Tears To Spare
Summary: Everyone thought of him as the irresponsible lab rat, til they learned a secret from his past.
A/N: I was sitting in this very chair yesterday morning, listening to my iPod when I had an epiphany. Hope you like the outcome.
Disclaimer: Like I own them? Yeah! Ha! you made a funny.
Prolouge
2002
Adam Ross sat in the corner, holding his three month old niece. She was tiny, she'd been born about six weeks early and they'd gone to hell and back to keep her alive. Her midnight blue eyes found his and she gurgled.
"I know, Kid." Adam kissed the top of her head.
Alexandria Elizabeth Ross had stolen his heart the day she had entered the earth. His little sister, Adalida was only nineteen and was scared to death by her own child. Alexandria had been hooked up to machines to help her breath and given medicine to help her lungs mature. Adalida hadn't been allowed out of her bed for extended periods of time, so Adam took watch over their little angel.
Alexandria wiggled in her uncle's arms and Adam readjusted her. He was taken back nearly twenty years, sitting in the rocking chair, holding his baby sister for the first time. Adam had been four years old and fascinated by the little girl. Adam and Adalida were the best of friends, where Adam went Adalida followed. Adam loved to pull pranks on her and make her scream, but he was fiercely protective of her. Adam overcame even his worst fears to take care of his baby sister.
--
"Adalida, pretty little cajun queen, sweet dixie flower, belle of the bayou.." Eleven year old Adam Ross sang. He was pushing his little sister in the swing that hung from the tree in their backyard.
"Shut-up Adumb!" Adalida leaned her head back and stuck her tongue out at her big brother.
"Be nice Adi or I'll tell Dad on you." Adam grinned, wiping his brow on his Star Wars shirt.
"I hate you." Adi pouted.
"You love me, Adalida. I'm your big brother, ya gotta love me." Adam grinned.
"Nuh-uh." Adi shook her head, her golden blond braids swaying.
"Mhmm." Adam nodded, "You'll go to hell if ya don't."
"You said hell!" Adi gasped and pointed.
"It ain't a sin if you talk about the place."
Their father's truck pulled up in the gravel driveway and he walked around the house, "How ya doin' kiddos?"
"Adam said 'hell' Daddy!" Adi yelled, jumping out of the swing.
"ADALIDA!" Adam cringed and awaited what would be the worst beating of his life.
--
"Adalida, I'd walk through a hurricane, to stand beside you, sweet Adalida.." Adam murmured, rocking Alexandria lightly.
"You know, your sister hated it when you sang that." His mother came up and put a hand on his shoulder.
"I did it because I loved her." Adam said, not taking his eyes off Alexandria.
"I know." His mother said, in a way only a mother could, "Why don't you let me take Alex?"
"I've got her." Adam turned and faced his mother, "As long as I have her, people won't come up and offer their platitudes."
"Adam."
"Please, Mom." Adam pleaded and she nodded.
--
The call had come at a quarter til four in the morning and Adam almost didn't answer. He'd picked the phone up off the table and mumbled something that sounded like hello. When he heard his mother's voice, he sat straight up in bed.
"Adam." She sniffled.
"Mom? What's wrong?" He wiped the sleep from his eyes.
"Adalida..." She choked back a sob.
"What's wrong with Adi?" Adam asked, reaching blindly for his shoes in the dark.
"She's dead." She cried, "He shot her Adam, he shot her and then himself."
"Where's Alex?" Adam asked, throwing his clothes on.
"She's with me." His mother sobbed, "She's dead Adam, he killed her!"
"I'm on my way." Adam couldn't think about it or he'd never be able to get to his family.
--
A few days later, they sat in the lawyers office. Adalida may not of been the most responsible person out there, but she made sure her little girl was taken care of. She had set up a will when Alexandria wasn't even a month old.
"Adalida Grace Ross has written in her will that custody of the minor, Alexandria Elizabeth Ross, be given to her brother Adam Jackson Ross. Should Mr. Ross not be able or willing to take care of Alexandria, custody is then to be given to the maternal grandparents, Grace and Jackson Ross." The lawyer read from his papers.
"I want her." Adam said, "I'll do whatever it takes."
"Adam." His father began.
"No. Alex is my responsibility." Adam said, standing up to his father for the first time in his life.
"Adam, you're twenty-three. You just finished college. You're moving to New York in just a months time. At least let us take care of Alexandria til you're settled." Grace Ross urged.
"No." Adam shook his head, "Adalida wanted me to take her for a reason, I'm going to do what my sister asked."
--
"Adam! Open up! Please!" Adalida had pounded on his door in the middle of the night. He opened the door in his sweat pants and CBGB shirt.
"Adalida, it's-" Adam stopped short at the bruise on her cheek, "What'd he do to you?"
"Adam, he's gonna kill me." Adalida sobbed as Adam ushered her and the crying Alexandria into his apartment.
"Adi, what happened?" Adam tried to calm his sister down, taking the crying baby from her. He rocked his niece slowly.
"You have to take Alex. If something goes wrong, Adam, you have to promise you'll take her. Leave Arizona and don't look back. Promise me Adam!" Adalida demanded.
"Adi.."
"PROMISE ME!" Adalida grabbed a fist full of his shirt.
"I promise."
--
Three weeks later, Adam and Alex had settled into a schedule. They'd moved into his apartment in New York City and he'd begun working the night shift at a crimelab. He was hoping to switch to swing when Alexandria got older, but it worked for now since she was sleeping most of the time.
Alex was crying when he got home from work. He took the screaming four and a half month old from the sitter, handed her some crumpled bills and let her out the door. He rocked Alex as he drank a soda, "C'mon Lex, no tears. Uncle Adam's got you."
Alexandria continued to scream, completely unphased by her uncle's soothing words.
"Lexi, please, I don't wanna see you cry." Adam wanted to cry too, "What do you need kid? Fill me in."
Alex looked him in the eye and cried.
"I miss her too, Lex." Adam kissed the baby's head, "I've got you though. I'm not going anywhere."
Alex reached for his nose and he chuckled, letting her tiny fingers pinch him, "I love you kiddo."
Her crying softened, "I never had much of a dad, Lex. Grandpa tried, but he was happier working on his truck."
Alex gurgled and Adam wiped the tears from her cheek, "I promised your Mom I'd take care of you. I love you Alex and I loved my sister, no matter what she said." Adam chuckled, "I'm gonna take care of you little girl. I promise, I'll be the best Daddy I can be."
A/N: Okay, this is just the prologue. The actual story begins when Alexandria is seven and is a lot more upbeat than this, I just wanted to provide some back story. I hope ya'all like this. It got Rachel's, Jenna's & Dana's stamps of approval, so here's hopin'. Also, Adalida comes from a George Strait song and Alexandria Elizabeth's name come from one of my bestie's little sister.