All the kids

She looked in the living room, he wasn't there. Then she went into the kitchen and he wasn't there either. "Jackson?" She yelled, no answer. "JACKSON?!" She yelled a little louder, still no answer. Then she began crying, frantically pacing the room back and forth, and playing with her red hair, repeatedly wringing it out and pulling on it nervously.
Then Jackson came down the stairs and saw the tears flooding from her eyes, "whoa whoa Hollie!" he said quickly walking over to her and wrapping her up in his arms, "what's wrong?" He asked lightly wiping her tears with his thumb.
"Jackson!!" She cried harder hugging him tightly, she stuffed her face into his chest, "I thought.... You left" she sniffled.
Jackson frowned, "Hollie I wouldn't leave you"
Hollie lightly touched her stomach, "I don't know that! You could get cold feet about having a baby...."
"Hollie" Jackson said grabbing her chin "I love you.. And I could never leave my child" he said gently setting his hand on hers as it rested on her large stomach.
Hollie sighed wiping her eyes with the back of her hand, "I love you too" she frowned.
Jackson smiled and lightly entwined his fingers in her hair, bringing her closer and kissing her forehead. He grabbed her hand, "now I have a surprise for you" he told her.
Hollie pouted as he pulled her upstairs, "Jacksoooon" she whined.
"Oh shush" he chuckled "after this I'll even make you breakfast"
".........French toast?" She asked.
Jackson nodded, "French toast" he told her squeezing her hand a little. He opened the door across from their room.
Hollie gasped and stepped inside, she looked around, Jackson had painted the walls from a cream color to a light green, as they were expecting a boy. There was a new blue and white crib up against the wall, and a dresser too match. A little orange treasure chest sat in the corner, full of new toys for when he came of age.
Hollie smiled and nearly cried, then Jackson hugged her from behind, "like it?" He asked.
"I love it.." She whispered, then turned to him and smiled wider, "almost as much as I love you" she giggled.
Jackson smiled and kissed her softly, then picked her up bridal style carrying her downstairs.
Hollie giggled again, hanging onto his shirt, "aren't I heavy?"
Jackson smiled, "no.. Just a bit fluffy"

Hollie stood at the counter, preparing the kids breakfast. She turned the burner of the stove off and hopped a little, the floor cold on her feet. She took the pan and spatula to the counter top behind her, emptying the scrambled eggs and bacon on the plates.
"BREAKFAAAAST!" she yelled through the house "HURRY BEFORE I EAT IT ALL!" Then she heard stomping down the stairs as her oldest three kids filed into the kitchen.
Each of them made their way being seated down the line, first Henry then Camden then Adelaide, then Jackson came downstairs following behind them, with their little baby boy Jarod in his arms, well technically he was four so. He was the cutest boy, he had Hollie's red hair and her green eyes, but had all the exact facial features of Jackson.
Hollie set each of the kids food in front of them, though of course she had a mourning routine of refusing to give them their food unless they kissed her cheek first.
She smiled and looked up at Jackson as he set Jarod into the chair, which he stood on in order to reach the table, he refused to sit in a highchair claiming he was a big boy.
Hollie set his favorite cereal down in front of him, Adelaide pouted, "why does he get cereal?!"
Hollie sighed patting her daughters small shoulders, "because I made you A LOVELY GOD DAMN BREAKFAST"
Adelaide frowned and quieted, stuffing scrambled eggs in her mouth.
Then Hollie walked around behind Jackson, she held his plate up in the air with one hand and wrapped her other arm around his chest, lightly rubbing his chest. He tilted his head back and smiled looking up at her, she leaned down to softly kiss his lips.
"Gross!" All the kids said in unison, Jarod just stuck his tongue out and made a sour face, being the quietest of the children by far.
Hollie giggled setting Jackson's plate down in front of him, "oh come on guys" she ruffled Henry's hair up and smirked "what about yoooour little crush"
Henry blushed and pouted, "whatever" he said burying his face in his bacon.
"Sit sit" Jackson said grabbing Hollie's arm.
Hollie sighed and shook her head "no no I'm a mommy I need to be up and about"
Jackson sighed, "Hollie you don't NEED to be up and around. If anything you NEED to be sitting, and relaxing. We've been through this"
Hollie pouted, crossing her arms and shaking her head, indicating she was going to be her usual stubborn self, and not sit down.
Jackson looked at his three oldest children and nodded, they all got up and each grabbed an arm or a leg.
