***Sad chapter. Tissue alert***

Matty was starting to really feel tired. He was fighting falling asleep though. He wanted to keep being able to speak. He looked at his parents. His dad had brought his chair from the other side of the bed and put it next to his mother. His dad had his arm around his mother, and his mother was cuddling into his dad.

Matty looked at his parents, "There is not very much more to tell you about our life in England. It was quiet and peaceful for the most part. I told you all the big things that happened while we were over there. I'm just going to tell you about when Grandfather passed away. Then I think I'm just going to just have to give in to going to sleep. I'm getting tired. The next big thing after grandfather died was when dad was shot, and I came home. But you know all about that, Mom.

I remember the day Grandfather passed away. It was a strange day. It started like any other. Dad and I had just gotten dressed and were ready to go over to the main house for breakfast.

But Irene came to the guest house with Sven. She seemed flustered and pulled Dad in the bedroom so they could talk alone for a few minutes. I remember Dad's face when he came out of the bedroom. I could tell he was upset about something. He had gone a little pale. I knew something bad had happened. I just wasn't sure exactly what.

Dad looked at me and tapped, "I'll explain everything later, Matty. Stay with Sven. I'll have Tony come by later until I come back. Be good. I love you."

I knew it had to be bad because he actually called me Matty instead of kid. I had a bad feeling.

Sven stayed with me until Tony came. Sven was acting strangely too but he didn't tell me what was going on. Sven stayed with me for about an hour. We practiced some martial arts. Sven was quieter than usual and did not joke around with me as much as he usually did.

Tony came to the guest house to take over watching me. He wasn't his normal cheerful smiling self.

I signed to him, "What is going on, Tony?"

Tony looked at me like he wanted to tell me, "I am not entirely sure, Sunshine. I think it is better if your father tells you what is going on. He will be back this afternoon or this evening. He will tell you everything. But I don't have all the details, and I am not sure exactly what happened."

We played video games for a while and Chef brought us lunch at the guest house. They did not want me to leave the guest house. I wanted to know what was happening. I was starting to wonder if maybe we had to leave. That maybe Dad & I got found out or something. Everyone was acting so weird. I was happy there. I really did not want to flee. I knew it could happen at any time though. Dad had been preparing me for possibly having to go on the run. He also had been having me do drills in case we got separated or something happened to him. I hoped it was something other than having to go on the run and give up our life there. That is until I found out what had actually happened.

Dad came back in the afternoon. He sent Tony home. Dad took my hand and led me to the couch. Then he hugged me.

He let go of me and said, "Hey Matty, we have to talk about something serious."

I had a bad feeling, "What is it, Dad? Something bad happened, didn't it?"

Dad nodded sadly, "I don't know how to tell you this."

My eyes teared up, "Did we get found out? Do we have to leave?"

Dad sighed, "No. We don't have to run. It's not that. It's about Grandfather. God, this is so hard to say."

I felt a tear stream down my face, "Is grandfather gone?"

Dad looked so sad, "Yeah kid, I'm so sorry. He went to sleep last night, and he just didn't wake up. His heart gave out in his sleep."

I started really crying and dad held me while I sobbed into him.

Dad spoke very gently, "He was 95. It was peaceful. He just went to sleep and didn't wake up. I'm sorry, kid. I know how close you two had gotten. He really loved you."

I wiped my tears, "He really loved you too, Dad. I know he was getting really old but I thought we would have more time with him. I'm going to miss him. He was really good to us. Do we have to leave now? Start over?"

Dad nodded no, "No, everything is yours now. We can stay, kiddo. You are the Lord of the estate now."

I looked at dad, "I don't want to be Lord of the estate. I would rather have Grandfather. What about Irene, will she be, ok? Will her family come after her? Grandfather was protecting her. Do you want to marry her for now to keep her safe? Then you can get divorced when I am eighteen and I will marry her to keep her safe."

