Don't Stand By Me (COMPLETE) - Chapter 41: Chapter 41

CASSIE AND KIARA
Year One
I sat silently perched in the still hospital chair as everyone fussed over her. I refused to acknowledge any of them, my gaze trained on her. Since the moment she had been dragged from my arms by paramedics, I hadn't said a word, or cracked a smile. There seemed to be no point. Everyone tried to be comforting, but it fell on deaf ears. They all had each other, their other halves, while mine was unconscious and unmoving in a hospital bed for the better part of two weeks. A medically induced coma is what they told me while I had stared blankly. They had done it to give her body and brain a chance to repair itself from the damage done by Richard.
It made complete sense, but I didn't like it. Most of the time, I sat in silence with Kiara and her elderly roommate who was asleep for most of the day, only waking at night demanding his pudding. I had tried to speak to him a few times but he brushed me off, muttering curses under his breath. So I gave up, sitting in silence with Kiara or quietly regaling the events of the days that had passed to her, about Elvis and Dixon's big move, about Pearl's readjusting to society and Brent being dragged along for the ride.
Dixon had tried for the last four days to drag me from the chair, to bring me anywhere to cheer me up. I would have a quick shower, change my clothes and demand to be brought right back. No amount of mini-golfing or movie trips would drag me from her side for more than an hour. Elvis and Violet accompanied me most days, when not preparing for their futures. I was happy for them, planning theirs, but at the same time it hurt, knowing that there was a possibility Kiara wouldn't have one.
"Cassie."
I ignored it, murmuring close to Kiara's ear, "Tesoro...torna da me."
"Cassie."
"Cassie!" A hand smacked my back roughly, causing me to jolt in my seat, yanking Kiara's hand where it had been intertwined in mine.
"What?" I snapped, turning around to glare at the intruder.
Elvis stood there, arms folded and watching me with sad, pitying eyes. I looked away with a scoff, I refused to let him pity me. I ignored Old Dude, as I had dubbed him, as he was surprisingly awake, grumbling about the soap opera playing on the tiny tv perched on the wall.
"Sitting by her side day and night isn't good for you." He said softly, "You know she wouldn't want you to be like this."
"She'd call me whipped." I muttered, causing Elvis to snort lightly.
"Exactly, and she has enough ammunition as it is. Why don't we get some food - in the cafeteria!" He spoke quickly as I opened my mouth to interrupt, "A quick trip, thirty minutes max."
I glanced between him and Kiara, smoothing out the lines on her forehead gently. Eventually I nodded, my gaze still trained on Kiara's sleeping face.
"I miss her." I sighed, "So much. I never even got to tell her that I-'' My voice cracked, unable to finish my sentence.
"She'll come back." Elvis held out a hand, which I took and allowed him to pull me to my feet, "Come on, I'll buy you a pudding."
I looked at Kiara once more as we left the room, smiling softly as her brow was no longer furrowed, instead leaving a serene look on her face. We left the room, closing the door softly behind us and walking to the cafeteria in comfortable silence. Elvis, true to his word, bought me a pudding and a coffee before pushing me to sit at the picnic table style seating in the cafeteria. The seats were just as uncomfortable as the one by Kiara's bedside that I had come to know so well the last few days.
"She's going to wake up, you know." Elvis said carefully, stirring his coffee and keeping his gaze trained on me, attempting to meet my eyes, "She's strong."
"I thought I was strong." I muttered, spooning some pudding into my mouth, "I thought I could do this but...if she doesn't come back I don't know what I'm going to do. She's...everything." I sniffed, "How is that even possible? In such a short time?"
"I don't know." He shrugged, "But I feel the same. Did Dixon tell you he's moving to France with me?"
"He did." I smiled softly, "When are you leaving?"
"We're trying to stay as long as possible but they need me over there by the end of the month. I've been hoping..."
"That she'll wake up before then." I supplied when he grew silent, "I hope so. I was looking forward to bringing her to meet my grandmother."
