Realistic or Modern Instant Family

[decadent-rider]

Carmen smiled some, sitting on the couch behidn him, running her fingers through his hair and just enjoying having him close to her and hoping him feeling good would last all day, writing down the gifts that Carlos had got from her family for thank you cards later and smiled some as he put some of the boxes back "You don't wanna open anymore?" She asked him tiredly having been working on lunch for today til around 3 in the morning, determined to give Carlos the best christmas ever.
'No, not yet, I wanna do my presents from other people when they're here so I can say thank you.' He told them but stood up and went to root through the large pile to see about the ones just from her and Pedro til they were done for the morning and he went to help his Dad up off the floor while Carmen sorted breakfast

Jeff smiled watching his little girl every time she tried to speedy crawl back to the tree "Yeah, might as well, otherwise we're headed for a tier 3 meltdown." He muttered, rubbing at his chest a little and got the camcorder set up to film her while he went over and picked her up, setting her between his legs on the floor and passed her three presents for her to open, "They're all for you princess." He smiled, just watching her, still in awe that he'd been a part in creating her.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Pedro smiled happily as he watched his son open the presents. Seeing the happieness on his face made his entire day and he didn't care about anything else. He wanted to make sure his entire family had a good Christmas, especially Carlos. He got up slowly once presents were done and made his way to the kitchen for food "What do you tell your mother Carlos?" He asked chuckling some when he just dug right into his food once it was served.

Max smiled happily and pressed record for them before she went to sit near Ana as well while she opened the gifts. She knew things were rocky at best between the two of them right now, but she was glad they were sharing this moment together. She helped with the wrapping paper smiling as Ana squealed with delight before she saw the toys she had been given

 

[decadent-rider]

Carmen smiled some when he said thank you with a mouth full of food, "Welcome." She murmured, pecking his cheek and got Pedro his meds, "We're going for comfy today boys, no special fancy outfits... We're saving those for my parents place tomorrow." She reminded them both as she sat down, passing Edgar a couple small bits of bacon as it was christmas, watching Carlos run off once he finished breakfast and she just turned to look over at her husband, "You not hungry?" She asked him seeing he'd barely touched his breakfast.

Jeff sighed quietly as he watched her when she was done, leaning away from Max a little and eventually moved to get up and turn the recording off "You should go get ready, she said it's just whatever you feel like wearing, nothing fancy." He mumbled, going to get Ana's outfit from her bedroom and brought it down to her to get her dressed in the living room.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Pedro listened to her and nodded softly giving a small nod eating only a bit "Yeah I'm okay just not very hungry at the moment." He said softly giving her a small smile "Don't worry I'll eat later I promise." He said quietly squeezing her hand "Now I say we go watch some Christmas movies."

Max sighed softly as he moved away from her some but smiled when she saw that he had picked up the outfit she had chosen for Ana. She came down once she was ready only wearing light makeup and her favorite ugly christmas sweater grabbing her santa hat. She smiled softly as Ana squealed at Jeff giving a small sigh when he frowned at her.

 

[decadent-rider]

Carmen frowned some but nodded, kissing his cheek "Oh honey.... I love you but not enough to watch Christmas movies... You've been trying for years.... it's over... give up. " She teased him, "I will watch Krampus though... Bit of horror holiday?" She smiled and helped him up as she noticed he'd been struggling more and more with how bad his bones ached but she took him to get him set up in the lounge and soon went to join him once she had a drink "They're gonna be here soon." She murmured yawning some and leaning her head on his shoulder when Carlos came running downstairs laughing 'Dad! Dad look what I found!" He laughed and took him his ipad, showing him the pictures of him looking like the chameleon from Tangled "It looks like you."

Jeff held her close, bouncing her gently while she wriggled wanting to get down "Right... we ready?" He asked quietly. She was trying and he had to give her credit for that but no matter how much he protested she couldn't seem to take a hint that he didn't want her to try. He wanted her to leave him alone. He got them set up in the truck and took the passenger seat, leanign back some "So Carmen called a couple days ago... She was warning us that Pedro is probably gonna look completely different.... Said he's beennot doing so good but she didn't say much else." He told her sighing some.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max got in the driver's seat and nodded softly giving a heavy sigh as she started to drive "Yeah I've heard. We talk maybe once a week or so." She said softly to him glancing over at him "You have an appointment next week, do you need me to take you or can Adam get you?" She asked

Pedro frowned some and pouted "But we're a family now! Can we just do one? I think Carlos would love Elf." He said happily holding her close as they sat down in the den. He looked over at Carlos as he ran in and frowned some when he saw the photo thread scoffing playfully "I see no resemblence." He teased before he chuckled some and hugged his son to him "You having a good Christmas so far bud?"

 

[decadent-rider]

Carmen smiled looking at the photos and snorted "Oh my god it's you." She laughed again, kissing his cheek and kept him propped against her some, rubbing his chest in circles "Alright.... Carlos your Dad wants us to watch a christmas movie... Just one." She smiled and got him to get settled on the couch, taking the ipad away for now while they got set up and put the movie on. She would never agree to it under normal circumstances but she was scared that this could possibly be his last christmas.

