Adopted by Heathers: The Sequel

Today's Supposed To Be Happy

I was sitting on the floor of my childhood bedroom for the last time, packing up my things and getting ready to move out. There were boxes from the attic and from storage that Elle gave me, because she thought I can give some of my things to Acadia.

"We're taking Eleanor home today." Red said softly. "Our daughter."

"I'm so excited." I gushed. I turned to Red and said, "The stroller and all the baby stuff's at home, right?" Red nodded and then opened a box. "Your choice in books was...something else."

I was an avid bookworm as a kid, and I still was. But I haven't even touched the books I've read as a teenager since Elle had a garage sale right before I went to college. I guess the books in this box were the books that didn't sell. I laughed as I pulled out graphic novel after graphic novel.

"I forgot how much I loved graphic novels as a kid." I said. I gasped and moved over to my bookshelf. "My yearbooks!" I squealed. "Ew, high school me."

"We have a daughter to torture with baby Catlynn photos now, let's get packing." Red said. 

________

Thirty minutes later, my room was completely empty, just as it was when Elle first took me in. Ten years of memories and mementos were completely wiped away. I smiled and put a moving box in the back of my car.

"We need to drop all of this stuff off at home before heading to the hospital." Red said. She smiled at me and said, "I forgot. You haven't seen our house before."

I smiled and said, "I just wanted to savor every moment I could in my old house." I said. Red kissed my knuckles and said, "I get that. Now, let's go."

___________

Red was attempting to set up the car seat as I unpacked moving boxes in the living room. My new house was actually pretty nice. It was small, but it was cute. It had two bedrooms, one for me and Red, and the other for our daughter, Eleanor.

I peeked into Eleanor's room and realized Red had already set up the crib and changing table. I smiled as I looked at the cream colored walls and realized that I was going to be bringing my daughter home in a matter of hours. This was truly an amazing day.

"Hey, Kit." my wife said, peeking through the door. "You like it in here?"

I smiled and said, "Like it? I love it! It's so cute." I sighed and said, "But...it's missing something."

"What? What do you mean?" Red said. I opened a moving box and pulled out my orange security blanket. Or, my former security blanket. I hadn't really needed it since I turned eighteen.

"Hang on." I said, fishing my vibrating phone out of my pocket. "Red, my phone's ringing." I squinted at the number. "It's...it's the children's hospital."

Red sighed in relief. "Thank God. It has nothing to do with Eleanor; she was born at the general hospital and she's still there. Take the call."

"Hello, is this Dr. McLemore-Ashley?" the voice on the other line said.

"Speaking..." I responded, not quite used to the title or the name yet. I listened to the voice on the other line and had to stop myself from squealing over the phone.

"Alright, thank you, bye!" I said, hanging up. Red turned to me and said, "What was that?"

"I GOT MY DREAM JOB!" I screeched. "RED! I'M OFFICIALLY A PEDIATRICIAN! I start on Monday, oh my God, I'm so happy!"

Red hugged me so tightly that I struggled to breathe a bit. "Kit! Oh my God, I'm so proud of you!" I screeched and started kissing Red. In the middle of my daughter's nursery. But I didn't care, I loved my life and I loved my wife. 

Red checked the time and said, "We better get to the hospital. Our kid's waiting."

I smiled and took Red's hand before heading to the car.

_________

"I'm sorry...what?" I said to the doctor that was standing right in front of me. Red came up behind me with the baby stroller and I told her to hold on. "No...this can't be happening...no."

"Ma'am..."

"No...Red, bring that back to the car, we don't need it." I said to Red. She gasped and pulled me aside. "What?"

"Red. We can't bring Eleanor home right now, I don't know why, but they won't even let us see her. I don't know if something went wrong with the adoption, or our papers, or what, but I can't see my daughter right now." I said, about to cry. Red hugged me and kissed my head. "It'll be okay, Kit. It'll be okay." Red whispered in my hair.

"It won't be okay, Red. This was supposed to be the happiest day of my life and now it's ruined." I said. Red cupped my cheek and said, "Kit. Why don't we just ask what's wrong with her, maybe it's not as bad as you think. Eleanor was premature, maybe that's the problem?"

I nodded, wiped my tears away, and took Red's hand. The doctor noticed we were done talking and cleared his throat.

"Your daughter's lungs are failing." he said. I turned back and tried to stifle my tears, but it failed miserably. Red rubbed my back and braced herself for worse news.

"She may not make it through the night."

AN: I told y'all I was gonna be evil right off the bat! I'm so proud of myself. Don't expect fluffy chapters for a LONG time. Hope you enjoyed and catch ya later! Love you all!