One Hundred And One Sleepless Nights

I don't like talking to Vic. I doubt he likes talking to me either. He has Polly now. I think he feels guilty, as he should after what he's done. But he's finally allowed me to pick Alex up from school and bring her to my apartment for dinner. I've been excited for days. I actually get to pick her up! Even if Vic did have to send a letter into the school allowing it all.
I walked into the school gates and stood with the other moms. They were all giving me horrible looks so I'm assuming they knew. Of course they did. I bet Polly made an announcement in the school newsletter.
"Mommy!" Alex yelled. I looked up and saw her running towards me. I grinned and wrapped my arms around her. She was clinging to me and pressed a huge kiss to my lips. I smiled and kissed her on her head. "I miss you lots!" she told me.
"I miss you too," I told her. I took her bag and held Alex's hand with my free hand. "You know who else missed you?" I teased.
"Who?"
"Theo." I watched as her eyes grew wide. She smiled big and started to walk faster, pulling me to my car. I laughed and got her inside before I went to the drivers side and started up the car.
I drove back to my apartment and parked up. I got Alex out and she practically ran inside. I let her in and she was immediately searching for poor Theo.
"I got you!" Alex declared and I watched her grip him around the middle and place a kiss on his nose.
"Sit down and I'll make a snack." I told her. Alex sat at the table, while stupid Theo was sat curled up on the chair next to her. I think he missed her.
I went about making some sandwiches and drinks. I set a plate down in front of Alex and she started eating.
"These are better than Daddy's." Alex told me.
"Good," I smiled. "So, how was school?"
"I have a boyfriend now!" she told me proudly.
"A boyfriend, huh?" I raised my eyebrows.
"Yeah, his name is Roy." There's no way in hell I'm having a son-in-law called Roy.
"Looks like you're turning into a woman now. Has he kissed you yet?"
"Yeah..." she nodded excitedly. She gestured for me to come forward and I did. "On the cheek." Alex admitted in hushed tones. I laughed and took a bite of my sandwich. "Mommy?"
"Yes, babe?" I asked.
"You know monkeys?"
"Not personally." I replied.
"Are they hairy?"
"Hairy?" I echoed. "I suppose so. Why?"
"Uncle Mike and Uncle Jaime and Uncle Tony and Uncle Mike's special friend that helps him with the banging-"
"Casey?" I asked.
"Yeah, Casey. They were at Daddy's and they were drinking lots of beer."
"Was Daddy drinking lots?" I asked curiously.
"The most," Alex nodded. "And the Uncle Mike said Aunt Laura has a nice pair. But I didn't get it 'cause a pair is two. Then Daddy said Polly is a real hairy monkey. And I didn't get it. So I asked and he said it was a grown up joke." Alex rambled. I sat back and thought. Then it clicked. I'll kill Vic. I will actually murder him. Now I have a mental image... Ew.
"Did Daddy say anything else?" I asked innocently.
"I heard Daddy and Polly shouting last night. It was loud so I went to play in my room and hide."
"What were they shouting about?"
"I don't know." Alex shrugged her shoulders.
"Did you ask?"
"Yeah," she nodded. "But they wouldn't tell me. Polly said they never yelled but I heard. Daddy was looking really icky too."
"What do you mean icky?"
"Like when I don't pick my toys up or when I touch all the clothes lots at the mall." That look isn't icky sweetheart, it's Daddy being pissed off.
"He's probably just being silly. Your Daddy is always being silly." I smiled.
"Maybe he's mad at me."
"He's not, I promise," I kissed her cheek. "Now finish your sandwich." I urged.

