AN: Here is another chapter!

Chapter 3: A gift

Torn got out of bed and opened his bedroom door. "I'm in here if you need me Torn!"

He heard Mother call from upstairs. The upstairs part of their home is just an attic but it was made into a couple smaller rooms, mainly Mom and Zee's bedroom. There was also a closet, a family den, and two guest bedrooms, one of which will become the baby's room.

"Mommy?" Torn called weakly to his mother as he climbed the stairs.

"Come here honey, how are you feeling?" Mother asked him as he got on to her lap.

"Not too good." He coughed.

"Aw well you know what?" She asked

"What?"

"Zee will be home in a few minutes and I talked to him on the phone a little bit after you went to sleep, and when I told him you where ill he said he was going to bring you home something special."

"Really?" Torn asked weakly.

"Yes really!"

"Cool!"

The sound of the front door opening was heard.

"Hi I'm home!" a male voice called.

Mother came down the stairs with torn in her arms, he always was small for his age.

"Zee!" Torn said

"Hey honey how was work?" Mother said kissing Zee on the Cheek once, then trice on the lips.

"Good, hey buddy how you feeling?" He asked as he ruffled Torn's hair.

"Not so good."

"I think he still has a fever" Mother said

"Well I think I might have a little something to help him forget all about that nasty fever." Zee said as he took Torn from his Mother. He held him so their eyes where even with each other if Torn looked at him, which he was not.

"Look over here buddy."

Torn turned his head to look at his stepdad.

"I have something special for you kiddo."

"What is it?" Torn asked with a small hint of excitement.

Zee opened his workbag and pulled out a brown grocery store bag. The bag was stapled shut and had the words 'I thought of that' stenciled in white. I thought of that is an expensive store near the South Town part of the city.

"Why don't you open this and find out?" he handed the bag to the child in his arms.

Torn smiled as if it was the holidays as he received the bag.

"I know you have wanted this for some time now, and I'm sure you'll like it!" Zee told Torn as he ripped open the bag.

His eyes widened and his smile grew as he saw what was inside the bag.

"Wow!" Torn shouted "A Lego Krimzon Guard play set! Thanks a bunch Zee!" Torn said a little quieter this time because he hurt his throat when she shouted.

"You are very welcome kiddo!" Zee said hugging the overly happy youngster. He put Torn down so he could go play with his new gift.

When Torn was in his room Mother looked at Zee.

"How much did you pay for that?" She whispered.

"A Hundred and Sixty Orbs."

"Zee where did you get that kind of money?" She asked.

"I got paid today, and we had enough for the bills and everything else we need so I decided to spend some of the extra on our sick son." Zee explained to his wife.

"Well if it was extra, so how much you have left out of our extra orbs?"

"Fifty five orbs. Don't worry honey we will have enough to get by till next pay day" He assured her.

"Alright" she smiled.

"come on let's spend some time together and watch Torn play, once the baby is born we will be spending time taking care of her or him and less time with anyone else." Zee said as he lead his wife to their son's room.

The Lego box was on the floor and Torn was lying on his stomach with a couple handfuls of Legos in front of him as he tried to put everything together.

He stuck his tongue out and turned his head to the side as he grabbed little red Legos. He was quick to assembly a few guards, but his pace slowed when he started on the city.

He glanced up from his work as his parents came into the room.

"Hey Mom, Hi Zee! Look I have three guards built already!"

"Wow you are a fast builder huh?" Zee asked

"Yup Now I'm working on the city."

"Knowing you my little builder you'll have it done and have many adventures before you know it!" Mother told him.

"You think?"

"I don't think I know!" She said as she sat down on Torn's bed.

"Thanks m-"Torn's thanks were cut short by coughing.

"You all right kiddo?" Zee asked.

Torn nodded as he got his breath. "I'm fine"

"You sure honey?" Mother asked getting up and going over to her son. She bent down and rubbed his back.

"I'm sure, I'm sure."

She looked down worriedly at her son.

"Don't worry. I may be sick but I am fine!"

She felt his head "You still feel hot, in fact I think you are hotter than the last time I checked your temperature" She sighed. "I'll be back with the thermometer."

Torn sighed "I guess that means I will need more of that gross medicine." He hated being sick not just because he did not feel good but also because he was to take gross medicine.

Mother came back with a thermometer and some Tylenol.

She took his temperature. "102. Ok Torn are you going to be a good boy and take your medicine the first time I ask you?"

"I'll be a good boy buy I refuse to have anything to do with that gross medicine"

"If you do it quick you might not even taste it!" Zee said

"Yeah MIGHT"

"Torn please remember how long you felt a little bit better last time you took it? Was it really all that bad?"

"Yeah I did feel a lil' better and it didn't taste THAT bad, actually it tasted like bubblegum."

"So will you take it?"

