Authors Notes- sorry I haven't updated in while, I'm back with a new chapter. Hope you like it.

Chapter Twelve

(Jeff's POV)

It's been a few weeks since we brought Claire home, I know she is putting on a brave front. Claire said that she is ok….. but I know she's not, no one will blame her if she falls apart and gives into her emotions. I know my little girl had been having nightmares and she doesn't tell Scott, Virgil and me about them straight away.

I have put off having a father and daughter talk as I'm on a video call with our family lawyer Mr. Carl Saunders. We are discussing how we can keep Claire at home, she has admitted that she's afraid of being on the mainland.

Looking to Mr. Saunders on the screen, I couldn't help sighing. "I know the court wants my daughter there in person, but she is afraid that something will happen to her on the mainland"

Seeing the man nods and says to me. "I know she is, and I will keep fighting to keep her where she feels safe"

Taking a deep breath to relieve some of the stress, I reply to Mr. Saunders. "I will let you go now"

After ending the video call, I take a minute to clear my head, once I've done that I get on with some paperwork.

I can't help hoping and praying that Claire won't have to go to court on the mainland, I just want to protect her the best I can.

I just finished the last of the paperwork when I hear laughing, it was coming from the living room.

Thinking that I better go and find out what's going on, I got up and went to the living room.

Looking around the room at my children I stop to look at Scott, he was asleep, and Claire had just finished putting makeup on his face.

All I could do was smile amusingly at my daughter, now we wait for Scott to wake up.

I couldn't help but think how crafty Claire is, she must have picked up on the pranks that Gordon and Alan do.

I go down to get my myself a cup of coffee, then I return to the living room and sat down next to Virgil. We made small talk while we wait for Scott to wake up, Claire was sitting with Scott's feet on her lap.

Watching as Scott woke slowly and sitting up, I could hear Virgil chuckling, and I could see Claire trying not to laugh.

Scott was looking at me with a questioning look, I couldn't help but burst out laughing.

I try to control myself. "Scott you better go and have a look in the mirror"

Before Scott could go and have a look in the mirror, my daughter took a photo of her big brother.

I just hope Scott will go easy on Claire and not get mad at her, as she was trying to keep her mind off the court case.

Suddenly there was a shocked yell. "What on earth... who put makeup on my face?"

I look to see Scott walk back in and he wasn't happy, all I could do was shake my head and smile.

Turning to my daughter I see that she's thinking before speaking, I guess Claire is going to own up to putting makeup on Scott's face.

Seeing her swallow then she says while looking at Scott. "I put makeup on your face while you were asleep"

I look to Scott and the shocked look, he says to his little sister. "What... you did... you crafty monkey"

I chuckle at my children and at the things they get up to, hearing both Scott and Claire laughing. I look to them and see my little girl helping her big brother, to wash off the makeup off with makeup remover wipes.

I'm glad that they have a strong sibling bond, and that the bond they have can't be broken.

Looking down at my cup and seeing that I have finished my coffee, I excuse myself and took my cup to the kitchen and putting it in the sink, I go back up to my office.

I see a new pile of paperwork on my desk, I sit down sighing and make a start on going through them and sighing more.

By the time I was finished, and my boys were back home from a rescue, it was time for dinner and dessert.

Leaving the office and going down to the kitchen, I walked in as Scott was retaliating to something that Gordon had said.

I could see how angry Scott is and he speaks. "Leave Claire alone Gordon, she didn't prank you... it was me who she pranked"

Before my prankster son could reply, I say with a commanding voice. "That's enough Gordon, it was most likely Alan who pranked you"

Turning to Alan I see that he tries to hide by looking down at his plate, I can't help thinking that one minute Alan and Gordon were fine and the next they were fighting. They prank each other, I have no idea I'm going to do with them.

Sitting down just as dinner was served and I was starving, I could see my family are just as starving as me. We ate our dinner and chatting about the things my boys and little girl did when they were younger.

(Grandma Tracy's POV)

After finishing our meal my grandson Gordon, was asked to wash up the dish's and put them away. He had grumbled and said that didn't to wash their dish's, but his father said it was punishment for accusing his sister of pranking him.

Over the years my son and grandchildren had been through a lot, first was the death of Lucy who is the wife of my son and mother of mt grandchildren. Second was the absent of my grandchildren's father for a year, he only realized that he was neglecting his responsibility to his children.

It was only because there was an incident that made my son return to his family, I helped as much as I could back then.

Coming out of my thoughts as Gordon spoke to me, I look at him and smile as I always do.

I see him return the smile and he say to me. "I've done the washing up and putting away the plates and cups"

I nod my head and reply. "Thank you dear"

I watch as Gordon leaves and going upstairs, I get up to make supper and thinking about my granddaughter. I know she has a lot on her mind and that she's worried about the court case.

Now I know that can be strict with my boys, but I'm not like that with my only granddaughter. Praying and hoping that Claire will be able to do a video link with court, she's already told us how she feels about being on the mainland.

There is something different about Claire, something must have happened to her while she was unconscious. Jeff had told me that Claire was different after she woke, he's been meaning to ask her what happened.

Once I finished what I was doing, I went to join the others up in the living room. I sat down next to Jeff and watched my grandchildren, they were playing a board game that one of them chose.

I could see that Scott had teamed up with Claire, Virgil was on his own but secretly was on his big brothers and little sister's side. Alan and Gordon had teamed up and were bickering, who should go first, I am shaking my head at my grandchildren and I couldn't help chuckling at them.

I hear Virgil say to his bickering brothers. "I think Claire should go first"

I turn to see Alan nod in agreement to let their sister go first. The game went on for a few hours till Scott and Claire won, it's not all the time they can play a game like this. With the job my boys do saving people's lives, it is a dangerous job, and I worry about them all the time. Because when someone sends out an SOS, you deserve to know someone out there is listening.

My son and grandchildren retire for the night, with Scott and Virgil saying that they will keep a ear out incase Claire has a nightmare.

As the day is coming to an end and I check on my son and grandchildren, to make sure that they are sleeping. I go to my room and get ready for bed, I climb in to bed and turn my lamp off.

I fall asleep and go to the land of nod, letting my mind take me where it wants to take me.

I whisper. "Goodnight world for the night, see you in the morning"