A/N: Here's the next chapter! Thank you for all the feedback. I really appreciate it!!!
Thanks to HorseLover20693 for the idea in this chapter. Also thank you to MandySueeeee for her help in this chapter!!!
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own made up characters!
October 19, 2031 2:00 pm (Belle's POV)
"I have something to tell you guys." Mom looked between the four of us before looking towards the ground.
"Mom what's wrong with dad?" Aidan asked voicing the question that was on our minds.
"Your dad had a mild heart attack; he's fine but it's a huge wake up call for him and for us." Mom said taking a deep breath.
Aidan and I traded looks before looking back at mom. "That's not possible. Dad's the fittest of all of us."
"It doesn't just have to do with staying fit. Your dad's been under a lot of stress lately." Mom took another deep breath before letting it out slowly.
"He has? He hasn't shown it." Mack said looking at us with a confused look on her face.
"There's been something going on with him for the past few days but I couldn't put my finger on it. He admitted there's some stuff going on at the restaurant that he didn't want us to worry about." Unseen looks by mom were traded among my siblings and me.
"It is serious?" Josh hugged Miranda close to his side before questioning mom.
"Nothing that the four of you need to worry about. Now dad wants to see you four as well as your counterparts; his words not mine." Mom smiled the first true smile in a while as we laughed.
"We called Aunt Sharpay and Aunt Taylor to tell them what's going on. They send their love." Mack spoke up.
"Thanks. Now we can't excite him when we go see him. He's going to be drugged up and a little out of it." Mom warned us.
"What happens when he goes home? How is our life going to change?" I asked knowing something was going to happen.
"Your dad has to take it easy for a couple of weeks and try to cut out the majority of the stress in his life." Mom sighed.
"And if he doesn't?" Aidan asked as my eyes flew up to meet his.
"We'll deal with that when we get to that point. Now how about we go cheer dad up a little?" Mom looked between us and smiled.
We weaved our way through the ER until we came to where the rooms where located. Mom expertly knew her way through the corridors as I smiled. I had forgotten she was once a nurse and she had navigated the hallways with ease. She slowed coming to stop in front of one of the large rooms. "Remember no excitement for him."
Mom eyed us individually before gently pushing open the door. We walked in as she followed us in. She walked over to the side of the bed before kissing dad's forehead gently.
"Troy?" She waited a minute before grasping his hand with hers. "Come on sweetie. You have some visitors."
His eyes fluttered open before a smile stretched across his face. "Hey guys. You didn't have to stay here."
Mack, Miranda, Carly, and I each tried to smile but were unsuccessful. "We had to dad. We wanted to see how you were doing."
"Aww Belle I'm all right. The doctors got me on some meds and they're monitoring me." Dad smiled his brightest smile as I shook my head.
Josh came up beside me and grasped my hand with his. He gave me a reassuring smile which I was grateful for.
We stood there and casually shot the breeze with dad until he yawned. "Guys I think your dad needs rest. We'll come visit you later, Troy."
"I'm not tired, Gabi. Let them stay." Dad stubbornly replied to which mom gave him a look.
"Troy you need your rest. Remember, no overdoing it." Mom was strict when she needed to be and there was no way dad was going to win this battle.
"Don't worry dad; we'll come back tomorrow and see you." Aidan spoke up as dad held up his hand.
"You take care of your siblings, Aidan." Dad said as Aidan promised he would.
Josh said goodbye to dad before joining Aidan, Miranda, and Carly out into the hall.
"Brandon, Josh take care of these two. They're going to be emotional these next few days." Dad eyed our boyfriends with a smile on his face.
"Don't worry about it, Troy. We'll do our best." Brandon and Josh both promised.
"Get some rest daddy and we'll see you tomorrow." Mack leaned over and hugged him.
"You take care of yourself. You're eating for two now." Dad looked between Mack and Brandon as she smiled.
"I will daddy." She said before leaving the room. Josh, mom, and I were the only ones in the room with dad.
"Can I have a moment with dad alone?" I asked looking between mom and Josh.
Mom hesitated for a minute before nodding her head. Josh kissed my forehead before leaving the room.
