TITLE: A Family Made Whole

AUTHOR: Catlover
EMAIL:
DISTRIBUTION: MattMohinder,
RATING: M

SUMMARY: Sequel to A Family Made Real. It is a sad fact that in every Father's life there comes a day when he must realize that his little girl is not a little girl anymore.

DISCLAIMER: I own nothing. I'm only using them for my sick purposes and then cleaning them off and placing them back on the shelf.

NOTE: This is a 3M fic. This means Molly plays a prominent role.

Five Years, Three Months And Twenty-One Days Removed

Another school year – only this one is five years, three months and twenty-one days removed from the last time we looked in on our heroes. It's a Monday and the first day of Molly's sophomore year in high school. From the kitchen where an easy-to-carry breakfast has just been set down on the kitchen counter to the bathroom dominated by a frantically primping, sixteen year old girl - The house is aflutter. Walking into the living room, Matt grabbed his black blazer off the sofa. Pulling it on, he paused to fix his collar before answering the loud knock at the front door.

"You look like hell."

"Good morning to you, too, Nathan."

Leaving the door open, Matt walked over to a hall mirror. While he tied the necktie hanging around his neck, Nathan closed the front door. Casually, he walked over to a newly framed family photo hanging on the wall across from the mirror. As he looked at the happy family, he asked, "How was India?"

"Great. Just like always. We got back last Thursday, but I still can't shake this jetlag."

"How's the Mother-in-law doing?"

"Avani is doing fine. I think she really likes having a granddaughter Molly's age. It gives her someone to shop with and buy things for."

Just then, Molly made her entrance. Clad in her school uniform, she walked out of the bathroom and made her way quickly to her bedroom. While one hand ran a comb through her hair, the other hand stuffed her shirt into the bouncy, pleated skirt that hung just above her knee. As she disappeared from sight again, Nathan exclaimed, "God damn! You mean to tell me all that happened in just one summer?"

Snaking out a hand, Matt smacked Nathan squarely on the back of the head. Bringing a hand up to rub the sting of the slap, Nathan yelled, "What the hell?"

"Uncool, man. That's my daughter you're ogling at."

"Excuse me," replied Nathan as he continued to rub the back of his head. Looking back at Molly's room, Nathan shook his head as he continued, "You are in so much trouble, my friend."

"How's that?"

"Come on, Matt. Look at her. Every guy in school is going to want her. I'd say you have about five days before the first pimply faced idiot shows up at your front door."

"Ha, ha. Very funny."

"Who's laughing?" he asked with all seriousness. After Matt didn't reply, he shrugged and continued, "Oh, I need to tell you something – I'm not going to be able to pick Molly up from school today or do the carpool for the rest of the week."

"What?"

"Hold on – before you kill me," said Nathan as he held up his hands and smoothly backed away. "I had a last minute emergency."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Matt squared his stance and waited.

"Okay," said Nathan as he loudly clapped his hands together. "Claire went into labor this morning."

Open-mouthed, Matt's arms fell to his sides. Nathan snatched onto the moment to give a basic run-down. "She called me about an hour ago. The baby's a little premature – 35 weeks along, but that's enough that the doctors won't stop it."

"Oh my God, Nathan. Of course, you have to go."

"I wish my wife was as understanding as you. Let's suffice it to say that Heidi is none too pleased. Anyways. I'm flying out this morning. That's why I can't pick her up this afternoon."

"Tell me something, Nathan," inquired Matt as he moved his hand higher and higher into the air. "Are you going to fly out there or are you going to fly out there?"

"I booked a flight to San Diego on the way over here."

"Good," answered Matt. Walking over to the hall closet, he pulled out a medium-sized gift bag. Extending his hand, he offered it to Nathan. "We got this for the baby while we were in India."

Reverently, Nathan took the bag. Looking past the pastel tissue, he saw the brightly colored outfits. Shaking his head, he whispered, "You guys shouldn't have."

"Hey, how often does my best pal become a grandfather for the first time?"

Again, he shook his head. Meeting Matt's gaze, he said, "Can you believe it? I'm 45 years old. Most of my colleagues are dealing with daycare and t-ball. Not me. I've got two teenagers waiting for me downstairs and a twenty-one year old daughter whose about to make me a grandfather." Snapping his fingers, Nathan continued, "About my two teenagers downstairs – I have a plan."

"Am I going to like this plan?"

"With the extra hours you're pulling due to that prostitute being found dead in Senator Kelly's hotel room - Are you really going to have a choice?"

"I'm listening."

"Look, Simon got his driver's license this summer."

"No. No. No," yelled Matt. "It is not happening. Teenagers are more prone to get into accidents if they're driving with other teenagers."

