Date: Sat, 25 Aug 2012 02:05:56 +0100 (BST)
From: Kev <ukwriter12@yahoo.com>
Subject: Moonside Manor Part 1  - Chapter 4

Disclaimer: This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and
incidents are the product of the author's imagination and are used fictitiously.
Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, events or locales is purely
coincidental and no slanderous intent is implied.

This work is copyrighted and I ask that you do not copy, post or electronically
download without my express permission.

If you are too young to be here or it is illegal in your state then please
leave; finally if you are looking for hot sex scenes then look again as
you'll not find any here.

Email me with your comments at ukwriter12@yahoo.com
_______________________________________________________________________________

CHARACTER LIST
--------------

Jared Exley --
Uncle Leon Exley -- Guardian of 13 year old Jared
Davy - Was Jared's partner, Diane's best friend

Peter Barrington -- Steven's cousin and partner in the law firm

CJ -- Jared's grandson / adopted son
Christopher Matthews -- Jared's adopted son
Mason -- Jared's grandson -- Myles and Ed's adopted son
Myles -- Peter's 19 year old son,
Ed -- Myles' lover

Mary Gibson -- Matriarch of the family
Steven Gibson -- Mary's husband
Paul Gibson -- Mary's son and chief of police
Jake Gibson-- Mary's youngest son and police officer
Dr. Darren Cartwright -- Jake's partner and Jared's doctor.

Judge James Haroldson -- Mary's brother
Jennie -- Mary's sister
Diane Gibson -- Mary's sister -Exley HR Director - Steven's ex-wife.
Kathy -- Diane's partner
Stacy --Diane and Steven's daughter.
Tracy -- Peter's secretary

Sheila Miranda Easby -- Jared's Aunt
William Webster -- Jared's Grandfather
John McNicolls -- Sheila's adopted son

Mavis Pratt -- Stephen's wife

Carl Davidson -- Jared's security
Sean Pearson -- Jared's security
Mike Pearson -- Jared's security

There are various other ancillary characters, such as the Pratt family that
do not play a major part in the story and so are not listed above.
_______________________________________________________________________________

An effort has been made to only hint at the area that it is set in so it
allows you to use your imagination... Chicago is mentioned, but then again
so is Gary Indiana so we know the area it is based in. Other than that we
simply know that it is based in a city and most cities have the basic
things in common.
_______________________________________________________________________________

MOONSIDE MANOR

Chapter 4 -- Then there were more...

Things were moving quickly and everyone seemed to know things that I didn't. Mind
you being in hospital did not help in being in the know. I trusted them though
and more importantly so did Peter and we knew that the finished product would be
just perfect. With everything going on the visitors to the room started becoming
less and less and even Peter had to start to go into work again. Many days I just
lay there nursing Mason wondering where all of this was going.

Even though I was in hospital I started having regular meetings with Mary, who had
very easily stepped in as my personal assistant and I also met with Diane and
Sheila everyday to make sure that Exley International had the capacity to undertake
the control of international business in the UK and to supervise the move of all
of the head offices to the Exley building. Divisions of Exley International already
had offices over there, but did we want to combine the two very different
businesses under the same roof? Sheila made the decision in the end that the head
office would be here in the city and that there would be a team hired to travel
between Europe and the US. She already had a fantastic manager in place and a team
of buyers that meant she could release control just a little.

Even though I was not in the know about everything I trusted the people that were,
something that was totally new to me. The only question mark was Gavin and Mary
seemed to have changed his status for some reason. More importantly I trusted Peter
and he was the light in my life now and I trusted my attorney more than life
itself. Or so Peter thought I actually treated Steven as my attorney and he seemed
to know why.

As for Moonside Manor, which we found out Grandpa had named it because when he sat
on the porch it always had the moon at its side and he just knew his Etta would
have loved it, things were moving really quickly and all favours had been called
in and the site would be completed by the end of the month, just two weeks away.
Peter and Myles were now living in my townhouse and already started to pack things
ready for the move. I would be keeping the house as I always loved the old girl;
she just had a wonderful character and was in a prime location for both the
university and access to work.

With everything going on as it was visitors to my room dwindled and many times I
found myself almost at screaming point. Darren had reluctantly allowed me to start
physiotherapy so I had exercise that I could do to keep me occupied and I had
taken to walking around the ward and was getting to know everyone. Myles had
returned to college, but him and Ed both insisted on coming in once classes were
over and meeting their mates in my room to study and homework together.

Peter said that he had been in court with a client all week so we had not been
able to spend any time together, but he was due in today as the jury was due to
return anytime. He had also pulled some strings and the Judge was due to come to
my hospital room to complete the adoption of my grand Children.