Hollie protested as they all carried her upstairs, Jarod laughed and giggled up a storm, clapping and bouncing in his chair.
Hollie groaned as the four set her in bed, covering her and then the children running downstairs. Jackson smiled as she glared at him and the kids came running back up. Camden handed her a big plate of her breakfast and she frowned, looking at all of them, then she looked at the milk she was handed, which had Froot loops floating on the top. Hollie pouted, recognizing they must've put all their food together. "Guys go eat" she told them.
"It's fine Hollie" Jackson chuckled.
"You need it more" Camden pointed out.
Which was right, Jackson leaned over and lightly tapped her stomach, "you're eating for two" he said pointing out to her she was four months pregnant.
"Better be with my baby sister, being the only girl sucks" Adelaide pouted.
Hollie sighed and smiled, rubbing her small baby bump, "whatever.." She rolled her eyes and ate.
The kids smiled victoriously, they each kissed her cheek and then ran back downstairs. Hollie glanced over at Jackson who smiled, "I love you" he rubbed her arm lightly.
Hollie sighed, she hated admitting it, especially after she'd give in like this, "I love you too.." She mumbled through a mouthful of scrambled eggs. Jackson smiled kissing her forehead, happy he had won.

~~~

"RYUU!!!" Misty yelled, running and jumping up on him.
"Hi Misty!" Ryuu greeted her, "be careful" he chuckled.
Misty pouted poking at her stomach, Ryuu bent down and lightly kissed her small stomach, they just discovered she was a little more than two months pregnant.
Misty giggled, running her hands through his black hair, "that tickles!!"
Ryuu smiled up at her and gently kissed her, "I love you!" He told her.
"I love you too!" Misty giggled and smiled, happy that they'd be graduating soon, and not long after their child would follow, and after that would be their life together, not that they hadn't already spent their lives together up to this point.

Misty sat on the bathroom floor, she cried and cried until she ran out of tears, which of course took awhile. She was feeling an extreme pain in her abdomen, and she knew why, as much as she hated admitting it.
She didn't mean too, but of course she was being reckless and careless as usual, and she tripped and fell right on her stomach.
Ryuu knocked on the door, "Misty are you in there?"
Misty quickly wiped her tears with the back of her hand, "No!"
Ryuu chuckled and walked in, then saw her on the floor crying, and his expression instantly fell to a worried one, "Misty what's wrong?!" He frowned, getting down and hugging her.
Misty cried harder shaking her head, she didn't want to tell him, she didn't know whether he'd be mad, or just sad. And whether or not he'd leave her.
"Misty" Ryuu whispered, she looked up at him slightly, he wiped her tears, "please.. Tell me what's wrong"
Misty cried even harder as she told him, she hid her face, too afraid to look at him especially now, too afraid to watch him leave.
All she felt was Ryuu pick her up bridal style, she looked up a little and saw as he carried her out of the door, and walked down the street with her like that.

Misty leaned on the railing looking off the balcony, she sighed as the wind blew her black hair. The dye had faded out, and she hadn't felt motivated to dye it again.
Then she heard the door open and close behind her. She looked over as Ryuu came out and leaned on the railing too, looking out over the city. Neither said a word, they didn't really need to. They were both visibly torn up about it, and words didn't really fix that.
They had run away to take small vacation in Italy, to maybe get their minds off it, though that didn't do much good. It was hard NOT to think about it.
Misty frowned, she lightly rubbed her stomach and let out a breath, "I'm sorry.." she whispered looking up at him with sad eyes.
Ryuu just closed his eyes, "it is what it is" he whispered. Then she suddenly saw his frown turn up into a smile, the first genuine one she had seen in months since the incident, "I still love you! And I know the baby does too!"
Misty stared at him for a moment, deciding her next move, she smiled back at him, then the tears began falling like rain. Ryuu frowned, "oh! Misty! No I didn't mean to-"
Misty just laughed cutting him off, she wiped her eyes not understanding herself why she was crying. "No no it's okay!" She giggled, Ryuu looked at her. "I just... I don't know that got me" she smiled her bright smile, "but I know she would"
Ryuu lightly hugged her, still afraid of breaking her fragile body.

Misty giggled and jumped up on Ryuu, "RYUU!" She yelled kissing his cheeks over and over again.
Ryuu smiled and kissed her back, he lightly picked her up and spun her around, "how are my girls today?!" He smiled brightly.
