Hi, I'm back. I know it's been about four months since the last update, and I really don't have a valid excuse. I had a tricky adjustment to college and really needed a break for my mental health and personal life, which is all better now, soo, yeah. Here's the next chapter, sorry it's so dry in comparison to what's coming later, and I know I have kept you waiting, but stick with it, I've got a good ending in mind for this story. Thanks for everyone who's stuck around this long! (Plus followers and favourites are in the 90's what the frick?! Thank you guys so much!) Enjoy the chapter :)

Oh, and I put up new cover art for this story, it should be visible, but this site really f*cks around with image quality, so the actual full picture is on my fanart Instagram: steampunkwilson if anybody wants to view it in full.

"So anyway, then I said to David, you'd better to be ready to clean up after Apollo 11 goes off in there!" Space Kid was bouncing up and down in his bed with the excitement of telling the story to his parents and sister. As usual, they all seemed very disinterested in his storytelling, but at least he seemed happy doing it.

Dolph gave a small sigh as he watched his fellow patient and his family interact. It was at times like these that he couldn't help but miss his own parents. Even if his father was oppressive and dismissive of his true passions, he still missed the dynamic they had built for themselves. His father would come home after Dolph was done with his schooling for the day (and put away his art supplies) and they would eat dinner and talk about his father's day. Despite his age, Dolph was fascinated by all the stories of war and military taining, even if they scared him a little.

Everyone around the ward looked like they were having a pretty good time with their parents, or at least each other. Ered, Nikki and Neil were hanging out in her corner of the ward, Harrison was talking to Nerris's parents, with her sitting on the edge of his bed, Nurf's sister had come by for a visit. The only one who didn't seem to be enjoying themselves was Max, but he never really enjoyed himself anyway.

Dolph looked towards the door lazily, wanting to get up and go somewhere. He was bored, but due to his recent injury, he had to stay put.

Then someone came through the door, someone who looked confused an concerned, someone who certainly hadn't been here before. Most people who looked up when she came in looked away pretty much instantly. Space Kid glanced up and stopped telling his story for a second.

"Who's she?" He asked aloud. As usual, new visitors and no new patients were a sort of a novelty among the residents of Children's Ward 1.

Dolph examined this woman with a frown. She was familiar somehow-

He gasped.

"Mama!" He exclaimed, sitting bolt upright from his usual slouch. He spoke so loudly that Harrison, Nerris and her parents looked round, as did Space Kid's ensemble. The woman's eyes sought him out, widened, an her face broke into a smile.

"Dolph?" She said softly, coming closer. "My, my little boy, you're so..." Without warning, she darted forwards and hugged him, way tighter than what Dolph was used to, but this was his mother! He hadn't seen her in person in over a year! Dolph clung to her tightly, until the pain became too much for his mid-section.

"Mama, ouch, you're hurting-" She let go almost as quickly as she had latched onto him.

"I'm sorry Dolph." She said hurridly. "I just... I couldn't wait to see you again, I, your father, he called me as soon as he realised that maybe you'd be-"

"Papa?" Dolph said. "He called you? He knows you're here?" She nodded quickly, taking a seat next to his bed.

"Yes." She gave a soft, but nervous smile. "He's had my number for a while, for emergencies, and he told me that you were in the hospital, and I would have come sooner, if I had, well I had a lot of things going on and, when he told me about your fight-"

Dolph looked down at his bedclothes, blushing slightly.

"He told you about that too?" He asked in a quiet voice. He had tried to play it off as cool in front of the other kids in the party, but deep down, Dolph had been quite ashamed of himself, yelling at his father like that. He knew what he had told him was true, what he really felt, but he also knew his father shouldn't have to know things like that. It wasn't Dolph's place to disobey his orders, even if he loved painting more than other 'manly' things.

"He did." His mother confirmed for him in a quiet voice. "We spoke for a long time and... decided on something new, which we think might be best for you." Dolph frowned as his mother spoke. "We decided that... how would you like to live with me, Dolph? Rather than the army base?" She gave a small, hesitant sigh. "I know that I haven't really been, around for a while, just on the phone and then, I wasn't, but I had things, problems and I... I needed to figure things out, Dolph, but I'm ready now, I'm ready to... be your mother again." She looked down at him, a hopeful smile on her face.

Dolph frowned. He did miss his mother, constantly, and he was so glad to see her again, but after so long, could he really just accept her? As his mother again?

"Why?" He said in a soft voice, frowning slightly. His mother looked at him and he looked up at her. "Why now, after so long? I get that you... needed time, but why didn't you call me? I had to suffer through life there, so alone with no other people my age, through Papa constantly condemning my art, he even broke the easel you gave me, and all it took for anyone to notice me, what I was going through, was being shot!" He clenched his small hands into fists, nails digging into his palms. "I was in pain, not just because of the bullet! Because... because I finally knew what other kids were like. What they had been doing while I was shut up in a military base with books and paints for company! It hurt to know, what I had missed out on!"

Dolph breathed out harshly, overwhelmed by everything he had said. He had known that he was unhappy living with his father, but his mother didn't deserve to know everything he thought of his lifestyle.

