A/N: Here's the next chapter! Thank you for all the feedback. I really appreciate it!!!
Thanks to HSMandChelseaFCfan for the idea in this chapter.
Disclaimer: I own nothing except my own made up characters!
October 20th, 2031 4:00 am (Gabi's POV)
Rolling over and letting my hand rest in the place usually reserved for my husband, a frown crossed my face. I knew today was going to be an interesting day. Moments later, I heard the alarm sound. Pushing myself off the bed, I walked the short distance between the bed and the bathroom.
Letting the warm water pound over me, gave me a chance to really think about today and how it would change us all. Rubbing my hair dry, I put some light makeup on before pulling my hair back into a pony tail. Taking my light blue scrubs out, I quickly got dressed before putting my nonskid white tennis shoes.
Taking a deep breath, I walked out of our room and started for the kids' room. I stopped at Josh's first knowing it would take him the longest time to wake up.
"Josh, it's time to wake up." Softly shaking him, he rolled over and groaned loudly.
Stretching and groaning even more, he cracked his eyes open. "It's too early mom."
I shook my head and smiled a little. "I'm sorry sweetie, you wanted to come to the hospital with me."
"I know and I'm up. Is anyone else up?" His groggy voice caused me to smile.
"No you were the first one since you're the hardest to get up." Walking towards the door, I turned and gave him one final look.
"Finish getting up." Walking out the door, I headed towards the other kids' rooms.
By 4:10 all the kids were semi awake. I headed downstairs after grabbing some games to keep the kids occupied in the waiting room. Walking into the kitchen and hearing absolute silence caused me to worry a little.
"Rise and shine you guys. It's going to be a great day." I grinned as they shot me murderous glares.
Aidan shook his head before finishing his orange juice. "It's too early mom. How can you be so happy?"
"I'm going into the OR again today. It's a great day." Mack and Belle yawned loudly as I continued to grin.
"I didn't even know my alarm clock had a 4 am." Josh complained while I looked at the younger children.
"J.J., Jake, Cassie, and Lily are you guys going to be all right?" I worried about the younger ones.
They nodded before yawns escaped their mouths again. "Why don't you guys go get some stuff to take to the hospital so you're not bored?" I suggested as they took their time moving out of the kitchen.
Mack and Belle waited until the younger ones were out of the kitchen before turning towards me. "How long will the surgery take?"
"It depends on several factors but Dr. Weavers said anywhere from hour and a half to three hours."
"Will you come out and tell us how it went?" The question took me by surprise as it left Aidan's mouth.
Locking eyes with him, I could see how worried he was. "Dr. Weaver appointed me head nurse so yes I will be the one to come see you guys."
"Are you scared mom?" Mack's wide eyes made me think the question carefully.
Shaking my head and looking at her, my smile disappeared from my face. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared. Surgery is always a big thing for a patient to undergo and I'm just worried."
Mack and Aidan pushed their chairs back before coming to standing in front of me. "Mom dad's going to be fine. You're going to be in the OR with him."
I shook my head and started to say something but the swinging door was thrown open and the younger kids came marching in.
The clock on the wall caught my attention as I looked around the table. "You guys ready?"
Eight kids nodded their heads as we gathered our stuff and headed towards the car. "Are Brandon, Miranda, Josh, and Carly meeting you guys up there?"
"Their parents wanted them to wait until 7 to come up. We told them we'd meet them in the waiting room." Mack spoke up as I nodded.
Looking in the back seat, I saw the tired eyes of mine and Troy's kids. "Do you guys have everything you need? If not, go get it really quickly."
Jake and Cassie ran into the house quickly as the others stayed in car with me. "Did you call us into school mom?"
I racked my brain trying to figure out if I did or not. "Yeah I did. Grandpa was going to call you guys in as well."
Silence hung among us before Cassie and Jake came back out. The shutting of the door caught my attention. "Are we ready to go?"
Watching eight heads nod, I smiled and started to back out of the driveway and headed on our way.
4:35 am
Standing outside of Troy's hospital room, I looked at the eager eight faces. "Remember you guys can't get your dad excited. He needs to stay calm."
I waited until I saw heads nod before slowly opening the door. I smiled seeing Troy watching the door with careful grace.
"Oh wow; who's that hot woman dressed in scrubs that just came into my room?" Troy exclaimed as I shook my head before walking over to the side of the bed.
"You're in a good mood." Leaning over, I placed a sweet, wet kiss on his lips which he grinned at.
"Eh I'm in an all right mood." He shrugged before seeing the kids behind me.
