John's POV

The alarm clock buzzed at its highest sound. It jerked me awake and it almost woke up her. The night wasn't easy, but at least she managed to get some sleep. I looked at her and she looked so peaceful… so innocent… her expression reminded me of when she was younger. I smiled at the thought. I remembered the first time I held her. The first time I cradled her into my arms. I remember both Ana and Christian being the happiest I've ever seen them. They were such a happy family. I caressed her cheek. Her face was as cold as ice against my warm arm. She opened her eyes slowly, but I soon told her to go back to sleep. Her tired eyes had given her away. She was exhausted.

I got up and tucked her in, making sure that the covers were covering her, not leaving an inch of her visible from under the covers. I did that to both Walter and Derek… and I knew how much they loved it. I slowly opened the door not making any sound to wake her up. She was such a light sleeper. She didn't allow herself to fully rest. I could see her during the whole night. I lost count after the 4th time she woke up.

I went to our bedroom and Walter and Derek were already sulking in bed. I went forward and joined them too. Walter was looking better, but we still didn't want him to go to school. He could get sicker again, and the last thing the little kid needed was getting sicker.

'Mhmm… Who do we have here?' I teased Derek as I started to tickle him.

'Daddy!' He grumbled playfully. 'Mummy… tell daddy to stop!' He begged her, while she came forward and dropped a kiss on my lips.

'Derek… you can have your chance to tickle your father!' She replied.

'You're taking their side Rhian?'

'Of course I will!' She replied jokingly.

'Daddy!' Walter started. 'I'm up…'

'I thought you were sleeping honey…' I replied again as I lifted him off and hugged him to me. 'Are you ok baby boy?' I asked him again while he rested his head on my shoulders.

'Mhmm…' He replied. 'I'm sleepy…'

'Don't worry honey… you'll be staying home today…'

'Can I stay home as well daddy?' Derek jumped up and down.

'No Derek… You are not sick…' I smiled as I ruffled his hair. 'Come on… Let's get ready for school.'

'Daddy… can I ask you something?' Walter asked as I tucked him in bed.

'Yes Wills… tell me…' I smiled.

'Is Sera ok?' He asked me gently. 'Last night she was really scared.'

'Yes daddy… I heard her crying again…' Derek joined.

'Sera will be ok…' Rhian replied. 'She needs someone to be there for her…' She smiled.

'Can we be there for her?' Derek asked.

'Of course you can Der…' Rhian smiled again.

'Can I go to her room?' Walter asked again.

'…no honey… not now… she's sleeping…' I replied as I kissed his forehead. 'When she wakes up yes… you can… but for now let her rest honey…'

After breakfast, I decided to let Walter and Derek on their own for the time being. It was still early to drive Derek to school, so I let them have some sibling time. They loved having to play and talk in their own rational way. Their innocence made me smile… made us smile… I couldn't believe that God gifted Rhian and I with two amazing kids. I loved them so much. They were our light. They managed to make a hard day's work bearable, but giving me their love without expecting anything in return. They didn't know how to hold a grudge… they didn't know what hurt meant… deep down I didn't want them to grow up… I just wanted to have all the time in the world with them. I think about my childhood… about how I missed my mother when she died… how much I missed my father and brother for the matter… although my father was never the same after mum died, he always tried on making James and me happy. Then Grace and Carrick adopted me… and they made me feel like a child again… giving me all their love… giving me everything I needed… I was in a family again…

I went to help Rhian with the dishes. She did so much for this family… especially giving up her career. The least I could do, was help her around whenever I could.

'How is she?' She finally asked. 'She scared me last night… I thought she was going to hurt herself.'

'She did hurt herself Rhian… Her arms are bloodied. I'm calling mum to come and check her out… and I think the feeding tube is our resort for now…' I finally admitted.

'You know she's not going to accept John…'

'Rhian… we have her custody...'

'We have to make the right choice…' She admitted as she continued drying the cutlery. '…you know… having to do this kind of decision is hard… although she isn't my daughter by blood…'

'I know… she needs love… she feels abandoned by both Christian and Ana…'

'She has been John…' She admitted. 'I still don't get it how they don't realise that she needs them…'

'Christian does now… Ana… I'm still not sure… she thinks that Sera can handle anything…'

'Can she?'

'She can… it's the way she handles everything is what worries me… she blames herself for anything that her parents do… she believes she is the problem… and Christian's way of tough love doesn't help.'

'What do you mean?'

'You know that after she was r.a.p.e.d he didn't talk to her…' I started as I spelled the word just in case Walter and Derek were at ear's distance.

'Yeah…'

'…he did that because he was afraid of the anger he built in himself… he was afraid that he would hurt her… belt her to be exact… he was afraid that he wouldn't be able to stop from hurting her.'

