"Daddy!"

The shouts could have been heard in Boston as all seven Penderwick children, Iantha, and Aunt Claire all tackled him on his hospital bed. Jeffery, closing the door behind him as he came in, chuckled, shaking his head. He gave it two minutes before the bed broke. Scratch that, one minute. Hope and Grace had just begun jumping on it.

He just stood there, grinning, as he watched the mayhem before him. These were the Penderwicks he knew. This was how it should be. At the sound of the door behind him opening, he turned to see a young woman, dressed in a white coat, slid into the room and smile at the sight before them. Still smiling, she turned to him.

"Hello, there. I'm Melinda Thompson."

"Oh, so you're the miracle-worker. I'm Jeffrey Tifton."

"It's very nice to meet you Mr Tifton."

"Jeffrey."

"Jeffery. Have you known the Penderwicks long?"

"Ten years."

"They're a wonderful family. I've never seen anything like it."

"I know. I'm lucky to be getting in."

"Ohh? Marrying in?" She smiled and raised her eyebrows in question. Jeffery laughed.

"Yeah, I'm engaged to Skye."

"Ahh. You're getting an awful lot with that one. Lucky boy." He chuckled.

"Sometimes more than I think I'm ready for. But you're right, I am lucky."

"Where do you live?"

"I'm in Boston. I go to -" Here their conversation was cut off by the sound of a hospital bed collapsing and the yelps that followed.

"Oh, my." Dr Thompson said laughing as she and Jeffrey moved forward to help. "This has never happened before. These beds are supposed to be unbreakable. There goes their top selling point."

Laughing harder than he had in days, Jeffrey pulled Penderwick apart from Penderwick as he and Dr Thompson attempted to clear the wreckage. And then, from under a pile of females, came a voice Jeffery had thought that he would never hear again.

"Jeffrey? My goodness, did they drag you into this mess to?"

"Daddy!"

"No, Sir. I volunteered. How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thank you. I'm a bit stiff, though I suppose that is to be expected. The question should be how are you? You, undoubtedly had to deal with six emotional females for the past few days, with only Ben to come to your aid."

His eyes twinkled as he spoke, and everyone in the room was reminded of just how miserable they would have been had circumstances been different. Jeffrey laughed.

"They were kind enough to control themselves, for my sake if no one else's."

"Ahh, I see. When do I get to leave this utterly white building, or have they decided to keep me here forever?" Chuckling, Dr Thompson stepped forward.

"If you don't mind, it will be a few days before we can part with you, Mr Penderwick. We just want to make sure that everything is normal."

Glancing over at Skye, Jeffrey could see her visibly relax. Everything was how it should be.

Sorry this is so short. The next one should be up soon. Thanks for the reviews! I'll say again: if you have any ideas, please let me know. It will make for more frequent updates...

Guest: Thanks!

Mahogany night: I'm glad you enjoyed it. Haha. Did I mention I'm also a mind-reader? :-) Thanks! Do you have any more of your famously good ideas? I could use some...

Rachel Alexandra 9: Skye and Jeffrey would be 21, so that would make Rosalind 22, Jane 20, Batty 15, Ben around 13. :-) I hope that helps. I am never quite sure about everyone's birthdays, but this story begins in December. :-) Thanks for your interest.

Thank you all! You're the best.