"Then you come up with a better plan, my friend. I've wracked my brain and I can't come up with anything else. Heidi hates to ride in a car, much less drive one since the accident. Mohinder is in London at that symposium and he won't be back until this weekend. Now, Simon is a good boy. He's responsible and I trust him not to do anything stupid."

Suddenly, there came a knock at the door. Looking back at it, they watched as a head covered in light brown hair poked around the wooden frame. "Dad, there's a cop car that's circled the block a couple times."

Quickly, Matt and Nathan looked at each other. After a moment, Matt looked away as he nodded. Walking over to the kitchen counter, he picked up Molly's breakfast before he called out, "Molly come on. You're going to be late for school."

At the same time, Nathan walked over to his son and said, "Go back to the car, Monty. We'll be down soon."

With a nod, the boy left. His rapid footfalls could be heard as Molly finally came out of her room. Picking up her backpack, she took her breakfast from Matt. Turning to Nathan, she waved as she said, "Hi, Uncle Nathan."

"Hi, Molly," he replied as he followed her out the door. Looking over his shoulder, he watched as Matt locked up the apartment. "Hey, do you think you can help me with that cop downstairs?"

"I'll see what happens when I flash my badge," answered Matt as he caught up to Nathan. Walking side-by-side, they followed several steps behind Molly.

"And if that doesn't work, you could just do that thing you do - Y'know, just like that time at Meadowlands."

Placing a finger to his lips, Matt shushed. "Will you shut up about that?"

"What? You could use your powers to get that scalper to hand over those choice tickets on the fifty yard line, but you can't use them to help me get out of a parking ticket?"

Looking ahead, he watched as Molly exited the building. Placing a hand on Nathan's chest, Matt pushed him back a few steps. "That was a one shot deal, you son of a bitch and you know it. If she heard all that and it gets back to Mohinder, I'm going to kick your ass. You know how he is about the whole 'irresponsible use of powers' thing."

"Boy, he has got you whipped," countered Nathan. Brushing Matt's hand away, Nathan stepped around him and opened the door. "Besides, what does he know about it anyway? Now, come on. I still have to drop these kids off before I go to the airport."

The day passed uneventfully. Simon and Molly found they shared four out of six classes – including the last class of the day. At Prescott Preparatory Academy, the middle school building was located near the street while the high school campus sat higher up on the hill. As a result, Monty was forced to wait at the steps of the school for Molly and Simon to arrive. Once they met up, they walked to the student parking lot. Loading into the car, Simon exuded maturity as he pulled out onto the road.

Riding shotgun, Molly glanced to her left. Casually, she mused that it was often said that Simon had his Mother's looks – narrow face, light colored eyes and poker straight, jet black hair. Looking at him now – with his jaw squared and set, his eyes narrowed in concentration; she couldn't help but see his Uncle Peter. Shuddering at her last memory of Peter, she looked back at the road.

Just a few blocks from Molly's house, Simon's phone rang. Pulling it from his pocket, he handed it to Molly and asked, "Could you answer this for me?"

With a nod, she took the phone. Looking at the screen, she noted the word "Dad" flashing across it as she held it up to her ear and commanded, "Answer call."

"Simon?"

"No, Uncle Nathan. It's me, Molly. Simon is driving so he asked me to answer the phone."

"Good. That's very good. Tell him, I'm proud he's taking this so seriously."

"He says he's proud of you, Simon." Glancing at her left, she caught the blush as it flew across his face.

"Molly, give Monty the phone, please."

"Sure, Uncle Nathan," she replied as she reached into the back seat and handed the phone to Monty.

From the front seat, Molly and Simon waited as they listened to the one sided conservation.

"Hey, Dad. Yeah. I'm not causing any trouble. Honest. What? Really?"

Suddenly, Monty shouted, "Hey Simon, guess what? We're Uncles. Claire had her baby. It's a boy!"

Sliding a hand back, Simon wiggled his fingers upward as Monty held his own hand above Simon's and wiggled his fingers downward. Together, they let out a small howl before pulling their hands back and shouting, "Oh yeah."

"What was that, Dad? She named him what? Well, that's a mouthful. Why'd she do that? Oh. Okay. Yeah, I'll talk to you later, Dad."

"Congratulations!" exclaimed Molly as Monty handed her back the phone. As she handed the phone back to Simon she repeated, "Congratulations."

Shrugging, Simon slid the phone back in his pocket. Turning one last corner, he drove a few more meters before coming to a stop in front of Molly's apartment building. Finally, for the first time since they pulled out of the parking space at the academy, Simon looked at Molly. Letting his eyes slide down her face, he centered on her lips as she said, "Congratulations on becoming an uncle, again. See you tomorrow."

"See you," he whispered as he watched her walk from the car. Trailing her every move, he stayed until she was safely inside her building before driving off. Glancing at the rearview mirror, he couldn't stop looking back until he saw light shine from the apartment's living room windows.