Five months later...
"...And in other news-King Amuck, ruler of Macadamia, has just died. Now his only daughter, Princess Lotta Lamour, has now been crowned queen. The kingdom is still mourning for the loss of their king, but the queen has said that she will have her king soon."
Matthew smiled across the chess table at his new foe, Death. His black robe hid most of his body, except his boney hands and face. Looking at that white bone face sent a shiver down Matthew's back, but he still kept smiling.
Death never did miss playing games with his soon to be victims, but where they ended up-Heaven or Hell-wasn't his call to make.
Matthew moved a pawn.
Death nodded. "Doesn't it ever wake you in the middle of night, the feeling that someday I'll claim your life, like I've been doing since the beginning of time?"
He also moved a pawn to counter Matthew's move, then kept talking. "Or maybe someone you love. One princess made queen now by the name of Lotta, who's father, I just took."
"It does indeed, Death," Matthew said, moving a knight. "But do you fear that day when the Son of God, Jesus Christ, the one who saved us from our sin comes to finish the job and has you thrown into the lake of fire? Does that bother you at all?"
Death paused for a minute, "It does indeed, Matthew." He moved a rook three spaces forward.
"I feel sorry for you, Death," Matthew said, "for you and I both know that is where you're going."
He made a queen move; Death countered with another rook and took it out of the game.
"You just lost your queen, Matthew."
Matthew nodded. He had all his pieces in position, and it didn't even seem as if Death had noticed. "I will enjoy taking your life. I have tried many times, but God refuses to let you die, but at least I got to claim your mother."
"But it is God who declares when we die, not you!" Matthew smiled. With that he moved his rook two spaces, taking away one of Death's knights.
"Check," he said. He didn't add the word "mate." There was no need.
Matthew smiled at Death. "Thanks for the game, Death."
That was an angel came and stood beside Matthew. "Matthew, it is time for you to return to the land of the living."
Death had question that needed to be answered. "You never believed in God, so why do now believe in him, Matthew?"
Matthew looked at Death and said, "Because he called me to believe."
Then that very same bright light Matthew saw, came back.
Matthew widen his eyes and let out a breathe of air, seeing the bright white light around him shine into his fragile eyes, where he finally calmed his breathing down. He could already tell that he was in a hospital bed. The sound of doctors talking in the halls echoed in his ears as Matthew felt his body begin to make the adjustments after been gone for so long.
"Matthew, my love..." said a soft voice on his right.
There, holding his right hand, dressed in a queen's royal attire was Lotta.
"I praise God that you're alive! Everyone thought that you would be dead within the hour after you defeated Shere Khan. But we made back to Cape Suzette and got you back here in one piece, well. . . Almost." Lotta said sadly.
Matthew could only squint his eyes in confusion. What did she mean by that? Lotta let go of his hand as she pulled off the covers on the white bed he was on, lucky he was wearing a white shirt and wearing shorts. Matthew's eyes widen in shock, there at the end of the bed. . . Was his left leg gone. He could also see that the end of it was already healed.
Matthew opened his mouth to speak but all that came out was a dry hoarse wheeze, his hand flew to his throat as he tried to clear it, coughing and wheezing dryly. It hurt Matthew's throat every time he coughed and he began to panic.
"Doctors, come quick!" Lotta shouted, trying to calm her panicked lover. Two doctors came running in.
"Quick give him some water!" the first doctor instructed. The second rushed to the sink and got a cup to fill with water.
Matthew felt Lotta's hand on the back of his head as the cup of water was lifted to his lips, he weakly drank from it as the cup was tipped slightly, the queen's hand kept his head still as he drank, water had never tasted so good before. In fact, it felt like warm milk going down his throat, so nice and soothing to his dry throat.
When he finished the cup was taken away. "Thank you" he said weakly clearing his throat. Matthew then looked sadly down at his missing leg. "How did it happen?"
Lotta sat in the chair next to him. "After we got here, the doctors said that your back was broken and would need to be operated on, but your leg had been broken so bad that they had to remove it. During that time, you lost so much blood that Kit and I donated our blood to save you."
