A\N: Thank you so much to everybody who has been reading and reviewing this story. This chapter is dedicated to a very good friend of mine.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything you recognize as being from SSD or Disney.
Spoilers: None
Warinings: None
Chapter 35
Life at the O'Toole house had been hectic to say the least for the past two days. Lucas and Matthew were missing going to school and seeing their friends and Julia and all three children were missing their parents. The children fought and argued almost all day and Joe was always having to talk to the kids about something that had happened. Today both Matthew and Lucas were going to have video chat sessions with their teacher ad fellow classmates, something they were both very much looking forward to. Joe however could not figure out how to load up the video streaming on the TV. He had read the instructions Shane had texted but couldn't figure out what to do; and the last thing he wanted to do was do something to the TV and not be able to get it back so the children could watch TV.
Joe turned to his grandsons who were playing with LEGO's, "I'm sorry guys. I can't figure out how Mommy switches the TV so you can talk to your friends. I know you wanted to see everyone on a big screen. I can get you set up on your IPad's though."
"No!" Lucas shook his head angrily, "I want to use the TV! Why can't Mommy come?" He crossed his arms and frowned.
"Mommy and Daddy want to help the doctors and nurses look after your new baby sister Elizabeth. You saw how small she was, because if this disease it's not safe for Mommy and Daddy to be here and the hospital. They loved you and miss you. You two know that, you talked to them last night. I know things are hard right now, but I think I have a few things that'll cheer you and two and Julia up. But first we need to get you two connected to your class video chats. Come on Matthew, yours starts in ten minutes. Where's your IPad?"
"It's charging Grandpa!" Matthew took his grandfather's hand and led him into the kitchen.
Lucas stayed in the family room and played with the LEGO's when Julia came in. She was singing her favourite song from the Little Mermaid using an Ariel hairbrush she called a microphone. This was a regular occurrence in the O'Toole household as Julia was always singing something. It used to be Baby Shark but now she loved the Little Mermaid more and so she constantly sang songs from her favourite movie. Her ultimate favourite song from that movie was A Part of Your World."
Lucas groaned but continued to build his superhero tower. He was tired of that song but knew his sister loved it as much as he loved superhero movie and Star Wars. He did what his parents taught him to do when he got frustrated and took a few deep breaths. "Don't dance over my LEGO's," He warned Julia as she started dancing closer to where he was playing. Just then Julia spun around and accidently knocked over the LEGO structure.
"Julia!" Lucas shot up and angrily glared at his little sister, "You broke it! I hate you! I hate girls!" He started hitting her.
Julia started her brother back as much as she could, "Grandpa help!" She yelled loudly.
"Hey! Hey!" Joe separated the two children, he looked at Julia's face and saw where Lucas had hit her. He suspected there would be bruises on her face, "Lucas, you do not hit your sister. You do not use your hands for hitting. Ever!" He looked at the boy, "Now tell me what happened, and we'll talk about what you could have done."
"No!" Lucas yelled.
"Yes!" Joe looked around the room hoping to find some clue as to what had made Lucas so angry. He saw Lucas' knocked over LEGO structure and figured Julia must have knocked it down. "Did Julia knock your superhero tower down?"
Lucas nodded his head, "I told not to. But she didn't listen. Girls are stupid."
"Lucas, I know you know that's not a nice word to use. I'm glad you told Julia not to touch your tower. Julia," Joe looked at his granddaughter "Why didn't you listen to Lucas?"
"I was dancing," Julia explained. "I'm not Julia I'm Ariel," She corrected.
"I hate girls!" Lucas complained.
"Julia, I know you like dancing but when your brothers or other friends ask you not to touch their toys you need to listen. You want to be ready for Kindergarten, right?"
"Yes," Julia nodded her head, "I want to be a big Kindergarten girl." She said excitedly.
"Well then you need to learn how to listen to your brothers and friends. In Kindergarten listening is very important. You can start now, help Lucas build his tower again. Listen to what he says and then help him. Lucas you ask Julia nicely to help."
"Okay," Lucas nodded his head, "Julia please pick up the red LEGO's."
"Okay Lucas," Julia began to pick up all of the red LEGO and put them into a pile.
