The Care Bears returned Murphy to Care-a-Lot safe and sound and after it had been another long day. They had Murphy laying down in a bed at the Hall of Hearts most of the time. He was resting the body to relax the high amounts of stress from his body that was caused by his angry tirade.
It was getting close to nightfall as the Care Bears were seeing that Murphy was sitting up in his bed while Bright Heart Raccoon was examining and checking up on him like a doctor.
"Any aches, pain, discomforting feelings of the body inside and out in any location?" asked Bright Heart Raccoon.
"Negative." answered Murphy.
"Any cases of physical, mental or emotional exhaustion?" asked Bright Heart Raccoon.
"Negative." answered Murphy.
"Have you been experiencing any signs of depression and anxiety, pain of any kind, sleep problems, digestive problems, skin conditions, problems with the heart, weight, thinking. memory, concentration, anxious or racing thoughts, constant worrying, mood changes, appetite changes, or any nervous habits?" asked Bright Heart Raccoon listing off a few symptoms.
"Anything with the body? Negative. I've been in bed for at least a day or two. Ever since that day I went on a hateful tirade but all of you guys managed to calm me down and, well, that hunch you guys have in mind about this demon's actions has me sort of taking a leap of faith on what you guys suspect about who caused what happened to my brother Jack or my home. I'm willing to see where this hunch will take us." explained Murphy while admitting he's willing to listen and give faith a chance.
Cheer Bear and Brave Heart Lion walked into the room and they saw that Murphy was still in his pajamas, looking like he was relaxed and comfortable.
"How is he?" asked Cheer Bear and Brave Heart Lion in unison.
"I'm feeling alright." answered Murphy his cheeks blushing.
Cheer Bear and Brave Heart Lion came over to hug Murphy and kissed him on his cheeks which the kissing still left him blushing but also feeling as though he's growing comfortable with the hugging and kissing, even from Cheer Bear.
"Murphy, did you ever find out if this demon had a name?" asked Cheer Bear curiously.
"I just dubbed this thing Shadow Man since he's always appearing in the dark, the shadows or anywhere that's devoid of light." answered Murphy.
"Did it ever hurt you?" asked Brave Heart Lion hoping it didn't.
"It never got the chance to but there were a few close calls when it almost did." answered Murphy. "I may not know what it wants with me but it's been scaring the shi- I mean scaring the sweat out of me."
They saw that Murphy was trying to show some restraint from the swearing as he almost let one slip but he restrained himself from using one of them.
"I see your showing restraint. That's a good sign." Brave Heart Lion replied.
"It's not easy but I found out that I could ether think or say a mantra. Ether thinking it or saying it. I just try thinking or saying "swearing monster I bind you" which seems to work." Murphy replied.
Cheer Bear and Brave Heart Lion once again hugged Murphy in their arms as this made Murphy feel the healing love from them. Even when they returned him to Care-a-Lot, they tended to his emotionally painful wounds and managed to make sure he was soothed of the stress in his body by hugging him, rocking him back and forth slowly, even helping him cool down as the stress did make his body temperature rise a little which they used an ice pack to place on his head and chest to help cool his body down which worked.
All of the affection, hugging, emotional support and healing Murphy was receiving from the Care Bears was something he hadn't felt since his brother Jack. He felt like they were showing him love like a family. Yet the Care Bears felt like they've become emotionally involved with Murphy at this point.
"Do you guys think someone will adopt me?" asked Murphy hopefully.
They looked up at him as they placed a reassuring hand over his heart to pacify any doubt he felt in himself.
"Any family would be lucky to have you as a member of their family." reassured Cheer Bear.
"You really think so? I only feel some doubt because most families go for the younger kids and any of the older kids, it's harder for them to get adopted." said Murphy.
"You might've been overlooked before but have a little hope and faith. The right family is waiting for you. They just haven't found you yet. Gods got the right family looking to adopt you. It might be hard to be patient and patience may be a virtue and it's hard to be patient at times. But God has the right family looking for the right boy to adopt and that boy they want to adopt is you." reassured Brave Heart Lion.
Cheer Bear and Brave Heart Lion planted a kiss to his cheeks and his forehead. Murphy felt their reassurance sinking into his mind and body which was giving him a sense of comfort, even if it was the type of comfort that was making him feel sleepy.
"If I do get adopted. I hope the family is as loving as all of you and my brother." said Murphy his eyes blinking as his eyes looked like he was getting sleepier.
