Danny walked into the house and saw Ethan rocking Daniel on his knees. Danny took a picture. It was nice. Tiny Daniel rested on Ethan's thighs. Ethan was rapping away rock a bye baby totally absorbed in the moment. His thighs rocking slightly. He was looking down little Daniel watching him perplexed.
"Encore?" Ethan murmured. "Or how about Twinkle Twinkle."
Ethan then looked up and saw Danny smiling at him like an idiot. He suddenly went all shy and embarrassed.
"Daniel was getting crabby and I thought that you and Alice might be having a moment so I picked him up. I felt all fingers and thumbs. I rubbed his back and he let out the biggest burp I've ever heard. Even louder than Dupe although don't tell him or he'll take it as a challenge!" Ethan then grinned. "I went to lie him back down and he groused again so I sang rock a bye baby Ethan style! Now I feel a fool!"
"Ethan it was brill! I think it's good that you found your own way to do stuff with him. You are his big brother after all."
"It's weird Danny but he does sorta feel like my brother but Lexi doesn't feel like my sister. Why?"
"Probably because he's a baby and Lexi wasn't. If you and Lexi had grew up around each other I doubt you feel the way you do. You were both nearly 13 when you came to us. On the cusp of discovering the opposite sex and of course your both good looking kids so…."
Ethan nodded. He looked at Daniel. "So where's Alice then?" he said singsong to Daniel although the question was aimed at Danny.
"Alice has gone to hospital."
"Is it…" he exclaimed then realised that Daniel jumped. "Sorry little man Ssshhh. " he crooned. He lowered his voice but the urgency remained. "Is it Lex?"
"No Alice had an accident."
"It was psycho bi…woman wasn't it?" he asked and curbed his language for Daniel.
Danny nodded.
"You should have went with her Danny."
"Got lil man to care for." he said and picked up Daniel rested him on his shoulder. "How do you feel?"
"What after being tranqed then injected? Pretty good actually. Hyper in a way. No feeling sick or dizzy or anything!"
"What happened? Like how did you get shot?" Danny asked.
Daniel whimpered. "You hungry little man?" Danny asked him.
Daniel wailed in reply. "Ok I get it son!"
"Will you grab Dee Jay's swing Eth?"
Ethan walked over and picked up the swing. Danny put it on the table clear from all the edges. He place Daniel in it and set it on light swing. He turned the kettle on and looked at Ethan.
"Well, you left us and Sheila came around the corner. Threatened Alice. I wouldn't let her shoot her grabbed the gun. We struggled then she shot me. The last thing I remember is Alice standing over me and Sheila hitting her with the gun."
Danny made up Dee Jay's bottle, cooled it then fed him. He suckled hungrily. Ethan grinned. "Wow how hungry is he?" then he looked up and saw Danny's worried eyes. "Your worried aren't you?"
Danny nodded. "Lexi is starting her radiation tomorrow and that is gonna be excruciating for her. Alice has just gave birth and gets thrown down some stairs. Everyone should be here at home celebrating Daniel being here and the two woman who would be fussing are in hospital. On his first night home to top it all off! And Alice was also warned to be careful with her back. Due to an accident any accident could permanently paralyse her!"
Ethan nodded.
"Do you feel better after reading Lexi's letter?"
He shrugged. "I feel daft admitting it but she had me laughing and crying in my letter. At the same time!"
Danny smiled. "Yeah she does that to you!"
"I don't know why she's writing these letters. She's gonna be fine. She's so convinced that she is gonna die and it makes me so angry!"
"Hey Ethan I'm not criticizing you but maybe you need to consider what she is going through too?"
"Huh?" he asked confused. "I do and I'm being understanding too!"
"Well Ethan you are angry and upset and metaphorically it's clouding your vision. Your very astute. You pick up on peoples feelings very well. Probably due to your father…" he trailed off.
Ethan nodded. "So doesn't mean I don't understand!"
"That's what you don't understand. You can't even imagine what she is going through. The only way you could is if you have lived through it!" he rubbed Daniels back on his shoulder to get his wind up. "Have you ever had chemotherapy Ethan? Been ill for over a month straight. Felt like you wanna die? Had your hair fall out? To be honest I bet she wants to die. Not to die just get away from it all!"
"But I wouldn't…" Ethan started but Danny cut him off.
"Don't say you wouldn't want to die Ethan unless you've been through it. And remember you and Lexi might feel all grown up but essentially you are still kids! God I would do anything to spare her this!" Danny said sadly.
Ethan was thoughtful. Contemplating what Danny said. It did make sense! "Do you think she'll let it beat her?"
