(Sorry for taking so long)

-

Sophia kept her eyes closed, her head pushed into her fathers chest when she heard a raspy breath coming from the room. "Mom!" Sophia practically shot through the room, pushing Ryan a little so she could see her. "Oh Mom" she said as she put her hand on her mothers hand.

-

Abby gave a weak smile as Sophia's hand belting wrapped around her own. "Oh my babies. Don't cry for me. I'll be okay. I've fallen many times and yall know I always jump back on. This one was just a little harder than I expected." Her voice was raspy, but she managed to push the words out. Ryan smiled a little and so did Pyper, Sophia, and the twins. "Where's Ryker?" She glanced around the hospital room , her eyes finally landing on him. "Kids... do you mind giving me and your father a minute please?"
-

Sophia squeezed her mothers hand one last time before grabbing Pyper's arm. The twins walked out first with Ryan trailing behind them. "Zephyr. She's awake!" Sophia pulled away from Pyper and crashed into his chest. Silent tears slid down her cheek. "She's awake" she mumbled

(That's fine!)

-

Ryker watched as Sophia darted off, a small smile coming to his face as he watched his children embrace his now awake wife. It filled him with relief and happiness to see her awake. Ryker knew he would never survive without Abby. As the kids left, he went in, sitting down in the chair beside her bed. "How are you feeling?" He asked quietly, gently wrapping her hand in his.

+++

Zephyr smiled faintly as Sophia rushed in, glad that her mom was okay, and glad that she was happy about it. He was also secretly glad that this was a big enough distraction for Mr. Rivera to kill him later instead of now. As she came cannonballing back to smack into his chest he let out a small breath, not wanting his ribs broken, but embraced her in a hug, even though he was just about winded. "That's great. Really really great." He answered quietly, racking his brain for something a little more... thoughtful. He wasn't the king of thought. Most of the time his brain was switched off.

Abby gave the biggest smile she could manage and lifted his hands. "I'm as good as I'll ever be" she joked "Looks like I'm going to be one armed for a little bit" her eyes traveled over to her right arm then down to her legs. "Is Shadow alright?" She pulled herself up a little and looked Ryker in the eye. "Please tell me he's not gone. Please please please"

-

Sophia didn't know what to do or how to respond. She gave Zephyr a squeeze before pulling away. "Sorry for crashing into you like that. And for dragging you away from dinner" she sighed and wandered to a chair

Ryker smiled faintly. "You'll be even better real soon. And being one armed will just prove to everyone how strong you are." He answered, more of a statement. At her question he shook his head. "He's not gone, Abby. He is going to need some rehab, but he'll make it through. He's strong, like you."

+++

Zephyr watched Sophia carefully, like if he studied her emotions long enough he could figure out the perfect thing to say that would make her feel better. At her words he shook his head quickly. "Don't be. I've always loved being crashed into." He smiled faintly. "And dinner was merely food that was much less important than you and your family." Zeph added, deciding not to say the joke that came to mind, as no one seemed in a joking mood. He really wasn't, either.

"Oh thank goodness" she whispered as quiet tears filled her eyes. "I don't know what I would do if he had died... how bad are his injuries though?" She looked out the window, catching a glimpse of Sophia as she stood. "If she can walk around after her accident then I can walk after mine" she looked back at Ryker. "The only thing stopping me from trying to fix the riding problem is that I don't remember how it happened. It's like it all got ripped from my brain"

-

Sophia stood and eyed Ryan, Pyper and the twins for a second. They were watching something on Ryan's phone. Because they were distracted, she pulled Zephyr to the side. "I have to say, I was really looking forward to that lasagna." She glanced at her siblings before giving Zephyr a quick kiss on the cheek and pressing her body against his. She turned her face to the side and rested her cheek against his chest. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Two days later, she would have to go to school and be strong. Spring Break couldn't last forever. "There's a spring fling festival downtown that I was going to go to tomorrow but I dont know if I will now" she sighed. She had really been looking forward to going and maybe shopping for a few things. No chance of that now.

Ryker's gaze saddened slightly at Abby's pale face and teary expression. "You don't have to know. He's okay." He said quietly, then took in a breath. "He has some pretty bad scrapes, but nothing on his legs, thankfully. Martin is there right now, watching him to make sure he stays okay." He paused a second, smiling faintly. "I don't know how that man is still running strong." Ry mused, then nodded firmly. "That's right. You will recover just fine. You're just as strong as she is." He stated, his words suggesting there was no other option. "That's because you got a minor concussion... I'm just glad you didn't forget more." He looked at her with a sigh. "Even with all this, I think we all got lucky. It could've been much worse." He commented in a low tone.

