Aidan jumped forward, beating his wings hard from the moment his feet left the roof. He sank at first all the same, but once he got up a little speed he started getting some real lift. Thankfully there was a modest thermal, and he was able to take advantage of it to spiral up. He kept going until he could tell the air was beginning to get colder. He could go much, much higher than that, but then he didn't need to breathe.

"You ready?" he asked.

Damien found that somehow this was less frightening than the wall had been. Maybe because the ground didn't even look real from this height. "Yes!"

"Right. Here you go." Aidan let go. Damien fell straight down, and for an instant he was utterly terrified. He was falling! Aidan dived down after him, worried that the boy wouldn't remember to spread his wings, but a second later he did. They jerked at his shoulders with the force of the wind, but he kept them open... and just like that he was flying! He laughed in delight. He was flying! Really flying! He tried turning to one side, and there was a lurching moment when he thought he might fall again, but he leveled out once more, having managed to turn a little. He looked over and saw Aidan flying only a few yards away. "You did it!" said Aidan with a grin.

"Yes!"

"See if you can climb a little. The air here is rising, you should be able to. Try circling."

He turned again, and this time he didn't drop, he managed the turn smoothly. Soon he was circling upwards, Aidan following close behind.

They flew for what seemed like forever, but eventually Damien's wings started to ache. He dipped down. He thought about diving, but that was still a little too scary. So he circled instead, spilling the air from his wings to let himself sink almost without thinking now. He could see his house below, and he aimed for it, wanting to land right in front of it. Aidan followed after him. Damien had a moment of not knowing what to do as the ground came up, and he stumbled a little on landing, but it wasn't too bad.

Aidan landed next to him, in the street in front of his house, and hugged Damien hard. "You did it! I'm so proud of you!"

Damien smiled up at him and hugged him back. "Thanks Dad."

Damien turned and ran into the house, yelling "Mom! Mom! I flew!" Aidan smiled and went after him. He loved all of his children, but he had always felt a little odd about Damien. There was regret in with his love; the wish, however small and deeply hidden, that the boy's conception had never happened, that he had never been born. But now... If I had it to do over again, I think I would do it the same way, he though to himself, feeling amazed that he could possibly think such a thing. I couldn't possibly be prouder of any of my children. Damien is special, having him in my life is worth all the pain.

The End.