The next day they flew back home. Their flight was delayed, so they did not get home to Arlington until almost 9PM. His mother was waiting for them at luggage claim. Matty ran up and hugged her. "Oh, it's so good to see you again sweet boy. I really missed you."
Then his father came over and kissed his mother. "Did you miss me too?" his father said as they broke apart from the kiss. "A tiny bit." Then his dad kissed her again more passionately. "How about now?" His mom smiled and played with his father's hair. "Ok maybe I missed you more than a tiny bit. C'mon let's go home."

They brought the baggage into the house. Then the three of them went and sat on the couch in the living room. His mother sat between his father and him and put her arms around both his father and him and was stroking the hair at the back of both of their necks soothingly. "Are you fellas hungry? Did you get enough to eat on the plane?" His dad spoke. "Yes, I am fine. Do you want something to eat Matty?" Matty signed that he was fine. They had flown first class, so they had plenty of food on the plane.

"Oh, it is so good to have you fellas back. It has been so quiet in the house with just Leann, Mother, and me." His dad spoke. "Have you heard from Phillip? How is it going over there?"

His mother smiled. "Well Irene took him back almost immediately. He is going to wait a couple of weeks. But he told me he was going to propose to her." Matty grinned. His dad said, "Oh wow. You called that one Matty. He told me that he was not upset about Phillip moving to London because it meant that we would have to go over there twice. That Matty would get to show you around." His mom smiled at Matty. "I would love you showing me around London sweet boy. So, tell me about your trip. Everything went well with The Colonel?"

His dad nodded, "Yeah surprisingly. He even said to tell you that he is going to come for the holidays this year." His mother smiled. "Oh good. I'm glad. I worry about him being all on his own without anyone." Then she turned to Matty. "How about you? How was the Air Force Academy yesterday?" Matty smiled and he ran over to his bag and grabbed the Air Force Academy self-defense patch Major Johnson had given him and handed it to his mother.

She took it. "What's this?" Matty tapped on her. "Major Johnson gave it to me because I helped him teach his self-defense class." She looked at him with surprise. "You taught a self-defense class?" Matty nodded. "Well not really he just had the cadets try to flip me." His mother got an annoyed look on her face and turned to his father. "Lee his arm just healed, and you let a group of cadets flip him as a training example."

"Amanda, he wanted to. You know I can't say no to the kids. Besides none of the cadets had a chance against Matty. Nobody flipped him. He was amazing. He flipped the entire class including Major Johnson. Sven the head of my grandfather's security has been teaching Matty martial arts the past three years. He teaches Kenpo and Judo. Matty has black belts in of the other security guards was teaching Matty some Wushu too. Now that we are back in the States maybe you could give Stanley a call."
His mother rolled her eyes. "Lee, our baby is not going anywhere near Doctor Pain." His father laughed.

"C'mon Amanda, wouldn't it be nice to see Matty take Stanley down? Besides, I didn't mean for Stanley to teach Matty. I was thinking more his wife, Mai. She teaches children martial arts, and I remember she was studying Wushu too. Matty was really getting into that one before I got shot." His mother sighed, "His arm just healed. I'll think about it. Anyway, it's getting late. I think it is time for Matty to get ready for bed."

Matty nodded and went over and grabbed his suitcase and brought it into his room. He put his pajamas on. He went and brushed his teeth and got into bed and started reading his book. He looked over to Phillip's side of the room and realized he was going to have to sleep in the room all by himself all night.

Just then his parents came into his bedroom. His mom sat on the bed. "Are you going to be ok sleeping in here all by yourself tonight?" Matty nodded yes. If he could flip an entire class of air force cadets and the instructor. He should be able sleep in a room by himself. She kissed his forehead. "We are just down the hall if you need us sweet boy. I love you." Then his dad came over and tapped "I love you" on his forehead. "Sleep tight buddy. If you do need us though. Make sure you knock on the door first."

