Thank you to everyone who has reviewed on my story. Here's the next chapter. The story is almost finished.

He went to the ER waiting room and sat.

"Frank Hardy." The receptionist said as she walked over to him.

"Yes, ma'am?"

"you are to go to 4 river room two"

"I thought Joe wasn't serious." Frank said as aggravation colored his voice.

"Your brother is still getting checked over by a doctor. Your parents are up there with a patient."

"Ok. Thanks." Frank said as he headed to the elevator. When he reached the floor and headed down a hall. He knocked on the door two.

"Come in." Fenton called. Frank opened the door to see his father and mother sitting in chairs around the room, while Ty was asleep in the baby carrier.

"What happened?" Frank asked. "Where's Gwinn?"

"She…" Fenton looked at the roof. "She died."

"What?"

"About five minutes ago."

"How?"

"Their doing an autopsy right now. They think she was poisoned. But we won't know for sure for about a week."

"Oh.' Frank sat in an empty chair.

"Is Joe alright?" His mother asked.

"He's getting his head patched up." Frank said with a smile. "A bullet glazed his head." His mother gasped.

"What about Paine?" Fenton asked anxiously.

"Dead." Frank replied flatly

"How?." Fenton watched as the anguish flashed through Frank's eyes.

"I'm going for a walk. I'll be back later." Frank said as he practically ran from the room. He found himself outside in the little garden they had there. He paces back and forth.

"Why?" He hollered. "Why can't things go right!" He sat on a bench and buried his head in his arms and began to sob. He wasn't sure how long he was there before he felt a comforting arm go around him. He leaned into the person and cried. After a couple minutes he look into his father's face. "I'm sorry." Frank said as he wiped at his face.

"There's nothing to be sorry for. Tears are a natural part of a life."

"I killed Paine." Frank whispered.

"You didn't have a choice." Fenton rubbed Frank's back. "Joe told me everything. You, Joe and a whole slew of people would be dead right now if you hadn't."

"I know."

"It's always hard when you have to kill someone to protect others. It never gets easier, but it will change you."

"Just like being a father will." Frank sent his dad a sad smile. "I want us to keep Ty."

"Why?" Fenton asked shocked.

"We're the only family he has now."

"He could go to the children's home and be put into foster care. Nobody would blame you."

"What kind of life is that for a kid? Being passed from one family to the next. Never knowing if that family will want to adopt you or when you will have to pack again. Knowing that your real family didn't want you for one reason or another." Frank ended his tirade with a huff.

"When did you become so smart?" Fenton laughed.

"I guess a lot of things become clear in the event of a crisis." Frank stood and stretched. "Ready to go back and tell mom that she is a permanent Grandma?"

"That will tickle her pink." Fenton said as he and Frank made their way back to Gwinn's room. They opened the door to see Joe sitting beside his mother.

"How's the head?" Frank asked.

"It could have been worse." Joe shrugged. "Can we leave now?"

"I guess so." Fenton said as he looked at Frank.

"Let's go home." Frank said as went over and picked up the baby carrier and followed his mom out the door. They all crawled into the van since the older Hardys had ridden in the ambulance. They rode in silence for a few minutes.

"Do we need to stop and get some baby formula or something?" Frank asked from the driver seat.

"I think we have all we need at the house." Laura replied. "We really need to decide what we're doing with him."

"He's staying with us." Frank said. Joe's mouth fell open.

"Really?" Joe gasped. "I'm going to be Uncle Joe?"

"He has everything he need right here." Frank shrugged.

"We can paint the guest room a pale blue…" Laura said as she began to make plans for the baby room with Joe throwing in some suggestions. They talked all the way home.