This story takes place immediately after "Secrets That Keep." The letter mentioned in the beginning of this chapter is included in the bonus chapter of that short story.

Summers are usually very busy times for me, but I will try to keep posting regularly.

Henry was in a good mood. Not just any ordinary good mood - he was ecstatically happy.

"What put the pep in your step?" Abe grumbled. He was only on his first cup of coffee and it showed.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe it was yesterday turning out better than feared, Adam being contained, Jo not having me committed after you blurted out that I'm immortal," Henry paused grinning at his son, "or this letter from your mother." He gently set down a yellowed envelope addressed to 'My dearest Abe' before helping himself to breakfast.

"What's this? For me? When did Mom write this?" Abe, fully awake now, dug out his glasses and read the letter twice before noticing his father smiling at him. "Thanks Pops." Abe cleared his throat, struggling with some powerful emotion before giving Henry a hug.

"You're welcome," the hug surprised Henry, but pleased him as well. "I found it in one of mother's trunks. She wrote it the day your adoption was made final, shortly before we moved back to England..." Henry's voice drifted away. Moving was rough on infants normally, but Abigail needed to be closer to her family. "You screamed all the way across the English channel," Henry gave Abe a mischievous grin.

"I've always thought the sea looked better from a distance." Abe retorted, his normal morning self again. He peered closer at Henry's face, "What'd you do to your beard?"

"Nothing. What is it?"

"Your beard is starting to grey."

Henry got up and looked in the mirror. Sure enough his beard was noticeably starting to grey. His first thought was where was this when Abigail needed it? His second made him weak in the knees. "Am I ageing?" He didn't really look any older. He didn't feel any older. Henry quickly washed his face. The grey remained.

"Was Adam right?" Abe peered over his shoulder. "Did getting shot by your pistol make you mortal?" Abe's face looked grief stricken, as if he'd just found out that his best friend had cancer with only months to live.

The smile that had almost broken out on Henry's face died before reaching his lips. "I have always wanted to be mortal Abe. I don't want to live forever. I'll take extra care from now on. I still plan on outliving you."

Abe grunted, "You'd better! I'd rather never repeat my last trip to the river, but to stand there and never see you would be more than I could bear." Abe gathered the breakfast things and began to clean up. "I got used to you being immortal. You would always remember me and it would be like a piece of me would be immortal too."

Henry was silent. Remembering the people he had lost forever often brought him pain. There were some days when he feared he couldn't face making those deep kinds of relationships again. "I lose a piece of myself every time I lose someone I love," Henry whispered, "and I'm afraid of losing myself entirely some day." He pulled Abigail's letter closer, lightly tracing his fingers over her lines.

"We both miss her." Abe stood next to Henry, drying his hands.

"Yes, but when you are gone I will miss her alone." For Henry this had become an old and familiar pain.

"I know Pops." Abe rested a hand on Henry's shoulder. "But I think your friends will help you - if you let them."

Henry tried to smile for his son's benefit, but the effort was too much. Instead the ghost of the previous day's fears haunted his eyes. Jo had been willing to offer comfort, but remained somewhat reserved in sharp contrast to her usual relaxed manner. After her shock began to wear off, she quickly left with murmured apologies that there was something she needed to do. It was allot to digest and he wasn't surprised or alarmed by her behavior. She was far too honest to pretend belief just so she could flee, but revealing his secret was still stressful and he didn't relish the thought of telling anyone else.

"She'll be back Pops, you'll see. It'll turn out for the best. I'm sure." Abe was a positive sort of person by nature. Of course he would believe in Jo.

This time Henry did smile. "What would I do without you Abraham?"

"I'm sure you'll think of something." Abe retorted, heading back to the dishes. By the time Henry finished getting ready for work Abe was already preparing the shop for the day.

"Take care, Pops." Abe called out as Henry left. It was only after his father faded from sight that he allowed his worry to show.

"Dear God keep him safe."