An Anthem Lights Christmas (Completed)

Chapter 12

*Nicole POV*
I wake up to someone shaking me and saying my name. I open my eyes to see Brian looking at me.
"What time is it" I ask
"1" he says
"What's up" I ask
"Jessica's autism was acting up. Mom and dad couldn't control it. They called an ambulance and they took her to the hospital. I'm going over there now. Do you want to come or call one of the guys and see if you can go there" Brian asks
"I'll call Caleb" I say
I grab my phone and dial Caleb's number.
C-hey Nicole what's up
N-hey Caleb. Do you mind if I come over? I'll explain why when I get there
C-sure. No problem
N-ok I'll be there soon
I hang up and nod my head. Brian leaves and heads out of my room. I quickly get changed and throw what I need in my back pack and put it on. I then head downstairs and put my shoes on.
"Ready" Brian asks
"Yeah" I say
We go outside and get in his car. He starts it and drives to Caleb's. I get out and go up to the door. I knock and a few seconds later Caleb opens it. I go inside and we sit on the couch.
"So do you want to tell me why you're here at 1:30 in the morning" he asks
"Around midnight Jessica woke up screaming and hitting things and throwing things. Her autism was going out of control. My parents couldn't control her. So they called ambulance and she's at the hospital right now. My brother asked if I wanted to go or not and I didn't do I decided to call you because you were more likely to answer your phone" I say
"Ok. I'm sorry about your sister. Now did you want to try and sleep or do you want to take me on in Mario Kart" he asks
"Uh Mario Kart of course" I say
"Ok. We have to go down to the basement so we don't wake up Kelsey" he says
"Wait do you know anything more about Luke" I ask
"No. I know as much as you do." He says
"Ok" I sigh
"Hey it will be alright." He says
"I hope so. Luke is one of the only people who can make Megan smile" I say
"I don't know I think there's a bit more to it" he says
"What do you mean" I ask
"I see the way you look at him. It's not in a sibling way. It's more than that. Plus Megan might have mentioned to me that Luke is your favorite out of all the older guys" he says 
"What are you saying? That I like Luke" I ask
"It's pretty obvious. The way you act towards him. The way you look at him." He says
"But it will never work. He doesn't love me. Plus the age difference is 2 years. It just wouldn't happen" I say
"You'll never know unless you talk to him. Confess your feelings for him" he says
"Ok. I will when he gets home from the hospital" I say
"Good" he says
We head down to the basement and start over playing Mario Kart. Around 6:30 we get bored and turn on The Lion King. Halfway through my phone starts ringing. I get up and walk away some to answer it.
N- hey Brian what's up
B-hey sis they got Jess under control. They're running tests now
N-okay do they think they know what's wrong
B-they think that her autism has escalated. It's still not high functioning but it's getting close to it. We'll just have to be more careful around her. She'll have to be homeschooled from now on
N-ok
B-they're going to have her stay overnight so she wants mom and dad to stay. I'll be home soon
N-ok I'll probably be with the guys and girls so I'll text you when we're done hanging son you can come get me
B-alright. And I visited Luke just to see how he was doing
N-how is he
B-good. He's actually getting better. I talked with the doctor and they said they're getting closer to finding an antidote
N-awesome. I gotta go. Caleb is getting antsy so we can head out
B-ok bye love you
N-love you too
I hang up and go back over to Caleb.
"You were talking for an hour" he says
"Really" I ask
"No. Only 30 minutes " he says
"Ok. What are we doing today" I ask
"Well Chad said that Megan has to spend time with her mom today. I think Joey is taking Jason to the zoo and Casey is going with. Tyler isn't going to work on looking at colleges. So if you want we can go hang with Chad and Spencer" he says
"Ok. Where is Spencer staying" I ask
"Well he's at a hotel right now but for from now until he gets a place of his own he'll be staying with Kelsey and me" he says
"Ok" I say
We go upstairs and we see Spencer and Kelsey watching Aladdin.
"Hey Spence when did you get here" Caleb asks
"Um about a half hour ago. Where were you at" Spencer asks
"Downstairs. Nicole and I were playing Mario Kart and watching the Lion King" Caleb says
"Ok. And Chad doesn't want to hang with us because him and Fallon got stuff to do" Spencer says
"Ok" Caleb says
"Caleb we need to get some stuff done today as well" Kelsey says
"Well Nicole looks like your stuck with Spencer. Spencer keep her safe. I'm trusting you to watch her" Caleb says
"I got it dude. All will be fine" Spencer says
"Nicole keep an eye on Spencer" Kelsey says
"Will do" I say
"Let's go" Spencer says
"Um Spence I'm pretty sure you're going to need a vehicle" Caleb says
"No. I have one. I rented it for the week" Spencer says
"Ok" Caleb says
We go outside and get in the car.