The next week I was booked for a shoot. I was here on my own this time. It was a very dramatic shoot, pretty heavy on the dark make up and hairspray. The camera was pointing towards me with the lights almost blinding me. I turned to pose and heard my phone ringing. I widened my eyes at one of the guys at the side and they nodded. I changed pose as they answered.
But the guy came over. He walked on set and the photographer put his camera down. "What?" the photographer sighed.
"I think you should get this, Zandra." he said anxiously. I nodded and took my phone. I tilted it so it wasn't messing up my hair.
"Yeah?" I asked.
"Zandra..." they rushed.
"Polly?" I widened my eyes.
"Yeah, I'm sorry. I didn't know who else to call. I need you, she needs you."
"What's wrong?"
"It's Alex." she cried down the phone.
"What?" I asked urgently.
"You need to come to the hospital," she sniffed. "I have to go." she rushed and hung up. I tried calling her again but I got nothing.
"I need to go," I muttered. "I need to go." I repeated stronger.
"We're in the middle of the shoot." the photographer said.
"I'm sorry. My daughter... She's in hospital." I rushed and saw sympathy wash over his face.
"I... I think we got the shot." he told me.
"Thank you." I smiled.
I went off set and changed back into my normal clothes. I got my things together and left after saying a quick goodbye. I started towards my car and once I was inside I hurried out onto the main roads. I drove quick and fast, trying to get there.
When I arrived I parked up. I practically ran inside and up to the children's ward. They let me inside and directed me to her room. I peered inside and gasped. I saw Alex laying unconscious with an IV in her arm and an oxygen mask on her tiny face. I brought a hand to my mouth and a sob wracked my chest.
"Zandra." Polly said, I didn't even notice her until she spoke. She was sitting at Alex's side. I could tell from her red eyes she'd been crying. But I didn't care, all that mattered was my baby.
"What happened?" I asked through tears. I went to Alex's side and took her hand. I leant down to kiss her cheek and kissed her face over and over again to try and make her better.
"Ms Fuentes?" someone asked. I looked around and saw a doctor walking inside the room. He came over to Alex and started writing on the chart at the end of her bed.
"No, but I'm her mom." I managed to get out.
"I've been looking after Alexandria. I'm Dr Shaw," he introduced himself. "Is there anything she could have had a reaction too?" he asked.
"A reaction?" I echoed.
"Her throat and face are all swelling. It wouldn't be a problem accept because of the severity of the swelling it's starting to put pressure on her airways and make it difficult for her to breathe." Dr Shaw explained.
"She had some candy," Polly suddenly said. "She said Zandra never gives it to her. I thought it'd be special." she said before she broke down again. Polly started crying hard and I went over I patted her back before taking my hand away. I don't like crying people. A crying Polly is worse.
"Alex can't have candy. She has an allergy to all of the adjectives in it." I explained calmly.
I was surprised by how calm I was actually being. I know it was Polly's fault. I knew deep down that I should be angry with her. This was a perfect excuse to unleash on her. But I didn't. I couldn't. I knew she wouldn't never purposely make Alex sick. As much as I didn't want to admit it, she loves Alex. I know she really loves her. I can't run around blaming everyone, Alex needs me too much. When you see your daughter lying on a hospital bed with needles and tubes sticking out of her you lose all your hate. You become whole and pure. You will do anything to make them better.
"I'll get an IV ready. That way she will hopefully be awake and ready soon." Dr Shaw told us.
"Thank you." I smiled. He left us and I heard a cry from beside me. Not again.
"I'm sorry!" Polly exclaimed through tears. "It's all my fault!"
"It's okay," I muttered, going to take Alex's arm. "You didn't know." I added.
A nurse came in and switched Alex's IV. I watched as the solution started to travel into her little arm and through her blood system. I kissed her hair and pulled away to see Polly crying again. I'm trying to ignore the wails.
I heard running footsteps and saw the door being flung open. Vic walked in and ran to Alex. He took her hand and looked up to me urgently. "Is she okay? What happened, Zee?" Vic rushed.
"She'll be fine. She's having something to get her better. She had some candy that Polly gave her and had a reaction." I explained.
Vic relaxed for a second before he tensed again. He glared across at Polly who was still crying. "You gave her candy?!" he spat. "What the hell do you think you're doing giving her candy?!"
"I didn't know!" Polly sobbed.
"Didn't know..." he mocked.
"I didn't."
"Vic, I think she didn't know. She'd never mean to hurt Alex." I tried.
"But I told her! I fucking told her!"
"Maybe you just thought you did-"
"No, I fucking told her!" Vic fumed.
"Stop!" I warned.
"No-"
"Outside, now!" I snapped. Vic sighed loudly before he stormed out of the room like a toddler. "Watch Alex?" I asked Polly and she simply nodded, looking absolutely dumbfounded as told why I'm not shouting at her and letting her be in the same room as Alex. I walked out into the corridor and faced Vic. "You have to calm down." I told him.
"But she knew!"
"Okay, I'm not saying she didn't. But you need to take a deep breath and calm down."
"Zee-"
"No, I'm not having Alex waking up with you being so worked up. If you can't calm down then you can't go back in." I said. Vic looked at the floor for a while and took deep breaths. He nodded to me and I let him back inside the room. We walked over to Alex's bed and Vic tucked some of her hair behind her ear.
"Shall I-" Polly tried.
"Just go home." Vic told her. She sighed and nodded to us. Then without another word Polly left the room.
"That was harsh." I commented.
"Yeah, but so is an IV in your arm." he shot back.
"I'm not getting into this with you." I shook my head.
"Zee," Vic muttered after a while. I looked up at him and tilted my head to one side. "When Alex is awake and ready to go home she's going with you. If I hadn't gotten custody then none of this would have happened."
"This isn't your fault, Vic." I sighed.
"No, it is. Zee, you need to have Alex. I wouldn't even be surprised if you didn't let me see her after this. I wouldn't... I'm sorry. I'm really sorry." Vic told me sincerely.
"Thank you." I told him.
"What happened?" I heard a little voice ask. We both looked down and saw Alex was awake now. I took my oxygen mask from her face and smiled down at her.
"You got a little bit sick, sweetheart," I said gently. "But the doctors are making you all better."
"Is it like Roy?" she asked.
"Who's Roy?" Vic asked, relief in his voice.
"Her boyfriend." I told him.
"Boyfriend." he narrowed his eyes.
"He had to have the doctor take away the tinsel in his mouth." Alex said.
"Tonsils." I corrected her.
"He has them in a jar in his basement."
"Really?" Vic said lightly. "I'll have to meet this boyfriend."
"Don't." I rolled my eyes.
"Baby, when you're all better you'll be going home with your mom for good now. Not to my apartment." Vic told her.
"Why?" Alex asked, a smile on her face.
"Because Mommy's is where your home is. Home is where your princess bed is and a princess needs to sleep in her princess bed." Vic told her easily, the words rolling off of his tongue.

Notes

Hey! What did you think? I'm expecting the Polly hate. But for every bad thing you say about her I want you to try and think of one good thing about her. Why didn't Zee get mad? Are you happy she'll be home with Zee? :)