Even with all that was going on I just lay there nursing Mason many days wondering
where it was all going and why Peter was like he was.

It was Thursday and Peter was due to arrive anytime when Jake came in to spend
time with his little buddy, CJ. He could tell as soon as he walked in that I was
beginning to get stir crazy from being cooped up. "Hell, ain't it?"

"Pardon me? ... Sorry Jake what did you say?"

"I said that it's hell ain't it? You know when you don't know what's happening."

I laughed, "Yes I guess it is. The problem is that I think that I do know what is
happening and I am not sure what to do about it." He simply nodded, "Hey so you
know all of this started with just you and me, at least we're still here."

With that there was a gunshot and the worrying thing was that it sounded very
close. I couldn't help myself I just started reliving the shooting all over again.
I just clung to Mason and sat with CJ so he had me to cling to. The shot itself
sounded too close for comfort. "Get one of your team in here and two on the door,
then take the rest and see what the hell is going on.

"Oh and Jake if it's a kid in danger, do not hesitate ... OK?"

Jake's guys were good as they were already in place before he left the room.
"What's you name son? Can you tell me, and those two on the door? It may sound
strange, but when someone is looking after me I sort of like to know who they are."

"Carl sir, Carl Davidson and the guys at the door are Sean and Mike Pearson. We'll
be OK sir; you have no worries at all."

"It's not me. I am just curious about what's going on and if someone is in danger
we have to help. Has anyone called the police? If not can you organise it and tell
the chief to get over here now and I said so."

Jake had taken two of my security team with him and sprinted to where they thought
the noise had come from. Sure enough the closer they got to the kids ward the more
noise they could hear. "Doc, I told you to move away from him, or you'll get it
too. He killed his mama when he was born."

"Good God you cannot be so......"

"Quiet! Now he might as well have killed me with all his cock sucking ways."

"He is eleven years old for pity sake man. You're his father and supposed to love
him."

"Move away or you'll both die too." This crazed drunken man shouted.

"Then so be it. I am not stepping away from him."

Jake's heart skipped a beat as he arrived as there on the bed was his Darren
protecting what seemed to be a ten year old, but he could have been younger. Jake
felt like screaming as he saw the second bullet fly past Darren. With Darren was
an orderly putting his body in the way of the father so that he could not get a
clear shot of the boy. Jon was petrified. "We are not moving. This little guy has
done nothing just leave and we'll find someone to look after him if you don't want
him." Jon shouted.

The father was a real hardnosed bastard, he just shot Jon and he slumped over the
little guy who was now screaming, "Your next Doc, now move out of the fucking way. He ain't worth it!" Jon had not even finished what he was saying the bastard just
shot him. The kids in the ward were now screaming as they loved Jon.

"Your next Doc, now move out of the way. He ain't worth it!"

Jake and his team entered the ward as quietly as possible. "Put the gun down!" He
turned and at least now Darren was no longer in his sight, now though his gun was
aimed at Jake.

He took a shot at Jake, but missed and hit a nurse on the opposite side of the
ward. This guy was crazy and because of that and that alone he was extremely
dangerous. They had to do something. "I will tell you once more, put the gun down.
We can't let you fire again. There are too many lives at risk." Paul's team had
now arrived and were outside the ward allowing Jake to handle the situation as he
used to be one of Paul's negotiators.

The man huffed as if lives meant nothing to him. He turned around back to Darren,
but by now there was also one our security guards there as well. As this crazed
man raised his gun, Jake's man shouted a warning, and when the guy started to move
his finger he acted. Without thinking the security guard had taken out the threat
to the children and made sure that they were all safe. It is just a shame that it
had to be that way, but the bastard was down, but so was the little boy's father
as well.

"Darren, are you OK?" Jake shouted through his tears.

"I am ... Call the family and get them in here now. Paul, get in here for
Godsake."

Jake had gone over to the nurse to see if he could help, but the other guard said,
"Sorry mate the nurse didn't stand a chance, but the kid with her is fine." Darren
motioned for my guys to move the kid away from the body.

"Katherine was a bloody good nurse as well Jake. She has a six year old in school.
It was just them, her husband died last year. The hospital will call her mom."
Darren said. He seemed to be in shock.

"We'll tell Jared and see if he can do anything to help them."

One of the nurses was working with Jon to try to make sure his body was OK. She
suddenly screamed, "Doctor! Doctor Cartwright, get over here Jon's alive. We have
to help him"

Jake and his team along with big burly police officers just held the kids and
cried together. The nurses were running around trying to make sure all of the kids
were fine, but they were in shock as their friend had just died.

