Chapter One
Review Response:
Mudd1: Actually in this story Cecilia is over 18 but as for people feeling comfortable I understand what you mean, but this was just means to get the story rolling, it is after all a story.
Katie: Thanks for the review, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Almighty1: I am by no means forgetting Robbie, or Martin for that matter....but that'll make more sense by the end of this chapter :)
Catgurl83: I understand that this story isn't exactly believable but I took the idea and ran with it...
bbwholly1981: Thanks for the review! It a lot, although I don't know if this story is going to go exactly as you want it too...but I hope you enjoy it just the same!
outlawed-little-angel: I'm glad you enjoyed it, I hope this chapter is as stunning as you seem to think the last one was :)
A week later Ruthie, David and Cecilia were left in their new living arrangements, alone for the first time. Everyone had had to continue on with their lives in places other than Glenn Oak and with final tears and parting words the older Camden children had left the younger ones in the care of Cecilia, promising that they would be together for Christmas. Sam had actually been readmitted to the hospital, a complication in which they didn't foresee the extent of his internal damage and the doctor admitted that they had made a mistake in releasing him for the funereal. He was far from harm, now, but the doctor said they wanted to keep in the in the hospital for a few more days to make sure that another possibly life-threatening mistake wouldn't be made.
"So what do you guys want to eat?" Cecilia questions once dinner time rolls around. "We could eat left-overs."
David makes a face, "we've been eating left-overs forever."
Cecilia nods, "why don't we hit the promenade? Eat out tonight and we can go to the grocery store tomorrow so that we can through the left-over casseroles out."
"Can we eat at Pete's?" David requests.
"If it's all right with Ruthie." Cecilia responds.
Ruthie nods, "sure, Pete's is fine, we haven't been there in awhile."
The condo was located near the promenade so they didn't find it necessary to take the solar powered mini-van that Cecilia had been given when she had offered to take the kids. Dinner was filled with mindless chatter, mostly about Brianna and Rose, Mary's twins. Sam and David had never me other twins and were thrilled that their baby nieces were identical twins as well. Dinner took up nearly an hour of their time, people kept approaching them and while some only said a brief hello other's wanted to hug the two children and offer their condolences. And then those same people turned their attention to Cecilia telling her how sweet it was that she was taking the children in, such a sacrifice, and then they would ask for an update on David's condition.
"Finally." Ruthie sighs as they walk out of Pete's.
"A lot of people care a lot about you, and how you are doing." Cecilia states wrapping a supportive arm around the younger teen.
Ruthie sighs again, "I know, but I'm trying to move on, because I know that's what Mom and Dad would have wanted but they are making this so hard."
"Ruthie!" Ruthie's name being called interrupts Cecilia before she can even think of a response.
Everyone turns around quickly to see Robbie jogging toward them and Ruthie's expression immediately melts as she runs straight into his arms , sobbing. Very few people had seen Ruthie cry, and while Cecilia had been one of them she hadn't seen Ruthie cry like this since she had been delivered the news of her parents' deaths.
Moving closer Cecilia and David can hear Robbie's words more clearing as he apologizes, "I'm so sorry for being here so late. I was out of town and I didn't get Matt's message until about eight hours ago, I would have come sooner if I'd known."
Ruthie clings to Robbie as she begs, "please don't leave, please."
Robbie gently rubs Ruthie's back and only Cecilia can see the tears in Robbie's eyes, "I'm not going to, don't worry I'm staying here. I'm moving back to Glenn Oak, I decided on my way out here, this is where I am needed."
"Hello Robbie." Cecilia greets, slightly uncomfortable around the surrogate Camden whom she barely knew.
"Cecilia, how are you?" Robbie asks, he seems just as surprised to see Cecilia with the kids as she is to see him in Glenn Oak.
"I'm fine, thanks." Cecilia responds.
"Where is everyone?" Robbie asks.
"They went home." David announces.
"Where are you guys staying?" Robbie asks quickly.
"With Cecilia." David announces.
"Really?" Robbie asks his eyes searching Cecilia's face for some kind of explanation.
