It's a rainy Friday evening in the Randall household. On the sofa table in the living room are three cups of hot tea and a large bowl of crisps, the Friday Night Special. The TV is showing an animated film with four penguins, who seem to be some kind of secret agents. As strange as that sounds, Christian is actually finding it kind of diverting.
He's watching the movie with Sara, who is lying on the floor underneath the table, while he and Ana are occupying the couch. Mostly Ana though. She's lying full-length with her legs resting in Christians lap, sleeping. She came down with the flu yesterday, complete with high fever, chills and aches all over.
Ana had gone straight to bed when Christian came over after work, leaving him and Sara to fend for themselves. Which had proved to be kind of nice. They had ordered take-out, talked about the house and he helped her with her homework, before putting her to bed.
Christian is amazed how the girl just seems to think it's perfectly natural for him to take over her mother's duties while Ana is indisposed. And when he had quietly crawled into bed next to a feverish Ana last night, he'd felt both humble and proud that the girl seemed to trust him to take care of her. Although they're just getting to know each other, the feeling of responsibility to protect Sara is very strong already, just as it is for her mother.
Speaking of her mother, he's tried to convince Ana to let him send for a doctor – so far she's refused. If she's not better tomorrow though, Taylor is under instruction to bring Grace here in the morning, no matter what Ana thinks about it.
During the night he's had to do something he can't even remember when he did last. Ana woke up soaking with sweat, so he'd taken her to the bathroom to clean her shivering body a little, changed her night clothes and then changed the damp sheets. When Ana laid back down in bed and expressed her gratitude at the crisp, cool sheets, he felt almost blissful. He loves taking care of her.
Looking over at Ana's flushed face, he can tell that the fever is rising again and he frowns. Should he be worried? Grace, whom he called a couple of times already, says it's a normal flu, but what if it's not? Christian rarely gets sick so his experience is limited when it comes to flu-symptoms.
Her legs feel hot in his lap and he decides that it's time for more NyQuil.
"Sara? Could you get the bottle of NyQuil on the kitchen counter? I think your mom should take some." Jesus fucking Christ, he sounds so domestic. Suppressing a snort, he nudges Sara's back with his toes.
Sara wiggles out from under the table, jumps up, grabs a few crisps and walks out to the kitchen. She doesn't seem that worried about her mother. Returning with the medicine she walks over to Ana and kisses her cheek, caresses her hair for a few seconds and then returns to the movie. Although short, the loving act fills Christian with awe. This is what he wants, where he wants to be.
"Sara?" Again he nudges her with his foot. When she doesn't respond, he does it again, but a little bit harder this time, trying to tickle her with his toes.
"Saaaraaa?" Christian is whining, Sara is giggling and putting her hands over her ears. "Saaaraaa!"
"What?" She's laughing, but turns to face him finally.
"Listen, if we can get someone to stay with your mom tomorrow, I was thinking you and I could go see the house together. I doubt Ana will be up to going anywhere this weekend. So we'll have to make due without her, but then she's seen the house and you haven't, right?"
"Ok." Sara nods. "Can I bring a friend?" It sounds like an automatic request more than anything.
"You can if you really want to. Or we could go just you and me, see the house, go for ice cream or whatever. I also have a surprise for you." Christian gives her his most secretive smile.
"What? What is it?" Her eyes light up with curiosity, but he's decided he's not telling her about the pool until they're on-site tomorrow.
"You'll have to wait until tomorrow, but I think you'll like it. So we're going?"
Sara pouts, but her big brown eyes are amused and intrigued. She nods again, enthusiastically. Turning her attention back to the TV, she pushes away Christian's annoying foot while pinching her nose as if his perfectly pedicured dogs are awfully smelly.
Satisfied with their plans for tomorrow he turns his attention to Ana. Carefully he leans over to touch her face and wake her. Her cheeks are very hot.
"Baby? I think you should take some NyQuil again."
Her eyelids flutter and open, her glassy eyes finding his and she manages a smile.
"Christian, you're still here? You shouldn't be, you might catch this." Her voice is hoarse and she coughs a little.
"I want to live with you all the time, but for the time being I should leave you when you're too sick to care for both yourself and Sara? Because I might catch the flu? Yep, that sounds like something I would do." Despite the sarcasm he smiles warmly while shaking his head at her.
"I'm sorry," Ana says weakly. "I'm so grateful that you're taking care of Sara and," she glances down at her daughter and at the mugs and bowl on the table, "you seem to be doing a good job, too."
"Yep," Christian says, with mock-pride. "We've been to the market today. I suggested that we'd get Taylor to bring us what we needed for tonight, but apparently he couldn't be trusted with choosing crisps. An important Friday-ritual, I understand."
Ana giggles and that slightly calms Christian; if she's still joking and giggling, she'll probably be fine? He reaches for the NyQuil, pours the right amount in the cap and gives it to her. She gulps it down and he exchanges the empty cap with the still warm tea.
"Tea with a good dollop of honey. Drink it," he demands, unintentionally making her giggle again. But she obediently sits up a little and starts to slowly sip the beverage under Christian's supervising gaze.
"Penguins, huh?" Ana nods to the TV.
