October 28th

Jeff was now back at school. Had been since the 17th. He has not got into anymore trouble, since the Chad incident that had got him suspended in the first place. And Mark didn't make him do anymore chores since that last time, with the dogs. But Jeff still insisted on doing some cleaning around the house. And helping Mark give fresh water to the dogs, every couple of days. - They have been living together now for a month. And Jeff couldn't have been happier. He still thought of Matt. He did miss him. He was the only family that he had now. But he thought it was for the best. He was getting treatment. And that was very important to Jeff. And even Mark was very supportive of Jeff's decision to give Matt time to get better, before seeing him. That didn't mean that he didn't keep in contact with the hospital that Matt was staying at. Jeff had Mark call once a week, to see how Matt was doing. The last call that was made, a few days ago. The nurse told Mark that Matt was getting to be more social with the other residents. Even chatting up some of the nurses. One nurse, Betty even had a minor crush on him. Jeff had a small laugh at the one, when Mark told him. At a time like that, and Matt still managed to be charming enough to have someone like him. Jeff did feel kind of bad though, for Matt's girlfriend. Well, I guess she would be his ex now. But it was probably for the better anyhow. Matt just needs to concentrate on himself. Not a girlfriend. I hope he ain't doing anything with Betty, the nurse. That's all that needs to happen. Him starting a relationship with a nurse, when he's still there getting better. Jeff was a little nervous about that situation, once he starting thinking about all that could transpire from that crush. Matt hopefully wasn't interested, he didn't need to be.

Jeff also was pretty busy, with the holiday coming up. He still hadn't decided what he was gonna dress up as. Mark joked that Jeff should just go as a surfer, that he had the long blonde hair for it. But Jeff just grimaced. He was not about to dress up as that, for Halloween. He wanted something cool, maybe scary. And a surfer dude, was not that at all. - He was still trying to keep Mr's. Davis from setting him up for the dance. Jeff continued to explain to her, that he was not going to it. But she wouldn't give up. It was actually kind of nice, that she cared so much. But it still was aggravating. He already had plans, spending it with Mark, and nothing was gonna keep him from that. - Mark had even agreed to dress up, aswell. And Jeff was not about to miss that.

"Maybe, we can dress up as a pairing. Like Batman to his Robin?." Jeff asks.

Mark looks over to Jeff. "What, now. You want to dress up as Robin?."

Jeff rolled his eyes. "No, I mean like I could dress up as a something that would be paired with what-ever you are dressed up as."

"And what would those things be?." Mark asks. Looking down the aisle of Halloween costumes.

Jeff shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. I still haven't decided what I want to dress up as."

"Well, don't you think you need to decide. You've only got 2 and a half days left."

"I know that." Jeff replies. Grabbing one of the zombie costumes off the rack, to look out.

Jeff holds it up to Mark. The zombie''s eyeball dangling down from the fabric. "I think your eye has fallen out of it's socket." Mark explains.

"You like it. You think I should be a zombie?." Jeff asks. - "And what would I be, then?." Mark replies.

Jeff shakes his head, and places the zombie back up on the rack. "Maybe, I can be Frankenstein and you can be the mad doctor?."

"Sure, if you can find the costumes. That doesn't bother me none." Mark explains. - Jeff smiles "Cool. Let's go ask someone if they have any, I don't see none on this aisle."

Mark and Jeff head out the aisle and Jeff walks up to one of the workers. Mark tagged behind. Just then a hand appears on Marks' shoulder.

Mark quickly turns around. "What..." Mark looks at the person before him. He blinks and then he darts his eyes down to the man's shoes, and you couldn't help but see the man's belly bulge. He hadn't changed at all. Still wore the same shoe-style, too. - "Mark, how surprising that I'd run into you. How are you doing, son." The man smiles. Just as Jeff walks up to Mark and Paul. "Who's this?." Jeff asks, before looking at the man, and smiling slightly. Mark looks at Jeff, then back towards Paul. "It's no-one special." He mutters. Before asking Jeff if he found out if the had any of the costumes that they were looking for. "Yeah, they've got some. She had to go get them, they were in the back."

