Joseph's POV

Randy called and told me what happened with Ocean and I quickly make my way to the hospital and when I get there I'm greeted by Michael and a familiar voice yelling at each other.

"what the fuck is going on!?" I snap walking into the room. "this bitch! Is accusing me of hitting Ocean and refusing to give her any pain killers!" Michael snaps. "well what do you expect!? It's not the first time she's been here because you can't control your temper or keep your hands to yourself!"

"he hasn't done anything! How many times do I have to tell you!?" Ocean snaps. "Ocean tripped and fell down the stairs" I cut in "yeah sure she did" Sherri scoffs "Michael was in the kitchen with me at the time" I lie "and why won't you give her any pain medications? you can clearly see she's in pain"

"well due to hers and your sons issues with drug addiction, I wouldn't feel right giving it to her" she shrugs "that's not your place to decide you fucking cunt!" Michael yells at her "Michael, calm down!" I snap seeing him getting more worked up "and clearly he's on something you can see it a mile away. I'm not going to provide them with drugs" Sherri smirks and I notice Michael is sweating and trembling slightly. "are you ok?" I turn to him concerned. "I'm fine! I haven't taken anything or done anything! Why won't anybody believe me! She's even told you all herself!" He snaps pointing at Ocean. Who confirms what he's saying. "I've been a nurse for years, you think I don't know a comedown when I see it" Sherri look at him skeptically.

"is there a problem in here?" A doctor asks coming into the room. "this woman is harassing us an accusing my husband of hitting me and being on drugs and refusing to give me pain medication" Ocean tells him "that's not what..."

"I can take things from here" the doctor says cutting Sherri off and looks at her sternly and she walks out without a word.

"I haven't done any of those things I swear on my children lives" Michael says shakily "are you on any kind of medication?" the doctor looks at him concerned and he nods and tells him. "and you've definitely been taking the correct dose of the methadone?"

"I was supposed to take it and hour ago, but I came and forgot and..."

"Michael, you know you have to take it the same time everyday and..."

"it's not a problem" the doctor says cutting me off. "if you come with me, we can give your some here" he smiles through pursed lips at and Michael nods and follows him.

**

Ocean's POV

Once Michael leaves the room with the doctor, Joseph closes the door and walks over to me. "now he's out of the room I need to ask and I want you to be honest with me" he says softly and I nod confused. "has Michael or yourself been taking anything?"

"what!? No! He already told you that" I frown. "I'm not gonna get mad, I just need to know. If either of you has relapsed even once" I go silent for a moment wondering whether or not I should tell him and sigh. "when Michael went to get my mom from Rays he did, but it was only once and it was months ago"

"and your sure about that?"

"He told me the next day and I know he hasn't since. He felt horrible and hated himself for it and..."

"what about that stuff the doctors gave you? Has he been taking more that he should?"

"no, I swear! He takes the exact same amount I do"

"and your sure about that? I'm not gonna get mad at him or you I just need to know"

"I swear. We take it at the same time and I'm with him when we do. i'd know if he was" I tell him honestly and he nods then goes silent for a moment. "and what about this? Did you really fall?"

"yes! One of DJs toys was on the stairs and I tripped over it and fell" I tell him honestly. "has he hit you or done anything else?" He asks softly and I shake my head. "no, I swear on our kids lives! Michael hasn't done anything"

"I believe you" he nods "but if he did do anything or was bullying you in any way, you know you can come to me right?"

"he hasn't" I tell him honestly "I'm sorry if I've upset you, but you understand why I'm asking this don't you?" He says softly and I nod. "maybe it's best we keep this little talk between us" he says and I nod. I hate keeping things from Michael, but all telling him about this would do is cause and argument between the two of them and I do understand why Joseph asked me those things. The whole thing did look suspicious the way Michael was acting, plus the amount of women that probably come into hospital claiming they fell down the stairs or walked into something. I can understand why people would automatically assume their husband had beaten them. I've done it myself many times when Michael used to hit me. I'd always tell people I fell or walked into something.

****

Michael's POV

"but why not? There must be something you can give her" I frown confused and the doctor sighs. "as much as I hate to agree with that nurse Sherri, but with the two of you having past drug issues, giving your wife any kind of pain killers wouldn't be a good idea. Like most drugs they are extremely addictive"

"so your just gonna leave her with nothing!?" I frown "I'm sorry, it may be painful for her right now, but in the long run it's for the best" he sighs. "I'd actually like to talk to you both about the methadone you've both been taking and the amount"

"your not taking that from her too! We need it and..."

