A/N: off to Florida for 5 days! I won't have time to write but I have a few chapters of various stories saved up so I'll post 1-2 a day. This story's winding down! Two more chapters to go! In other news I don't really like Lin's new haircut. Thought he was growing out his manbun and sad it got chopped.

I didn't feel completely like shit anymore, which was definitely a positive.  In fact, I was feeling much better.  I was still sleeping a lot, but my body was aching less and I had more energy.  I understood that Dad didn't want me doing extracurriculars right now, but I wasn't sure why he didn't think I could handle school.  He underestimated me.

I was pissed at Elliott.  He'd snitched on me to my dad and I'd been caught.  On the way to school the next morning, I confronted him as we rode the subway together.

"Why'd you have to snitch on me?" I asked him pointedly as we were jarred around.

"Joey, you're still sick," he told me.  "You're gonna get worse if you try to go at it full-force already."

"I think I know my body better than you do," I countered.  "I might still be kind of tired but I could make it through a whole school day.  I'd have to take a nap when I got home but I could do it."

"You need to listen to your Dad," he said.  "He's looking out for what's best for you."

I rolled my eyes at him.  "You sound like an adult."

"Thank you," he smiled at me.

"It wasn't a compliment," I told him, then looked away. We got off at the next stop and stepped into Hunter College High School.  Everyone was rushing around, trying to get ready for the school day to begin.  Minds were on tests, projects, boyfriends, girlfriends, drama, you name it.  I sighed and went to my locker.

Things were going well until third period.  All of a sudden my tiredness hit me like a wall.  I was struggling to keep myself awake.  I really needed a 5-Hour Energy but the doctor had told me to stop.  I was trying to be good about it.

Finally it was lunch time and I got a little break.  I got my tray and plopped down at a table.  Usually Elliott didn't eat with me anymore, but he walked over and sat across from me.

"You don't look good," he told me.

"You know a way to a woman's heart," I deadpanned, rubbing at my forehead.

"You should go home," he told me as he opened his milk carton.

"I've got one more class," I reminded him.

"Seriously, you look like shit," he said.

"Elliott, I can get through a half day," I groaned, looking at him.  Before it even registered, he'd snapped a picture of me with his phone.  "What are you doing?"

"Texting this picture to your dad," he said, his thumbs working.  I lunged for it but he easily dodged me.

"You're such an ass!" I told him as he put his phone on the lunch table and bit into his sandwich.  I hadn't touched my food yet.  I was feeling kind of nauseous, honestly.

Moments later, my phone buzzed and I rolled my eyes, taking it out of my pocket.  Dad.

Sweetheart, I think you should head home early.  Elliott texted me.

I'm fine.

My phone buzzed and Dad's caller ID came up.  I groaned and answered it.

"Dad, I only have one period left," I told him immediately.

"You look like shit," he said.  "I'll come get you."

I guess I didn't realize how tired and horrible I really felt.  I conceded reluctantly and Elliott walked me to the nurse's office, where she had me lay down.  She'd been alerted about my condition and had urged me to come rest if I needed to.  Elliott stayed with me for a few minutes, holding my hand, until the nurse urged him to get back to lunch.

About fifteen minutes later, Dad appeared in the doorway and had a quick conversation with the nurse.  He glanced over at me, concerned, as I fought sleep.  Dad helped me sit up and then we walked down the hall together towards the front entrance.  He quickly signed me out and hailed us a cab.  I fell asleep on the way home.

Dad woke me only to get me out of the cab and into the elevator.  Before I knew it, I was in bed and instantly asleep.

Hours later, my eyes fluttered open when I heard my door open.  I was expecting my dad, but it was Elliott.  School must be out by now.  I glanced at the clock and saw it was almost 5:00.  I'd been asleep for hours.

"Hey," he said gently, shutting the door.  Without thinking about it, I scooted backwards on the bed so he could join me.  He laid down on his side next to me and gently rubbed my arm.  "I hope you're not mad at me.  You just looked completely miserable."

I nodded.  "I was.  I'm just stubborn?"

"Whaaaaat?" he teased me, tucking some hair behind my ear.  "I'm glad you came home.  You definitely needed to rest."

"Yeah, I guess," I grudgingly admitted.  Elliott was being so sweet with me.  A lot of guys my age just seemed to be interested in getting into girls' pants, but Elliott was genuinely interested in me.  I felt badly that I'd broken it off.  Wouldn't any girl kill to have someone so sweet and attentive?

"Is it bad that I kind of want to kiss you right now?" he asked softly, his eyes searching mine.

"That would be a bad idea," I told him.  "You might get mono."

He laughed at that, still playing with my hair.  "True.  I guess I better hold off for a while."

I looked down for a moment.  "Elliott?  Why do you like me so much?"

He bit his lip for a moment.  "You're beautiful.  You're smart as hell, and you're a total badass."

"A badass?" I asked, amused.

"People are terrified of you," he said.  "You don't take shit from anybody.  You call people on their shit."

He made me sound more awesome than I thought I really was.  "Are people really afraid of me?"

"Yes," he said decisively.  Apparently there were guys on the football team that were absolutely scared of me. And not just your grade.  Older kids."

I found that really amusing.  "But you're not scared of me."

"Nah," he said, letting his fingers run up and down my bare arm.  "You have a sweet interior."

He propped himself up on his elbow and kissed me once on the cheek.  "I better go before someone finds us.  Go back to sleep."

I watched him leave, closing the door behind him.  I was actually feeling a lot better now after a long nap.  I sat up and stretched then realized I really needed to pee.  After visiting the bathroom, I began to wander out to the kitchen, where Dad was cooking dinner and also on the phone.

"What about 25% custody?" I heard him ask whoever was on the other end.  "Is that a thing?"

His eyebrows were crinkled in thought as he listened to the answer he was given.  He stirred at the pot as I went to the fridge for a Vitamin Water.

"But as far as you know they haven't begun any legal proceedings?" he checked.  "Alright, that's good but I'd rather be prepared than caught completely off guard.  Yep. I'll see you tomorrow at eleven."

He hung up as I twisted the cap off my bottle.  "What was that about?"

He breathed out as he focused on the dinner.  "When the kids' grandparents dropped them off Saturday they mentioned wanting the kids to be with them again.  We're concerned they might want to sue for custody."

That sounded scary.  "But the will said they went to you and Pippa right?"

"Yes," he said.  "But they have a right to ask for custody.  The lawyer doesn't think they really have a chance, but it's possible.  I'm meeting with him again tomorrow to come up with a game plan if they do."

Alex and Jack had been with us for a short time, but they already felt like family to me.  It was hard to imagine them gone now that I was used to having them around.  "That sucks."

"Yep," he said, reaching for the jar of sauce.  "They deserve some stability."

"Does it matter that you and Pippa aren't married?" I asked him curiously.

He stopped and let out a breath.  "Somewhat," he admitted.  "The courts prefer two-parent homes, but that's what we are, basically.  It's just the legality of it.  Married couples look better on paper."

Pippa and Dad hadn't been together for that long, but they seemed really good together.  I'd never seen Dad happier.  I wondered if they'd thought about it and brought it up together.  "Have you...have you guys thought about getting married?"

Dad looked at me, crossing his arms with thought.  "It's entered my mind.  I don't know.  We've only been together a few months."

"Yeah, but you guys are, like, made for each other," I told him honestly.  He grinned and kissed my head.

"I do love her," he said, biting at his lip.

"Hmmm," I said light-heartedly, giving him an amused look.  He laughed at me before I returned to my bedroom to get some homework done.  Maybe he didn't see it yet, but he and Pippa belonged together.  We were all a family now.