the odd shephard out

16

Isabella couldnt stop smiling while reading the text messages she had recieved while she was in a coma but she felt guilt that she caused so much pain to so many people that her family had to create and end of life plan because all hope had gone, she knew how she would feel if that was her in their shoes making that plan for one of them it would kill her, all she wanted to do was keep them a live forever in hope that something could change.

"Its um" Isabella started to explain who had been texting her.
"I know who it is" Carolyn beamed knowingly.
"You do" Isabella asked in disbelief

"Its Aaron Montgomery" Carolyn said as isabella started to blush.
"Yes but how" isabella sat up excited to her this story but also a little scared.

"Mark had called Addison to tell her what had happened, he needed someone who wasnt a shephard to talk too. Addison told Mark about you and Aaron, told him everything how you meet, the secret meetings and the chicago plan. Mark told her to tell him what had happened, Aaron got on the first flight out. He always came in the evening so that we got all day with you, he would only get a couple of hours by your side but he treasured them, he would talk to you, read to you, he learnt to draw for a month and would draw by your side telling you how much he messed the drawing up laughing. He was a breath of fesh air in that room. We didnt tell Nancy, Liz and Kathleen we knew that they would be all judgemental, asking Aaron tones of questions and when he was with you they would insist on being there too. Hes very sweet" Carolyn explained.

"Does he know im awake?" Isabella asked hoping he did. She really needed a face that isnt a Doctor.

"Yes yes he does" Aaron smiled standing in the door in disbelief that Isabella was awake he had been coming by for the last 4 weeks, before he walked into the hospital he always hoped she would be awake but it never came true till today and he couldnt stop smiling since mark called him to tell him.

"Aaron" Isabella cheered as he ran to her side pulling her into a hug that they both need.
"Im so happy your awake" Aaron contiued to smile, sitting on the edge of the bed but keeping their fingers entwined
"I heard you learnt to draw" Isabella laughed
"Yes just for you" Aaron smiled kissing her forefesd.

"Aaron Aaron Montgomery" Derek asked confused why he was holding his sisters hand and sitting on her bed.
"Hi Derek" Aaron answered awkwardly.

"He didnt know" isabella asked
"No only me and mark" Carolyn explained.

"Whys Aaron Montgomery here?" Derek asked as the room started to fill with shephards again.
"Aaron Montgomery, you mean Addisons little brother" Kathleen spat trying to remember
"Hi" Aaron turned around  weaving getting a small giggle of Isabella.

"Why is he here?" Nancy spat

Isabella took a deep breath trying to work out in her head what she was going to say or how she was going to say it.

"Well we are um. We are together"
"Together?"
"You mean like boyfriend and girlfriend" Derek asked for clarification.

"Yes" isabella smiled at Aaron who just smiled back.

"But up till a month ago you were with Connor" liz reminded her
"No, he wanted you all to think that but we broke up at the airport 2 years ago i had nothing to do with him and he had nothing to do with me till i got back" Isabella explained.

"Im sorry im not followung how long have you two been together?" Nancy interrogated

"A year" Isabella quickly answred
"So you meet in Africa then" Amelia asked working out where isabella was and how they meet.
"Yes, mark was right, the reason i stayed in Africa well one of the reasons is because of a guy, Aaron"

"So how did you meet?" Derek asked
"I was one of the doctors at the hospital. Isabella was there, well that you know" Aaron explained.
"We didnt recognise each other for weeks. Well the last time i saw him was at your wedding when i was 8. It wasnt till he was called Doctor Montgomery i worked it out we laughed about it for ages and caught up." Isabella continued.

"Wait a minute. Your in a relationship with a doctor" Amelia laughed then the room abrupted with laughter.

"You seem very happy thats the main thing" Derek smiled hugging his little sister.
"Derek, im not doing this to hurt you" Isabella defended she knew that the affair Addison had was still a slight soft spot for Derek.
"Hey, you could never do anything to hurt me"  Derek softly spoke

"You know Aaron didnt speak to me or addison for months" Mark piped uo wanting them all to see Aaron as they great guy he is.
"He's right, you were so nice. You taught me to fish. I was so cross at her" Aaron added.
"He taught us all to fish" Isabella added laughing.

"So Aaron are you going back to Africa?" Kathleen questioned firmly
"No, i was only there for 2 years on a outreach project. Im back at work now at chicago Med"

"Chicago" the three laughed spitefully.
"Thats why you want to go to be with your secret boyfriend" Nancy spat

"No no, i already had the place at chicago before i went travelling" Isabella told them forgetting they didnt know that fact.
"You what" all of the shephards in the room shouted.

"I had already applied and got a place, they knew i wanted to take a year out, most students do that so they were happy. I then deferred my palce for another year after i meet Aaron, i wasnt ready to leave the work i was doing in Africa or Aaron, i thought they would take my place but they were happy to wait for me"
"Colleges dont do that" Nancy quickly replied
"You must be really good" Amelia warmly said, even though she knew how good Isabella was.

"They really want her" Carolyn emphasised, the rooms attention landed on her unsure how she would know that beside mothers intuition.
"When we rang them to infirm them what has happened. They flew out the Art teacher and the headmaster of the college to have a meeting with me to understand the full extent of your condition and what they could do to help. They said that they would hold your place for as long as needed, you showed so much potential and your work ethic was rare they showed me all the work you had ever sent them, i knew you were talented but your drawings looked like picture you had found on the Internet. I was amazed. They sent you the work and recorded lessons for you so could catch up they wont let you go without a fight." Carolyn explained.

"How long till i can go?" Isabella asked
"At most a couple of weeks" derek said.

Isabella waited for the arguring and the shouting that she wasnt going to chicago she was staying in seattle or going back to new york.

"Your happy for me to go to chicago" Isabel question wearily.

Nancy stepped forward standing next to isabella taking her free hand smiling warmly.
"Your not little anymore you dont need us to protect you anymore, well you never needed protection, you were so strong you held the whole family up, you have been there for all of us in our time of need even though you are alot younger than all of us. You know Amelia is right" nancy quickly turned to Amelia and said "take it might never say it again"
"I will never forget you said that but right about what"
"Im gonna regret that" Nancy moaned as her family laughed.

"You are the odd shephard out but thats not bad thing its the best thing ever. So finally it was our turn to do for you what you have always done for us be there in your time of need, we decided that when you woke and were discharged you would go to chicago to be the best artist or art teacher ever which we all know you can be" Nancy gushed.

"Thank you all so much for everything you have done" Isabella thanked smiling at her family.