Misty giggled, "I think baby's a little grumpy today.." She pouted, but quickly smiled, "but that's a good sign!" Misty clapped.
Ryuu bent down and lightly kissed her stomach, whispering words in a baby-ish tone. Misty grinned and ran her small fingers through his hair, she was pregnant once again come the following year, and they found it would be a baby girl. Ryuu refused to leave Misty's side for more than even 15 minutes, and she let him, to make sure she didn't do something reckless.
Misty smiled, "RYUU RYUU!!" She grabbed his cheeks and smushed them, "what are we gonna name her?!"
Ryuu thought for a moment then smiled, "you can decide!"
Misty blushed and thought, she spun around as she thought and thought, then she froze and bounced up and down, "I KNOW I KNOW!"
"WHAAAAAT!!" Ryuu flailed in excitement.
"Piper!!" Misty clapped smiling widely.
Ryuu smiled and bounced around with her, "YAAAAS PERFEEEEECT!"
Misty looked down at her stomach and rubbed it, "HI BABY PIPER!!" she shouted, thinking that was the only way the baby could hear her.
Ryuu chuckled and bent over lightly kissing her tummy, "hi Piper! I'm your daddy!" He laughed and looked up at Misty, "and that's your beautiful mommy!"
Misty blushed and patted his cheek, "I feel gross BUT THAT'S OKAY!! because BABY!" she yelled, excited about her baby that would arrive soon enough.
Ryuu grinned and kissed her forehead, "unf YOU'RE SO STRONG MISTY!"
"I KNOW I KNOW! BABY GIVES ME STRENGTH!" She said, trying to flex and making grr noises, but it wasn't working out too well for her.
Ryuu smiled and grabbed her shoulders, he quickly leaned down and kissed her, "I love you" he whispered keeping his face just inches from hers.
Misty blushed, "I love you too!"

Misty poked her head out of the cabinet, "LOOK CHILDREN I HAVE FOOD!! BEHOOOOLD!" she shouted holding out a banana to them.
Teegan, their youngest at 3 years old took it and chewed on the unopened end of it, giggling.
Grant, their second oldest at 15, sighed. He took the banana from her and opened it, then handed it back to her.
Teegan laughed her small baby laugh and hugged his legs, then hobbled off chewing on it.
Ryuu came into the kitchen and smiled lifting Teegan up by her under arms, he peaked the top of her small nose and she giggled, smashing the banana into his face and clapping.
Ryuu smiled, unaffected by it. He looked at Teegan, she looked just like Misty with hair to match, but Ryuu's orange eyes. He looked up at Grant, who mostly got his looks from Ryuu, aside from Misty's pale skin. Grant was the only.... Calm, child of the house you could say. He kept the peace at a high and the calamity down.
Ryuu patted grants head and then the third oldest Levi at 13 came running in, with the second youngest 7 year old Raini right behind him, being the little balls of energy they were.
They circled around Grant's legs, obviously playing tag. Grant sighed at his younger siblings, but stood there nonetheless for them.
Levi was tan like Ryuu, with black hair as the rest of his siblings had, he looked just like Ryuu aside from his faded pink eyes.
Then there was little Raini who had purple eyes, long black hair and Misty's skin, but she looked a lot like Ryuu in facial features.
Ryuu smiled brightly watching his children play, it was always chaotic in their household, but he loved it.
Misty poked her head back out of the cabinet and threw sprinkles down on Levi and Raini, who stopped their game to play and spin in them.
Misty laughed at her children, then she looked up and clapped, "RYUU!!! YOU'RE HOME!" she shouted, he walked over and lightly kissed her, and Grant sighed, "oh!!" Misty smiled, "I know what you need mister!" She pointed at him and disappeared back into the cupboard, then popped back out and flung a handful of salt at his chest.
He rolled his eyes, he loved his parents and his siblings he really did, but sometimes.... They were a bit much, as they were for anyone. Well, anyone NORMAL.
"Did I hear daddy was home??!?" Their oldest at 16, of course Piper popped her head out of the cabinet across from Misty.
Misty nodded and threw sprinkles all over Ryuu too, Piper bolted out of the cabinet and hugged him tightly as she smiled. Piper was a spitting image of Misty, she had long naturally black hair, which she often dyed, though it would be several colors at once. as of now it was a pretty pink with a magenta colored layer underneath. Speaking of several colors, she always has to be clothed in SOMETHING rainbow, also like Misty. She was even a skilled gymnast like Misty. She has Ryuu's tan skin, and many piercings like Misty herself. She had all the facial features of Misty, and her left eye was orange while her right was a magenta color.