Jeff frowned some "Adam can take me... They just wanna make sure that I don't need a second surgery on my back." He muttered, rubbing at his face, "Oh soon as a large package comes for me, if you see it first I need it immediately." He told her "I can tell you what it is when it arrives."

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max shrugged some but gave a small nod "Alright I'll keep an eye out for it." She murmured before she hummed to the radio while they drove. They lived a good distance awah from Carmen now but with the way she had been talking about Pedro this would be worth the drive.

Pedro smiled wide at her and kissed her cheek repeatedly once she came to sit back down with him "Thank you." He said softly before he turned his attention to the TV and watched the movie with them

 

[decadent-rider]

She smiled as he had fallen asleep by the end and she woke him up gently, kissing his cheek, "Hey, why don't you go lay down upstairs? I'll come get you when they get here." She suggested, helping him up and wanting him to conserve his energy. She helped him up there then came back to the kitchen seeing Carlos on his ipad "Hey, you wanna help me mash the potatos? You get to hit them real hard." She smiled, bringing him over. "So... you know how special this christmas might be for your Dad right?" She coaxed gently.

He nodded some, leaning back and rubbing at his temples a little as he started getting a headache. HE got them a lot more frequently since he'd been crushed under the tractor. Initially they thought it was just ribs and internal bruising and bleeding but on further investigation he'd damaged his spinal cord so had one surgery on his back and was hoping to get away with no more. He ended up falling asleep and napping with Ana the rest of the drive, waking up when they were pulling up to the house.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Carlos followed his mom to the kitchen and frowned some giving a small nod "Yeah its our first Christmas and he will be okay in a little while." He said not wanting to have to conversation of him possibly not making it again with her. They had had it after he had found Pedro during his most violent seizure while she was in the shower. He didn't want to believe it so he tried to keep his hopes up even if he knew it was probably not worth it.

Max smiled some when they got to the house and gently woke Jeff up "Hey can you get Ana? I can get the presents." She said softly before she got out and made sure to get everything inside once Carmen had let the two of them in. She placed all the presents down and made sure that the one she had gotten for Jeff was still there as well. She knew she probably shouldn't have gotten anything for him but she knew he would love it.

 

[decadent-rider]

Carmen frowned but didn't push it and just gave his shoulders a little squeeze before she went to get the door "Baby come help Max with the bags okay?" She called to him and headed up to go get Pedro, gently waking him up and getting him up so he could make his way downstairs. "Oh gosh look at how big Ana is getting." She smiled as she watched Jeff bring her in "Hey there." She smiled to him and gave him a quick hug, letting him go put Ana down in the living room while she still napped.

Jeff came in and smiled some at Carmen nodding "She is growing every day... Needs to stop though." He smiled some, setting the carrier down and followed her to the kitchen to get a drink before he heard Pedro coming downstairs, looking over and almost dropped his glass "Hey there, merry christmas." He called to him, staring at his friend and sighed a little seeing how bad he looked.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Pedro came down once he was good and awake smiling happily as he saw Jeff. He went over and hugged his friend giving a happy sigh "Its good to see you old man! Merry Christmas" He joked before he grabbed a drink as well "How are you doing? Healing up well?"

Max smiled some thanking Carlos as he came to help before she made her way inside. She hugged Carmen as she came into view smiling more "Thank you for having us." She said happily before going to the kitchen to grab a drink as well. When she walked in and saw Pedro with Jeff she had to do her best to keep the shock off her face, it was much worse than what she had expected.

 

[decadent-rider]

He nodded some "Yeah we uh... We're getting there." He mumbled running a hand through his hair and glancing over at Carlos playing with the dog "How's Dad life going?" He asked him smilin some.

Carmen nodded and took her to the nice living room where the tree was, sitting down "So uh... you see what I mean?" She asked her quietly frowning some.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Pedro smiled happily looking over at Carlos "Best thing to ever happen to us if that boy." He said softly moving to sit down at the table "What about you? Hows dad life treating you?" He asked leaning on the table for support so he didn't use too much energy "How are things with Max? Still tense?"

Max followed Carmen through to the nicer living room and gave a small nod "Yeah I do." She said softly before she hugged her friend tightly "This is a happy time though okay? We're not going to dwell on our problems in life today, we're going to enjoy there moments." She said softly when she heard her friend sniffle in their hug

 

[decadent-rider]

Carmen frowned pulling away and shook her head when they heard ana fussing and she headed to the kitchen while max went to sort out her daughter, passing Pedro his meds with some water and carried on sorting out lunch for everyone.

Jeff nodded some. “She still doesn’t get that I want her nowhere near me.” He muttered. “She can apologise all she likes, I don’t have to accept.” He frowned more and watched Carlos run over to his dad with his iPad and the case he got asking for help to put it on but it was hard seeing how much Pedro was struggling just with that amount of strength.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max frowned softly when she heard Ana and got up to go check on her. She smiled some as she picked her up and took her into the kitchen where everyone was going to Carmen again near the stove "You need help with anything?" She asked smiling as Ana gurgled some at Carmen

Pedro smiled softly at Carlos taking the Ipad and Case trying his best to get it on but it was proving difficult for him. He had lost most of his strength and even putting this on was too much for him. He sighed heavily turning to Carlos and giving a small smile "Here lets ask Jeff if maybe he can help us." He murmured before he looked over at his friend "Could you help him?"