+++

Zephyr followed Sophia to the side as she tugged him away, smiling faintly at her words. "I know it doesn't help, but my mother's lasagna is really good." He commented quietly, putting his arm around her for a couple seconds. "If I can tell you anything about having a loved one in the hospital, its that they don't want you to put your life on hold for them. Your mother will recover, and I'm sure she wouldn't want it to affect your life too much. You should go if you want to, and if you're not sure, ask her." He explained, then paused. "When my dad came home from the army, it was because he was medically discharged after given the purple heart medal of honor. He was shot in the leg, and there was enough scarring, and the bullet was in the wrong place, so the doctors said he'd probably never walk again. You saw him- he was fine. It was hard, but he made it through, and he didn't want us to stop everything because of him. Things turned out fine." He told the story in a quiet tone, sighing slightly. "I know I'm not much help."

Abby gave a sigh of relief, but the effort that took was a little too much. She laid back, her chest heaving because of the extra weight of the cast on her arm. "Why is it so much work just to live?" She stared up at the ceiling for a second. A monitor beside her started beeping faster as her heart sped up. A nurse rushed in and checked her pulse. She pressed buttons and poked and prodded on Abby's arm. "Are you feeling alright Mrs. Rivera?" She asked. Another nurse hurried in and Abby gave a weak shake of her head.
-

Sophia nodded. "So you know what it's like. How could you be of no help? Dad isn't even much help right now-" she paused when a nurse rushed into her mothers room then bit her cheek when another followed "what's going on?" She asked Ryan as she moved closer to the room. Her hand was squeezing Zephyrs. She had no intention of letting go any time soon. Since her family wasn't much help, he was the only thing keeping her calm.

(Give Ry a break, he's dealing with a lot xD)

-

Ryker's eyebrows furrowed in concern. "I don't know. However, I know you've been doing it for over 40 years, so keep it up." He smiled faintly, trying not to let worry and fear flash into his expression as the heart monitor increased and nurses rushed in. He instead stayed by her side and gently gripped her hand like it was the last time he'd ever see her.

+++

Zephyr smiled faintly. "I'm never much help." He answered, his gaze flitting up and concern flashing across his face as the nurses rushed in. Ryker hadn't moved, so it probably wasn't too bad. "the nurses are probably just being careful." He replied quietly, holding her hand back, wanting to be there for her in any way he could. Even if that meant his hand fell off.

(lol I have to make it exciting! You're missing a great plot in the guard rp. I'm making up for it here)

-

"Over 40 years" Abby murmured. She nurse looked back over at Abby as her heart slowed again. Whatever medicine they had just given her was kicking in. "Mrs. Rivera, you need to rest" she said gently before leaving the room. Abby gave the faintest whisper of a nod and let her eyelids droop. "They're making me sleep" she said "I don't want to though" she looked Ryker in the eyes. "Please don't leave me. Stay with me" her chest heaved from the extra effort but her heart rate stayed slow. "Could you sing for me? It's been... too long since I've heard you sing" her voice was soft as she fought the medicine for just a while longer.
-

Sophia let out a breath she didn't know she was holding when the nurses exited the room. She stepped beside Zephyr and lifted her arm that was still holding his hand. She hauled his arm over his shoulders and leaned her head against his shoulder. She kept her eyes open. If her mother moved or if something happened, she had to be awake to see it.

(Gosh- I didn't even know I hadn't responded to the guard rp! I hit submit, but the internet must've gone out or something. I'll get to it right away!)

-

Ryker didn't want the nurse's drugging Abby, but he understood she had to sleep. At her quiet words he brought his gaze to her. "I promise I won't leave." He answered, already quickly figuring out in his mind how to do that and make sure each child got home safely. Of course, most of them could drive themselves, mind the twins. At her request, he paused a moment. "I'm gonna love you forever... forever and ever amen... as long as old men sit and talk about the weather, as long as old women sit and talk about old men, if you wonder how long I'll be faithful... I'll sit here and tell you again.... I'm gonna love you, forever and ever... forever and ever amen." He sang the old country song quietly. It had always been one of his favorites, as he knew every word was true. "Oh I'm gonna love you... forever and ever... forever and ever amen." He ended with a small smile, seeing as she had drifted to sleep.

+++

Zephyr had learned by now, he just let his arm go limp as Sophia shuffled it where she wanted it to be, then he stood there and didn't move. If the least he could do was be a warm pillar for her to lean on, he was going to be the best warm pillar out there.