Chapter 9

Adam said while he and Anna were sitting in Alex's hospital room " she's got a lot of bruises and needs to stay awake in case of concosion," Alex replied, leaning on a patient bed after his injuries were handled "you'll ve to stay up with her, they gave me a lot of painkillers, I can barely open my eyes, you guys go home and watch a movie or something" Anna objected in a hurry " no way, I am only leaving with you " Adam put his hand on her shoulder in a comforting manner and said " Easy now , you need rest, and Alex is fine now besides he'll sleep till the morning, there is no need for you to stay, they'll send him home by morning " Anna shaked her head as a no , however she cried in pain " oww" Adam held her head in his hands and complained "see, you need to calm down before you hurt yourself " Alex finally spoke saying " Annaliz," Anna faced him and listened Calmally " I know you're a bit shaken, what happened was too much. " he smiled and stretched his arm to wipe the tear that escaped his little savior eye and continued saying ," Don't worry, I am OK now, Gorge is outside he'll stay with me, he's just waiting for you to leave to get in, you go with your brother, and tomorrow we'll leave together after your check up" Anna tried to object again " but dear broth..." Alex stopped her." No, but, I am too tired to keep arguing, and surely so are you, so please Annaliz..." Anna looked at him, dropping himself on the bed again and surrendering. She said, " OK. "

On their way out of the hospital, they ran to Sam and Michael, who had just come from the airport, Michael ran to Anna and held her and said, " How are you, auntie?" Anna held him back and replied, " I am fine, don't worry, buddy " After the hugs and greetings, Sam and Michael checked on Alex, who was already asleep, and they went home all together. The house, where Anna and Alex have been staying, belonged at first place to Alex and Julia, now that Alex gave up his share to his sister a long time ago, the house belongs to Anna and her brothers. Therefore, each one of them had a room in the two-floor house. Downstairs, there was a large living room decorated with a few coaches and a large dining room where they usually gathered to eat, at least one meal per day, that was Julia's rule, one of Julia's favorite furniture was the pictures desk as she named it. A small wooden table where pictures of all her kids were put there like a live album, besides that there was a lovely balcony where Anna loved to sit and enjoy the small garden views. There was also a large kitchen and a library where Adam set up an office to keep working. Upstairs, there were the boys' rooms in addition to Anna's and Alex's besides another room that Anna was not allowed to get in. There was Julia's room too, with an attached balcony to each room.

At the living room after finishing dinner, Anna, Sam, Adam, and Michael settled down facing the huge hanged plasma TV. Michael was the first to surrender to sleep, " That was fast," commented Sam, who was finishing his third cup of coffee. Anna laughed sweetly saying " Come on Sam, let the boy have some sleep, his too young to stay up all night " Sam pointed at his face and said dramatically "Look at that handsome tired face, ain't it too young to stay up to?" Anna laughed again while Adam, who was working on his laptop, rolled his eyes and slapped Sam at the back of his head, saying," You're hopeless. " Sam touched the slapped area and objected." Seriously, now I am hopeless!! That wasn't your opinion when you left me to babysit your little boy !" Adam looked up at him and turned to Anna whispering." Can't really say who was babysitting the other," Anna struggled, not to laugh, especially when Sam threw the cushion on Adam. After a good laugh, Sam threw himself on the armchair and closed his eyes " OK, that's enough, I'll call it a night, it's up to you eldest brother " Adam looked at Anna who was looking at Sam with a loving smile on her face. Adam could easily understand her, he himself could feel the warmth in his heart for them to be gathered like that, it had been ages since that happened in this house, it, actually, was the first time since Julia's death. "This house," he thought, he looked up to the pictures desk, there were some empty spaces, he could remember the pictures that used to be there a couple of which were for them all with Julia and another for Anna with someone else, someone she still has no idea who he really was. He remembered when they were leaving the hospital, Anna walked Michael to the WC, he and Sam were waiting outside Alex's room, when Alan showed up, Sam hugged him pathing his back, but Alan stayed frozen even when Sam gently pushed him away to ask how he was doing Alan stared at him coldly and simply asked " how is she?" Sam shaked his head in despair and sat back, while Adam answered " she's good, no worries " Alan nodded a yes and left silently like he came. Anna's voice got Adam back to reality, " big brother, you look beaten, it is OK, you can go to sleep too,it would be morning by the time the movie is over, don't worry I won't sleep" Adam closed his laptop put it on the table and went to sit next to Anna , he kissed her forehead and said while putting his arm around her shoulder " I liked the movie, I wanna see the ending too " Anna smiled to him and watched her movie hoping for the morning to come soon.