You Fill My Heart

Stormy

"Granpa!" John shouted from his spot on the sofa, gripping the remote in his hand as the once colorful and entertaining program of Santa Claus Is Coming To Town disappeared from view. Being replaced with bars of different color strung along the screen. "Granpa!"

"I got it" George announced, sprinting into the room. Walking to the TV he jiggled a few loose cords, frowning before moving to the back of the TV. Fiddling with a few buttons, the screen went dark, "Sorry bud looks like the cable is messing up again"

"No sanda?" John whined in a high pitch

George shook his head, "No santa right now." John crossed his arms over his chest, pouting. "I got an idea, how about we go see mommy and daddy before the party tonight? It'll make them happy to see you" He suggested, pulling a loose strand off the sofa cushion.

John's eyes lit up in excitement, "Bay-be too?"

Frowning, George shook his head again, "Not yet little man, the doctor said she's not strong enough to have any other visitors right now"

John's face fell, disappointed and hurt that he couldn't see his baby sister yet. "You still want to go?"

He nodded slowly, rubbing a fist against his eye, "Yea I gesh sho"

"Alright" George smiled, picking him up and carrying him into the kitchen.

They had just arrived at the main entrance, watching an old man by the trash can puff and cough on his cigarette. John wrinkled his face but kept walking, allowing his grandpa to lead him by the hand. Their destination was the 3rd floor, but John took the liberty of asserting that he would push 5 buttons at the same time, so their destination passed by three different times.

Stopping to allow an elderly gentleman to board the elevator with them, the door opened widely, revealing a place John has not seen before.

"Granpa!" He shouted up, watching as George stuffed a whole cookie into his mouth. "Look!" He pointed, once he got his grandfathers attention, to the sight before him, the sign reading GIFT SHOP in bright orange lettering.

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They were both asleep, rocking back and forth as the glider in the corner kept it's soothing motion. His body was underneath her, allowing her thin frame to rest gently upon his muscular one; arms wrapped around her as their hands joined together at the base of her stomach in slumber.

It'd been 12 days since their baby was born; the medications had been prescribed to end if there was no change on this day - December 24 th - Christmas Eve. So far there had been no change, she was still dependent on the ventilator as a means of breathing, her blood oxygen levels remained the same as when she was born, and the feeding tube allowing milk into her stomach, wasn't helping with weight gain. No improvement made Dr. Travis skeptical if she would ever improve.

"What time is it?" She asked, shaking slightly from a chill in the air.

Blinking a few times to register his surroundings, he looked on the left side of the room at the small purple clock hanging on the wall, "It's almost 5"

"You should probably get going, the party is going to start soon"

"I'm not in a very party mood. I'd rather be here then at your dad's" He wiped a hand over his face, "I don't really want to socialize all that much right now"

"We talked about this" She sighed, "John needs some shred of normalcy in his life right now and him staying with my dad is going to get to him sooner or later." Grimacing, she leaned forward, placing her hand on his knee. "Please go. I can't and I wish I could, but I can't. You can though, you're not confined here, Ricky, you can go, and you should"