Disclaimer: See first chapter.
A/N: Not exactly sure where I'm going with this...you'll find out when I do! Reviews are still like chocolate (but they don't taste as good). Stick with me...I'll get to the fluffiness soon enough (I promise!)...words in italics are thoughts of characters! I know I got the "looks like a tornado threw up in here" from someone if it's you let me know and I'll give you credit!
Dan entered the living room with the steaming cup of tea only to find that Zoe had fallen asleep. He smiled at the sight, she looked so peaceful and angelic lying there until he noticed the fairly uncomfortable position she was in. Dan set the mug down on the table and contemplated how to go about making Zoe more comfortable, eventually deciding that she would be most comfortable in bed, which meant he was going to have to carry her there. He moved quietly, gently sliding an arm under her neck and knees and slowly straightening, swaying slightly as he regained his equilibrium. He nearly yelped when he felt Zoe's arms snake around his neck as she unconsciously snuggled closer into his embrace.
He made his way slowly over to the stairs, trying his best not to wake her as he mounted the stairs and toed open the door to her bedroom. Looks like a tornado threw up in here! Dan thought to himself, chuckling softly, as he picked his way around discarded clothing on Zoe's bedroom floor. He layed Zoe softly down on the unmade bed, removing her shoes and pulling the blankets up around her. He smiled as she squirmed into a comfortable position on her bed, sighing softly as she drifted deeper into sleep. Dan kissed her forehead softly and the pulled the curtains shut and left the door open a crack as he left the room
Dan went to his car to grab some case files so he could get something done while he waited for Zoe to wake up. Before he knew it a clock chimed three o'clock meaning that the kids would be getting out of school in just a few minutes. Dan considered waking Zoe, and made it to the door of her room, peeking in to see if she was awake, before deciding to go get the kids himself.
Dan scribbled a note and left it on the table as he walked out the door, Zoe's keys in hand so he could lock it behind him.
"Mr. Lennox!" cried an excited Hannah. "What are you doing here?"
"Well it's good to see you too Hannah," he said, leaning down to gently tug on the bubbly blond's pigtails. "Your aunt Zoe isn't feeling too well so I thought I'd come get you guys and stay with you until she's feeling a little better." Dan hated lying to Hannah, even if it was just a small distortion of the truth but he didn't feel like he had a choice. After he managed to round up Cliff and Taylor he brought them home, warning them to be quiet because Zoe had yet to wake up. He sent them upstairs to do their homework and noticed Taylor lingering as her brother and sister bounded up the stairs.
"Aunt Zoe isn't really sick is she Mr. Lennox?" said Taylor. It was more of a statement than a question.
"No Taylor she's not," Dan replied.
"She's really mad at me isn't she? She's not going to leave us is she? I didn't mean the stuff I said...I know Mom would've done the same thing. I really screwed this up for us. If she leaves we won't have anyone anymore!" Taylor's eyes were filled with fear and unshed tears. Dan pulled the small brunette into a hug,
"She's not going anywhere Taylor, I promise. She's not really mad either, just hurt. All she wants is what's best for all of you and this morning she felt like a failure." He released his hold on Taylor and she smiled through her tears at him.
"Thanks Mr. Lennox. I'll talk to her when she gets up." Taylor turned and followed the path of her siblings up the stairs.
Zoe turned over, stretching like a cat and yawning. She heard movement in the hall and turned to see what time it was as she was still in a sleepy haze she hadn't yet remembered that Dan had brought her home from the office earlier in the day. 5:48pm? Zoe wondered, the earlier events of the day filtering through the fog, Oh crap the kids! She launched herself from bed and raced downstairs to find Hannah and Taylor watching TV and Cliff setting the table for dinner.
Hannah looked up from her place on the couch, "Aunt Zoe!" she cried, running over to give her aunt a hug, "are you feeling better now? Mr. Lennox picked us up from school and now he's making dinner and it looks really good! I'm hungry are you hungry Aunt Zoe? I have to show you my spelling quiz after supper, I got perfect!" The words tumbled out of the little girl's mouth as she hugged her aunt's waist.
"Yes Hannah, I feel much better." Zoe's eyes drifted to Taylor, who was sitting on the couch watching the display of affection by her little sister. Zoe saw the look in her eyes and sighed quietly, expecting another blow-out later that night.
"Let's go!" called Dan, "dinner's ready!" The kids raced into the dining room and settled themselves into their seats. Zoe was not far behind, her stomach growling reminded her that she hadn't eaten anything all day. "Hey Zoe," Dan said quietly, "feeling better?" he asked, giving her a knowing look. She nodded and sat in the chair he had pulled out for her. Dan served them all and Hannah kept them entertained with her endless chatter throughout the meal, stopping only to eat now and then. Both Zoe and Taylor were quiet through the meal and as Dan cleaned up after the meal he heard Taylor ask her aunt if she could talk to her in private.
Taylor and Zoe walked into Zoe's room, Taylor pushing the door shut behind them. She turned to find her aunt seated on the edge of her bed, waiting for her to start talking. "Look aunt Zoe, about earlier...I really didn't mean anything I said I know Mom would've made the same decision and I'm really glad you're here, we all are and please don't leave because of me! If we didn't have you we wouldn't have anyone and we don't want you to leave. I'm sorry aunt Zoe I shouldn't have freaked out like that earlier and I really shouldn't have said most of the things I did because none of them are true...oh Aunt Zoe can you ever forgive me?" the desperation was evident in Taylor's voice as she begged for forgiveness and eyes were filled with tears again.
"Taylor you won't be getting rid of me that easily," Zoe smiled and pulled her niece into a hug. "I love you guys and I'm not going anywhere. And yes I forgive you for the things you said earlier, I know you were mad." Taylor sniffled and smiled up at her aunt. "Now we better get back downstairs before they miss us." Zoe wrapped her arm around Taylor's shoulders as they walked back down the stairs to be greeted by a very excited Hannah with a bowl of ice-cream in one hand and her spelling quiz in the other.