"I guess…"

Mother handed him the medicine. He took it a 'gulped' it down.

"There not so bad right?"

"Right"

"ok well it's getting a bit late for you mister so why don't go get ready for bed?"

"But I want to keep playing!"

"You can play tomorrow!"

"But-"

"Honey go put you pajamas on and maybe I will consider you staying you another thirty minutes. Okay?" Mother said.

"Maybe…"

"If you do what mom tells you I'll tell you the BEST bedtime story you will ever hear, so how about it Torn will you go put your pajamas on?" Zee said trying to get Torn to bed.

"Okay!" Torn said getting up off of the floor and heading for the bathroom.

A few minutes later, he came back in an old baggy black t-shirt and a pair of grey sweat pants. He climbed up onto his bed.

"Okay ready for a story?" Zee asked.

"Yup! Yup I am! Tell me a story ze-" Torn began to coughing and sneezing.

"Whoa there buddy "Zee sat down next to Torn.

"I'm fine!" Torn said once he got his breath.

"Don't worry the medicine will kick in soon kiddo" Zee said reassuring the child.

"So how about that story?" Zee asked trying to get everyone's mind off the topic.

"Yeah!" Torn said.

"Okay here it goes"

The story

Along time ago, this here city was a much different place! So was the world!

So….

Once upon a time, there was a brave adventurer and his name was Edward. He had black hair and brightest blue eyes anyone has ever seen.

He was always getting himself into trouble, but not just him! He also was getting his friend Jaymie!

Jaymie Had long black hair like her mother and the dark purple eyes of her dad! Anyone who saw her that knew her parent said she looked just like them!

So, one day Edward was walking around town with Jaymie when he saw an adventure ahead!

The forest! Back then, there was a forest with in the walls! It was by what is now the farm area.

In those days, the forest was just a place to get away from the loud, fast-paced city and go to a more peace and quiet place.

A place like this was the perfect place for so mischief.

End of the bedtime story

Zee paused his story and looked down. Torn was asleep.

"Well I guessed that was a goof bedtime story after all" He smiled

"I'll finish the story tomorrow night kiddo" He turned on the night light then switched off the lamp on the nightstand before leaving, closing the door behind him.

Torn woke up the next morning and glanced up at the clock the numbers glowed 10:30 AM. He usually was woken up by his mother around 8:30. He figured that since he was sick his mother decided to let him sleep in.

He was a bit shaken because he had that nightmare again and this time it kept repeating over and over again.

When he calmed down some, he sat up and decided it was time to get dressed for the day.

He got up out of his racecar bed and headed towards the bathroom to get ready for the day ahead.

He came back hair brushed, teeth brushed and a change of clothes on.

He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt, a pair of old torn up blue jeans with holes in the pockets, and a pair of worn out black sneakers with blue laces.

He then made his bed, smoothing out the wrinkles in SpongeBob's face on the blankets and sheets. When he was done making his bed, he made his way to the kitchen.

All these things took way longer than usual because of him being sick but he did not mind as long as he got them do his mother would be please, but even if it didn't get done she would be all that mad because of he was sick and she wouldn't want him doing anything he couldn't with the illness.

"Mom?" Torn asked as he walked into the kitchen.

"Oh Torn you're up!"

"Hi mom"

"So what do you want from breakfast?"

"I'm not really hungry…"

"Still no apatite huh? That's fine but at least have some toast, you do need to eat SOMETHING after all"

"I know"

"What's wrong Torn?"

"Nothing..:

"Torn…"

"Nothing mom!"

"Torn something is bothering you I can tell!"

Torn sighed. "I had a nightmare about daddy last night."

"Oh Torn don't tell me it was that one…."

"Yeah it was…."

"Oh no wonder you seem so sad."

"Why did it have to happen to us? Why did he have to die? Out of all the guards that had to be killed on that day why did it have to be daddy?"

Mother griped the sink and took a quick deep breath before turning to face her son.

"Sometimes really bad things happen to really good people , most of them would have lived many years more till they died of old age and a lot of them leave behind close family and friend, The only good thing is that they are no longer suffering , or worrying and they are over all in a better place."

"But the living they leave behind only suffer more" Torn said voice dripping with sorrow. He was trying to hold his tears in.

"Torn honey..."

"I miss him mom! I really do..." He ran up to his mother and hugged her. He looked up at her with tear filled eyes, the tears slowly began to run down his cheeks.

"I miss him to Torn. He was a really good person. He was kind and forgiving. He was my first love." She whispered to him to calm him down, and rubbed his back trying to comfort him.

"He would be proud of you, like I'm proud of you."

"He would want me to be strong?"

"Yeah I think he would"

"So he'd be disappointed in me crying like this?"

"No…he wouldn't…..he would try to make you smile again….he could always make you smile when you were a toddler."

"I don't really remember most of my toddler years."