"Good job," Joe praised,
After Matthew had his virtual circle with his class it was time for Lucas to have his. While Lucas was talking to his class Matthew got pencils and pencil crayons and paper and sat at the kitchen table. He practiced writing words he knew how to spell like 'Lucas' 'Matthew' 'Julia' 'the' 'cat' and 'dog'
"Grandpa," Matthew carried his paper and pencil into the family room where Joe was playing house with Julia "How do you spell Elizabeth? I made Mommy a card and Daddy a card. I want to make Elizabeth a card."
"Oh well that's a very good idea Matthew, very sweet. Although you know Mommy, Daddy and Elizabeth won't be able to see the cards until Elizabeth can come home."
"I know. Mrs. Goodwin said I could write cards because I missed them. Mommy and Daddy like cards and letters. I want to write a card for Elizabeth too."
"Yes, they do," Joe chuckled, "Well how about I write the name Elizabeth for you on a piece of paper then you can write it on your own paper," He stood up, "Julia, I'll be right back alright?"
"Can I draw a picture for baby Elizabeth?" Julia asked.
"Sure, you clean up your toys and then you can." Joe explained to her.
An hour later Lucas as finished with his class video call and Matthew and Julia were still colouring and printing things for Elizabeth. Just as Lucas sat down at the table Joe's cell phone dinged singling, he had a text message. He looked at it and smiled, "Kids, come with me I have a special surprise for you,"
The children all got up and followed Joe outside and onto the front porch. To their excitement they saw Norman and his and Rita's fourteen-year-old adopted son Danny taking boxes out of a Norman's trunk and placing them on the grass beside the car.
"Uncle Norman!" All three children shouted and started running to hug him, but Joe blocked their path, "I know it's hard, but you can't hug Uncle Norman or Danny. We can wave to them from here."
"Hi Uncle Norman!" Matthew shouted loudly, "Hi Danny!" Matthew and Lucas absolutely worshiped the fourteen-year-old and loved everything he did. When he started snowboarding that was when Lucas wanted to try it too. "What are you doing?"
"Uncle Norman and Danny went to the baby store to pick up some things your Mommy and Daddy ordered for baby Elizabeth. Her room isn't set up yet, so I thought it would be a nice surprise for Mommy and Daddy if we ser up her room. You can help, you can paint her pictures on special paper. Uncle Norman and Danny got us some pink paint too.
"Can we decorate envelopes and frame them?" Lucas asked, "Mommy and Daddy will love that."
"I have stickers. Lots of them." Julia smiled, "And glitter! I love glitter!"
Joe thought back to a few weeks ago when Julia had wanted to do an art project. Shane had gotten out the glitter for her and told her only to use a little; Julia not only covered herself in glitter but the table and floor as well. Oliver had not been impressed when he came home from Matthew's choir practice to see the glitter was still everywhere.
"How about we cover the dining room table with a big blue cover, that way the mess will be easier to clean up. You kids can set up a crafting centre and make all kinds of things for Elizabeth."
"Where's Auntie Rita, Stella and Rachel?" Julia asked. Julia loved Norman and Rita's seven-year-old biological daughter and fourteen-year-old adopted daughter as much as her brothers loved Danny. Of course, all three children loved their Auntie Rita and Uncle Norman but having older kids who would play with them was something they loved.
"Stella and Rachel are at home doing online school," Norman explained, "But they miss you too. Maybe we could all talk on video conferencing. I think Danny and Rachel can get that set up."
"We talk to Mommy and Daddy over video conferencing," Matthew explained.
"I know," Norman and Danny had finished unloading the boxes and they were standing five feet apart from the porch, "Are you excited to have a new baby sister?"
"Yes!" Julia answered immediately, "I love Elizabeth! She's so cute. She could fit into my doll clothes."
"We talked about this sweetheart Elizabeth is a real baby, she's not a doll you're going to be able to play with. She's going to need lots of Mommy and Daddy's attention. Tell Uncle Norman what Mommy said you could do to help once Elizabeth comes home."
"Mommy said I can bring Elizabeth's diapers and soothers to her," Julia said excitedly.
