Not that far off -- June 1998

I felt odd coming here to visit Mr. Black without Lenni.  I mean... it was her dad.  But I had some things in the making... and I wish that I could actually go through with them.  But with Mr. Black still being in the coma, it wasn't going to happen.  I figured maybe talking to him might help.  I know that's what everyone kept doing... but it was worth a shot, right?  I waved at the receptionist -- which they all knew who we were by now -- and walked on by, not bothering ot sign in or anything.  She'd do that for us like she normally did.  I headed up towards his room and went to open the door.  I heard something inside and hesitated.  Maybe someone was there having a personal moment with him.  I thought no one would be there since the ladies were dress shopping... unless Dean had thought the same thing.  I mentally kicked myself.  So I decided I'd knock then open the door.  I didn't see anyone there.  "Huh... I had to have been hearing things from another room," I said to myself.

I smiled as I heard a voice, " no, you're not hearing things.." I said quietly. I had woken up in a hospital, " How long have I been here?" I asked him. I knew exactly who he was. He will be my son in law soon. I was there for that. I adjusted myself in my bed, " I feel like I have been sleeping forever." I said to him as I looked aroundd the room and saw flowers and photos and so many other trinkets. " I have been here for a while.."

I nearly screamed when I heard Mr. Black start talking.  I stayed frozen by the door just staring at him.  What the hell?  Was I dreaming?  What should I do?  Well, answer him you dummie, I told myself.  "It's been almost a year, give or take," I said, not sure what I should do.  I needed to get a hold of Ember.  Of a healer... someone had to know he was awake besides just me.  I really wanted to pinch myself or slap my cheek to see if I was dreaming.

Over a year..." Wow..... I see tons of photos here of Dean and Addison, I missed it huh...." I said looking around. I had to move around. Thankfully, I am assuming I was moved around. Because I was able to move my body around. " Everything still hurts..." I told him as I adjusted myself. He looked scared or something. I smiled, " Well, go tell someone I'm up." I prompted. George was just standing in the doorway. " Then come back." I said to him.

"But, sir... they're dress shopping," I told him.  I was told that if I interrupted that I would probably get killed.  That was my mother for you.  "I know they'd want to see you... but... well, I'm going to get a healer," I decided.  I felt like I was rambling... this was crazy!  Why was I the one who had to be here when he woke up?  It should be Ember, Dean, or Lenni... not me.  "I'll be right back.  Don't move."  I could see he was antsy or something.  Hell, I would be too if I had been down for a year.  I found a healer and told them what was going on.  I waited outside of the room while they did a quick exam of Mr. Black.  I walked back in.  "They're probably letting Ember know," I said, seeing them all scrambling outside the room.  I didn't want to leave him by himself; I didn't want to be blamed if he decided to try something he wasn't ready for unsupervised.

I nodded, as he left and then the healers came in surprised to see me up. I had all my normal reactions, nothing seemed off. Which is good, I mean I wouldn't want to be missing anything. I need to try to move. " Dress shopping....right..." I said figuring that there wedding should be coming soon. " How soon?" I asked him. I wanted to make sure I could be at her wedding. I felt terrible I missed Addison's and Dean's. I would need to make it to her's to give her away. " You are scared of them aren't you?" I asked him with a grin. " As far as I know they probably have all the women with them right?" I asked.

"September," I told him.  Then realizing that he probably didn't know what time of year it was, I added, "In a few months.  It's the beginning of June, by the way, of 1997."  I figured I'd at least be able to give him some bearings of what was going on.  "Dean and Addie's wedding was a couple weeks ago... I see they got their pictures back and have put quite a few up in here."  I loved the one that Professor Lupin and Mrs. Lupin had taken... they were side by side in a double frame of the two of them when they first saw each other.  I wanted pictures like that.

