I'm back at last. It seems such a long time but the next chapter is finally here. After an illness and a much longer than planned hospital stay I'm finally home and back in front of the computer. I aim to update each story once a week if I can and hopefully this will increase as my health improves. It was lovely to finally check my messages and I have been encouraged by how many of you have contacted me. Sorry I haven't replied to you all individually yet but I wanted to get the next chapter posted. Hope you are all well. Take care Mx

P.S. 'Matty' and 'Matty at the Greys' are being updated now together and 'The Youngest Grey' will follow in a couple of days.

'Matty I need a drink, I'm exhausted.' I say as we put the bikes away in the garage. I've entertained him all afternoon. We've flown the kites, played soccer, done kick boxing and ridden the scooter for Matty skateboard for me up and down the drive followed by the bikes.

'A quick drink and then we do something else.' Matty says hopefully. I look at my watch and hope that mom or Elliot will be home soon. Dad and Mia have spent most of the afternoon in the kitchen. First they prepared dinner and then dad has supervised Mia whilst she made cakes and cookies. I've kept Matty out of the way so that Mia can have the one to one time that she needs with dad.

'Something like the piano or chess but just until mom gets home.' I say.

'Monopoly.' Matty says.

'No it takes too long. You have two choices already.' I mutter as we walk into the house.

'OK we start on the piano. I've been practising a new tune to show you.' Matty says.

'When have you had time to practise?' I ask and Matty turns away before changing the subject.

'I'm just getting a drink of water.' He says as we enter the kitchen.

'When?' I say sharply and dad looks up from his newspaper.

'I don't know what time it was.' Matty says as he stands on the step and reaches for a glass. He then shuffles the step across to the sink and stands on it again before turning on the tap. He drinks from the glass and then hands it to me. 'Here you can finish this water.'

'I'll get my own glass thanks.' I say.

'I hasn't got germs.' Matty says and smiles at me.

'I know but don't change the subject.' I say. He squirms and jumps down from the step and then places the glass on the side.

'Matty was that safe?' dad asks and Matty looks at him with a puzzled expression until he realises what he's just done.

'I I I'm sorry.' He says and puts his head down.

'Just leave the glass on the side before you jump next time.' Dad says as he stands and ruffles Matty's curls. 'Have you been good for Christian?'

'I I I think so.' Matty says unsurely. 'I I I've tried.'

'Hey buddy you've been very good all afternoon.' I say as I finish my water and put the glass on the side. I pick him up and throw him over my shoulder and I hear him giggle. 'Piano time now.' I add.

'Yes.' Matty says and I tickle him making him laugh and wriggle.

'Do you want me to put you down?' I ask.

'Yes cos I'm going dizzy.' Matty says so I put him the right way up.

'Go and get started with your practise I'll follow you in a minute and remember I'll be listening so no messing about.' I say.

'OK Christian, I'll do it properly.' Matty says and heads off to the family room.

'You're very good with him.' Dad says. I shrug. 'You are, I said one thing to him and he was worrying and starting to stutter and you had him happy and relaxed again in a few seconds.'

'He's been on good form all afternoon but he has so much energy. I thought I was fit but he just keeps on going.' I say as I pick up one of the cookies that Mia has made. 'These are good Mia, did you do them by yourself?'

'Yes, dad just watched from the table.' Mia says. 'And I've made a chocolate cake for after dinner.'

'Wow you have been busy.' I say.

'Yes but now I need to do my homework and it's some tricky math.' Mia says.

'Bring it down and I will explain what you're stuck with but I'm not doing it for you.' I say.

'Thanks Christian.' Mia says. 'I'll just tidy up first.'

'OK, I'll be in the family room having a piano lesson from Matty.' I say.

'But you're very good. How can you have a lesson from Matty?' Mia asks. I smile at her and dad.

'If I'm struggling with a piece that I have to practise for Miss Kathy he helps me out and shows me where I'm going wrong. I don't think he even realises sometimes but he just seems to know.' I say.

'He takes after his father.' Dad says and turns back to the table to bury his head in the paper once more. I leave the kitchen and head for the family room. As I enter I pause and watch for a few moments. He's sat concentrating, tongue sticking out as he plays a complicated tune. I've never heard it before but it sounds beautiful.

'Matty that was really good.' I say as he finishes. 'When did you learn to play that?'

'It was dark.' He says as he moves up on the stool to make room for me.

'You've been playing in the night.' I say in surprise.

'No-one was awake, I checked and I couldn't get back to sleep so I played and then mom would come and she would make breakfast.' He says quietly.

'Did mom hear you?' I ask.

'I don't know. Sometimes I go back to sleep on the sofa and then she's in the kitchen when I wake up again.' He says.

'Matty sometimes I'm awake and I'll be reading a book but you could come and check and I'll play the piano with you.' I say.

'OK but if your lights not on then I won't wake you. I'll be OK on my own.' He says.

'Will you teach me that tune? And what's it called?' I ask.

