I'm With You

Chapter 19

Days slowly passed them by and Miguel got into a new routine, staying with Eira and Mackenzie until it was late and then he'd head to Donna and Lauren's house and spend some time with them before he'd head home to get some sleep. Mackenzie was slowly getting better and she was able to get out of bed and walk around, feeling almost back to her regular self and it was clear to him that the two sisters were extremely close. He tried to convince them to sleep in the beds, but he gave up after the third day in a row, he found the duvets and blanket on the floor from where they'd slept. He knew it would take a long time for them to adjust to sleeping in beds after all they'd been through, after so long of sleeping on the streets. Miguel spent most of his time with Eira since as Mackenzie was often tired and resting by the time he got to them late after his shift at the hospital, but even when Mackenzie was awake he learned to not ask them any questions that were too personal. They hadn't told him anything new about themselves, but he could understand why they were so guarded. It was hard for them to trust anybody after all they'd been through on the streets from such a young age, especially Mackenzie. It had only been five days since he first met the two sisters, but he knew he was a changed man than who he was before. He offered help to the homeless people he passed on the street when he was running errands, buying them food and a bottle of water instead of giving them money. He made a donation box for the ER reception desk for Wendy's charity and although it wasn't making a lot of money, the couple of dollars they got a day was better than nothing.

Miguel let himself into Lauren and Donna's house, letting himself drop down onto the couch and he leaned his head on Lauren's shoulder."I'm tired." He complained, making the two women laugh.

"I'm not surprised. When do you sleep now?" Donna teased.

"On my breaks at work, it feels like," Miguel mumbled, making them laugh again.

"You want something to eat?" Lauren asked and Donna got up to get him some leftovers when he nodded. "Your Mom and Dad are getting worried, you know - that you're working yourself too hard."

"I'm fine... I can't let Eira or Mackenzie down, they mean a lot to me now. They're getting more comfortable with me." Miguel said, sitting upright as Donna came back into the room with a plate overflowing with pasta and he practically moaned as he took his first bite. "Thank you."

"You're welcome - someone's gotta make sure you eat since as you're too focused on getting the girls to eat," Donna said, sitting in her usual armchair and she turned down the TV so they could focus on a conversation.

"They're getting their strength back! Their levels are normalizing, which is a relief." Miguel said, shoveling another forkful of pasta into his mouth.

"But doesn't that mean they'll have to leave the shelter?" Donna asked and Miguel sighed, shaking his head slowly.

"I know they will... I'm just worried that the same thing will happen again, or worse." Miguel admitted.

"Maybe you can... ask around at the hospital? I'm sure they could use cleaners or kitchen staff, porters? It'd be a job." Lauren suggested.

"They need an address for a bank account to pay their wages into, they need an address to even fill in the applications... it's just like they're stuck in this endless cycle and I have no idea how to help them anymore." Miguel said honestly.

"I don't even know what to suggest," Lauren said softly.

"Sounds to me like someone is in love!" Donna teased, smirking at Miguel and Donna laughed as Miguel just threw a pillow at her from the couch.

"Okay! Before you break something!" Lauren intervened before Donna could throw the same pillow back and she shared a small smile with her girlfriend - a nervous smile, before she turned back to Miguel. "We kinda wanted to ask you something," Lauren said and Miguel's eyebrows creased in confusion.

"Oh, yeah?" Miguel asked, eating another forkful of pasta.

"We've been looking into options for us starting a family together." Lauren said and Miguel's eyes widened.

"I'm not being a sperm donor," Miguel said immediately, flinching when Donna threw the pillow at him.

"Good! Because we don't want you to be a sperm donor!" Donna exclaimed. "Miguel, we want to adopt... we want you to be the one to recommend us, to write something nice about us as Moms." Donna said, for once her tone serious and even nervous for her brother's reaction and Miguel grinned.

"You don't even have to ask. Of course, I'll do that! Give me the forms, I'll do it now." Miguel ordered and Donna grinned, Lauren matching the same wide smile as she rushed to find the adoption paperwork.

"You are in love with that Eira girl, though," Donna smirked and Miguel rolled his eyes, ignoring her entirely as Lauren came back, thrusting him the papers.