Hey fanfictioners! I am sorry it took so long to update. School has been crazy. I am still getting into a routine. I will try to get another chapter out soon but no promises on when. Keep reviewing and don't give up on me. I promise I will not give up on updating for you guys. I am still writing but typing is slow going, so there is more to come. Thanks to my reviewers! More reviews help motivate me to type so keep up with the reviews :) Enjoy!

-A.

Sonny POV

After the circus act of getting all the kids in the bathtub and clean, I went to find them in the room with Chad. I walked in soaked to see lying around haphazardly with him propped up on the bed books in hand. Funny Chad with a book!

"Do you want to show them their surprise?" I asked him wondering if he would be able to get up.

"Sure but what about you? We were waiting for you Sonshine," he asked a questioning look on his face.

Gesturing to my clothes I said, "I'm soaked already so I think I will just get a shower. You guys could start without me I'll catch up."

"Okay," he replied probably happy for something he could do that was part of our usual routine.

I gathered my pajamas after they left and went for a much earned shower. I let the water beat on my face enjoying the sensation, but I didn't linger any longer then usual. I wanted to lie down and enjoy my time with my kids. Not to mention, it is a rare occasion when Chad reads our nighttime stories and even rarer when there is a tent in the house. I wanted to relish the experience.

I walked out clean and comfy in my pajamas making my way down the stairs into our makeshift campground. Noah was closest to me when I laid down, Jake in the middle, and Annabelle next to Chad. "And the bear said, 'Give me your honey, or I will eat your little dog too…,'" Chad said reading in a different voice for the bear. Growling and making faces so that the kids giggled and laughed at him. I guess acting can't be turned off.

I sat listening and watching them all. I became engaged in the story, even if it was one we have read many times before. I watched Chad's expressions change and mold as the story required. It made my heart soar. I always love him, but it is little moments like this that remind me how much. They say laugher is the best medicine, and he was doing a good job at getting a lot.

Chad POV

Surprisingly the kids did eventually fall asleep; even though, at times they were laughing so hard I thought they would never sleep. For the first time all day, I felt like I had done something with some degree of normalcy. Sure Sonny usually reads but it still is our routine and one I could do lying down.

I glanced over to see the kids eyes shut, curled into themselves, asleep. Sonny watched me fully awake her being the kind of person that only can fall asleep to stay asleep. "Bravo handsome," she whispered over the kids heads, "You should be an actor."

Putting off an air of nonchalance, "Yeah I've been told that."

She smiled my favorite broad Sonny smile that brightens her whole face. I tried to sit up and get off the floor carefully to keep the kids sleeping while keeping the firefight throughout my body to a minimum. The pain wasn't as bad once you knew which way you couldn't move…which is almost any way, but beside the point. Sonny got up easily.

"Should we keep them in the tent?" I asked only halfway up onto my knees.

She looked over to them saying, "I kind of don't like them down here alone, and you can't sleep down here. We wouldn't be able to hear them if they needed us."

"Right so I guess it's up the stairs we go," I replied crawling out of the tent door.

Pulling Noah up into her arms, he tucked his tiny head into her neck. I looked back to Annabelle ready to pick her up only to realize I couldn't with one arm. Even with two in my current state would be risky. Even being the smallest, she was still heavier then I would recommend I could drop her. So sighing my defeat, I followed Sonny up the stairs empty handed to help tuck Noah into bed.

Sonny went back to get Jake while I stayed behind pulling his covers back for her. We kissed them both whispering goodnight before Sonny went back for Annabelle. I lead the way to her room to get her covers turned down as Sonny put her into her bed. Lyla her bear tucked snuggly into her arms. We kissed her and said goodnight to her sleeping body just as we had to the boys before going back to our room.

Sonny looked exhausted, and I could understand why. Besides the emotional stress of the past couple days, there was also the fact that she had to take care of all the physical stuff like unpacking or taking care of the kids. I know she is more then capable, but I feel bad when I can't help her. Seeing her that way a fury of emotions ran through me anger at not being able to help her, fury at the dumb driver, worry for her health, happiness that I was even there to see her at all, leading to a very contradictory pile of conflict. Already in her pajamas she fell down on the bed.

Looking down at my clothes, I realized I was still wearing the same shorts as yesterday. I unzipped my shorts shuffling them off pulling pajama bottoms out of the drawer. I sat on the bed bumbling but managing to get my legs through so I could pull them up. The shirt was trickier. I tried to get my arm out twirling around caught up in the shirts grasp.

"Let me help," Sonny said by my side, no longer on the bed.

She reached up and eased the sling from around my neck without moving my arm to much. I stared into her eyes as she eased the shirt off my good arm, off my head, and then around my splinted arm. Being so near her I wanted something I knew wasn't possible without killing me. Not having it was killing me too, but I settled for as passionate a kiss as I could muster.

