The Kennedy Random Legacy: November 2012

Dustin was looking forward to starting his new life in his new house.

Zariah had moved in with a girl she had met at design school they were planning on starting their own design business together. Dustin hit it off with Gloria right away.

One day when they Zariah and Gloria threw a small party he got to meet Gloria's kitten Gilbert.

Gloria good often be found spending the night over at Dustin's.
"I should really go home." Gloria said one morning.
"What if you never had to go home." Dustin said.
"What are you talking about?" Gloria asked.
"What if you moved in here. Your already over here all the time and I think it would be a good idea." Dustin said
Gloria didn't say a word she just kissed him. The next morning Gloria and Gilbert moved in.

Gloria had taken the day off from doing official remodels to try and build up her supply of handcrafted objects of put in her clients homes she always thought it added a nice personal touch.When Dustin came into the room.

"Hey Sweetie, did you need something?" Gloria said without looking up from her painting. Dustin didn't answer.

"Dustin?" When Gloria looked up she could see the tears steaming down Dustin's face. She held out her arms and Dustin pretty much fell into them and began to cry.

"Dustin, what happened why are you crying?" She knew he wasn't in any place to answer but she didn't know how to help unless she could find out what was wrong.

"My dad just called my mom passed away this morning." Dustin said through his tears.

"Oh, Dustin. I'm so sorry." Gloria knew there was nothing she could do for him except be there for him.

A few weeks passed and Gloria and Dustin's family continued to grow with furry children that is. They now owned 2 cats, 2 dogs and 2 horses. But, something was still not quite right and Gloria was determined to get to the bottom of it.

"Hey, Have you been feeling OK?" Gloria asked one night while her and Dustin were cuddling in bed.

"I've just been a little down about my mom. I'm feeling better though I'm sure I'll be fine soon." Dustin said. He knew he was lying but he didn't want to worry Gloria either.

"I think we should go see the doctor tomorrow. I'll take the day off of work so you don't have to go alone." Gloria said.

"You'll be fine. You heard what the doctor said. Your body is doing it's job of fighting off the infection. They caught it and you have medicine for it now. Sure you'll be dealing with it for the rest of your life but the doctor said as long as you keep taking your medicine you should live a long happy life."

"I love you Gloria." Dustin said.

"I love you too Dustin"

Dustin wanted so much to marry her but he knew she wanted to get a thriving and successful business going before she wanted to start a family. Dustin knew that he probably wouldn't die now that he had his medicine but there was still a part of him that knew that everyday he had from now on was a gift.

Despite his better judgement Dustin took Gloria out to a little secluded place in the park got down on one knee.
"Gloria I love you, we've been living together for a long time, lets make this official Gloria Olivia Crowley will you marry me?"
"Yes!", Gloria said, "Yes absolutely yes!"

Dustin really wished Gloria would start making more wedding plans but she always seamed to be working.

Gloria had been doing a lot more to prepare to then Dustin realized.

A few days later they were married in there backyard with just there family. Although they did go all out and hire a bartender and a DJ and they even rented a photo booth! It was the first time the family had been together since Heather's funeral it was nice to be together for such a happy occasion

They cut the wedding cake.

and spent the rest of the night dancing.

A few days after the wedding Gloria became an adult. They didn't have a big party because they had just had there wedding and decided to simply celebrate it together. Becoming an adult didn't feel as good as Gloria thought. She had reached the top of her career become a proficient painter had lots of pets and married a wonderful guy. It wasn't until they found out there cat Kathleen was expecting kittens that Gloria realized what it was she wanted.

She enacted her plan without telling Dustin what she was up to then one day....
"Sweetie, how would you feel about us having a baby." Gloria asked Dustin
"I would love to have a baby!" Dustin exclimed
"Good, because I'm pregnant!" Glloria said.
Dusting picked her up and gave her a big kiss.

Gloria still worked a lot although often the pictures she made were more for the baby's room.

Soon the couple welcomed their new son John Maurice Davis.

Mazwell died the same day as Dustin's birthday. They hadn't planned a party with the new baby in the house. But now they didn't feel like it anyway.

The next night night was John's birthday.

The following morning Gloria went back to work for the first time since John was born.
"You be good for your daddy today." She said when she said good bye to John before she left for work.

Dustin loved being a father!

Soon Dustin and Gloria were expecting another child.

Gloria started hanging the pictures of her family on the wall (at this point there mostly of John) as she looked at the pictures she realized just how much of John's childhood she manged to miss...She wasn't there when John said his first word, took his first steps... She had all these pictures but they weren't really memories for her.... She was determined to not let this happen with this baby.

