AN: So I decided to change this and have it be a Christmas story instead, as it's December. I hope you enjoy it just as much!
The day of their flights finally came the weekend before Christmas. It was a sunny Saturday afternoon and they were all as prepared as they could be. Izzie had made sure of that as she had them on a strict schedule. Jo did her best to keep up with things as well, although Alex nearly forgot his bag at home. They were unloading the car in the parking lot and Jo had Luna on her hip as Alex got the stroller set up. They had opted for a double stroller in case the twins got tired, but for now, Alexis and Eli hung out next to Jo as Izzie got the last of the bags.
"Okay," Izzie said, staring at the twins as she pulled her bag over her shoulder. "So we're going to walk into the airport, then go to the desk, get our tickets, and give them our bags. Then we'll go through security where you will need to walk through alone. It's going to be a long line and you guys have to either sit in the stroller with Luna, hold one of our hands, or have your hands on the stroller. You can let go as soon as we sit down in the lounge. But it's very important that you guys do not wander off. It's a big airport with lots of people."
"Because if you do, you will get lost or kidnapped," Alex added, raising his eyebrows at them.
"I'll be good," Eli said, immediately going to hold on to the stroller with a white knuckled grip. "I don't want to get kidnapped."
"Me neither," Alexis said, jumping to hang onto the stroller. "Who would feed me?"
"Alex!" Jo quickly scolded him with a look as she leaned down to put Luna in the stroller. "We're not trying to scare them."
"I'm just trying to help them understand how serious this is," Alex said with a shrug, despite how Izzie and Jo glared at him.
"You won't get kidnapped if you let go of the stroller or our hands, we just want you two to stay close to us," Izzie explained as she knelt down and put a hand on each of their shoulders.
"Right Alex," Jo added, looking over at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Yeah," Alex said with a nod. "Sorry guys, I didn't mean to scare you."
Jo just shook her head as she finished putting Luna into the stroller. "Alright, are we ready?"
"I think so," Izzle said, looking around as they locked the car. "We've got the twin's boosters, Luna's car seat, the stroller, three backpacks, your purse, my purse, four suitcases, the extra activity packs, Alex's bag, and Alex should have the tickets."
"Go to Nana's now!" Luna said excitedly as she looked up at them to confirm.
"Yep, we're gonna go get on the plane and go to Nana's house!" Eli said just as excited as she was.
"Yay!" Luna shouted, throwing her arms up in a cheer.
"Alex, do you have the tickets?" Jo asked looking back at him.
"Of course, I have the tickets," Alex said, holding up his phone. He didn't know why they didn't trust him with this.
"Seriously, Alex? I told you to print them out," Izzie said, exasperated as she glared at him again.
"No one prints out tickets anymore," Alex said with a dismissal wave. "It'll be fine."
"It's good to have things on paper, in case something goes wrong," Izzie said as Alex rolled his eyes and Izzie sent him a glare.
"I'm sure it'll be fine," Jo said, pushing the stroller and leading them into the airport. The twins walked with her and Alex and Izzie followed along as the six of them went into the airport.
There was minimal fussing from the three kiddos as they waited in line and walked through security. Sea-tac Airport was a little more busier than usual and they ended up having to wait for an hour in the security line. Izzie and Alex grumbled about it, but Jo and the kids played a couple of games, eventually getting them all to play, which helped pass the time.
Luna was a little scared about the metal detector on her own. Although the second Alex held up a baggie of fishy crackers, she walked through and immediately grabbed the snack from his hand with sticky toddler fingers. Finally, they were through security and put on their shoes again. Alex grabbed the twin's backpack from the conveyor belt and helped Eli put his shoes on. Alexis and Izzie were prompt as always. They had already put on their shoes and grabbed their bags and were waiting for the rest of them. Jo slipped Luna back into the stroller as she happily snacked on her fishy crackers. She made sure to strap Luna in, lest she slip out and escape into the airport.
"Alright, who wants McDonald's for lunch?" Alex said, knowing that the fast food place was just down the hall before their gate.
