Little Wonder (Phan)

Sixty-Six.

"We'll have the funeral date decided within a week or two, okay?" That was the first thing I'd heard when I woke up and I wondered if it was even worth waking up anymore, they seemed to already accept the fact that I'd died and were willing to set up a funeral within minutes of my actual death. "I don't know, Louise. Really, it's just that I need time to adjust, okay? He's been with me for the past few years and I can't just say goodbye to him like that, I mean how would you feel if.. . I know, I'm sorry. That was a bad place to go. I'll talk to you later, Louise, when we feel better." I hadn't noticed, but Winnie was at my side with her tiny hand clutched onto mine. "Sunshine, the man said you can have. .. he'll give you 5 minutes to say goodbye and then he wants to.. . you're going on a vacation." But she really knew what was going on, she knew she was being taken away because Phil was unable to stably care for her. But she smiled anyway, she'd always been a good girl. But one question, why wasn't I even moving?

Phil wrapped his arms around Winnie's shoulders as she began to cry, she didn't want to go away, she wanted to stay with Phil despite his inability to care for her. She knew that he still loved her and that he always would no matter if he could actually provide anything for her. I loved that about her, and I'd been told on many occasions by many different people that she reminded them of me. "Daddy. Please don't make me go with him, I can take care of myself, you know that." Her voice was a whisper as she squeezed my hand, I wanted nothing more than to squeeze back. But something was holding me back. My entire body hurt and ached, I knew that when I got back I couldn't just ignore what had happened to me. But the problem was I still didn't know what had happened. To me, Phil was the one that had gotten shot. Not me. "What if I go to America, Daddy? I don't want to go to America without you or Papa."

Opening my mouth I was silenced again when a serious looking man entered the room. Her hand clutched mine even more and she whimpered, she was scared of this man so I could only come realise that maybe he was the one taking her away. He told Winnie it was time to go and she only looked backed towards me. How had they not noticed my eyes were basically open? I could say that I was squinting them, but still, it wasn't that hard to tell. "Please don't let them take me away, Papa. Please come back." She was begging me, holding onto me as the man just grabbed her and tried to yank her off of me. Phil was protesting, anger in his ocean eyes as he stood behind the man and basically growled him away. The man said 5 more minutes, and he scuttled off to whatever dark corner he'd come out of. "Daddy, I'm scared." Her voice was cracked and she began crying, I was a jerk, I just needed to wake up. But it proved harder than I expected. He was petting back her hair and kissing the top of her head, saying he knew that.

Taking a couple of deep breathes I knew I was finally ready to say something, when Phil gave a shout and pointed at something. "The monitor! He's still alive!" It was like another cheesy bit in a fanfiction, but I didn't really have time to complain as Phil grabbed my hand. "For fucks sake, Daniel. Get off your ass before I slap you off it." But their were tears in his eyes and a smile on his face. He was just happy and hadn't filtered his words, but I knew that Winnie knew better than to swear. At least until she was a little bit older. How old was she now? 8? 9? I didn't know. Fluttering my eyes open dramatically like I was on some hospital TV show, I gave him a smile and watched him explode into sobs and giggles. It was a weird combination. "Oh, dammit. I know you couldn't be dead, you're not that dumb to just up and leave us." I didn't know what he meant by that, but I didn't care as he pressed his lips to mine. It felt like I'd been waiting for this for eternity. And maybe I had. Wrapping my arms around him I heard Winnie gave a hoot and a holler, before jumping on me. I gave a shout of pain. "Oh, right. I still can't believe you were that stupid." He was smiling, but sadly. "When that guy came at us and pulled out the gun, you pushed me away and took a bullet for me. Literally. A few bullets. I have never known someone to be so stupid and so reckless, but also so brave and caring." He stroked my head now, smiling down at me and kissing the top of my head. "And I really don't know what I would've done without you." His voice was a whisper now, but it was obvious that Winnie had heard anyways, but she acted like she had. But I saw that tiny smile as she looked at the flowers. She was such a smart girl. "You've been my whole life since the day I met you, and I can't imagine it without you. Without you or Winnie." That was her cue, and right on time she bounced over and giggled, leaning against Phil and letting him kiss the top of her head, brushing back a few curls. "You've both been my whole life, and I love you so much."