"Most people don't"

"Will I forget most of this to? Will I forget daddy because I'm so young?"

"You will forget something's but not most, and unfortunately yes I do believe your memories of your father will fade"

"I don't want to forget anything about daddy…"

"Then try to keep those memories with you, something have a way with staying with us even if we have shady moments."

Torn finally calmed down some. He let go of his mother and whipped his wet teary eyes.

"I love you mom…"

"I love you too Torn. Come on kiddo let's get you something to eat."

Mother gave Torn some toast and milk before checking his temperature. It was a little high but it was almost back to normal. Mother decided that Torn did not need the medicine this time.

Torn was more than happy that he did not have to take another does of the medicine.

After he ate, Torn went to his room to play with his new Lego set.

He played until lunch time.

He still did not have much of an appetite but Mother made him eat some toast.

After he was done eating he went back to play. As he was playing he heard the sound of the phone ringing, I minute later Mother came into the room with the phone in her hand.

"Torn phone for you" She handed him the phone.

He grabbed it and held it up to his ear.

"Hello?" he answered.

"Hey."

"Oh Hey Errol."

"You sick?"

"Yeah"

"Me too, sucks huh?"

"Yeah it does, I really hate taking medicine .."

"Me to"

"But on the bright side for me, Zee bought me a new Lego play set."

"REALLY?"

"Yes really."

"Which one?"

"The Lego Krimzon Guard one."

"Lucky!" Errol shouted.

"I know!" Torn Chuckled

"So want to hang out? When we are better I mean…."

"Sure haven't seen you in a while!"

"That was because my family was on vacation." Errol said with a hint of happiness in his voice.

"You are really lucky"

"I know!"

"So when do you think we will both be better enough to meet up?"

"Probably in a few day or at least that what My mom said."

"Want me to ask my mom?" Torn asked kind of excited.

"If you want to, but I think she will say the same thing…." Errol said feeling sure.

"Hold on I will be right back" Torn said.

He put down the phone and headed to find his mother.

He found her in the living room cleaning.

"You done talking that fast?" She asked

He shook his head. "Nope but I do want to ask you something."

"Ok what is it?"

"When do you think I'll be well enough to meet up with Errol?" He asked.

"Oh in a day or two most likely." She replied.

"Oh…..ok."

He went back to his room and picked the phone back up.

"She said in a day or two."

"Told you."

"how did you know?"

"Our moms are very similar. "

"Oh right, both nurses."

"Yeah."

"Well I'm going to let you go , my mom is expecting a call, and only let me call if I promised not to be to long."

"Alright well see you in a few days"

"Yeah see you bye."

"Bye."

Errol hung up the phone so did Torn.

Torn put the phone back where it belonged and went back to his room to play with the Legos.

After playing with his Legos for some time Torn got up off of the floor , put away the Lego set. Then went to find his Mother.

It was 6:30 PM just about dinner time, and lucky for Torn his appetite was back.

"Mom?"

"Yeah Torn?"

"When's dinner? And WHAT is for dinner?"

"You feeling better is see…so you got your appetite back?"

"For the most part yeah."

"Well dinner is going to be in about ten minutes, and we are having homemade soup and biscuits to dip in it"

"Yummy!"

"You must be feeling REALLY better huh?"

"YUP!"

"Ok then go wash up! Dinner is almost ready."

"Okay!"

Torn left the kitchen and went into the bathroom to wash up.

He came back a little while later. Mom was setting the table and putting the food on the table.

"Hey honey, come get some soup and biscuits!"

Torn grabbed a bowl and filled it about half way and then grabbed two of the homemade biscuits before sitting down at the table.

After he was, done eating he was feeling a bit tired but he wanted to stay up.

Mother made him go get ready for bed anyway.

"But mommy!"

"Go get in your pajamas and maybe you can stay up a little longer honey."

"Okay…"

Torn went to his room grabbed his favorite pair of pajamas out from his closet then headed for the bathroom.

When he came out he was dressed in his SpongeBob pajamas , including a pair of SpongeBob slippers.

He went to his room , to find his mother waiting for him.

She was sitting on the bed with a book in hand.

"Would you like me to read you a bedtime story?"

"Sure!"

"Ok get over, under the covers with you!"

Torn went over to his racecar bed and climbed onto in before sliping under the SpongeBob blankets.

Mom held up the book showing it to torn. The book was red with 'Once upon a time bed time stories fifty of children's favorites' where printed in golden lettering on the front cover and spine.

"Okay what story do you want to hear tonight?"

"My favorite one!"

"Oh of couse ok here it goes!"

Before the two knew it, Torn had fallen asleep.

AN: THE FIRST LONG CHAPTER! So yeah, it is really really long! 3,030 words not counting the author notes. Wow ok hope you enjoyed this chapter! Till next time…

- Alley