"Mom!" Even with the ward cordoned off by the police they all knew not to stop
Mary as she and her team entered the room. "Mom these kids need help and they
need the best."

"Darren is there another ward we can move them too they do not need to stay in
here a moment longer."

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

Mary turned to where the voice was coming from, "I beg your pardon?"

"Who the hell are you and why do you think you can start giving orders around
here?"

Mary stepped towards this little man that was now strutting his stuff and preening
his feathers since he thought all was safe. "I am your worst nightmare. Mary
Gibson, head of the hospital board." The man physically turned white, "I happen to
know that it should have been you that contacted the police and initiated the
emergency plan, but was it? No it was Jared Exley, a patient, and do not try to
deny it."

She turned and smiled at the teenager sat on one of the beds hugging a little one.
"Also the emergency plan has not been initiated at all because you were too busy
hiding under your desk." She turned to him, "You did hear your office door open
didn't you? Well that was me and I saw you there and also saw that there was a
large puddle on the floor near you." There was laughter from the kids ... "I take
it you've changed your trousers? Now I suggest that you go, pack up and leave this
hospital because otherwise I will have you arrested for incompetence. Your own
people have been killed here. Now go before I kick your sorry ass into next week."

Paul nodded to one of his men, "Escort him off the premises and make sure he does
not come back."

"Move the beds into the emergency overflow area and get this room sterilized and
revamped completely." Darren shouted to the nursing staff who were all now
descending on the ward.

While Darren looked after Jon, getting him ready for surgery to have the bullet
removed he was stopped at every turn he tried to take. It was not long before he
realised just how unfair red tape can be when someone does not have money. The
only problem was that Jon would die if something did not happen and happen fast.
Feeling terribly guilty he headed up to Jared's room.

Pretty much at the same time Jake and Mary were getting busy trying to help the
gunman's son. "Hi there, what's your name?" Jake asked.

"Chris Matthews." Everyone turned to the little one, who had been amazingly brave.
"What's going to happen to me? It was only dad and me. We had no other family. He
just went crazy last night when he came home and found my friend and me asleep in
each other's arms. Hell he was never much, he used to beat me and everything, but
he was still dad. If you know what I mean."

Mary stepped forward, "How old are you son?"

"Eleven, going on twelve."

"OK, well here is what we're going to do. I know a little boy on the next floor
who needs a friend. His name is CJ. He is nine years old, going on ten and has a
new daddy. I'm one of his Grandmothers. What say we let Doc Darren arrange to have
you moved upstairs where we can all watch over you and you can be part of our
family? Jared may even want to be your daddy."

"Who's Jared?"

"You just wait and see. He is like Santa and daddy all rolled into one" said Jake.

Paul's team stepped in, secured the scene and made sure that they had all of the
evidence that they needed. Once that was done Chris was moved to Jared's room.

"Jared, Peter, I would like you to Chris Matthews. He has been badly beaten and
his dad just tried to kill him. He did hurt an orderly and killed one of the
nurses. We just thought ..." said Aunt Mary.

"Jared is there anything we can do to help the nurses family as she as a child
that will be raised by a grandparent now?"

"Mary find out what cover the hospital has and if that will set the child up and
protect them from being put into care. If not Peter we need to arrange a trust
fund to protect the child. Ok next..."

Myles stepped forward and took Mason and put him down in his crib and I just held
my arms open for him. He jumped off his bed and raced to me. Twenty minutes later
as his tears were stopping he looked over and saw my little CJ. They just smiled
at each other. He timidly stood up and moved beds. Myles lifted him and placed
him next to CJ. CJ placed an arm around him and they both fell asleep. Then as in
life CJ though he was younger would be Chris' protector.

"You do not have to say anything I am already on to Stacy to get the papers sorted"
said Peter and everyone just laughed.

Darren walked into the room expecting a distraught child, "Well I'll be!" He
paused, "Jared, Jon the orderly that was shot protecting that little guy is in a
bad way and because he doesn't have insurance the hospital is refusing to treat
him. He is what people call a throw away child. He lives in a hospice since his
bigoted parents threw him out. Is there anything we can do for him?"

"Myles see the administration and make sure that Jon's medical expenses are
covered by my grandfather's legacy. Also make sure that he gets to know me. I
want him back in school or if not then in college and supported... He risked his
life to save Chris and so he's family now. If he is living in a hostel then he
either moves into one of the fifteen bedrooms or one of the apartments that the
estate has." As Myles walked out so did Mary to make sure it all happened.

