After nine horrible days stuck in the hospital they were finally home. Matt never thought he'd be so happy to be sat on the sofa watching tv. He wasn't really watching the television his attention was solely on the boy beside him. Sonny was curled up in the middle of the sofa , his knees hugged tightly to his chest as he drifted in and out of sleep. While Kelly was sat on the opposite end flicking through a file Kidd had dropped off for him. Matt wasn't sure what he'd do when the other man inevitability headed off back to work and Sonny started school, he'd have to find a new way to pass the days. But for now he was taking each day at a time, because if the past ten years had taught him anything it was that no matter how much you planned and prepared life always took its own course. And after nearly loosing Sonny again he wanted to savour every moment instead of wasting it away by worrying about the future. He wondered if Sonny was relieved as he was felt finally be home, granted Sonny was only really aware of the last three days of his hospital stay. Matt guessed that was one thing to be thankful for, the teen was unaware of the full extent of the pain and worry they'd been through. The teen wasn't even aware that he'd started seizing on the first day. Sonny didn't know Matt and Kelly had been told to expect the worst and he never would. Matt wasn't a big fan of secrets but he knew that there were times in life when they were necessary. He didn't want Sonny to know how terrified they had been, it wasn't that he didn't want Sonny to know he cared. But he knew how Sonny's mind worked : he knew Sonny would feel immensely guilty if he knew everything about his hospital stay.

They were half way through their fifth episode of Sponge-bob when Matt felt a weight drop onto his shoulder. A smile spread across Matt's face when he looked down at Sonny who had lost his battle with exhaustion.

"Thank god, we can finally turn over" laughed Kelly when he too noticed the sleeping boy.

"It's not that bad",

"One episode on its own is fine, but it's all we ever watch nowadays and I still don't understand why the sponge lives in a pineapple?" Replied Kelly in a serious tone that made Matt struggle to contain a chuckle.

"It keeps him calm" reasoned Matt, cartoons were the one thing guaranteed to calm the teen down but unfortunately they weren't available on the television in the hospital.

"And besides this is what most parents have to put up with at some point",

"We need to introduce to him to hockey or baseball" replies Kelly and Matt hummed in agreement. They had tried introducing Sonny to their favourite full song before the cabin trip but it hadn't gone too well. They'd discovered that they had to be extremely careful with what they watched, loud noises especially gun shots triggered Sonny's memories of Ryders death. From then on they'd stuck to the vibrant child friendly cartoons Sonny grew up watching. But secretly the cartoons always made Matt feel uneasy, he often found himself thinking about the little bits Sonny had revealed about his past. The horrible thought of a young sonny all alone with nothing but television to keep him company caused made him feel sick. He had never wanted Sonny to experience the same agonising loneliness he was all too familiar with. Matt would spend the rest of his life making sure Sonny never felt lonely again.

"I love you Sonny" Matt whispered before planting a gentle kiss on the boys forehead.

"I will never leave you".

Later that day Matt checked over the healing graze on Sonny's side before the teen went to bed, it was only six pm and despite being asleep for most of the day Sonny was struggling to stay awake. Sonny had sat himself on the bathroom counter, his back was leaning against the wall and his head was lulling to one side. It had become clear during dinner that exhaustion was weighing heavily down on the younger blonde, he had spent the entire time pushing his food around his plate as he urged his eyes to stay open. Despite the boy's tiredness Matt wasn't worried as the doctor had warned them that Sonny would be lethargic over the next couple of day.

Once he was satisfied that the graze was still healing properly Matt began to secure a fresh bandage over the wound.

"I know", Instantly Matt paused and looked up at Sonny with a confused expression. He wasn't entirely sure what the boy's ominous statement meant but it made his stomach twist. For a brief second he feared Sonny knew he had considered leaving; Matt quickly shook that thought away as he realised there was no way Sonny could possibly know.

"You know what Sonny?" Matt inquired gently, he continued racking his brain as he tried to figure out what Sonny was talking about but he truly had no idea. As he waited for the teen to continue he finished bandaging the boys side in an attempt to appear calm.

"About you and Kelly being together", with that Matt felt the colour run out of his face. He wasn't ready to loose Sonny's affection and trust, the teen had finally started calling him Dad, he didn't want that love to be replaced by hate. Matt wasn't ready.

"Sonny" Matt he began his voice sounded shaky as he frantically searched his mind for the right words. He was brought out of his panic by Sonny softly placing his hand on his shoulder and offering him a small smile.

"I don't care, but don't tiptoe around your feelings because of me" the teen finished the last part with a soft laugh, but Matt was too in shock to do anything but gape.

"You're not as subtle as you think" explained the boy simply.

"It really doesn't bother you?" Matt finally responded not fully believing his son. He trusted Sonny but it seemed to easy, the phrase if something's to good to be true it probably is popped into his head. Sonny stared at him for a few seconds confusion written across his face.

"Why would it? I mean it's not like it would change anything really, you spend all your time together already" replied Sonny in a soft tone.

Matt felt dizzy with relief, he couldn't believe how innocent Sonny was. Matt could see in the boys eyes that he genuinely didn't understand the issue of him and Kelly being together. But that also filled matt with sadness, Sonny had no idea what sort of treatment they were in for. Matt knew he was obligated to warn the innocent boy and give him one last opportunity to change his mind, because if him and Kelly being apart made Sonny feel happier and safer Matt would continue to suppress his feelings. Sonny's happiness would always be his priority.

"Sonny lots of people don't understand sometimes there will be people-"

"Are you happy?", in that moment Matt saw Hallie, she had spoken the exact same words to him many years ago. Despite her not being around it truly astonished Matt how much of Hallie was present in their son. He knew she'd be proud of him.

"Yeah we are" Matt responded honestly, being with Kelly was a completely different level of happiness. Meeting Kelly was like finding a piece of himself he hadn't even realised was missing, ever since they met Matt was only at his happiest when he had both of his boys.

"Then we can deal with them, it's not like our life was easy in the first place", Matt found himself letting out a small laugh at the boys statement, the past few days had definitely confirmed that.

"Oh Sonny, I love you kid" whispered Matt as he pulled the boy into a hug being mindful of his freshly bandaged side.

"I love you too Dad".