I drew the chair closer to the side of the bed as dad watched me curious of why I wanted to talk to him alone. "What's bugging you Anabelle?"
"I was so scared, dad." I promised myself that no tears would fall down my face as I talked to him.
"I know you were Belle but I'm all right now. The doctors caught it and no permanent damage occurred." Dad convinced me as I struggled to hide my tears.
"I don't want to lose you. I'm only 15 years old." I looked at his worn out tired face.
"Belle, you're not going to lose me. You're stuck with me for at least another thirty years." I smiled a little.
"You promise?" I asked knowing I was being childish.
"I promise, Belle. Now go on home and take care of your younger siblings. Your mom and I will tell them what happened." Dad looked at me.
"I love you daddy." I stood up and gave him a half hug.
"I love you too Belle. Go on now and I'll see you tomorrow." He gave me his famous smile as I walked out of the room.
Once out in the hall, I went straight to Josh's arms and cried. The tears I had been holding in were finally released. He rubbed his hand up and down my back trying to calm me down. "Shh Belle, everything is going to be all right."
I shook my head listening to his whispers in my ear. I wanted to believe it but I couldn't; not in my heart. Not until my dad was out of the hospital and at home with me and my siblings.
"Uh . . . guys we're heading home." Aidan stammered coming up to Josh and me.
"We're coming." Josh quietly told Aidan before guiding me down the hall and out to where the cars were parked.
Josh helped me into the car before we were whisked away back to the house. I kept my head in Josh's chest the entire way back to the house. The only time I looked up was when the car came to a stop in the driveway.
I pushed away from Josh and ran up the stairs before closing the door and going to sit on the window seat in my room. I grabbed Mr. Bubbles, the stuffed bear dad had gotten me for my second birthday. He was ragged but still had the scent of the cologne that dad used to wear. I stuffed my face into trying to keep more tears from coming.
A gentle knock came at the door but I just ignored it. I focused on Mack, Aidan, Brandon, and Carly standing on the basketball court talking to each other. I watched their every move. I felt someone put their hand on my shoulder as I continued to stare out the window.
"Belle . . ." He dragged my name out as I shook my head.
"You must think I'm the biggest baby ever." I quietly looked back at him with a grim look on my face.
"You're worried about your dad. And I don't think you're a big baby. But Belle, he's going to be fine." Josh sat down across from me and gave me a look.
"I know but I still have that feeling something is going to happen." I frowned hearing a loud noise coming from downstairs.
Josh must have seen my expression because he jumped on the opportunity. "Your mom wanted all of her children home with her."
"J.J., Jake, Lily, and Cassie are all home?" My eyes went wide when he slowly nodded.
"Yeah your mom wanted all the kids home for support and unity." Josh grasped my hand and squeezed it.
I nodded my head and looked at my ragged teddy bear. Josh gently took it out of my hands and looked at it. He smiled running his hand over the bear.
"How long have you had this?" Josh handed the bear back to me and smiled.
"Dad got it for me when I turned two. I would constantly steal Mack's so dad decided to get me my own. He named it Mr. Bubbles and the name stuck." I smiled wiping the fallen tears away from my cheeks.
"Belle your dad is going to be coming home soon. You should be happy; not sitting here crying." Josh looked at me as I nodded.
I stayed quiet not really listening to him talk. The figures outside caught my attention. I stayed quiet not really knowing what to say.
Gabi's POV
"Mack, Aidan, Josh can you guys come into the house?" I asked the three older ones knowing Josh Danforth was upstairs talking with Belle.
"What's up mom?" Aidan came walking behind me as I made my way to the living room.
"I want to talk to the younger four and I want you guys there." I looked at the three of them.
"Where's Belle?" Josh asked as I sighed loudly.
"Her and Josh are upstairs talking. She's taking this really hard." I told them.
"Is she going to be all right?" Aidan's eyes were worried about his younger sister.
"I think so; it's just going to take time and patience with your sister. She's having a hard time right now." I told them as all three of them nodded.
"I'm going to get the younger four. I'll be back." Mack said rushing upstairs and disappearing into the playroom.
