It's A Struggle 20/22
Title: It's A Struggle
Author: Wizardesslyn
BETA: The wonderful mhobbs0430
Pairing: Adam/OMC (Even), Kris/Tommy, mentions of past Adam/Kris/Aaron, Adam/Tommy, Adam/Brad
Ratings: PG to NC-17 depending on the chapter
Word Count: ~1444
Disclaimer: This isn't real, although some of the people in it are. Mostly, it's make believe, just for fun.
Warnings: Death situations, angst, cursing, wild sex, cheating and fun.
Summary: Third part of my 'A Thin Line' series. Adam is mostly integrated and living with Even. They have a good life together and are finding a way to make things work. Kris and Tommy are still together but having a hard time. Even wants more than just living with Adam and asks for what he needs. Will Adam give Even everything or will Adam/Aaron's love for Kris keep him from handing over his heart completely. It's going to be a struggle. This is a completed fic.
Thanks to the talented groffiction for the perfectly wonderful banner. And for making Even come to life.
A/N: Okay everyone...here we go! The next three chapters are intense. Remember, there is a fourth part to this series...
Kris never thought he could be so happy to see anyone as he was when Tommy walked into the waiting room.
"Thank god you’re here. Adam is so pissed off at me right now and being the only one out here has been driving me crazy." Kris said with relief.
Tommy looked at him a moment. "I was surprised you called."
"Why wouldn’t I call? I mean, my god, you’re his friend, as close to him as I am. Of course I called." Kris said in a huff.
"I didn’t think that you would call me, is what I meant, Kris and I’ve never been as close to Adam as you, we both know that. You haven’t wanted to see me or talk to me since…" Tommy looked out the window, not being able to finish the sentence.
"Tommy, the baby, Adam and Even, they are more important than what we have going on. Let’s just put all that on hold for now and be here for them, okay?"
"Alright." Tommy looked back at Kris. "What’s Adam pissed at you about?"
Kris blushed. "Well, I sort of took Megan out of the house and to the studio. They were hovering, you know how Adam can get, and she needed a break."
Tommy burst out laughing. "And you did it? You’re insane." Tommy’s look turned serious. "How is she?"
Adam came into the waiting room and answered from the door. "She’s doing okay." He hugged Tommy. "Thanks for coming." He pointedly ignored Kris.
Leila arrived soon after, followed by Monte and Lisa as well as Neil and Eber. Adam told everyone that Megan was doing well and asked to speak with Kris in private.
Kris followed Adam out into the hall and down the stairs into the sunlight outside. He knew that Adam was still angry with him and he had no idea what Adam was going to say. He waited, afraid to say anything.
Adam turned his blue eyes to Kris, his mouth in a straight line. Kris could see the anger behind the look and inwardly cringed but held his ground and waited for his friend to speak.
"Megs told me that she begged you to come and get her. She said that you knew I would be angry but that you did it anyway. She said that you did it for her." Adam started.
"Adam, I’m so…"
Adam held up his hand and Kris stopped talking. "Just let me finish."
Kris nodded.
"I am so pissed off at you." Adam was pacing. "But I know that you took her somewhere close to the hospital. I know you were being smart about it. You should have called me though and told me where you were. This is my baby we’re talking about, Kris. My daughter, and I was scared to death." Adam was pacing back and forth in front of Kris. "I understand why you did it, okay? I don’t want to be angry today. My daughter is being born." Adam turned his eyes back to Kris. "I’m having a baby girl." His smile lit up Kris’s heart.
"I’m so happy for you Adam. I know how much you want children. You have to know I would never do anything to hurt you." Kris blinked his tears back because this wasn’t about him.
"I know that, Kris." Adam pulled him into a hug. When Adam let go, Kris looked up and caught his breath, because it was Aaron’s steel grey eyes looking back at him now and not Adam’s blue ones. "I know that you would never hurt me, Krissy." Aaron sighed and then he was gone.
Adam spoke quietly, "Let’s go back upstairs. I’m sure that Even needs a break by now."