"GROUP HUUUUUG!!!" Misty screamed.
Then Levi and Raini smiled, hugging around Ryuu and Piper's legs, Misty flipped out of the cabinet backwards and landed as gracefully as she always did with her flips. Misty giggled and nuzzled up between Ryuu and Piper, gently taking Teegan from Ryuu and cuddling her close as she giggled a similar giggle to Misty. Misty kissed the small girl's forehead, and then she looked over at Grant as she bounced her baby, "GRANNY!!!" She pouted, "come hug your family!"
"Pass" Grant sighed.
"Not allowed!!" Misty protested.
Ryuu chuckled and grabbed onto Raini and Levi's hands, pulling them over to Grant as they made a circle around him and twirled around him.
Misty smiled and her and Piper joined in, Misty set Teegan down and bent over a little to be able to hang onto Teegan's hand.
All of them but Grant laughed, he just sighed repeatedly. Misty pouted and started spreading salt all around him to match his attitude.
"Group hug!" Misty insisted.
"Oh n-" Grant began, but before he could finish his family was spreading hugs from all around. They all cuddled into him, and he finally gave up. He sighed, giving in and hugging them back.
Misty smiled and looked up at her tall husband, "I think our family turned out pretty great" Misty whispered.
"NOO AMAZING!" Ryuu yelled.
Misty smiled and nodded, "okay yes, amazing" she giggled. "I love you" she said squeezing his hand lightly.
Ryuu smiled and hugged her up tight, "I love you too!!"

~~~

Elijah walked into the house, and Melody skipped up to Elijah and giggled hugging his arm tightly, "Hi Eli!" She smiled.
Elijah blushed a little and patted her head, "hi Melly"
Melody grabbed his hand and lightly kissed the cold metal ring on his finger. She giggled as she saw him blush madly, she was excited. They were supposed to get married next week, like REALLY married. And maybe have REAL kids, though of course Melody didn't realize her kids weren't real.
Of course she just wanted to get straight into it, sign the papers and whatever get it over with, but Ethan and Parker REFUSED for that to happen, they had to set something up for her.
Melody smiled and bounced up and down, "oh oh!!!" she clapped and ran over to the couch, "baby did something EXTRA cute today!!" She smiled, picking up the cat he got for her so she wouldn't be lonely, since she liked to call herself a stay at home mom.
She held her cat out to him, showing it off "HE SNEEZED!!" She laughed and cuddled the orange cat, which she had named Tigger.
Elijah chuckled and patted the cats head along with hers, she stood on her tip toes and giggled kissing the tip of his nose. Melody smiled and wrapped her arms around his waist, "I can't wait until next weeeeeeek" she whispered, playing around with his shirt and wringing it and such.
Elijah blushed, "neither can I" he whispered back.

Melody sat up and stretched a little, it was a year or so later, after they had gotten married and Melody looked around the room at her surroundings, she quickly spotted Elijah across the room in the chairs, his head in his hands. She frowned, she didn't understand. she spotted the bright and colorful balloons floating above him, and the giant stuffed animals that surrounded him.
"Eli??" she whispered.
Elijah looked up with bloodshot eyes, he cracked a smile, trying to hide it though she quickly caught on that that wasn't the case, "what's wrong?" she asked, beginning to get up and rush over to his side, but he got up and beat her to it. "no no Mel," he whispered, his tone groggy as he lightly grabbed her arm and settled her back down into the hospital bed, "you need to rest"
Melody looked up at him, worried. She didn't know what to do, but she also didn't know what was happening, as she didn't have.. the best memory..
"Why?" she protested, "I want to hug you! and make you feel better!!" she pouted.
Elijah cracked another broken smile as he hugged her, to make her happy.
"....Why do you keep doing that" she whispered, a bit of frustration in her tone.
"Doing what?" Elijah asked.
"acting OKAY!" Melody glared, "you can cry around me Elijah! I don't mind!! Just like you don't!"
Elijah was silent for a few moments, he smiled a little as she saw the tears spring to his eyes again, and he lightly shook his head.