"I'm aware of that, but I think it's best we lower the amount and begin weaning you both off it. By the way you were when you first came here. It seems like your becoming dependant on it and it's best we begin lowing the amount straight away" I'm about to speak when my dad calls my name walking up the corridor to us. "is everything ok with him now" he asks the doctor. "no, he's refusing to give Ocean anything for the pain and wants to take the methadone from us" I cut in before the doctor can speak. "but she's in pain! And they need that stuff. That's why it was prescribed to them in the first place" He frowns turning to the doctor. "what I was trying to explain to your son was, with their issues with addiction to wouldn't be right to give her anything that she could become addicted to and I didn't say they shouldn't take the methadone anymore I said we should start weaning them off slowly, before they become dependant on it"

"and when should they..."

"who's with Ocean?" I cut my dad off "she's still in the room, she's fine" he shrugs "no she's not! She on her own in there!" I frown walking past him and get back to Ocean.

*

"I'm sorry, I didn't know he was gonna leave you alone in here" I say to Ocean hugging her as gentle as possible the break away. "it's fine, really. Are you feeling any better?" She smiles changing the topic and I nod. "he said because I was vomiting my medication wasn't getting in my system long enough to take effect and gave me some and something to stop me throwing up"

"as long as your ok now" she smiles sweetly and pecks my lips.

****

Sherri's POV

"you should have seen the state that poor girl was in" I say to Jessica and she shakes her head in disbelief "I can't believe Michael's hitting her again"

"it doesn't surprise me. Once a bully always a bully and the state he was in clearly he's back on that stuff too. Some people never change. Not completely"

"but they were doing so well. are you sure he's hit her?" She asks still trying believe it herself. "well she claims she fell down the stairs which I very much doubt! And Michael was off his face and screaming and yelling like a lunatic"

"does Carson know about this?"

"I told him, but he's to busy with his latest tramp to care these days" I roll my eyes. "maybe I should go round there and..."

"don't even think about it!" I cut her off "maybe I can speak to her and..."

"Jessica you've only just come out of the hospital and I doubt you going round there is going to do any good!"

"you don't know that" she shrugs "actually I do. Ocean made it very clear she wants nothing to do with this family anymore and...."

"but if Michael's hitting her again, maybe he's bullying her into saying that like when she said at the hospital she fell down the stairs"

"that maybe so, but you going round there isn't going to help. All it'll do is piss Michael off even more and Ocean will back him up just like she always does" I shrug. "so we're supposed to just sit here and do nothing!? What if he loses his temper on Duncan or the other two!? Or if they get hold of his drugs and..."

"don't even think about calling protective services on them again" I cut her off sternly "but if their in danger..."

"Jessica! I'm telling you for your own good. Don't get involved again. Their not our problem any more. Ocean will soon get tired of being Michael's punching bag and come home, but until then we stay out of it"

**

Michael's POV

We get home and DJ and Vaeh immediately rush over. "careful!" I quickly say to DJ picking him as he charges towards Ocean "Mommy's not feeling very well"

"I'm fine for kisses and cuddles" Ocean smiles sitting in the sofa "not to tight" I say to him as he wraps his arms around her. "I'm sorry I made you fall mommy" DJ pouts getting upset "buddy, that wasn't your fault" I say softly taking him from Ocean "Mommy was just being clumsy" Ocean giggles slightly "well I promise to clean up all my toys every time" he smiles at her. "I'm gonna run you a bath the doctor said it'll ease the pain" I smile pecking Ocean's lips and head upstairs.

*

As I'm running the bath I notice Janet standing behind the door timidly. "Janet can you come in here a second?" I say softly and she slowly walks in "I'm really sorry about yelling at you earlier"

"it's fine. I kinda deserved it for not taking care of DJ like I was supposed to" she shrugs looking at the ground "no you didn't. I dumped a hyper kid on you then yelled at you and I was wrong to do that especially in your condition"

"is Ocean gonna be ok?" She asks nervously and I nod "she'll be fine. Ocean tough, she's survived way worst than a little fall" I smile at her through pursed lips. "is she mad at me?" She asks nervously and I shake my head. "she's not mad at anybody and neither am I" I smile giving her a hug "and quit worrying. It's not good for you or this little one" I smile placing my hand on her stomach. And she smiles back.