As I laid there I suddenly realised that maybe my Grandfather's Legacy could
achieve what he wanted it to, time and time again. I may have been one throwaway
kid, but there are hundreds out there and grandfather's legacy would be used to
help them.

To be honest I think that the whole hospital deal was driving me stir crazy. How
could I be there for everyone? Even if I wanted to it was just impossible. I
decided that I would talk to Peter when he came back, as he had gone off yet again.
There must be something we can do.

As he came back in with a smile on his face he had been able to organise everything
for Chris. "Peter, we have more money than we'll ever need, don't we?"

"Jared sweetheart," I winced when he called me that, "you do not ever have to work
again as your grandfather's estate has made you a very wealthy man."

"That's just it though. I want to help kids who are like I was, and for no fault
of their own, find themselves living on the street. Or kids like the child of the
nurse that was just killed. I want the `Barrington Foundation' to be established.
I am willing to put $30,000,000 into it to get it off the ground. Then its mission
will be to help gay and lesbian children who find themselves abused and thrown
away. They desperately need to know that someone cares." I had tears rolling down
my face, "Can we change that name though? I want it to be called `The Uncle Leon
Foundation.' Also we will have to look into this, but you know the estate. There
were oil wells, yes? I want all profit from one of those to be added to the
foundation every year."

Sheila who had entered the room and heard what I said stepped in and added, "Make
that another $5,000,000 from me. I absolutely love the idea and would be willing
to serve on the board."

Stephen stepped in with Mary and Myles at that point and added, "Make that up to
$50,000,000 in total. Mary would kill me if we did not get involved."

Myles smiled and me, "No ... the starting figures will be $75,000,000 the rest
will be from me" he just smiled sweetly at his father. "I also want to be on the
board so that I can help where I can with kids like CJ and Chris."

I just sat there and sobbed at the thought of how much good we could do. Peter
was already on the phone getting the best people on to it that he could and making
sure that the foundation and grandpa's estate were kept well and truly separate.
Tracy really had her hands full organising all of this, but I did notice that he
never offered any of his money.

The room was a buzz for quite some time after that... Steven suggested we invited
Judge Haroldson to be a member of the board and that he was willing to provide any
legal representation that was needed on an advisory basis as the attorney would
actually be Judge Haroldson's cousin's firm. The talk went back and forth and by
the end of the evening we knew that we had something that could only do good in
place at last.

As the little ones were falling to sleep there was a little upset as Jake tried
to move Chris to his own bed only to have a very distraught CJ scream and cry
until `HIS' Chris was put back into his arms. Poor little guy he thought that
they we taking his brother away from him.

At around 8:30 in the morning I was woken up by a knocking at the door and my
security guard said that the Judge was waiting to see me. I sat up, straightened
the bed and told him to show him in.

To my surprise in walked Peter, Myles with Mason in his arms, followed by Steven,
Mary and Sheila; the family was here. There then followed by a very distinguished
gentlemen, I would guess slightly younger than myself who I assumed was the Judge
as he had his black robe on.  "Jared I would like you to me my Uncle James, Uncle
Steven's best friend from high school and Aunty Mary's brother, but do not let
anyone else know." Myles said with a wink.

"So I hear you have been in the wars. Well let's start to sort that now." To my
utter surprise and joy he then said, "Peter do you have the rings?" Peter took my
hand as he saw the tears flowing down my face and thought that I was happy.

"Jared this is very informal, but I am allowed by the state to marry certain
people and I have been trying to get rid of this one for about twenty years. Will
you accept him as your partner in life, no matter what the future may hold, till
death do you part?"

I looked around the room which was gradually filling. I now saw Jake and the
security team with Darren and all of the nurses and Paul and the police that I
had got to know over the last few weeks. I looked and Peter and I melted, "No.
I'm sorry maybe in the future, but my world has been turned upside down recently
and I need time to get it back on track before I do that." Peter just stood there
and looked shocked.

"It may happen, but I need to be out of here and back to normal before we make
that move."

"Sorry about that Jared, but I was led to believe..."

"Maybe so, but I will not be rushed into anything like this and Peter knows why
I'm saying it" I looked at him and his head was down, he was bloody well reading
a text on his phone "See a text is more important than we are ... What does it say
Peter? `Don't do it?'" He just looked at me and he realised that I knew things were
not as they seemed.

"OK then moving on, is there a Christian Justin Pratt, oh my! Was that really your
name?" I just nodded. "I believe this little guy is known as CJ. Is he here?"