A few minutes later we heard the rushing on the stairs and finally four faces appeared in the entry way. I put on a smile and turned and looked at them.
"Come in guys. I wanna talk to you." I watched them sit on the couch before I took a seat on the coffee table in front of the couch.
"What's wrong mom?" Cassie asked bouncing her legs up and down as her and Lily giggled.
"Something happened." I started watching the four of them calm down some. "What's wrong momma?" Jake asked.
I felt a hand on my shoulder before looking back and seeing Aidan standing directly behind me.
"Where's daddy, mom?" J.J. asked as tears clouded my vision of my youngest children.
"He's in the hospital." I told them quietly as they traded looks with each other.
"Is he hurt?" Lily asked the concern visible in her voice.
"He had some heart trouble." I looked at them and their concern faces.
"He doesn't have a heart?" Jake questioned as the other three erupted in giggles.
I smiled seeing how innocent the kids really were. Aidan, Mack, and Josh laughed before I turned the mood back to somber.
"Do you know what a heart attack is?" I watched the kids' faces go to concern to confuse.
I tried to put it into terms that the 6 and 8 years old would understand. I told them what had happened and explained that dad would be in the hospital for a couple of days but he would be home soon.
"So his heart is bad?" Lily's eyes furrowed as I smiled and shook my head.
"No it was just blocked but the doctors made it all better. Dad's going to be fine." I smiled looking at them.
"So what do we do now?" Jake looked between me and his other siblings.
"How about you guys go make him some get well cards? I'm sure he'll love those." I suggested as they gave me hugs before running into the kitchen.
I put my head in my hands before Aidan started rubbing my back. "At least they know now, mom."
"I hope I didn't confuse them more." I picked my head up and looked at him.
"They needed to know mom. They were bound to ask question sometime or another." Mack spoke up.
"Yeah I guess so. Can you guys hold down the fort so I can go see dad one more time tonight?" I looked between Mack, Aidan, and Josh.
"Yeah we can. Miranda, Carly, and Brandon are coming back over later on tonight to hang out. We'll get pizza for dinner." I nodded after listening to Aidan's words.
"Thank you so much." I locked eyes with each of them individually.
"It's not a problem mom. I'll try talking to Belle later on tonight too." Mack nodded her head.
"Let me try first. I'm going to go up there. Keep an eye on your siblings." I told them pushing myself off the coffee table before walking up the stairs.
I stopped suddenly seeing mine and Troy's wedding picture hanging on the end of the hallway. I smiled walking up to it. I touched it remember how happy we were that day. "Oh Troy." I sighed.
I pushed away from the wall before walking over to Belle's door. I knocked gently before pushing it open.
"Belle can I talk to you a minute?" I quietly walked into her room. My eyes softened seeing Belle curled up in Josh's embrace.
"Sure mom. Can you give us a minute?" She asked her boyfriend as he nodded.
"I'll be downstairs." He walked out the door before closing it gently behind him.
I sat down sighing before grasping her hand tightly. "You wanna talk?"
She shook her head before looking at me. "Why did this happen to dad? When we're little, we think our parents are invincible; nothing is every going to happen to them and then something like this happens."
"I don't know why this happened but it did. The good news is that dad's going to be fine. He's going to be coming home in a couple of days and our lives will return to normal." She laughed as I finished talking.
"Mom, when was the last time our lives were normal? I mean they might as well dedicate a room in the hospital to the Boltons. This is the third hospital visit in a little over a month." I laughed listening to her talk.
"I bet they'll do that. I'm banning hospitals for at least the next four weeks." I told her.
"Thanks mom. You're the strongest person I know." Belle reached over and gave me a hug.
"You're pretty strong yourself. I'm going to go in a few minutes back up to the hospital. Will you help Mack, Aidan, and Josh with the kids?" Mom questioned.
"I will. Tell dad that we love him." She asked as I nodded.
"He knows but I'll remind him. Any time you need to talk, I'm here Belle." I told her.
"I know." She hesitated for a minute before looking at me. "Do you miss it?"
"Miss what?" I was confused at what she was asking.