Sonny POV

As we lay in bed my head on his bare shoulder my arm lightly round his waist, I looked over into his eyes which captivated me pulling me deeper into thought. I breathed in his scent engraining it into my memory remembering the feel of his skin and the sparks that pass between us.

After and unknown amount of time staring into each others eyes, me remembering every fleck of blue, he said, "Sonny I know we waited six years before taking any of the kids camping but maybe we should wait six more and hope for a better outcome. That campground is a nightmare."

I laughed that came out of nowhere, "For what it's worth, I agree with you. If the rest of our camping trips have that many… 'Incidents' I think we should quit camping altogether and set up the tent in the house when the kids want to camp."

"It's strange you know I didn't like camping. Then, I did and now I'm not so fond of it again," he said animatedly. "We've come full circle."

"You're going to get all wax and philosophical now aren't you?" I asked staring up at him.

"Nah I'll do this instead," he said leaning down to kiss me.

"Oww," he winced.

"Are you okay?" I asked concerned.

"I moved the wrong way. It was worth it though," he said moving down to kiss me again.

I met him halfway to spare him the pain. When I lay back down, I allowed my eyes to close my hand reaching for Chad's. "G'night Chad."

"Night Sonshine. Sweet dreams. I love you," he said softly into my ear.

"I love you more," I said falling closer to sleep.

I could hear him whisper to himself, "I doubt that's possible," before I was off to dreamland.

Chad POV

I held Sonny in my arms as I watched her sleep. Her eyes fluttering, I wondered what she was dreaming about hoping it was me because she is always in mine. I stared down at her hair flowing lazily around me her sweet smile locked on her face even in sleep. She moved closer snuggling into my side aggravating my bruised rib for a second that was worthwhile in the end. I moved my face into her hair breathing in the intoxicating scent letting it lull me closer to sleep. I placed a kiss on her head before putting my head back to the pillow falling asleep easily. At peace, at last.

I woke up the next morning to find Sonny no longer in my arms. They felt empty, bare, and cold without her there. I saw the bathroom door closed only slightly. I got up a little stiff after the long night to see where she was. We always keep the door all the way open or closed never halfway. I was curious so I called out only loud enough to be heard so as not to wake up the kids, "Sonny where are you?"

I walked through the partially opened door to see Sonny leaning against the bathtub asleep next to the toilet, the garbage can in hand. I moved quickly over to her worried beyond belief. How could I not have noticed she left? I knelt beside her shaking her lightly trying to wake her to see if she was still alive. She aroused allowing me to let go of the breath I had been holding. I put my hand on her forehead asking, "Sonny what's wrong? Are you okay?"

She opened her eyes staring into mine, "I really don't feel good Chad."

As if to illustrate that point, she puked into the toilet. I crinkled my nose but held her hair until she was finished. "Come on honey let's get you back into bed."

I put out my hand to help pull her up the best I could with my limited range of motion and helped her along, her arm around my shoulders and mine around her waist. We got into the bedroom and she collapsed onto the bed. I helped her get her legs under the covers pulling them up to her chin. I felt her forehead again noting this time that it was hot. I went back for the garbage can putting it within easy reach. I found myself pacing back and forth. What to do? This is definitely out of my specialty.

Sonny POV

As my eyes flickered open, I could tell something was wrong and different from when I went to sleep. I sat up feeling my head spin and my stomach turn. Oh no! I raced to the bathroom only getting the door slightly closed before I ran to the toilet to spill my guts in the more literal sense. I leaned against the bathtub trying to regain my head which was still fuzzy puking again before I must have fallen asleep.

The next thing I remembered was Chad coming in asking me if I was okay. I could feel his hand on my forehead it felt good. It felt cool. What to tell him? How do I feel? Perpetually nauseous like the room is spinning like I am in a sauna and a freezer at the same time, but I only came out with, "I really don't feel good Chad," before puking. Sometimes showing is better then telling but I think this is one type of show-and-tell people would rather live without.

He helped me up trying to lift me off the ground with one arm. It was ineffective for the most part, but I mustered all my strength and helped him get me standing. Walking was easier while leaning on him probably more then I should have; only realizing that in retrospect. My head was fuzzy unclear and irrational. I got in bed happy for the covers which I held into my neck when Chad pulled them up.

He felt my head again and when I looked into his eyes he looked worried, concerned, and anxious. I wanted to tell him I was okay as he went off to the bathroom to get the garbage can, but I couldn't. I could only watch him silently as he paced the room for a few strides before coming over to me. He stroked my hair lovingly it felt good like his touch alone could heal me.

He quietly said, "Sonny I'm going to get you some Gatorade and medicine to bring your fever down. I also have to fend the kids off so they don't come in here and get sick. I'll be right back."

Whether he did come right back, I couldn't tell because I fell into unconsciousness consumed by sleep. An undeterminable time later, I woke up long enough for him to raise me to sit on the bed and drink some of the Gatorade while swallowing the pill. What did we do to deserve this special treatment in the week from hell?