Mark grabs his wallet, while still staring over at Paul. Who was just standing there, smiling. Mark takes twenty dollars and hands the cash over to Jeff. "You go ahead and buy for the things, I'm just gonna be right here, alright?." - Jeff grabs the money, and replies. "Sure."

Jeff walks over to the registry. Mark looks over to makes sure that Jeff was no-longer near them to hear. He looks dead-on into Paul's eyes. "What are you doing here?. You didn't just shop here by chance. Hell, you don't even live around here. It'll take you several hours to get here." - Paul's smile doesn't waver. "Well, I actually was on my way to see you. I've been trying to talk to you, but you always say your too busy. And I just thought, why not stop by. You can't bypass me then." - "That's because I am. Just like I am now." Mark explains.

Paul places a firm hold on Mark's arm. "Your still just as big and strong as I remember."

Mark doesn't respond. Paul continues on. "So do you need any-thing.? If you need anything at all, you can let me know."

"Thanks, Paul. But I don't need anything, not from you. I get by, just fine. - "What is so bad about offering?." - Mark rolls his eyes. "Do you really have to ask." - "Well, I thought we we're past that. I just wanted to see you and see how your doing. I've missed you, all these years."

"Look, I really have to be going, Jeff's probably waiting for me." - "Is he your son?. He has to be, doesn't he." Paul asks. - Mark tries to control himself. "I would like to say that it was nice seeing you again, but I can't. I am happy that your doing well, though." Mark quickly pats Paul on the back of his shoulder. Before turning around and leaving to find Jeff. Just as Paul was about to reply with a response. Paul holds his hand up, but decides against calling out to him. He didn't want to see him, and that was fine. For the time being.

Jeff and Mark walk out the store. Jeff was excited about the costumes. They still had to go home, and try them on. But his curiosity was getting the better of him. "Who was that guy?." - Mark gets in the Jeep. "It was nobody. Just forget him." - Jeff shrugs his shoulders.

October 31st. - Halloween

Jeff and Mark were dressed up, and ready to head into town. Jeff told him that if he didn't want too, that he didn't have to take him. But Mark insisted that Jeff was gonna celebrate Halloween just like any other kid. He was going trick-a-treating. Jeff smiles. "I think everyone is gonna like our costumes. Even if you'll be in the Jeep, most of the time." - "Yeah." Mark whispers.

"Are you alright?." Jeff asks, looking up at Mark's gaze. "Sure, I am. I'm just..." - "Just what?" - Mark shrugs his shoulders, smiles at Jeff. "Nothing, come on. We want you to get some candy, right?." - Jeff nods "Sure do!." - "Well, then let's go."

After about two hours of knocking on to doors. Jeff had more then a bag full of various treats. He walks up to the Jeep on the side of the road. "I think I'm done. Can we go now?." Jeff asks. Mark nods, and leans over to open the passenger door, for Jeff. "You look tired." - "That's because I am, tired." Mark laughs, "Well, let's get you home to bed, mister." Jeff leans his head back on the head-rest. And quickly falling asleep. Mark had to shake his head and laugh. "The boy surely did get worn out."

Later that night, when Mark had settled into watching a movie. It was about 12:30. Jeff comes downstairs. Mark leans up from the couch. "What are you doing, you should still be asleep." - "I woke up, figured I'd seen if you still were up, and apparently you are." Jeff flops down beside him. "What's on?." he asks, looking over at the television. "Nothing much. Just horror movies." - "Cool. Can I watch?." - Mark looks at Jeff, smiles. "Of course."

They watch horror movies, through-out the night. Before eventually falling asleep on the couch, together.

TBC

I'm sorry for how long it's taken me to write up a new chapter. I'm not real happy with it, but I wanted to get something to you, guys. I hope it's okay.

Infection13: Yep :) Thanks for the review!. I hope your still enjoying my story.

CannibalHolocaust: Thanks for the review!. I will try to write something before his 17th birthday. I can't promise it, though.

MissBrianna: Hi, I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for the review.