Coming Up With a Plan

                                    

                                          
Emily and the boys say in the waiting room with a grim silence hanging over them. "You know, this complicates things. We can't forget about Ashlyn but we can't hide her for long" Jake said finally breaking through the gloom surrounding the group.
"Does she have any family left?" Seth asked knowing that Emily and Jake wouldn't be able to hide the newborn for long.
"A grandma in Phoenix but I'm not sure if that's good idea, what if she tells Dallas. I'm not sure about anyone else though" Emily said as Dr Jones came out with news.
"I'm sorry about Alexis. The baby is doing just fine though I think it would be best if she spent a day or two here." Even Dr Jones couldn't hide the grimness in her mood. "I'm sorry I couldn't save her" she said walking back to the desk. 
"What's the story with her?" Seth asked the group
"She knew my mother and my aunt" Emily responded an idea starting to appear in her head "what if she took Ashlyn?" 
"I don't know Em. It's a good idea but what if she can't" Jake said trying to offer comfort. "It's can't hurt ask though"he said as the game started to head to the nursery. Emily couldn't control her excitement when her new neice came into sight. She picked her up and sat down in the rocking chair.
"Well I see that you beat me here" Dr Jones said smiling and handing Emily a bottle to feed her new neice.
"Dr Jones can we talk to you in your office" Emily asked feeding the baby. She nodded and lead the others into her office. "We were wondering if it would be possible for you to take care of Ashlyn?" Emily said nervously.
"Emily, I'm not sure if that's possible. You're her godmother, any attempt on my part to take her in would be going against her mother's wishes" 
"But I can't take care of her and she doesn't have any other family who can. Erica please you agreed to help us because you owed it to my mom don't you think she would want you to protect her grandchild" Emily begged "she needs a chance at a better life".
Erica Jones looked at the teens and her niece, she could see so much of the friend she lost so long ago. "You're right. I couldn't help your mom when she got addicted, I couldn't help your aunt when she died, heck I don't think I even tried to find you and Cody after, so I'll be danged if left you in the lerch" 
"Does that mean you'll take her in?" Jake as shocked that she was agreeing to help.
"Yes it does" she said smiling at Emily "I'll fill out the adoption paperwork this afternoon" Emily handed the baby to Jake and hugged her.
"Thank you so much" Emily said fighting back tears they took the baby back to her bed in the nursery. 
"Emily we need to head back an a catch Seth up" Jake leading the two out the car. Emily noticed Seth stiffen up at the sight of the car.
"Seth, I know this is hard but we leave to far to bike and a bus won't go that far" Emily said trying to get Seth calm enough to ride in the car.
"What's wrong" Jake asked
"Seth hasn't rode in a car since his little sisters death, in fact that's how he ended up on the streets with us, his parents blamed him for her death so he ran away Dallas found him and 'took him in'" Emily said holding Seth's hand.
"I can do this, I can't live the rest of my life with a irrational fear of cars" Seth said squeezing Emily's hand and getting in the back.
"You'll see her again Em" Jake said attempting to comfort her "my cousin will look after and love her like she was her own." Emily nodded then did a double take.
"Wait what?!?" Emily couldn't believe I what she heard "you're related to her"
"Yeah, didn't you notice I never went in, or how fast we found her" he said with a smile. Emily shook her head and turned to Seth holding on to the seat with so much force his knuckles were white. 
"Hang on Seth we're almost there" Emily said in a despite attempt to comfort him. "So why didn't you tell me?" 
"You had enough going on without me pulling my family into it." Jake answered pulling into the driveway. Seth was the first to jump out of the car, his breathing was shallow but he seemed ok. Emily got out and rubbed his back until his breathing evened out.
"Thanks Em" he gasped out looking at the cabin he would be living in. "So this is the place Cody was talking about?" He asked impressed "it looks homey."
Emily nodded not caring that he knew about it."well let's go see what we can make for dinner" Emily said walking in close to Jake with Seth watching the two. "You two wait here and I'll check out the kitchen." Emily said disappearing into another room. 
"So what's going on with you two?" Seth asked smugly. Jake shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Don't worry I'm not after her, she is too much like a sister to me, her and Cody were the closest thing to family. Just be careful with her" Seth said as they were cut off by a crash in the kitchen.
"Emily are you ok?" Jake asked as they walked into the room and saw Emily holding a leather bound book. 
"Yes. And I have an idea"
                          
Cliffhanger.
This is in honor of my self-porcalmed biggest fan, she made All-State for band and agreed to be my editor.