"Oh well that sounds great, I'm sure you'll be a big help to Mommy," Norman smiled at his god-daughter, "Danny and I have to go now. He has some online schoolwork too."
"Thanks for picking everything up Norman. It was a great help."
"You're welcome. I'm sorry we can't carry the boxes into the house or help set up the nursery."
"You've helped a lot already," Joe told him, "Say hi to Rita, Stella and Rachel for us."
"I will," Norman said as he and Danny began walking back to the car.
"Bye," The children waved and watched Norman drive away.
"Alright," Joe walked down from the front porch and looked at the boxes, "I am going to put most of these boxes into the garage for now. I need to paint your sister's room first. Tomorrow we'll I'm painting you can draw and decorate envelopes or do some painting on some special canvass that we can hang in Elizabeth's room. Maybe we can frame some of the envelopes too. "You three rides your bikes or play where I can see you, we'll I put the boxes into the garage." Joe instructed.
The next day Joe had set up the dining room table with a blue craft cover and all of the art supplies the children might need. He'd put paint old Starbucks cups Shane had repurposed to use as paint holders. For the glitter and Julia's stickers he'd just put a few packets of stickers out and a small container of glitter along with some markers and crayons and envelopes. The pieces of canvass he didn't put out. Hr told the children when they wanted to paint on the canvass, they needed to ask him first.
After lunch and after the boys had individual online sessions with their teachers Joe showed the children what he had set out. The boys seemed very excited, but Julia was frowning and looked like she was about to cry.
"Sweetheart," Joe bent down to his granddaughter's level, "What's wrong? Where's your beautiful smile?"
"Larry the Cucumber took my Ariel hairbrush. Now I can't sing."
Joe blinked his eyes and had to stop himself from laughing at Julia's statement. He knew if he started laughing Julia would get even more upset. He looked quickly to his grandson's and wondered if either one of them or both had something to do with Julia's missing hairbrush microphone.
"Sweetie, you know Larry the Cucumber is a cartoon character he lives with Bob the Tomato and all of his other friends from Veggieltales in cartoon world. Larry the Cucumber wouldn't take your hairbrush, that's stealing. God says stealing Is wrong, Larry the Cucumber teachers you about God and ways you can be nice."
"Lucas said he took it," Julia started to whimper and then cry, "Lucas said Larry the Cucumber was a bad guy now."
Joe took a deep breath and stood up. He had a feeling Lucas had something to do with this. He was always joking, and his new hobby was pranking his siblings. Shane didn't mind saying she used to pull pranks but Oliver was not happy with his son's choice of activity.
"Lucas come here," Joe looked at the five-year-old, "Right now please," He added as the boy didn't move. Lucas sighed and dragged his feet over to his grandfather. "Do you see how upset your sister is? This is not acceptable Lucas. Now you tell your sister the truth."
"She's so annoying!" Lucas complained, when he saw his grandfather wasn't amused, he continued, "I took your hairbrush Julia. Larry the Cucumber is still nice. I just told a joke."
"No, you lied," Joe corrected him, "Now go and get your sister's hairbrush please."
Lucas did as he was told and left the room only to come back a few minutes later with Julia's hairbrush. "Here," He reluctantly handed it over to his sister.
"You're mean. Just like Ursula," Julia stuck her tongue out at her brother.
"You're annoying! I hate girls," Lucas shouted back, "I don't want another stupid sister."
"No, no you don't use that word," Joe told him, "Now I know Julia likes to sing but if it bothers you, one of you can go to another room. I don't want you taking her hairbrush anymore. Now, about sisters. I know things will be different when Mommy and Daddy bring Elizabeth home. You need to be a big boy and try as hard as you can to understand. You're going into Grade One in September. Would you like to make a special picture for Elizabeth on the canvas paper? How about we put your handprints on it?"
"Okay," Lucas nodded his head.
"Grandpa can I do that too?" Matthew asked.
"Me too," Julia echoed.
"Yes, you can all put your handprints on the canvass paper. I think that'll be a wonderful present for Elizabeth.
Joe got out the three-square canvass frames and the children took turns dipping their hands in paint and then placing their hands on the canvas. After each child was finished used a black sharpie to put the date and the child's age on the piece of canvass. Just as Joe was putting Matthew's name on his Lucas's IPad started singing the Star Wars theme song.
