A Walk to Eden

11

*Josh POV*

The boys bought some gifts for Eden to make her feel better. A little teddy bear, some flowers and I got her a little necklace. I actually got both the girls necklaces. I've been wanting to give them both it for a while, but never found the right time. Walking through the hallway Sam stops me.

"I can't." He says stopping. He stands there with tears eyes.

"What?" I ask.

"I just can't see her in a hospital Josh. It breaks my heart. I love that kid. I feel like she's my own, but I can't." He looks at the ground.

"It's okay. You can pick us up and give her the bear later." I say. He looks up and I shoot him a smile. He smiles back and walks away. I quickly get to the room and knock the door.

"Come in!" Eden yells. I walk in and look around and don't see her mother.

"Where's mama?" I ask.

"She went to her something to eat." She says. I nod and walk over to the bed. "Are those for me?" She smiles. I nod again and hand her the flowers. "I love flowers." She giggled.

"I know you do." She looks up and pats the bed and i sit next to her. "How you feeling bird?" I ask.

"Good. Dr. Mayer says I can go home today."

"That's good." I smile.

"I missed you guys." She says.

"We did too. Sam wanted to be here, but he had to go get you a present." I said.

"Yay!" She beams. I've know Eden for a couple of weeks now, but this little girl has me wrapped around her finger. "Josh?"

"Yes?" I ask.

"Do you have kids?" I chuckle and shake my head.

"No i don't." I say.

"Do you want kids?" She asks.

"One day." I loved kids and always wanted them.

"Can i be you're kid?" She smiles. I feel my eyes tear up.

"You want to be my kid?" I ask. She nods her head and smiles. I smiled back. "Okay."

"Can i call you dad?" She asks.

"Only if you want to." I say.

"I do." She giggled.

"Eden? Where is this coming from?" I ask her. Her smile drops and she looks at her hands.

"I don't know." She whispers. "I see other kids with a mom and a dad. And I've never had both. Just mama. And I thought-" she begins to cry. I grab her hand.

"It's okay. You can be my kid." I smile. She looks at me and grins. She crawls over and hugs me. Hugging her mom made me so happy, but having Eden hug me made my heart soar. I hear a little tap on the door.

*Your POV*

As I'm walking back to the room I hear talking.

"I see other kids with a mom and a dad. And I've never had both. Just mama. And I thought-" I hear Eden sniffle. I go to walk in the room but hear josh speak up.

"It's okay. You can be my kid." Josh says. What? I look into the room and see them hugging. What is going on? I knock on the door. They both look back to me and Eden is smiling, while Josh's face turns red.

"Josh. Can I speak with you?" I say. He nods and walks out the room. I turn to look at him. "What was all that?" I ask.

"Eden asked me if I wanted kids, and I said one day, and then she asked if she could be my kid. I didn't want to upset her." He says.

"What?" I ask.

"I have no problem with it. She already feels like my kiddo." He looks at me. "Do you have a problem with it?" He asks. Did I? I don't know. But Eden wouldn't have asked if she didn't want him to. I shake my head.

"No. I just never thought she would ask something like that." I say.

"Is her dad in the picture?" He asks and i quickly shake my head.

"No. He's not. And he won't ever be."

"Oh. Well. I'm cool if you are." He chuckled. I smile and hold his hand as we walk into the room.

"Hey mama, hey dad." Eden giggles.

"Hey bird." He laughs. I smile at both of them. Josh's phone rings and he walks out to answer it. I look over at Eden.

"Eden. Why did you ask Josh to be your dad?" I ask.

"I like Josh." She says. "Why wouldn't I want him to be my dad?"

"I just never thought you were worried about having one." I say.

"Well. I don't have one. But now I do. And this means you and him have to get married." She grins.

"Eden." I stare back at her. She raises her eyebrows in a mocking way. This girl.

I hear a knock on the door and it's Dr. Mayer.

"Good morning." He says.

"Good morning." Me and Eden respond.

"Eden, you're all good to go home. But make sure you speak up if you don't feel well. Okay?" He says.

"I will!" She smiles. He smiles back and leaves. A nurse walks in and hands me papers saying she can go home. We pack all the stuff, even though there wasn't much, and walk out of the hospital. Out in the parking lot, Sam is leaning against the car waiting for us.

"Sammy!" Eden yells running to him. He opens his arms and runs to meet her halfway. She jumps into his arms and he holds her.

"Hey!" He laughs. "I got you a present for when you get home." He says putting her in the car. We drive home listening to Eden sing along with the radio. They drop us off and we all go inside. Eden runs to her room with Sam following behind.