***ENGLISH ISN'T MY LANGUAGE***


Farouk's Welcome


The whole family was ecstatic. Hours after Allison's birth, Evelyn arrived with more balloons and gift bags than her hands could hold. It was her second grandchild and her first granddaughter. Also the first one she'd enjoy since day one, Farouk spent so little time in Seattle that there wasn't much time to enjoy the boy, that didn't mean she didn't love him, of course she did! His two grandchildren were her greatest adoration.

"Mom, seriously?! Don't you think it's too much? We haven't even opened the gifts you gave us yesterday!"

"Oh, shut up and let me spoil my granddaughter!"

"Do you want to hold her?" Teddy asked, rocking her little girl gently after nursing her for the first time.

"I thought you'd never ask!" The old woman said, excited to hold her little granddaughter for the first time.

Owen took his little girl from Teddy's arms and then placed her in his mother's arms.

"She is so beautiful!". Evelyn exclaimed. "She reminds me so much of my Owen when he was born."

"Right?! Teddy says she reminds her of Megan."

"Who reminds you of me?" Speaking of the devil. Megan, Nathan and Farouk arrived with more gifts and more balloons to see the newest addition to the family.

"Your niece." Teddy answered as Megan approached her and they both share a tight hug.

"What?! No! Really?! Let me see!" Megan exclaimed, heading to where her mother was sitting with Allison in her arms. "Of course not! She is all Teddy! Other than that ginger fluff she's all Teddy!"

"I think it's too early to know who she looks like." Nathan added. "Congratulations Hunt. Now the real fun begins!" Both men embraced in an emotional moment.

Hugs and congratulations continued until Owen noticed little Farouk standing in the doorway looking at them all with a strange mixture of emotion and uncertainty. He approached the boy.

"Hey champion. Won't you come over to greet your new cousin?"

"My cousin?"

"Yes, your cousin. You're Allison's cousin, she's your cousin."

"Why?"

"Because you are my sister's son and Allison is my daughter. That makes you two cousins."

"Wow!" The boy exclaimed with wide eyes and a huge smile.

"Do you want to come and say hello?" Megan asked as she rocked little Allison.

"Can I?" Farouk asked Owen.

"Of course you can! Go!"

"Can I hold her?"

"Of course you can hold her." Teddy said.

Farouk sat on the armchair and Megan placed the little girl in the boy's arms. "Hold her head." Allison began to stir in his arms and Farouk froze looking at them all with a terrified look in his brown eyes.

Nathan knelt next to him. "It's fine, it's fine. Just hold her, put your finger in the palm of her hand and see what happens." Farouk did what his father said and Allison wrapped all her teeny tiny fingers around his cousin's finger.

"She took my finger!" The little boy exclaimed enthusiastically. Everyone in the room laughed at the child's excitement. "She's so small and so light. She's like a doll, she looks like a doll!"

"Now you have a new responsibility, young boy." Owen said, pointing a finger at him.

"Responsibility? Which one?" Farouk asked.

"Well, you'll have to make sure she is always well, to take care of her when you are around and make sure that boys don't make her cry."

"I will never let boys make her cry, uncle Owen, I promise!"

"Talk to her." Teddy said.

"Hey, cousin. I'm Farouk. What else should I say?"

"Anything. Whatever your heart feels." Evelyn said.

"Ok... well, hello. I'm your cousin and... we will have a lot of fun together! We can play when you go California, I live by the sea, I hope you like the sea." Just then Allison opened her eyes. "SHE OPENED HER EYES!" The child shouted excitedly.

"Farouk! Volume!" Megan scolded him with a smile.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm sorry cousin. So... we'll have a lot of fun together. You will love Christmas, well, it will be your birthday. You will love grandma too, she is amazing and makes the best cakes and cookies. You will love our family. I love you cousin." Little Farouk said, giving Allison a soft kiss on the forehead while everyone looked at them with tears in their eyes.