Bringing the Kids

It had been a couple of days since AJ had been in the hospital and now Ellie decided to bring the kids to see him. She was waiting until he started to get a little better and well...until she got over the shock of him being in the accident.

"Daddy sick?" Madison asked as she held Ellie's hand and walked with her to AJ's room.

"No sweetie, he got hurt and has a lot of boo boos."

Madison frowned and shook her head. "I don't like boo boos."

"I know, but you're gonna see him and make him feel better. Then he can go home." she smiled at Maddie.

"Mhm! I help." she grinned. "Ajay too." Madison nodded.

Ajay giggled at Madison and copied her. "Help."

"Yes, you two will be Daddy's helpers and he'll be very happy to see you." she said approaching his room.

She walked in. "We're here."

"Daddy!"

AJ looked away from the TV and grinned ear to ear as he saw Ellie and kids. "Hey guys...hey baby girl." he smiled at Maddie.

"Daddy..." she sighed as if she were stressed. "You gotta go home. You can't be hurt. I take you home today." she told him...like if he had a choice.

Ellie laughed as she sat down with Ajay, who reached for his dad.

He chuckled. "Well as long as the doctor says I can go home, then yes I'm coming home today." he smiled and then reached his good arm out to take Ajay.

"Yay! Then you can play with me." Madison grinned, then gasped. "We can color and play at the park." she said excitedly.

Ellie helped put Ajay up and next to AJ. "See? I don't get where she gets all that excitement from." she joked.

He laughed. "I'll do my best baby girl...but daddy sort of has a broken leg." he chuckled.

"Broken leg?" she frowned. "Oh! I kiss it and make it better. Or mommy do it." she said. "Brandon says that Layley kisses his boo boos and he feels all better."

"How about both of you." he smiled warmly as he played a little with Ajay.

Madison looked at Ellie. "Mommy..."

Ellie chuckled. "Yes, we can both kiss his boo boo." she said. "So how are you feeling?" she asked AJ.

He grinned. "Hmm...I'm feeling better...can't wait to get home and eat some real food...sleep in bed with my wife." he smiled. "and...spend time with my kids..."

She smiled at that. "Well let's hope everything is okay today and then you can do all that." she chuckled. "I can't wait to have you home."

"Me too." he smiled at Ellie lovingly.

She smiled back and held his hand. "Did they tell you how long you're gonna be out for?"

"God it's gonna suck for work...at least 3 or 4 months." he said softly. "But...at least I'll be home with you guys.." he smiled a bit.

"Ouch, that does suck." she nodded. "True though, you'll be home." she chuckled. "I know you'll miss work a lot though, I just want you fully recovered and I want you to take the time you need to heal...knowing you, you'll probably rush it." she teased.

He stuck his tongue out at her.

She laughed. "I'm right." she said as she kissed his cheek. "Knew it."

"I love you Ellie...I really want you to know that."

She nodded a bit and gave him a small smile. "Well, thank you for telling me and I love you too." she said, then sighed. "You probably don't want to hear this, but...I'm sorry for you know, arguing with you and all that. I was just...frustrated." she shrugged.

"I know...me too...we both said things we didn't mean unless...you really do want a divorce..."

She sighed. "I don't want one. It's just...I had talked about how I felt with Lacy and how I was considering it...but, we've been through a lot together...things worse than this and I want to continue our marriage, get through this and just be together." she told him. "I was more upset because I saw how you being away affected the kids, if we didn't have them...I wouldn't have cared if you left me for like...a year." she chuckled. "I would have handled it."

He nodded. "I promise you...even after I get better...I'm gonna come home more. I will definitely make more of an effort. It sucks that it took me almost dying to realize I needed to be more a part of my kids' lives..."

"Yeah, definitely sucks that it happened." she nodded. "I'll try to visit you too though...well when you're close or in town. You shouldn't have to make all the effort."

"Well...how about in the summer, you can travel with me? I can invest in a tour bus like what Hunter and Randy have."

"That'd work. Not like I'm doing anything anyway." she said with a small laugh.