"April?"

She blinked rapidly as she was pulled out of her thoughts.

"Yeah?" she answered

"You ok?" Jackson asked

The three were at the table eating dinner, Lydia talking about ideas for her birthday party. His wife usually had a lot to say, but she was particularly quiet. Looking at her, he could tell she was lost somewhere in her head and decided to bring her out.

"I'm fine, I was just thinking about Mason" she answered "He's back at the hospital"

"Again?"

"Yeah" she sighed

April had shared with her husband the story of her patient with the mystery illness. During his first hospital stay, he had gotten better and was released. But a week later he was back, showing the same symptoms. April was sure that there had to be something at home making him sick, but his mother assured her that there was nothing new or out of the ordinary going on at home. It had been almost a month, and Mason had kept coming back with the same symptoms. Mason was at the hospital, staying there for a few days until his symptoms were gone. It was sort of a routine for them now.

She was desperate to figure out what was wrong and was planning to do a full health history of Mason and his parents. Mason's father was out of town, putting the block in their path. And because of their recent move from out of state, April and Ms Martel were having trouble contacting Mason last Pediatrician.

But it wasn't time for her to focus on the little boy, it was time for her little girl.

"Sorry for not paying attention sweetie" April apologized to her daughter "Tell me about this party again"

"I have to go get my book," she said before jumping off the chair and running to her room

"Her book?" April asked confused

"The one with hall her party plans" Jackson answered

"Oh," April said remembering her daughter mentioning it before

A few minutes later, Lydia returned to the table with her notebook and pencil in hand. She went down her list of requirements like she had done before, explaining each to her parents. April nodded enthusiastically at her ideas, while Jackson inwardly groaned at the mention of the words "magic", "princess" and "pink". He wasn't sure he could deal with another party like that. The two parties before were a handful.

"Uh, munchkin..." Jackson began after Lydia was done with her presentation

"Yes daddy?"

"Are you sure you want to do this again?"

"Do what?"

He thought for a while before he spoke. He didn't want to say the wrong thing.

"Well, you've had a little mermaid party and a fairy princess party. Are you sure you want to go down that route again? Don't you want to try something new?"

Her brows furrowed like her father's as she thought.

"What else can I do?" she finally answered

Jackson's eyes lit up, she was open to more suggestions this year.

"How about an amusement park? You can go on rides and play games. It'll be a lot of fun" he stated

"Fun for who exactly?" April smirked at him

"Shut up" he jokingly hissed at her before turning back to Lydia "We can even invite your friends"

Lydia sat there and thought about it. She hadn't been to an amusement park before, but it sounded fun. But she wasn't sure she wanted to abandon her usual theme. Her blue eyes roamed the room as she tried to make a choice between her themed party and the park. Her eyes then landed on her stuff Flounder toy laying on the couch and she had what she thought was the best idea ever.

"We can go to Disney World!" she yelled

"Disney world?" April asked

"It's an amusement park with princesses!" she explained

Her parents shook their heads in amusement. She had somehow found a way to bring her usual theme back in.

"I don't think we can fly all your friends to Disney World Munchkin" Jackson pointed out, wondering if there was a way they could get away from the princess and magic theme.

Lydia frowned, but her face quickly lit up again.

"Can just Sophia, Zola and Bailey come? I don't have to bring all my friends" she said "And we don't have to take a plane. Isn't there a Disney World close to home?"

April smiled at her husband. It seemed that he had been outsmarted by his daughter again. Disney World was in Florida, but Disneyland was in California, only less than a day's drive away.

"Well...we'll have to talk to their parents first," Jackson said

"And if they say yes, can we go?" Lydia asked

"Well..." her father hesitated

That was the cue for Lydia to bring out those pouty lips and big eyes. Her father had yet to master resisting them, and she was well aware of that.

"Ok, fine" he finally said "If they say yes, we'll go"

Lydia grinned and squealed as Jackson sighed. He thought he was making things easier on himself by suggesting a simple amusement park. He should have known his daughter would find a way to get what she wanted.

Lydia flipped a new page in her notebook, picked up her pencil and started writing her new ideas for her birthday trip to Disneyland. It was then that Jackson noticed the extravagant writing utensil.

"Where did you get that pencil?" he asked pointing to the pink pencil with the pink fluffy ball on top

"Bailey gave it to me" she simply answered continuing to write on the page

Jackson's face stiffened at the name before turning to April.