The next morning over breakfast.
"Is everything Ok? You seam upset." Dustin started.
"I was just thinking about how much of John's life I missed working..." Gloria said.
"What are you tallking about? You haven't missed anything and you still have plenty of time with him." Dustin said.
"Yea but he's starting school which means he won't be around as much." Gloria said.
"I think your worrying to much." Dustin said.

Gloria went to the hospital for one of her last check ups before the baby was born. Unfortunately she had gotten some bad news. She knew she had been unusually hungry lately but she hadn't thought anything more of it then it being a side effect of her pregnancy. She wasn't sure what to do the doctors couldn't give her any medicine until after the baby was born the doctors told her she was getting weaker but as long as she took care of herself there was nothing to suggest that she or the baby couldn't survive until the baby was born without treatment. Her biggest dilemma though was telling Dustin. She knew he would blame himself if she told him the truth he would start blaming himself for making her sick for passing it on to her.

The next night Gloria went into labor.

Things quickly took a turn for the worst at the hospital. When the doctor came in he didn't have good news.
"I'm so sorry sir. Your wife is still week and asleep but after we get her strength up we should be able to give her medicine and make her better. I have no reason to believe that this will kill her as long as we can get her medicine soon."

"I wish I could have gotten us more..." Max said.
"We have a place where we can safely raise our baby what more do we need" Heather replied.

It wasn't long before Max started to doubt his decision to run away. He was glad the school gave them both lunch for free. They really could barely afford food. Heather's back was always hurting and suddenly Max was worried about being able to care for Heather and the baby.

Soon Heather and Max welcomed baby Mya Leslie. Max was worried about Heather before she had given birth Heather hadn't been feeling well. Both had been hoping it was just a result of her pregnancy but she seamed to be getting worse instead of better and now Max was starting to feel sick too.

Max finally caved and got a loan big enough for both of them to go to the doctor. After both of them returned they weren't happy with the news they got.
"Why are medical bills so expensive.... $15,00 for both of us... Where are we ever going to get the money?" Max said.
"The doctor said that everything will most likely go away on it's own..."
"But what about Mya... She's so little... What if she gets sick....I don't know how we are going to pay back the $1,000 we got for us to to just go see the doctor I don't know how will ever manage to come up $15,00..." Max said.
"Well I can tell you one thing worrying about this isn't helping you get any better. I'll be working full time at the hospital soon... Hopefully that will help some..."

"Birthday cake for Mya?" Max asked as he wrapped his arms around Heather.
"Yes", She said leaning back up against him, "I know we don't really have the money for it right now but It's her first birthday and I thought she deserved something. I was even able to come up with enough coupons to be able to buy everything to make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for dinner tonight." Heather said.
:Out first meal in our house! What an appropriate occasion!" Max said. "Well I was able to get something special for you today. Come outside with me."

When they walked on to the back porch Max got down on one knee.
"Max!" Heather said
"Heather I love you and I don't know why I waited even this long to do this. I wish I could give you a better ring then this... Heather will you marry me?" Max said.
"Oh Max, any ring from you is perfect!" Heather said

This day couldn't have been better for the family. Heather and Max getting engaged and Mya becoming a toddler.

The library became a favorite hang out spot for the little family. There were toys for Mya to play with and a place for Max and Heather to do homework.

Soon Mya was ready for a big girl bed. She knew there was no such thing as monsters that live under beds but she decided to make sure just in case.

The same day Max graduated from high school, Heather, Max and Mya went to the park where Heather and Max were finally married.

"Baby, you need to stop worrying so much or you'll make yourself sick too." Heather said as Max carried her off to bed.
"Shh Heather just be quiet... you know what the doctor said..." Max told his wife.
"Yes and so did you... He said the medicine should take in a few days maybe as early as tomorrow and I'l be fine. " Heather told him.
"He also said you need your rest."
"Max..."
"No! No talking! This is all my fault so you just rest and I'll just take care of everything." He said

"Daddy? Is mommy gonna be OK?" Mya asked as Max tucked her into bed that night.
"She'll be fine Mya I promise. Go to sleep now beautiful OK?" Max said leaning in to kiss her good night.

"What are you doing up?" Max said when he went back to his room to start getting better himself.
"Did she go to sleep OK?" Heather asked.
"She went to sleep fine.Now stop worrying and go to sleep."

By the next morning Heather was feeling much better.
"Mommy!!" Mya yelled as she came into the kitchen that morning "Are you all better?"
"Yes, Beautiful. I'm all better for now." Heather said.
"Daddy promised you would get better soon and you did!" Mya said.