Cecilia nods, "with everyone out of the state I offered to have them stay with me so they wouldn't have to leave Glenn Oak."
Robbie seems slightly puzzled by this but she shrugs and responds, "if I can do anything to help just ask. I'm staying at the hotel down the street and until I get my job transfer my days are pretty open."
"I could actually take you up on that." Cecilia states and then explains, "I have class tomorrow, for most of the day, could you maybe take Ruthie and David to see Sam? He's still in the hospital and he hates when he has to spend the day alone and tomorrow is his last day in the hospital, he should be able to come home tomorrow afternoon."
"That's not a problem." Robbie responds. "How about I pick you two up around 9?"
"Visiting hours down start until 10." Ruthie informs.
"Well, all right then we can go to breakfast first." Robbie responds, "my treat."
Ruthie hugs Robbie again, "I missed you."
"I missed you too Snookie." Robbie calls on his old nickname for Ruthie.
"Good, I will meet you guys at the hospital to check Sam out and then I can make a special homecoming dinner for Sam."
When Cecilia helped David get ready for bed he cried, it had become a regular occurrence and Cecilia had the feeling that it would remain so for awhile. All she could do was hold him until he calmed down and then eventually fell asleep. Ruthie had gone to bed when Cecilia was helping David get ready but instead of a silent condo Cecilia immediately picked up on the sound of crying coming from Ruthie's room.
Gently knowing on Ruthie's door Cecilia called softly, "Ruthie can I come in."
"OK." Ruthie's voice is hoarse, obviously from crying and Cecilia pushes the door open.
"Are you OK Ruthie?" Cecilia asks slowly walking over to Ruthie's bed.
"I just miss them so much." Ruthie cries.
Cecilia nods and pulling Ruthie into her arms she says, "I know you do Ruthie. We all do, but you were right in what you said earlier, they would have wanted you to move on. But you are allowed to cry, and you can cry for as long as you need to, and I will be right there." And Ruthie did cry for nearly twenty minutes until she had cried herself to sleep when she was finally asleep Cecilia pulled the covers up around her and shut the light off gently closing the door behind her.
Review Response:
Mudd1: Actually in this story Cecilia is over 18 but as for people feeling comfortable I understand what you mean, but this was just means to get the story rolling, it is after all a story.
Katie: Thanks for the review, I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.
Almighty1: I am by no means forgetting Robbie, or Martin for that matter....but that'll make more sense by the end of this chapter :)
Catgurl83: I understand that this story isn't exactly believable but I took the idea and ran with it...
bbwholly1981: Thanks for the review! It a lot, although I don't know if this story is going to go exactly as you want it too...but I hope you enjoy it just the same!
outlawed-little-angel: I'm glad you enjoyed it, I hope this chapter is as stunning as you seem to think the last one was :)
A week later Ruthie, David and Cecilia were left in their new living arrangements, alone for the first time. Everyone had had to continue on with their lives in places other than Glenn Oak and with final tears and parting words the older Camden children had left the younger ones in the care of Cecilia, promising that they would be together for Christmas. Sam had actually been readmitted to the hospital, a complication in which they didn't foresee the extent of his internal damage and the doctor admitted that they had made a mistake in releasing him for the funereal. He was far from harm, now, but the doctor said they wanted to keep in the in the hospital for a few more days to make sure that another possibly life-threatening mistake wouldn't be made.
"So what do you guys want to eat?" Cecilia questions once dinner time rolls around. "We could eat left-overs."
David makes a face, "we've been eating left-overs forever."
Cecilia nods, "why don't we hit the promenade? Eat out tonight and we can go to the grocery store tomorrow so that we can through the left-over casseroles out."
"Can we eat at Pete's?" David requests.
"If it's all right with Ruthie." Cecilia responds.
Ruthie nods, "sure, Pete's is fine, we haven't been there in awhile."
The condo was located near the promenade so they didn't find it necessary to take the solar powered mini-van that Cecilia had been given when she had offered to take the kids. Dinner was filled with mindless chatter, mostly about Brianna and Rose, Mary's twins. Sam and David had never me other twins and were thrilled that their baby nieces were identical twins as well. Dinner took up nearly an hour of their time, people kept approaching them and while some only said a brief hello other's wanted to hug the two children and offer their condolences. And then those same people turned their attention to Cecilia telling her how sweet it was that she was taking the children in, such a sacrifice, and then they would ask for an update on David's condition.