"Pretty isn't it?" she said smirking at him

His eyes narrowed at her as she giggled. He was not enjoying the fact that she was finding his uneasiness funny. It was then that he realized he had agreed to a trip with the little boy who he was sure had a crush on his daughter. What did he get himself into?

________

April entered her apartment and closed the door behind her. She dropped her bags on the floor and made her way to the closest one seater. She threw herself on it, the tiredness taking over her body.

Things with Mason weren't getting any better and it had her worried all day. That, paired with a car pile up that had the E.R busy, had her wanting to go into hibernation.

"You're back," Jackson said stepping into the living room

"Yeah" she answered

"You sound tired," he said taking a seat on the couch

"I am" she confirmed

"How's Mason doing?"

"No change" she frowned "I don't know what else to do anymore"

"You'll figure something out"

"I hope so"

"Mommy" April heard her daughter's voice and turned to see her coming out of the hallway into the living room

"Didn't I tuck you in an hour ago Munchkin?" Jackson asked

"What are you still doing up?" April asked "It's the first day of school tomorrow"

"I can't sleep," Lydia said taking a seat on her mother's lap

April pulled her daughter closer, she knew exactly why she couldn't sleep. It was like the first day of kindergarten all over again.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?" April asked

Lydia buried her face in her mother's neck, not wanting to admit it.

Jackson was a bit surprised. She had seemed so excited about skipping a class and being around he who shall not be named. Maybe it finally hit her what was really happening and how everything was about to change.

"Sweetie it's Ok to be nervous"

"It is?" The little girl asked looking up at her mother

"Yes," she answered "You're going to a new class, the work would be harder, the environment will be different and most of your friends aren't in the same class with you anymore. It's Ok to be nervous because of all of that. But it will get better"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure" April smiled "Remember when we first moved here and you were nervous about going to a new preschool? And then kindergarten a while after?"

"Yeah"

"Didn't everything get better after a few weeks?"

Lydia thought for a few seconds, her mother was right. "Yeah" she smiled

"Exactly," April said, "Just give it a while ok?"

"Ok" she nodded

"Well, let's get you back to bed," Jackson said getting off the couch

"Can't I stay here with you guys?"

"No Munchkin you have to get up early"

"You do too" she shot back

Jackson had no comeback for that one.

"How about we all go to bed" April suggested, she was was too tired to stay awake

"Ok" Lydia answered

Jackson lifted her off her mother and carried her to bed. April got up from her seat and followed close behind. After tucking her in, and praying, they left her room. They walked to their bedroom knowing it would be a while before she got up and asked to sleep with them.

________

With her bag pack on and lunch in her hand, Lydia stood by the front door watching her parents hustle around the apartment. She giggled to herself as she watched her father almost fall on his face.

Jackson and April had overslept and were only woken up 20 minutes ago by Lydia, who was already dressed and hungry. Now they were running around, not wanting to be late. April had the day off but had plans to drop Lydia off and get some shopping done. She couldn't let Lydia be late on the first day of school.

"Jackson are you ready?" April asked heading towards the door

"I'm coming" his answer came from the bedroom

"Lock the door behind you" she called back

She looked down at Lydia who seemed tired of waiting.

"Ready?" she asked

"I've been ready a long time ago mommy" the little girl answered in frustration

She turned to the door as her mother opened it. But instead of the two of them walking out, their path was blocked by a man whose hand was up, about to knock.

"Are you Dr. Kepner?" the man asked, there was nothing friendly about his tone

"Yes," April answered pulling Lydia back into the apartment "Can I help you?"

"I'm Jonah Martel, Mason's father" he answered

"Oh, Mr. Martel" April said relieved "It's great to finally meet you. I know you want to discuss your son, but here isn't the best place. I can meet you at the hospital after I drop my daughter off....."

"I didn't come to talk" the man cut her off "I'm just here to let you know that I'm suing you and the hospital for what you're doing to my son"

With that, the man turned and walked away, leaving April with a stunned look on her face.

Looks like her daughter won't be the only one being an anxious wreck that morning. 

________

Here it is, a longer chapter, like I promised. I'm a little iffy about this chapter so tell me what you think in the comments. And don't forget to vote. Another chapter should be up next week, so stay tuned.