I Think I've Had Enough

Chapter 48:'Cause you're a sky, you're a sky full of stars

"I have a surprise." Ellen said abruptly interrupting Emilee as she played with her doll in one of Ellen's guest bedrooms. Emilee's eyes lit up. She was one of two people whose eyes lit up that way. The other was her father, just another undeniable resemblance. "But," Ellen smiled, "you are going to have to wear a disguise."

"A disguise?!" Emilee could barely say it.

"Yes" Ellen nodded, "a baseball cap maybe some sunglasses."

"But its dwark outside," Emilee laughed.

"I know!" Ellen laughed too.

Ellen quickly threw on a bit of a disguise herself and then plopped an old hat on Emilee. Before she knew it they were driving up very windy roads. Emilee could feel her stomach starting to a little sick but she was too excited to complain.

"Ok," Ellen said cheerfully. "Here we are."

Emilee didn't see much of anything. There was a large building with a strange dome on the top of it and there seemed to be some grass but it was too dark to see much of anything. They walked toward the large building and then up the tall stone staircase. Still nothing to be seen. Ellen smiled directing Emilee to step up onto a little ledge.

Emilee gasped. Her eyes widened. She could see lights for miles. Red, blue, yellow, green. Skyscraping buildings like she had never seen before. "Wow," she breathed, "Is this the whole world?"

Ellen laughed, her heart melted. There was such purity about Emilee. She hoped with every ounce of her soul that bringing her into their mess wouldn't take that away. "Something like that."

Emilee just soaked it in for a moment. "It's beautiful." She shook her head in disbelief. "It's huugee."

"It is pretty big huh."

"Look at the stars!" Emilee said in amazement yet again.

Though she had lived here for many years even Ellen had to admit that the view from Griffith Observatory was the very definition of breathtaking. From the traffic on the freeway to the stars in the sky it was utterly gorgeous. An odd sensation passed through Ellen's body, one that she had blocked out for a long time. At first she couldn't pin point what it was and then she realized it, she missed him.

"Come on," she smiled, "to the next spot." Emilee followed. As Ellen started to guide her to the edge of the observatory she felt a warm hand slip into hers. She looked down to see Emilee looking up at her. Emilee smiled.

Ellen felt as though her heart was going to explode. Every little step seemed like such a feat to her. For one thing she felt so undeserving of Emilee's love and she also knew how difficult it was too lose a parent at such a young age. Every step felt like a blessing to Ellen.

"Ellie," Emilee said softly a sweet smile spread across her face. "This is vwery nice."

"Yes Em," Ellen smiled, "it is. I'm having a wonderful time tonight."

Ellen laid out a blanket on the grass. At first they sat but it wasn't long until they were both flat on their backs looking at the stars. "They rweally are beautiful." She paused for a moment. "Ellie," she said again, "would you tell me a story?"

"Sure," Ellen said softly.

"Would you tell me one about you and Patrick?"

Ellen let out a light laugh, "Alright, let me think." She took a moment to decide which one she would tell but recalled just the one.

Ellen sat on the front staircase of her house contemplating the end of the first season of Grey's Anatomy. The sky was dark and the stars were twinkling. She wondered nervously what would come next. Whatever it was, it wouldn't be the same. He was her best friend now. Life without him would be practically unbearable. Could they maintain a friendship without see each other everyday. Was it even healthy for his marriage that they do that?

"Beautiful night," a familiar voice spoke from the darkness. Patrick's face wrapped the corner and came into the moonlight. It was convenient living so close to each other.

"It is," Ellen smiled uncontrollably. She was glad that he couldn't see.

"Its going to be weird this summer," He admitted. "I'm going to Maine for a few months or until we hear something."

"That'll be nice," Ellen lied. "I'm sure you'll be happy to have a break from the city. Spend some time with Jill."

"Not really," Patrick confessed. "I'm going to miss you Ellen."

She laughed an awkward almost sigh of relief. "I'm going to miss you too."

He sat by her on the stair. Simply placing his arm around her. She felt a tingle run up and down her spine.

The stars seemed to twinkle brighter as they sat their together. For the rest of the summer, anytime she missed him she would come out here to gaze at the stars. Somewhere inside of her she knew, he was on the other side of the country looking at the very same sky, missing her too.

Ellen finished the story and turned to see that Emilee had fallen asleep. She studied her face for a moment, so beautiful, so pure. To think she nearly missed the opportunity to know her. She lifted her daughter carefully and carried her to the car.