"Finally." Ruthie sighs as they walk out of Pete's.
"A lot of people care a lot about you, and how you are doing." Cecilia states wrapping a supportive arm around the younger teen.
Ruthie sighs again, "I know, but I'm trying to move on, because I know that's what Mom and Dad would have wanted but they are making this so hard."
"Ruthie!" Ruthie's name being called interrupts Cecilia before she can even think of a response.
Everyone turns around quickly to see Robbie jogging toward them and Ruthie's expression immediately melts as she runs straight into his arms , sobbing. Very few people had seen Ruthie cry, and while Cecilia had been one of them she hadn't seen Ruthie cry like this since she had been delivered the news of her parents' deaths.
Moving closer Cecilia and David can hear Robbie's words more clearing as he apologizes, "I'm so sorry for being here so late. I was out of town and I didn't get Matt's message until about eight hours ago, I would have come sooner if I'd known."
Ruthie clings to Robbie as she begs, "please don't leave, please."
Robbie gently rubs Ruthie's back and only Cecilia can see the tears in Robbie's eyes, "I'm not going to, don't worry I'm staying here. I'm moving back to Glenn Oak, I decided on my way out here, this is where I am needed."
"Hello Robbie." Cecilia greets, slightly uncomfortable around the surrogate Camden whom she barely knew.
"Cecilia, how are you?" Robbie asks, he seems just as surprised to see Cecilia with the kids as she is to see him in Glenn Oak.
"I'm fine, thanks." Cecilia responds.
"Where is everyone?" Robbie asks.
"They went home." David announces.
"Where are you guys staying?" Robbie asks quickly.
"With Cecilia." David announces.
"Really?" Robbie asks his eyes searching Cecilia's face for some kind of explanation.
Cecilia nods, "with everyone out of the state I offered to have them stay with me so they wouldn't have to leave Glenn Oak."
Robbie seems slightly puzzled by this but she shrugs and responds, "if I can do anything to help just ask. I'm staying at the hotel down the street and until I get my job transfer my days are pretty open."
"I could actually take you up on that." Cecilia states and then explains, "I have class tomorrow, for most of the day, could you maybe take Ruthie and David to see Sam? He's still in the hospital and he hates when he has to spend the day alone and tomorrow is his last day in the hospital, he should be able to come home tomorrow afternoon."
"That's not a problem." Robbie responds. "How about I pick you two up around 9?"
"Visiting hours down start until 10." Ruthie informs.
"Well, all right then we can go to breakfast first." Robbie responds, "my treat."
Ruthie hugs Robbie again, "I missed you."
"I missed you too Snookie." Robbie calls on his old nickname for Ruthie.
"Good, I will meet you guys at the hospital to check Sam out and then I can make a special homecoming dinner for Sam."
When Cecilia helped David get ready for bed he cried, it had become a regular occurrence and Cecilia had the feeling that it would remain so for awhile. All she could do was hold him until he calmed down and then eventually fell asleep. Ruthie had gone to bed when Cecilia was helping David get ready but instead of a silent condo Cecilia immediately picked up on the sound of crying coming from Ruthie's room.
Gently knowing on Ruthie's door Cecilia called softly, "Ruthie can I come in."
"OK." Ruthie's voice is hoarse, obviously from crying and Cecilia pushes the door open.
"Are you OK Ruthie?" Cecilia asks slowly walking over to Ruthie's bed.
"I just miss them so much." Ruthie cries.
Cecilia nods and pulling Ruthie into her arms she says, "I know you do Ruthie. We all do, but you were right in what you said earlier, they would have wanted you to move on. But you are allowed to cry, and you can cry for as long as you need to, and I will be right there." And Ruthie did cry for nearly twenty minutes until she had cried herself to sleep when she was finally asleep Cecilia pulled the covers up around her and shut the light off gently closing the door behind her.