'Yes I'll teach you but I don't know its name I just heard it once. I think daddy might have played it.' Matty says as he goes to press a couple of keys. 'Are you ready?' he asks and I nod. He then spends the next hour very patiently teaching me how to play the tune until I can play it from memory though not as perfectly as Matty.

'I'll need to practise.' I say.

'Yes it's taken me a long time to learn.' Matty says.

'How long do you play in the dark?' I ask him gently.

'Until my hands ache and my eyes won't stay open any longer.' Matty mutters quietly.

'Christian can you help me now?' Mia says as she comes into the room.

'Give me two minutes.' I say and then add quietly so only Matty can hear. 'I thought you hadn't been playing, how many nights have you been getting up for?'

'I can't remember.' Matty whispers back.

'Oh Matty.' I say.

'S'ok.' He says and gets off the stool before wandering out of the room. I stand and go to the door and see his back disappearing into the TV room so I turn and go and sit next to Mia. I flick through Mia's math book.

'Mia, what are you finding difficult with this? The last couple of homeworks you've had full marks and you haven't even shown any working out so you must have thought it was easy. This week's is just a bit harder but you should be able to do it.' I say.

'It's too tricky.' Mia whines.

'Why? Because the answers just won't come to you.' I say.

'Something like that.' Mia says and looks away.

'Mia what aren't you telling me?' I ask.

'It doesn't matter. I'll do it later on my own.' Mia says and goes to take the book from me. I move it out of her reach.

'Mia.' I warn just as Matty comes back into the room.

'Oh is that the math book Mia.' Matty says as he takes the book from my out stretched hand.

'Yes.' Mia mutters quietly. Matty opens the book.

'Cool, I got full marks again.' He says innocently. 'Have you got a pencil, I'll do this weeks now.'

'Oh no you don't.' I say to Matty before turning to Mia. 'You're going to be in so much trouble.'

'Please don't tell mom and dad.' Mia begs. 'Please Christian.'

'I don't want to be in trouble.' Matty says. 'Mia you told me it was just for fun.'

'Mia.' I exclaim. 'Matty how long have you been doing this fun math?'

'Only a few weeks.' Matty says and looks down at the floor.

'And now you're finding math hard.' I say to Mia.

'Yes.' She says quietly.

'You do know you're now going to have to spend the summer catching up. You can't get Matty to do your homework anymore.' I say.

'I didn't know it was homework.' Matty says and throws the book on the table. 'I didn't know and now I'm going to get in trouble and I just wanted to be good and I have to go now before anyone finds out cos I don't want to be shouted at and it's all your fault Mia.'

'Matty calm down.' I say.

'But I'm going to get in trouble and I didn't know.' Matty says and tears threaten.

'Matty don't worry. I'll take the blame.' Mia says.

'That's good of you Mia because it is your fault. Matty didn't know he was doing anything wrong.' I say.

'What's going on?' Elliot says as he comes into the room. He picks Matty up and swings him round. 'Hey buddy what are the tears for?'

'Our darling sister has been getting Matty to do her math homework but he didn't realise what it was and he thinks he's going to be in trouble.' I say. 'Elliot can you take him out and play soccer or something to get him in a good mood before dinner and mom gets home while I deal with Mia.'

'Sure. Come on buddy let's go play.' Elliot says to Matty and carries him through the French doors.

'Are you angry?' Mia asks.

'Beyond angry. How could you Mia?' I say.

'It seemed easy the first week and he did it in about five minutes so then I just gave it to him every week.' Mia says.

'Why not this week then?' I ask.

'Because I've been a bit jealous and I didn't know if he would do it.' Mia says quietly.

'He would have.' I mutter.

'I know that now but it's too late.' Mia says.

'Why are you jealous? He's probably the most easy going out of all of us and all he asks in return is the comfort of knowing that we want him here. You do want him to stay don't you?' I ask.

'I think so.' Mia says hesitantly. 'I do like having him here but everyone pays him so much attention and sometimes I feel left out.'

'Oh Mia.' I say and put my arm round her and pull her close. 'It's because he's just lost his mommy and daddy and we all want to make sure he's OK. Things will settle down soon especially as he's going back to school on Monday. Elliot probably felt the same way when I arrived.'

'And how did you feel when I came?' Mia asks.

'I loved you from the moment I saw you and would watch you for hours. Elliot was a bit jealous because sometimes I wanted to watch you or feed you and he wanted to play. You and Matty are great friends already and you just have to get that back to how it was. Play games with him or ride your scooters or bikes together and I'll even give you permission to do his hair and nails.' I say.

'OK.' She says with a smile.

'If you have to take him shopping then mom will be more generous as she'll be trying to keep you both happy so you might find you get an extra nail varnish or more new clothes.' I say. She nods and I smile at her. 'Now for the serious part, I will explain this math homework to you tomorrow and then in the summer break we will do some each day until you understand what you have missed.'

'And you won't tell mom and dad.' Mia asks.

'I won't tell but you have to work hard in everything from now on.' I say and she nods again. 'OK let's go and find Elliot and Matty and have some fun before dinner.'