I picked up his chart and looked at what was written inside while the kids chatted with their dad. I placed the chart down before looking at Troy.
His eyes locked with mine as I placed my hand on my hips. "It says you didn't get any sleep last night."
I watched his eyes went wide as he knew he had been caught. "I couldn't shut my eyes last night. I was too wound up with the thought of you being in the OR with me."
Shaking my head I watched Aidan, Mack, Belle, and Josh trade looks with each other.
"Can I talk to Aidan and Josh for a minute?" Troy spoke up as I nodded ushering the rest of the kids out of the room.
"How about we go find the waiting room and put all of our stuff down?" I suggested hoping the other kids would follow without a fight.
Troy's POV
I waited until the door was shut before turning to my two oldest sons. They looked nervous as to why I asked to talk to them.
"Boys relax. I just wanted to tell you guys if anything should happen, I want you guys to look after your sisters and brothers as well as your mom." Aidan's mouth dropped as I said those words.
"Dad . . ." He shook his head. "Don't talk like that."
"Aidan, I'm not trying to bring down your spirit but if something goes wrong, I want to tell you all of this."
"Dad you're going to be fine in surgery. Mom's going to be right by your side." Josh looked at me.
"I know that but you two need to think about if something does happen. You two are going to be the men of the house. I just wanted to tell you two that I'm so proud of you. You two are two of the best sons a dad could ask for." I looked at them with a smile on my face.
"I love you dad." Aidan held his hand out for me to take.
"I love you too son. Josh I love you too buddy." I shook hands with him before looking at them both.
"Promise me you'll look after your siblings and your mom. If anything does happen, she's going to be a wreck." They both nodded their heads.
Changing the subject I brought up the basketball game that had occurred the night before. We sat there talking before a knock on the door interrupted us.
"Aidan, Josh, Miranda and Carly are here. They're in the waiting room." Mack and Belle came into the room with tear stained cheeks.
"Good luck dad. We'll be rooting for you." Aidan and Josh shook my head before Mack and Belle came into the room.
"Quit crying you two. I'm not going anywhere." I looked at the two beautiful girls standing in front of me.
"Daddy . . ." Mack sobbed before I looked at her. "Mack nothing is going to happen."
I sighed looking at the two who had grown up way too soon. "But I need to tell you something."
Waiting for them to calm down some, I took a deep breath. "If something does happen, I told Aidan and Josh to look after you as well as your siblings. But most importantly, look after your mom. She's going to be a wreck."
"We will dad. But you have to be all right after this surgery." Belle pleaded with me.
"I'll try my hardest Belle. I love you girls." I looked at them.
"We love you too daddy. Do you want us to send in the little ones?" Mack asked.
Nodding my head, I felt a yawn escape my mouth. "Yeah send them in."
I looked around the room and prayed that I would come out of the surgery all right. The door opened again and I saw my four youngest children coming in shyly.
"Come on in you guys." Gabi pushed them into the room before standing by the door letting me have some time with them.
"What's wrong guys?" Worried flickered in my eyes as I looked over at Gabi who just smiled shakily.
"You're having surgery. We're worried about you daddy." Lily said as I shook my head.
"Dad's got the best surgeon here. And mom's going to be in the OR with him. I'm going to be fine." I tried to convince them.
"Are you sure?" J.J. looked at me with worried eyes as I shook my head.
"I'm pretty sure. I love you guys." I smiled watching them trade looks.
"I love you too daddy." Cassie and Lily wrapped their arms around my neck as I squeezed them tightly.
"How about you go find Mack and Belle and bug them." I smiled as smiles crossed their faces.
"I love you J.J. and Jake." I hugged both of them before they followed Cassie and Lily out the door.
Gabi stepped closer to the bed and gave me a look. "You were talking to the boys?"
"Yeah I talked to them. What's wrong, Gabi?" I asked knowing she was worried.
"You told the boys in case you don't make it," She paused not able to finish her sentence.
"I told them I love them in case I don't make it. That's all Gabi. I know Dr. Weaver is the best in this hospital but I'm taking the necessary steps in case I don't wake up." I stood my ground as she took a seat in the chair next to the bed.
"Troy you're going to make it. Please start having a positive outlook?" She begged as I smiled.
"I do have a positive outlook but I wanted to make sure the kids know I love them." I put my hands on top of hers and smiled.
"They know you love them. There's no doubt there but they're just worried about you." She sighed.
I placed my finger under her chin before pushing it upward. "Gabi . . . I love you."
A slight smile crossed her face before shaking her head. "I love you too. How can I stay mad at you?"
