Notes:
I am so sorry for the delay but life was absolutely crazy but good. Now, we're back on schedule with updates. Hopefully, you are all still up for McCord Family Life.
Chapter 11
She felt the tap before the voice, "Mom" he whispered.
Elizabeth turned as Asim was still poking her shoulder. She groggily looked at him, "Hey baby, are you okay?"
"Well, I woke up from a bad dream again. But, then my tummy didn't feel good and I poked!" he said.
"Puked. The word is 'puked' not poked," she felt Henry chuckle a bit and she lightly whacked him.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up and back into bed," she dragged herself out of bed, exhausted from the weekend and praying she could sleep on the plane later today.
"My floor needs a clean-up, too" he said.
Henry sat up, "I'm on it."
"I don't think McDonald's agrees with me," he said in his tired voice as Elizabeth washed his face with a cool facecloth. He was sitting on the toilet seat cover as she squatted to meet his eye.
"Probably not. I thought we were over your tummy troubles," she winced at him. "Can't say I didn't warn you though?"
"You said it causes heart attacks, not poking!" he argued back.
"Puking," she corrected again.
"Whatever! I can't say that word," he jumped off the toilet seat.
She walked him back into his room and gave him new pajamas as Henry finished mopping up the floor.
"It still smells in here. Let me open a window," she said to Henry.
Asim climbed back in his bed and curled up on his side. Henry moved his soccer ball behind him and followed Elizabeth out of the room.
He was rubbing her shoulders as she walked in front of him, once in their room she turned to face him, "I really think he needs more than every two week sessions with Tony."
Henry sighed and scratched the back of his neck, "I can talk to him when I take Aamira tomorrow. The agreement was to swap the kids every week."
"I'm not worried about Aamira. The shooting didn't seem to faze her at all. She can probably stop going at this point. But, he's still having nightmares. Do you think tonight was really the McDonald's? He didn't get sick the first time he ate it."
They climbed into bed at the same time, Henry reached up to turn out the light. "It's been a few months. You are probably right. I will talk to him tomorrow."
She turned and snuggled into him, "Thank you."
He kissed her head, "Let's get some sleep before the alarm goes off."
"Happy napping!" she smiled back at him.
Only a few hours later, the house was filled with morning noise.
"Why can't I go to school today? I will miss soccer practice if I don't go to school," Asim was whining as he ate his toast in front of him.
"You got sick just a few hours ago. You can't go to school after getting sick," Elizabeth was trying her best to reason with him while focusing on a text from Jay.
Henry came down the stairs with Aamira following him, her hair still not done.
"Nope, nope," she said marching down the stairs, "Daddy can NOT do my hair."
He rolled his eyes at Elizabeth and headed towards the coffee machine. Allie got up from her chair, "Come here. I will do it."
"I have gym today so it has to be braids," she insisted, looking at her brother still in pajamas. "Why are you still in your jammies?"
"I have to stay home. I got sick last night," he pouted to his sister.
"Lucky!" she said sitting down so Allie could braid her hair.
"No, not lucky! I poked which is the worst thing ever. And I have to miss soccer practice…also the worst thing ever!" he spouted back at her.
"Puked," Allie corrected him this time. He rolled his eyes at her.
"You can't have two worst thing evers. You have to pick one," Aamira said back her head bobbing as Allie did French braids.
"Okay, settle down. We will see how you feel when it is time for soccer practice." Henry said as he placed a bowl of oatmeal in front of Aamira.
Elizabeth's phone buzzed on the island. She picked it up between a bite of toast. "Ugh! Russell I don't have time for you today. White House NOW!"
"Bye, Mom!' the kids yelled in unison as she went around and hugged all of them.
"It's a one day trip to Ottawa. I will be back late tonight." She headed for the door and Henry followed helping her with her carry on. They called it the "just in case bag." Just in case she gets stuck anywhere.
She was a little frazzled, "You sure you got this?"
"C'mon babe, seriously?" he asked.
"I knew I shouldn't have said that when the words came out of my mouth," she sighed. "I love you!" She kissed him back more passionately.
"Love you too!" he winked at her as she slipped out the door.
The house was quiet as Asim stared at Henry across the board.
"Make your move, Dad," he smirked at him.
"Hold on. I need a moment to think," Henry said.