She frowned, she quickly leaned forward and wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him down to hug her, which he did. He buried his face in her shoulder as he sat on the edge of the bed. Melody gently stroked his hair, he knew she didn't understand what was going on, but he didn't have the heart to explain it to her either.
Melody smiled her bright cheerful smile, she gently grabbed his hand a placed it just as gently on her stomach as his head remained in her shoulder. She whispered sweetly in his ear, "I'm not sure what's wrong... and I know you don't want to tell me yet... but just remember whatever it is.. it'll be okay!!" she smiled reassuringly, "because.. well we'll have a baby soon!" She giggled, "and he'll be happy! just like we want him to be! so you have to be happy around him okay?? even though he isn't here yet he will be soon! Huh baby Kai??" she smiled, speaking to her stomach.
Elijah cried harder at the mention of it.

Elijah sat next to Melody, gripping her hand tightly. She smiled at him as they waited for the doctor to walk in.
Then he came in, he stood tall and glanced back and forth between the both of them. He glanced down at his clipboard an nodded a little to himself.
Melody felt Elijah's grip tighten, she giggled and patted the back of his hand with her free hand, "doctor why am I here?" she giggled.
The room was silent, the doctor looked over at Elijah who just stared blankly, "well.." he whispered lowering the clipboard to his side, he pulled up a chair and sat down, figuring they'd all need to sit for this, "you were aware you had a child growing inside of you, correct?" he asked.
Melody felt Elijah's grip tighten even more, she chuckled, "easy there" she whispered with a smile, then looked back at the doctor, "of course I am!" she giggled, then as the room once again fell silent for a few moments she whispered, "......why are you talking in past tense?"
The doctor took in a deep breath and lowered his head a little, taking his glasses off, "Melody," he whispered, "your uterus isn't... well it's not in the normal, and/or healthy state of which it should be.." he frowned, "I'm afraid you've lost your baby" he whispered.
Melody sat there for a moment processing all this, she looked over at Elijah who was trying to remain strong for her sake, she stared down at the blankets and at her hands, her eyes began filling with tears. She sniffled a little, "so... you're saying we won't have a child?" she whispered.
"I'm afraid not..."
Then the tears streamed down her cheeks faster than Niagara Falls, Elijah quickly pulled her into his arms and cradled her, lightly kissing her head repeatedly as she wailed, crying into his chest.
The sat there like there for a few minutes, until Melody took herself out of Elijah's arms and whimpered, sniffling and trying to question the doctor, if her tears would stop, "will... will we ever be able to have a baby??" she asked.
The doctor thought for a moment, frowning once again, "I'm sorry but.. your body just won't allow it. The chances of you successfully carrying and delivering a baby are very low... and if you do successfully do so, there is a high risk that your own life will be taken in the process of giving birth.."
"what's the probability?" she whispered.
The doctor let out a breath, thinking for a moment, "I'd say one in a billion"

Melody frowned, they were on their way home from the hospital after what seemed like a year spent there.
She sighed as she glanced out the window, then she felt Elijah grab her hand, she looked over at him and frowned, he cracked a small smile, bringing her hand up and kissing the back of it.
"It'll be okay" he whispered, as if he didn't really believe it himself.
Melody looked away, she didn't want to think about it, though she still did even without the mention of it.
"It really will" He whispered patting her hand.
There was a long silence until they parked in the driveway, Elijah started to get out but Melody grabbed his arm, "I'm sorry...." she whispered, her head bowed.
Elijah froze, he backed up a little and sat back, "for what?" he looked at her.
She remained silent, then he grabbed her chin and lifted her head a little, he then saw the tears streaming down her cheeks. He frowned, "for.... everything!" she cried, "that... you've dealt with me all these years when I was just being friendly... that.. you're stuck with me and married me.. and and..." she cried harder, "that I can't have your baby.."
Elijah quickly pulled his sleeve down and wiped her cheeks, "don't ever say that" he whispered with a small smile, "because I don't regret any of it, so you have no reason to apologize"
Melody frowned, "but.... you won't have the kids you wanted.. if you stay with me..."
Elijah just turned and got out of the car, he closed the door and walked around to her side opening that door. He leaned across her and unbuckled her seatbelt then grabbed her out, carrying her bridal style into the house, he smiled, "and that's okay. It's not worth it if you risk your own life in the process." he kissed her forehead, "I don't care, we can adopt. I'm never leaving you just because of one small detail that has a million solutions"
Melody blushed, then for the first time in that week, she smiled. A real, genuine smile. She made her cute giggle, the one that had been taken from her temporarily, but had returned, the one Elijah missed hearing. Melody grabbed his cheeks, smashing them and then kissing him over and over again, "I love you Eli, I do!!" she giggled.