That night Heather found Max sitting out on the front steps. She hadn't said more to him since the night before when she asked about Mya and there was on question burning on her mind the whole day.
"I know your still blaming yourself, That's why you're out here. But I just don't understand why..." Heather said sitting down behind him.
"Because every time you get sick... I'll have to worry about loosing you....I could have stooped everything if I had just borrowed the $15,000 from the bank.... But I didn't because I didn't want to think I couldn't take care of my family....Then you went and browned the $15,000 that we're still working to pay back...But it didn't make everything better... I'm still going to get sick from time to time and your still going to get sick from time to time... and I'm just so scared that we'll end up leaving Mya and our future children alone...."
"Max, I didn't want to borrow that money anymore then you did... I did it for Mya to try and keep her safe...Every time I go into to pay back some of that loan I wonder what I was thinking. But then I remember that your healthy and Mya is healthy and I realize that it's all worth it. We have each other and that's what is important besides you know that we will have plenty of time to save ourselves if we did ever get close to dying,,, We'd catch on fire, all we have to do is put ourselves out." Heather said.
"I knew there was a reason I married you." Max said.
"You worry an awful lot for someone who is not neurotic." Heather said with a laugh.

Mya had always been very shy but she had taken a liking to one of the boys in her class.

One morning Heather noticed that Max seamed a little upsetl.
"What's wrong honey" Heather asked.
"Did you see Mya last night with that Zebulon kid. "
"Yea I saw them when I got home from work. It was so cute that he wanted to walk her to the door."
"I don't trust him..."
"You only don't trust him because he's a boy showing interest in your daughter. But there just kids Max."
"But today is Mya's birthday where she'll become a teenager. And as I'm sure you'll remember it wasn't long after our teenage birthdays that Mya was born." Max said.
"Max, do you really regret anything we did?"
"No..." Max said.
"Then what are you worried about... Mya is a smart girl she'll make the decisions that are right for her. There is not a doubt in my mind that if she makes a bad decision she'll be able to handle the consequences."

A few days later Max got concerned about Heather. She hadn't been acting herself for a few days and he was worried she was getting sick again. When she woke up one morning she was looking particularly bad. Max ran up to her and pulled her into a hug. Heather laid her head on his chest.
"Are you OK?" Max asked.
"I'm OK I just haven't been sleeping well and I'm tired"
"I've noticed, but you haven't really been eating and you've been spending an awful lot of time in the bathroom. Are you sure you're feeling OK?" Max said
"I'm pregnant." Heather said.
" You're what!?!" Max said.
"I'm pregnant..."Heather said.
"Heather! I'm so excited!" Max said pulling her closer.

Max sold the house and pulled together all his money to build them a new house with more room.

Heather and Max were a little worried throughout this pregnancy. They remembered how rough Heather's pregnancy with Mya had been but this time went much smoother. It also turned out that Max had nothing to worry about with Zebulon he had started to date one of Maya's best friends Lashonda.

Soon the family welcomed a new little girl who they named Zariah Jade.

and a new little boy Dustin Porter.

Not long after the twins were born. Heather celebrated her adult birthday and she hadn't quite been herself ever since. Max the good husband that he was took care of her and patiently waited almost a week before she was ready to talk.
"I want to adopt a a baby." Heather said.
"You what?" Max said with shock on his face.
"I want to adopt a child... It's something I've wanted to do since I was a little girl... give a child a home and a family that didn't have one. Mya's almost graduated the twins are almost toddlers. I think it would be nice to have another child in the house." Heather stated.
"OK we can call and see if they have anyone for us tomorrow." Max said never one to not give his wife what she wanted.

Just as he promised Max called down to city hall.
"Of course we have kids looking to be adopted! We're so glad you called!" said the operator on the other line.
After talking to the adoption agent for a few hours Max had everything all worked out.

"So I called the adoption agency this afternoon." Maz started.
"Max there's something else I should have mentioned... If we are going to adopt a baby we need a bigger house. I want to move." Heather said.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." ,he said pulling her close, "So when I called the adoption agency today they said they would take care of everything and after we moved and were settled in I could call again and they would send a social worker over with our new child." Max said.

That night Max sat down with Mya for a pre-birthday tallk.
"Mya as you probably know your mother and I are planning to adopt another child. Because of this your mother and I want to move to a bigger house." Max said "I was wondering if you wanted to stay in this house while we go to the new house. We're not planning on moving till after your birthday you could stay here and start your young adult life here." It was the first time Max had herad himself tallk about his oldest daughters young adult birthday. Suddenly he felt kind of sad himself.
"Sure Dad! Thanks so much!" Mya said.