Epilogue.
So the journey ends a little better then is started.
Thanks for reading.
Adia woke up to Cristof sitting next to her on her bed staring down at her. The first time it'd happened she'd fallen out of the bed because she'd been startled. Now she chuckled, "Its Saturday, you can't be bored."
"No, not bored. I don't get bored quite so easily. Going outside helps with that, you know?" Cristof smiled wide.
"Where's Ezra. He's usually up this early with you." Adia mused.
"Store run. We needed something." Cristof chuckled, laying back next to her. "Are we laying or getting up?"
"You're going to fidget even if I make you lay down." she reached out to poke his stomach to get a laugh.
"Nu uh!" he said, childishly sticking his tongue out at her.
"Yes you would." she chuckled, throwing the blanket over his head suddenly.
"Adia!" He laughed, nearly falling back out of the bed. "Don't be that way!" Pulling his head out and grinning widely at her. It really was hard to remember at times that he was in his early twenties.
Adia was already getting up "But its fun."
"Mean, mean, mean." Cristof pouted but it only lasted a few seconds. It was almost hard for him the frown now that he was able to live at home, and home now involved his two favorite people.
"No mean, love." Adia chuckled, walking to the closet to grab a pair of jeans.
"Yes mean." He smiled, getting up and keeping her blanket draped over his shoulders like cape as he walked out.
"Nu uh." she chuckled, not bothering to change her shirt.
"Yeah huh." he smiled, as he looked back at her. "I already made myself breakfast."
"Where's mine?" she chuckled.
"In the same cereal box mine came from." he chuckled.
"What happened to pancakes? You were getting really good at those. Thought I was gonna get some french toast or something today."
"Well, that's why Ezra's at the store." he shrugged.
"Used up all the batter, huh." she chuckled. "We have the stuff for french toast though I think. Why don't I show you how to make that?"
"What makes it french?" he asked. "I always wanted to know."
"So did I. We should google it." Adia slid her arm through his.
"That just doesn't sound right no matter how many times i hear it." he said, wrapping the blanket around her too.
She laughed softly, "Do you want french toast or not?"
"Okay." he chuckled. "Though Adia is my nurse not my cook. Or was I just not paying attention when that was discussed?"
"I'm not paid to be your cook. But I'm not cooking for you. I'm cooking for me. There just might be leftovers." Adia pointed out.
He laughed softly. "That and I'd whine if I wasn't fed. Adia's a good babysitter."
Adia laughed, "Hilarious because I can't stand babies."
"Wah." He chuckled, letting her go to sit at the kitchen table, still curled up in her blanket.
"Ha ha." she said jokingly, opening the fridge and pulling things out.
He smiled at her. "One must admit, it is pretty much what Adia is paid to do. Be my nanny. Can tell my doctor's to shove it but only if we can prove them wrong with everything being okay now, we win."
"You don't need a nanny. You can even cook for yourself now, that only took a refresher course since you hadn't done it in so long. You basically just need company and a professional voucher." Adia shrugged.
"Maybe so. What I needed was to get out of the sterile environment of that hospital. That was a big help I think. I don't like to be confined." Cristof muttered. "And being close to Ezra."
"You're peppier" she smiled, "Grab the bread for me would you?"
"Sure." he said, leaving the blanket on the chair as he got up to help her. "And I don't really think I'm peppier, this is normal."
"Peppier than you were there. Meaning I notice the difference." She chuckled.
"Mm." he nodded, handing her the bread. "Of course Adia notices. Adia knows me well enough to notice those things."
"I wish I could have seen you in court with all the ranting Erickson was doing when he got back to the office. I want to see how normal you can act to make him seem like a fraud." Adia chuckled.
"Yes. It was killing me to sit there for so long. I was gonna end up crying by the time we got a break. Never thought a break would make me so happy." Cristof muttered. "Lucky I'm good at knowing what to say."
"I feel left out." Adia chuckled.
"Yes. Erickson wasn't the only doctor in the house." Cristof mused. "There were many there I've never seen before. Including the witch's brother."
"Eh…All proven like they paid someone for those damn degrees." Adia mused, laying the first piece in the frying pan.
"And all waiting for me to screw up, doing something so they can 'claim' me first." Cristof laughed. "Silly doctor's. That won't happen."
"And now you're mine, all mine." Adia grinned excessively wide to obtain a crazed look for a moment before laughing.
He laughed instantly with her. "Yes. Which makes Adia a little odd was well, but at least Adia doesn't have to commute."
"That is awesome, lemme tell ya." Adia chuckled.
"Adia just has to roll out of bed and there's work." Cristof smiled. "I like Adia staying with us, and I know Adia likes it too."
"Best job I've ever had." Adia agreed, "Plate please."
Cristof pulled out a plate. "I only want one, please."
"Can do." Adia nodded, "Isn't someone stopping by today?"
"Someone's supposed to. How very lame, what if we had a field trip planned today. So inconvenient." He smiled wide.