Elijah blushed and smiled, "I love you too"

Melody grabbed onto Elijah's arm and pointed, "What about her!!!" She smiled at him as she pointed to the computer screen. After a few years, and time to get over their loss, They had decided to adopt, and right now they were doing so online.
Elijah chuckled, "you like her?" he clicked on the girl's picture, "she's lovely" he said.
"Briar" Melody whispered.
"Hmm?"
"Briar," Melody repeated, pointing to the girl's name, she giggled, "Briar!" She repeated it once more, "I like it!!" she clapped.
Elijah and Melody stared at the 3 and a half year old on the screen, she had the longest brown hair, and large, bright purple eyes.
Melody clung to Elijah's arm, "I want her!" she smiled widely.
Elijah smiled back at her and nodded, "then we'll adopt her."

Melody fixed the skirt of her dress, smiling widely, today they were to be getting their little girl Briar.
It was the little girl's birthday, and she had yet to find out she would be adopted. Elijah and Melody stood outside the foster home, their hands clenched tightly together. Elijah squeezed her hand a little, "are you excited?"
"VERRYYYY!!!!!" Melody yelled, jumping around him and giggling.
Elijah chuckled, then the door opened and Melody froze, and stood straight at Elijah's side. A woman stood in the doorway, she smiled and held her hand out, Elijah shook her hand, "hi I'm Elijah," he said and smiled lightly setting his hand on Melody's back, "and this is my wife Melody"
Melody smiled and waved clearly excited, "hi!!"
"hello" the older woman smiled sweetly, then they look down and saw a large bright purple eye staring at them, peeking around the woman from behind, "ah yes, well this here is Briar. She's actually always here to greet whoever is at the door with me"
Elijah smiled and bent down, "hi there Briar" he waved, "I'm Elijah, you're very lovely you know that?"
Briar blushed and hide again, Elijah chuckled and the woman smiled, "ah yes, she's quite shy. Many have come for her before, but they didn't like her much once seeing her so timid. it's been a tough ride for her"
Melody frowned, "well we won't do that!" she smiled, getting down on her hands and knees next to Elijah. "hi Briar!!" she giggled, "how are you?" she asked the small girl.
Briar came out from behind the woman and kicked her foot a little, shrugging. Melody giggled, "I love your hair!" she reached out to touch it but Briar hid again.
Melody pouted, "oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to invade your bubble!" she squeaked, genuinely worried she had upset the girl, "I just... really love your hair!" she smiled, "Long hair has always been my thing. buuuut.." she frowned and held up a strand of her own brunette hair, now cut short, just a little past her ears, "see, I lost a bet... and... I guess I lost my hair along with it!!" she giggled.
Briar stared at Elijah and Melody, she watched as they looked at each other, still smiling widely. no one usually stuck around this long, even longer than 5 minutes. she saw the way they looked at each other with such chemistry, and she liked it, seeing the love for each other in their eyes, something she always wanted to see, real love, somethign she always wanted to feel too, which in that moment she thought she had. She wrung her dress out nervously, then quickly ran forward, wrapping her arms around Melody's waist, stuffing her face into her stomach.
Melody was a bit surprised, then she giggled and patted the small girl's head, "please take me home with you!!" Briar cried out, desperately wanting them as her parents.
Melody looked at Elijah and smiled, "sweetie that was our plan," she said grabbing the small girl's cheeks. Briar looked at them both confused.
Elijah smiled and poked her small nose, "we want you and only you!" he told her.
Briar stared at them, then her eyes lit up and she giggled, she liked feeling so loved, knowing that out of all the kids there to chose from, they only wanted her. And for that, she grew to love them even more.

Two years later, Briar and Melody jumped up and down on the bed, giggling up a storm, they both flopped backwards and laughed as they hit the pillows.
then Elijah came upstairs, with a tray in his hands. They heard him coming and looked at each other with wide eyes, they quickly got under the covers and giggled.
Elijah opened the door and walked in staring at them both, he looked over in the corner and saw palettes of paint on the ground, and the painting canvases strung all over, with colorful hand prints and foot prints all over them, even up on the walls and sides of the dresser.
