Hey everyone, here is the next chapter for you all. I'm so sorry about the delay in posting but my health is still not great and I am going through some things in my personal life. I will never leave a story too long if I can help it. I'm hoping to have lots of other updates posted this week although I have a little writer's block with Vigilante. I never seem to be happy with the big scene I'm writing for the chapter. Enjoy this chapter and I look forward to hearing from you all.
Thank you so much for all the reviews. You're all brilliant and awesome when it comes to being patient with my slow updates. Thanks!
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All mistakes are my own
Fran opened the door to Diana's room and walked in to find Spencer yawning and cuddling up against his mother. Diana looked up at her with a frown. Morgan rose up from his chair. "Don't worry, Diana. This is Fran, my mother. Also known as Grammy."
"Hi, Grammy," Spencer waved before rubbing his eyes.
"Hello, Spencer," Fran smiled. "You look like you just woke up from a nap."
"We both have," Diana said softly. "Thank you for taking care of my son. He's my precious boy and knowing that he is safe makes me feel much better."
"He's a beautiful and kind little boy," Fran said before walking over to the bed. "He's also an excellent little helper in the kitchen. We'll have to make you some cookies and brownies."
"That sounds wonderful," Diana nodded gently before stroking her son's hair. Everyone looked to the door when a young doctor walked into the room.
"I'm sorry to disturb you all but I need to take Diana for a scan and a few tests," the doctor informed them. "It's going to take a while."
"I think it's time for Spencer to have some dinner anyway," Fran spoke before walking to the bed with Morgan by her side. "Diana, would you be okay with us taking Spencer home? I'll bring him by tomorrow for a visit."
"My boy needs to stay strong," Diana agreed before looking into Spencer's eyes as he rose up with a frown. "Spencer, don't be sad. I'm going to be fine. I'll see you tomorrow and you can bring me cookies if you want. I love you and I'm going to be right here. I'm going to read the book of poetry you brought me. Promise me that you'll be a good boy for Morgan and his mother."
"I'll be a good boy, I promise. I'm always a good boy," Spencer nodded before leaning down and giving his mother a gentle hug. "I love you too, Mommy."
Diana lifted up her uninjured hand and cradled his cheek. "Dream sweet things, Spencer."
"You too, Mommy."
Diana laid in her bed with the picture of her son in her hand and felt her heart both ache and warm at the sight of her son smiling and enjoying his life. Her mind was clear and had been due to the medication she was receiving and knew that she had a hard decision ahead of her. The thoughts running around her mind were the same thoughts that had come to her mind before William had beaten her near to death. Never in her life had she seen her son look so full of life as he had when he had been by her side earlier in the day. She adored her son but deep down knew she couldn't give him the life he needed. Days passed sometimes where she would forget he even existed and she struggled to function sometimes. William had often hit her after she had come to her senses as punishment for not being able to make him food. She didn't have much money either and she wasn't going to make her son have to grow up too fast. He already knew too much of the adult world than he should do. Holding the picture, her heart and mind battled over the decision she knew she had to make.
Her love for her son would never disappear and she always wanted to be part of his life but she knew he would never be able to do what he wanted in life or show the world what he was capable of if he was burdened with looking after her. He deserved a childhood and the life she had never had. All she wanted for him was to grow up, be what he wanted to be and have a life that made him happy.
Even though it hurt, she knew she had to make a heartbreaking decision.
The next day
Morgan carried Spencer in his arms while Fran carried a box of cookies and brownies in her hands. He pushed open the door to see that Diana was awake. A grin came to her face when she saw Spencer. Putting him down, Morgan couldn't help but chuckle at the way Spencer rushed to the bed and just managed to climb on the bed. Spencer wrapped his arms around his mother and kissed her forehead. "Mommy, I made you brownies and cookies. Just like I said I would."
"I can see," Diana nodded gently as she looked to the box in Fran's house. "Spencer, do you think that you could help Fran do something for me? I'm all out of cold water in my jug and I need a helper to go and get me some. I know you'll make sure it's the best water."