"Me, me," the twins eagerly raised their hands and Luna gleefully agreed with a shout and a laugh.
"We should get to the gate first and check in and then you can go back for food," Izzie said, putting her purse on her shoulder.
"But it's on the way there?" Alex said with a shrug
"Then it'll be easy to go back," Izzie said, with a smile.
"It'll be much faster," Alexis argued standing up next to Alex.
"See," Alex said, pointing at her as if an 8-year-old could possibly overpower her mother.
Izzie just gave him a look as she regretfully shook her head. Alex glared at her and opened his mouth to say something but Jo stepped up and put a hand on his chest.
"Okay enough you two have been making jabs at each other since this morning, and I'm done with it," Jo looked between the two of them before she looked back at him. "We've all been waiting in line for an hour. I'm tired from standing so let's just get to the gate so we can sit down and then we'll go get food. Besides, do you really want to take all three kids to McDonald's?"
Jo said the last sentence in a bit of a whisper to him as they looked over at the kids.
"Probably not," Alex said, scratching his head as he thought about it, before turning to Alexis. "You can come with me on the way back, okay."
"Okay," Alexis said, dragging her feet as if she was headed to the dentist.
Jo steered the stroller and walked away. With the twins holding onto the sides of the stroller next to her, she again led the way over to the gate. Alex and Izzie exchanged a look as they shook their heads. They didn't always see eye-to-eye on things, but Jo always called them out on their bullshit when they fought. She blanched them out and was the tie-breaking vote in almost everything.
Although, just because she was married to him, didn't mean she always sided with Alex, such as in this instance. However, he liked to think that he had a little more sway on her and often tried to butter her up, but after nearly 10 years together she was immune to his sexual persuasion. Something that was extremely disappointing to him. Yet, there were still times when she came to him begging for it, and that always helped his ego.
They all walked over to the gate and looked around for a place to sit. Jo of course spotted a few seats for all of them and walked over to sit down as she parked the stroller in front of her. She yawned the second she sat down and Luna followed suit. Jo leaned back into the chair as Izzie sat down next to her. While Alex and the twins stood next to them.
Alex smiled at Jo as he put a hand on Luna's head and brushed away the little hairs on her head. "Are you two tired?"
"Well it's almost naptime," Jo said looking at her watch. "But I'm gonna try and keep her awake so she can just sleep on the plane."
"Sounds like a plan," Alex said, with a nod as Jo yawned again and Luna did too. Jo had all gotten up extra early that morning, having claimed it was nervousness at flying with the kids for the first time, but regardless he knew both of his girls were tired.
Still, it was 12:34 and Luna usually went down at about 12:30. Luna was the type of kid who got extra cuddly when she was overly tired. Although she did get a bit fussy. They were usually able to delay her naps by about half an hour without her dissolving into a full tantrum due to tiredness.
"I'll stay with these two you and Alexis can go with you to McDonald's. Eli, do you want to go with your Dad or stay with your Mama Jo and me?" Izzie asked, looking over at him.
"I want to go to McDonald's with Daddy, but can I leave my backpack here?" Eli asked, taking off his backpack and letting it fall to the floor.
"Of course, but can you put it in the stroller, please," Izzie said pointing to the storage under the stroller as Eli picked up his bag and put it away.
"Alright, let's go," Alex said, taking their hands as the three of them walked over to McDonald's.
They got three Happy meals, a chicken nuggets meal for Jo, and a burger meal for himself, with an extra pack of applesauce that Izzie would undoubtedly eat. They then stopped by one of the many coffee stands and grabbed three coffees and three hot chocolates along with three bagels and two cake pops. Alex decided against getting a cake pop for Luna as he didn't want to get her all hopped up on sugar before her nap.
As the three of them wandered back to the gate, the twins were already dipping into their french fries and so was Alex. Jo and Izzie easily accepted the coffees with a thanks and Luna practically leaned out of her stroller trying to get her happy meal. Jo and Luna shared their chicken nuggets, both a little too sleepy to really eat. The twins, however, gobbled up their food and before long all food was gone.
