#bmbtl

2. Who falls asleep on the couch and who puts a blanket over them?

Robin is the one falling asleep on the couch. He really can’t help it but appreciates it when Aric is there looking after him. Aric is very protective and Robin so he’s always trying to make sure Robin is comfortable. 

11. What is something small, but cute they do for one another? Ex - leave cute encouraging notes for one another on the counter.

Robin is always writing little notes for Aric and the kids. He knows his time is short and he wants them to always know that he was thinking of them. He has stashed those little notes all over the house for them to find. 

Aric is more the type to make little drawings of his husband and kids doing various things around the house. They’re his inspiration.

13. What is a memory they share together that makes them both laugh so hard they cry when they think about it?

The first time they went bowling together. Robin had never bowled before and really had no idea what he was doing. He had selected a ball that was a little to light for him and he wound up tossing it onto the lane. It hit the lane with a loud crack then bounced into the neighboring lane. Every eye in the place turned to look at him and it took all of Aric’s coaxing to convince him to try again. It took him forever to not feel like everyone was watching him each time it was his turn. He thought they were just waiting for him to do something else embarrassing.

"What gift" she mumbled moving into Raven's arms. "All I see is how I deprived him of adequate health care from people who knew about his condition."

"Oh sweetie! You gave him so much more than that. You gave him the gift of life. The ability to live a life of his own choosing. Yes it's been hard but he's happy." Squeezing Sky tight she continued "I know you really don't want to go back to the days of living inside the lab. You wouldn't want that for Robin either."

"I know. I just..." biting her lip "I'm so scared. Second guessing everything we've done. The decisions we made. We had no idea what the consequences would be."

"I know" Raven moved to gently hold Sky's face between her hands "you can't look at the past with the same eyes you have now. It'll only make you doubt what you knew to be true then." Softly she ran her fingers across Sky's cheeks "what we did was a good thing. It gave Robin a chance to live a normal life. A life full of love surrounded by people who really care for him."

Opening the fridge he took a bottle from the fridge to heat to the desired temperature before giving it to his son. His thoughts drifted to the future as they often did late at night. It was a bleak future without the love of his life by his side. How would he survive without Robin there to share it with?

As much as he wanted to deny it he couldn't. Each day Robin became weaker and weaker. Their time was coming to an end. A shiver ran down his spine. What would he do? A single tear ran down his cheek.

"Look at your old man" he sniffed checking the bottle before giving it to his son. "Crying like a baby" a sad almost mournful sound came out. His heart ached, heavy with apprehension. He'd never been afraid before. Now he was. Afraid of losing Robin. Afraid of leaving his children alone. Afraid the scientists would find them. A developing fear that not only would the children lose Robin but him as well. Aric knew he was gradually winding down as well. How much time did he have? How much had he changed already? How had that injection affected the children?

"Do you remember what happened to Goldie" Sky asked her softly.

"Yes" she mumbled looking at the floor "she stopped swimming and floated to the top of her bowl."

"Goldie died" Sky said drying her daughter's tears "that's why Robin can't stay."

"Uncle Robin is gonna die" Starla asked looking from one mom to the other.

Sky could only nod in response. Raven said "yes he is sweetie." She pulled her daughter in close hugging her tight "he's going to a place where he won't feel anymore pain."

"But I want him to stay here with us" Starla cried.

"Is it about Uncle Robin" she asked in a small frightened voice.

"Yes it is" Sky said joining them.

"He's going away isn't he" Starla asked looking at the closed-door to her friend's bedroom.

"Yes he is" Raven said her voice sad but gentle.

"He can't" the little girl protested as large tears rolled down her cheeks "we need him here."

"He doesn't want to go" Raven said "but he can't stay."

"Starla said Daddy was going away" Sorrell sobbed leaning into Aric seeking comfort. "Papa don't let the bad people come. I don't want Daddy to have to go away."

Raven knelt beside her young daughter. "Were you listening to Mommy and me talking earlier?"

Nodding Starla took a deep breath. "Mommy was real sad thinking about how Uncle Robin wasn't going to be with us for much longer. I don't want him to leave. I want him to stay here with us."

Silently Raven caught Aric's eyes. Nodding he gathered Sorrell into his arms and carried her into the room where Robin and Rhiannon were.

Taking her daughter's hand Raven said "let's go home."

"What the bad people and Uncle Robin" Starla asked.

"Rhiannon" Robin cried worried by the way his daughter burst through the door in tears. Following her into her room he sat beside her on the bed.

"What happened to your sister" Aric demanded when Sorrell and Starla followed a moment later.

"She got scared" Sorrell explained.

"Did something scare her" Aric asked "is someone out there?" He rushed towards the door determined to make a sweep of the property.

"It's the bad people" Starla said turning to her mom's for protection.

"I don't want Daddy to leave" Sorrell clutched at Aric's hand "make the bad people go away."

"I know that's not what you meant" Raven said gently drying the tears. "You only what's best for Robin. The care he needs for his condition. I doubt he'd have received it even if he were in the lab. He was an experiment. Don't forget that. The scientists had only one agenda. To further their knowledge not to cure him. He may have even died sooner if he had stayed under their care."

"Oh god what was I thinking" she cried her face crumpling "I just feel so helpless."

"I know" Raven soothed "we're doing all we can by being with him during this time."

"It doesn't feel like we we're doing anything but watching" Sky murmured.