Chapter 96

Ryan woke up the next morning to an empty space next to their daughter where his wife was sleeping last night. He saw his daughter still asleep and got up, walking through the house trying to locate her. A note on the fridge made him stop looking for her. A simple yellow post it with the word "hospital" written on it in her handwriting. He assumed she must've taken a cab because the silver SUV was still in Sita's driveway.

With some peace of mind that he knows where his wife is, he headed back upstairs to email Liam on their whereabouts. Phoebe was sitting up on the middle of the bed with his phone stuffed in her mouth. It was on the bedside table but clearly close enough for her to reach.

"Why do you always put everything in your mouth, Pheebs?" He asked when he walked over to her pulling the small device out of her hold, replacing it with one of her teething rings, setting her down on the floor.

His phone buzzed and his mother's name showed up. Taking a glimpse at the date did he notice what today was. "Please tell me you're not sleeping anymore. It's your birthday you should be at home not doing anything." Theresa started not waiting on her son to answer from the other side.

"Hello Mom." He smiled. "I'm not at work so I guess that counts as something."

"Yeeaahh, that probably means something for a workaholic like you. Happy birthday my boy. Thank you for the man you've become and being the person that you are. Did I ever tell you about the day you were born?" She asked and he groaned sitting back on the bed.

"Mooom, I can't handle listening to that story anymore." He answered because every year whenever it was their birthday's his mom would give them an hourly update on how far she was into her labor process and tell them on the hour when they were born.

"All right fine, this year I'll spare you the details. How's Alex and Phoebe doing?"

Ryan sighed deeply looking at his daughter who crawled around the room standing up against the chair in the corner. "Uhm, Sita and Joey were in a car accident last night. Joey is fine Sita is in a medically induced coma hey might wake her up today to evaluate if she sustained any brain damage" He explained hearing his mother's shocked expressions from the other end of the line.

"You can bring Phoebe over. She can spend the night, I'm sure Alex would appreciate you being by her side right now. Ryan please keep me update on how things are going with Sita."

He nodded his head although his mother couldn't see it. "I'll do so, mom. Thanks for calling." They ended the conversation. Ryan walked over picking Phoebe up carrying her to the kitchen to feed her some breakfast before bathing her.

After Phoebe was all set and entertained by a bunch of toys he took to the shower, doing so in record time not wanting to leave her alone for too long. His head was spinning and being concerned about his wife. She didn't sleep much the previous night either, tossing and turning most of the time.

When both he and Phoebe were dressed and ready for the day he called Simone. She got a work transfer and works about ten minutes away, renting an apartment with her longtime boyfriend Justin.

"Are you so excited for your birthday that you couldn't wait for me to call you?" Simone laughed. "Very funny weirdo. I need to ask you a huge favor and if you can't help me out I'll understand." Ryan laid down the ground rules that he won't press her into a corner.

"Before all the formalities, happy birthday to the world's most awesome big brother. And yes I'm exaggerating we all know I'm mom's most awesome child. Oh and Ryan, I may not say this everyday but I love you. Okay enough about being sentimental now, what's your question?" Simone asked and Ryan couldn't help but laugh at his family's weird ways of doing.

"Sita and Joey was in an accident last night. Alex has been there since I don't even know what time she left the house. Long story sort can I bring Phoebe over for a few hours so I can go be with Alex? I know you have to be at work and if you can't do it I'll make another plan."

"What? Are they going okay? Is Alex okay?" Simone stared bombarding him with questions that he didn't even have answers to. "And you can bring Phoebe over I'll call in sick to work or something. I'll see you in a bit."

Thankful for his sister who is willing to help him out, he called his mother to let her know Simone will be looking after Phoebe. It would make more sense that way since she is closer than his mom is at the moment.

He drove over and dropped Phoebe off, making his way to the hospital from Simone's apartment to be with his wife. He walks through the corridors and took a guess that she'll be in the cafeteria, and lucky for him there she was. Seated at a table with Joey, neither of them talking. Ryan walks up behind her putting an arm on her shoulder, she looks up giving him a small smile and he takes a seat next to her greeting Joey.

"Joey you can go home and change, or get some rest." Ryan suggested knowing how tired the older man must be since he spent most of his night at hospital. "I'll go a bit later, I'd like to wait some more in case something happens." Joey responded looking at Ryan.

"In case something happens." Alex mumbles.

"You know this is really unfair that mom has to go through all of that, and you got off with a few stitches and a broken arm." Alex said eyes shooting fire in Joey's direction.

"Alex." Ryan says softly putting a hand on her back but she brushes him off.

"No Ryan! What if she doesn't make it and the swelling on her brain doesn't go down? Unlike you and your father, my mother and I actually have a very close relationship, and I don't know what I'll do when she doesn't pull through." She said her voice hoarse with emotion as she got up from her seat and left. The two men looking at her until she disappeared around a corner.

"I'm sorry about that, Joey. She's under.."

"No, it's okay. I'll go home I don't think she wants to see me right now. Please let me know if anything changes." Joey told Ryan as he got his phone out to call a cab and walked towards the hospital exit.