"So what do you want to do" Spencer asks
"Get breakfast. I'm starving" I say
"Ok" he says
He starts the car and drives to IHOP. We get there and go inside. we get our table and sit down.
"So did you and your friends have a good month with the band?" Spencer asks
"Yeah we did. We each had something different we enjoyed doing with them. Megan enjoyed wrestling since she has so many brothers. Casey liked fooling around with them. I liked the music part." I say
"Cool so you like to sing" he asks
"Not really. I mean I'll sing sometimes but Megan is the best of us three. She can play many instruments and sing well. I prefer just listening to music. Megan is like a musical prodigy. I prefer to play sports." I say
"What sports" Spencer asks
"All" I say
"Awesome. So what do you want to do after breakfast" he asks
"I don't know" I say
We finish eating and Spencer pays then we head out. He's about to say something when my phone rings. I walk off to answer it.
N-hey Casey what's up
C-I just got a call from Megan. She butt dialed me. It sounded like she was getting hurt by her mom. Can you go over and check. Joey is trying to get me over there but there's traffic
N-yeah I will
I hang up and walk over to Spencer.
"We need to go to Megan's and quick" I say
"Ok. Let's get in the car" he says
We get in the car and he legally speeds to Megan's. I get out and run up to the front door. I knock on the door and after a few minutes I go inside. I get there and see Nick tied to a chair and crying. I go upstairs and Owen is crying in his crib. I go over to Megan's room and listen through the door and try to record it best I can.
"No mom you are not going to hit my brothers" Megan says
"Fine then I'll just torture you" Megan's mom says
*megan cries out in pain*
"How did that feel and look no one is here to save you. Your two brothers are dead. Your other ones are gone and the other two are incapable of helping. Plus your friends aren't around to save you. I can do anything I want" Megan's mom says
I run back downstairs and outside to Spencer.
"I need you to call the cops. Tell them that a kid is being abused by their mom." I say
"Ok" he says
I run back upstairs and continue recording.
"Oh come on let me have a turn" Grandma Folk says
"Of course the granddaughter should have quality time with the grandmother" Megan's mom says
"Of course now Megan this won't hurt one bit" grandma folk says
*Megan cries out in pain*
"Stop your hurting me" she yells
"That's the whole point" grandma folk says
By this point the police finally arrive.
"What's going on" one asks
"My friends is getting abused by her mom and grandma. She's taking the pain instead of her younger brothers getting tortured. I have their voices recorded on my phone if you need to hear the conversation" I say
"Ok. Let's just deal with the situation first" he says
They charge into the room and within minutes the mom and grandma are in handcuffs and being taken away. I go in and over to Megan.
"Megan are you okay" I ask
"W-where are Nick and Owen" she asks
"They're fine. They're being cared for by the police. How are you" I ask
"I need to see them" she says
"Ok you will but I need to know how you are" I ask
"I just want to see my brothers. Let me see them" she says
*Chad POV*
Fallon and I get home from our errands and see police cars along the street. I go over to a police officer and ask what happened.
"A girl was getting abused by her mom and grandmother. Her younger brothers were t hit but the 3 year old has rope burns. And keeps crying for someone named Chad and Fallon" he says
"That's me and my wife" I say
"Oh are you two related to them" he asks
"No. Just good friends" I say
"Ok. You can go over and see if you can calm the two boys down. The girl is up in her room with her friend who recorded the voices on her phone and called this whole thing in. Another man is over there also" he says
"Thank you" I say
Fallon and I run over to where Nick and Owen are. We get there and Nick runs over to me. I pick him up and he cries into my chest.
"Ssh Nick. It will be okay. Your fine. Everything will be fine" I say
"S-scared" he says
"I know buddy I know. Now can you stay out here with Spencer and Fallon while I go check something. I'm sure Owen wants his older brother around" I say
"Ok" he whimpers
I hand him over to Spencer and go inside the house. I go upstairs and to Megan's room I get there and see Nicole trying to talk to Megan. I go over and kneel down in front of Megan.
"I'm going to go downstairs and wait for the others to show up" Nicole whispers
I nod my head and she leaves. I wrap Megan in a hug and let her cry into my chest.