Adia laughed, "Could drag them along."
"I picture some old guy in a suit. That doesn't sound like fun to me." Cristof muttered. "But I dunno when Ezra will get home either."
"So? It's all good. You're fine. I'm here, there aren't any power tools laying around." she chuckled.
His smile grew. "That you know of."
"Trouble maker." she chuckled, grabbing a plate for herself.
"Yeah well, i gotta do something while everyone sleeps." he smiled, talking his plate back to the table.
"Why not sleep?" she chuckled.
"I don't always like to sleeping." he said, shoving a large bite into his mouth.
"I know." She smiled, stacking two pieces of french toast onto her plate. "But it doesn't hurt to try now does it."
"Yeah, happens a lot. When I really, really can't sleep, and I actually want to, I'll just sleep with Ezra." Cristof said.
"That's cute." She said, taking a seat across from him.
"Mm? Is it?" he asked, seemingly oblivious.
"Very." she poked his hand with her fork.
"Ow." he whined. "That was a little bit mean. Now I'm forever wounded and scarred. Forever Adia. Ow."
"Awe, sorry sweets, I was just kidding." she reached to rub his hand.
He smiled pathetically, doing his best not to laugh to ruin the effect of his cuteness. "I forgive Adia. Love Adia."
"Love you too sweets." she smiled, taking a bite.
"Visitor, visitor." Cristof sang softly, making no moves to get up anywhere near the door as he continued to slowly eat.
"Maybe if we both yell 'we're not home' he'll go away." She chuckled, contemplating the idea more seriously then she let on.
"Outlook not so good." Cristof mused.
"Well damn." she chuckled, getting up and taking one of her french toast pieces with her.
They heard the doorbell just as she exited the kitchen. After the judge agreed to grant Ezra's proposal, Cristof was able to come home with Adia as his live in nurse, exactly the way he had wanted it to start with. With the doctor's unable to truly diagnose Cristof with an illness, and with him acting so well behaved during the proceedings, the Judge saw no reason that he couldn't go home under Ezra's care.
Opening the door she was met with a woman, which was a far cry from Cristof's assumption of a stuffy old man in a suit. She had a folder under her arm and smiled at Adia. "Hello. Would you be Adia Black?"
"Hi." Adia smiled back, "I'd shake your hand but mine's a lil greasy." She held up the french toast to gesture before taking a bite of it.
The woman laughed gently. "My names Jeanie Sanders. I'm here to check on Cristof Grandie. You should have gotten a call about it earlier."
"I think Ezra did. Cristof's brother, he mentioned something or other. We're having breakfast," Adia nodded for the woman to follow.
"Alright then." Jeanie said, obviously having no trouble keeping things pleasant. "Are both brothers home?"
"Nope, Ezra's food shopping. Cris, Jeanie, Jeanie, Cris the charmer." Adia introduced once they entered the kitchen.
"Hello." Cristof smiled faintly, finished his breakfast and drinking from his glass of orange juice.
Jeanie smiled. "It's nice to meet you Cris. I've heard a lot about you from a lot of people."
"See! I told you you'd be famous some day." Adia chuckled, finished off her breakfast.
Cristof smiled as Jeanie sat down. "Special famous or TV famous?"
"I don't know what the difference is but we'd have to work on the TV thing to get you TV famous." she chuckled.
"I bet it wouldn't be that hard." Cristof smiled.
"You certainly have a vibrant personality." Jeanie laughed softly, flipping through the file she had brought it with her.
"He's a sweetie." Adia smiled, "Did you want any coffee or anything? Water?"
"Water is just fine." Jeanie said. "Thank you very much."
Cristof chuckled softly. "Are you just here to make sure I'm not coloring on the walls or something?"
Jeanie turned her attention back to him and smiled. "I'm just here to see how well adjusted you are. Mostly."
"Coloring the walls I could handle. Running around naked trying to kill people not so much." Adia chuckled, "Which is what they have to check on."
Cristof blinked. "I think they'd notice if I'd turned into a murderer."
"They like their formalities and their paper work." Jeanie nodded. "But getting to know you a little isn't a bad thing."
"Oh! Water." Adia hopped up, popping the last piece of her french toast into her mouth, wiping her hands on her pants. She grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge and walked back to hand it to the woman.
"Thank you." Jeanie repeated, pulling out a pen and marking a few things in her file. She looked up at Adia. "I'll ask you since you are his nurse. You're opinion is just as valued. You agree this is the best environment for Cris?"
"As a nurse and someone who has viewed him in a hospital environment as well as here, I can tell you there is a difference. From the man who would just sit there, staring out the window, wouldn't eat, wouldn't really talk, to this peppy guy." Adia chuckled, "Definitely beneficial. I don't know how much time if any you've spent in the hospital scene but to see someone so involved and happily so, is amazing."
"I am charming." Cristof chuckled.
Jeanie nodded. "I can't say I have your experience but I understand perfectly well what you mean." She turned to Cristof. "As far as I can tell you were no trouble at all until your disappearance. Being home seems to do you some good."
