A Million Reasons | K. Danvers ✔

[72] Sleepover Night

• July 08, 2017 •

Zach had been discharged from the hospital at last and he was relieved to be going back home. The bandages from his left arm had been removed as well but his leg was still in a cast. He could move around with the help of a wheelchair and he was grateful for not being confined to the bed anymore.

Ava told him a surprise was waiting for him at home though he knew what that surprise would be exactly. He knew Luke, Nora, Kara and Connor would be there to welcome him.

And true enough when they reached home and Jonah pushed the wheelchair in, a cheerful collective greeting of welcome home was heard and Zach was showered with confetti.

His friends were there just like he had expected and they had decorated the entire house as well.

Seeing all of them, a smile spread on his face, "thank you so much."

"No need to say thanks," Luke spoke up, "we're all super glad that you're back."

"Now all you have to do is recover as soon as you can," Nora remarked, giving him a flower bouquet.

A very familiar bark was heard and Solar, their pet dog, came rushing up and launched on the wheelchair. Zach laughed, wrapping his arms tightly around it. Jonah had quickly held onto the wheelchair that had backed off from the dog's weight and would have toppled over from the enthusiasm with which Solar had jumped on Zach.

Ava quickly came to the rescue, gently holding onto Solar, "Solar, he's injured. Be a little careful."

"It's alright, Ava," Zach ruffled Solar's head as the dog licked his face, excited to have him back, "he missed me and I missed my little buddy too."

"Looks like Solar won't let anyone else meet Zach," Morena remarked and true enough, Solar had curled up on Zach's lap, determined not to move anytime soon.

"Thanks for reminding me that my brother is a pet stealer," Ava added, letting go of Solar who seemed only interested in being with Zach.

"Isn't he lovely?" Zach teased Ava again, knowing full well that she would get annoyed.

"Yeah, very but he reserves this treatment just for you," she huffed.

"Aw, someone's jealous."

She ignored him, going into the kitchen, "anyways, don't tell me you guys didn't cook anything."

"We did," Connor replied, "in fact, today's lunch is courtesy of mine and Kara's Moms."

"Aw, that's so sweet of them," Morena checked the packed lunch, "I'll call them up to say thanks. Your mothers are truly a blessing."

They had set up the table already and also arranged the spare room downstairs for Zach to stay in until he fully recovered. Connor had brought most of the furniture all by himself, much to Nora and Luke's bafflement.

Solar hopped off Zach upon seeing that lunch was set and started to follow Morena around, waiting for its share of food too. After washing their hands, they all sat down for lunch and Zach's wheelchair had been pushed close to the table.

By then, Zach had started to use his right hand more often and insisted upon eating by himself. It was shaky at first but steadied after a few bites. Zach was determined to come back to normal as he did not want to burden his family any further so as his right hand was much better, he insisted on using it.

However, Zach was very happy to be back home and felt cheerful after a lot of days. Seeing him happy had relieved Jonah and Morena as well who had both been very worried when he had lapsed into a sad silence at the hospital.

His friends spent the day with him and kept him entertained, leaving at last after dinner. Kara and Connor were the last to leave but Morena told them that they were welcome to stay over if they wanted to.

"Stay over, it would be fun," Ava spoke up, "we could watch a movie together. It's been long since I held a sleepover, I guess the last one was before high school."

"I remember your sleepovers, Nora and Luke would stay for weeks until Dad would drop them off at their homes himself," Zach remarked.

"But that was years ago," she pouted, "and you can't deny that it wasn't fun."

"We won't be staying for weeks, don't worry," Kara added playfully.

"Oh, I wouldn't mind if you did," Zach was quick to reply but his cheeks shaded pink upon realizing that Jonah and Morena were still there.

Morena only laughed, pinching his reddening cheek and stood up, "anyways you kids enjoy yourselves. There's enough food in the fridge for a midnight feast if Ava really decides to follow the old sleepover routine. But be careful with the pillow fights. I don't want to see a mess afterward."

"Yes Ma'am," Connor replied, "you needn't worry."

"Your parents are so sweet," Kara remarked after the two had left and they had come to Zach's room.

"Yeah, they actually thought we'd have a similar sleepover like the one Ava held before high school," Connor added.

"Oh come on, Connor, of course we are having a similar sleepover!" Ava enthusiastically remarked, "movie marathon, midnight feast, pillow fights and finishing up the ice cream Luke brought over today... I am so excited!"

"Don't bombard me with pillows, that's all I ask," Zach spoke up, a smile playing upon his lips as well.

Kara smiled as well because it was good to finally spend some lighthearted time with each other without having to worry about anything. 

It was almost three in the morning when Ava finally decided it was time to go to bed. By then, they had watched two movies, had a pillow fight in which they had excluded Zach because they couldn't risk him getting hurt again and also finished a considerable amount of ice cream that Luke had brought over.

Connor helped Zach out of the wheelchair and onto the bed before leaving with Ava to her room while Kara stayed with him.

"I'm so glad to see you smiling like this after so long," Kara remarked as she got in bed beside him, her fingers gently running through his curly brown hair.

"Today was fun," he replied, "I missed all of you so so much. We could definitely not do any of this stuff back at the hospital. Also, I'm very glad I got discharged because I was getting sick of having to stay there any longer."

She could understand because staying in a hospital was what no one would prefer. Especially for Zach who hated restrictions and dull environments.

"Well, now you're back home and getting better. I'm sure in a few weeks you will be able to stand up and walk a bit too."

"I hope so," he remarked wistfully but then a thought flitted through his head and he turned to look at her, "Kara, what happened to your friend, Mike?"

She had not been expecting him to ask that, "Mike?"

"Oh, I mean Mon-El. Did he go back with his parents or not?"

She considered for a while then spoke up, "it's a long story, you really want to hear it right now?"

"If you're not tired, sure."

She nodded, knowing that since she had told him about everything else, it was only fair that she told him the rest too. "Okay."

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