Elijah looked down at the white quilt the girls were laying under, covering all of their bodies but their eyes. He sighed, that had hand and foot prints all over it as well.
"So" he said, setting the tray down and turning to them pinching the bridge of his nose, "you two are supposed to be sick... but.. I see you had other plans" he walked over to them, they half expected him to blow up, but instead he just laughed, and jumped up onto the bed with them, they laughed too and climbed on top of him, jumping on him. Elijah laughed, grabbing their arms and pulling them down to him. he scooped them up in his arms and smiled, then they heard a small squeak, "mommy? daddy? what's all the noise for?"
the three of them sat up and looked in the doorway, they saw their second child they adopted a few months ago, Sidney. She dragged her stuffed bunny behind her, it was her favorite of Melody's, so Melody gave it to her.
"Well hey there sleepy head" Elijah chuckled, "I see you passed out on the couch" he smiled.
"yeah" Sidney yawned, she was just like Elijah, with the occasional fascination for stuffed animals. and well as you can probably tell Briar is just like Melody.
Sidney climbed up on the bed with them, she was just a year younger than Briar. She had short blonde hair and bright green eyes, she normally had glasses but of course she wasn't wearing them after her nap.
Elijah set Sidney in his lap and smiled, "well these two were faking being sick" he chuckled, motioning to the two girls, then he grabbed Melody's wrist and held her hand up, seeing dried yellow paint on it, then Briar pouted, hiding her red hands.
"looks like we were caught!" Melody pouted, then giggled holding Briar's red hands up, "red handed!!" the two girls giggled up a storm, laughing at Melody's terrible joke.
Elijah smiled, "WELL nonetheless, I still made the chocolate milk you two asked for," he sighed, grabbing the tray and they each grabbed a glass, sipping from their bendy straws.
"OH OHHH!!!" maybe this is a good time to tell everyone!" Melody clapped. setting her glass down.
"tell us what mommy?!?" Briar asked, getting very hopeful and holding onto her green tutu.
Melody smiled and leaned in, as if telling them all a secret, they all smiled and leaned in too, "I'm..... PREGNANT!!!!" she yelled, getting up and jumping around happily.
Briar and Sidney got up laughing and jumping up and down on the bed, happily, "YAAAY!!!" they smiled.
Then Elijah stood up, "not yay!" he said, the other three girls all stopped and looked at him.
"what do you mean daddy?" Sidney frowned.
Elijah stared at Melody, with a serious expression across his face. She tilted her head to the side and frowned, "what's wrong Eli??"
Elijah grabbed her hands, "Mel you KNOW what the doctor said.." he whispered in a low tone, Melody could feel his hands obviously shaking.
"and?" she smiled again.
"Damn it Melody!" Elijah said, his eyes getting puffy and watery, "you won't.... you... you can't..." he tried, but the words just weren't coming out and that was that.
Melody flashed him a weak smile, she took a step forward to him and lightly set her hands on his cheeks, kissing his tears that began to fall, "I know I know" she whispered, "but...this is our child Eli" Melody grabbed his hands and gently brought them to her stomach, "we can't just... get rid of it for my sake" she giggled, "I'm going to have it, and even though I most likely won't make it through that, I know you can handle it" she got on her tip toes and kissed his forehead, then looked over at Sidney and Briar who looked completely dumbfounded, "we already have two wonderful children who I know will always be there for you and the third installment!"
Elijah frowned, "but..." he looked away, "I can't...lose you too" he whispered.
Melody grinned, "it was just meant to be this way Eli!" she hopped up and down, "all you have to do is remember one simple thing!"
"what?"
"that I love you!!! Forever and Always!" she squeezed his hands tightly in hers.
Elijah blushed, and sniffled as he chuckled a bit, "I love you too..."

"DAAAAAD!" Elijah looked up to see Sidney pouting, with her little brother at her side, tugging on her braid, "he's doing it again!!"
Elijah chuckled, "you really are a troublemaker huh Finny?" he patted his son's head.
Finnian really was the trouble-making type, but he also had a sweet side, he mostly just taunted his older sister because he admired her. Finny had Elijah's blonde hair and Melody's blue eyes, yes that's right she really was able to give birth to him herself, it was risky but she did it, she trudged through it long enough to bring Finny into the world.
OH OH you're probably expecting her to have died! Well no! WROOOONG! she was legally dead for a few minutes yes BUT THAT'S ALL BEHIND US!