Matthew was grateful for them being there for him. "Thank you," he said.
When the doctors left, Lotta chose to stay behind and remain with Matthew. They stayed up a long time, talking about what had happened over the six months he was out.
Matthew turned to his little clock at the side of the bed, and it read, "2:15 am". The time had really gotten away from them. He glanced at Lotta to see her falling asleep in her chair.
"Lotta, you don't need to stay here with me," Matthew said with sympathy. "You need to get some sleep."
"No, Matthew," Lotta refused, trying hard to keep her eyes open. "I'm not leaving your side until you can be released to me."
Matthew began to speak. "Lotta, I-" but she silenced him with a kiss. Matthew moaned as he kissed back and Lotta, still kissing him, climbed onto the bed. When the kiss ended, they were both panting for air.
"Well then," he said with a wink, "you might as well sleep here."
A huge grin filled Lotta's face and she suddenly lost her drowsiness as Matthew scooted over to the right end of the bed. "Oh, Matthew, I hoped you would say that," Lotta replied in an soothing yet sexy tone.
She crawled next to him and laid her head down on the pillow next to his pillow, this way they could be close to each other. And then, with smiles on their faces, the two love birds began a lovely make-out session.
The next morning...
Matthew awoke to find Lotta talking to a doctor. It seemed that the doctor was telling her that he was still going to be kept for a few new tests. The queen at first refused to let her beloved be kept here, but then the doctor said, "we can make him walk on both feet."
"Then do it," Lotta ordered.
Two more doctors came in and took Matthew away. He was taken to a operating room where two men were waring lab coats and face masks stood waiting for him. One was a tall Doberman, the other, a short jittery fox.
"Matthew, my name is Prof. Martin Torque," the ex-inventor smiled.
"And I'm, Dr. Zibaldo," the fox added.
They didn't have much time for talk, because they had to get this show on the road.
Prof. Torque walked up to Matthew and injected a powerful sleep agent into his arm. Matthew felt his world get turned upside down, his eyes closed and he fell into a deep sleep.
"Right, lets do it, Dr. Zibaldo."
The two worked long and hard. They didn't stop. Stopping would mean failure, and they hated that word. Prof. Torque looked down at Matthew's new leg, it was made with titanium, a very light, but very strong metal. Dr. Zibaldo slowly put in the last set of wires and stepped back. The two felt proud of their work.
Outside in the waiting room, Lotta sat eagerly waiting to see Matthew. But she wasn't the only one waiting to see him. Stephen, Gibber, and Ratchet waited with their backs to the wall. Baloo and his family was there also, as well as Charles Adler's family. Little Jenna sat beside Kit and Molly. All three kids talked among themselves about Matthew.
Rebecca sat beside her husband, her tummy was now so round that you could tell it was nearing the time for the new baby to come. She ran her hands over her tummy. "Just you wait," she whispered, "you'll be meeting your mommy and daddy soon."
Everyone went quiet when Dr. Zibaldo and Prof. Torque walked out of the operating room.
Lotta looked at them. "Well? Is Matthew alright?" she asked, being very concerned for him.
"Yeah, did you help him walk again?" Kit said, jumping to his feet as Jenna jumped up as well.
Prof. Torque smiled. "I am proud to inform you that Matthew can now see you." Matthew slowly walked out into view and everyone was amazed to see him walking. His new silver mechanical leg moved as one with him, it could almost pass as the one he lost.
He walked slowly up to Baloo. "Baloo," Matthew said. He had something he wanted to say for a long time, something that needed to come out. "I know some things can never be taken back, because those things can scar you and it they will never fade. I offer no excuse, Baloo. It is my fault that your family got hurt and I apologize. For all of it. Your son's friendship means everything to me."
Baloo looked down at Matthew's mechanical leg. "You lost more then I did," he said placing his finger to his blind eye. "And everyone here will have scars that never fade."
"Scars never fade," Matthew repeated.
"Yes, they never fade, but they can be covered, hidden from sight. You saved my son. My daughter. My wife. You saved us all."
