FAMILY BOND

Chapter 12

"Owww." Tim groans as Adam takes him by the hand as they walk into the zoo.

"What's wrong?" Adam asks quietly.

"That's my bruised hand." Tim answers with a slight smile as he pulls his hand out of Adam's.

"Oh, sorry." Adam giggles and moves to the other side. "Maybe you'll think twice before hitting someone next time."

"He deserved it." Tim shrugs.

"Honestly, yeah, he did." Adam says as he takes Tim's other hand. "But he got you mad enough to forget your fear of heights."

"That was probably his plan. Eddie has always known the right buttons to push to piss me off. To push me into doing something out of my comfort zone." Tim says with a smile. "But, I always get him back. It's just something that we've always done."

"So, he's probably expecting you to do something." Adam nods.

"Yep, he just doesn't know when, where or how." Tim smirks. "But I do."

Tim couldn't help but laugh at Avi. He was like a kid in a candy store. Running from one side of the path to the other, pulling Kirstie along with him. Overly excited about the animals he was seeing.

"Avi, will you calm down." Kirstie says as she tries to keep up with him. "You'd think that you've never been to a zoo before."

"I haven't." Avi replies.

"You mean to tell me that you've traveled all over the country and you've never taken the time to go to a zoo?" Austin asks.

"Yep, that's what I'm saying. I was too busy trying to catch the eye of a certain tall, dark and handsome competitor." Avi grins as he gives Tim an over-dramatic wink.

Tim shakes his head and rolls his eyes.

"WHOA!!! THERES THE ELEPHANTS!!" Avi suddenly yells with excitement. "Can we feed them?"

"There's a stand right over there where you can buy stuff to feed the animals." Chance answers as he points.

"Give me some money, Timbo. I want to feed the elephants." Avi says as he holds out his hand.

"Seriously?" Tim asks as he looks down at Avi's hand. "Did I take you to raise?"

"Uh huh." Avi smiles sweetly and bats his eyes.

"Geez." Tim says as he reaches for his wallet.

"You have to teach me your technique, Avi." Adam chuckles.

"What technique?" Avi asks as he waits for some money.

"On how to get your way with this guy." Adam laughs as he slips his arm around his husband's waist.

"Lover Boy, you get your way with me all the time." Tim smirks as he hands Avi a hundred dollar bill.

Adam smiles as he bites his bottom lip, laying his head on his lover's shoulder.

"Wow!! A hundred dollars? Just how expensive are the d*mn peanuts here?" Avi asks, his eyes widening.

"That's to keep your ass away from me." Tim says. "Go play."

They wait as Avi runs away to buy some peanuts.

"Kirstie?" Tim says as he watches Avi waiting in line at the peanut stand like an excited child. 

"Yeah?" She answers, looking around at the hitman.

"If my prayers reach past the ceiling, I'll pray for you tonight." Tim says in a serious tone.