lol that's fine. My internet goes out occasionally so I feel your pain)

-

Abby smiled at his voice. She relaxed and allowed the medicine to force her to sleep. At this point, she felt she didn't need it. She would fall asleep to her husbands voice. As the world slowly drifted away, so did Rykers voice. She took slow, easy breaths, then the world went dark

-

Sophia watched as Ryan gathered Pyper and the twins. "I'll take them home" he said quietly to their dad. "Do you want me to make Sophia come with us?" Sophia shook her head "No. Please. I have to stay" she begged. "I could barely sleep when y'all went on a road trip. What makes you think I can go home knowing Mom is in the hospital?" Her lip trembled and a tear fell down her cheek. "I'm sorry. You probably have to go though, don't you?" She looked up at Zephyr. "You don't have to stay..."

Ryker was glad Abby was going to get some good rest. He also made a resolution to sing for her any chance he got after this, because she scared him to death with the possibility she might not make it through, and now he really knew how to appreciate every moment. He honestly never sang much anymore- or ever- because he was overly self-conscious about stuff like that, and usually busy with the horses. He turned his gaze to Ryan and nodded, offering a smile. "Thank you..." He said quietly, knowing he wasn't being the best father he could be to his kids at this time. However, as he had promised Abby, he couldn't leave. "And if Sophia wants to stay, she can. If I have to drive her home, I will." He glanced at Zephyr through the window before returning his gaze to Abby.

+++

Zephyr looked down at Sophia as she said she wanted to stay, his mind already made up about what was going to happen. There was no way he was leaving her there alone, unless she wanted him to leave. Of course, her father would be there, but he was preoccupied with Abby. Zeph shook his head at her question. "I'm here for you. I won't leave until you ask me to." He answered firmly yet quietly, mentally noting he had to call his father.

Sophia rolled her eyes. "You seriously think I would give you the chance to stay just to turn you away?" The joke was halfhearted, but she meant it. "If you want to stay then I won't judge. Same for if you want to leave, but.. since you want to stay then have at it" she gently pulled Zephyr toward a few chairs, but she stopped in her tracks a few steps in. She stared at her mothers still body. The only thing keeping her from thinking she was dead was the shallow rise and fall of her chest. And the fact that her dad wasn't crying and throwing things, because for some reason that was the way she envisioned something going horribly wrong. She couldn't even let herself think of an instance where he would crack. She had never seen him crack. She stood there. Frozen to the floor.

Zephyr smiled faintly at her half hearted joke. "No, I never imagined you as that cruel." He answered with a slight teasing tone, but again it was quiet and quelled. "I'll stay." He repeated, as if sealing it in stone. He started to follow her over, but stopped when she did, glancing into the room as her face went still.

+++

Ryker didn't let go of Abby's hand, his gaze on her face, as if clinging to every memory. As he heard quiet footsteps, he decided it was time for him to start acting like the father he was. With a slow breath out, reminding himself Abby would be fine, he stood and gently let her hand slip out of his, walking out and over towards Sophia. "She's fine now- just sleeping. How long do you plan on staying?" He asked quietly, keeping his face steady and not letting any of the worry show. In his eyes, though, there was a slight hint of exhaustion that just barely gave way to the world underneath.

Sophia couldn't pull herself to walk any further. When her dad came back, she forced herself to look away. "As long as possible. And Zephyr" she turned to look at him "I may or may not have slightly persuaded him to stay. For the record, he did volunteer at first. I only sealed the deal" she took a breath and let her gaze travel around the hospital until it landed on her dad again. "Dad... be honest with me please... how is she? Is it as bad as my accident?" A flood of memories of her accident hit her with those few words but she stayed strong. She could cry later. Particularly in the bathroom after everyone went to sleep.

Zephyr stood by her side, glad that Mr. Rivera was preoccupied with his daughter and wife. He smiled faintly at her words. He had volunteered, so he was going to stay.

+++

Ryker glanced at Zephyr before looking back to Sophia, staying silent for a split second. "No, it's not as bad as your accident." He answered outright. "Since the concussion isn't that bad, she will be fine on that front. The doctors are pretty sure that with a lot of rest, her arms will recover. The break in her leg isn't very severe." He explained to the best of his ability. "She will recover, just like you did."

A relieved sigh escaped Sophia's mouth. It took a few seconds for her to process the information. "So she is ok" she murmured. "Is Mom fighting sleep like she always does? Is that why they drugged her?" Her eyes flitted to the room. Her mother shifted under the blankets and she seemed so uncomfortable. "I think my question is already answered" Sophia said as her moms eyes fluttered open after a few failed attempts and looked around the room before landing her father. "Ryker. Sophia" the weak voice said. "Mom" Sophia said softly before gently grabbing Zephyrs arm and walking into her room. "Hi honey" she said "who is this?" She asked sleepily. Sophia smiled a little and answered "My personal escort" Abby grinned. Sophia walked to the side of the room to make room for her dad to walk in

Ryker nodded. "She'll be okay." He answered, then glanced over as he heard the covers swish. His eyes lit up slightly as he saw her eyes open, then he walked in after Sophia. "How are you feeling?" He asked Abby quietly.

+++

Zephyr followed Sophia in, standing off to the side near her, glad that Mrs. Rivera was awake. It was always better for Sophia if her loved ones were okay. He nodded with a slight smile at Sophia's introduction of him- rather accurate

Abby smiled. "Slightly refreshed from my two minute nap" she looked over at the boy. "Who is that?" She asked Ryker quietly

-

Sophia watched her parents for a second before her stomach growled. "Oops" she mumbled. "Wanna come with me to go find some food? I think they have some sort of food court here, we just have to find it"

Ryker nodded- that was good. At her question he slowly glanced over. "I'm not even quite sure at this point, but the most I can gather is that he is Sophia's boyfriend and his name is Zephyr." He answered a bit begrudgingly, mentally grumbling about guns and putting the fear of God into some boy at the door.

+++

Zephyr winced slightly at the look on Mr. Rivera's face, but he focused his attention on Sophia afterward. "Yes. Food. That sounds nice." He confirmed, turning and glancing down the halls before leading the way to the right- he thought the food court was over here.