Christmas Aftermath

Christmas was a blur; it started out ok, but ended in a disaster with Elliot's dad coming around and shooting his wife, son and then himself.

A few hours later Elliot woke up in a bed in a hospital room with Mai sleeping on Zoey's lap in a chair; Zoey was also asleep.

Adam and Suzie were pacing back and forth in front of Elliot's bed talking back and forth. Elliot caught a little bit of what they were saying; their main concern was what was going to happen to Mai if he were to pass away.

Elliot vaguely remembered what had happened; the last thing he remembered was his dad showing up at the Christmas party drunker then sin and then gun fire followed by screaming and then nothing but blackness.

"This time he was lucky to only be shot in the shoulder, but what if it was fatal? Where would Mai go? Does he have a will? This is so stupid! I'm going to sue that doctor or whoever it was that did that so good he won't be able to afford lunch!" Suzie yelled frustrated.

"I know dear, but it was just in the shoulder and it missed any vital organs; he's going to be fine. I understand you're angry, but you need to calm down; Mai and Zoey just finally got to sleep. Yes, we'll sue the guy. But for now we need to concern ourselves with our family; and our family just got bigger adding Mai and Elliot. Oh hey, you're awake; how do you feel?" Adam asked finally noticing Elliot had woken up.

"Sore. What happened? It's all a blur…" Elliot said as he tried to sit up.

"Don't you remember? Your dad showed up at the party drunk…twice. The first time he left, but the second time he came back with a gun and shot…" Adam started but was interrupted by Elliot.

"MAI, ZOEY! Where are Mai and Zoey; are they ok? What happened?" Elliot asked panicked.

"Mai and Zoey are fine; they're asleep right over there. See? Your parents on the other hand…not so much." Suzie said softly.

"What do you mean?" Elliot asked as he looked over at Zoey and Mai.

"He shot your mother in the head, killing her instantly before shooting you in the shoulder; and finally he shot himself in the head, killing himself. I'm sorry to say you lost your parents again." Adam said calmly.

After hearing the news Elliot just laid back in bed and sighed in annoyance and frustration.

"It's fine…well it's not, but I've gone this many years already thinking they were dead to begin with. It just sucks because I got my mother back and now she's gone again. But what she taught me was she's always with me and that the people who are alive are who are worth living for. And for the people who are gone; they're worth mourning for, but eventually you have to move on and remember them as they once were and not for who they would've or could've been. I have Mai and Zoey to worry about now; now and for as long as I'm alive. And don't you worry; if something were to ever happen to me Mai will go to Zoey. That was going to be a Christmas present for Zoey this year; I got the paperwork for everything done just in time." Elliot said closing his eyes.

"What paperwork?" Zoey asked waking up once she heard Elliot's voice.

"The paperwork stating, that if anything were to happen to me, Mai would stay with you. Legally, you may have given up your rights as her mother; you're still her mother by blood. And as her father I have to right to choose where she goes if anything happens to me; and I chose you." Elliot said quietly.

"Really? You trust me enough to keep your daughter safe?" Zoey asked shocked.

"Our daughter; she's your daughter by blood too." Elliot corrected Zoey who had tears in her eyes.

"Oh Elliot; you don't know how happy that makes me! And once this is all said and done I'll be so happy to move in and live with you and Mai!" Zoey cried as she put Mai in the chair and ran to hug him.

"Daddy?" Mai asked quietly, slowly waking up.

"Hi baby." Elliot said as he watched his daughter, who just sat in the chair with tears in her eyes.

"Baby, what's wrong? Come here." Elliot said softly as he sat up.

Mai just shook her head no as more tears ran down her face.

"Mai…it's ok; I'm ok. Everything's ok." Elliot said softly.

"No its not! Your daddy kwilled your mommy and shot you because of me! He was angwe that I was born and I a mistwake!" Mai cried as she got up from the chair and ran out of the room.

"Mai!" Everyone yelled as Zoey ran after her.

After a few minutes Zoey came back with a struggling Mai.

"No! I da reason daddy has no mommy or daddy!" Mai cried at the top of her lungs.

"Mai Marie Grant; that's enough now!" Elliot exclaimed sitting up causing everyone in the room to go quiet.

"Here, bring her to me please." Elliot said holding out his arms; the doctors had just given him some oxycodone so that he wouldn't be in so much pain.

Zoey handed Elliot Mai who refused to look at him.

"Now you listen here young lady. None of this is your fault; my dad was just crazy. Something must've happened to him, because the man I knew when I was little would've loved you. That man changed; and not for the better. What he did is unacceptable and it doesn't mean you're a mistake. Do you remember what I told you…several times? That you, Mai Marie Grant are not a mistake and I've never ever considered you to be one; and I never will. Mai, I love you more than anything in this entire world. The people I love in order are you and Zoey, a.k.a. your mommy, Uncle Wesley, mommy's parents, Auntie Renee, Corina, Bridget, Kiki, Berry and the rest of the gang. What he did wasn't your fault and never will be; he was just angry and I'm not sure why. Do you understand?" Elliot asked.

Mai just sat there crying; she couldn't talk because she was too busy choking on her tears, so she just nodded her little head and gave him a hug.

After a few minutes she started to fall asleep in her daddy's arms.

"I love you daddy." Mai said quietly before falling asleep.

"I love you too baby; I love you too." Elliot said holding onto what was most precious to him.

After a few minutes Elliot covered the two of them up while Suzie and Adam said their goodbyes and went home to clean while Zoey sat in the chair.

"Elliot, I'm sorry that all this happened." Zoey said quietly.

"Don't be; it's not your fault. Do I need to give you the same speech I just gave Mai?" Elliot asked looking over at Zoey.

"No, you do not. I know it's not my fault, but I can still feel bad." Zoey said softly.

"So what happened to all the others? How are the other little kids?" Elliot asked as he shuffled Mai a little.

"Everyone else is alive; they're traumatized, but other than that; they're ok. They all went home after they got done talking to the police." Zoey said softly.

"Did Mai and the other little kids have to talk to the police as well?" Elliot asked seriously.

"Yes. And they almost took Mai with them into foster care. They were going to and then they said that she was to stay with me. I guess I understand why now; those papers you had signed. Thank you. Aside from all this crap this has been the best Christmas ever; and I got some of the best presents ever as well." Zoey said softly.

Elliot just chuckled a bit, "What was the best?" Elliot asked looking at her.

"Mai. Being able to move in with you guys. You saying you trust me with our daughter." Zoey said softly.

"Yeah, those are my favorites as well. I have another Christmas present for you, but you'll just have to wait to get it." Elliot said closing his eyes.

"Oh yeah? You really don't have to get me anything else; I have everything I want right here." Zoey said softly.

"Then come over here." Elliot said scooting over and moved the blankets a bit.

"Ok." Zoey said as she walked over and sat on the edge of the bed and leaned down to kiss Elliot a few times.

The next day when Suzie and Adam returned Suzie had a complete spaz attack as she got out her camera and took pictures.

There in Elliot's hospital bed was not only Elliot and Mai; but Zoey was there holding onto both Elliot and Mai like their lives depended on each other. Mai was holding onto both of her parents shirts as she slept; her eyes stained from crying the night before.

The three of them looked happy; they were truly a loving family…

So there you go

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Try to update soon,

SarT55