The Afters

Chapter 16

"Don't worry Mr Stoppable, we'll find you daughter. Now let me get her description down one more time." the police officer nodded to his assistant who had an art pad out.

"Well," Ron shivered, "shes small, about nearly three feet tall. Big bright green eyes, curly blonde hair, the same color as mine. And she was wearing green long sleeved pajamas and pink fuzzy bunny slippers. Oh and freckles too. Here's a picture just incase." Ron took out his wallet and removed a picture of Holly and Jacob from Christmas.

"Alright, and you said she climbed out of her bedroom window? A four year old."

"She's very agile." Kim emerged from the kitchen with a cup of coffee. "She's my daughter."

"Aye Miss. Possible." the officer greeted.

"No, Mrs. Stoppable now." Kim shifted in her feet, "Listen, it's my fault Holly ran away. Please just bring her back, so I can tell her how much she means to me."

"Kim,"

"Ron I just want my baby back!"

Ron took her into his arms and held her close. "Please sir, we just want our daughter home safe and sound."

"Well, any idea where she would go?"

Ron thought, "Well, there's the school playground, my parents house, Kim's parents house, the toy store, and Jacobs house."

"Can you give me the addresses?"

"Yessir, she goes to Middleton Pre-k and Elementary, Samuels toys on Elm Street, 1545 Rockwell Road, 902 Elaine Circle and 2734 Sanfoin Ave."

Little Holly Stoppable shivered in the wind. Her little feet tired from walking. She had no idea where she was going, but she wasn't going back. Her parents obviously did not care about her anymore, so what did she have back there? The only one worth going back to was Rufus, but he's dead. How could she see him again?

She was completely turned around. She would recognize Jacobs area if she saw it, but this wasn't it. This was a different part of town, one she never saw. It was woodsy with hardly any lights at all. There was a full moon out tonight and the February chill laid over the town. There was some snow on the ground from a couple days ago, Holly's slippers were moist and her feet began to get numb. She forgot her jacket, and hat, and something to play with as well. She didn't even have her night light to guide the way. She wanted her nice soft bed, her daddy tucking her in tightly with a good night kiss and a bedtime story. Her mommy's fresh baked cookies and an exciting tale of a world saving adventure. Rufus snuggling up next to her by a warm toasty fire. But most importantly...she wanted that baby gone.

"Goodnight moon..." she whinned softly. She jumped out of her skin when a wolf cried close by.

"Yes officers what is it?" Sarah yawned while opening the doors.

"Sarah." Ron called to her.

"Ron? Ron what is it? What's wrong?"

"Mommy?" Jacob dressed in red footie pajamas came forward.

Ron looked as if he was on the brink of crying.

"Here, come in, all of you, tell me what's wrong."

"Thanks Sarah..." Ron held the cup of coffee shakily in his hands. Young Jacob was sitting next to him, just starring. "Maybe Jacob shouldn't hear this..."

Sarah sensed something was wrong with Holly and agreed. "Alright, Jacob go ahead upstairs..."

"But mommy-"

"Now young man."

Sadly Jacob jumped off the sofa and walked out of the room. Unknown to them he eavesdropped behind the wall.

"Ron, tell me, what is it? Where's Kim?"

"She's home...so's the baby." he gulped.

"And, Holly?"

Ron almost dropped the cup before he caught it and sat it down on the table. He grabbed his face in his hand and began sobbing.

"Mam, what Mr. Stoppable is trying to say is that his daughter ran away."

CRASH

Sarah's cup came to the ground.

"What! Why?"

"Kim and I, well, the new baby and, I don't know, I guess she got jealous. She ran upstairs and I was going after her, but her window was open and a blanket and..." he sobbed uncontrollably.

Jacob moved away from the wall and gained sudden confidence.

"Holly's in trouble, she can't be far, I'll find her."

He quickly ran upstairs and grabbed a jacket, blanket and helmet. He quietly opened the front door and ran to his bike which had recently been made a two wheeler and climbed aboard. He knew he was doing a very bad thing but something told him to go find Holly.

"I've got sunshine...on a cloudy day. When its cold outside...I've got the month of May." Holly had sat in a tiny ditch off the side of the road singing to herself while trying to keep warm. The wolves howls have come closer but that was the least of her problems. She just wanted to get warm. But something sounded off besides her. Not a howl, but a tiny whimpering sound. She looked and found a tiny black blob shivering in the cold.

