A Sequel to 'Strong Enough' based on the alternate ending of that story

Chapter 15

"This is good" he said, "let me know the final results as soon as possible please" Dr.Miller hung up feeling hopeful.

"Man, how'd you beat me again little cuz?" Cannon asked as they finished another game, he put the controller on the table.

"Don't know, guess I'm just that good" Adam grinned.

"You're pretty brave you know that, right?" Cannon offered, he was pretty sure the kid was the bravest person he'd ever met, "I'm 17 but I think you're tougher and braver than I will ever be"

Adam shrugged, "I'm not brave, not really"

Cannon sat next to him on the bed, "What? Of course you are, isn't he Cory?"

"You are man, the bravest" Cory agreed with his brother.

"I'm scared sometimes, and I don't like needles." Adam told them.

"Nah, man. You're brave, the bravest" Cannon told him.

Adam felt awkward as he watched Kim and her parents embrace, like he was imposing on their reunion. His eyes darted around the living room, pictures of Kim adorning the walls, though they seemed to stop at around 18. Making him wonder at just how long it had been since Kim spoke to her parents.

It shocked him, to know that she had turned her back on her parents, it wasn't like her to walk away from family.

He'd kill to be able to see his mother just once more, for her to know his children.

She had passed away when Cory was an infant, suffering a massive heart attack it had crushed his father.

He snapped out of his daydream when he heard Kim introduce him, he stood and shook their hands, "It's nice to finally meet you Mr and Mrs Burgess" he flashed them the smile that always made Kim go weak in the knees.

"Kenneth and Stella is fine, we are family after all" Kenneth chuckled, "Princess, I can't tell you how happy you've made your mother and I" he reminded Adam of a mall Santa Claus minus the beard and smiled knowing Dani would assume he was the man from the North Pole.

They sat down, Kim in the middle her mother and Adam on her sides, Stella holding Kim's hand in her lap, "I don't know why I haven't called, I'm sorry" she offered, "I don't even remember what started all of this" she had spent the previous night trying to remember and drew a blank.

Which meant whatever it had been it was trivial.

"What changed?" Kenneth asked innocently.

Kim looked at Adam, "A lot" she said softly, "It's not easy for me to talk about but I need to tell you everything" she leaned into Adam.

Adam kissed her temple, "You can do it baby"

Stella grew concerned, "Kim? Are you okay?"

Kim gave her mother's hand a squeeze, "Eight years ago, I was abducted and raped" she shuddered at the memories that always accompanied those words.

"Oh no" Stella said softly, a genuine look of concern on her face, "Why didn't you call us then? We could have been there for you" she hated that Kim had to deal with the trauma without them. She could see the look of anger on Kenneth's face and his eyes fill with tears.

"I don't know, Mom. I was a mess, but thankfully I had Adam" she smiled at her husband, "I ended up pregnant"

She glanced at Adam, seeing a hint of hurt in his eyes "We prayed that Adam was the father, but he wasn't"

"Doesn't matter though, he's my boy" Adam chipped in, "I love him"

Kim smiled, "He's perfect you both would love him and our daughter" she explained, "but the reason we're here" she paused trying to keep her emotions at bay, "and believe me I know I should have called before all of this"