Older || Sequel To SOS

Forty

They're here, are you ready for this?" Luke calls through the house as he heads to answer the front door.

"More than. Little Atlas Blu needs to meet her godparents and her built-in bestie." El chuckles, stepping off the stairs as Luke swings the door open to find the Clifford family waiting.

"Uncle Uke!" Indy Kay squeals, jumping into his arms.

"She's been talking about you two nonstop since we told her we were coming here today." Michael chuckles as he and Crystal step past Luke into the house.

"It's been a few weeks since we saw you guys, she's allowed to miss us." Elodie smiles playfully, stepping closer to the group. "Guys, we'd like to formally introduce you to Atlas Blu Hemmings. Your goddaughter."

"She is precious." Crystal coos.

"Baby!" Indy Kay yells out from where she is still sitting in Luke's arms.

"That's right, Indy Kay. This is uncle Luke and aunt El's baby. Her name is Atlas Blu." Mike smiles at his own daughter.

"Me hold?" Indy reaches forward towards Atlas, Luke catching her under the arm before she can throw herself off balance.

"Gotta wash your hands first, and no kisses okay?" Elodie offers.

"Blow kisses?" Indy Kay cocks her little eyebrow as she asks.

"You can blow soft kisses to her, if you're careful." Luke nods, "should we wash your hands?"

"I promise my hands are clean, can I hold her before Indy Kay takes over." Crystal laughs, holding her hands up as Luke wanders away with Indy.

"Of course, and let's maybe move out of the entryway." El chuckles, resting her daughter over into her best friend's arms.

"She really is so beautiful, you did good, El."

"Except for the whole trying to die and take her with me part." Elodie chuckles nervously.

"Okay, ya that part wasn't great, but it wasn't your fault. Honestly I still want to blame the hit and run for somehow causing that." Crystal responds, following Elodie into the living room to sit.

"It was probably at least a factor, but it is possible the two were unrelated." El sighs, "I'm still curious what you know about that that you aren't sharing with us." She turns to Michael as he settles in beside his wife and the baby.

"You literally gave birth in an ambulance while trying to die two weeks ago, do you honestly think I care if you want that information? It's not necessary for you to have it. The case is open and being worked on, besides there's little chance you or Luke could somehow have info we don't already have." Michael rolls his eyes at her.

"I still want to know, the person who hit me caused a lot of unnecessary pain in my life and my family's lives. I'd like to know anything we can about who or why."

"Mama! My baby!" Indy Kay runs into the room, arms outstretched towards Atlas already.

"Here you go, munchkin." Michael fits her easily between himself and Crystal, helping her hold her arms out to take Atlas safely as Crystal moves the baby over to her daughter.

"Hi, baby." Indy Kay half whispers, blowing a very soft kiss towards Atlas. "I wove you, baby."

"My ovaries are bursting." Crystal half laughs, "I want another one."

"Brooke told Ashton a baby looks good on him and that she wants one when they met her too." Luke laughs.

"I think Calum was thinking about one too. With the way he was acting with her when he and B brought us dinner a couple nights ago." El adds with a laugh.

"Ya, but he was finally thinking about one for the first real time. Brooke has probably thought about it a little more seriously prior to meeting Atlas." Like shrugs. "I can't see Cal and B having one for a while longer."

"I could see it for Ash and Brooke though, if they really talked it through. Neither of them care much for marriage, they're content and happy to just be together. I could see them having kids well before they decide they want a wedding." Michael offers.

"What about you two though?" El smirks, "You were pretty against the idea when we announced our pregnancy in April. Still feeling complete? Or is Indy Kay getting a sibling?"

"I don't know, watching everything you've been through is definitely making me glad we adopted though." Michael chuckles.

"It wasn't that bad, other than the hit and run, which could have happened to anyone pregnant or not. And the whole bleeding out, which also was a fluke and couldn't have been predicted." El rolls her eyes at him.

"We'll see, we haven't discussed it enough for a real answer, but watching my baby hold yours is definitely tugging at some strings." Crystal interjects.

"Speaking of the hit and run, we'd like to know the info you've been keeping from us." Luke changes the subject rather abruptly.

"Like I already told Elodie, it's not important enough for you to need to know while you have a premature newborn to worry about."

"We want to know though. And it's more stressful knowing we don't have all the info you do. Please, Mike? We want to know." Luke pushes back.

"It's not that big of news yet. Just a name, that the car was rented too. They haven't got back to me with info on if they've found the suspect yet though." Michael sighs.

"What is their name, Michael? Please?" El pushes back.

"Jessica Carson, of St. Louis. That's all I know."

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It's short I know, but I got it up!

Thoughts? How does this play out?

Hoping to update on Wednesday and Sundays regularly until the book is done! Let's all manifest I can make that happen. Thanks for your patience!!!

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~M =)