Jamie's POV

As I fall asleep all I can think about is our date.

It was amazing, to say the least.

I remember the moment he asked me to go to junior prom with him. I felt like the happiest person in the world. I felt like the only one that mattered to him.

I remember tackling him into a flurry of kisses on the sand. Like two little kids.

I remember watching the sunset go down. Sitting in his lap as he held me close to him. Munching on fruit leftover from the dinner.

I remember that it has been the best night of my life.

And as much as I never ever want this night to end, I know it has to. But I also know there will be more nights like this in my future. In our future. With these thoughts to reassure me, I slowly drift off to sleep.

************************************

I hear the sound of keys turning in the doorway as my eyelashes flutter open.
I look across from me, to find Noah passed out on the couch in front of me.

After our date, we drove home in the taxi, just talking and laughing like we normally do. Once we got home we made out for a while. It was long and it was great. Really great. But like usual, we didn't take things any further. We just watched a movie and went to bed.

I snap out of my daydream when I hear the keys fumbling at the door again.

Who the hell is breaking into my house?

I get up unsteadily. My hand reaches for the thing nearest to me, only to feel a soft plush pillow.

I toss the pillow aside, giving the room a once over, looking for a possible weapon.

My eyes scan the whole room, but the only thing that seems intimidating is the lamp sitting on the coffee table.

I quickly grab it, seeing as there is nothing else, and proceed slowly to the door.

My heart is racing as I bring up arm up, holding the lamp over my head. Ready to hit anyone who comes in.

The door opens quite fast, but to me it all happens in slow motion, probably from the adrenaline and fear coursing through my veins.

As the intruder steps in, I realize it is not an intruder at all, it is my family.

"Mom." I gasp.

"Oh, Jamie." She whispers, pulling me into a hug.

I pull away after a second and my mom's eyes go to the lamp, "sorry," I explain with a slight laugh, "I thought you guys were burglars."

My mom smiles slightly, shaking her head at my ridiculousness, "what burglar would have keys to our house?"

I laugh, "that part I hadn't thought too hard on."

My gaze drops down and I see my father in a wheel chair, "daddy." I gasp.

"Hi, sweetie." He croaks out.

Tears sting the corners of my eyes as I bend down to give him a hug, being careful of him.

I hate to have to pity him, but my dad just seems so fragile to me. His skin wrinkled and yellow, his lips thin and chapped. It is hard to not be cautious around him. I feel like he'll break if I don't show proper care.

He looks so different. All of his hair is gone, he has lost a lot of weight, so much to the point that he seems unhealthy. His skin has a yellow glow and his body carries a slight tremor.

But those eyes. Those are his eyes. Those are the eyes that light up when they tell me stories of high school. Those are the eyes that gleamed when I told him I made honour role. Those are the eyes that I trust. Those are my dad's eyes. Squinted from hours upon hours of smiling. Those are the eyes that I inherited. Those eyes give me hope to hang on to that he isn't gone yet.

Next are the twins, they come barelling through the door, attacking my torso with hugs. I am nearly knocked over by the sudden impact.

"Josh, Sammie." I exclaim, giggling. I get down on the floor with them and they doggy-pile onto me. We all laugh and cry. Holding one another, in an unspoken promise to never let go.

From behind me, I hear Noah let out a yawn. It startles me for a second. I got so caught up in this moment that I completely forgot that he was here.

I look over to the couch, as does my family, and we watch Noah.

He ruffles his hair, opening his mouth wide, yawning again. He scratches his forehead a few times, then plops back down on the couch, snoring right away.

I look at my family, all of them holding back their laugher.

I begin to giggle as the twins howl, my parents join in and it becomes this chorus of laughter.

Noah bolts upright and whips his head to us. Realizing what is going on, his eyes open wide and his cheeks flame red.

"M-mr an-d Mrs Win-Winters, how, uh, how nice to see you again." He stammers.

"Same to you son, same to you." Replies my dad, still unable to control the laughs escaping his lips.

I snort unattractively which causes my mother to laugh harder.

Noah attempts to stand up, only to trip on the blanket his feet are tangled in. He lands flat on his face with a painful sounding grunt, and rubs his head.

This only makes my family erupt in laughter ten times louder than we were laughing just moments earlier.

"That's your boyfriend?" Josh asks me, panting for breath.

"That's my boyfriend." I confirm proudly as I walk over, helping him up.

Noah gives me a bashful smile before mumbling a 'thank you.'

*********************************

"Noah, how is your dad doing?" My mom asks us, pouring tea into four mugs.

"He is doing very well Amy, thank you. He has a therapist helping him out every week, and slowly but surely, he is showing a lot of progress."

"I'm glad to hear things are going well for you." My dad comments.

"Thank you sir. I'm glad that you're back home and in good health." Noah replies.

Something dark passes over my dads eyes as he shares a look with my mom.

I look between the two of them, my heart thumping at a fast rate, until my phone rings.

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Thank you to potatoT1 for the amazing cover! I love it!

Thank you all so so much for over 20K reads! That is huge for me!! So I thought I would give this chapter a little bit of humour and some wholesome family happiness, tell me what you think;)

Shoutouts to KelseyClark9 and lynpitcher for being utterly amazing and awesome people, thank u guys for always being there and encouraging me so much! Go check out their books!!

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-Maxine<3