Brad was there when Kris walked back in to the waiting room. He went straight to Brad and hugged him tight.
"Tommy said that Adam was upset with you for taking Megan out of the house. Is everything okay?" Brad asked, concerned for his friend.
Kris nodded. "Yeah, it’s just…it’s hard."
Brad smiled sympathetically at Kris. "You wish it was you."
Kris said nothing for a few moments. "But it’s not."
Brad hugged him tight, whispering in his ear, "No, honey, it’s not."
~~~~
Eight hours later, Hope Ann Roberts-Lambert was born healthy and squalling. She had all her fingers and toes. They were tiny and perfect. Her hair was brown and her eyes were blue. Adam was so happy that he sat down and cried while his mother held him.
Megan and Even were cooing over the tiny little girl and Even couldn’t stop looking at her and touching her. "She’s perfect, Megs. I don’t know how to ever thank you for this."
"Just love her and each other." She kissed her brother on the cheek. "I need to rest."
"Okay, sis. I love you."
"Love you too." Megan settled down into the bed and closed her eyes as Even took Hope back to her room.
Even placed Hope into her bed as Adam brought Kris in. "Meet your god-daughter."
Kris looked down at the tiny baby and couldn’t keep the tears from coming. Looking at Even, he said, "She’s so small and perfect." Touching her little face with the pad of his finger, he jerked it away when she opened her eyes. "Her eyes are blue." He said with wonder.
Even laughed, "They may change, you know. Sometimes they do."
Kris looked over at Adam and then back to Hope. "No, she’s going to have her daddy’s eyes, aren’t you little one?"
Adam smiled and hugged Kris from behind, wrapping his arms around Kris’s waist and locking his fingers together. "You’re going to be a great godfather to her, I just know it." Adam whispered into Kris’ ear.
Even watched the two men and slipped out of the room, swallowing down his jealousy at the closeness he saw between the two of them. He leaned up against the wall, breathing hard. He had no reason to feel like that. Adam was marrying him and they have a beautiful daughter. Why in the world was he feeling this now?
Tommy came around the corner and looked through the door and then back at Even. "Getting to you?"
"Huh?" Even blinked trying to understand what Tommy was asking him.
"I said, are the way they are together getting to you? They’ve always been like that, you know? Get used to it. Doesn’t matter who they are with, they just are. Don’t take it personal man." Tommy slapped him on the shoulder and went to see the new baby.
Even thought about that for a few minutes. Tommy was right, Kris and Adam would always be close and now with Kris being the godfather, they would become closer. He thought back to Adam telling him about the time he spoke with Kris about having children and knew this had to be hard on Kris. He decided to trust that things were as they should be and not let anything bother him on this day. He stepped back into the room with the three other men and his daughter.
~~~~
Megan cried as she lay the tiny little girl down for the last time. They had signed the last of the papers a week ago and she had to go home as school would be starting back up soon. She couldn’t stay any longer and she knew that it was time to leave. She wasn’t Hope’s mother, she was Hope’s aunt.
She turned to her brother. "I love her so much but I know this is the right thing."
Even held her tight, "You know that we will take good care of her, Megs."
She nodded. "I know. Take me to the airport. Mom and Dad are dying to see the pictures I have. I can’t wait to show them their grand-daughter."
Adam and Kris told her goodbye and watched as Even drove the car down the drive.
"Well," Kris sighed, "Now you’re a daddy. How does it feel?"
Adam laughed and hugged his friend tight. "I’ve been a daddy for four weeks now, Kris. It feels unreal and oh so right, except…"
"Except?" Kris asked looking up into eyes gone steel grey.
"Except nothing." Adam said flatly, his eyes going back to their normal blue tone as he smiled.
Kris smiled back at Adam as he picked up his daughter, only the smallest twinge of hurt pricking at his heart. He pushed it down and was genuinely happy that Adam seemed mostly content. After all, when you really loved someone, you wanted them to be happy, even if it wasn’t with you.