And we're back. Thank you for sticking with me on this. Honestly I've been more worried about posting this story than I was with Friends Till the end. It's just so different but I'm glad you are all enjoying it.

Disclaimer: I own nothing!

Chapter Five

By Rosa241

Grant POV:

I've always loved children and it pained me that Ruth and I were never able to have more. There had been so many complications with Jeff that having more just wasn't an option. When Jeff told me I was going to be a grandfather I was thrilled. The day little Scott came into the world was one of the greatest moments of my life. Never did I think we'd be going through that four more times. Although the last was so much different than those before it.

Loosing Elizabeth was hard on my son and my grandsons. There were days when I didn't think they'd make it through. If that little bundle hadn't have survived I don't think Jeff would still be here now. Thankfully the ball of never ending energy had made it through and was making all of our lives far more wonderful because of it.

Scott definitely takes his role as the oldest seriously. Currently he's attempting to keep his eyes the tiniest blond who is giggling as his wind up frog jumps across the ground again. Virgil was sat drawing something intently on the pad on his knee, that boy was far more like his grandmother than I would have thought. John is further back than his brothers, most likely wanting to avoid ending up in the pond again, reading a book. Just like his mother. Gordon was, thankfully, being true to his word and had left the teasing at home. Evidentially his conversation had made an impact.

"What do you think dad?" Jeff's voice brings my attention away from my grandchildren and onto the two adults in front of me. I almost want to groan out loud as I turn back to Arnold.

Arnold Matthews was quite possibly the most boring man I'd ever met. We'd gone to school with each other many years ago but we'd never been close. Don't get me wrong he's a nice enough guy, dear lord is his boring though. I honestly think I'd rather watch paint dry.

"Sorry I didn't catch that." Shaking his head my son repeats his words.

"Arnold was just wondering whether you and Mom felt like heading over to his place for dinner next week." Oh dear god no! No! If there were ever a recipe for disaster then being alone with Arnold and his wife was it. That man was bad enough but his wife was even worse. She was one of those people who didn't ever talk and simply nodded her head. The way she stared at people just sent something weird up my spine. Wasn't right.

"Oh well I'll have to talk to Ruth about that. See if we can manage it." I'll leave the polite decline to her.

"Bet I know how that conversation goes." Jeff's whispered words went, thankfully, unheard by the other man in front of me.

I know exactly how that conversation is going to go. A lengthy conversation with the man is hard enough, an entire evening? I think not!

"ALAN!?"

Scott POV:

Watching over Alan is something that should always been done. Not only is he the messiest kid to have ever existed, he's also prone to wandering off. He hasn't fully learnt yet of the dangers that wandering off can cause. That means of course that keeping your eyes on him is a must.

"Hey!" The shout behind me drags my attention from my youngest brother and onto another one. Looking at the scene I can't help being surprised. Gordon is standing in between Virgil and a kid whose name I don't know looking about ready to kill. Virgil meanwhile is staring between the two of them with a confused expression.

What the hell?

"Alright what's going on?" Virgil simply shrugs as he gets to his feet he sketch pad all but forgotten on the floor. Glancing over at Alan I'm glad to see that he's still where I left him.

"He needs to say sorry now." Gordon's voice is hard and full of anger. It's not like him.

"For what?" The other kid looks almost as perplexed as Virgil at whatevers going on. What is in your head fish?

"I didn't do anything!" He protests with an almost yell, his eyes going over to where my dad and grandpa are talking to another man whose name I don't know.

"You need to say sorry." Sensing the anger rolling off of him in waves I quickly step up and pull him backwards.

"Gordo what's going on?" He finally tears his eyes away from the other kid and looks at me.

"He needs to say sorry to Virgil." Virgil holds his hands up as if to say I-have-no-idea.

"What for?" What the hell?

"He said he was girly." Oh. "He needs to say sorry."

"Girly?" I don't like the way that my other brothers eyes fall to the floor with the word. Evidentially that was a word thrown around a lot by those bullies.

"He said that drawing was for girls and that made Virgil girly." Ah. Apparently Gordon's gone from teasing Virgil to being way too over protective.

"Did he now?" The other kid seems to squirm as I glare at him and he shuffles slightly.

"I was just saying." His eyes dart over towards where the other man is talking with dad and Grandpa and a thought comes into my mind.

"Well why don't we see what they have to say about that?" I mean to head straight over to them but something tells me to look back. Gazing round my heart drops into my stomach and I go rigid with fear as I catch sight of it.

"Alan?" I whisper as I step forward. Oh god where the hell is he? "ALAN!?"

General POV:

Alan looked back at his dad with a small frown. The grownups were talking now and he knew that it wasn't right to interrupt. Scotty had said that it was rude. Looking round he sighed as he saw his brothers. Scotty, Gordy and Virgil were all busy and John was reading. As his eyes flicked round he caught sight of his toy bopping just below the water.

He hadn't realised that it had come so close to the edge of the pond when he'd been playing.

Maybe he could reach it…

He didn't want to interrupt and be rude but he really wanted his toy back. The frog had been a present from his grandma and he didn't want to lose it. Reaching over the edge of the pond his tiny fingers skipped across the frog before it moved away a little more. Shuffling forward he failed to see just how close he'd dipped to the edge of the pond. His feet were now hanging over the edge and he was precariously close to falling in. Not realising this he reached out fully intent on getting his frog back.

Of course this didn't end well.

Before he could stop himself his tiny body slipped over the edge of the pond and he sank below the water. With his mouth open he managed to swallow a mouthful of pond water before he went under. In his panic he quickly forgot all about the few swimming lessons he'd had and he sank further below the water.

Ahh there's the familiar heartache and angst I'm so comfortable with. It's about time it made reappearance. I've been having withdrawal symptoms to be honest.

Poor Alan!

Will Scott get to him in time? (Not to be a spoil sport but I think you already know the answer to that one)

Until next time,

Bye x