"I don't think she'll LET it beat her. And seeing Daniel definitely perked her up. But I'm scared Ethan. I don't mind admitting that to you. If she doesn't change her state of mind then she'll lose!"
"Then how do we do that?" Ethan asked panicked.
"I haven't a clue. If I knew that then I'd have did it already! Look I'm gonna phone the hospital about Lex and Alice." Danny told him softly.
(X)
Ethan walked into his room and paced. Ok think Eth. What you gonna do to make her change her mind? God he was no good at stuff like this! He was good with his hands that was it. Matters of the heart were an enigma to him! She's a teenage girl. Ok what do teenage girls like? Ummmmm, teenage boys? God he was so stupid! He wasn't a teenage girl, and didn't even want to try and get into their heads. No thank you! It's a scary place and he had no intentions of going there! He debated texting Shauna but then decided Missy might be the safer option.
I need ur help!
Wot's up?
Wot do teenage girls like?
Y?
Do u hav 2 ask?
Defo lol
4 a m8
Lex?
damn hw u no?
Coz ur both blatant wi how u feel
I wanna make her feel beta how?
His phone rang and he picked up.
"Look Ethan here is the thing right all teenage girls are different. You can't lump them all together. Sure enough they all want the same thing more or less but it's sorta like a man who likes sport. He loves football but won't abide rugby. I mean they both involve a type of ball but they are still different. Look rubbish analogy I know but they both have balls that's all I know!" she chuckled.
"I think I understand!" he said.
"Well if you do understand then you'll know that what every girl wants will be different in subtle ways. So I'm sorry but I have no idea what she may or may not want. Think outside the box. You love her. Show her!"
"But I'm no good at that sort of thin!" he whined.
"And I have no doubt she knows that and will appreciate anything you come up with because it come from your heart."
"Can't you give me a teensy little clue. Or even point me in the right direction?" he pleaded.
"Nope Coz that would be cheating!" she laughed.
"I knew I should have asked Shauna!" he grumbled.
"And she would have told you the same."
"Woman are evil!" he declared.
"We know. Great isn't it!"
"Goodbye Missy!"
She was laughing as he disconnected.
Right he needed a unique idea. Think. Something that he could mark with a passage of days. Hmmm. Something. One thing she had to look forward to. And he had…freaking nothing! He'd give her kisses but they weren't something to look forward to and to be honest her immune system was so decimated that he'd give her a cold or something and it would kill her! Right passage of days. Present. He had an idea. He smiled wider as it grew more defied and expanded in his head. Went in his wardrobe into his stuff from his mothers. Pulled out a heavy box. Looked inside.
"Perfect!" he murmured and got to work.
(X)
Ethan telephoned Lexi.
"Hello." Mrs Elliott said.
"Is she awake?" Ethan asked.
"Yeah."
"Who is it?" Lexi asked.
"Don't tell her it's me!" Ethan said.
"Your dad Lex." Mrs Elliott replied.
"Thanks." he told her.
"Oh coz if it's Ethan I don't wanna talk to him!" Lexi said softly.
The remark stung. He clenched his teeth.
"Here you go I'm going to the bathroom." Mrs Elliott said.
"Hey dad." she said with false cheer.
"It's Ethan."
"She lied? TRAITOR!" Lexi yelled.
Her nana grinned and waved.
"Lex please."
"No Ethan I don't wan talk to you. I want you to forget me!"
"ALEXIS be quiet!"
She was stunned into silence.
"Right thank you. First of all. I will never forget you! You are my perfect opposite! If that makes sense, and you will never keep me away!"
Lexi was silent.
"No cocky reply?" he asked.
"You told me to be quiet!" she said belligerently,
"Now that's the Lexi I love!"
"What do you want Ethan?" she asked tiredly.
"To tell you I love you. And to say sorry for how I acted this afternoon!"
"Ok." she said simply.
"AND." he added.
She tutted.
He tutted back playfully.
They had a tutting war over the phone.
Lexi got the last tut. "Me win me win!" Lexi chortled.
"About this afternoon I was hurt you didn't wanna see me. I don't care about anything else except you. I can's stand not seeing you. Please let me visit you. Please I just miss you so much. Just one look at your face a day and I can survive!"
"Ethan." she was wavering.
"It means you get to see me too. Have you missed me at all?" he asked quietly.
"Like you wouldn't believe!" she blurted without thinking.
"I wish I was with you now and we weren't doing this over the phone."
"Well it is sorta 11 o'clock at night!" she told him.
"I know Daniel has just went off!"
