A/N: These are the titles of all of the one shots of John and Elly. They can be read in any order, this is just how they've been written.
Rain Brings Growing Things
A Story to Help You Sleep
The Devil Finally Thought to ask Forgiveness
Did the Shining Prince Court the Golden Princess
I Know What Will Make You Feel Better
I Like When You Play
Fun Playing Dress Up
We Got Together Over Tea
Revenge is Sweet but Fleeting
Bad Girls Don't Get Stories
It's Like Someone Stuck Diamonds in the Sky
Does Christmas Come With the Snow
They Were Family
Feel free to leave prompts of what you want to see in other one shots.
John stretched out on the porch swing as he watched Elly play in the street. The little girl was enthralled with a game that she made up which John couldn't totally understand the rules of. Elly didn't seem to mind, her imaginary friend was much more fun to play this particular game with apparently. John was fine with that, so long as the friend was truly in her head and not sneaking around in the real world. From what he could tell that was the case. So he allowed Elly to enjoy herself like a normal little girl.
John reached into his pocket and pulled out a folded up picture. Checking once more to be sure Elly was in no immanent danger; he unfolded the print to look at it. The people in it smiled bright back him unaware of the fate that was waiting for them. It made him smile and tear up each time he looked at it. But it was still one of his most treasured possessions.
He flicked the picture shut as a roll of thunder rumbled over them. "Elly, time to go inside," he called.
"But I want to play longer."
"It's going to storm, sweet one. We need to get back home."
Elly skipped up the stairs to his side and raised her arms. "Up?" she questioned.
"One day you'll be too big for this," John sighed as he lifted her into his arms. He was very glad that time was many years away. In a flash of light they were back in the apartment. Elly wriggled until her grandfather set her down so she could go to her room. "Don't forget to wash before dinner," he called after her.
After dinner Elly was playing on the floor while John rested on the couch. Elly noticed he was looking at the picture from before again. She scrawled onto his lap and looked at the picture. "Grandpa, why do you look at that picture?"
"Because it bring back memories."
"But you always seem sad when you look at it."
"I'm sad because those times are gone."
"Do you miss them?" Elly asked running a hand over her mother and father in the picture.
"Not really."
"Why's that? Didn't you love them?"
John smiled. "Of course I did. They were family. But they aren't really gone." Elly looked at him, confused. "I see them every time I look at you. I see your mother, your father, and even your grandmother. You have a bit of all of them in you. And as long as I can look at you, I won't really have lost them."
Elly hugged her grandpa tight. "We'll always have each other, won't we, grandpa?"
"Always," he nodded. He looked at the picture thoughtfully before coming to a decision. "Why don't you hold on to this for me?"
"Really?"
"Really. It's more yours than mine, anyway."
Elly snatched the picture from her grandfather's grasp and ran to her room. There she pulled out her memory box. Inside were things from the various adults in her life before it was just her and her grandpa. She took one last look at the picture. Her father, Will Zimmerman, lay in a bed with a pink bundle in his arms next to her exhausted mother, Ashley Zimmerman. Both were grinning at the camera. The back had neat writing on it that Elly assumed was her grandmother's. It said "Baby Elly is born! Six pounds, five ounces." Elly folded up the picture again and placed it securely in the box. Then she ran back out to sit with her grandfather a little longer.