I smiled, looking around the room. It broke my heart I wasn't there for Dean's wedding. I had already a hard relationship with him. But I wanted to be there for him. I am glad I am here and he wasn't where I was sitting. So I was happy with that. " I am glad, you guys are getting married in September. " I said. " Lenni told you it was her favourite month?" I asked him. Silly I know, but it was her favourite season. " I remember taking her up to a trail and she loved all the colours. " I said, " Sorry I sound like a blabbering old man." I joked. I was still very sore. My body seemed to not recover as well being in a coma I guess does that. " I am glad to see those..." I gestured towards the first look.

I nodded.  I may as well get to why I had been here in the first place, right?  It just seemed like my plan may just work out.  "Yeah, she has told me.  And about the trip," I answered, sitting down in the chair by the bed.  "And sir, I don't think you'd recognize your son... I'm not meaning that in a bad way by any means; but I'm not super close with him and I noticed a big change in him since everything happened."  I only said that because I saw the look in Mr. Black's eyes when he gazed at Dean and Addie's wedding pictures.  "But, I want to get to the point before anyone else starts showing up... Lenni asked James to walk her down the aisle.  Now that you're awake... I know they probably won't want you to get out of here any time soon with your condition.  But I would like to try to surprise her and get you there to give her away.  I'd like it to be a surprise if we can manage it.  James said he thought that was a wonderful idea if you woke up.  And low and behold, here you are."  I hoped that I wasn't overwhelming him.

I grinned, " Apparently all it took was Prongs to say something." I said with a bark of a laugh. I nodded as he spoke. " I would love to do that....I agree with you. They won't let me do to much. I have been told I need assistance if I want to walk anywhere for the first little bit. I am still bruised and whatnot. " I went on. I don't like all this attention. It is the wrong attention.

I grinned.  I was so happy that my plans were all working out.  "I'm sure you have a lovely wife who won't leave your side that would give you all the help you'd need," I assured him.  I knew Ember was here for hours every day with him.  I couldn't help but wonder if he had heard anything any of us said to him.  "Can I ask you a personal question?" I asked.  It wouldn't hurt to ask, would it?  I was just curious.

" Of course." I said with a smile. I nodded, " Sure."  I saw no problem with it. " If it is about marks I can't help you Remus hides them."  I teased. I urged him to continue. " go ahead."

I laughed.  I would've appreciated that about a year ago when I was still in school.  "Well... there's always that great debate with people in comas.  Did you hear anything at all while you were out?"  I couldn't help but think that it would be interesting to know exactly.

I figured while hte girls were out that I would go visit Dad.  I felt bad to be here all the time when I was with Addie at home trying to get things all set in the apartment.  Kristy, the receptionist, waved me over.  She had a huge grin on her face and I smiled at her.  "Hey, looks like you're having a good day," I told her.

"Dean... there's news upstairs!  They're trying to get a hold of your family.  From what I've heard -- he's awake!" she said to me, nearly bouncing up and down.  And that's why she was my favorite receptionist here.  I grabbed her and gave her a kiss on the forehead and started off.  "Thanks, Kristy!" I called back, rushing to get to my dad's room.

I walked up to the door and saw that George was in there.  But then I saw my dad sitting up in his bed.  I opened the door and walked in.  I had been hoping this day would come but I had no idea what to even say.  And I also assumed that it would be Mum and Lenni here... not George.  I didn't really care, though.  George would be my brother soon enough, so It was appropriate he was here.  I almost didn't believe it when Kristy told me.  A smile spread across my lips.  "It's about damn time," I said, a slight chuckle escaping my lips.  I really hadn't necessarily meant for that to come out; I wanted to be sentimental or something... that apparently wasn't going to happen.

I turned towards the door, smiling. " I know....but it's me ... I like to make dramatic entrances." I said to my son as I looked to the other side of me where an empty chair was waiting. " You guys looked awesome." I said referring to the wedding photos. I hated not being there for his and being awake for Lenni's. " So, fill me in on everything...tell me your mother is eating..." I said I know Em and she would have completely forgotten about herself.