Newsies One Shots

Ben Cook { Don't Leave } 3

"Mommy," I heard from across the hall, "I want you."

Groggily, I sat up and looked at the clock. 3:56. Great.

I walked into Ellie's room and saw her sitting up in her bed, holding onto her stuffed giraffe, Bobo, for dear life.

Sitting down next to her, I lifted her up and say her in my lap, wrapping my arms around her, "What's wrong, sweetie?"

"I had a nightmare." Ellie whispered, cuddling her head into my chest.

I kissed her forehead, "Do you want to sleep in Mommy's bed tonight?"

I felt her nod her head against my chest. Picking her up, I walked to my room and laid her down.

"I love you mommy." She whispered.

"I love you, too, E."

A couple of minutes later, after I thought Ellie was asleep, I heard some shuffling next to me, "Mommy? Is Daddy coming to my birthday party tomorrow?"

Sighing, I tried to hold back tears, "I'm sorry, baby, I don't think he's going to make it." Ellie sniffled, causing a tear to run down my cheek.
"Goodnight, Ellie."

Ben hasn't been around at all since I last saw him in New York and threw my engagement ring at him. I'm not even sure what he's up to. I do know that he called off his engagement with Morgan a couple of days after he got back from London, and I think he's done a couple more shows on Broadway. He calls to talk to Ellie every year on her birthday, so I guess I'll be hearing from him tomorrow.

Before Ellie and I moved to Texas, I broke up with Sky, and basically cut off all my friendships with Ben's friends. I don't even talk to Stephanie any more, and she was one of my best friends. Now I'm just a 27 year old, single mom, running a day care in a tiny Dallas suburb.

I still try and perform; I've done some shows at the community theatre, but it's pretty hard with a 3 year old, and no one to watch her.

Looking at the clock, I saw that it was already 5:30, so I just decided to get up. Ellie would be awake in 45 minutes anyways, so I headed into the kitchen and made some coffee.

Right on cue, a pitter-patter of 4 year old footsteps echoed through our small apartment.

Ellie ran up to me and I picked her up, hugging her tightly, "Happy birthday, sweetie!"

I sat her down on the couch. She held up 4 fingers, "Mommy, now I'm this many fingers!"

"You're right, sweetie! You turn 4 today!"

A huge smile erupted on her face. I turned on her favorite movie and went to make breakfast.

"Do you want pancakes?" I asked. She didn't answer. "Ellie?" Turning toward the couch, she was so fixated on Tiana being turned into a frog, that she was nodding her head just the slightest.

I took that as a yes, and made my daughter her birthday breakfast.

~ ~ ~

I unlocked the front door of my day care, and saw a ton of '4' shaped balloons all over the room. One of the other teachers must have blown them up after we left last night.