"Chad where are my brothers" she asks
"Outside with Fallon and Spencer. They're ok. Now I need to know how you are" I say
"It scared me. I thought they were going to hurt my brothers. Chad I can't let me and my brothers live here anymore. We can't live in Nashville anymore. I need to move somewhere with them" she says
"Where are you going to go? You have no where to go" I say
"I'll call my dad. I will live with him" she says
"Megan please don't leave. Your friends will miss you. The guys will miss you. I'll miss you. You can live with me and Fallon. Ok." I say
"Chad I can't accept." She says
"Megan. Just do it. Your brothers want to live with us. So do it for them is any one" I say
"ok" she says
"Great now let's go downstairs so you can get checked out." I say
"No Chad I'm fine. I'm just really tired I don't need to be checked and I don't want anyone to ask me questions" she says
"Ok I'll carry you downstairs. Just close your eyes and try to fall asleep." I say
I pick her up and she closes her eyes. I head downstairs and outside with her. Casey and Nicole run over to me.
"Is she ok" Casey asks
"Yeah. She's just sleeping" I say
"Excuse me she needs to come down to the station and make a statement also she needs to go to the hospital and get checked out" an officer says
"I'm sorry but she's really tired. I can't let that happen. I just need to know what's going to happen to the kids" I ask
"They're going to have to go to an orphanage. They're mother isn't allowed to have custody of them anymore." He says
"Can we at least take them to our house for a bit until it's time for them to leave" I ask
"Fine." He says
I thank him and we all walk to my house. We go inside and I take Megan upstairs to a bedroom so she can sleep. I go downstairs and into the kitchen.
"Chad I think we need to talk" Fallon says
"Yeah" I say
We go out back and sit on the porch steps.
"We can't let them go to the orphanage. They'll end up getting split up" she says
"I know baby" I say
"Can we adopt them? I mean you are the closest one to Megan and Nick always wants to come over to our house. And Owen needs a forever home. He can't always be changing homes" she says
"Ok. We'll talk to the people at the orphanage about doing so but we need to keep this a secret from the others for now." I say
"Ok" she says
"Chad someone is here from the orphanage with a cop" Joey says
"Can you send them out here" I ask
He nods and walks away shortly after a women and an officer come out.
"Hi I'm Melody" the lady says
"Hi I'm Chad and this is my wife Fallon" I say
"Nice to meet you so the kids have to go to the orphanage is that right" she asks
"Yes because we aren't related to them but we wanted to know if there was any possible way for us to adopt them" I ask
"Well that can't happen until they officially become an orphan and we have all their papers but yes you could" she says
"How long do we have to wait before we can adopt them" Fallon asks
I can sense she's getting really worried about this. I wrap my arm around her and bring her closer to me.
"About a week. But for you guys and the situation I'll make sure it gets down in a few hours and then you can adopt them right away but sadly we have to take them with us until you can adopt them." She says
"Ok. We'll be over in about 5 hours" I say
"Ok" she says
We go inside and Nick runs over to me.
"Nick you have to go with this nice lady somewhere" I say
"No. I stay with Chad" he says
"Buddy you can't. You have to go with miss melody" I say
"Nonono" he says
"Please. I have to go get your sister" I say
"Here Nick come over to me" Fallon says
He goes over to Fallon and I head upstairs to Megan.
"Megan you have to wake up" I say
She wakes up ad slowly sits up.
"What's going on" she asks
"You and your brothers have to go to an orphanage" I say
"No Chad I can't. I've already been to three of them. I can't go back Chad please don't make me go" she cries
"I'm sorry Megan if I could do something I would" I say
"Can't we live here" she asks
"No because we aren't related." I say
"Chad I'm not going" she yells
"Joey" I call
I hear footsteps then Joey appears.
"Yes Chad" he asks
"I need your help with calming Megan down. She doesn't want to go" I say
"Ok. Hey Megan. Please go. Please go and be there for your brothers. They need you and you need them." Joey says
"But I won't see you guys again" she says
"Hey we'll come and get you to hang out with us. Don't worry you'll see us. You can't get rid of us" I say
"Ok. I'll go. Chad can you carry me. I'm too tired to walk" she says
"Ok" I say
I pick her up and walk downstairs. The girls are about to say something but I just shake my head no. I go outside and place her in the car. I go back inside and grab Owen from Spencer and go outside. I place him in there also on the other side of Nick who is sitting in the middle. I close the door and Melody walks over to me.
"Please don't tell them about me adopting them" I say
"Don't worry I won't and you and your wife can come in four hours to adopt them and sign the papers" she says
"Ok will do" I say
She gets in her car and drives away. I go inside and sit on the couch in between Casey and Nicole who are crying.
"What's wrong" I ask
"How could you let them take our friend away. Chad how could you" Casey yells
"Girls I had no other options. I'm sorry" I say
"Sorry doesn't always cut it. Especially not this time" Nicole says
"Ok" I say
I get up and walk to the kitchen.