They noticed he was getting sleepy as they gently laid him back down into the bed. His head laying on the big, thick and fluffy pillow, they pulled the thick, warm blanket over him, even tucking him in. Cheer Bear and Brave Heart Lion kissed Murphy on his forehead and cheeks.
"That perfect family is going to love you. Night sweetie." whispered Cheer Bear in his ear.
"We'll be here if you need anything or if you need us. Night Bubba." whispered Brave Heart Lion in his ear.
They walked out of the room as Murphy fell asleep that night. But before they left the room, they watched him fall asleep and left the room afterwards.
On the second day, it was morning and the sun was up high in the sky. But Murphy was having a pleasant dream as he was still asleep. His dream was about his feelings for Cheer Bear for some reason. His dream even had pop rock music playing in his head. It felt like a beautiful dream to him.
"Some days I start off draggin' my feet. Some days I want to fly. Some days it all makes sense to me. Some days I just don't want to know why"
The music sounded louder and got powerful as Murphy was imagining that Cheer Bear was getting his attention by using her powers to fly down to him and reached out to take his hand which he took hold of hers and they both smiled. Than both of them started to fly up and dance together.
"Hey, hey! I'm not giving up, no. Gonna stand up and shout it. Oh oh oh, no way! I'm not slackin off or backing out or cracking up with doubt. I'm workin' it out. Oh cool, that's awesome"
The music got to a softer tune but it still sounded powerful as Murphy's dream kept going as the music in his head kept playing. He was imagining that Cheer Bear and him wear walking in a grass field as they were walking down a path, holding hands as Cheer Bear looked at him with a wink and grin but the two blushed deeply, looking away, both of them smiling as if they were falling in love.
"Sometimes I'm just surrounded by friends. Sometimes we've never met. Sometimes I pray for something I need. But hey, you never know what you're gonna get and, hey, hey! I'm not giving up, no. Gonna stand up and shout it. Oh oh oh, no way! I'm not slackin off or backing out or cracking up with doubt. I'm workin' it out. It's hard enough to be what you are, harder to be what you're not. It's hard to know what you need to get, harder to know what you've got"
As the music sounded like an electric guitar played. Murphy imagined in his dream that him and Cheer Bear wear sitting down on a hill in a nature region of a local park, it was dark out and they were star gazing as they looked at the stars, pointing out a few they knew or looked like they were explaining what sort of stars there.
Their hands were gently scooting closer to each other. But once their hands touched, both of them blushed wide eyed, looked down and saw their hands touching, they both looked away as if shy, but then looked up at the starry sky, slowly looking at one another. cheeks were blushing deeper shades as they leaned in slowly and once they closed their eyes, Cheer Bear planted her lips to his in a kiss. It looked like it was ether a romantic kiss or a kiss of affection. The music began to play at a powerful tune again.
"Hey, hey! I'm not giving up, no. Gonna stand up and shout it. Oh oh oh, no way! I'm not slackin off or backing out or cracking up with doubt. I'm workin' it out. Hey, hey! I'm not giving up, no. Gonna stand up and shout it. Oh oh oh, no way! I'm not slackin off or backing out or cracking up with doubt. I'm workin' it ou-u-ut. Hey, hey! I'm workin' it ou-u-ut, now. I'm workin' it out"
The music in his dream was starting to fade to a stop and Murphy imagined that Cheer Bear and the rest of the Care Bears family had witnessed the day he got adopted by the family that's perfect for him but saw that Cheer Bear kissed him on his lips once again. But than his dream faded as everything faded to black as he heard someone's voice speaking to him.
"Murphy, wakey wakey"
Murphy was slowly opening up his eyes as his vision was blurry from sleeping for hours. His vision was clearing up as he saw that Cheer Bear was holding him in her loving arms while one hand was over his heart while her other arm was wrapped around him from behind his back. Bright Heart Raccoon was examining Murphy and he let out a sigh of relief.
"His stress levels have gone down. I think his body and mind are back to healthier physical and emotional states." said Bright Heart Raccoon looking relieved.
"How's it going, little guy?" asked Cheer Bear with a grin.
"I'm feeling much better than I did days ago." answered Murphy.
Brave Heart Lion was next to enter the room as well as Champ Bear, Friend Bear, Funshine bear, Grumpy Bear, Love-a-Lot Bear, Tenderheart Bear, True Heart Bear, Noble Heart Horse and Lotsa Heart Elephant followed with him into the room.
"How's the little guy doing?" asked Brave Heart Lion curiously.
"He's actually doing a lot better than he has been days ago." answered Bright Heart Raccoon.
"I'll bet he had sweet dreams during the night." said Playful Heart Monkey poking a small joke.
