Too Perfect ✹ Shyland

12

Shane's POV

     I sat in the waiting room, questioning Morgan on what all happened. She explained that Ryland ran to his car to drive to the hospital for Stephanie, but his heart started acting up. He had pulled over, and Morgan left her car on the side of the road to take my family to the hospital.

    "I can't believe this is all happening..." I said. "Did you get your car?"

    "I called our Joslyn.." She said. "She's bringing it.."

    "Shane! Morgan!" Joslyn ran in with Lily and the other girls from Clevver. "What's going on?" Morgan explained it to them, and they started crying. "What about Stephanie?"

    "She's fine.." I said. "Depressed... but fine.."

    "Shane?" A doctor walked out. "Morgan?"

    "That's us.." I said. "What's going on?"

    "Stephanie... we stitched up her wrists, but once we were about to release her, she had a visitor... Her boyfriend.." He explained. "Stephanie's gone.."

    "What?" Morgan asked. "She's..."

    "Once her boyfriend left, a nurse walked in to have her sign the papers, and Stephanie had shut off the machine to her IV, ripped it out of her arm, and wrapped it around her neck...." The doctor explained. "I'm so sorry..."

    "What about Ryland?" I asked, hesitantly.

    "I received word from the surgeons..." A nurse overheard us and said. "He's in recovery..." I felt a breath of fresh air hearing the news. "I'll take you all to his room.."

~

     There he was, laying in the hospital bed, asleep. My husband looked so peacefully, but in so much pain as he woke up. I ran to his side, and held his hand. He was weak and couldn't squeeze my hand, but he slowly rubbed the back of my hand with his thumb. Morgan sat next to me, and his coworkers stood back. Alex, Reid, and May sat with Morgan, and James, Jacob, and Acelyn were asleep in their carriages.

"Ryland..." I cried. "I love you so much...." I heard breath escape his lips. "Ry?"

"Sh.... Shane..." He said. "I... love you..."

"Hey Ry..." Morgan said. "Your friends are here... Joslyn... Lily... Miriam... Misty, Dana.... everyone..."

"Hey Ryland.." A new voice said. "It's Lisa.." We looked up and saw Lisa standing in the room. Joslyn shrugged when I gave her a look, asking how Lisa got in. "There's no need to give me dirty looks..."

"It's been a while.." I said, then gave Lisa a hug. "How are you?"

"I'm good.... You guys have beautiful kids..." She smiled. "Hey Ryland.... Always looking for attention, huh?" She chuckled.

"Sh... Shut up..." Ryland smiled.

"There's still no hard feelings... right?" Lisa asked everyone. "It's been over a decade.."

"No hard feelings.." I said. "You're a friend.."

"Thank you.." Lisa said, then sat down. "So his heart?"

"Yeah.." Ryland said. "Did they... completely remove it?"

"Yeah.." Morgan said. "You should be fine now.... completely fine...." Ryland's doctor walked in. "Hey doc.."

"Hello everyone.." Doctor Rein said. "Let's go over everything... but just with the family.."

    "We're all family to Ryland.." Joslyn said. "We can all hear.. if it's okay with him.." Ryland nodded.

    "Okay.." The doctor said. "He's out of the chance of having this again. We completely removed the tumor, and got rid of every trace of the tumor in his body. Ryland.... you're healthy.... and I mean, one hundred percent...." He smiled. "Congratulations..."

    "Thank you.." Our kids said, hugging the doctor.

    "You're welcome, boys..." Doctor Rein said.

~

     Ryland had to stay in the hospital for a few months until the doctors were certain his strength was back up, and I was able to take him home in time for Alex's thirteenth birthday.

     "Happy birthday, Alex..." He said, handing our son a box. Alex lifted the lid, and a kitten meowed.

    "Oh my gosh..." Alex said. "She's so cute!"

    "What're you going to name her?" May asked.

    "Annie..." Alex said, looking into the kitten's eyes. "Her name is Annie.." I started to tear up, and Ryland smiled, holding my head to his shoulder. "Thank you Dads...." Alex said, giving us hugs. "Mom would've loved her.... Annabelle Stephanie Yaw..." I looked at Ryland, trying not to cry more.

"That's perfect..." May said, then kissed Alex. "I love you.." Our son blushed, smiled from ear to ear.

"I love you..." He said, then kissed May back.

"Ewwww..." Reid teased, but Alex pushed him lightly. "I'm teasing!"

"Just wait until you're in your first relationship, Reidy.." Alex said.

"Quit calling me Reidy.." Reid groaned, and Alex giggled.

~

After Alex opened the rest of his gifts, we had one more thing for him... a card. We let Reid hand it to him, and Alex gave us a weird look when he got it.

"Congratulations...." Alex opened it. "It's a boy... What's this?"

"You're to a point in your transitioning... where you can get the bottom surgery if you choose..." I explained.

"So you can completely be Alex, and not Annie..." Ryland said. "It's all up to you.... but it's a big decision to make..."

"It's a lot of work.." I said. "The surgery.... making sure your body keeps responding to the testosterone...."

"I don't know what to say...." Alex said, covering his mouth with his hands. "Wow..."

"This is huge, baby..." May said. "You don't have to make the decision now.... and I want you to know.... I'll love you even if you're a girl down there..."

"I know..." He said, smiling at his girlfriend. "This is just.... huge news..."

"You have time to decide..." Ryland said. "But if this is what you want, we have the money to afford it..."

"I.... I don't know..." Alex said, starting to laugh hysterically. "What the heck is going on?"

"This is exciting, baby... but if you don't want to, you don't have to.." May said. "Okay?"

"I know, May.." Alex held her hand. "And once I decide... and if I do... there's a point where we can't turn back..."

"Just think about it.... but don't stress over it..." I said, giving Alex a kiss on the forehead. Ryland did the same, then kissed me. "We will love you no matter what you decide.... son."

"I love you, Dads..." Alex hugged us again. "Thank you for everything..."

~The End.