as to what was going on.

"I'll get it.", Adam volunteered, rushing out the back door, startling Jeffrey and the other three, who he had been watching.

Rushing to the barn, he dashed to the under-ground cellar, where his Aunt kept the milk and other things for when she needed them.

Then, feeling slightly triumphant, he rushed back to the house with the jug.

"Here.", he gasped, panting slightly as he handed it to his father, who stood, the bottle ready.

"Are you alright?", Thomas asked, while the two watched their father put the top on and sit down, to give it to his youngest son.

"Well, maybe a little, since Pa's giving it to him now.", he replied, still slightly hesitant.

Laying a hand on his brother's shoulder, Thomas nodded. "Don't worry, he'll be alright.", he said in hopes of cheering his brother up.

With a sigh, Adam stood, watching his father give Henry the medicine, hoping it cured him.

The brothers stood silently for a moment, when they were startled as Lily walked up to them, a scowl on her face and fire in her eyes.

"Adam!", she cried, startling both boys as well as Simon.

"Y-Yeah?", Adam squeaked, suddenly unsettled by the fact that she stood but a couple feet in front of him.

"Are you done worrying?", she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.

"W-Well..."

"Why don't you two go on outside for a little bit, clear your heads?", Thomas suggested, sensing trouble was on the way.

"Yes, come on, Lily.", Adam added, doing his best to cover how nervous he was.

With a roll of her eyes, she sighed. "Ok."

And with that, they made their way out back, where their only company was the trees and forest animals.

"Well?", Lily asked, stopping a few yards from the house. "Wanna explain?" she asked.

"Well,", Adam began, first taking a gulp in attempt to swallow his nervousness. "I know you lost your mother too, but you don't understand. Henry is helpless. He needs someone with him all the time.", he hesitantly began. "He's so frail looking, I'm scared he'll die and I won't be there for him."

With a scoff, Lily walked up to him, the anger in her eyes unmistakable. "Well, you know what?", she asked, taking a step closer, looking hard into his eyes.

"Y-Yeah?", Adam whimpered, slowly taking a step back when-

Slap! In one quick motion, Lily raised her hand, slapping him across the cheek. "You are such a jerk! All you care about is that helpless baby! I'm sorry I ever saw anything in you!", she screamed.

In response, Adam merely stared at her, his hand hovering over his left cheek where she'd slapped him. "I-I'm sorry. I thought it was better than nothing.", he whispered.

"Really?", Lily asked, with a roll of her eyes.

"Well... once I got the chance to introduce them."

"Well, know what? You had your chance. I'm leaving right now.", she stated, then took a few steps before turning back once more. "You better watch your back."

And with that, she walked away, leaving Adam lost and confused.