Murphy was wide eyed for a brief moment and blushed deeply while he tried to remain stoic but he let out a loud hiccup.
"Possibly." answered Murphy with a loud hiccup.
"Don't worry Murphy. I'm usually the type to poke a few jokes." reassured Playful Heart Monkey.
"Hugs, Tugs, wait up!" came two voices.
They all turned to see two little younger bear cubs as one was male and the other being female. The male was blue, the female was pink. Both were clothed with only a diaper. They were the cubs that Brave Heart Lion told Murphy about. The two voices that were heard was Grumpy's gruff voice and the other was an elderly yet soft female's voice as an elderly bear walked in as she had grey fur with a slight purple tint and her Belly badge being a pink rose tied with a yellow bow. She was wearing a pink shawl. It was Grams Bear.
Murphy could tell that the two cubs are Hugs and Tugs that he was told about. He felt his stoicism slightly fade a little but he felt like a sense of responsibility come over him as if he knew he needs to make sure that he doesn't say or do anything that could scare or traumatize the two cubs.
"Baby Hugs and Tugs Bear?" said Murphy rhetorically.
"Yep!" answered Brave Heart Lion.
"I apologize. They were interested in meeting the child that we're looking after. Once I told them he had hair like Brave Heart Lion's mane, they wanted to see for themselves." chuckled Grams Bear.
"Nothing to apologize for, ma'am. Years back, a lot of people were surprised by the fact that I got a full head of hair like the way I do." reassured Murphy. "Are the two little ones yours?"
"That I am. I'm Grams Bear." Grams Bear introduced.
The two little cubs got a good look at Murphy and the first few features they noticed was his handsome face and his full head of long, thick, beautiful hair that was resembling to look like Brave Heart Lion's mane. They both blushed, but were wide eyed by how handsome he appeared to them.
"Oh, goody, goody gosh! He's got hair like Brave Heart Lion's mane." said Baby Hugs looking surprised.
"Is he one of the bigger kids?" asked Baby Tugs curiously.
"Only eleven years of age." answered Murphy. "I'm Murphy."
"Hugs, Tugs, try to be gentle with him. He's recovering from a high amount of stress." Grams Bear advised.
"I'm alright, ma'am. A couple of days in bed was the solution to the physical ailment." reassured Murphy.
"At least you weren't tickled by them." said Grumpy Bear slightly annoyed by that but he felt like he wasn't too bothered by that.
There was suddenly a loud fart as they all were wide eyed and blushing as they all wondered who it was that farted. Hugs and Tugs laughed at hearing the sound of farting as they found farts and possibly burps to be funny.
"Was that Grumpy?' chuckled Hugs.
"Oh come on! It wasn't me!" Grumpy Bear groaned.
"That wasn't Grumpy." Murphy admitted. "Large amounts of protein in food we consume can cause people to fart, excessively."
Grumpy Bear let out a sigh of relief as he didn't like it when someone assumed he farted, even when he didn't.
"I'm not always the person who cuts the cheese you know." said Grumpy Bear.
That was when Murphy got up out of the bed he was in and walked over towards Grumpy Bear and he wrapped his arms around Grumpy Bear to hug him which Grumpy Bear wasn't expecting to be hugged at that moment but he felt some sense of love from being hugged.
"I can tell when someone did or didn't let one rip. When someone farts, they appear tense when confronted, the ones who didn't fart, they maintain their innocence by making it look like they argue. When someone lies, their bodies give off a physical reaction such as increased heart rate, sweating, fidgeting, twitching, strange touches to the face, lack of eye contact when confronted or spoken to, breathing pattern changes. You exhibited none of the signs so you were telling the truth." said Murphy speaking to Grumpy Bear calmly.
Grumpy Bear actually felt like Murphy was being fair to him as if the grumpy natured bear felt that Murphy was able to tell that it wasn't always Grumpy Bear farting. Grumpy Bear wrapped his arms around Murphy to hug him.
"Also, when fixing or building anything. Always wear a hardhat, mind your surroundings, wear goggles and gloves from time to time, and when feeling a bit overwhelmed from the grumpiness or frustration, do what I used to do." Murphy advised.
"What did you used to do when you were feeling grumpy to the point of losing it?" asked Grumpy Bear.
"Do what makes you feel happy or relaxed. I listened to golden oldies rock and roll when I'm grumpier than usual to the point of losing it." answered Murphy.
After Murphy and Grumpy Bear released their arms from each other. Grumpy Bear knew that Murphy's advice was meant to help him which he felt a better sense of love from Murphy's comforting words and advice.
