I'm Back!

I didn't get to post as regularly as I hoped, sorry.

Just wanted to warn you there is a LOT of angst this week BUT this is the lowestest the story is going to get (Not to say there isn't more to come)

Thank you again for all my comments, its so wonderful to hear how you are enjoying the story.

SPOLIERS - this week - Bianca gets to leave her bed, Stuart tries to cheer up AJ, Jackson makes an unexpected discovery.

...

Stuart took a slow walk down the stairs enjoying the peace that had descended on the Chandler Mansion now that the Crime Scene clean-up boys were done. Scott and Madison were making the Gatehouse their home; so Stuart had accepted is brother's invitation to be a guest at the Mansion.

He had woken up this morning in a wonderful mood. Today he didn't have a care in the world; his family was all around him and Marion always in his heart. He was enjoying the fact that he was alive and well and could move past the tragedy that had occured in this house just a few months ago.

He let his mind wander as he wondered what to do with his day, whether he should take a walk in the garden, wander into town and find a bite to eat or maybe find a spot for a bit of painting. His thoughts were interrupted when JR hurried passed him.

"Morning," Stuart called, "Lovely day!"

JR turned back. He looked distracted and a little agitated.

"I'm just going out for a run." he said, "I need to clear my head."

As he said the last words he looked at something passed Stuart left shoulder. Stuart turned to see what his nephew was looking at but there was nothing there.

"There are still a lot of press camped out in the drive way." said Stuart, both Adam and Marion had given him a lecture about staying clear of them.

"That's fine I shall stick to the grounds." said JR.

With that he hurried off, but not before sending another hard glare over Stuart's left shoulder.

Stuart spun around again to try and catch what was upsetting his nephew but there was still nothing there. Maybe he was just imagining it – it was probably some syking up exercise the young folks were now doing as part of their keep fit regime.

As Stuart passed the parlour he saw AJ sat between the armchairs by the fireplace drawing a picture, his head down as he concentrated. AJ wasn't the happy 'little A' he remembered. He seemed very quiet and withdrawn. He hadn't heard a laugh from him the whole week he had been home.

With that thought Stuart knew exactly what he was going to do today, he was going to cheer up his great-nephew.

…

"Hi Uncle Stuart." said AJ, looking up as he entered the room.

"Hello yourself." said Stuart giving the little boy his biggest grin. "Would you like to join me in raiding the cookie jar?"

"No thank you, I'm not hungry." said the boy quietly. Now Stuart knew something was really wrong, AJ could never say no to a cookie.

Stuart took a seat beside him.

"What are you doing?"

"It's a get-better picture for Bianca, although I know daddy doesn't like it."

Stuart was aware of some friction between JR, Bianca and Marissa and was sad that AJ was caught up in the middle of it. He never knew how his nephew could get so mad at people, especially people like poor Bianca Montgomery, a woman who never had a bad word to say to anyone. He looked at AJ's picture, it was very yellow.

"It's how I want my room to be in the new house." said AJ, and Stuart was pleased to see the hint of a grin on the boy's face.

"New house?" asked Stuart.

"Mommy and Bianca are buying a house by the park. It's brilliant, we all get a bedroom each, it has this one room with a great high ceiling and there is a tree house in the garden and a swimming pool and Mommy said I could decorate my room any way I liked!"

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen any time soon AJ."

Both Stuart and AJ looked up to see Adam coming in from the garden.

"You don't know that." muttered AJ defiantly.

"Both Bianca and your Mommy are still very ill." said Adam, taking a seat in the other chair "It will be some time before they are even out of hospital. Besides this is your real home, here with your family."

AJ didn't look convinced.

"It's not the same." said AJ, "When I was with Mommy and Bianca we had fun."

"You can have fun here." said Adam.

Both Stuart and AJ looked at him sceptically. Adam had to admit the mansion had been a very solemn place of late.

"Well if you want to do some decorating why not start with your room here." suggested Stuart, still wanting to find a way to make the little boy happy. "I could help."

"Decorating?" asked Adam, this time it was his turn to look sceptical.

"He's done a design for a new bedroom." said Stuart gesturing towards the picture AJ had been working on.

Adam viewed it doubtfully.

"It's very yellow. It would be like living inside an egg."

"That's what Mommy said. Bianca said it would be like living in a ball of sunshine."

The hint of a smile returned to AJ's face for a moment. Adam made a show at having another look at the picture but Stuart knew his brother wasn't going to let AJ change his room. He would have to find another way to cheer the little boy up.

"What is it like to be twins?" AJ asked suddenly.

Stuart and Adam shared a look at this unexpected question.

"It's wonderful. To have someone you are so close to, right from birth." said Stuart

"True brothers." concluded Adam, "Why do you ask?"

"Well, if we all live in the same house would that make me and Miranda real twins and not just Birthday-twins?"

Stuart sighed; the little boy didn't understand that his dream of a new home and family wasn't going to come true any time soon. He had obviously been very happy living with his mommy away from the mansion and he was clearly very fond of Bianca and her daughters but Stuart knew life was never that simple.

Adam frowned.

"AJ, you need to think about something other than this new house nonsense." He said forcefully, "This is your home. It has always been your home and always will be. This is where you belong. This is where all Chandlers belong."

"But I hate it here." cried AJ. "I want my mommy! I want to see Bianca! I want to help Miranda collect the pictures and help Gabby with her drawing! I want to be in our special family! I don't like it here!"

"AJ!" warned Adam, surprised by the outburst.

But AJ just snatch his drawing from his grandfather's hand and ran from the room.

"What has gotten onto him?" asked Adam.

"I think that is obvious." said Stuart. "This place doesn't feel like home for him anymore."

...