Paradise {COMPLETED}

Chapter 28

I can barely stand seeing my little sister, and amazing momma in hospital beds, unconscious. A fear tears escape my eyes. Jaxon and Josh do their best to comfort me.

They're not blood related to me. If mom and Meg die, they could leave me. Forever. Where would I go? I'm not even sixteen yet. I can't provide for myself.

I shake the thought from my mind, as I feel a pair of arms wrap around me. "You'll be okay, kid. We'll all be okay. God's got this," my step dad whispers into my hair. "If they...well you know..would you and Jax leave me?" I whisper.

"Of course not, we're family. I know I'm just your stepdad, but your not just my stepdaughter. It's like you're my real daughter. And I could never leave you behind," he whispers. I nod, "Okay. I guess I'm just jittery or somethin'." He nods, "Of course you are. Go with the guys and get hot cocoa or something. I'll call you if I need you."

I leave the room cautiously and into the waiting room, where the guys are practically living. There's blankets, hoodies, pillows, and various other items everywhere. The hospital staff gave them their own room, which they clearly took advantage of.

"Guys?" I ask cautiously picking my way through their mess. "Mia? Is that you?" Chad asks from under a bright green blanket. "Yes Mr. Wick. It's me," I reply. "What's up, kid?" Caleb asks, "You okay?" I nod, "Mom and Meg are the same. Josh said I should get out of this hospital and get my mind off things for a while."

"Okay. Wanna go for a walk? Go to Starbucks? Go to your place?" Joey lists a few options. "I've got a key, can we go to the house?" I ask. Alan nods, "Yeah. You tell me where and I'll drive."

"I have a permit," I remind him. He nods, "Okay, be careful though." I drive the guys to my house, and unlock the door. "Make yourselves at home," I call out. I sit down in Josh's recliner and I can't help but cry.

"You okay, darling?" Chad asks. I nod, even though it's obvious I'm not. "I know you're not," he says, squeezing next to me. "I know I'm not either," I whisper, pulling his arm around me. "And that's okay," he says.

"I can't lose her. I already lost dad," I cry. Chad rubs my back, "ssssh darling, God's got this." I cry some more, not knowing how to stop the tears. "Get it all out, Mia," he says." "It hurts," I whine.

"It will hon. I'm not gonna lie. But you're strong, you'll get through this," he coos, hands tangled in my hair. I snuggle closer to him and try not to think about it. I think about puppies, rainbows, unicorns, and kittens, anything but that.

Chad softly sings Boomerang to me. I grin, looking up to kiss his cheek. "Thanks dude. I really needed that." He nods, "Anytime Mia. You deserve it."

~*~

"We should get back to the hospital. Something doesn't feel right," I say, urgently. Caleb nods, "You wanna drive, kiddo?" I shake my head, "No thank you."

Joey drives, and I sit in the backseat with Alan. We go back upstairs to the guys' waiting room. Jaxon and Josh are seated among their stuff.

"Jax! Josh! Are they okay?" I ask running to them. Josh shrugs, "Still no news honey." I sit down on the chair in between the two of them. I run my fingers through my hair, feeling lost. "Little sis, I've got you. It's okay," Jaxon whispers, cradling me in his arms.

A nurse motions Josh to follow her; he obediently does. Alan sits down on the other side of me. "Don't fret beautiful, Heaven's got a plan for you," he says quietly. "Don't you worry, child," Caleb adds.

"Sing that song, please," I plead. The guys do, and to my surprise Jaxon joins in. They sing it about three times, helping me to calm down.

Josh returns and looks at me and Jaxon. "Y-You guys are my only kids left," he says, hugging both of us. "Is mom okay?" I ask. "She's hanging in there, but the doctor said we'll probably lose her before morning," he says, trying not to cry.

I'm not a big sister anymore. There's no mini-me. And in a few hours, I'm not going to have a mom.

The next few hours tick by very slowly, with no news. I'm almost falling asleep on Josh, when a nurse comes over and asks to talk to him. "It's okay, honey. Trust God," he says, getting up and leaving.

Josh comes back and doesn't say anything; that can't be good news. I cry a lot, and we leave the hospital. I sleep in mom's room that night, with Josh. Jaxon curls up in Meghan's bed, and I know for a fact all of us cry ourselves to sleep.

I hear footsteps in the hallway at about midnight. Meg. She's having trouble sleeping. No. She's dead.

I tiptoe into the hallway and see a glowing figure. "Mia, my child, it's okay. I took them for a reason. You'll be okay. Josh will be okay. Jaxon will be okay. I'll be with you through all of it," the figure says, wrapping me in His arms. The hug seems to melt all my hurt away. Then, I wake up. I'm in mom's room, and my eyes are tear-stained.

I pad downstairs to where the guys are sleeping. I lay down next to Alan and begin to drift off. I'm gonna be okay.