"Murphy, I've heard that you have the ability to sing." said Grams Bear.
Murphy turned to Grams Bear and was blushing from what she said as he become stoic in the face but his stoicism wasn't as tense as it usually was.
"I take it you heard the music." Murphy admitted.
"I have and it sounded like the voice of an angel. Yet everytime someone catches you singing, you tried to deny it was you. There's nothing to be ashamed of for having those talents." reassured Grams Bear.
Murphy let out another loud hiccup and his stoicism fade slightly.
"It's not that I'm ashamed. It's just that someone I went to school..." Murphy paused for a moment and let out a sigh. "Some kid at my school used to make fun of me for being able to sing. He said that singing was for girls."
"When you say used to make fun of you?" asked Cheer Bear.
"My brother got him to stop once he talked to the teachers and the teachers got him to stop afterwards." answered Murphy.
"Murphy, we all know singing isn't just for girls. There are a lot of famous singers that are men too. There's been some boy bands who can sing beautifully like you." reassured Grams Bear.
"Billy Ray Cyrus, the Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Who, Elvis Presley." Brave Heart Lion listed off. "They were all male singers and they turned out to be some of the best singers the worlds ever known."
"I do hear their music over the car radio from time to time." said Murphy showing their words of encouragement or advice or comfort was sinking in.
"That, and you sing so beautifully and that's the truth." replied Lotsa Heart Elephant.
Murphy felt that their words made the shame or embarrassment he felt whenever anyone caught him singing and dancing fade away as the feeling were replaced with comfort and confidence. Grams Bear walked over to Murphy and gently pulled him in her arms to hug him which he allowed her to do so.
Being hugged by Grams Bear given Murphy a warm sense of comfort and love which Grams Bear lightly patted his back while kissing him on his cheek. But this time, he didn't blush when he was kissed. They all sensed he had a respect for the elderly.
"Hugs and Tugs are my grandchildren and I love them with all my heart. Here in Care-a-Lot. I'm everyone's grandma." said Grams Bear. "I'm so sorry about your brother and all you've been through."
"I appreciate the words of compassion, ma'am." said Murphy kindly.
"You can always just call me Grams." chuckled Grams Bear.
"If that's alright with you, that is." said Murphy blushing.
"I'm okay with that. Besides, I've heard plenty of grandchildren giving their grandparents cute nicknames like nana, grams, pop pop, I once heard one of them nickname their grandpa "Grandpa Lion" because he had a full head of shaggy grey hair." reassured Grams Bear.
Grams Bear's words were comforting to Murphy and her soft voice was like the loving words from an angel. Murphy wrapped his arms around the older female bear and he felt the love from her.
"Hugs and Tugs are lucky to have you as their grandma." said Murphy.
Their moment of peace was interrupted when they heard a loud gurgling sound and it was coming from Murphy was his felt the gurgling in his stomach was a sign of him needing to use the bathroom.
"Where's the bathroom? I hate to interrupt the sweet moment but I got to use the little boy's room." said Murphy.
"I'll take him to it." Cheer Bear volunteered.
Cheer Bear came over to Murphy and took him by the hand to lead him to the bathroom which Grams Bear saw that Murphy was blushing with a grin and looking like he was trying to hide some sort of emotion. Grams Bear could sense it was possible that Murphy likes Cheer Bear. She turned around and had both Hugs and Tugs stay with Tenderheart Bear who volunteered to babysit the two cubs. She approached Brave Heart Lion.
"Brave Heart, I know that the book that you and Murphy found at that abandoned hospital is going to help with what that thing that's following him and trying to hurt him. But if I could make a suggestion? Maybe we could give Murphy a day to experience what being a child would be like?" suggested Grams Bear.
"What would you suggest?" asked Brave Heart Lion.
"A day of fun. Judging by how hard Murphy's had it in life. He could use a day of knowing what it's like to be the kid with a normal childhood. I know he can be rather stoic but maybe he'd smile more if he had a day like any normal child." Grams Bear specified.
They all uttered a surprised "Oh" when they heard Grams Bear specify on what she suggested.
"Well, we can do that. But we need to make sure he's feeling okay first. That, and he could do some good with some food in his belly." said Brave Heart Lion in agreement.
"I know just the thing for that." said Grams Bear.
They all walked out of the Hall of Hearts and decided to try out what Grams Bear suggested. For the rest of the day. They started to have Murphy participate in some fun activities to help him see what being a normal, happy child is like. But what Grams Bear noticed most was that there was subtle signs that Murphy likes Cheer Bear.