Onita sat at the table with Little Grace and Big Ella. They had a brand new house built for them, but still enjoyed eating outside.

"Is Alex really coming today!?" Big Ella asked excited almost jumping up and down on her seat.

"Yes Big Ella," Little Grace said a bit exasperated. It was the tenth time she had asked that question that day.

"Now Big Ella, I know I've told you a hundred times. But you have to be gentle with Alex. He isn't well and still extremely sore. I don't want you dragging him around everywhere," Onita warned.

The rest of the band were camped in a large room at the end of the house. They had in fact been awake for hours and had been rehearsing a song they had all written for Alex. They wanted it to be perfect.

They heard Big Ella scream excitedly.

"I think they are here," Thomas said needlessly.

"I hope he likes it," Rosalina said nervously. She had suggested it but they were all thinking the same thing. They knew music was both Alex's and Nat's language.

Outside, Onita, Little Grace and Big Ella went forward to great them.

Nat came out walking slowly beside Alex. Alex was extremely nervous and that wasn't a feeling he was really used to.

"ALEX!" Big Ella screamed running for him.

"Be gentle Ella," Onita called.

Ella slowed down a little and gave Alex a hug.

"Hey Big Ella," Alex said softly, he was feeling exhausted already and it wasn't quite yet noon.

"Can I hug you tighter?" She asked seriously.

"Ok," Alex said quietly.

"How are you Big Ella?" Alex asked softly, he was still getting used to how easily exhausted he got. He didn't know how he would survive at school.

"I'm so happy to see you. I'm sorry you got hurt," She said sincerely.

"Thanks," Alex said quietly, but personally he felt hurt was an understatement.

"Did you get the card I sent you?" She asked softly.

"Yeah, it was sweet, Thank you," Alex said too exhausted to care if he sounded sincere.

Big Ella smiled and let go of Alex.

Onita and Little Grace spent that time greeting Nat, Abigail and Mr Wolff.

Little Grace gave Alex a big hug.

"You are the strongest person I know. If I can do anything to help you I will," She said crying a little. Hearing what had happened to Alex both times in Vancouver was very difficult.

Alex winced in pain.

"Could you lift you're foot?" He asked.

Little Grace was a bit confused but did so, and Alex sighed with relief.

"You were standing on my foot," He finally admitted.

"I'm sorry Alex," Little Grace said shocked, she felt bad being the first to hurt Alex.

"It's ok, waking up hurts more," Alex said referring to the exercises he had to do.

Little Grace gave a little grimace, she couldn't tell if Alex wanted he to laugh or not.

She stopped hugging him and Onita finally had her turn.

"Your mom would be so proud of you," She said and she too greeted Alex with a hug, but also with a kiss on the check.

"Yeah," Was all he could say.

"You ok Alex?" She asked softly, they weren't quite expecting Alex to be so lethargic.

"He's just exhausted, it takes a lot of energy just for him to do normal things," Nat informed them, he wanted to save Alex some spare energy.

"And that's on top of the rehabilitation exercises he has to do every morning," Abigail added, they both hoped Alex would be able to make it through the concert next week and the wedding the week after.

"Well, I'll take you to the band, they've missed you," Onita said not wanting to hold up Alex.

"Do you want me to get the wheelchair out?" Mr Wolff asked quietly.

Alex didn't want to show weakness to the band or Big Ella for that matter.

"No, I can manage," He mumbled.

Mr Wolff sighed, he didn't think it was good for Alex to over exert himself too much.

Nat walked with Alex while Big Ella tightly clung to Alex's hand and led the way. Because Big Ella was considerably shorter than he was, she caused him pain as she dragged him. But Alex did let the slightest inclination show that he was in pain, he tried to hide it the best he could.

Onita, Little Grace, Mr Wolff and Abigail all followed.

Big Ella dragged him inside and to the room the band were staying in.

Alex sighed in relief as Big Ella stopped dragging him, he wished she would let go, as he will still in pain, but he was to proud and didn't want to hurt her feeling to say anything.

The band saw Alex before he saw them and began playing the song and singing together.

We are by your side,

We will always be with you,

You have always been so strong,

So now we want to be strong for you

You have been hurt so bad,

Time and time again,

We just wanted you know

You don't have to suffer on your own.

We will help you up if you fall,

We will take the weight of your shoulders,

We will share your burden around,

We want to make things fair.

Alex silently cried as they played the song. So did Nat, Mr Wolff and Abigail.

"See, I told you the band was still here for," Nat said softly to his brother.

Alex smiled lethargically. He loved the song, it was so reassuring for him.

"Just so you know Alex, we meant what we sung," Cooper said who had bravely played the sax even though he sucked, despite the band working tirelessly to try and make him good.

"Thanks, you guys. You don't know how much it means to me," Alex said softly.

They all came over and gave Alex a hug, and Alex really appreciated it even if he was too tired to really say it.

"Alex, you look absolutely shattered," Rosalina said to Alex as she hugged him.

Alex didn't respond. But he saw his dad and Onita talking.

"Alex, Onita already has your bed ready, so you are going to rest," Mr Wolff told Alex, he knew if he gave Alex the option he would have declined.

"Big Ella, let Alex go, he's exhausted and needs to sleep," Onita told her.

Big Ella let go, and Alex stumbled after his dad and Onita.

They led him just up the hall, to another large room with a double bed. Alex lay down on the bed and as soon as his head hit the pillow he fell asleep.

They didn't linger, and immediately went and got the gear out of the rental car. Mr Wolff made sure he was very quiet as he first brought Alex's suitcase in to his room, and then when he brought Alex's wheelchair into the room.

They then went into the dining room for lunch.