'John… that's plain abuse!' She exclaimed. 'I know that he has issues… but that isn't something she could bear… and I am sensing that this already happened… am I right?' she asked as she realized the situation.

'Unfortunately… you are right…'

'You have to talk to him… or else get social services involved… that is no environment she should be in! Even if she recovers from her eating disorder…' She reasoned. 'You know as much as I do that once with an eating disorder, one can never fully recover… they'll always have that manipulative thought… she can relapse again…'

'That is what scares me…' I admitted again. 'Here I know she can receive love and a safe family environment… but back home… I don't think she can handle it…' I continued as I placed the cloth on the counter. 'I'll call mum… at what time is it better for her to come?'

'When will Sera wake up?'

'I don't know… I've given her atarax last night… she couldn't sleep… that calmed her down…'

'Tell her to come by at around 10am… She would wake up… her natural needs won't let her sleep for sure…' She smiled while I checked the time, and realised it was time to take Derek to school.

'I better get going… else I'll find traffic.' I replied as I moved forward and held my wife close to me. 'I love you Rhian…'

'I love you too John…'

Sera's POV

I opened my eyes slowly. I felt very sluggish… not the usual tiredness… not the usual exhaustion… but a different kind… I had a weird taste in my mouth. I looked over to the cabinet and my digital clock showed that it was already 8.35am. I couldn't believe I had slept in. I brought my hands up to my forehead, but I felt a strange sensation. I looked to my arms, and finally realized that they were all bandaged up. I started recollecting thoughts from last night. They were all jumbled… but I had few memories here and there…

I grabbed the sock in between my teeth and pulled it off only to find a tighter bandage. With my teeth I grabbed the edge and with the other bandaged arm I started removing the bandage slowly. Little I realized that Rhian had just passed from my room and saw me.

'Hey honey… good morning!' She greeted as she came in. 'Here… let me do this for you…' She smiled as she continued removing the bandages.

'What happened?' I asked her not seeing the reason why I was all bandaged up.

'You were scratching all night honey… John thought it's best to cover your hands like this.' She replied again as she started pulling it off slowly from my arm without opening any wounds. 'This is going to hurt a bit…' She instructed as she pulled it gently. As she finished the first arm, she turned to my left one, and did over the same. I moved my fingers when she was ready and cracked them all one by one. I felt better like that. She moved a lock of my hair between my ears and dropped a kiss on my forehead. 'How are you feeling munchkin?' She asked me gently and sweetly.

'I'm ok…' I smiled weakly.

'You grandmother is coming here today…' She started. 'Even Carrick…' she added.

'Why?' I asked her gently.

'Honey… John and I think that it's best if you're placed on a feeding tube for now…' She replied gently. I felt my heart beating faster… I knew what that meant… but at least they cared. 'Don't worry… I'll be here with you the whole time honey…' She encouraged. 'Why don't you go and take a shower… and then join me downstairs?' she asked gently.

'Ok…' I replied while I yawned.

'Are you sleepy?'

'Groggy is a better word.' I replied.

'It's expected… John gave you something to help you sleep last night…'

'Oh…' 'That explains the bad taste…' I thought to myself.

Rhian's POV

'Let me tell you what… Walter is also here today… What do you say if we bake a cake?' I asked gently. I knew she loved cooking… always had and always will… It made me smile seeing her smile genuinely at the idea… I wanted me to include her with her family. I could care less about her… but I loved her… She was like my daughter.

'Yes…' She smiled. 'I'd love to…'

'Ok honey… you have towels and facecloths and everything prepared in the bathroom.' I instructed gently while she tried to get up, but she was finding it harder the more days that passed. 'Here… let me help…' I sweetly said again as I held her from her back and slowly guided her to her feet and to the bathroom. 'I'll be downstairs. When you're ready from the bath, call for me… ok?'

'I can do it…' She insisted.

'Honey… I don't want you to fall… You don't have the strength to walk…'

'…but…'

'Sera… please… let me help you…' I insisted again while I nodded. 'There you go…' I replied again as I placed her on the edge of the bathtub. It broke my heart seeing her so emaciated. Her pj's were about to fall of her. Her bones all jutted out… and what scared me the most was that she was losing strength even to walk. John had told me that when she was in hospital she was finding it hard…but seeing her like this broke my heart.

I left the room, wanting to give her some privacy. I had to let John know about this. Maybe the hospital wasn't the best environment for her… and neither her home… but here… we both could keep an eye on her. She had to gain weight first before starting to respond to therapy… but at least she made an improvement… she was starting to talk… and that was more than enough for now.

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