"And you will get to." He said firmly, taking a long sip of his coffee, "I have faith in her."
Once he noticed my eyes repeatedly shifting to the cafeteria door he rolled his eyes fondly, standing up and offering his hand once more. I took it with a shaky smile, walking hand in hand into the hallway.
"Code blue, we need a crash card room 43-C."
"43-C, that's Kiara!" I gasped, tugging on Elvis' hand urgently as the man paled.
I used our intertwined hands to drag us quickly through the hallways, apologising furiously as I kept accidentally bumping into staff who found themselves in my path. My mind was whirling as the sound of a monitor flatlining suddenly sounded through the halls.
"No!" I sobbed as we reached the doorway, sinking to my knees at the sight of multiple nurses crowding the room, blocking the doorway. The sound of frantic beeping slowed into silence as the nurses turned off the monitor. Elvis' arms wrapped around me tightly as we stood, unable to see into the room as the nurses flocked around. I sobbed into his chest, gripping his shirt tightly in my fists as my shoulders violently shook.
"What is wrong with you two?"
My head shot up, whirling around to the source of the sound. The nurses began to clear from the room, speaking quietly amongst each other. And then I saw her. Kiara lay in her bed, frowning at us and casting awkward side glances to the bed next to her where Old Dude lay, blanket pulled up over his head.
"Stop looking at me like that." She grumbled, "I know I look like shit but this is hardly nice."
"Y-you're alive." I breathed, releasing Elvis and taking a tentative step towards her.
She grimaced, tilting her head, "Of course I am. Why are you looking at me like that? What happened?" She looked to the bed next to her, "Ohhhh. My bad. Sorry."
I shook my head in disbelief, stepping forward and cupping her cheek gingerly, wary of her injuries. Her eyes softened as she looked at me, nuzzling into my hand gently.
"Hi." She smiled, "What did I miss?"
"I love you." I beamed.
"Oh." Her mouth fell open, eyes wide and shining, "That's pretty big."
"The biggest." I murmured, leaning in and kissing her, finally feeling like I was coming home.
"And you've lost me. Find me later." Elvis mocked, and we broke apart with a giggle.
I stared into her eyes, shaking my head and kissing her gently once more.
"Welcome home." I said softly, "You lived so...you're stuck by my side now. Forever."
"Good." She smiled, voice hoarse, "There's nowhere else I'd rather be."
DIXON AND ELVIS
Year five
"I am never letting you plan an engagement party ever again." I sighed, closing our apartment door gently, shrugging off my suit jacket and rolling my sleeves up to my elbows.
I gently touched the portrait framed by the front door and gave it a gentle smile. It was nice to be back in New York, as much as we had loved our time in France. Violet and Fitz had finally decided to move in together six months ago and graciously offered us their old apartment until we found somewhere more permanent, which turned out to be Elvis' college apartment. I'd often tease him about the 'sex ghosts' lingering in the walls from his college days, to which he'd roll his eyes; his favourite thing to do.
"That's hardly fair!" Elvis rolled his eyes, "It was a lovely day!"
"El, three of the girls burst into tears."
"It's not my fault they're shit at poker. Grow up - children can play poker."
I snorted out a laugh, reaching into the cabinet and pulling out a bottle of wine, unscrewing the cap and pouring it into two glasses. I handed one to Elvis with a soft smile that he begrudgingly returned, taking the glass from me and taking a small sip. The past five years had been an absolute whirlwind to say the least; travel, work, family and friends, it had gone in the blink of an eye.
"Hey, what's going on in there?" Elvis moved to my side, tapping my temple gently.
"Reminiscing." I beamed, gesturing my head to the side.
Elvis smiled in return and nodded, beginning to lead the way to the fire escape. We climbed the ladder one handed, carefully balancing our glasses of wine, before placing them down and flopping onto our backs, staring up at the night sky, partially covered by bright lights and skyscrapers. The remnants of the brightest stars peeked through, twinkling down at us. I relished the feeling of the cool air whipping across my skin.