****

while Ocean's in the bath Randy helps me get DJ, Vaeh and Princess ready for bed. Once their all fast asleep, Randy and I go into my room and Randy drops down on the bed. "how the fuck do you guys do that every night?"

"we're used to it" I chuckle slightly. "so are you guys excited about Miami? Not long left" he smiles and I smile back through pursed lips. "what wrong?" He frowns confused. "me and Ocean were talking in the hospital and we think maybe its best we don't moved. Not for awhile at least"

"what!? You guys have been looking forward to this for months!"

"we are, but with everything that happened today and us adopting Janet's baby, we're not sure if being so far away is such a good idea. If something happened to one of us like today, we won't have you guys around to help and I'll be working during the day which is mean Ocean will be home alone with the kids. She 19 and It's hard enough for her with 3 young children and pretty soon it's gonna 4"

"I thought you guys wanted more kids?"

"yeah we do. But in the future, but right now we have two toddlers and a new born and at that age they need full attention all the time. We do want a big family, but when the 3 we already have are a little older"

"so your cutting off your plans, to take care of Janet's baby?" He frowns "where not cutting them off. Just postponing them for awhile"

"but why!? Just tell Janet you don't want to adopt her baby, clearly you don't really want to, plus like you said 3 kids is hard enough on you guys" he shrugs "it's not as simple as that. We can't tell her yes then tell her to deal with it herself and walk away. Especially after how much help you guys have all given us. Not once have we done anything in return for any of you and..."

"we helped you because you guys needed it and so you can get your lives back on track, which you have now and we haven't asked for anything in return because you don't have to. and Janet can take care of the baby herself. Sure she'll struggle at first but so did you guys and Ocean was only 15 when you guys had DJ and look how great you both our with him and the girls"

"we can't just go back on it now it won't be fair on her" I sigh.

I feel bad saying those things to Randy about Janet. I promised Janet we'd do this for her and we will, but like I said to Randy adopting her baby isn't the only reason. the house in Miami is already ours and ready and we will move eventually, but Ocean and I have only been together about 4 years and so much has happend in our lives already and the best thing for us and our children right now is to not make any more rushed decisions and concentrate on becoming more stable in our lives before adding any more unnecessary drama or problems.

*********

Janet's POV

I come downstairs and Randy is sitting on the sofa watching TV. "is everybody sleeping?" I ask, sitting on the chair opposite "Michael and Ocean just went to bed a few minutes ago"

"is Ocean ok now?" I ask innocently and he turns to me and frowns "no she's not ok! She's in pain and the doctors won't give her anything for it!" He snaps "I was just asking, jeez!" I shrug "like you were just asking Michael and Ocean to take care of your mistake" he scoffs. "do you have any idea how selfish your being!? Their supposed to be moving away to start a new life and be happy and now they can't because they have to raise your kid"

"their not moving away?"

"nope, because they feel like they can't handle taking care of another baby by themselves right now and they feel guilty about telling you this. They have so much stuff to deal already can't you see that!?"

"but.."

"but nothing Janet! Michael and Ocean have been through so much shit and worked so hard to get to where they are now and What your doing is selfish" he snaps cutting me off then walks out before I can speak.

I do feel bad about them not being able to move away now and it's not like I had any choice in all this. Joseph told me if I didn't get Ocean and Michael to adopt the baby, then he'd adopt it out of the family and handing it over to them means I'll get to see my baby as much as I want and if they decide not to then I'm never gonna see my baby again.

*

I'm on my way to bed and I notice Michael and Ocean bedroom door open slightly and look in and their lay on the bed cuddling watching a movie. "hi" I say faintly "hey, what's up?" Michael smiles "nothing, I just came to see if your ok" I turn to Ocean and she smiles "I'll be ok"

"are you ok?" Michael asks sensing I'm upset and I nod, faking a smile. "I just wanna say thank you for adopting my baby. It's gonna be so lucky having a mommy and daddy like you guys" I fake a smile. "thanks, that really mean alot to us" Michael says and they smile back at me. "do you wanna come and watch a movie with us?" Ocean asks and I shake my head "I'm really tired. I just gonna go to sleep" I fake a smile then close the door behind me.

I feel bad for them not being able to move to Miami and I know I sound selfish, but if they can't move then that means they'll be staying here and I'll get to see my baby everyday.