By the time Kayden was able to put the finishing touches on his cake, it was nearing ten and Eric hadn't been down for dinner yet. Though Kayden wasn't expecting him to, not with how much he was limping. 

Kayden let out a quiet sigh as he ran a hand through his hair. 

"Is everything okay?" Susan asked as she entered the kitchen, setting an empty mug in the sink. 

Kayden looked at the woman he still considered mom despite their differences. "It's just been a long week."

Susan raised her eyebrows as she said, "You finished much faster than normal."

Kayden let out a tired laugh at her words. "That I did. I don't mind helping out every now and again but I specifically sold that company to be done with it."

"Do you think you take on too much responsibility, son? I think you should slow down."

"Not this again." Kayden almost snapped. "How many times do I have to defend myself before you understand that I can handle all the responsibilities I have?" 

Susan raised a hand in defense. "I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you. It's what mothers do."

Kayden took a deep breath to hold back anything negative he might accidentally say. "I understand that, Mom. But you've been saying it for the past ten years. How am I not supposed to get fed up with it?" 

Susan sighed and offered surrender. "I talked to Eric earlier this week."

Kayden leaned back against the counter and crossed his arms. "Did you?" 

Susan had the grace to look ashamed. "I apologized about my behavior. I know it doesn't make up for what I did but I don't want him to feel unwelcome in this house."

Kayden's arms tightened across his chest. "Saying I'm sorry isn't always enough."

"I know," Susan whispered. "I know."

Neither said anything until the clock chimed the hour. Susan startled into action and wished Kayden a good night before going back to bed. 

It took Kayden a moment to get his thoughts in order. While he was happy his mom was reaching out to Eric, he couldn't shake the pain from knowing his mom never wanted him in the first place. 

A child should never have to prove their worthy of love yet that's exactly what he had to do with Susan. 

Prove himself. 

His dad on the other hand, was someone he would forever be grateful for. Had it not been for him, Kayden wasn't sure what life he would be living now and that's assuming he survived his first year on the streets. 

Kayden looked at the cake he had made and let out a gentle smile. It softened his sharp features tremendously. 

He needed to stop dwelling on the past. He was living in the present now and his childhood friend had somehow found his way back to him. 

Using that last thought as motivation, Kayden finally pushed off the counter and put his cake in a box to take upstairs. It didn't take him too long to gather all the necessary utensils. 

He made his way up the stairs to the third floor but paused just before entering his office. He didn't want to upset Eric more by invading his space. He also didn't want to leave him alone for the entire night either. 

He wasn't sure what to do but he found he didn't have to make a decision since it was decided for him when he heard a loud thud from the bathroom in his office. 

He quickly pushed the door open and all but threw the cake box on his desk before rushing to the bathroom and yanking the door wide open as he called Eric's name. 

The sight that greeted Kayden terrified him. 

Eric had somehow fallen out of the shower backwards and hit his forehead on something, causing it to bleed and make a mess everywhere. He was laying flat on his back with his legs up in the air and still in the shower. 

Kayden quickly rushed forward and turned the water off before gently lifting Eric to a sitting position, his eyes not missing the scattering of bruises covering Eric's arms, chest, and legs. He also noticed there was more blood from a place where it most definitely shouldn't be. 

Closing his eyes for a moment, Kayden asked, "Are you okay?" 

When Eric didn't respond, Kayden opened his eyes and looked down at the young man. 

He was staring dejectedly at the floor as a steady stream of blood was trailing from a, thankfully, small cut on his forehead. 

Kayden didn't say anything as he stood and quickly grabbed the first aid kit he kept under the sink. 

He still didn't say anything as he gently wiped away the blood on Eric and patched up his forehead. He could tell Eric was embarrassed by the way he avoided looking at him. 

Kayden was quiet a moment longer before gently nudging Eric's shoulder. To his relief, Eric looked up at him. "I need to take a look at..."

Shame swam in Eric's eyes but he nodded nonetheless. 

Kayden made the process as quick as he possibly could before deciding Eric would be fine so long as he avoided intense activities or exercise for about a week or two. 

He absolutely hated the fact that he was seeing such a private and vulnerable side of Eric. He wanted so badly to call him his friend but Kayden didn't think Eric viewed him that way anymore. 

Kayden held back a sad sigh as he grabbed a towel and offered it to Eric. 

Eric looked at the towel for a moment before meeting Kayden's eyes. "Thank you," he whispered as he reached forward and hugged Kayden like it would be the last time. 

Kayden held him closer and rested his chin on the top of Eric's head. "I'll always be here for you, Eric."

Tears fell from more than one face as the two men stood hugging each other in the middle of the bathroom.