I wasn't discharged the second they found out that I was awake, they were even more curious about how I was even awake. I'd flatlined, but I just cheesily used that 'love could cure all', even though I hadn't been sick with anything. I'd just been protecting the one that I loved. I wrapped my arms around the both of them when the doctors finally left me alone, but they still wouldn't let me leave, just saying they had to keep me overnight and if everything was alright in the morning they would discharge me. At least it wasn't like the kind of fanfiction were the person in the hospital was discharged without even a thorough checkup. "Do you remember when we got ice cream that one time and you just got it all over your face like a 5 year old?" He was laughing, throwing back his head and grinning over at me. Memories. My favourite part of living. The memories, and being able to share them with the one you loved.

"I do, and then you offered to clean it up with your tongue, you're such a weirdo!"

"You almost took the offer! So obviously if anyone is a weirdo, it would be you, mister!"

"Whatever you say, Mr Lester." That reminded me of something and I suddenly quieted down, looking away from him before back in a moment's notice. He was concerned, his hand over mine, and him being careful not to wake Winnie. But I knew she was awake, at least a little bit, her lips were curved upwards and she'd obviously been hearing us this entire time. All of the memories we'd been sharing had been before her time with us. We just hadn't gotten to all the memories with her in it yet. And there was a lot I wanted to talk about, but not right now. I had something else in mind for now. "Phil, when I finally get discharged tomorrow, and it doesn't have to be right away. But I'm ready." His eyes widened, but I just shook my head. "No Philly, not that. But I am ready to take on your last name. First steps and everything, hmm?"

His eyes lit up and I swore that if I wasn't in this bed he would've grabbed me in his arms and spun me around with how happy he was. "YES! YES, ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING YOU WANT!" I giggled, trying to shush him in the process, there were people trying to sleep in the hospital, and he wasn't being the most considerate. Especially since the nurse was taking a big risk with letting him and Winnie stay overnight. Now people were usually allowed to do that, but that was usually for patients with more life threatening diseases and sickness. But she'd been none other than a friend of Eliza's, despite this not being the same hospital we'd always gone to. They used to work together, but then Eliza got moved to our usual one. I would be thankful for the rest time that she had been. Without her I don't know if me or Phil would've been able to make it while Winnie was going through her surgery, or if Winnie would've have even been able to make it. Now she hadn't actually performed herself on Winnie. But she was the main nurse for the actual doctor. "Oh my -- I love you. I love you so, so, so, so, so much!" He was continuously kissing my face, unable to stop it seemed, and now Winnie woke up all the way, unable to even pretend to be asleep. But like I'd said, she'd somewhat actually been asleep, just keeping an ear out for us. "Oh! Winnie! I'm. .. I'm sorry that I woke you, or you --"

"Does this mean my last name will change as well?" That's right. For about the past four years she'd had the last name Howell-Lester. Now she wouldn't have to deal with that anymore, we were going to have the last name Lester. Like any other family. Though despite what anyone might think, we weren't like every other family. We were something even more special. She'd been the main reason for that, but it's not like I'd ever call that something bad. She made our tiny family of 2 into a loving family of 3. And sure as hell had given us a run for our money. I couldn't help but laugh at my own thoughts but stopped when she started to cry. I realised neither of us had responded and laughing without reason probably wasn't the best idea I'd ever had. "Papa?" She sounded really sad, but I just shook my head and hugged her tightly.

Kissing the top of her head, I think for what must seem like the 100th time for her today, or yesterday, I think it was early the next day I wasn't to sure, I just shook my head again. "Of course you're last name will change, little cub." I'd totally forgotten about her last name so I was glad that she'd brought it up, not that I would /ever/ forget about her in general, but some things were easy to forget over time. She wasn't a Howell-Lester. She was just a part of our family. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

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So a bit of a short chapter, but I hope you're minds are at ease now.