"And that should be Ezra." Adia mused when a noise came from the door as it opened. She was slightly relieved Cristof didn't say anything before like he usually did.
"I like it here." Cristof smiled, leaning his chin on his palm as he spoke to Jeanie. "Ezra and Adia arm my favorite people and getting to be with them makes me happiest. No medication or hospital room can give me that."
Adia had to bite back a grin at the sound of him.
"Hey, you beat me." Ezra said, looking the woman over as he came in with two bags. "Cris, mind grabbing a couple?"
"Mhm." Cristof said, jumping up to help him.
"Nice to meet you." Jeanie smiled at Ezra.
"Nice to meet you too Ms. Jenny?" Ezra asked, trying to recall the name from the conversation he'd had.
"Jeanie" Adia provided.
"He was close." Cristof smiled.
Jeanie nodded good-naturedly. "It's good to get this first meeting out of the way. Will make them easier."
"I agree. Sorry I couldn't be here to meet you." Ezra said, setting the remaining bags down on the counter.
"It's not big deal. It's Cris I really had to check on, not you." Jeanie said.
"Works for me." Ezra mused as he started to empty the bags.
"What's your opinion. It's been a few weeks. Things working out?" She asked.
"I missed him honestly. My brother never should have been put into any kind of care. I've looked after him for longer than I can remember. Don't think I'm trying to be a martyr or anything but my parents are losers, that's the only reason he was in there. They're freaked out because he's not 'normal', still they can't realize he's not weird or handicapped. Things are working out the same way they always did when Mr. and Mrs. Fuck Up didn't screw things up for us—Smoothly. He's happy, I'm happy, man loves Adia." Ezra chuckled, putting things away as he spoke, "Insisted on her being his nurse. I think it's on record from the court. Judge said we'd need a nurse, Cris goes, 'Adia is my nurse'. Judge didn't know what to do with that one."
"Lucky him I'm certified to do this." Adia smiled, "Not usually my preferred occupation but he always was such a sweetie."
"It worked out." Cristof chuckled.
Jeanie nodded, making notes. "Do you have much contact with your parents now? It doesn't particularly matter, but I am a bit curious."
"Not less we have to. They help support him some. Since they were paying the institution anyway and it helps me out." Ezra explained, "It's just preferred that way. On both ends. They came to see him once and if you ask them why not more they'll say they're busy."
Jeanie nodded again, watching as Cristof helped Ezra put everything away without complaint. "I see. No problems then?"
"Nope." Cristof chuckled. "I'm good."
"Cept Adia's a lazy bum." Ezra threw a bag of noodles at her.
"Don't you start" Adia grinned, blocking so it hit her arm. "You loser. I told you from the start I don't do dishes or groceries."
"Ezra. Be nice." Cristof smiled wide. "She made me breakfast."
"I'm only kidding." Ezra chuckled.
Jeanie smiled softly. "The three of you have a good arrangement I think."
"Glad you think so" Ezra smiled lightly, "Feel free to do surprise visits. Worst we can do is not be home."
"Or be dancing." Cristof muttered. "We're horrible dancers."
Jeanie laughed. "Yeah. I'll probably get sent out again, but I think the three of you have this figured out."
"We've had practice." Ezra chuckled.
"Well then, I hope you don't mind if I'll be going. I'll give a report to the judge so you'll have at least a few weeks of peace." Jeanie smiled.
"Cool." Adia smiled, "Was nice to meet you."
"Yeah. We were expecting some grumpy old businessman." Ezra said, unknowingly mimicking Cristof's early thoughts. It made Cristof laughed, but he didn't comment.
"You know, I get that a lot." Jeanie chuckled; getting up with the bottle of water Adia had given her.
"Glad you're not though." Ezra smiled, holding his hand out to shake hers. "Want me to walk you out?"
"Absolutely." Jeanie smiled, tucking her file back under her arm before taking his hand. He shook her hand lightly before leading her back to the front door.
"See, not bad at all sweets." Adia smiled at Cristof.
"Maybe." Cristof agreed, a small smile tugging at his lips. He leaned against Adia with an arm wrapped around her. "And Ezra will be fine."
"Ezra's always fine." she nodded, wrapping an arm around his ribs.
Cristof smiled wide. "Guess I knew that from the start…"
End.
Thanks for reading. ^_^
Appreciate all the support.
Silverbolts- Cris is adorable and all things considered…he's pretty unpredictable.
Sadistprincess- hello! I'd wondered where you'd gone. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed the epilogue too. Yes, it had to come to an end but I'm glad you liked Lily. She's was sorta the annoying voice of reason but I always got the feeling she could be a right bitch if the occasion called for it. XD Cris has never really had a need for their parents, he's had Ezra.
Woo for being overwhelmed. ^_^
SeasonsReasons- thank you so much for reading! I sequel? The idea has merit, but I sorta doubt it. All of Cris' careful planning would have been a waste.