After eating, they didn't have to wait long before boarding the plane. Since they had kids, they had splurged on getting priority boarding and were able to be part of the group that got on first. Izzie, Eli, and Alexis were in one row and Jo, Luna, and Alex were in the row across from them. Although Luna could technically be a lap child, they had bought her the seat between them so she could nap in the seat without them having to hold her. Jo had even bought this special suitcase that turned the airplane seat into a full toddler bed. They had also gotten a row closer to the front to make it easy to board and deboard. Also to have close access to the bathroom for Jo's bladder, which seemed to have shrunk in the last couple of days.
As they waited for their fellow passengers to board, Izzie set up a movie on the tablet for the twins. They had decided to forego their usual limit of TV time today in favor of having an easy journey with the kids. Luna curled up in Jo's arms as they read a few books to her, although she quickly fell asleep in her Mom's arms. Jo had sat next to him and leaned her head on his shoulder as he wrapped an arm around her and it seemed like she would fall asleep as well.
Soon enough, the flight attendants were telling them to get ready for takeoff. It seemed to take forever for them to finally get down the runway and take off. As they ascended, Jo put a hand on her head before trailing it down to her forehead and then quickly moving to press her fingers over her lips.
"Are you okay?" Alex asked, looking at her as her eyes glazed over and she seemed unfocused and unusually pale.
She took her hand away from her lips and gave him a small smile. "I'm just not used to the sudden incline and the force of the takeoff."
He quickly grabbed her hand, giving it a squeeze as Jo just nodded. Although her paleness still concerned him. As the plane leveled out in the sky, the color returned to Jo's cheeks in a light pink. Alex leaned over and gave her head a kiss as she leaned her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Luna had slept through takeoff and he wondered if Jo and Luna would sleep most of the flight. He then looked over at Eli and Alexis who were completely absorbed in their movie and Izzie who was reading a book.
"Well I think this should be a pretty easy flight," Alex whispered with a smile looking down at Jo.
And then Eli threw up.
It happened the second Alex's words left his lips. Eli leaned forward trying to get up although he only managed to lean over into the aisle before he threw up on the floor. The horrible putrid smell of vomit immediately filled the air as Eli just sat there before promptly bursting into tears. Izzie rushed to console him and Alex immediately reached up and rang the bell as Jo sat up and startled Luna who immediately started crying.
"Oh baby, it's all right," Izzie said as she smoothed back Eli's hair and tried to pick him up while getting out to the aisle.
"Mommy, I don't feel good," Alexis said, looking pale and green as she held her stomach.
"She's going to puke," Alex yelled as Izzie quickly set Eli down before she quickly grabbed the vomit bag from the plane seat pocket and thrust it under Alexis's chin just as she puked into the bag.
"Oh God it smells horrible," Jo said, putting her hand over her mouth.
Alex got up and picked up Eli, who clung to him. Luna stopped crying, but then he heard the telltale signs of her throwing up as well. He sighed as he looked back to see that Luna had painted half of the seat and the floor with vomit. As if to make matters worse Jo looked just as green as she did and quickly scrambled to get a bag before she also vomited in it.
"You've jinxed us!" Izzie said as she glared at him, picking up Alexis as now Jo and all three kids were sick and crying. Alex just took his head as the flight attendants approached them.
"I'm so sorry, my wife and all of my kids are sick, and the kids puked on the floor and the seats," Alex explained as he tried to settle Eli against his shoulder by gently swaying and rubbing his back, hoping it would soothe him.
"Let's get you all to the bathrooms and we'll clean it up," the flight attendant, Janet said as she led the way.
They all got settled in the bathrooms, with Alexis, Eli, and Izzie in one bathroom and Jo in the other while Alex held Luna. It seemed as if she was just a one and done vomit kid. Given how much vomit was across the seats. figured it was the entire contents of her stomach. Still, she continued to cry and Alex tried in vain to get her to go to sleep or at least calm down. So far, he and Izzie didn't seem to be affected by whatever Jo and the kids had. Which was good for now, but probably meant that they would be sick later.