"I'll get you some water," Spencer smiled at her before trying to get off the bed. Morgan managed to catch him when he stumbled and placed him on his feet.
"Slow down, Spencer," Morgan said gently before taking the brownies from his mother. Fran held Spencer's hand as they walked out of the room and into the corridor. Placing the sweet treats on the bedside table, Morgan lowered himself into the seat next to the bed. "So, I take it you want to talk to me about something."
"You're very perceptive and I do need to speak with you," Diana said shakily. "I've been thinking about this for a long time, even before William did this to me and I had time to think when I was in jail. Morgan, I've made a very hard decision. I'm going to sign Spencer over to a permanent guardian and I would like that to be you."
Morgan's eyes widened as he took in Diana's word. "Diana, this is a big decision and you barely know me."
"I know everything I need to know about you," Diana sighed before taking a deep breath. "My son is happy with you and I've never seen him this full of life and happy before. You kept your promise to me and you kept him safe from William and you've given him a safe place to live and call home. I see the way he clings to you and the way you hold him. You love my son as if he was your own child and your mother loves him too. I love my son more than anything and anyone in this world and I want to do what's best for him. I'm not what is best for him and I can't be a proper mother to him with my condition. He's been through enough pain in his life and I won't put him through any more. I know I'm asking so much of you but I know you've grown attached to him and I've seen the flicker of pain in your eyes when Spencer talks about going home with me."
Morgan reached out and held her hand gently. "I do care about your son and I won't lie to you. I want to give him a good home and a good life. I won't break apart a family though. He wants to come home with you and this is a big decision. You love your son. I do see him as the son I've always wanted."
"You aren't breaking apart a family," Diana said as she held his hand tighter. "I'll still see my son but he'll have a home with a family. No matter how you look at this, a family was going to be broken apart but it's the right one this time. I know Spencer loves being part of your family and he adores you. He calls you Papa Morgan. You're the father that he's always wanted and you're also the father figure that he needs. The family he has built with you is the family he needs to stay with. I would like to always be part of his life and I intend to. Spencer will be safe, cared for and loved if he stays with you."
Morgan considered Diana's words and knew she was right. He hadn't been able to let Spencer go when he had first met him and he couldn't do it now. Morgan knew that Diana meant every word and that this was what she thought was the best thing for her son. She would always be his mother and Morgan would always make sure of that. He gave her hand a soothing squeeze. "I will become Spencer's permanent guardian and I promise he'll be loved. You'll always be his mother and you'll always be part of his life, Diana."
"Just promise that he'll be safe. I'll try to help support you with whatever I have," Diana said.
"No, I'll take care of everything. Your son is a wonderful little boy and even though I've only been with him for a few weeks, I can't let him go because I care for him and love him. My mother has grown very attached too. She's home schooling him till he feels confident enough to try going to school and helped him get his new glasses. William won't ever come near him again because he's going to spend the rest of his life in prison for what he's done."
"I never told him anything when he was hurting me," Diana said even as her voice broke a little as the pain from the memories resurfaced. "I remember him beating me but I don't remember anything after the other one hit me hard in the head."
"I'm so sorry that you had to go through that," Morgan shook his head before giving her a comforting smile. "You're a strong woman to survive what he did to you. Spencer said that he gets his strength from you."
"He did?" Diana began to cry gently as a smile came to her lips.
"Yes, he did. He's missed you a lot and I've never seen a smile so big when he heard about you waking up. Don't cry, it's okay."
"I don't know what I did to deserve such a beautiful and strong little boy," Diana cried. "He's a miracle. He survived when William hit me in the stomach when I was pregnant and he survived so much more abuse at the hands of his father. He's going to be a great man when he grows up and now I know he's got a good man to lead him down that path."
Later that evening
Morgan listened as Spencer laughed at the cartoons he had left him to watch in the living room. He stirred the hot chocolate he was making and brought out some small marshmallows and placed some on the surface. His mother was upstairs speaking with Desiree and giving out the motherly advice that his sister needed. He needed to speak with Spencer alone and had promised Diana that he would. Walking into the living room, he set Spencer's hot chocolate on the table while he kept his own in his hand. "Hey, kiddo."
