***THREE YEAR TIME JUMP***
Ages-the guys are 49, Jane is 48, Lilly is 47, the twins are 24, Amber is 23, Daiji is 23, Derek is 24, Kevin is 28, Angelique is 19, William is 17, Titian is 15, Aenya is 4, Aiden is 3.
Chapter 37: Life Goes On
Aenya shot across the hallway and laughed as Aiden scrambled after her. The two giggled as they chased each other. Just barely avoiding the sleeping infant on the floor beside Daiji.
She gave the two sharp looks and then her gaze flicked toward her sleeping son.
"Soory," the two chimed.
Daiji smiled and shook her head.
"It's ok just be careful," she whispered.
The door opened and Derek stepped through, still in uniform from work.
"Well aren't we all having a party," he ended in a whisper when he spotted Daiji hushing him.
Derek smiled and glanced down at the sleeping infant, Derek laid down and stretched out beside his son, gently stroking the boy's back. The boy fussed a little and opened his silvery-green eyes, eyes he had inherited from his mother and grandfather.
Though that was the only thing he really had in common with them, he looked nearly identical to his own father, the same darker skin tone, the same dark hair, and the same classical Cherokee features.
"Hello Rio," Derek whispered, "How's my little Waya?"
Rio yawned and curled back up, lightly grasping his father's finger before going back to sleep.
"Why are the terrible two here?" Derek teased as he glanced back over his shoulder at Aenya and Aiden.
"Jade is running the shop since Jaden's sick and Amber now has what Jaden's got.
"Hmm, not good," Derek whispered.
"Thankfully Uncle Don gave these two a quick look over to make sure they didn't have it before I grabbed them and brought them up here to play," Daiji whispered.
"How's Kevin holding up?" Derek asked, wincing when he remembered the near tragic crash with another police car during a chase.
Daiji shuttered a little.
"Much better than he was," she sighed, "I was going to check on him when you got home. Jade's been texting me all day. Raph I guess just about sent her home since she's so worried.
"Old grouchy running that place by himself?" Derek teased.
"Oh he'd kill you if he heard you say that," Daiji giggled, "he did it before Jade and Jaden graduated…four years by himself running that place."
"True," Derek replied, glancing back at the toddlers before gently kissing his son's forehead and pulling away, "I'm going to go clean up and then I'll make dinner while you go to check on Kevin."
"Sounds good," Daiji replied as Derek got up and slipped off toward the bathroom.
Twenty minutes later he came out drying his hair with a towel and wearing jeans and a simple T-shirt.
Daiji was in the kitchen by then, Rio cradled on a hip as she sorted through the freezer to find something for dinner.
Aiden and Aenya were watching cartoons in the other room, Aenya cuddling with her doll and Aiden laying on his stomach with a battered looking stuffed sea turtle under one arm.
Derek chuckled when he spotted the toy.
"That turtle was Jaden's wasn't it?" Derek asked softly.
Daiji smiled before handing off Rio to his father.
"Yep, I had one two but Jade and Jaden's dogs got a hold of it and ripped it to bits. I cried for days," Daiji said.
Derek chuckled a little and cradled his son close as Daiji finished getting things out.
"You have these three under control?" Daiji asked.
"Shrek is on…Rio is half asleep. I've got it under control," Derek replied, glancing toward the toddlers.
~*~
Kevin's eyes fluttered open when Daiji peeked into the master bedroom.
"He 'cuz how're you feeling?" Daiji whispered as she walked over to him.
Kevin winced as he turned his head.
"Sore but better than I was. Where're Jade and Aiden?" he whispered, making an attempt to sit up and just making it.
His chest was tightly wrapped in bandages that became visible as he sat up. He winced and grabbed his head, which was also tightly wrapped up.
"Easy," Daiji ordered as he grabbed his head.
"Sorry I thought I was going to be ok to sit up," Kevin mumbled, "how are Bruce and Jack?"
"Jade said they doing fine, better than you. Now take it easy or Jade'll kill me if you don't take it easy," Daiji scolded.
"I'll take care of him Daiji," Jade chuckled as she walked in behind her cousin, "lay down even my uncle said you need to take it easy."
Kevin grumbled but laid back and relaxed onto the pillows, gripping his head.
Jade sat beside him and kissed his forehead.
"Take it easy," Jade ordered before following Daiji back out into the main hall.
Daiji turned toward her cousin and started to speak.
"Dad sent me home," Jade answered the started question.
Daiji relaxed and shook her head.
"Shop slow or something?" Daiji asked.
"Nah, busy as usual but I was worried and he said that I just better head home because I was more worried than focused. How's Jaden?" Jade replied.
"My mom said his fever broke about an hour ago and dad has been checking in on him, but Amber's got it now," Daiji sighed.
Jade flinched.
"Yuck, wait do you have both of the toddlers?" Jade gasped, "and little Rio?"
Daiji smiled.
"They've been good and Rio's been in a good mood so I've been fine, though Derek just got home and is probably tired," Daiji sighed.
"Are they still trying to get him to start working nights?" Jade asked as she slipped out with Daiji toward the newest wing of the building.
"Yeah, he says he just might have to because they're so short on people right now," Daiji sighed.
Jade shook her head and muttered angrily.
Kevin's off work for another three weeks if he's lucky. I'll never forget that call," Jade whispered.
Daiji sent a comforting glance toward her cousin.
They froze when they opened the door and spotted the toddlers surrounding Derek and Rio in his bouncer.
Derek was standing, soaking wet, and glaring at the two children.
Aenya and Aiden were laughing.
"Oh you little," Derek growled.
Both Daiji and Jade started laughing.
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