Wedding bells are ringing?

Monday afternoon Miss. Kelly was waiting for Nat and Alex. She hadn't felt this happy in years. She wanted everyday to be like this for the rest of her life. Nat came out to the car first and got in. She smiled at him and asked "how was school? Nat is your brother upset about something? He seems to hate me for no reason. Is it just me personally or does he hate all women that your dad might marry?"

Nat said "Alex isn't upset with you. I really don't know what's bothering him. If he was upset he'd tell me."

Alex came out to the car and sat down next Nat. He didn't even look at Kelly he just stared out the window. Kelly tried starting a pleasant conversation but Alex kept staring out the window. When they got to the house Kelly said "Alex I really want to try to be your friend. I might not know your favorite song or what your favorite subject is in school. What I do know is when your dad forced me to move out I missed you very much. I hope that'll count for something until I figure the rest out."

Alex snapped "just shut up! I hate it when people try and act like my mother! You will never be my mother! If my dad really loved you he wouldn't have made you move out! Wake up and smell the coffee you dumb stupid lady!"

Kelly turned away from Nat and Alex. Tears were slowly pouring down her cheeks. Nat couldn't see her tears but he had been with Rosalina long enough to know when a girl was either crying or was close to tears. He set his hand on her shoulder and asked "Miss Kelly you ok? Alex really didn't mean that. He's just having a hard time adjusting to the idea of dad getting remarried."

Kelly sobbed "Nat I'm ok really. I just need to go home for awhile I'll still meet your dad for dinner tonight."

Nat went into the house and found Alex sitting by himself in the living room crying. Nat said "Alex what were you thinking! This isn't just any woman that dad is dating. She's a reporter that means that she has power over the band. She and dad have to stay together! If you wreck this I'll never speak to you again ever."

Alex ran into Nat's chest and sobbed. Nat opened his arms and pulled Alex into a hug. Nat sighed and rubbed his brother's back. Then his dad came into the room and said "what's the matter kiddo? Come here sport did something happen at school today?"

Alex ran to his father and sobbed "I'm sorry dad. I did something terrible. I'm so sorry dad. I didn't realize that she meant so much to you."

Mr. Wolf said "Nat go upstairs please. I left a gift for Kelly in my closet."

Once Nat had gone upstairs Mr. Wolf said "Alex what did you do? You can tell me anything. I need you to understand that Al."

Alex sniffed and said "dad I told Miss. Kelly to stop acting like my mom. I said that she would never be my mom. I'm so sorry dad Nat said I made her cry. I hate seeing adult women cry. It makes me feel guilty dad."

Alex gave his dad a hug and then grabbed himself a glass of milk. Tears stung his cheeks but he quickly brushed them away. Jesse knocked on the door and Alex opened it. Jesse saw the tears in Alex's eyes and said "you got into a fight with Miss. Kelly didn't you. I don't get why you don't like her Al. She's so kind and friendly. Al your dad isn't going to rush into this. He loves you and Nat too much to get married then have it not work."

Alex sighed and said "I miss mom so much. Jesse I don't understand why Miss. Kelly is trying to make me forget her. I don't even remember mom so why do I miss her so much? This doesn't make any sense and I don't like it."

Jesse hugged Alex and ruffled his hair. Jesse said "when I realized that I was in love with you it didn't feel right but we're making it work aren't we?"

Alex said "Jesse you and I dating isn't the same as dad getting married. I have to approve of her though because she can write a really awful review of the band if dad breaks up with her."

Jesse started to tell Alex that it was the same thing when the doorbell rang. Alex answered the door and saw Kelly standing outside. Her face had been washed clean of all traces of tears. She smiled at Alex and gave Jesse a hug.

Jesse said "Miss Kelly Mr. Wolf is waiting for you in the living room. He has a surprise for you."

Alex sighed and said "Miss Kelly I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm just upset that dad's going to get married again. The band won't be the center of his life anymore I'm afraid that I- I won't be the center of his life anymore."

Kelly smiled at Alex and said "Alex I'm not mad. You just forced me to see my own fears. I worry about how your dad really feels about me to. If you kids don't like me he might refuse to marry me. It's normal for kids that have lived with a single parent for such a long time to act this way when their mother or father gets married again. I'm proud of you Alex for not holding back your feelings."

Alex said "dad's in the living room. He has a present for you from all of us."

Then Nat came into the kitchen and said "Al please don't make her cry again."

Kelly said "I love you Nat. What your brother said this afternoon was just his normal feelings about his fear of loosing your dad."

Nat said "Miss Kelly please don't say that just yet. I barely know you."

Kelly said "ok Nat now where's your father? I heard that he has a special gift for me."

Mr. Wolf came into the kitchen and kissed Kelly on the lips. He held a small box behind his back. He said "Kelly I love you so much. Would you like to send the rest of your life with me?"

Kelly started to cry and said "yes oh god yes! We've only known each other for a few days. John I think that we should wait for a little bit. The problem last time was that we went too fast. I don't want to hurt Nat and Alex. They're old enough to remember me and this time I want things to run smoothly."

Nat said "we have rehearsal tonight dad. Don't worry about when you get home. Alex and I are old enough to stay home by ourselves."

Alex said "Rosalina shouldn't come tonight. She needs her rest I no that it's your choice but please tell her to rest. I want her to get better Nat."

Nat said "Alex Rosalina is really sick. She's going blind that's not something that can be fixed with rest."