"Mommy and Daddy!" Lucas jumped up and raced for his IPad. He knew that sound was uses to announce video calls. "Grandpa can I answer it?"
"Go into the family room, this is surprise, if Mommy and Daddy ask about the pant on your hands tell them you're making a surprise present." Joe instructed and Lucas happily took his IPad and walked into the family room with Matthew and Julia.
Lucas pressed the answer button and smiled as he saw his parents, "Hi Mommy, Hi Daddy!" He and Lucas and Julia all waved.
"Oh, I'm so glad we could catch you, we thought maybe you were outside," Shane smiled as she looked at her children through the video screen. This wasn't a planned video call, but she had been missing them, so she decided to see if Lucas was on his IPad, she was very happy they answered,
"We're making presents for Elizabeth!" Julia showed her parents her pink hands, "With lots of sparkles!" She added happily.
Oliver sighed and rolled his eyes, "Julia place do not use a lot of sparkles. Remember they are very hard to clean up. Where is Grandpa?"
"Right here son," Joe smiled, he lifted Julia and sat down on the couch with her in his lap, "I was just finishing up something. How's my beautiful baby granddaughter?" He easily changed the subject.
Shane and Oliver exchanged a look, they figured Joe doing something to surprise them. "Elizabeth is growing a little every day. She still needs to stay in the NICU. The doctor's and nurses are making sure she doesn't get sick. She needs to be strong and healthy to come home." Shane explained, "We might be able to change her diaper tomorrow if she keeps getting stronger.
"Julia," Shane noticed the bruises on her daughter's face, "Did you fall climbing a tree?" She knew those didn't look like bruises from a fall, but she didn't want to say anything to her son's without having more evidence.
"Lucas hit me! Then he took my hairbrush! He lied and said Larry the Cucumber took it! He's just like Ursula." Julia happily informed her parents, "Is he in trouble?" She asked hopefully.
Oliver waited until his father nodded his head to confirm Julia's start before continuing, "Lucas, you know hitting and lying are wrong. I am very disappointed in you. Whatever Grandpa decides is a good punishment you listen."
"I was thinking no IPad other than schoolwork for tomorrow and Friday. Lucas has not had the best two days, He hit Julia yesterday and hid her hairbrush this afternoon." Joe explained.
"Julia, Matthew, we need to talk to Lucas alone. We will talk more at our usual video chat before your bedtime," Oliver promised, "Please go and find something else to do."
Matthew and Julia knew they'd have another chance to talk to their parents, they were disappointed, but they understood. They knew when their parents talked to them privately it was serious.
"Bye Mommy, Bye Daddy!" Julia blew kisses as she ran out of the room and started singing.
"Bye," Matthew waved and then left the room as well.
Lucas covered his ears and groaned as he hard Julia sing, "Make her stop!"
Joe took Lucas' hands away from his ears "Tell Mommy and Daddy why you want Julia to stop singing."
Lucas looked at his parents through the video chat, "She's annoying! She sings all the time. She sings and dances everywhere."
"I was thinking Lucas and I could talk to Julia about how she could sing in her bedroom or in the basement. She has a stage in the basement, but she's scared to go down there. Do you think you could help her Lucas?"
"Grandpa always has the best ideas Lucas. If Julia plays and sings in the basement you won't be annoyed. You need to start helping your sister instead of scaring her. Do you think you could help her not be scared of the monsters in the basement?" Shane asked.
"There aren't any monsters in the basement," Lucas explained, "She's just a baby."
"You used to be afraid of the basement as well," Oliver told his son, "You are still scared at night sometimes going down there. You think about how you can help your sister. I agree with Grandpa's decision about your IPad, if you are good tomorrow and Friday you can have it back on Saturday.
Lucas groaned but knew better then to argue back, "Okay Daddy."
"Good, now Mommy and Daddy have to go now but we'll talk to you tonight," Shane told her son, "We love you,"
"Bye," Lucas waved, "I love you too."
TBC
A\N: I hope you liked the chapter.
Up Next: How are Shane and Oliver dealing with things at the hospital?