Joe went back down to reception where he didn't just find Lennox, he also found Mel there. She probably had just gotten there, but who knew. Ryder had just gotten take to surgery and they knew it was going to be a while.

"Hey, where's Ryder? Is he okay?" Mel asked Joe as he walked closer to her.

"He's fine. He's with the doctors now, being taken up to surgery." Joe told her. "He does have appendicitis, but the doctors said that he is going to be fine."

"So he's okay?" Mel and Lennox asked in unison.

"Yes, he was little—okay, he was very nervous. But don't worry, he's going to be just fine. The surgery will take an hour at the most and I have the best surgeons working on him." Joe said.

"How did you pull all that off, Longo?" Mel asked.

"Don't you know Joe always gets his way?" Lennox said and Joe smiled and nodded. Mel rolled her eyes.

"Okay, so basically demanded that?"

"Yeah. That's why it took me so long to get down here. I mean, if they just agreed with me from the beginning, then it would've been easier." Joe said as both he and Mel sat down next to Lennox.

"So what's going to happen after the surgery?" Mel asked.

"He's going to be in the hospital for a few days and when he wakes up he will be in some pain. We'll just have to see how it goes." Joe said and Mel nodded. This wasn't exactly how she pictured her Saturday night, but none of them did in the least.

"Well, I'm going to go to the café and see if there is anything edible there for me to bring back." Lennox said and left both Joe and Mel alone.

"Are you okay?" Joe asked, once Lennox was gone.

"Yeah, I'm just glad Ryder is okay. Lennox's call nearly gave me a heart attack." Mel replied.

"Sorry, about ruining your date with Austin. I know how much you were looking forward to it." Joe said and couldn't help himself from saying the next set of words. "Did you know he was going to propose?"

"You knew?"

"Yeah, Lennox told me. She was rushing me out the door to stop it, but I saw Ryder and he was in so much pain—and well, I couldn't think about anything else." Joe said. "Lennox wanted me to forget about it, but I couldn't."

"You care for him don't you?" Mel questioned and Joe smiled. He hasn't ever said anything about this, but he really did love those kids. Most nannies don't love or even like the kids they look after, but luckily Joe wasn't a typical nanny. He really liked those kids. Lennox and Ryder were very special to him.

"Yeah, but don't just him. Lennox and Ryder. I mean, Lennox is like an amazing daughter. She trusts me and asks me for advice and we have a good relationship." Joe said, talking about Lennox. Too bad she wasn't there to hear it.

"And Ryder, he is like a son to me. He opens up to me and whenever he needs help, he doesn't hesitate to ask for it. And since his father isn't around, I guess he needs that someone in his life." Joe said and Mel was smiling. "And I care of you too Mel."

"Me?" She questioned.

"Yeah. I mean, we have our differences. A lot of them." Mel nodded, it was true that they had a lot of differences, but people always said that opposites attract. "But you're a special kind of woman and any guy would be lucky to be with you. You're pretty, smart, funny, and you love to have fun. Austin doesn't know how lucky he is to have you."

"I'm sure he does now, because I said 'no'." Mel said and Joe arched his eyebrow in confusion. "He proposed as I was trying to leave the restaurant, but I said 'no'." She explained, but he didn't understand why.

"I understood what you meant, but why would you reject him? I thought he was the perfect guy for you." Joe questioned and true, Mel thought he was, but she was wrong and she now knew that. And she knew that there was a special guy for.

"I thought so too, but he didn't care of Ryder being in the hospital, he wanted me to stay for dessert and finish the date. And he doesn't really want to have kids with me, he just wants to be with me. If we had kids, I don't think he would want any part in their lives." Mel said and Joe nodded, that sounded about right.

"So, I guess you're single again?" Joe asked and then they were looking each other in the eyes, trying not to do something stupid; just yet.

"Maybe. But there is this one guy I think might be a good match for me." Mel said.

"And who would that guy be?" Joe asked, but he knew who she was talking about and failed, trying to hold back a smile. They started to lean in for a kiss, but then Lennox walked in on them and they pulled back, sighing awkwardly.

About an hour later, a doctor came down to great Mel, Joe, and Lennox. It was the doctor that took care of Ryder from the moment they first arrived in the hospital. Joe hoped to god that Ryder was okay. "Are the three of here for Ryder Scanlon?" The doctor asked and the three of them nodded.

"My name is Mel Burke. I am his legal guardian and aunt. This is Joe Longo, who I think you have met. And my niece and his sister, Lennox Scanlon." Mel said, saying who they all were.

"Okay, I was one of the attendings operating on your nephew." The doctor said.

"Is he okay?" Mel asked, worried that something had gone wrong.

"The surgery went perfectly. Ryder is doing great, he is upstairs resting right now." He said and they all sighed and smiled in relief that he was okay. "Anyway, we're going to keep him for a few days, but other than he should be fine."

"Thank goodness." Mel praised and hugged Joe.

"He's awake now and is actually asking for the both of you right now." The doctor told both Mel and Joe and they nodded. "He is in room 106 and he will be in a lot of pain, just letting you know." They nodded and the two of them started heading for Ryder's room, while Lennox decided to stay in the waiting area.

Once they found Ryder's room, Mel and Joe peered into the room and saw Ryder laying in bed, his eyes were open, which meant he was awake. The two of them walked into the room, with smiles. He smiled once he saw them.

"Hey Ryder, how are you doing?" Mel asked, sitting down on the chair next to Ryder's bed.

"Well I'm alive, so pretty good." Ryder said and both adults smiled. "So when can I go home?"

"In a few days. They said the surgery went great and they just want to look after you for a few days, alright?" Joe said and Ryder nodded. "Are you in any pain?"

"Not right—yes. God, that hurts." Ryder hissed, he moved a little bit and felt a shock of pain go through his body.

"I know, but try not to move." Joe said.

"Can I get something for the pain?" Ryder asked, it was starting to hurt a little more, but not as much as when he still had his appendix in him.

"I'll go find a nurse." Mel said and left the room.

"I told you were going to be fine." Joe said and Ryder scoffed.

"I am still in pain." Ryder pointed out and Joe hid a chuckle that threatened to escape, he's had his appendix out and he knows there is a big difference between the appendix pain and the after surgery pain.

"Come on, it's not as bad as before they took it out." Joe said and Ryder rolled his eyes because he knew Joe was right. But it still hurt. "But anyway, I told there wasn't anything to be afraid of."

Ryder smiled and Joe smiled. "Thanks for being there, Joe." Ryder said and Joe hugged Ryder. He didn't want to do it too hard because of the pain he was in and the fact he was cut open not too long ago. Ryder need that. He was glad he had someone like Joe in his life along with his aunt Mel.

And that's it! I hope you guys enjoyed the story! And I thought you guys would love a Joe/ Mel scene as well as a final Joe/ Ryder scene :D

Thank you guys so much for reading and reviewing and loving this story! It was so much fun to write! I will hopefully write another one soon :D

I'd like to give a special thanks to

RosslynchR5loverforever

ladyschrei

guest1

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Clearlypurple

BellaItaliana93

Stacey

Thank you guys so much for reviewing! Glad you loved ths story! :D

I will probably write another Ryder/ Joe story soon and as well as a Mel/ Joe story! Thank you guys so much for the support and love! It was fun writing this!

Thank you!