They held each other for what felt like years. When they heard a knock at the door. Peyton sat up gently and tried to go open it, but Aaron sat her back down... "Hey, just relax... Its ok Ill get it." Aaron responded with "No... Its okay. I wanna keep you safe. Stay here and get some rest... Ill make some coffee after I get the door." He layed her down gently and kissed her goodbye. Aaron went to open the door but someone had pulled him aside. "What the-" When he turned he looked. It was Daniel. "Hey calm down. Its just me... I used the key you gave me." Aaron asked him with confusion. "Who gave you a key. Cause I sure didn't" Peyton same down with Atka and said "I did, Atticus likes playing with Atka so I gave them a key so he could come over sometimw. And he's your brother, come on. You two go out and spend sometime together, Ill stay with Maya and Atticus. Okay?" Aaron looked at Daniel and said, "Okay... Your right... Be carefull. (kiss) I love you." Peyton smiled. "I love you too. See you soon." Daniel went out and started the car, and Aaron followed. "Where are we going Daniel?" Daniel's face went blank, and almost depressed. "You"ll see." They got in and Daniel turned on to the mountain road. "Seriously Daniel where are we going?" Daniel didn't say a word. He kept driving up the mountain... Eventually they reached an unmarked road. "Daniel?" Daniel was still silent... After a while they got to a small dead end. "Okay Daniel, will you tell me now?" This time Daniel had answer. "Hope you didn't wear any shoes that you care about." Aaron looked at him confused. Daniel opened the doors and they hiked for about 32 minutes of silence and suspence. "Okay, Aaron. Were here." Aaron looked around. "Daniel... Is this?" Daniel nodded his head, yes... It was...
Aarons father took the kids here the first week they spent as a new family. They had spent all day here. Aaron started to tear up again. So did Daniel. "I know he wasn't my father... But I couldn't have asked for a better one... He made me feel safe. And I miss him just as much as you do. And so does Katlyn... I remember when he took the three of us up here that day... He looked us all in the eye, and made us promiss to take care of eachother, even when he wasn't there... And what he always used to say to us... Oboete iru... The Japanese word for remeber... he always said. Remember the ones you love in the ways that brought you serinity not tragety... Oboete iru... Oboete iru... Remember... I may not be your brother by blood. But I see you as a brother anyway, and anyone who ever says different can go to hell... Dont remember dad's death as a mistake you wish you could take back, because you can't! You can only morn and love him, and cherish the time you spent together... But I'll be Damned if I have to sit here every day and listen to you destroy yourself from the inside! Your my brother... And I love you, and I'm not gonna lose you to something that you can't fix." Aaron was crying at this point. And so was Daniel... They hugged each other as if they were the last family they had left... Daniel whispered again, Oboete iru... Aaron wiped away the tears and said "Remember." They walked over to a large rock, behind it was a log... They took out a rock from the hollow log, and there they were. The tiny letters, all carved into the rock. D, A, K. Daniel, Aaron, Katlyn. Aarons dad uses to joke about the fact that their last names were Dàk. But Daniel new what he did by combinning their names. He was showing them that they were all part of a much bigger picture. On the back of the rock it said "Remember the ones you held close, and hold the memories of them closer. Oboete iru" They put the rock back... And went back to the truck. But this time they had something to talk about...