"You know, Mom just usually lets me win," he smiled.
Henry laughed at him, "The only thing she is bad at in this world is chess."
"Not the only thing," he laughed as Henry chuckled back at him.
"Yeah, her cooking is not that great either," Henry chuckled.
"I am sorry you had to cancel your class today," he said quietly to him.
"Oh don't worry about it, Buddy. It's a Monday morning class. I am sure the students are all thrilled. Besides, getting a surprise day off alone with you…super cool!" Henry reached over and tapped his elbow.
"Did you used to get to have surprise days off with the olders?" he asked.
"Well, back then your Mom had a different job and there was a lot of time alone with the olders," he made his move on the board and Asim shook his head.
"You are not going to let me win," he pouted.
"You wouldn't learn how to play if I did," Henry looked at him with an innocent smile.
"Jason says that Mom and you used to fight bad guys. Is that true?" he asked.
Henry stopped, "When did Jason tell you that?"
"The other night. He came into bed with me because he heard me crying and didn't want me to wake you or Mom. He says Mom's job makes her tired," Asim answered truthfully.
Henry sat back, pausing the game. "Hey Buddy, how often are you waking up crying?"
"Why are you doing that thing that you always say Mom likes to do?" he asked, his dark eyes peering at him across the board.
Henry smiled, "Changing the subject?"
"Yes, that thing," he pointed at him.
"Not changing the subject. You said you woke up crying," Henry returned, crossing his arms over the "Marines" part of his shirt.
"I just keep waking up at night with bad dreams," he shrugged.
"Do you remember them?" Henry asked.
"Sometimes," he answered making his move.
Henry moved his next pawn quickly taking Asim by surprise. "What are they about?"
"Mostly that I get taken away from here," he stared back at his father.
"What do you mean?" Henry asked.
"What if something happens to you and Mom and we have to go back?" he asked.
Henry sighed, "Oh buddy. That is not going to happen. Nothing is going to happen to us."
"You don't know that. Something almost DID happen to you!" Asim fired back.
"Point well taken. But, here's the deal. You are legally a member of this family. If anything were to happen to your Mom and I. Stevie would become what is called your legal guardian, you would live with her," he explained.
"The Fun Police! Why can't we just stay here with Allie and Jason?" he asked.
Henry held in his laughter, "Because they are anything but the fun police. That's why," he laughed and tapped his shoulder.
"But, for now you go wherever your Mom and I go. We're your home and will always be your home," Henry smiled as Asim got up and hugged him.
"Feeling better?" he asked, as the phone rang.
"S'much," he answered still not letting go of the hug.
"So much," henry corrected him quietly and hugged him so tight.
Cassie from the detail knocked on the door to bring in the mail. Asim loved Cassie so when he heard the door knock, he ran for the door while Henry was talking to Elizabeth.
The blonde agent who often served as a decoy for his mother smiled at him. "Just the boy I wanted to see. You got mail!"
"Mail? For me? I don't know anybody who would send me mail!" he was concerned.
She handed him the small rectangular envelope, "I bet you do!"
Henry came up behind him, as he opened the envelope in front of Cassie.
He pulled out the soccer invitation and read it.
"Woohoo! I got invited to Sam's birthday party!" He yelled as he turned to Henry. "My first birthday party!" jumping up and down.
Monday evening had basically come and gone before Elizabeth walked through the door. A super long day of travel that followed an excruciating NSC meeting at the White House. Her climate deal negotiations in Canada took hours longer than expected. All she wanted to do was shove a slice of pizza in her mouth and get in her bathtub.
The kids should be in bed sleeping, if not, then at least reading.
She turned the light on in the kitchen and heard the movie playing in the living room.
"Hey Mom," Jason's voice yelled out.
She peeked in and he was on the couch with his arm around Piper.
"Hey. This is a nice surprise on a MONDAY night," she shot a look at Jason. "How are you, Piper?" she asked, smiling at the kids.
"I am good. There's pizza in the fridge," she answered.
"We're just finishing this movie and then Piper's Dad is picking her up," Jason clarified.
"I am starved. Where's your Dad?" she asked.
With that Asim came bounding down the stairs, waving a piece of paper in her face that she couldn't quite make out.
