Mi Salvador

Test

Ascella's POV
I watched as Zara coloured. She finished and rushed to dad. He smiled and read through her letter and looked at her drawing. He was currently on the phone with Maria.
"Yeah, Christmas is coming early for her. Opening presents tomorrow with Ella." I looked at him and furrowed my brows, he looked at me and winked.
"Yeah, she's home." He put the phone away from his ear, "She says hi."
"Tell her I said hi back." I smiled. He continued to talk and I turned back to Zara. My phone buzzed.

Rafael: Mind picking me up at JFK?

I smiled and texted him back quickly before getting up and grabbing my coat, "Dad. Mind if I go out to see Paulo?"
"No, go ahead." I kissed his cheek before heading out. I drove happily to JFK and parked, waiting for him. I saw him and popped the trunk so he can put his luggage in. Afterwards, he got in the passengers seat and smiled. I started the car and drove, "Do you mind if I go see Paulo?"
"No, it's fine. I'd like to meet him."
"He knows about us...he was a little spy for Nash." I murmured. He placed a hand on my leg, rubbing it gently.
"Don't worry..."
I parked in the hospital parking lot and waved to the nurse at the front desk, "Can I see him?"
She sighed, "Some colleagues just came, I heard fighting..."
I furrowed my brows and went to the room, entering. There I saw Hank, Charlie, and Nash.
"Why did the nurse just tell me you were fighting?" I looked at all of them, then narrowed my eyes to Hank, "What are you doing here?"
"I came to apologise."
"Where's your mom and the girls?" I looked to Paulo.
"Had to go home. Mom had work and the girls are being watched by the neighbor."
Rafael walked in and was greeted by Nash. I sighed and sat, putting my head in my hands.
"I have no time for bullshit, right now."
"I know." Paulo pet my head, "We're done here."
Hank was the first to leave, Nash kissed my head and gave me a wrapped box, then Charlie placed a smaller box next to me.
"See you, Ella..."
They left and Rafael kneeled in front of me, "Estas bien?"
I nodded and looked to Paulo, "If you ever need me to watch the girls I can."
"I know. Go."
I nodded and kissed his cheek before following Rafael out. He was the one who drove to his apartment and I sat in his lap on the couch, listening to Christmas music. I played with my crucifix that hung around Rafael's neck and enjoyed the contented silence between us. However, I could tell something was on his mind.
"Habla conmigo..." I whispered, caressing his slightly stubbled face. He looked at me and smiled, "Just thinking about what to get for my mom and grandmother..."
"You havent chosen yet?! Rafael, let's-"
"No, no, no...I want to spend time with you, mamí." He kissed my palm and looked back up to me, "I should take you to Gstaad next time..."
"I don't think my dad would like that, counselor." I straddled him. He hummed and placed his face in my neck, kissed it softly, and held me tight.
"I love you so much." He murmured.
"I love you too..." I smiled and massaged the back of his head gently.

Rafael's POV
I laid in bed contently. It was nice not having work to worry about. I got up to get a drink when I heard odd sounds from the bathroom.
"Ella?" I knocked on the door, "You okay? Can I come in?"
She groaned gently and I entered, seeing her hunched over the toilet. I rushed to her and held her in my arms, grabbing a towel to wipe her mouth. She dug herself into my body, "Raffa..."
"You okay?"
"Mm..."
"Here, lets get you in bed. I'll get you some water."
I lifted her up and laid her in bed. I went back to the bathroom to flush the toilet. Then I opened my medicine cabinet to look for something to settle her stomach. I grabbed some pills, then I found a small box. I may be crazy, but just in case...I've had this since Ascella and I stopped using condoms and she went on the pill. I went back and gave her some water, placing the pills and test on the bedside table. She took the pills, drank the water, and looked at the test for a moment before looking at me. I smiled softly and caressed her cheek.

We sat on the floor of the bathroom, waiting for the test to evaluate. Ascella played with my fingers, leaning against my shoulder. I looked to my watch and looked to her.
"It should be ready..."
She nodded and grabbed it face down, "What if I am?"
"You can decide if you want it or not..."
"Do you?"
"We would have to out ourselves if I do..."
"That really didn't answer my question." She murmured. I kissed her head and flipped the test over in her hand. We both looked and sighed.

Nick's POV
I pet Zara's head as she slept in my lap and I watched the news.
"Priest accused of sexual assault. Can we really trust the Catholic Church?"
I scoffed and shook my head. The door opened and Ascella walked in.
"Hey, how's Paulo?"
"Good..." she murmured. I grabbed her arm as she passed.
"Que pasa?"
She shook her head, "Not feeling good. That's all..."
"Okay. You get to bed..."
She went upstairs quickly. I picked up Zara and brought her to bed also. I then knocked gently on Ascella's door before entering. She was laying above her covers, holding Nicky the lion close. I sat at the edge, placing a hand on her leg.
"You okay? Is it the meds? We can ask Dr. Sayno to lower your dosages so it doesn't make you feel so bad..."
"No, it's not that, dad...I'm okay?"
I nodded, "Scoot over so I can lay with you." I smiled gently as she complied. I ran my fingers through her hair and kissed her head, "You can tell me anything, you know that, right?"
She nodded, her face hidden in Nicky. I hummed, "I wish you can have some good holidays, you know that? Recent ones have been pretty crappy...but that's on me."
"No it's not."
"Yeah it is. I've made some pretty dumb choices recently."
"You've made the right choices, but probably at the wrong time." She looked at me, "You cannot control the behavior of others, but you can always choose how you respond to it."
I smiled, "Where's that from?"
"Roy T. Bennet, the Light in the Heart." She whispered. I nodded and held her close.
"I love you, Ascella."
"I love you too, dad..."

XOXOXOXOXOXO
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