"M-hm. Apparently these guys are all the rage, I just didn't know it. I actually find it kind of amusing." He smirks at her and she giggles again.
"I like that you're here." Ana's fever-gleaming eyes, unusually large in her pale face, gaze lovingly at Christian. "You make me feel safe. It's been a while since I could just relax and let myself be pampered while being ill. You're taking good care of us." She's out of breath from talking and coughs, causing Christian to look at her sternly.
"Am I now? Then how come you're not drinking your tea while it does any good?" But he's smiling; could he ask for anything more from her than to know that she feels safe with him?
Tired, Ana takes a few more sips of the tea, then gives the mug back to Christian. When she curls up on the couch to sleep again, Christian asks her if she would mind him taking Sara to see the house, but Ana thinks it's a good idea, Sara would be disappointed not to go.
"And Grace is coming tomorrow morning to see you. She's staying here with you while we're out." He says it matter-of-factly, like it's no big thing.
Ana opens one eye to look at him. "You're getting your mother to baby-sit me when you're out for a few hours, because I have the flu?" Her tone of voice implies that this is something an idiot would do, but he chooses to ignore it.
"No one better for the job, she's an MD after all," he replies chirpily and Ana visibly gives up in front of him, too tired to argue.
"Fine." Her eye closes again.
:::: :::: ::::
It's been a busy morning and a long night and Christian is tired but relieved. After looking her over thoroughly under his watch, his mother has assured him that Ana has the common flu and will be much better in a few days.
She had a tough night again and for the second time in ages he had to change the sheets and clean her, but he doesn't mind, on the contrary. Sara slept like a log through it all and is in high spirits and extremely energetic this morning.
While Sara and Grace are in the kitchen chatting away, Christian is getting some work done. Ros is trying to convince him that he needs to go with her on Monday to see a board of directors of a company he might be buying, but he won't leave Ana until she's better. Ros better get used to it anyway – he won't be as available anymore. If the family thing is what he's doing now, he wants to do it well, same way he approaches everything. No half-assing.
He's working from a comfy chair in Ana's bedroom – that way he gets to watch her sleep when he raises his eyes from the laptop. She's pale and looks small against the gray linen sheets – a gift from him – but she's sleeping soundly now from something Grace has given er.
What Ana doesn't know, and hopefully won't find out just yet, is that he's already bought the house, despite what he promised her. He sort of didn't have a choice – there were other potential buyers and the owner wanted to sell quickly. And although they said they we're making the final decision this weekend, he knows it's just a formality. This house is what they want. What he wants too – with the improvements he has in mind it will be perfect. The Taylor's are going to get a say in how to develop their own living space and Christian feels glad to give them that.
Looking at his wrist watch, he sees it's time to go, Taylor will be here to pick them up any minute. Hopefully with an ice box containing the ice cream with which they will celebrate Sara loving the house.
Ana's cheek is much cooler when he kisses it, a long kiss, but she doesn't stir. Even though Grace is down stairs he feels reluctant to leave her, but knowing how ridiculous Ana would think him if he decides to stay home instead, he plants one last kiss on her fore head and goes to find Sara.
:::: :::: ::::
Sara's eyes are big when Taylor pulls up on the drive-way. On the way here she's been practically bouncing up and down in her seat, showering Taylor with questions about his personal life – children, wife, pets, interests and living with Christian. And why not – Sara's kind of moving in with Taylor, too.
Christian is highly amused at Taylor trying to find the balance between professionalism and satisfying a child's curiosity. Which he mostly does. The only time he gets slightly uncomfortable is when Sara wants Taylor to tell her why his boss doesn't have to make his own bed.
Getting out of the car, Sara's eloquent excitement turns to quiet awe and she seems almost shy. Christian gives Taylor the keys to the house and takes Sara's hand to give her a tour of the garden and while he's giving her examples of fun things to do on a very large lawn, Sara wakes up again and almost yells:
"Soccer!"
She proceeds to explain that their current lawn is too small, or the windows of the house too close – she's not sure which. For the rest of the garden-tour she's excited again and she's making Christian laugh with her creative to-do-on-a-big-lawn ideas.
Still hand in hand, they slowly make it in to the house. Once they're in the entry hall, Sara let's go of his hand and starts running from room to room, very loudly telling Christian about different features that catch her eye. When she finds him again, she's panting.
"Christian, where's my room?"
"Eh, we haven't come as far as deciding who has which room, but it would be upstairs I guess. If you want we can go see which rooms you like best?"
It would seem that Sara is done thinking about moving in here and Christian relaxes. He hasn't realized how tense he was over coming here with this little girl. What if she would have hated it? But she doesn't and he follows her up the big stairs where at the top of which she resumes the running from room to room again.
"Christian! Christian, can I have this room? Please?"
It takes him a little while to find her and when he does she's standing in the middle of a good-sized room, flooded with soft daylight streaming in from a bay window. The room happens to be next to the master bedroom, and he doesn't think Ana would mind so he says yes.
Sara launches herself at him and gives him tight hug, taking him completely by surprise. He carefully puts his arm around her and squeezes quickly, feeling almost shy. But happy to make her happy.