"You can't. I'm just irresistible like that." I grinned as she reached over and smacked me lightly.
I love the wires that were attached to me before patting the space I had created. "Come on Gabi. Get up here."
I watched her hesitate before sliding onto the bed. I wrapped my arms around her as she laid her head on my chest. "I'm scared Troy."
"I am too but I'm trying to stay strong for you and the kids." Leaning over I kissed her forehead.
Silence washed over us as I just held her in my arms. I heard the door open and in walked Amy, Gabi's long time nursing friend.
"I heard you were in here. And you're going back into the OR?" Amy looked at us with wide eyes.
"Yeah I'm going back to the OR. I'm a little nervous." I said making a face at her.
"You'll be fine. I'm in the OR today too. So Troy, you'll have two of the best nurses around in the OR with you today." Amy said as he laughed.
We caught up on what was happening before another knock sounded at the door. Amy walked over and opened it revealing my parents, Jack and Amanda on the other side.
"Can we see the patient for a few minutes?" They walked into the room with smiles on their faces.
"Sure. Not long though; the nurses are going to be in a few minutes to start prepping him." Amy warned.
Gabi leaned over and kissed me before walking out of the room with Amy ahead of her.
"Troy, you're going to be fine. We just wanted to tell you that we love you and wishing you all the best." Mom looked at me as I smiled.
"Thanks mom. Will you keep the kids busy and not worrying about me?" Looking between them, mom and dad both smile.
"Of course we will. Good luck sweetie." Mom reached over and kissed my cheek.
"Thanks. Dad." I held out my hand as he gave it a shook.
The conversation was light and airy before the door was pushed open and a nurse came into the room.
She frowned before looking at us. "I'm sorry but it is time to start prepping Mr. Bolton for surgery."
Mom and dad said their goodbyes before I watched them walk out of the room. The nurse prepped me and started to move my bed closer and closer to the OR.
I watched the lights pass over head and tried not to think about the next three hours. As we got nearer to the OR, I heard children's voices and a smile crossed my face.
"You have a few minutes until we take you in. Please do not excite him." The nurse said with a monotone voice.
"Dad we had to see you again before they took you in." Mack's smiling face caused me to chuckle.
"Brandon, Josh take care of the girls. They're going to be criers today." I shook my head knowing how right I was. They both nodded their heads; giving me their promise.
"Daddy stop." Belle smiled taking my hand in hers. "Sweet girl, don't cry. Just enjoy your day off school and it'll be over before you know it."
Mack, Aidan, Belle, and Josh just shook their heads at me as their significant others looked on.
The time flew before it was time for Gabi to escort me into the Operating Room. She stopped me under a huge light. She ran a hand through her hair before looking into my eyes.
"I love you and I promise I'll be in recover once you wake up. Now I'm going to . . ." The smile on her face made me doubt think what I had requested her to do.
"What?" I asked looking up into her big beautiful brown eyes.
"I'm going to have to ask you to count back from 10." Gabi said as another woman came stepping up.
"My name's Molly, Mr. Bolton. Gabi has told us so much about you. Now start counting back from 10." She said as I started.
"10 . . . 9 . . ." I trailed off not realizing I was slowly drifting off to never, never land.
In the Waiting Room 9:00 am
"What's taking so long?" Belle asked looking between Danforth and her older brother.
"We have to be patient, Belle. Surgery is an interesting and painful long process." I spoke up looking over at my younger sister.
"Just because you're a senior in high school, Mack, you don't know shit." Aidan spoke up as I stuck my tongue out at him.
"Mack, Aidan stop while you're ahead." Grandpa spoke up looking between the two of us.
"What's taking them so long grandpa? The surgery, according to Dr. Weaver, told us it would take about two hours. Well we're at the two hour mark." Josh spoke up.
"Some time, in surgery, things take more time than planned. We'll just have to wait." Grandma looked between us kids and grandpa.
We settled in and half listened to the noise coming from the television. My eyes found Cassie and Lily who were giggling about something and J.J. and Jake throwing bits of paper towards the giggling girls.
I looked towards the door mom said she would come through once she had news and saw it fly open. My voice got caught in my throat when I saw mom standing there with blood stains on her scrubs.
"Mom." Aidan gasped as she came closer to us with a small smile on her face.
"Mom how did it go?" Belle and Danforth locked hands as did Aidan and Carly and Josh and Miranda.
Brandon came behind me and put his hands on my shoulders knowing whatever the news may be, he was standing behind me.
"It went well but there was a complication . . ." Mom trailed off looking among us.
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