Ryan was the only one left sitting at the table. Drinking the coffee he ordered and answering his phone calls whenever someone called to wish him or him responding on texts messages he got to kill time. He contemplated looking for his wife but he had no idea where to start looking and maybe it would be best to give her some space right now.

Alex walked along the corridors following random arrows that pointed to an exit. She had no idea where she was or how she got there but she ended up on the rooftop of the hospital when she opened the door. She stood there in the open air, breathing in the air as the cool breeze hit her face. She sat down with her back leaning against the wall and hugged her legs, taking a deep, shaky breath. She was angry and mad and sad and upset and a whole bunch of emotions all at once. Tears welled up in her eyes and she just allowed herself to cry for the hundredth time in the past 24 hours.

Alex wasn't sure how long she'd been sitting outside, but when she got too cold she decided to go back inside and check on her mother. She tried to find her way back to Sita's room, which took her some time because she got lost a few times and had to ask for help on the way but she found it eventually. The doctor and a nurse were standing ant her mother's bedside when she entered and she had no idea what to expect.

"Is everything okay?" She asked hesitantly afraid of what their answer might be.

The doctor looked up at her and smiled. "We just brought her back after we ran some more tests and decided to wake her from the medically induced come. She's basically asleep right now and should wake between the next fifteen to thirty minutes. We'll check up on her vitals and stats regularly." He explained and Alex nodded her head taking a seat on the couch next to the bed.

She starred at the TV mounted on the wall until she heard a faint cough come from the bed. She jumped up and stood over her mother who slowly moved her head from side to side, opening her eyes slowly and carefully. "Ma?"

Sita tried to say something but her mouth was so dry. She pointed to the water next to the bed and Alex poured some of the clear liquid into a cup helping her drink it waiting for her to settle down again and get comfortable.

"Wh..what happened? Why am I in..in hospital?" Sita croaked looking around the room.

"You and Uncle Joey were in a car accident yesterday." Alex explained and Sita's eyes grew wide.

"He's fine, just a broken arm." She explained quickly seeing her mother relax again. The doctor came in and did a check up like he said he would do regularly and a few things Sita had to say and follow his finger and how many fingers he held up, before he walked out of the room leaving the two of them alone again.

"I was so scared when the doctor called." Alex explained and Sita took her hand. "Ma if something were to happen to you I don't know what I would've.."

"I'm fine, Alex. That's all that matters." Sita said squeezing her daughter's hand lightly.

"What day is it? And what time? It feels like I've been out of it for a month." She whispered seeing the sky changing colour indicating nighttime was around the corner. Alex took out her phone that's been on silent since yesterday and was greeted by heaps of messages and when she saw the date her hand flew to her mouth.

"Alex?" Sita asked when she failed to answer the question but had a distraught expression on her face. She took a deep breath of air before answering her mother.

"It's Ryan's birthday. I didn't congratulate him, I left home this morning he and Phoebe was still asleep. He was here and I yelled at him and still didn't say anything. And Phoebe!?" She ran a hand through her hair frustratedly.

"I don't even know where she is because Ryan was here most of the day. I'm such a self centered person. I need to go make this right, I don't know how."

"Alexandra breathe." Sita coached when her daughter started rambling. "Go home you and Ryan still have a few hours left before this day is over. And I'm sure Phoebe is safe where her father left her." Sita tried to rationalize the situation motioning towards the door that she should go for it and head home.

She opened the door and Joey stood on the other side. Fresh clothes and shaved. She hugged him not saying anything before getting into her car and driving off.

Alex pulled up into the driveway, opening the front door and heard the delighted squeals of her daughter laughing to her father's voice. A splash of water and hearing her husband curse under his breath made her check the bathroom. His shirt was wet and a happy bouncy nine month old daughter had little drops of water on her face.

Neither of them noticing her until Phoebe's attention shifted to the figure standing in the doorway. Ryan turned around to follow his daughters gaze and smiled when he saw his wife standing there.

"Hey." He greeted as he turned around looking at her, making sure Phoebe was sitting safely and secure without the risk of her falling over.

"After today, I am officially the worst wife on the planet." She started and walked closer to him. "I said some nasty things to you today, and I hate to say that if my mom didn't ask me what day it was that I probably wouldn't have remembered that it was your birthday today." She admitted softly.

"It's okay, and I understand you had a lot to deal with this last…"

"That's not an excuse. I need to stop being selfish and start taking other people's feelings into consideration instead of thinking about myself only. Happy birthday babe." She hugged him and breathed in his scent. "I didn't even get you a present because look where we are instead of fishing."

"Thank you sweetheart." He kissed the top of her head. "Your mom getting better was enough of a present for me today, seriously." He admitted hugging her a little tighter.

"I'm gonna make this up to you, I promise." She said looking into his eyes, a splash in the water making them realize once again that they're not alone when Phoebe threw one of her toys into the water as it plunged and caused more water to drip onto her face.

Guys I've been battling with this chapter for a week now and I feel like I've rushed the ending. Not really satisfied with it but I didn't want to postpone any longer since I haven't posted in a while. Thank you for reading and the new follows. Let me know what you think.

Lovies-S