John had brought the thunder-van round to the exit of the chemo ward.
Alan was in a wheelchair and taken down to the van.
"Sorry I couldn't be with you Alan,"
Alan smiled, "It's fine John, I know you had more important things to do."
The boys and Holly helped Alan into the seat while Kayo and Jeff got in the front.
"Gordon, you can sit at the back with Eva," Holly instructed.
"Why? I want to drive,"
Jeff adjusted his mirror, "I'm driving Gordon, plus I heard you offered to babysit Eva,"
Gordon grunted.
Scott inspected the van putting his finger on a dent in the paint, "Dang, dad will destroy you John,"
"I know," John sighed
Scott took his seat, "Anything fun happen while I wasn't here," John said trying to lighten the mood.
"We saw Alan cry when he got stabbed with a needle in a foot,"
"Drop it Gordo," Alan angrily said trying to hurt his brother.
"Like you would off done the same thing," Scott added.
"So, would you Scott,"
Jeff narrowed his eyebrows, "You all would off, now stop making fun of your brother. Least be thankful he is alive,"
"Sorry you and your daughter had to hear that Holly." Holly nodded in forgiveness.
A week had passed since Alan had come home, he had non-stop home visits from doctors and nurses. Alan wasn't on missions but spent a lot of time in bed or led on a sofa as he couldn't walk. His symptoms improved as time went on.
"It's nice to talk to someone else other than my dad when my brothers are out,"
Holly kissed him, "I'm sure you wouldn't rather be with anyone else,"
Alan bent his foot, "That felt so awful,"
Gordon came running in with Eva holding his hands as she ran into the kitchen and Gordon sat next to him.
"Shh Alan it's okay, you'll just make it worse if you move,"
Alan rested his head on Gordon's stomach, "Your more like a father to her than I am Gordon,"
"I'm only doing it to keep her company as you and Holly are both busy,"
"I'm sorry about early, I was being an idiot I shouldn't have made fun of you like that Alan, we are all in the same boat,"
"It's fine Gordon, I enjoyed watching dad tell you off though," Alan laughed.
As time went on Scott and Kayo both entered the room and their hearts broke seeing Alan sobbing in pain.
"Oh Allie," Scott's voice squeaked a little.
Gordon looked up from where he heard Scott's voice, holding the youngest in his arms. "Scott, Kayo did you unpack everything of Alan's,"
"Yeah, Gordon," Scott walked towards Alan and wrapped his arms around his youngest brother gently.
"Scott, I want dad,"
Scott put his lips to Alan's forehead, "I know Alan, he will be back soon he just went for a supply run."
Kayo jumped down from one staircase.
"Hey, you were down here just a second ago," Scott said.
"Yeah well I like to move a lot." "How about me and Eva have some auntie time,"
Eva jumped up from her seat, "Sounds good because I was getting bored,"
"How does going to the beach sound?" Eva nodded, and they both headed towards the beach holding hands.
Once they got to the beach, the sand was a bright golden colour with the shimmering sunlight which made the sand sparkle like shiny jewels.
"Do you know how to pebble skip?"
Kayo nodded, and she skipped hers into the rock pool, "Cool, mum taught me how to pebble skip when I was 5,"
Kayo sat on the edge of the sand, "That's amazing Eva yours went further than mine I've had no one beat me at rock skipping before,"
"Why do you live here you don't look like the others?" "I saw you kiss Uncle Scott,"
"Your grandpa adopted me and for the record he's my boyfriend, it's our anniversary next week and I have to get something for him,"
"What about a seashell you skipped or chocolate?"
"Aww that's cute, but we have to keep to a diet, the seashell isn't too bad of an idea though."
Inside Alan had moved from the sofa to his room, "At least this is better than sitting in a hospital chair and now I can watch tv whenever I want,"
"You don't have to keep to a particular diet, do you while you're on chemo?" Holly asked.
"I just have to avoid raw meat, fish, blue cheese and rich desserts which suck,"
"So that means I can't share the popcorn with you then," Holly assumed, hiding the popcorn from him.
Alan tried taking the popcorn from Holly side of the bed, "Hey, I didn't think popcorn is a rich dessert,"
Scott opened the door, "Alan! You're not aloud Popcorn," he knocked it on the floor with narrowed eyebrows. "Dad got this from the post it's addressed to you,"
"Thanks," Alan faintly smiled.
"Sorry Scott," Holly apologised and Scott banged the door behind him.
Holly moved closer, "What does it say?"
Alan scanned through the letter, "My cancer cells have decreased and I only need chemo till tomorrow and I need no more visits because I can do it myself,"
Alan put the letter in his draw, "That's good news. At least after tomorrow you can share the popcorn with me," Alan smiled.
Holly kissed Alan on the lips, "That's great news, honey."