Melody walked up behind Elijah and smiled, hugging him from behind and hiding her face in his back, "Eliii" she whined, then giggled seeing her children bicker, "I want mooore" she whispered in his ear.
Elijah blushed and looked at her, "Mel.." he chuckled.
Melody smiled, "PLEEEEASE ELI! I'M STILL GOOD!!" she said patting her stomach.
"No Mel...." he whispered grabbing her hands, "I almost lost you last time.."
"But.. you didn't!"
"I did for a few minutes" he corrected her.
Melody pouted, "but you also got a son out of it!"
Elijah sighed, "no Melody.. I won't do it... we can't risk it not again"
Melody crossed her arms in protest, "then... we'll adopt!"
Elijah sighed pinching the bridge of his nose, he couldn't get mad since he knew what a child his wife was. He looked up at her cute pouty face and let out a long breath, "you really want another?"
"I do!!!" Melody jumped up and down, clapping her hands together, then she grabbed onto his arm as he thought about it "oooohhhh PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEEEEEASE ELI!!!"
Elijah looked at her and how excited she was about this, he chuckled and nodded, "fine, fine one more THROUGH ADOPTION"
Melody yelled and ran around him in circles, the kids stopped bickering and looked at them, then Briar came running down the stairs, fixing her skirt and her headband at the same time, as she had become quite the fashion queen, "what what?!" she asked.
Melody giggled and hugged Elijah's arm, "we're having another kid!!!"
"mom....you know what happened last time.." Sidney glared at Finny, grinding her teeth together. Finny frowned.
"no no! adoption!!" Melody smiled.
All the kids let out a big sigh of relief, then they all smiled and ran to Elijah and Melody, pushing them both into a big group hug.
Melody smiled, kissing Elijah's cheek as they got squished by their three teens, "I love you Eli!!" She giggled.
Elijah smiled and kissed her forehead, "I love you too"

Melody jumped on the couch with their newest daughter, 4 year old Nevaeh. She giggled and smiled, holding onto Melody's hands as they jumped around. She had very tanned skin, with long dark black hair and dark chocolatey eyes. She was a cheerful little girl who loved her family and quickly adapted to her new life.
Then Briar came up and jumped up onto the couch with them, dancing around. then Finny peeked his head around the corner, seeing all the fun they were having and he joined them.
Sidney came downstairs, with her book in one hand and fixing her sweater with the other, she sighed, "what are you four actually doing?" she said situating her glasses.
"having fun!!" Melody giggled.
"yeah! you should try it sometime!!" Briar giggled too.
Sidney sighed and began walking away, but Elijah came in and quickly scooped her up, getting up on the couch with them as they all danced around.
Briar and Finny pulled Sidney in and made her move her arms and legs, though unwillingly of course. Neveah climbed up onto Finny's back and laughed and laughed as her older siblings never failed to entertain her.
Melody smiled and watched them, giggling and grabbing Elijah's hand. Elijah pulled her closer to him and smiled at his still not-yet-mature wife, though she was learning to be a parent and not so much a friend, he still thought she was the best mother, "I think our little family did turn out just right" Elijah smiled.
"Little?" Melody laughed, "guess again" she smirked.
Elijah laughed and nodded, "right right, big" he looked over at their cat Tigger who was chasing his own tail, he smiled "with even the smallest beings being apart of it"
Melody smiled and hopped off the couch, she ran into their room then ran back out and jumped back onto the couch, holding up the stuffed turtle Elijah had won for her all those years ago, there wasn't a night that went by where she slept without it, even with all those trips to the hospital, where she would often stay weeks at a time. Melody cuddled the turtle and grinned widely, "and I think it was all just perfect!"
"So do I" Elijah smiled holding her hands.
Melody blushed, "and I'm glad I'm still here! because I would be super duper jealous right now if you had moved on and found someone else after I passed!"
Elijah grabbed her cheek and lightly kissed her, "Mel, there's no one else I'd want.. ever"
Melody giggled, "you say that now... but you never know"
Elijah laughed, "trust me I know" he grinned, "I love you Melody and that's that" he told her.
Melody blushed, she squealed and jumped up onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him over and over again, "I love you too Eli!!! I always have! And I'm glad you really decided to play with me that day on the playground! that way we'd have our perfect life now! with no detail out of place!"
Elijah smiled wider as he blushed, "me too" he whispered, then their kids all laughed and tackled their parents down into a hug, just the way they had done everyday.