"Is that for me?" Spencer pointed at the hot chocolate on the table.
"It is and it's Garcia's famous recipe," Morgan smiled. "Spencer, I have to speak with you about something. I promised your mother that I would. Spencer, how would you feel about living with me for a long time?"
"What do you mean?" Spencer questioned.
"Your mommy loves you more than anything or anyone in the whole world but she's ill and I know you know what disease she has and how it affects her. She's afraid that she can't give you the life that you need. She wants you to grow up and be whatever you want to be. Your mommy knows that you have a great future ahead of you and that you're going to need a lot of guidance and support. Now, she would always be your mother and she can come visit you as much as she wants and we can see her too. She'll always be in your life but she wants you to live with me and I would become your permanent guardian. You'd stay here and live with me."
"She doesn't want me any more," Spencer frowned before looking down at his lap.
Morgan put his arm around Spencer. "She will always want you but this is safer for both of you. Your mother can get the help she needs and not be scared about hurting you during one of her episodes. You can write to her, email her, video call her and so much more. She knows that you like it here. You do like it here, don't you?"
Spencer bit his lip and nodded as he looked into Morgan's eyes. "I love it here but I love my mommy too."
"Your mother knows that you love her and you'll never lose that connection. I love you too, kiddo. I'm your Papa Morgan and I'll always be that to you. Grammy loves you too. We're a family and your mother is part of our family too. I'd love to have you live here."
"No-one apart from mommy has ever wanted me before," Spencer said timidly.
"We do and this is your home if you choose to stay here with me."
"Do you promise that I'll be able to talk with mommy when I want?"
"I promise," Morgan nodded gently.
Spencer leaned against Morgan and wrapped his small arms around him tightly. Morgan wrapped his arms around the small boy and kissed the top of his head. "I'd like to live with you, Papa Morgan."
"Then it's settled," Morgan smiled as he held the young man.
A week later
Fran quickly placed her famous brownies in the oven and turned as the doorbell rang. Morgan was taking Spencer for another visit with his mother and everything was finally being settled with social services. She already knew who was at the door.
She had barely opened the door when her two daughters rushed through and hugged her. "Hey, Mom," Desiree grinned.
"We've missed you," Sarah said as she hugged her mother tightly.
Fran came away and giggled gently at their joy. "I've missed you too. I'm so glad you could come down for a visit."
"We are always happy to make time for you," Desiree said before looking around. "So, where is our new nephew? The one we've just found out about."
"He's at the hospital visiting his mother. She's recovering well too which has calmed Spencer. They'll be back very soon. Oh, he's just the most adorable little boy in the world. He's so smart too. A genius. Just be gentle with him. He's been through a lot at such a young age. He already knows you're coming and he wants to call you his Aunt Sarah and Aunt Desiree because you're his Papa Morgan's sisters."
"Oh, I just know he's going to melt my heart," Sarah smirked.
Spencer jumped out of the car with Morgan's help and walked with him into the house. He heard laughing coming from the kitchen and made his way there to see two women talking with his Grammy. "Hi, Grammy."
He rushed to Grammy and was swept into her arms and held on her hip. She kissed his cheek and turned to face the two women. "Spencer, these are your aunts. This is Sarah and this is Desiree."
"Nice to meet you," Spencer greeted.
Desiree couldn't help the small 'aww' noise and came from her. "You're are so cute, Spencer, and so polite too. You don't have to be so formal with us though. We're your cool aunties. We brought you presents too."
"Really?" Spencer asked.
"Of course we have," Sarah nodded. "Can I hold you?"
"Okay," Spencer nodded before Fran passed Spencer to Sarah.
"Let's go and open your presents," Sarah said cheerily before making her way with Desiree into the living room.
Fran loved the way that Sarah and Desiree had taken to Spencer and listened as they greeted Morgan. He walked into the kitchen and placed some take out food on the table. "I picked up dinner, Mom. Spencer seems to like Desiree and Sarah."
"He's with his cool aunts," Fran chuckled before letting out a contented sigh. "He belongs with us. Always has."
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