In The End (Sequel to In Real Life - Nemi)

Appreciate

"All I heard was the steady beep coming from the machines & then a team of doctors & nurses came rushing into the room. I watched them use those paddle thingies, trying to get her heart started. Nothing was working. The doctor pronounced her dead at 12:21 a.m., then the moment the words left his mouth, her machine started beeping. She had a pulse, so they did the paddles again & brought her back." Eddie was crying as he told me what had happened earlier that morning. "She was dead. I don't know what happened... but..." He let a sob out as he shook his head.

I put my hand on his shoulder. "I know what happened." I smiled at him when his eyes came up to look at my face. "Her granddaughter was born. At 12:21 a.m. Dianna didn't want to miss seeing her granddaughter grow up."

Eddie laughed & choked out a sob at the same time. "Are you serious? Our granddaughter is here?"

"Yep." I nodded, not able to stop the smile that showed on my face. I was so relieved Dianna was alive. "Aria Dee Jonas. Dianna must have felt it & decided she wanted to meet her granddaughter & namesake."

Eddie threw his arms around me in a tight hug. "Congratulations Daddy." He chuckled.

When his grip loosened, I laughed. "Congrats to you, Grandpa." I looked at the floor for a moment, then asked, "So how is Dianna now?"

Eddie took a deep breath. "She's hangin in there, I guess. The nurse came in to change her bags & clean her up & do some exercises with her arms & legs. She's still unconscious, but hopefully, she'll wake up soon. She has a grand baby to spoil."

"Yep." I had stopped at the gift shop when I was in the lobby to get some cigars. "You want to go get a cup of coffee & smoke these bad boys up?"

Eddie smiled as he eyed the cigar. "I thought you were supposed to quit. Demi made it seem like you had quit."

I laughed. "This is a special occasion & it's a tradition. She can't fault me for that. I mean she has to appreciate the cigar is in honor of our daughter."

I saw Dallas coming down the hall toward us & Eddie saw her, too. "Listen, don't tell anyone about the heart stopping." Eddie said, under his breath.

"No. Of course. I won't say anything."

Dallas threw her free arm around Eddie, then around me. "I brought some stuff for mom & for you from home. I hope you aren't here long, but you never know. How is she?"

"The same. The nurses are in there now with her. You sticking around for a while?" Eddie asked.

"Yea. Of course. How's Demi?" Dallas asked me.

"She's great. And so is your niece." I grinned at her, wanting to see the news sink in.

I watched Dallas nod, then her eyes got wide. "My niece? She had the baby? How is she? The baby I mean. She's like what 6 or 7 weeks early?"

"She's perfect actually. Looks healthy, but they had to take her to the NICU for observation & to make sure her breathing is good. We'll be able to see her soon." I answered, sounding like an excited dad.

"Aww. I can't wait to meet her." Dallas pouted, happily.

"Nick & I were just about to go smoke these cigars after we grab a coffee. You want anything?" Eddie asked Dallas.

"No. I'm fine. I'll sit with mom when they let someone in. Go smoke those nasty things & you better not let Demi smell it on ya." Dallas smirked as she sat in the chair against the wall.

I laughed as I turned to walk away, Eddie walking beside me. We stopped by the Starbucks inside the hospital, then headed out to the smoking area that was down the street. As we walked, he talked about Dianna & how they met & when he knew he was in love with her. "And seeing her being worked on by those doctors, made me appreciate her & the life we have together so much more." Eddie said as he sat on a wood bench. I joined him, lighting my cigar, then his.

"I know whatcha mean. Seeing the footage of Dianna & Demi getting hit by that car has made me appreciate my life & my family more. If Dianna hadn't jumped in front of that car, I could have been planning my wife & daughter's funeral right now."

"Dianna is an amazing mother. She'd literally die for her kids."

"And I can't even tell you how grateful I am for her. I will never forget what she did." I puffed on my cigar, smiling down at the pink band around it that said, 'it's a girl.' "I have my baby girl because of her."

Eddie nodded, smiling as he puffed on his own cigar. "So you & Demi weren't together for a few months huh?"

I took a deep breath & looked at Eddie with my lips pressed together. "Nope. I was an idiot who didn't appreciate what I had until it was almost too late."

Eddie nodded his head. "Yep. We all are capable of stupid moments. It's good she gave you another chance. I hope you appreciate that."

I wrinkled my brow & shook my head. "You don't even know how much I appreciate her giving me another chance. I'll never screw up like that again."

"I hope not. Now you have a daughter who is going to look up to you & she is going to want to be with a man one day who is like her daddy. You have to show her, by example, how you treat a lady. I was glad Demi didn't find a guy like Patrick." Eddie looked at me, smiling, slightly. "I'd like to think you're more like me." He let out a laugh then took a sip of his coffee.

"I think so. You're a lot like my dad, so I think I'm like you. In the sense of how you treat women anyway."

"Your dad is a good man. I am incredibly happy that Demi & you got together. I know you will make her very happy." Eddie put his arm around my shoulders & gave my shoulder a squeeze.

Eddie & I headed to the NICU on our way back to our wives rooms. We peered in the windows to see if we could see anything, but most of the incubators were covered up by curtains or some other obstacle. I shrugged my shoulders, then walked with Eddie toward the elevators. Eddie went to Dianna's floor & I headed to Demi's room.

Demi was sitting up in bed, when I got there. She looked relieved when I came in. "Where the hell were you? I was freaking out. Is my mom okay?"

I smiled as I walked toward the bed. "She's stable for now. Still unconscious. Dallas just brought her some things from home & as soon as you feel up to it, I will wheel you down to see her."

Demi smiled as I leaned to kiss her. She wrinkled her nose at me as I pulled away. "Really, Nick? You went off to smoke a cigar?" She wiped at her lips as if they had poison on them.

I laughed. "I was celebrating the birth of our daughter with my father in law & the fact that our wives are alive. You can appreciate that, right?"

"You're good. Wow. I'll let it slide this time, but you better stop with the cigars."

I sat on the bed, facing her. "I like smoking them & I don't ever smoke then around you. It's just when I'm with the guys."

"Well, I'm your wife & what I say.... goes." She leaned forward a little, an adorable smirk on her face.

"Whatever." I laughed. "It's a good thing you're cute with remarks like that."

Demi licked her bottom lip, then bit it as she grabbed a fistful of my shirt & pulled me to her. "You're lucky you're hot with tasting like those nasty things." She grinned, playfully & when I went to kiss her, she leaned back. "Not kissing an ashtray. Nope. Not gonna happen."

I laughed, again, as the door opened & a nurse came in with a wheelchair. "Are you ready to go see your daughter?"

Demi & I looked at each other, huge ass smiles on our faces. "Oh my God, yes. I thought you guys would never come." Demi exclaimed, clapping her hands.

I helped Demi, broken leg & all, get into the wheelchair. The nurse let me push her as we made our way to the NICU. I could hardly contain my excitement as we made our way there. Demi was almost bouncing in the chair as I pushed her. Every couple of minutes, she would look over her shoulder at me, a big toothy grin on her face. To see her this happy meant the world to me. I hoped she could see Dianna soon & I hoped Dianna could see Aria. I never wanted that beautiful toothy grin to ever leave her face.