Then he helped the flight attendants clean up the seats, which was not an easy task given just how much puke there was. Being a doctor, Alex had cleaned up puke many times. Arizona used to make him go around and take care of the puking kids as punishment when he was an intern. As such, he learned how to clean it up quickly and without letting the smell get to him.
After cleaning up, he had to wait for the sanitizer to dry so he paced up and down the rows. He desperately tried to get Luna to calm down while all the passengers glared at him. He didn't blame them, the plane smelled of vomit and Luna was screaming. It was an incessant wail that was quickly getting overestimated even for him.
He decided to check on everyone and see if Luna would calm down for Jo. But first, he carried Luna, who was still crying, to where Izzie and Alexis were camped out in one bathroom. When he got there there was a tall and menacing man begging on the door. His hair was short and balding and he wore one of those awful Hawaiian shirts, even though their destination was Des Moines Iowa.
"You can't just monopolize both bathrooms. Other people use the goddamn bathroom," he insisted as Alex quickly grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.
"Hey, all four of my kids and my wife are sick. We didn't mean to monopolize both bathrooms, it just happened. I get that you need to take a piss but you don't have to be such an ass about it!" Alex yelled and the man jumped back in surprise.
"Well, you didn't have to bring three sick kids on a flight, especially a screaming baby."
"We didn't know this would happen and kids are allowed to fly."
"Yeah, well they shouldn't be."
Alex just glared as he pointed down the aisle. "Just go sit down."
The man thankfully left and Alex knocked on the bathroom door again as soon as the guy had gone back to his seat. "Izzie, it's me, how are you and the twins doing?"
Izzie opened the door revealing both of the twins still sitting near the toilet and looking miserable. "I think we're doing okay. How's Jo doing? I'm guessing Luna's not feeling too good."
She gave Luna, who was still wailing a sad smile as she rubbed her back. To his surprise, Luna's wails stopped for a moment as she turned around to look at Izzie. "Mama Ezzie?"
"Hi baby, I'm sorry you're not feeling good," Izzie said gently, brushing her fingers through Luna's hair just as she knew Luna liked.
Alex loved the sweet little bond between the two of them. Izzie had grown to love and accept Luna in the same way that Jo loved the twins. Luna called her Mama Ezzie, fumbling over her name a little bit, in the same way that the twins called Jo, Mama Jo. They were a completely blended family. Even though it wasn't necessary, Izzie often Luna on the days she had the twin. Although usually just for the day and occasionally overnight. It allowed Jo and Alex to have some time to themselves and they were always grateful for it.
"Do you want me to hold you, Luna?" Izzie asked as she held out her arms to Luna, offering to hold her.
"I wan' Mama!" Luna demanded Jo, she turned back and buried her face in Alex's shoulder as she started to cry again.
"I'm gonna go see if Jo can take her for a minute," Alex said as Izzie nodded, giving him a look of sympathy.
"Daddy?" Alexis asked in a little voice that they almost didn't hear Luna's cry. They turned around to look at her as she got up and came over to him. "I'm okay, can I go back and watch a movie?"
"I want to stay here," Eli lamented, looking up from the toilet seat at them with such a pitiful expression that it broke Alex's heart before he proceeded to throw up again.
"Why don't you take Eli and Luna to the bathroom at the other end of the plane? I'll take Alexis back to our seats and we'll see how she does," Izzie said, Alex nodded in agreement as Izzie picked up Alexis and Alex picked up Eli, holding both him and Luna and they made their way back to their seats.
They made their way back to the seats and Alex took both Luna and Eli to Jo. The door was unlocked and so he let himself in as Jo looked up at them. She was leaning her arm on the toilet seat and was pale and sweaty, with a faint look in her eyes.
She looked like she'd been put through the wringer and it made Alex's heart ache. "Oh Jo, are you doing any better?"
"Yeah, a bit," Jo said as she gave him a small and weary smile.
"Good," Alex said, with a nod.
He didn't even have to ask Jo to take the kids as she held her arms out for them. "Come here my babies."
