A Sequel To "Eternity"~ While She Was Sleeping.

Chapter Six~Beautiful Family Moment.

-Joe-

It was 12pm, I had spent an hour making a decision until making a conclusion- I was going to take the kids to see Elena today. I picked up my phone and phoned Zoë. "Broseph! Everything okay?" Zoë said straight after two rings. "Yeah. I was just ringing to tell you that I'm taking the kids to see Elena after school and nursery, so we won't see you until tomorrow." I informed her.

"Aw that's great to hear Joe. They'll be so happy. Hope it all goes okay. They've really missed her." She answered. "I know. Thank you for taking care of them when I've been to see her." I told her. "Absolutely no worries. I love them all to bits. I'm only a phone call away if all goes badly." She stated. "Thanks Zoë." I smiled before hanging up.

It was now 3pm and it was time to pick up the kids, luckily their school was a nursery, infants and primary all in one, so they all finished together. I parked my car and waited by the gates for them. Gracie walked out first with Chrissy running behind her. Sam appeared minutes later with a huge grin on his face. I helped Chrissy into her car seat while Sam sat on his booster cushion and Gracie sat in the front. "Did you have a nice day at school?" I asked them all as I started the car. They all began to tell me about what they learnt excitedly. "Daddy, I drew a picture for Aunty Zoë today." Sam said. "You'll have to give it to her tomorrow mate." I informed him. They all looked confused. "Daddy... why aren't we going to Aunty Zoë's and Uncle Alfie's?" Chrissy questioned from the back. "I'm taking you to see Mummy sweetheart." I smiled. They all cheered happily. It immediately made me feel cheery. "We don't have our pictures with us that we drew her!" Gracie cried disappointingly. "All covered Gracie, they're in the glove box princess." I reassured her. She nodded and sighed with relief. When we arrived at the hospital, she grabbed the pictures as I helped Sam and Chrissy out of the car and held their hands as we walked to her ward. "Right, before we go in, you need to remember that mummy is really poorly and she's got a lot of bruises okay? If it gets too much, I'll take you to Aunty Zoë's, yeah?" I warned them. They nodded in an understanding way before I let them in.

Sam ran over to her and held her hand. Chrissy sat on the chair beside her, looking curious at all the tubes and wires. Gracie kissed her forehead and took the other chair. "Daddy, what's the tubes for?" Chrissy wondered. "They help mummy breathe steadily sweetheart. Don't pull anything remember." I explained. She nodded. "Can mummy hear us?" Sam inquired worryingly. I sighed and smiled. "Yeah, of course Sam. Talk to her. She'll love to hear your voices. Tell her about your day." I answered. They agreed. Chrissy leant her head gently on Elena's arm. "I love you mummy. I miss you. I got moved into the top reading group today. Mrs Eden said I'm very good." She told Elena first. Sam then squeezed her hand. "I did a story about heroes today, boys did theirs on Batman. I did mine about you mummy cause you're my superhero." I smiled at him.

Gracie stayed quiet for a while, she was the most affected, I think she understood her mother's state more. "Gracie, darling, aren't you going to tell mum about your day? She'll want to hear your voice." I whispered. She shook her head. "I don't know what to say..." She admitted. I nodded and walked over to her. "Why don't you tell her about your drawings? Pretend that she's awake and she's smiling at you warmly as she always did when you came back from school. It's okay." I suggested. She closed her eyes, tears were streaming down her face. She stood up and held Elena's other hand before getting the drawings. "This drawing is what Chrissy did last week, it's us 5 at the park, feeding the ducks in the rain. This one is by Sam. It's when you took him on the superhero tour dressed as Wonder Woman and him as Iron Man. This one is mine. It's simply just a drawing of you, awake and happy and smiling, because that's what I miss the most during this. I miss you mum. I wrote a letter too. I can read it if you like." She smiled. I gave her a nod when there was no response. She nodded, her eyes red from the crying. "Dear mum, I don't know how scary it must be for you right now, but you're so strong for pulling through. I like to think of you being stuck in Narnia and just can't find the wardrobe to come home. If that is true, I hope you are having fun with Mr Tumnus. Please find the wardrobe mum, we miss you ever so much, our life is worthless without you. I need you here to comfort me in the storms, or to bake me cakes that dad can't do, or to read to me, or watch reruns of Drake And Josh with me after school. It's just those little things that are most painful to not have you not here to do. I love you so much. I really do. Love Gracie." She read beautifully before kissing her forehead again. "That was lovely Gracie." I beamed. Sam and Chrissy agreed and before we went home, they kissed her cheek, spoke words of love and hugged her gently and carefully before I kissed her lips. As we left the room, I had no regrets whatsoever about taking them to visit her, it simply reminded me of the beautiful family that Elena and I had created together, and I'm forever thankful for that.