The bag was empty that was filled with the medicine and Alan took the IV out of his arm and sighed with relief.
He walked out with Holly into the kitchen where Virgil was getting dinner ready with everyone sat at the table.
"Where do you want me to sit?" Holly asked.
"You can have my seat Holly, it's the closet to Alan," Jeff offered standing up.
Kayo sat next to Holly with Scott on the other side, "I have to thank your daughter for helping me today by choosing an anniversary gift for Scott,"
"Your welcome Kayo she loves choosing gifts for other people."
Virgil started bringing the food round "Oh, nice chicken wings," Alan said licking his lips.
"Sorry Alan, you have risotto for dinner you're not allowed greasy food,"
Gordon laughed, "That's what happened when you have an all in one doctor and chef in the family,"
Jeff and Scott both rolled their eyes at each other.
Virgil hissed, "Try finding a recipe for a fussy 17 yr old who only likes junk food."
Eva strolled in and took a seat next to her mum and everyone looked round to see who it was.
"Holly, does Eva like chicken wings?"
Eva shook her head, "I'll take that as a yes" Virgil said giving her the food.
Holly pinched her daughter, "What do you say?"
"Thank you."
Holly took a bite out of the chicken wing, "This is really nice Virgil I be looking forward to leftovers later on,"
Jeff laughed, "In this family there are no leftovers," Holly blushed the colour of TB3
Holly rubbed her eyes and yawned, "Well I have to thank you all for letting us in at short notice, but I think I'm going to turn in early," Holly said walking off but stopped mid way.
John moved to the spare seat next to Eva "Your being very quiet, do you not like speaking in front of large groups of people,"
"No,"
"Me neither kiddo," "How about me and you see the stars tonight? Unless you and Alan having something planned,"
Alan started stuffing his face of food, "I'll come in a minute," Eva laughed at how much mess Alan was in. "I was going to watch a movie with Holly but your free to take her John."
"Dad, can I go?" Alan tried to excuse himself.
Jeff looked up over from his paper, "Go! But don't forget about her daughter, she already knows everyone else but you," Alan sighed
Scott looked at his bowl of food, "He hasn't even eaten half of your risotto Virg,"
Kayo laughed, "Give it to him for his breakfast tomorrow,"
John got up from his seat and walked with Eva to outside on the pavement to see the stars.
"What do you do here?"
"I'm a communication guy, I work in space. Which is why I'm hardly ever around," John brought her into his lap.
"What's the thing there that's moving?" Eva pointed to a shiny object in the sky.
"I believe it's a space station it orbits around the earth for a period of time, my friend lives up there,"
"I want to be a space pilot like my new dad," Eva eagerly yelped loudly.
John put his hand over her mouth, "Eva Keep your voice down, I don't want to distract my dad, he's having a serious conversation on the phone,"
"Sorry, I'll whisper next time."
In the bedroom Alan turned on a movie for him and Holly to watch.
2 hours in.
Holly looked at her watch, "I better get Eva, it's getting dark and near her bed time now,"
Alan sprung up from his bed, "I'll get her, you've been busy all day and I want to show her new bedroom,"
Jeff opened the door, "Hey son, I overheard you said that you are collecting Eva tonight, are you on your way already?"
"Yes dad, I'm just on my way to the pool area to get her now," Alan could see her playing around with Gordon out of his window after swapping with John.
"You know I don't trust Gordon as much as John but I'm glad she is fitting in with everyone," Holly was proud of her daughter of how much she fitted in with everyone.
"I hate to break your conversation dad I better get Eva before Gordon turns her into his mini me,"
"Okay son, glad to see your walking better."
Alan walked to the pool deck "Hey Gordon, Eva needs to go to bed now,"
"Okay, Alan," said Gordon while Eva was getting herself dry and changed.
Eva came running over to him with all her stuff, "Here you go daddy,"
"She called you daddy, nice going Alan," Gordon congratulated his brother. Alan's eyes and face lit up, smiling at her.
Alan picked Eva up, "Come on Eva lets hang your costumes up and say bye to uncle Gordon." Eva waved to him as they went to the backyard.
Once the swimming costumes were hung up drying in the backyard, they both headed to Eva's room.
"This will be your new bedroom for the time being until we get another place," "It's got a purple bed side lamp and a butterfly duvet, I heard butterflies are your favourite,"
Eva smiled and got into her bed and Alan sat next to her, "Are you going to be my new dad?"
Alan stroked her hair, "Yeah if you want me to,"
"Yes please, I want to learn more about the stars and space like you and Uncle John," Alan kissed Eva as Alan tucked his new daughter in to her new butterfly bed. "Night."
Alan turned the night light off and shut the door. He couldn't believe that at the age of 17 he was now a dad.