All was quiet at the McGrath house. No one had stirred for hours and it seemed like it would stay that way.

That is until Jim McGrath was startled awake by a horrible nightmare.

Jim tried to control his breathing, to not let the images of the horrible nightmare plague his mind any further than it had. He tried to focus on his surroundings, namely his wife's slow, steady breathing beside him. Other than that, it was completely silent in the McGrath household.

This is what unsettled Jim McGrath, however. The silence. It was almost as if it was tangible. Like something he could grab out of the air as much as he could pluck an apple from an apple tree. He didn't know why the silence made him feel uneasy, but he knew that there was nothing that was going to help him now. So, Jim walked out onto the long balcony that made up the family backyard.

Jim stood on the apartment balcony overlooking parts of downtown Copper Canyon. It was strange to see the streets so empty when mere moments before it had been nose to nose traffic with the vehicles around him. The occasional car would zip past, letting the hum of its engines reach the elder McGrath's ears.

It was peaceful, even in the midst of silence.

That is until Molly McGrath walked out, all decked out in her pajamas. This sort of startled Jim who wasn't expecting her to wake up. She walked over and snuggled close to her husband who hadn't even taken off his work clothes.

"Can't sleep?" Molly rested her head onto the side of Jim's shoulder.

"Not a wink," Jim peered upward toward the sky, letting what small number of stars he could see ease his mind, "You know, ever since I've been back it feels like I have to constantly watch over my shoulder as if something bad is going to happen at any moment."

"I thought you seemed a bit antsy," Molly turned to look into her husband's bright blue eyes that lit up more when the Turbo energy coursing through his veins was allowed to shine through them, "Want to tell me about it?"

Jim replayed the images of the nightmare before his eyes. Memories of it were almost as vivid as Molly standing in front of him.

"I just had a bad dream that's all," Jim wrapped an arm around Molly's shoulders to try and shove away some of the brisk night air that showed itself in the form of a light breeze.

Molly snuggled closer to Jim. This gesture, Jim had come to learn, was Molly's sign of letting him know that she was listening and that she wanted to know more.

"It was about the day Max rescued me from the clutches of Machino. Only it ended with Max dying instead of defeating Machino." Jim had shielded her from the worst parts. It was how Max died was the hard part.

He could hear his wife's breath hitch at those words. Their only son had developed traits much like his father. Not only did Max inherit his father's looks, but also his ability to generate Turbo energy. Unlike Jim however, Max couldn't control it which often times led to strange circumstances.

"I don't know. Ever since that day, I feel like I have to watch over my shoulder or else someone will attack me without me knowing."

"If it's any consolation," Molly leaned forward to where she was almost nose against nose to Jim, "I've got your back!"

She then kissed him. And the two passionately kissed for about a minute before returned their gaze to the stars above.

And the silence came back in force.

"Can you believe Max turns eighteen tomorrow?" Molly broke the silence with her soft voice. It was filled with wonder and excitement, Jim heard.

"It seems like only yesterday that I was holding him in my arms as an infant!"

The two shared in a chuckle and then settled into the silence once more.

But then Jim's expression turned from one of happiness to one of sadness.

"I sure have a lot of time to make up for," Jim allowed the sadness to fill his voice to allow his wife to hear it, "It didn't seem like I had been away for sixteen years! I hope that I can get to know him all over again."

"Hey, look at me," Jim reluctantly turned his gaze to his wife's brown eyes. The light of the city shone bright in them, "I know it's been a while, but believe me when I say this. Not a day goes by that the two of us aren't happy that your back. Even though you've been a way for a while, doesn't mean that Max and I don't love you. Yes, Max has some learning to do in terms of learning who you are and who you were before the accident, but one thing's for sure. We've been looking forward to this day for a long time. Never doubt that."

Jim half smiled at Molly's determination to make him feel better. This is why he fell in love with her. Her determination alone was what set her apart from the rest.

"Now don't stay up too late!"

"Yes, mom!" Jim teased, which earned him a light punch to the gut.

Once Molly closed the door to the inside, Jim turned back towards the stars.

To think, him and Steel once roamed the vastness that was space, protecting the worlds they came across from Machino's invasion. Now he was passing on the mantle of responsibility to his son.

Speaking of his son, Jim decided that he would pay his son a visit in his room.

He carefully traversed his way through the living room and as quietly as he could, he opened the door to Max's room. He let his eyes adjust to the darkness a bit before peering in.

Jim stood in the doorway frozen for a bit allowing the sight sink in for a bit.

Outside of the room being in slight disarray, his gaze fell on Max. Max was laying down on his right side almost as if he had fallen asleep looking out into his room. The blue blanket that was draped over his lean, yet muscular frame had sort of fallen off of him and was hanging off the bed.

But the sight that had Jim frozen to the spot was the fact that Max's face was perfectly framed in the moon light pouring in from the window, the soft glow of light allowed Max to be seen without difficulty. His brown hair had fallen haphazardly over his pillow which also obscured Max's face from prying eyes.

Jim would have to remind Max to get a haircut soon.

He plodded over to the bedside and very gently sat on the edge of it. He then watched his son's chest rise and fall and the listen to the sound of the rhythmic beat of his breathing. His blue eyes shut closed as the almost eighteen year old was sound asleep, slightly snoring as he slumbered on.

Jim smiled and then carefully took his fingers and brushed the unruly dark-brown hair out of Max's face.

He then decided to calmly brush his fingers through Max's hair for a bit.

Jim watched as some of Max's features relaxed the more and more he continued on. This also resulted in a deeper sleep for the boy.

And that's how Jim sat for a bit. Not wanting to leave, but knowing that it would startle Max if he were to wake up. Jim stood up about to leave when he noticed the blanket Max was covered had fallen off his shoulders. Jim went to replace it but was surprised to see a soft, blue glow coming from Max's chest.

He then realized that it was Steel hiding underneath the confines of the camouflaged Steel Suit. Jim then remembered Max telling him that this was something that Max and Steel had worked out to prevent Max from possibly overloading in the middle of the night. He smiled for what felt like the umpteenth time, before draping the blanket over his son's shoulders once more.

He then planted a kiss on Max's forehead, eliciting a small smile from the boy's face. Jim turned and left the room, to allow his own body to rest. And sleep finally did come for the Elder McGrath.

And the silence was chased away for the time being.