Lotta put her hand on Matthew's shoulder. The weasel looked into the vixen's eyes. She smiled at him. "Matthew, there are things we never will know about you, but what I know is that the greatness in you is a greatness of spirit. Courage and generosity, compassion and commitment. These are your virtues," Lotta said gently. "You have done great things, and I am very proud of you."
Matthew found he had nothing to say.
"Well," Charles chuckled. "I do believe I hear a party calling our names."
"A party?" Stephen spoke up. "Will there be cake? Ice Cream? Even some dancing girls?"
Ratchet looked at him and shook his head. "What is it with you and dancing girls?"
That night, the party was booming at Louie's Place. Waiters ran through the groups of people, trying hard not to spill their drinks or food. The band played all kinds of good music, sometimes it would be a slow romantic tune and sometimes a fast one to groove to. People would laugh, talk and share a drink, but at a table in the corner of the ballroom sat Kitten Kaboodle.
She took a sip of her mango hot ice smoothy. Look at them. she sighed thinking to herself. All these people think their life is better now? Kitten looked at her slightly round belly and put her hand there to rub it. "But wait until they get a load of us," she laughed.
As Matthew danced with Lotta, Louie swung over to them. "Hey, Matt," he said, "There is someone who wants to talk with you in my office." Matthew turned and saw a much older weasel standing in the office door. He looked at him and excused himself from dancing with Lotta.
When Matthew walked into the office, he closed the door and locked it. That way no one could bother them. The older weasel sat down behind the desk and smiled.
"Look at you," he said, "all grown up and getting ready to start a new life. You make me proud, son."
"Where were you, dad?" Matthew frowned. "I've never seen you in all my life. You left mom behind on that island and then she lost me in a fire and thought I was dead. For twenty five-No! Twenty five lonely years I never knew my mother, and when I found her and freed her, she died at the hands of Karnage. She died and there was nothingI could do to save her! So don't you say you're proud of me, because if I had never survived that fire, then mom would still be alive." Tears were running down his cheeks.
"Matthew," his father said, "you have every right to be angry at me. But it wasn't your fault that your mother died, it was mine. I never should have left her after I found out she was pregnant with you. I didn't know what to do so I ran."
"You ran?" was all Matthew could say at the moment.
"Yes, I was afraid, because I needed money to support you two. I knew about the Island of Death and the stories about a treasure buried there, so I left to find it. I searched for five years and didn't find it, but then I met Captain Jay Connors. We found the island, but then ended up being caught by Shere Khan and his goons." His son looked at him sadly.
"Dad...it may take a long time for me to forgive you, but..." Matthew paused and turned away from his father. "I'm glad your back."
"Thank you," his father smiled.
Meanwhile as the party went on and Matthew spent some much needed time with his father, Rebecca was in bathroom. She had just finished washing her hands when she began to feel a little bit of pain, then it really started to hurt as she tried to walk.
Baloo was having a root beer shake with Ace and Buffy, when Rebecca staggered up to him; her hands wrapped around her belly in a gesture of protection. Her face was pale and she seemed to be in great pain now.
"Baloo, it's time for the baby to-" she let out cry of agony and feel to her knees.
Baloo drooped his drink and was by her side in a flash. He suddenly became a bundle of nerves and began to panic. "What do we do? What do we do? The hospital, that's it, we need to get to the hospital! Come on, Rebecca, let's get you there!"
But she wasn't going anywhere. Louie quickly had everyone stand back as Switchblade rushed to her side as well.
"Baloo, the baby is going to be born long before you can get to the hospital," he said, helping Rebecca lie down on the floor. "So what I need for you to do is calm down."
Baloo looked offended by Switchblade's words. "Calm down?" he cried. "My wife is going into labor!"
"Alright Baloo, please calm down. Here fill these jars with water while we get your wife situated," the ex-pirate medic stated calmly while Muffy helped Rebecca get her pants off. Baloo grabbed the jars and ran off to fill them.
"It's easier if you're sitting up while pushing. It helps move the baby downward," Switchblade explained as he helped get Rebecca situated. Baloo came back with the jars and stood off to the side as Muffy situated herself between Rebecca's legs.
