''So...good luck.'' Gabriela gave him a small smile as he stepped out of the car. He walked around it and kissed her once while he also grabbed his bag from the backseat and walked into the airport.

''See you back on Monday.'' She yelled after him and he just raised his hand, walking in. He checked the flight information but his airplane was not delayed and he checked in.

''Check the bag in as well?''

''No, it's hand luggage.''

As he was checked and went to the security. As he was unbuckling his belt and got everything out of his pockets he looked at one of the security guys and looked for the letter in his bag and gave it.

''I have a metal plate and two screws in my right leg.'' He explained and the man signed him to walk through the gate and the man wanded him thoroughly.

''Ah, a firefighter.'' The man smiled as he handed Matt his stuff as he was searched and Matt nodded.

He sat down in the terminal with some coffee. Ready to put his phone off he saw there was a text from heather, to make sure he would be in Florida tonight. He texted back and turned the phone off. Something was poking into his thigh from his back and he opened it, laying the G. action figure in a different way. He had found it in his house about three weeks ago and had offered to mail to fo Florida, but Ben didn't want it. As he was going to visit now he might as well take it.

Six weeks ago, the Dardens had left for Florida and he had been on shift for the first time since the accident. Heather had walked in to say goodbye, but neither of the boys had wanted to say goodbye to him. He had tried to talk to them before they left but it was a lost battle. He tried to explain to them that he wasn't leaving them and that he would always be right there for them if they ever needed his help and that he was going to miss them, but the didn't even want to listen to him. He missed them, a lot. Especially as their goodbye was so sudden.

''Flight 924 to Fort Myers is boarding now.''

Matt stood up and got ready to board the plane. Honestly, he had no idea what he could expect when he arrived in Fort Myers. He could either get a warm welcome or be there for four awkward days. In the plane he squeezed himself between the couple that was already sitting there. Honestly, he didn't like flying and he closed is eyes, hoping he could get some sleep untill he was in Florida, but the elbows poking into him in his sides from the people beside him caused that he couldn't find any comfortable position.

Nearly three hours later he finally walked into the arrival hall and he saw Heather waving at him. He walked up to her and they hugged. ''The boys didn't want to come.'' She explained and Matt nodded as they walked to her car.

''How are you and Gabriela?''

''We are good.''

They drove to another town close by the airport and Matt got out at the apartment building.

''So, this is what you are managing now? I can fix that for you.'' He said, pointing at the fence that was broken at one side.

''Thank you. Yeah, I had imagined my whole life really different.'' Heather sighed as the walked through the gates and up the stairs. There were two floors of apartments in a U shape, a swimming pool in the middle and they got to one of the apartments in the corner.

''Hey.'' Matt greeted the boys and for a second he had hoped they would run their way and he could hug them after missing them, but they just looked at him for a second.

''Hey.'' Ben said and Griffin stood up, walking away.

''Griffin! Matt did not fly two and half hours to be treated like this.''

Matt sat down in front of Ben.

''So...how are you doing?''

Ben seemed to doubt for a second if he should anser but he finally shrugged; ''Good, I guess. I like my new class.''

''I am glad to hear that.'' Matt smiled and Ben finally gave a small smile as well.

To be honest he was mad with Matthew, but now he he was so happy matt was here. He had regretted not saying goodbye to Matt as he hadn't liked leaving Chicago.

Matt opened his bag and the got the action figure out. He handed it to Ben and Ben smiled with a short smile.

''Figure you wanted it back.'' Matt said.

''At first not...but now I want it back. I am sorry for not saying goodbye and I know we can't decide how to live your life.'' Ben said as he looked the action figure with a pout.

''It is okay Ben, no need to apologize, I was stupid for promising you guys things I can't make things. But remember, I am always right here for you if you need me.''

Ben nodded and stood up, walking around the table and he hugged Matt. ''I missed you.''

''I missed you too.'' Matt said as he rubbed through the boys hair. He had missed the boys, big time and he hoped that he would be able to see them often although they lived far away now.

Heather was preparing dinner as Matt was telling about his flight.

''Did you get into trouble at the security?'' Heather asked as she was almost finished with preparing dinner.

''No, not at all. I have a letter from the hospital.'' Matt answered as he helped setting up the table. Back at work now for six weeks, his legs hadn't fall short. Sure, when he walked it was still visible his right leg limped a little bit, but not so much that it hindered him at work and he could run again, which he did almost every night to train his legs.

''Griffin, dinner!''

The bedroom door stayed closed and his mom called him again.

''Griffin, you said you were hungry before mom went to pick up Matt at the airport.'' Ben yelled.

''GRIFFIN!'' heather wanted to jump up, mad but Matt grabbed her arm and stood up, filling the plate with pasta and he walked to the boy's room, knocking on the door. When Griffin didn't open Matt opened the door himself. Griffin was watching tv from his bed and Matt handed him the plate.

''So, I am sorry. What else do you want me to say.'' Matt said as Griffin didn't take the plate. ''I am sorry I can't keep a promise i shouldn't have made. Did you want me to say no at the time on the pier? All you needed was trust and I tried to give that to you.''

Griffin didn't respond and Matt sat down next to him.

''Griffin, I am really trying here. Can you at least just talk to me?''

''Okay.''

Griffin sat up.

''I just had hoped that you could fill the empty space that dad left behind. I was naive and I shouldn't have known you couldn't.''

Matt thought for a second. ''I never wanted to replace you father and I would never want to. That empty space, you should fill it with memories and maybe get attached so somebody your mom likes in years, but you shouldn't fill that space with anyone other than Andy.''

Griffin gave him a small smile and Matt hugged him.

''Let's enjoy dinner now, shall we?'' He said as he and Griffin stood up.

He was glad when he was in Chicago and he walked outside. Gabriela just came walking towards them and they embraced and he kissed her on the forehead.

''So, how was the sun in Florida.'' She laughed as she saw his sunburned shoulders when they got to his home and he wanted to shower because he smelled from travelling and he laughed. After the first two days where he had helped with fixing the apartment they had gone to the beach for the other two days and while he had been very precise with boys when it came to sunscreen, he had forgotten to smear himself with sunscreen.

''So, you and the boys made up?'' She said they sat down on the couch in his living room.

''Yeah, they are actually coming here this summer. Ben accidentally called me dad when we were on the beach.'' Matt said, not sure how to feel about it.

''That is really great, that they are coming over.''

''I just don't want them to see me as a replacement for Andy. They are not my kids and I feel guilty and disrespectful to Andy if I acted like I was their father, but that doesn't mean I don't care for them and love them.''

''I know Matt and I am sure Andy would be very happy with the way you are caring for those boys and one day, you are going to be a great dad.'' Gabriela said as she kissed him on his cheek.

NOTE: I am so so sorry for the late update. I really wanted to update this earlier but yeah...I kinda forgot about it. Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter and that you like the way the boys and Matt made up.

The next chapter will be an epilogue and the end of the story.

Thank you for reading and please leave a review!