Alex ran into Jesse's arms crying. Jesse rubbed his back and said "hush, hush Alex Rosalina is fine. She's just having a rough time the band will help her with this."

Alex said "alright Jesse but someone will have to call her. She doesn't know that we are having rehearsal."

Nat said "I'll call her Alex. Please go wait upstairs because I have to ask you something."

Nat called Rosalina she answered on the third ring. She sounded tired and lifeless when said "Nat I can't make it to rehearsal. I really don't feel up to it I'm sorry."

Nat felt tears burning in his eyes but he refused to cry. He sat down in a chair and asked "what's wrong you really don't sound like yourself?"

Rosalina said "I haven't slept in two days. My eyes really hurt my dad wants me to go into the emergency room tonight. I'm scared Nat and he won't stay with me while I'm there. He'll come and see me in the morning after they've already told me what's wrong."

Nat said "Rosie promise me that you won't go any where. The band needs you – I need you Rosie."

Rosalina sobbed "Nat please spend the night with me again. I can't sleep in the hospital by myself."

Nat said "Rosie I'll sneak in the back and I'll bring E.T with me. Just get some rest and feel better ok."

Nat hung up and said "Jesse I'm sneaking out to go see Rosalina. She's in the hospital again. Her eyes are really hurt I'm taking E.T with me. I need you to stall Copper, my dad, and Alex."

I'm spending the night with her. She's really scared Jesse or I wouldn't be doing this. I'll be home in time to make it look like I've been at home all night. I'll be at school in the morning. I'm going to head out now just tell Copper that I took E.T for a walk."

Jesse said "ok Nat just be careful."

Nat gave Jesse a hug and said "thank you Jesse. I owe you big time I'll hurry back as soon as I can."

Nat grabbed E.T's leash and called her. Then he called Rosalina's cell phone and told her that he was on the way. His heart pounded in his chest and he felt sick. He had never sneaked out of the house before.

When he reached the hospital he climbed in Rosalina's open window. Rosalina threw her arms around him. E.T jumped into Rosalina's lap and licked her cheeks. Rosalina giggled and petted her head.

Nat said "have the doctors looked at you yet?"

Rosalina said "yes they took a lot of blood tests and they still don't know. I'm really tired please sing my favorite song that you wrote for me."

Nat sang "you went to go and live your life. Why did you have to go? You're my only love my only never ending love Rosalina. You took my heart away and now I miss you so. You are my never ending love Rosalina."

Rosalina lied down and closed her eyes. The last thing she felt before she was asleep was Nat's arm around her. Nat waited until he was sure that Rosalina was asleep then he got up and left the room. Nat got back to his apartment and let E.T in the back door and then he climbed in his bedroom window.

Alex was awake when Nat came into the bedroom. Alex ran to him and asked "where have you been dad and Miss. Kelly are out looking for you? Dad's worried sick Jesse said you took E.T for a walk. Dad waited for three hours before he and Miss Kelly went to look for you."

Nat said "I went to spend the night with Rosalina in the hospital. I'm sorry I didn't tell you Al. I had to sneak out because dad wouldn't have let me. Her dad wouldn't spend the night with her. He just checked her in and gave her a kiss. She was scared to death Alex."

Alex said "Nat you should have talked to dad. Miss. Kelly was crying she thought that she'd driven you to run away from home. Is Rosalina going to be ok?"

Nat said "the doctors have no clue about what's wrong. They've done at least twelve blood tests and don't know anything!"

Nat and Alex were asleep when their dad and Miss. Kelly came home. Mr. Wolf went upstairs to see if Alex knew where Nat was and found him lying in his bed safe and asleep. Mr. Wolf turned on the light and shook Nat hard. Nat woke up with a start and said "dad let me explain myself. Rosalina needed me she's in the hospital again. I had to sneak out because she wanted me to spend the night."

Mr. Wolf said "I thought you were more trustworthy than that. Go back to sleep in the morning we're going to talk about this. Kelly moved in with us so we could see if she would fit in our family. She packed up her things and moved out because she thought you ran away from home."

Nat lied in bed thinking about the way things would have been if he hadn't snuck out. Silent tears ran down his cheeks and landed on E.T's soft brown fur. Alex woke up and said "I had that dream again Nat can I sleep with you?"

Nat didn't say anything he just patted the empty side of the bed. Alex climbed into the bed and lied down. Nat wiped away his tears and sniffed quietly. He didn't want Alex to know about what had happened between him and their dad. Alex sat up and said "Nat I heard dad and Miss. Kelly yelling at each other. Did I do something wrong again? Please don't hate me if I did Nat I'm sorry."

Nat said "you have really cold feet Al. Get these icicles off me! What do you do stick these things in ice water?"

Alex laughed and kicked Nat hard with his left foot. Alex said "this isn't my fault is it. Have you been crying please tell me what's wrong?"

Nat said "you didn't start the fight I did. Go to sleep Alex before I kick you so hard you fall out of bed."

Alex said "how did you sneaking out cause a fight? Dad's not like that Nat he wouldn't take his anger out on anybody else."

Nat said "go to sleep squirt! I don't mean it like that Alex I mean that Miss. Kelly moved in to dad's life and then she moved out because of me. Dad's pretty hurt we have to get him and Miss. Kelly back together."

Alex said "why don't we just get some sleep and take care of this in the morning. This is your mess anyway. I'll help you fix this but it's going to take time."

Nat said "go to sleep little bro. I'll fix this with a little bit of music and a lot of time."