Emma (IM5 fanfic; 2nd book)

Hug Ball

Emma's first week of school just ended. Cole, the last few days, has been going to the studio; leaving me here for 7 hours. He leaves at 7:30am and comes back 10:00pm. Emma and Josh miss him.

"Auntie?" Emma asked.

"Yes?" I replied.

"When's Cole coming back?" She asked. It's 6:30pm.

"Umm. Soon. Kind of." I said, thinking if a better response.

Emma's shoulders sank, head drooped. I could tell she misses him. After being with him 24/7 for 6 months, being away where she never sees him for 4 days is a lot of time to be away.

"I want him here." Emma mumbled. I walked over to the crib and set sleeping Josh in it.

"I know you do, but you'll get to see him soon. I promise." I reassured her. She lifted her head.

"You promise?" Emma questioned.

"Yes. I promise." I promised.

"When?" Emma asked.

"Not sure." I told her, sitting down on the floor in front of her. She sat down with me.

"I'm gonna pray." Emma announced.

"Go for it, sweetie." I said.

"I pray that Cole will come home so I can be with him. I pray that he will come home so Auntie can be with him. I pray he will come home so Joshy can be with him." Emma said in the sweetest voice, eyes shut and head bowed.

I smiled. As if on cue, Cole came in the door with Dana and Gabe. I smiled wider. Emma turned her head and squealed. She jumped up and ran passed Dana to Cole. Cole picked her up and hugged her.

"I missed you, CoCo." Emma said. Cole let go, but Emma didn't. She hung from his neck. He held again.

"I missed you too. Want to let go now?" He asked.

"No." Emma replied. Dana and Gabe laughed. I hit them upside the head.

"Ow!" They both said.

"What was that for?" Dana asked, obviously confused.

"You're encouraging Emma to back talk." I explained quietly.

"Oh." They both said, holding out the O part.

"Please? I need to talk to Ali." Cole asked again. Emma was pried off by Dana.

"Dana!" Emma squealed in happiness.

Cole walked over, slowish, arms open. I opened my arms and hugged him. We waddled side to side while hugging. I inhaled. Smells of Cole and studio hit my nose. I looked up at him. I'm short say nothing! He looked back down at me.

"What was it you needed to tell me?" I asked.

"Oh right. The boys and I... Can we talk privately? Like me, you, Gabe, and Dana?" Cole asked, breaking our embrace.

"Yeah. To the bedroom!" I yelled, running to the bedroom with one finger on my head (making myself a unicorn). Everyone followed me, including Emma.

"Em, can you stay out here for a minute?" Cole asked.

"Uh. Okay." Emma said sadly.

Cole came in and shut the door behind him. He sat on the bed. The rest of us stood around him.

"This is it." Cole said sighing.

"What is it?" I asked.

"We're the only ones left." Dana explained.

"Left for what?" I asked again.

"IM5." Gabe said.

"I know about Will. What happened to David?" I asked.

"He quit." Gabe answered.

"Everything is falling apart!" Cole complained.

"Hey...calm down. Not everything is falling apart." I comforted. I sat next to Cole, rubbing his back.

"Name one thing! There's only 3 left of IM5! I'm always away from you guys! Emma really misses me! I can tell, Ali, it hurts you too. Everything is down hill." Cole cried, resting his head in his hands.

"Do you know what I say when things are down hill?" I said.

"What?" Cole said softly, lifting his head to look at me.

"When things are down hill, it busts prepares you to what's up the next hill." I told him.

"I just need hugs." Cole announced. I looked at Gabe and Dana. They looked at me back and I nodded. We bombarded Cole with hugs. Gabe was hugging him from the back, Dana from the side, me from the side.

"Is this better?" Dana asked, within the ball of hugs.

"A lot better." Cole said. I heard a door open. Little footsteps coming in the room.

"Hey! I want to be in a hug ball!" I heard Emma yell. She ran.

Dana and I opened our arms that were in front of Cole. Emma jumped on Cole. She straddled him and hugged. Dana and I closed the open arms around Cole and Emma. I popped my head up.

"Wait. We're missing someone." I said, running out the room. I grabbed the now awake Josh and scurried back into the room. Dana backed up a little.

"Joshy!" Cole shouted. Josh smiled and giggled. I handed Josh to Cole. We went back into the hug ball.

"Our hug ball is now complete." I announced.

"Yup." Cole agreed.