After a long pause, Dolph felt a brief touch on his shoulder, a hand. It was his mother, and she looked upset. He sighed.

"Sorry Mama. I shouldn't have said things like that."

She gave him a soft smile.

"No, you're right Dolph. You're allowed to not... be happy, I know that better than most, but... you deserve to know the truth." She sighed. "You're my son too." She smiled down at him. "You know your father and I aren't, exactly together anymore, don't you?"

Dolph nodded, not exactly liking where this was going.

"Well, while I was... in rehabilitation, I met someone, well, lots of people, but there was one particular someone. I really like him and..." She looked away from her son for a second. "Dolph, you're going to have a step father. And... a new brother, or sister."

She looked quickly towards him to check his reaction.

Dolph felt himself stiffen all over, but he wasn't sure why. He knew that his parents weren't exactly married anymore, he wasn't sure if they'd filed for a divorce or anything like that, but his mother had made it clear that she couldn't be with his father. And he had accepted that. But now, another family that he could be a part of? Dolph was tired of having to hide his art, hide who he really was. He was ready for some change in his routine after he left the hospital, whenever that was.

"OK." He said, and looked up at his mother with a smile.

"What?"

"I said OK, I'll live with you and... whoever this new man is. And the new baby. I could try be a good older brother." His mother's face broke into a relieved smile.

"Thank you Dolph." She said brightly. "I'm so glad, I've missed being a part of your life!" She glanced towards the sketchbook which was sticking out from underneath Dolph's pillow. "Now, I want to see what drawings you've been able to do while I was gone." Dolph blushed slightly, no-one ever asked to see his artwork. He reached for the book.

"Well, this I did on my first day in the hospital, so it's a little wonky, but you can see the shading work..."

...

For David, visiting day was one of his favourite days of the week. The kids got a nice change of pace from each other's company, parents often brought gifts. Even kids whose parents didn't show up could have a nice time hanging out with their friends. David glanced over all the kids who were laughing and chatting. Everyone was enjoying themselves. Everyone except...

One kid all lonely and left out.

Oh Max...

David gestured to Gwen to take over keeping an eye on things, and she nodded back at him, going to chat to Nikki's mother. David slowly and subtly headed over to the window side of the ward where Max was slouched against the windowpane.

"Hey Max." David said as he approached. Max glanced up and frowned.

"Oh it's you." He muttered. David sighed and sat down next to him. Max shifted away, and David didn't copy.

"Why the long face Max?" David asked with his trademark smile. "You go home tomorrow, remember? No more injections!"

"Yeah, that's cool I guess." Max muttered. "Just leave me alone David. I'm fine."

"You don't look so fine to me, Max." David glanced towards Nikki and Neil, who were still chatting with Ered a few feet away. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Max looking too, but the ten year old looked away the moment David glanced back at him.

"You know, Max. I'm so glad that you made such awesome friends here at Campbell Hospital! Lots of kids come here looking for treatment, and leave with a new best friend for life! Just look at Harrison and Nerris, they found each other and now he's considering staying with them for a while! They know how much they mean to each other, and just because you're leaving doesn't mean that you have to leave your friends behind, you know." He smiled down at Max, who shrugged, rubbing his elbows. His bandages were ready to come off now, but the short sleeve pyjamas Max had to wear seemed to make him want to keep them on. David had a faint idea why.

"Are you ready to leave yet, Max?" He asked, his tone becoming slightly more serious. "I don't want to see you leave your friends on such bad terms!"

Max scowled.

"Fuck off David!" He snapped. "Like I saic, I'm fine, I don't need friends, I don't need you, I don't need this shit hospital! Just go back to your dumb office and sign my paperwork so I can leave already! Leave me the fuck alone!" He stood up and marched across the ward to his bed, and jumped onto it, lying on his back and glaring at the celling. David sighed, and with a quick smile in Nikki and Neil's direction, hurried off to his office. Gwen watched him go, and with a quick excuse towards Nikki's mother, followed him in.

"What was that about?" She asked. David was standing in the middle of the room, breathing deeply. He didn't reply, but went straight to the record book lying on the now spotless desk, and opened it. "David? What's Max upset about?"

"Nothing Gwen." David said quickly. "He's fine, I just... I need to sort something out." He traced the pages of the book with his finger, muttering to himself. "No, no, not... Ah-ha! Found it!" He shut the book and went over to his bunk, grabbing a fleece and removing his doctor's coat. "Hold down the fort for me, Gwen, I have an errand to run!"

"David, you're on the clock!"

"I haven't had a day off in months, Gwen, nobody will notice or care if I'm gone for a few hours! Remember to give the kids their lunch!" He threw on his fleece and exited the office at a brisk pace.

Gwen was left, looking at the crumpled doctor's coat that David had always worn with such pride. She picked it up and smoothed it out, removing the nametag and placing it on the desk.

"So this is what it feels like to be the level headed nurse." She muttered to herself. "David, I hope you know what you're doing!"

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, the next one will have a revelation that most people have probably been waiting for, so I'll have that out as soon as I can.