Dad hugged me, "That's really sweet. No, kid. If Irene gets married again, she wants to marry out of love. Not for convenience or protection. We will keep her safe. Sven and his team aren't going anywhere. None of the staff is unless it's their choice. Alright? You make a good point though. i'll talk to Sven. We will make sure she has extra protection. Especially for the funeral."

I nodded, "I can help protect her too. I really am going to miss Grandfather, Dad. He was good to us."

Dad nodded, "Yeah, he really was. I am going to miss him too, kiddo. I sure am glad we got to know him before he passed away, though. Now here's the thing. I am not sure if he will come or not, but my uncle might come to Grandfather's funeral. I highly doubt your brothers will come. I'm not even sure they knew I had a grandfather that was alive. Phillip will be notified though. Alexander Stetson will get a copy of the will even though he's missing. Legally we are going to need to do that. There is a little bit of danger that we will get found out. But if anyone reaches out from the United States it would be my uncle and we can trust him. The other person would be your Uncle Joe. He's Phillip's father. Your mother's first husband. i'm sure Phillip will give him the will. He may investigate us. I doubt he will come here since Alexander Stetson is still missing. But there is a possibility. We can trust him too if he does. But I have to come up with a plan with Irene if that happens."

I nodded and tapped, "I would not mind meeting either one of them. Do you think they'll like me?"

Dad smiled, "Everybody likes you, kid. You are just like your mother with that. You really liked The Colonel and your Uncle Joe when you were little. Especially the Colonel. He kept trying to recruit you for the Air Force just to annoy me. And your Uncle Joe really liked you too. There is no love lost between Grandfather and the Colonel though. He probably won't come but there is a possibility."

The Colonel did not come to the funeral. Not many people did. It was just the household staff, Sven, Tony & his mom, Doctor Williams & his wife, and their daughter Nora.

After the funeral, Irene told us we could move into the main house if we wanted. Since it was our house now. Except the guest house was comfortable and way more modern than the main and I liked it in there, so we decided to just stay in the guest house.

Dad & Irene ran my trust so basically it was just Irene running my trust because Dad hates paperwork and that kind of stuff. She did a really good job too. She still does. After grandfather died the only thing that really changed was Dad & I ate our meals in the guest house instead of the main house. Irene would come eat with us every night too.

Nothing really happened again until well dad got shot and I came home. But you know that story, mom. I'm really tired. I am just going to close my eyes for a little while. I hope I can still talk when I wake up."

His mother gently stroked his hair and kissed his forehead. "Go to sleep, sweet boy. Thank you for telling me your story. That was wonderful hearing what you remember from that time. It was so good to hear your voice. Whether or not you can speak in the morning it doesn't matter. We love you so much just the way you are. Nothing will ever change that."

His dad spoke, "I second that, kiddo. We just want you to be alright. It was amazing hearing you speak but whether you can or can't in the morning. We will love you just the same. You are a great kid."

Matty closed his eyes.

He was in his great grandfather's study. His great grandfather was sitting at his desk. The desk that was now in his dad's office in Arlington.

His great grandfather looked up at him, "Hello little one. You have grown."

Matty looked at his great grandfather, "Hello sir, is this a dream? Your alive and I can speak."

His grandfather smiled, "Yes, it is. But it was the only way I could send you a message. There is danger ahead. Warn your father. Keep using your voice. You know you have it in you. Use it. It will save your life."

Matty nodded, "I will try, sir. I miss you. I wish you had gotten to meet my mom and brothers. Irene married my oldest brother. They have three kids and a fourth one on the way. She's really happy with Phillip."

His great grandfather smiled at him warmly and just vanished.

After his great grandfather vanished Matty heard his disembodied voice say again, "Use your voice, little one. It will save your life."

Notes:

Next chapter - Will Matty officially have his voice back or was it just the drugs? You will find out. The sequel part of the story resumes.

Aren't you glad this wasn't the chapter I posted right before my computer crashed? I won't make you wait very long for the next chapter. I'll probably post it in the next couple of days:)