Matthew rushed up with a clean blanket and put it under the soon to be mother's legs. He started praying as to help ease Rebecca into a calmer state of mind. After all, child baring was a painful thing and she was going to need all the help she could get.
Muffy looked up at Rebecca. "Alright, Rebecca, on this next contraction I want you to push as hard as you can, got it? Ready…set...PUSH NOW!"
Rebecca pushed alright, but she had to grab something to help her fight the pain. And it was Ace's hand she grabbed and squeezed his hand so tight that the bones started to break. Baloo's nervousness caused him to become rather silly. He began spouting silly nonsense at Rebecca while she just screamed at him to shut up and that she hated him.
"Come on, sweetheart, push! Get that baby out of there! Come on push, Rebecca, on three! Count with me, one two three…PUSH!"
"Baloo, you fat tub of butter...Shut up, before I rip your vocal cords out with my bare hands! Oh, this hurts!" Rebecca screamed as she pushed. Ace was now on his back beside her, his hand still be squeezed to death.
"You're not the only one in pain!" he shouted, before he stared screaming like a girl after hearing a much louder snap in his hand.
"Come here, Baloo, I'm going to rip off your balls with my hands and scratch your eyes out with my nails!" Rebecca growled as she made a move to follow up on her threat.
"Later, your pain now, mine later," Baloo shouted as he stepped back from her threatening nails. Rebecca gave an animal howl and pushed one last time. A few seconds later the sound of a crying baby filled the room, but it sound like there was more then one.
Switchblade quickly took the babies in his arms and had Matthew cut the cords. Muffy however fainted from all the excitement. The ex-pirate medic turned to the Bruinwalds. "Mr. and Mrs. Bruinwald, congratulations, you have twins, a boy and a girl," he smiled as he held up the baby boy and Matthew held up the baby girl.
Did you hear that Rebecca, we just had twins!?" Baloo cheered as Matthew handed him his new baby boy
"Yes I heard! What did you think they were going to be? Spare engines for the New Sea Duck?" Rebecca demanded as she regained her breath.
"Twins. We have a boy and a girl." Baloo felt his eyes fill with tears as he watched the Switchblade gently place the new baby girl in Rebecca's outstretched arms.
The babies looked at the ones holding them and smiled. It was unbelievable that they could smile, but they were. "Oh, Rebecca," Baloo smiled, taking a knee next to her. "There beautiful."
"Yes, they are," Rebecca sobbed softly as she looked at her new daughter. Both the mother and father were overjoyed that their babies were finally born. Now all that remained was to name them.
"Well, what will you name them?" Matthew asked.
Baloo looked at his son. "Will," he stated with a warm smile as he began to rock his baby boy. Rebecca nodded in agreement.
Rebecca looked at Matthew. "Janet, after your mother," she stated softly, gently rushed her daughter's head with her fingers. Baloo smiled in agreement. Matthew didn't know how to say thank you, but the tears said it all.
Kit and Molly were allowed to come and see their baby brother and sister. They to couldn't be happier.
From outside stood Karnage. He had watched the whole thing and was glad that the Bruinwald family was growing. If Baloo could learn to be a father, then Karnage could learn to be a good guy. Pulling out a piece of paper, the ex-captain wrote a letter that was for the Bruinwalds.
Dear Bruinwald family, I, Donovan Karnage, leave this note for you. There are things I wish I had never done. Things that never can be forgiven, but I ask for your forgiveness. Kit never knew what family was until you found him Baloo, he is better off with you then with anyone else. Tell Matthew and my crew that I'm sorry for all the wrong I did to them. I am now leaving to find my mother and if she is alive, I am going to take care of her. Goodby, I will miss all the good pirate stuff we all did.
Then he added at the bottom...
P.S. I hope my two million in gold will you help your family Kit.
When Karnage finished writing the note, he placed it in a bottle and tossed it through the window. "Well, time for the fox to scram," he laughed, then flew off in his plane, never to be seen again.