There's Fire

Godspeed

Omnipotent POV:

            He sat at the end of his bed with his eyes closed. He could barely get any sleep knowing what today held. Sleep was something he didn't do much of anymore even with everything inside of his home back in place. The alarm went off on the side of his bed and he felt the bed shift and the sound cease. Warm set of arm engulfed him. She kissed his shoulder and just rested his cheek on him. As comforting as that usually would have been, he found absolutely no comfort in it this time. "You didn't sleep again Gianni. This isn't good. You still have to take care of yourself." All he could do was nod. "I'm going to take care of Missy and leave you to Zariah or do you want to switch."
    "No, this is something I need to do for her. I can't keep putting my little girl through this. I should have walked away. I should have left and never looked back." He shook his head. "I would have saved her so much heartache."
    "I know my love. I know." Athena just held him.
    "I love you. You know I love you and Artemis." He did this every time. He felt guilty about yearning for a time he could have given a better and less painful life to Zariah because he felt that to Athena and Artemis that meant he didn't love them. "Hey, I know you love us. How many times do I have to tell you to stop feeling guilty about getting used to a family of 4? You used to only have to worry about a family of 2 and in a short time you got 2 more. You wishing you could have done better for her is not taking anything from Missy or me. You have more than enough love for all of us." The sound sniffling coming from Zariah's room caught his attention. He got up and went to her room. She hadn't been able to sleep well at all since being home. Some nights she asks her father to come sleep with her. Others she wonders into his room and sleep in between him and Athena. A few nights she's just stay up and keep her busy. Last night was a keep yourself awake night. Since her last goodbye to her uncle she also hadn't known peace just like her father. She watched her dad come into to her room. He came in her room and sat by her. He kissed her head and just hugged her. He knew she didn't get her clothes out like he asked. She didn't shower the night before. She didn't do her hair. He got up and went to her closest. He took out a dark sweater, leggings, and some flats. She was too old for him to get into the tub. He walked in her bathroom and started running some bath water. He laid out a towel and her underclothes. "Sweetheart, I want you to wash up, brush your teeth, and get dressed. I'm going to send Athena in here to help okay?" She just nodded and wrapped the blanket around her. Gianni went in his room and saw Athena sitting on her bed on her phone. She was texting her sister to see how her niece was doing. "Could you help Zariah? I um can't sit with her while she..."
    "No problem." She kissed my cheek and went in my daughter's bedroom. She carefully closed the door. He could hear her speaking softly to Zariah through the door. While she did that He quickly rushed to take his own shower and got dressed. By the time he was done Gianni peaked in the nursery and noticed Missy still sleeping. It was still early, so he decided not to get her up and ruin her schedule today. That was the one thing he knew he could control today. He went back to Zariah's room and her door was open again. He knocked and Athena told him he could come in. Zariah was sitting on the stool in her bathroom waiting for him. "I think it would be best if you and Missy went to your mom's today. I just yeah."
    "We can go with you guys." Athena offered.
    "I'll call when were on the way home. She is just going to need more today."
    "I understand. I'm here for the both of you." She kissed Gianni, Zariah, and left with a quiet prayer for her boyfriend and this little girl. Gianni went in his daughter's bathroom. He began to pull her hair up into a bun and placed a headband on her as he had done many times when she was young. "We should go kookaburra." He grabbed her shoes and nudged her up. They went downstairs. Athena was down by the door waiting for them. "A coffee for you and a chai for you. I love you both. I will see you both when you get home. We can do your favorites for dinner." Athena gave him both kisses as they walked out of the door. Gianni and Zariah got in the car. Music played softly in the background, but they both were in their own worlds. Zariah sat in a ball in the front seat and sipped her tea on occasion. Gianni just stared at the road ahead at every sign, painted line, car, and light. They pulled into the hospital parking lot. Gianni parked his car and sat there in silence. He got out and went to the other side of the car. Gianni set her mug in the cup holder and guided her out of the car. She gripped his hand so tight her gray nails dug into the skin on the back of his hand. They walked inside and straight to the private elevator. They were the first ones there. He sat her down and a chair and stared at the elevator door for everyone else.