Eli ran into her arms as he sat down next to her and Jo put one arm around him as he leaned into her. While Luna wiggled out of his grasp to reach her Mama. To his relief, and that of everybody else, Luna stopped crying the moment she was in Jo's arms. She curled up in Jo's lap, content to just sit there, and even closed her eyes. Alex kneeled down and brushed away the hair that stuck to the sweet on Jo's neck. She had pulled it back in a sloppy ponytail and Alex undid it, running his fingers through her hair as he quickly braided it.
"Do you guys need anything?" Alex asked as he wrapped her hairband around the end of her braid.
"Could you get me some water?" Jo asked, looking up at him as she ran her fingers through Luna's hair. "She's asleep now, do you want to take her?"
"Yeah," Alex said as he carefully transferred the now sleeping Luna back into his arms. He waited just for a second and prayed that she wouldn't wake up and start screaming again, but she was completely out and he let out a sigh of relief. "I'll take her back to the seats and see if I can set her down. Then I'll come back with some water."
"Sounds good," Jo said with a nod as Eli claimed Luna's spot in her lap and she wrapped her arms around him, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
Alex went back to their seats and saw that Izzie had gotten Alexis settled with a movie. She easily took Luna and held her rather than laying her down to sleep on the seat bed. Alex went back to the bathroom with two water bottles. As he got to the bathroom he heard the sound of someone vomiting and opened the door. Eli had his head over the bowl and Jo had him in her lap. She was brushing his hair back and she held a couple of paper towels to his forehead.
"Oh Eli," Alex said as he grabbed a few extra paper towels and offered both of them to Eli as he sat back and Jo helped him wipe his lips.
"I don't like this one bit," Eli said with a shake of his head before he leaned back and buried himself and Jo's shoulder.
Jo wrapped her arms around him and pressed her cheek to his head. "I know my sweet boy."
"I'm sorry buddy," Alex said, reaching out to rub his back. "Do you two want to stay here or come back to your seats?"
Jo shook her head with a sigh. "I think it's best if we stay here."
Eli nodded in agreement. "I just want to stay here forever."
"Well you guys can stay here for the rest of the flight and I'll go grab some blankets and a tablet so you can watch a movie," Alex said, as he got up.
Alex went back to their seats, grabbing a blanket and a tablet before he brought them back to them. This time he found Jo throwing up as Eli gently patted her back, the same way she had done with him, and Alex sat down and rubbed her back too. When she pulled back he wiped her lips as she signed and leaned into him. He got them set up with the blankets around them and the tablet playing a movie. Alex stayed with them as Jo and Eli crawled into his lap, each claiming one side of him as he held them both. However, he heard Luna start screaming again and quickly rushed to back her.
Izzie held her up to him as she cried and reached out for him. "Daddy."
"I got you, baby," Alex said as held her close, rubbing her back.
He began to pace up and down the walkways again and Luna quickly settled. However, the second he would sit back down, she would start screaming. So Alex spent most of the flight pacing back and forth. As he did, he'd check on everyone. Izzie and Alexis were both just hanging out as Alexis snuggled with Izzie, although she still said she had a tummy ache. Jo and Eli were both still throwing up, although they watched the movie a little bit and got some cuddle time as well.
The flight attendants looked at them with pity and gave them whatever they wanted including extra snacks and ginger ale. Eventually though one of the stewardesses came up to him as he was pacing. Alex figured this was about him having to sit down as the pilot had just made the announcement they were going to land soon.
Alex looked up at Janet before he looked at Luna, who was resting her head on his shoulder, and turned so Janet could see her. "Is she asleep?
Janet nodded, with a small frown. "Poor little thing, I'm sorry your family is so sick."
"I'm sorry for you guys too. I'm sure this hasn't been an easy flight and thank you for all your help.
"Don't worry it's not the worst we've seen," Janet said with a shake of her head. "Besides, it's better when they're cute."
"Thank you anyway," Alex said as she nodded and he went back to the bathroom.
He knocked on the bathroom door before he called out. "Jo, it's me."
"It's unlocked," Jo replied as Alex turned the lock and opened the door to see Jo and Eli curled up together, their heads against each other's as they both rested.