"Hello?" she poked the blob as it stirred. She figured it was safe to pick it up as it still showed signs of life. To her amazement, it was a puppy, a puppy that looks brand new, for its ears and eyes were tightly closed. "Puppy?" she held it close. It was freezing and shivering, as if its last moments of life were drawing close. Holly felt inside her pajama pocket and found it empty, "Anyplace is better than out here." she gently placed the puppy inside the snug pocket. "It's ok, your lost too. Don't worry, someone will find us...I hope." she yawned, "I- I hope."

"Holly!" Jacob found the blonde haired girl buried in left over snow that blew on top of her. Holly's skin was turning blue and she was in a deep sleep.

"Holly!" Jacob flew off his bike and placed a blanket on her. "Holly wake up!" He shook her gently, but she still did not wake up. "Oh, you're cold. Here." he took off his jacket and put it on her. "Come on lets get you home." He tried his best to lift her up and was able to carry her in his arms. He put her on the seat of the bike and grabbed her tightly so she wouldn't fall. Snow began to fall heavily on them as Jacob turned around and sped off.

"She isn't at any of the locations sir." the deputy sighed. "The snow is getting too heavy for us to search on foot, we'll have to wait out the storm. I'm terribly sorry, but the dogs can't travel in these conditions while maintaining the scent."

"I'll go." Ron rose from Sarah's couch where he had been waiting for what seemed for eternity.

"Ron don't you cant see three inches in the storm." Sarah reassured.

"I can't wait any longer! My daughter is out there in this storm and its all my fault!"

"Ron I-"

The door opened and a snow covered Jacob walked in carrying a frozen bundle.

"Help." Jacob weakly said before he fell to the ground.

Hours later, Holly laid in a warm fuzzy robe underneath layers and layers of blankets. The sun was shining through blinds and the sound of snow melting came from outside. She found herself in the bottom bunk of a bunk bed nearly unable to move. On the night stand next to her was in a warm bed the puppy she found. He looked comfortable and was sound asleep. She recognized the room to be Jacobs. In a rocking chair near her, was Ron who was snoring softly.

"Daddy?" she called weakly. Ron immediately woke up.

"Holly." he ran to her embracing her in his arms. "I'm so sorry. Sorry for everything."

"Where's mommy?"

"She's downstairs asleep, she's had a rough night."

"Why am I in Jacobs room? Where is he?"

"Well, the storm was really bad so we couldn't take you to the hospital. Luckily Jacobs mom is a nurse so she knew what to do. We gave you a nice warm bath and got you a nice fuzzy warm robe. You scared us Holly."

"Im sorry daddy..." Holly flashed her eyes.

"It's alright Hols." he noticed the puppy, "I see you made a friend."

"I found him, I think I saved his life."

"You sure did alright. And Jacob saved yours."

Holly was dumbfounded, "He did?"

"Amazingly yes, somehow he was able to bike through a snowstorm and carry you all the way here. He has potential, er- special talents." Ron's smile grew larger.

"Can I have breakfast?"

"Of course sweetheart."

Holly slowly began to get up but noticed a bassinet on the other side of the room.

"What's he doing here?" she hissed.

Ron sensed the urgency to act. "Holly, meet your new baby brother."

"Brother?"

Ron nodded "He didn't mean for this to happen, but he says he's sorry." Ron picked up Andrew and sat back I the rocking chair. His eyes immediately opened as he yawned tiredly. Holly amazingly smiled.

"Can I hold him?"

"Sure, here, watch his head, just like that, that a girl."

Holly held her baby brother in her arms. He looked just like her, except for the bright red hair and sparkly blue eyes. He also had Ron's larger ears, something she was bound to mock him for when older.

"His names Andrew, or Andy."

"Andy..." Holly kissed his forehead as he giggled.

"Holly?" Jacob stood in the hallway. Ron took the baby from Holly's arms as she moved into the hall.

"Jacob." she slowly hugged him. "Thank you." Jacob was shocked but returned the hug.

Innocently, Holly pecked him on the cheek as a sign of friendship which caused Jacob to flare bright pink.

Ron was shocked as he watched two young children share their friendship. Suddenly, Holly's curly blonde hair turned into bright red pigtails, and Jacobs smooth dark hair turned into Ron's messy blonde. He watched the two hug once more before they climbed down the stairs.

"Oh...boy..."

Woot! This part is over! Onward to when Holly is older! FUN FUN FUN!