Matty read a couple more chapters and then he turned off the light. He fell asleep and had the recurring nightmare about escaping and being thrown in the trunk. He flipped his light on. He sat up and looked at the clock. It was just after midnight. He had only been asleep for a couple of hours. He got out of bed and started to go down the hall. His parents' bedroom door was closed and most likely locked. He ran his hand through his hair. It was not really an emergency. They would just worry and knocking would just increase the chances he could see more things he would never be able to unsee. He wished Phillip or Jamie had been home.

Then he smiled. He had another sibling. She wouldn't mind. He knew she wouldn't. He went into his sister's room and gently touched her shoulder. She opened her hazel eyes and yawned. "Hi Matty. Is it morning?" Matty nodded no. Then Matty signed to her. "Can I sleep in here with you? I miss Phillip." She smiled and said, "Sure. I miss him too." Leann moved over and made room for him. Matty crawled into bed with her and woke up to his mom lightly stroking his hair. Leann was still fast asleep next to him.

He signed to his mother. "Good morning." She smiled back at him and noticed she had the instant camera in her other hand. "Oh, you two sleeping together like that was just too adorable not to take a picture of." Matty felt his face go red.

Matty quietly got out of the bed and his mother took his hand. "C'mon let's go into my bedroom and talk for a minute. So, we don't wake up your sister." They went into the master bedroom and sat on her bed. "You couldn't sleep in the room by yourself, could you?" Matty signed "I could but I had a nightmare. Your door was closed all the way. It wasn't the really bad nightmare. I just didn't want to be in the room alone after and Leann didn't mind." She touched the side of his face tenderly. "Oh, sweet boy. If you need your daddy and me. You can knock. It is ok. Believe me your daddy and I are used to having our alone time interrupted." Matty hugged her. "Well go wash up and get dressed. Then come down for breakfast."

Matty washed up and got dressed. Then went to the breakfast table. There were chocolate chip pancakes, home fries, bacon, and eggs on his plate. And a fresh mug of coffee.

His dad was reading the paper. "Hey buddy. You and your sister are spending the entire day with me. Your mom has to go back to Station One for the seminar she started this weekend in a little bit and your grandma well since her ex-Harry Berrigan has officially moved back to Washington. She is spending the day with him. Not sure he is going to be your grandma's ex for much longer. How does Goofy Golf after lunch sound?"

Matty smiled and signed, "That sounds brilliant dad." His father smiled. "I figured you would like that." Then his mother smiled at them. "Well, I have to get going. Lee, remember you are the parent. It is ok to say no occasionally. The kids will still love you." She kissed his father on the lips. Then she kissed the top of Matty's head. "Goodbye sweet boy. See you fellas tonight."

Leann came downstairs about fifteen minutes after their mom left. Their dad made Leann a plate and his dad grabbed the instant camera and took a picture of Leann eating her breakfast. "Just proof that I fed Leann too for your grandma." He put the camera down.
"So Junior, are you good with Goofy Golf this afternoon after lunch?" She smiled. "Yes. Can we eat lunch at Goofy Golf instead though daddy? Maybe go to the toy store after?" He smiled at her. "We may not have time for the toy store Junior. But maybe ice cream after?" Leann nodded. "I am good with that."

All of the sudden the door opened and a swarm of men in suits came in. They came over and put handcuffs on his dad. "Lee Stetson you are under arrest." Matty started to get up. His dad looked at him. "No. Stand down kid. Let them take me. Don't fight them." Then his dad looked at the men. "Are you Agency?" The man putting the cuffs on him nodded. "Yes sir." His dad said, "Take my kids to the Agency. Call my wife Amanda Stetson. Have her pick them up. There is nobody else home to watch them. Matty when you get to the Agency. Tell anyone who questions you to call your Uncle Joe." His sister started crying. Matty nodded to him. Then his dad said. "Whatever happens next. I love you. Both of you."

Notes:

Wait? I thought there were 5-7 chapters before Lee's secret got exposed. Well, that's was the number of chapters actually left in the story. Also, there are 4-6 chapters remaining now.

Next chapter - Matty & Leann go to the Agency.