I Choose You : A New Chapter

Family Values

"I can't believe this happened. Out of all the times this could have happened, it had to be on our way to see our grandson," Jenna complained. Mark looked over at her from his hospital bed and told her, "Honey, it's my fault. If I had been paying attention more, this wouldn't have happened."

Cassie, who had Jordan sitting on her lap, said, "It was a drunk driver, dad. You had nothing to do with this. Besides, you're all going to be okay and that's what matters." Jordan tried to shift himself on her lap, but the cast on his leg was making it difficult.

"I can't believe you left behind your newborn to come see us," Mark said. "Really, we would have understood if you didn't come." Cassie hugged Jordan close to her and said, "I had to. I had to know you were okay. I feel much better going back knowing that."

Ben walked into the room a moment later while pocketing his phone. "Mum says Aiden has been perfect. Her and dad have been trying to feed him formula, but I think he already knows the difference between that milk and your's, so he's not taking it."

Jenna put her hand on Cassie's arm and said, "Go home, sweetie. We're all fine here." Cassie nodded, then said, "I will, mom." She then kissed Jordan's head and picked him up and set him down in his wheelchair. 

"Our flight is in a couple of hours," Ben gently reminded her. She nodded, then looked to her dad. "Go, Cass," he told her. "We'll be fine, but your son needs you. As soon as we can, we're going to come visit you, okay? Ben, I want you guys to leave now so you can make your flight."

Ben nodded, then said goodbye to him, Jenna and Jordan. Cassie took a little longer hugging them, especially Jordan. "You look after them for me, okay?" She told him. "I will," he told her. "Bye, Cass." She kissed his head, then took Ben's hand and was unwillingly led out of the room. 

"We'll call the hospital as soon as we get home to check up on them," Ben promised her as he drove them to the airport. They got there and got through security just as their plane was boarding. Ben thanked the heavens that they did because he couldn't afford two more tickets.

This flight, much like the last one, felt incredibly long. Cassie at least got some sleep for the first time since they left London. Ben was sure to get her a pillow and a blanket so she could be more comfortable. 

He's been so incredibly worried about her these past couple of days. With what happened to her parents to just giving birth, he wondered what kind of stress this was putting on, not only her mental, but physical health.

When they take Aiden in for a routine check up next week, he's going to ask them to check on her, too. 

As soon as he saw London come into view, he woke up Cassie. He was determined to get them off this plane and home as quickly as possible, so he already started gathering their bags. Once they landed, he took Cassie's hand and pushed past everyone to try and get off first. 

"You alright, love?" He asked as they walk quickly walked through Heathrow. Cassie was starting to look a little worn. "Fine, fine," she told him. "I just want to see my baby." He smiled and kissed her cheek before saying, "I do, too, love."

He got them home as quickly as he could. When they walked through the door, Wanda came out of the kitchen with Aiden in her arms. "Oh, hello, you two!" She excitedly greeted. Cassie immediately went to Aiden and gently took him from her. 

"Thank you so much for watching him, Wanda," she said as she held him close. "Oh, please," Wanda told her, "if I could raise Benedict, I can watch over this little one for a day. He's the perfect angel...unlike his father."

Ben chuckled, "Oi!" He then went to Aiden and placed a few soft kisses on his head. "Oh, mummy and daddy missed you so much, honey," he cooed. Aiden let out a tiny baby gurgle and Ben took his hand between his index finger and thumb. 

He kissed his hand, then looked up to Wanda. "Has he eaten yet?" Wanda shook her head and told him, "He had a bit of the formula, but threw a fit when he realized it wasn't his mummy's milk." Cassie smirked, then said, "I'll go feed him in the nursery."

Once she walked away, Wanda asked Ben, "So Mark and Jenna are going to be okay, then?" He nodded and told her, "Yeah, they'll all be fine. They got some serious injuries, but a live-in nurse is going to stay with them for a while. Mark and Jenna got the bulk of it, Jordan just has a broken leg."

"Well, thank goodness they're okay," she told him. "Your father and I were so worried. Cassie looked so distraught." Ben shrugged and said, "I would be, too, if that were you. But thank you, mum, really. Where's dad?"

She sighed and told him, "Out with the lads. He got an offer to be an extra in a film, so they needed to go to the pub to hash it out." Ben chuckled, then told her, "Well, I'll call him later to thank him."

Wanda patted him on the cheek and said, "You're a sweet boy, Ben. Aiden is lucky to have you as a father." He teared up a bit and chuckled, "Mum, stop." She smiled, then said, "Let me make you two some dinner before I go. Go see to your wife and boy and I'll cook up something special."

Ben tried to protest, but she wouldn't hear of it and was shunned upstairs. "Hey, you two," he softly said as he walked into the nursery. Cassie smiled at him as he sat himself on the floor next to the rocking chair. "He is starving," Cassie said. 

Ben set his head on her lap and said, "Can't blame him. Mum's making us dinner before she leaves, by the way." She hummed in acknowledgement, but he could see she was starting to drift off a bit. 

As soon as Aiden unlatched himself from her, Ben took him. "Sweetheart, go to bed," he gently told Cassie. She was running on only a few hours of sleep, plus the jet lag. She didn't argue and went straight to bed while Ben put Aiden in his crib. 

"Night, baby boy," he whispered, before kissing his head. "And good night, my darling girl." He kissed Cassie's head and pulled the covers up over her.