 

[decadent-rider]

She shook her head yawning a little. “I’m just putting the last bits in the oven then we’ll eat in half an hour.” She told her, going to sit next to Pedro, pulling him to lean against her a little. “Hey there handsome.” She smiled kissing his cheek. “How you feeling?”

Jeff nodded and took it up, helping him get the case on before handing it back. “Hey, she need a snack or anything?” He called over to max rooting through the bag and getting out a little snack bag he’d done for her.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Pedro smiled some as he leaned into her once she had sat down "I'm feeling good, gettin hungry." He said happily kissing her cheek gently "I love you." He said quietly to her while he watched As Carlos ran off to play

Max looked over at Jeff as she walked back to him and gave a small nod "Yeah she is probably hungry." She murmured before she sat down next to him holding Ana in her lap and smiling as she ate a few of the little cereal treats he had packed.

 

[decadent-rider]

“Mmm, love you too, food will be ready in half an hour.” She promised and kissed his cheek. “Carlos come play with it in here!” She called to him. “Come on, Christmas is for spending time with family” she reminded him, frowning some as she felt Pedro tensing up and she told Carlos to go up to his room instead, getting him sat on the floor instead. “Max can you move those chairs?” She mumbled

Jeff got up and took Ana, moving her out of the room and telling Carlos to take him to show him his room now it was all painted so that he didn’t have to see his dad having another seizure.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max frowned and quickly got up doing everything Carmen told her to "Do you need anything for his head?" She asked frowning more as Pedro started to shake and seize up in her lap

Carlos took Jeff up to his room and smiled happily showimg him everything "Look! I have an Iron Man poster! Mommy told me you were in a super hero movie once! She said I can't watch it until I'm old though." He explained meaning Jeff's role in Watchmen "Is Max your girlfriend since she is Ana's mommy?"

 

[decadent-rider]

She shook her head and grabbed a chair cushion for him, sliding it under his head, gently wiping away the drool coming down his face and murmuring to him until it settled again, just rubbing his arm keeping an eye on him. “They were one a week... then two.... then every other day, he’s having two to three a day at this point. If it’s only one, it’s been a great day.” She mumbled kissing his head and stayed close for when he woke up. “You know what you did to Jeff but now.... don’t stop trying.... don’t think you have all the time in the world.” She muttered. “Cause shit gets real too quickly and then you’re facing losing the person you love most.” She mumbled wiping at her eyes.

Jeff smiled some. “Yeah. She’s right you gotta wait til you’re a lot older.” He smiled at him. “Uh... no. She was my girlfriend but now she’s helping me with Ana after I had an accident at work.” He told him smiling a little. “You made any friends at school yet?” He asked him

 

[Forever6A7X]

Mac sat there with her the entire time and stayed quiet frowning softly while she listened to her "Carmen....I'm so sorry." She whispered shaking her head some "Neither of you deserve this." She murmured sighing softly "You need me to get him anything? Any water or something for when he wakes up?"

Carlos nodded some and gave a smile "Yeah I got two friends, we play soccer and speak spanish." He said while he showed him a few more toys "Mommy says Daddy might not be here much longer....I don't want him to go to Heaven." He told Jeff giving a heavy sigh "Mommy is sad lately too, I hear her cry when he goes to bed most nights."

 

[decadent-rider]

She shook her head some wiping at her eyes. “Do you mind turning the oven down super low? I’ll get food out in a minute and you guys can start while we get sorted.” She mumbled looking down when he started moving again. “Hey there handsome.” She murmured kissing his cheek. “How you feeling?”

jeff nodded some. “It’s hard I know kiddo, but your mom loves your dad a lot and she’s scared for him too.... I think though that if your dad has to go away, I think you and your mom will be alright, you can help each other be happy.” He smiled at him, glancing over when he heard max calling them down for lunch. “Ooh. Foods ready.” He smiled and headed down with the kids.

 

[Forever6A7X]

Max gave a small nod "Don't worry about it, I'll get everything set." She said softly before she got up and went to get evrrything ready. Once the table was set she went to Carlos' room and knocked on the door "Hey fold is ready come eat!" She said before leaving again to make sure everything was set right

Pedro groaned softly as he started to come around opening his eyes and staring up at Carmen for a minute "Hey....I'm...I'm alright. How long was I out? Did they see anything?" He asked quietly

 

[decadent-rider]

She frowned cupping his cheek. “Hey, lets go get you some fresh trousers.” She mumbled, helping him up and up to their room. “About fifteen minutes.... just max helped me with you.” She told him. “This one was fairly mild though.” She smiled kissing his cheek.

Jeff headed down there and got Ana into the high chair they’d brought with them, getting her a juice cup before he sat down with max and Carlos. “They wants us to wait?” He asked her.