He crouched down next to them reaching out to feel Eli's forehead, although he was still warm he wasn't running a fever. He did the same to Jo although she shrugged his hand away.
"I'm doing okay," Jo said although they both knew it was a lie, her forehead was hot and she was definitely running a fever.
"We'll be landing soon and then we can all rest and watch a movie in bed at the hotel," Alex said, trying to cheer them up.
"We're not staying with Helen anymore?" Jo asked, tilting her head as she looked up at him.
"No Izzie and I figured it'd be better to stay at a hotel so we wouldn't get her sick," Alex explained with a small smile.
He had been looking forward to spending a lot of time with his mom but it looks like that plan had taken a sudden turn.
"No, I want to stay with Nana," Eli protested weakly, picking up his head as his lower lip hung out in the largest pout.
"I know buddy, I wanted to stay with Nana too, but we just can't risk getting her sick. Do you guys think you can keep it down enough to go sit back down?"
"No I want to stay here," Eli said, turning around and hiding in Jo's chest as she wrapped his arms around him.
"It'll be okay Buddy," Jo said leaning in to kiss his forehead.
"Do you promise?" Eli said, holding out his finger.
"I pinky promise," Jo said, hooking her pinky with his before she leaned in to kiss their conjoined pinkies.
Eli nodded and then looked back at Alex before he reached out to him. Alex picked him up, as Eli wrapped his legs around his waist. Jo put the blanket over him as she grabbed the tablet. Alex got up and then held out a hand to help Jo up. Jo looked a little woozy as she stood up and stumbled as she put her hand out on the sink. Alex quickly reached around to put a hand around her waist.
"You Good?" Alex asked her, knowing she would probably lie to him.
"Yeah," Jo said, as she stood up straighter, but still leaned on him.
"Are you lightheaded?" Alex asked l as she rubbed her forehead.
Jo just sighed and this time, she didn't lie to him. "Yeah."
"Alright well, let's take it slow as we walk back," Alex said as he moved to let her go. He wished he could hold her but the tiny doorway and walkway wouldn't let him.
The three of them walked down the aisle back to their seats. As he carried Eli, Jo put her hand on the back of each and Alex put his hand out in front of her each time to catch her in case she fell. They got back to their seats and got settled in. Jo sat next to Izzie and took Luna from her as she snuggled her girl. Alex went to the other row and Eli sat next to him as he put on their seatbelt. Eli snuggled into his side as Alex wrapped his arms around him and kissed his head.
As they descended he glanced over at Jo. She looked over and caught his eye, her eyes were hazy, but she kept taking deep breaths and remained conscious. Finally, they made it to the gate and rushed up to get out of there. Luckily everyone else let them get off first and the stewardess was kind enough to have the stroller ready at the gate. Jo put Luna, who was still asleep, in the stroller and Eli crawled into the seat next to her as Alexis sat in the footrest and laid her head on Eli's legs. Alex carried all their bags with Izzie's help and Jo just pushed the stroller looking queasy as they finally made their way out into the airport.
"Alright, let's split up. You two take the kids and go get the rental car and I will get the bags from baggage claim and take a taxi to the hotel," Alex said as they paused near the baggage claim.
"That's smart, I'll call you when we find a hotel to stay at," Izzie said, with a nod.
"We're not going to stay with Nana?" Alexis asked, looking up at them before she burst into tears.
Izzie was quick to pick her up and held her as she rubbed her back. "Oh sweetie, we'll video call Nana as soon as we get to the hotel room, but we just don't want her to get sick too."
"You'll see her the second we're all better," Jo promised, reaching out to stroke Alexis' hair.
"But what if we don't see her at all? What if we're sick the entire time?" Eli lamented with a deep sigh and a deeper pout to match.
"don't worry buddy," Alex said, leaning down to hug him. "We'll see Nana soon enough and if we don't, we'll stay longer so you guys will for sure get a chance to see her, I promise."
"Pinky promise?" Eli asked holding out his pinky finger
"Pinky promise," Alex said, hooking their pinkies together.