"Do you miss working at the hospital?" Belle asked as I weighed the answer.
"Do I miss working? Yes but I would never trade the experience I've had raising you 8 kids. It was nice knowing the hospital like the back of my hand but I love being a stay at home mom too much." I smiled as she smiled.
"I'm glad you're not working at the hospital anymore." Belle told me. "You might have been working when dad collapsed."
"I might have been but I wasn't. I was at home and you older kids were quick on your feet. You guys helped dad out a lot." I told her.
"I love you mom." Belle reached forward and gave me a hug.
"I love you too Belle." I told her kissed her forehead.
Together we walked downstairs to see what the rest of the family was up to. Hearing giggles and laughter coming from the kitchen, we walked in to see the seven kids laughing about something only they knew.
"Belle!" Lily and Cassie yelled before running up to her.
"Hey guys. Whatcha doing?" Belle kneeled down looking at her two younger sisters.
"Makin' cards for daddy. You wanna help?" Cassie shoved a pink marker in Belle's hand.
"I'd love to. Let's go." Belle took their hand before walking over to the table.
"Ok guys I'm going to go. I'll be home later. I left money on the counter for pizza. Behave J.J., Jake, Cassie, and Lily." I warned looking at the younger ones.
"We will mom. Tell dad we all say hi." J.J. told me as I smiled.
"I will. Behave you guys. I'll see you guys later." I told them grabbing my purse and heading out the door.
"Wait momma. Give this to him." Cassie handed me a big card that they all had signed and drew pictures of.
"I'll give this to him. We'll call you guys if dad's up for it." I told them smiling.
I walked out the door and headed to my SUV. I got in and started driving back towards the hospital knowing it would time for me to get answers out of my husband.
4:00 pm
I walked into Troy's hospital room to see him staring out the window with a faint smile on his face. The opening the door caused him to look over at me.
"What are you doing back?" His tired voice asked me as I smiled.
"I wanted to come see how you were doing. The eight kids are at home and they were coloring when I left." I said handing him the card Cassie had given me before I left.
He smiled looking through it. I sat down and grasped my hand in his. "Troy look at me."
He put the card down and looked over at me. "What's going on in your mind, pretty girl?"
"I was so scared for you. Before I left, I talked to Belle." I looked over at him.
"She talked to me about being scared and worried about me." Troy told me.
"She said the same thing to me. She's scared about your health." I looked at him.
"Things got a little stressed at work. I swear that's all." Troy told me with a forceful tone in his voice.
"Then if it's a little stressed why haven't you been getting enough sleep the past few days?" I asked as his eyes flew to mine.
"What are you talking about?" His eyes rose challenging me to tell him what I knew.
"I know about the nights you didn't come to come to bed until 3 in the morning just to be up at 6 again. What's going on Troy? What are you telling me?" I squeezed his hand.
"There's been some stuff going on at work; stuff I didn't want you or the kids to know." He sighed as I looked at him in worry.
"What kinds of things, Troy? This isn't good. I understand running a restaurant is hard, stressful, and private but when it affects your health, it becomes my business." I ran my hand up and down his arm.
"I've had to fire some people because of their poor work ethic. I didn't want you or the kids to worry about me so I didn't say anything." Troy told me.
"Listen to me; I love you and I'm going to be by your side the entire time. I'm not leaving. I love you too much to leave your side. But you have to start telling me things." I told him.
"I know and I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?" His eyes bore into mine as I smiled.
"After all we've been through, how can I not forgive you? I love you Troy." I bent over and kissed him.
"I love you too." He told me after he broke the kiss. He ran his thumb over my knuckles as we enjoyed the silence between us.
The opening of the door caused us to look over at the wide open door. A man in a white coat grasped a folder and looked at us with a worried look on his face.
"Mr. Bolton, my name is Dr. Weaver. I'm the lead Cardiologist on your case. I have the results to your tests."
Cliffhanger again . . . I know you guys hate it. Feedback would be awesome. Thank you to everyone who has submitted feedback. It is very appreciated and loved!!!! I'll be updating this weekend so be on the look out for it!!!