He yelled, "I got invited to a birthday party. Sam's birthday party. It's in two weeks. Can I go? Can I?" He was bouncing up and down in front of Elizabeth.
"Woah, Buddy. That is awesome." She took the invitation out of his hand and looked it over. "You seem to be feeling better?"
He was pulling on the sleeve of her white blouse, "I do feel better. But, more important, can I go? " he was begging her for an answer.
She felt his forehead, "Cool as a cucumber. Yes, you can go but right now let's get you back up to bed. It's a school night."
"YES!" he raised both arms in the air feeling victorious.
She scooted him upstairs. Piper and Jason got up from the couch, "Do you want me to go and tuck him in?" Piper asked.
"No, I got it but thank you," Elizabeth answered, putting a slice of pizza in the micro.
"Dad's upstairs so I am sure he's got it as well," Jason said dragging Piper back to the couch.
Elizabeth took her pizza out, threw it on a plate and headed upstairs.
She could hear Henry's low voice reading to Aamira in her room. She peeked in on them.
"Mommy!" Aamira stood up on her bed to hug her. "Did you bring me something from Canada?"
Elizabeth laughed as she hugged her with one arm while still holding her pizza in the other hand, "Yes, your life in what is called a 'climate deal!'" She winked down at Henry.
He smiled up at her. She smiled back and said, "I'm going to shove this down and go read to Asim."
"Allie's got it. They have been reading Harry Potter for almost an hour," he rolled his eyes at her.
"Hmmm," she laughed. "Too much energy from a day at home."
Henry nodded as she left the room.
She finished her pizza as she looked at a text from Blake about what was in her take home case.
She peeled herself out of her jacket and dress and got into her comfy clothes. Making her way back to Asim's room, she paused as she neared the doorway and heard him say to Allie, "If I had a magic wand, I would make you a beautiful princess and I would turn that bad guy into a puddle like the wicked witch!"
She peaked in and he was standing on his bed, in green Hulk pajamas with his hand up in the air as if he was holding a magic wand. Allie was laughing at him. He always cracked her up.
"Alright superhero, time to turn out the lights," Elizabeth said chuckling as she stepped inside.
"Hey Mom," Allie was laid back against the pillow still laughing at Asim.
"Hey Noodle,' she leaned down and kissed her head. "I will take over for you."
"Thanks. I have so much homework. Goodnight Asim!" she leaned over to hug him.
"Goodnight, Princess Noodle!" he laughed as she giggled and left the room.
Elizabeth pulled the covers back and he jumped in. He laid down and she sat next to him.
Brushing her hand over his hair, she asked, "I heard you talking to Allie,"
"You mean, 'Princess Noodle?'" he asked.
She smiled at him, "Well, you can call her that if you want."
"I like the sound of it," he smiled his wide grin at her.
"Sweetie, what bad guy were you talking about?" she asked.
"The gun guy who tried to kill us," he said matter-of-factly but was now fiddling his fingers.
"You know that you are safe from him, right?" Elizabeth asked.
"I know. But, I still want to turn him into a puddle," he reached for his soccer ball beside him.
"Asim, sometimes people do things and their brain is not thinking correctly," she began.
"Those are called 'mistakes,'" he said proudly that he knew the word.
She smiled at him, "Well, yes. But, sometimes they can't control those mistakes. Sometimes we need to learn to forgive those people and move on."
"What do we have to give him?" he asked, seriously as she tried to hide her smile at his innocence.
"It's what we call 'forgiveness.'" She began to explain. He furrowed his brow at her. "Okay. This is what it may look like to you. Remember, last week when you got mad at Jason and kicked your soccer ball at him?"
"Yes," he looked down.
She put her finger under his chin and raised his eyes to meet hers, "When you said sorry to Jason he said back to you, 'Okay, but please don't do that again. Somebody could get hurt.' That's forgiveness. Jason didn't say he wanted to hurt you back. He accepted your apology and moved on. That is what you need to do here because as a family we are giving our forgiveness and moving on, okay?"
"I guess. But, he didn't apologize," he said back to her, his eyes getting tired.
"Trust me, that day is coming. Until then, let's try and get a good night's sleep, okay?"
He rolled over and said a sleepy, "Okay." She kissed his head, tucked his soccer ball in with him and turned out the light.