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Description
     Adam looked down at his baby boy. Their new son. He was born with a full head of hair and a great smile. He was a strong, large baby. Just what they needed to carry on the family name and....the family duty. A perfect heir.

    Adam recalled when Alex was born. He was premature and a sickly newborn. They didn't think he'd live,but if he did, they hadn't expected him to walk. They were even prepared for a possibility of him being paralyzed from the neck down due to complications during the labor and pregnancy. These complications, however, didn't occur with the new son. He was completely healthy.

   The older boy was still very sick and only left the house for school. He had no friends and was rarely to be seen playing. It made Adam's heart ache. He wanted nothing more then to comfort Alex,but it had to be this way. He had to make a choice, and both he and Lillian agreed the first son would be chosen. Alex could never feel love or joy, that way....that way he wouldn't feel pain when it happened.

    Years seemed to fly by after Josh was born. Alex seemed to grow stronger and healthier everyday. It made Adam proud, although he didn't show it, at how strong his son was becoming. Tomorrow would be Josh's sixth.  There was always a big celebration at the Shepherd household for the younger boy's birthday. An event like this was never held for Alex, ever.  Alex didn't mind, though. He was glad to see Josh happy,but was still ever so jealous. At the current time of day, Josh and his mother were out shopping for new birthday clothes for him. Just Alex and his father home. He hated when it was like this. When he got back from his paper route, be wanted to simply run upstairs and stay there,but his father stopped him.

     "Why are you in such a hurry,boy?"

      "Why do you care, sir?" Alex added with a slight moodiness.

      "What did you say?" Adam's face tightened. He does care, Alex....he does.

      "I SAID WHY DO YOU CARE? YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE!" Alex raised his voice. Adam approached him and grabbed him by his right wrist. Alex flinched instinctively and closed his eyes, waiting for that familiar feeling of getting hit,but Adam let go. "Don't bother with me...." Alex said coldly,but his voice was shaking. "....I only have one reason to live, and that's to protect Joshua. You might as well act like I don't exist like you did when I was younger.....at least you didn't hit me then." He continued his way upstairs.

      The words stuck with Adam. Through the following years, he obeyed Alex's request, all the way to the Shepherd Glen's 150th Anniversary. Everyone had already made a sacrifice, all except Adam. It was time. Adam made sure Josh was sleeping over a friend's house. All he had to do now, was knock Alex out and then drown him....so simple. At least, it seemed that way.

   Alex opened the front door the same way he did every night,but he knew tonight was going to be different.

   "Alex, we need to talk." Adam walked over to him. He laid a hand gently on his son's shoulder. Alex was now taller then Adam and his expression was determined,but soft.

   "I know..." Alex smiled weakly. "I know everything...."

    Adam and Lillian exchanged glances. "How..."

    "Letters that you sent to Judge Holloway. She gave you the directions, right? Of what you have to do to me." Alex's expressions stayed smiling, which sent shivers down Adam's spine.

   "Are you going to try and leave?" Lillian asked weakly.

   "No....if I can protect Joshua......then I would gladly die over and over again."

    "Alex...." Adam choked back tears.

Description
     Adam looked down at his baby boy. Their new son. He was born with a full head of hair and a great smile. He was a strong, large baby. Just what they needed to carry on the family name and....the family duty. A perfect heir.

    Adam recalled when Alex was born. He was premature and a sickly newborn. They didn't think he'd live,but if he did, they hadn't expected him to walk. They were even prepared for a possibility of him being paralyzed from the neck down due to complications during the labor and pregnancy. These complications, however, didn't occur with the new son. He was completely healthy.

   The older boy was still very sick and only left the house for school. He had no friends and was rarely to be seen playing. It made Adam's heart ache. He wanted nothing more then to comfort Alex,but it had to be this way. He had to make a choice, and both he and Lillian agreed the first son would be chosen. Alex could never feel love or joy, that way....that way he wouldn't feel pain when it happened.

    Years seemed to fly by after Josh was born. Alex seemed to grow stronger and healthier everyday. It made Adam proud, although he didn't show it, at how strong his son was becoming. Tomorrow would be Josh's sixth.  There was always a big celebration at the Shepherd household for the younger boy's birthday. An event like this was never held for Alex, ever.  Alex didn't mind, though. He was glad to see Josh happy,but was still ever so jealous. At the current time of day, Josh and his mother were out shopping for new birthday clothes for him. Just Alex and his father home. He hated when it was like this. When he got back from his paper route, be wanted to simply run upstairs and stay there,but his father stopped him.

     "Why are you in such a hurry,boy?"

      "Why do you care, sir?" Alex added with a slight moodiness.

      "What did you say?" Adam's face tightened. He does care, Alex....he does.

      "I SAID WHY DO YOU CARE? YOU NEVER HAVE BEFORE!" Alex raised his voice. Adam approached him and grabbed him by his right wrist. Alex flinched instinctively and closed his eyes, waiting for that familiar feeling of getting hit,but Adam let go. "Don't bother with me...." Alex said coldly,but his voice was shaking. "....I only have one reason to live, and that's to protect Joshua. You might as well act like I don't exist like you did when I was younger.....at least you didn't hit me then." He continued his way upstairs.

      The words stuck with Adam. Through the following years, he obeyed Alex's request, all the way to the Shepherd Glen's 150th Anniversary. Everyone had already made a sacrifice, all except Adam. It was time. Adam made sure Josh was sleeping over a friend's house. All he had to do now, was knock Alex out and then drown him....so simple. At least, it seemed that way.

   Alex opened the front door the same way he did every night,but he knew tonight was going to be different.

   "Alex, we need to talk." Adam walked over to him. He laid a hand gently on his son's shoulder. Alex was now taller then Adam and his expression was determined,but soft.

   "I know..." Alex smiled weakly. "I know everything...."

    Adam and Lillian exchanged glances. "How..."

    "Letters that you sent to Judge Holloway. She gave you the directions, right? Of what you have to do to me." Alex's expressions stayed smiling, which sent shivers down Adam's spine.

   "Are you going to try and leave?" Lillian asked weakly.

   "No....if I can protect Joshua......then I would gladly die over and over again."

    "Alex...." Adam choked back tears.