"Really how are mum and dad doing?" she asked.
He decided not to tell her about her mum. "Fine. Little beggar demands to be fed constantly!"
Lexi laughed. "Got them on their toes already. What a little belter!"
"There's something else."
"oooo really?" she asked.
"I have a surprise for you. I will be down to see you everyday and everyday I will be bringing a new surprise."
"What?" she asked excitedly.
"You will have to wait and see!"
"WHAT? But I'm not allowed visitors face to face for days!" she complained.
"Oh well Lex you will have something to look forward too!"
"Mean!" she said laughing. He then heard her yawn.
"One more thing sleeping beauty then you can catch a few Z's"
"Ok."
"Close your eyes." he whispered softly. "Imagine I'm with you. My lips are inches away from yours. My warm breath is tickling your face. I'm smiling slightly and so are you. Neither moves for a moment. Just locked into each others eyes. Then I move an almost imperceptible movement. Then you do too. We're millimetres apart." he was silent a moment allowing her to think for a second. "Our lips finally touch softly. You sigh and then I do too. I deepen the kiss slightly and you wrap your arms around my neck. My hands are around your waist pulling you closer to me." his voice was soft low husky and incredibly seductive. He spoke slowly but surely.
He was silent again. "I gotta stop there!" he said strangled.
"God I sooooo wanna kiss you right now!" she said breathlessly.
"Not if you knew where that was leading in my head!"
She giggled. "Definitely because I knew where that was leading!"
They both smiled. "I love you." they said simultaneously.
"Jinx!" the parroted. And then laughed.
"How old are we?" she asked.
"Who knows?" he replied. "I'll check out birth certificates!"
"NO! you'll find out my age!" she gasped.
"Um Lex I dunno if you know but I already know your age."
"Oh yeah!" she laughed.
"I'll see you tomorrow after school. I'm on orders from Danny. I hate school!"
"Ha ha!" she crowed.
"I've been told to get work for you too!"
"NO WAY!" she asked in disbelief.
"Your right I haven't! Score one to Ethan!" he laughed loudly.
"You…you…freak show!" she said lowly, but full of love.
They laughed at the insult.
"Yeah but I'm your freak show." he paused. "Bean pole!" he replied.
"Yep only mine! And I am only your bean pole!"
"You go to sleep then and dream of me!" he told her.
"Like I dream of anyone else."
"I should think so too!" Ethan told her seriously.
"Sweet dreams darling." he told her.
She pressed the disconnect button.
Ethan smiled widely. The end of that conversation had been just like she had been normal. He walked from his room and into the kitchen. Danny was sat beside the baby monitor looking bushed. He was shaking a newly made bottle.
"Daniel again?" he asked incredulous.
Danny smiled. "No but I shall be prepared!" he grinned.
"How's Alice?" Ethan asked.
"They are completing scans and her spasm is over and she seems to be fine. They're hopeful she will be home tomorrow.
Danny's mobile rang.
"I'll leave you to get that." Ethan walked to the fridge and pulled out the juice and a yogurt too. Walked back towards his room.
"Hey Cathy is it Lex?" Danny asked after she declared who was speaking.
"You could say that."
"What is it?" Danny asked perplexed.
"Ethan telephoned. I left them alone. Now Lexi is chatting a mile a minute. Her skin doesn't look as pale and her eyes are sparkling. Do you know what he said to her?"
"No idea. He didn't even tell me they spoke."
"Well Danny whatever he said it's done wonders. She looks healthier then she has in a long time!"
"Wow, thanks, o and tell her I love her will you?"
"Will do Danny."
"Goodnight." he disconnected. Picked up the baby monitor knocked on Ethan's door.
"C'min." Ethan was listening to good charlotte march on. He picked up his remote and paused the song. He was sat on his bed with his feet up. A empty yogurt pot on is bedside cabinet.
"Hey Danny is the music too loud for little man?" he asked.
"Oh no it's fine. You didn't mention that you spoke to Lex."
"Yeah just wanted to say hello and tell her I was sorry about earlier. I was abit of an idiot!"
Her nana rang. She perked up. Almost excited about something by the sounds of it."
"Really, about what?" Ethan asked innocently.
Danny smiled. "Who knows. Goodnight son and however you cheered her up. Thanks."
They heard a soft cry.
"Duty calls."
"Your welcome Danny." the door closed and Ethan couldn't suppress his grin.
A/N I love writing lexi and ethan coz although they do have this sort of mature relationship I can write them acting like kids too which is fun so yeah its good hope u enjoyed a little bit of fluff afta all the angst. I needed a little release haha x