"Hey dude you ok" Joey asks
"Yeah. Nicole and Casey are mad at me. Megan probably hates me." I say
"Chad they don't hate you or mad at you. They just don't know what they're feeling. And because they don't know what they are feeling they are getting mixed emotions which lead to yelling" Joey says
"Thanks" I say
"Yep" he says
I get up and walk outback and find Fallon on the porch.
"What's wrong baby" I ask
"Chad are we doing the right thing" she asks
"By what adopting them" I ask
"Yeah" she says
"I think we are. I mean I just have this feeling that God wants us to. He wants us to give them a stable and forever home" I say
"Hey Chad we're all heading out" Caleb says
"Ok" I say
They leave and a few minutes later Fallon and I go inside. I turn the tv on and we watch two movies then it's time to leave. I turn the tv off and we get in the car. I start it and drive to the orphanage. We get there and go inside.
"Ah the Graham's. Please follow me to my office" Melody says
We follow her to her office and sit down in chairs by the desk.
"Ok so there's a few forms you have to sign for each of their kids then their adoption certificate"  she says
She hands is the papers and pens and we start signing them. Then we sign the certificates.
"Ok. So didn't give them a room so they're just sitting in a room right now. Do you want to go and tell them or wait until the come down" she asks
"We'll tell them now" I say
She leads us to a room and we go in. Megan and Nick are sitting in a bed. Owen is in Megan's arms.
"Chad" Nick yells
He runs over to me and I pick him up.
"Chad what are you doing here" Megan asks
"Well Fallon and I didn't want you three split up and you are close to the whole group so we decided to adopt you and your brothers. Is that alright with you" I ask
"Yeah" she smiles
"Good now let's go home" I say
Fallon takes Owen from Megan and I drake my arm over Megan's shoulder. We go downstairs to meet up with melody.
"Bye guys" she says
"Bye" I say
We go outside and to the car I put Nick in then Megan gets in. I start the car and once Fallon is in o head home. We get there and go inside. I set Nick down and he runs over to the couch. He gets on it and lays down.
"What are you doing" I ask
"Mine" he says
"Nope that's mine. Do you want to see where you'll sleep" I ask
"Nope me sleep here" he says
"Hey don't go to sleep yet you haven't eaten dinner" I say
"Ok" he says
My phone starts ringing and I pull it out to answer.
C- hey Alan what's up
A-hey we're having everyone over for dinner do you guys want to join
C-is it ok if we bring a few people? You know them
A-who is it
C-I can't say. You'll just have to see
A-ok well dinner is almost ready so come over whenever. Everyone else is already here. We might start eating without you
C-ok bye
I hang up and turn towards the others.
"So shall we tell them that we adopted you guys" I ask
"Ok" Megan says
"Great. Let's go. We're eating dinner at Alan's" I say
I pick up Owen and Fallon picks up Nick. We go to the car and everyone gets in. Once the two young ones are strapped in Fallon and I get in the front.
"Thank you Chad and Fallon for taking us in" Megan says
"It's no problem at all." Fallon says
We get to Alan's and go inside. I listen and here that everyone is already eating. We walk to the dining room.
"Dang you all started eating with out all the Graham's I guess we aren't wanted let's go" Megan says
They look up at us then go back to eating.
"Wait Chad and Fallon you guys adopted Megan and her brothers" Caleb asks
"Yeah. What's the big deal" I say
"Aww Chaddy does have a huge heart that isn't ice" Joey says
"Stamper I would watch cartoons what you say" I say
"Guys just sit down and eat. Stop arguing" Kelsey says
Megan goes and sits next to Casey and Nicole. Fallon hands Nick over to me and sits with Kelsey. I go to set Nick in a chair next to Rowe but he clings to me so I sit in that chair with Nick on my lap and Owen in my arms. "Chad do you want me to go and put him in the swing" Brycie asks
"Sure" I say
She takes Owen from me and walks off. I put food on my plate for Nick and I both. I start feeding him.
"All done" he says
"Ok" I say I move him so he's sitting in one knee and start eating. Once everyone is done we head to the living room and turn on a movie. I set Nick down and he runs over to Alan's girls and Jason. I then sit next to Fallon.
"Love you" she says
"Love you too" I say
"Ssh the movie is on" Megan says
"Yeah yeah yeah" I say
After a few movies everyone decides it's time to leave. I pick up a sleeping Nick and hand him over to Fallon. She also grabs Owen and then I pick up Megan who is also asleep. We go out to the car and get them in. We get home and take them upstairs. We out them hm bed then go to bed ourselves. I lay down and close my eyes drifting off to sleep.