When Sara let's go she starts decorating the room in her mind while talking to herself more than to him, so Christian takes the opportunity to call his mother to check on Ana. Who is still sleeping, while Grace is preparing lunch for them all. Stop worrying and all that.
It's time for ice cream so Christian finds Taylor, who is sitting on a lonely chair in the kitchen, reading news on his IPhone.
"The ice box?" Christian raises an eye-brow at Taylor who gets up and gets the ice box from a corner of the kitchen. Together they unpack bowls and spoons and ice cream. Christian wants Taylor to have some before he carries it up to what is already Sara's room in his mind, but the man smilingly declines.
"Alright, suit yourself," Christian teases."We'll be leaving in 45 minutes tops."
Sara is totally up to celebrating her new room with ice cream and they sit on the hard wood floor enjoying it during small-talk.
When Christian's bowl is becoming near-empty he takes a deep breath to gather some courage.
"You know, Sara, there's something really important I'd like to ask you."
She looks up at him, probably hearing the sincerity in his voice, and he's hoping he hasn't scared her. But she looks okay.
"Sure?"
"But if I'm going to ask this important question, no matter what your answer is, it's really important that you can keep a secret. Not forever, but for a little while. Do you think you can do that?" Fuck, he feels exhausted already.
"Yes, I can!" Sara sounds almost offended but her interest is certainly piqued. Who can resist a secret?
"Okay, but I have to tell you, I am quite nervous asking you this."
Sara's eyes widen and she looks at him as if she's finding that hard to believe, and he almost bursts out in a nervous giggle when she leans forward and takes his hand to support him. Sweet, sweet girl. Now she's nodding encouragingly at him.
"You see, I've grown very fond of your mother and you, Sara, and I would like you two to become my family, for real. So I want to ask your mom to marry me, but before I do that I want your blessing."
Sara looks not surprised as much perplexed.
"What I mean is; I want to know if you are okay with that?" Christian explains, very nervous now. He's heart is racing.
"Would you be my new dad? Sara asks, her brown eyes looking straight into his. He can't tell whether this is something she'd be positive towards, her look is more curious than anything.
"Well … Thomas, he will always be your dad. But I would be your step-dad, or whatever you would like to call me, and I would be like a dad for as much as you'd want me to. You know, do dad-things ..." Christian is not sure how to continue, suddenly he can't think of a single dad-thing.
"Like, come to soccer games? Or go swimming?" Luckily Sara helps out and reminds him of the pool that he was supposed to surprise her with. Bad timing though.
"Yes! Exactly," he says relieved.
"Some of my friends have two dads. Except one isn't dead," Sara says matter-of-factly. "And Jennie has two dads but no mom."
For a few seconds they are contemplating this. Then Sara scrambles to her feet and gives Christian another hug.
"I accept your proposal," she says with deep sincerity and although Christian is giggling inside at her choice of words he has no problem replying with the same sincerity.
"I'm honored, Sara. I will do my very best to make you and your mom very happy. And just so you know, we're going to have a pool in this house."
To which Sara lets go of him and stares at him in awe. She starts jumping up at down, making Christian laugh, and asks if she can go tell Taylor. Christian's phone is ringing in his inner pocket so he just nods and she scurries off.
He glances at the caller ID.
"Dad."
Carrick, calling from Sydney, has good news. The district attorney's office has declared that they have no further interest in Mia and that she's free to go wherever she wants. Meaning they are going to book flights and start packing. They'll be back in Seattle within the week.
A flood of relief washes over Christian. He makes the phone call short explaining that he's in charge of Sara, but warmly asks his father to send his best to Mia and the kids.
When he gets up from the uncomfortable hard wood floor hiss legs feel strangely wobbly. He wiggles a bit to get some blood back into them and heads for the stairs. How wonderfully weird this day has turned out to be. Almost at the same moment he got Sara's blessing to ask Ana to marry him and become her step-father, at least part of his sister's nightmare ended.
He hadn't realized how tightly wound-up he must have been and now he feels completely drained and while walking down the stairs his legs feels like jelly again.
When he enters the kitchen Sara and Taylor look at him with huge smiles on their faces and Christian gets a feeling that the big secret is out. He'll need to figure out a way to ask Ana soon if Sara isn't going to do it for him.
Suddenly their smiling faces get blurry and he shakes his head. What the fuck? Then his fingers start tingling and he can feel his hands going numb, while his chest tightens and becomes excruciatingly painful.
He doesn't understand what's happening and he doesn't feel scared, until he sees the faces of Sara and Taylor through his blurry vision. Sara looks terrified, Taylor very worried and something clicks in Christian. What the fuck is happening to him? Not now, finally everything is falling into place, not fucking NOW.
His chest pains are getting worse as is his vision and he hears more than sees Taylor dialing 911. Sara is hiding somewhere and despite the fear and the pain he feels guilty – it's not fair to her to be here for this. Is he dying now, is this it?
He's finding it hard to breath and he realizes he's lying on the floor, Taylor at his side, talking to him, but he can't make out the words. His pulse is pounding in his head and it feels like it might explode. He can hear a girl crying in the background. Sara.
Then it goes black.