CJ pulled at Jakes sleeve, "Am I in trouble Jakey?"

"No little one this is good." Jake pick him up and held him in his arms, "Just
say yes Judge."

"Yes, Mr Judge Sir." He said in his now very tiny voice.

"Now then is there a Christopher Matthews here."

Chris stepped off CJ's bed, "Yes sir."

"Ok ... now I hear that you both need a new family. Am I correct?"

The two boys looked at each other and said, "Yes sir, Mr Judge."

"Ok now we are getting somewhere, and do you like Mr Jared?"

"Yes Mr Judge, Sir." They both said."

"Would you like Mr Jared to be your daddy and maybe Mr Peter eventually?"

"Yes please sir."

"It is the decision of this court that you Christian Justin, known as CJ, be and
you Christopher Matthews be adopted by Mr Jared Ian Exley. Myles step forward;
under the circumstances do you still want these changes?"

"Yes Uncle James."

"Very well from this day you will be known as Myles Exley, CJ Exley and Christopher
Exley."

There was a buzz now around the room and I wondered exactly what had made Myles
do that to his dad. Peter looked totally defeated. The next thing the Judge did
knocked me for six.

"Is there a Jon McNicolls in the room?"

"Yes sir."

"I approve your request also and from this day you are also Exley, but your mother
will be ... maybe I should have done this first. Is there a   Easby in the room?"

"Yes sir."

"I approve both of your requests and from this day your name will be Sheila
Miranda Exley and you son will be Jonathan Alan Exley." There was a gasp
throughout the room.

"Well an old girl has to have a family sometime!"

"Finally it is my pleasure to conclude the business of today with all of the
signed documentation for the Uncle Leon Foundation and my acceptance to sit as
the chairman of the board; also to hand over to Jared all of the notarized
paperwork finalizing the estate of William Webster. I am sure Peter has it all
in hand.

"Hold on Judge. There is one person that has not been taken care of yet." I looked
and he smiled as he was still holding some papers, "Before we finalise everything
I want to make a change to the adoption of Little Mason. I do want to make a
slight change and I'm sure CJ will approve. I think that Mason's daddy ought to
be Myles, and I'll remain as his grandfather."

I looked over and Myles was hugging Mason so tight and crying. Ed had arrived late,
but was now pushing his way through. "Let me get to him. I have to get to him. Did
I hear right? We're going to be daddies?"

Myles nodded and looked at the Judge. "I can't ask Mason as he is so young. So is
everyone in agreement?" The general consensus was positive, "Myles I am pleased
announce that you are now the proud father of Mason Joshua Exley. You know I still
have one set of papers here. Is someone called Ed Carmichael present?"

"Here." We all looked at Ed.

"Myles do you accept Ed as your life partner to love and cherish so long as you
both shall live?" now Myles was sobbing.

"Yes." He nodded.

"Edward Mitchell Carmichael, do you accept Myles as your life partner to love
and cherish so long as you both shall live?"

"I do."

"Do you also agree to jointly raise Mason Joshua Exley as your own with Myles?"

"I do."

"Then I am proud to introduce your family to the world; ladies and gentlemen
please welcome Mr Myles Edward Exley, Mr Edward Mitchell Exley with their son
Mason Joshua Exley." I looked around and there was not a dry eye in the room. Except for Peter who was still texting in the corner even his son was not
important anymore.

"Ed, what do your parents think about all of this?"

"They don't Jared. Peter has been my family for the last three years. If you want
to meet my father then go down to the local Baptist church and see the piece shit
that nearly killed me when I was fourteen years old preaching to all of the
sinners."

"Come here big fella." He walked across with Myles and Mason in tow. "Welcome home
big guy, welcome home! Now I have four sons and a grandson." Even though Ed had
been the quarterback in his high school's football team he broke down in Jared's
arms. He finally had a family and this time it was forever.

The Judge looked over to Ed and held his arms out. As they hugged Judge Haroldson
said, "You know he was always a bigoted bastard, even as we were growing up my
cousin was totally insufferable. Wasn't he Mary?"

"Do not get me going on that man or I may very well end up spitting blood. I don't
understand how a man can do what he did to Ed. If was not for Myles he would have
died that night." I just looked at Myles and he nodded while his lover sobbed. I
knew that my sons were now safe.

_______________________________________________________________________________

That's all for now folks, chapter five will follow soon and then we really
find out about Jared's past and how living does not mean you're coping.

If you enjoy reading the stories on nifty consider donating to the site to
help with costs - http://donate.nifty.org/donate.html


Email me with your comments at ukwriter12@yahoo.com