"I can't believe they're getting married." I snickered, curling into his side, "Can you imagine Violet as someone's wife?"
"No." He snorted, "She was the last person I ever expected to get married."
"At least it's not to Brent."
"True."
We lay in comfortable silence as the city blared beneath us, content to just be.
"Hey, D?"
"Yeah?"
"Do you regret anything?"
"That's a loaded question." I chuckled nervously, keeping my gaze trained on the night sky.
"About us?"
"No." I answered immediately, "I wouldn't change a single thing that happened between us over the years."
"Even The Fight."
"Even that."
'The Fight' as we so unaffectionately called it, had occurred during our two year anniversary while we had been living together in France. I couldn't even remember what the fight had been about, but it was brutal, lasting into the wee hours of the morning. Me, being more openly sensitive, wept the entire time as Elvis was Elvis and retreated to be in solitude to work through his feelings. It was horrible. Afterwards, we hadn't spoken for a full day, going about our routines in silence where there would usually be laughter and song. It was the worst day of my life. Well...probably second worst.
On the evening of the second day I sprawled across our lawn with a blanket and lay there for hours, staring up at the stars.
"I think he might leave me, Momma." I had wept, "I don't know what to do. He's the love of my life."
"D?"
I was frozen, feeling smaller than I ever had as he sat gingerly beside me, a hand on my thigh. I tried to will up some words, unable to look him in the eye but it felt like I was choking, suffocated by emotion. Eventually, I managed to choke out a singular sentence.
"Are you...breaking up with me?"
"Oh...sweetheart." He scooped me into his arms and the flood gates broke, sobs echoing in the quiet night as I burrowed into his chest, "Of course not."
"I...I thought..."
"Fights will happen. But I will never leave you over something so small."
I nodded. And that had been that.
"I love you so much." I said now, beaming at him, "That is one thing that has never changed these last five years."
"Well I should hope so!" Elvis smiled, shifting and sitting up, bringing me up with him, "That makes this a hell of a lot easier."
I watched carefully as he shifted his weight, removing one of his arms from around me and reaching into his pocket. My eyes widened at the sight of the small velvet box gripped tightly in his shaky hand.
"Y-You?" I breathed, watching him, completely stunned.
"Mhm." He grinned, "You have entranced me from the first day we met and each one with you is better than the last. It's been a hell of an adventure and I am ready to keep it going. Forever. So will you make me the happiest guy on this rooftop? Will you marry me?"
"Yes!" I yelled, leaping forward and tackling him, letting out a soft grunt as we hit the ground abruptly, "Oh my god yes I will!"
We pulled back enough for him to slide the ring onto my finger, my jaw aching from the wide smile spread across my face that wouldn't waver. Everything was truly perfect and for the first time ever, they were going to stay that way.
FITZ AND VIOLET
Year Eight
The gun in my hand felt light and airy, as if I had been holding it for every waking moment for my entire life. At this point, it felt like I had been. Without tearing my gaze away from my target, I shot six more bullets in quick succession, grinning as I managed to keep my arm steady.
"Great job, babe!" Fitz beamed, wrapping an arm around my waist, "You are a crack shot."
"Years of practice." I grinned, "That's nine out of ten, is it safe to say I passed?"
"Yes, sweetheart. You have once again passed your recertification."
"Shocking." I drawled, turning in his arms and wrapping my own around his neck, "We should celebrate."
"I like how you think." He grinned, "But we need to get ready. Did you forget?"
I frowned, "Forget?"
"Dinner?" He teased, "Our monthly tradition of the last god knows how many years? Your friends will kill me if I keep you away."
"Our friends." I chided, shaking my head at them, "They like you more than they like me most days."
"Not true." He pecked my nose before pulling back and offering me a hand, "Come on, darlin'."
Our monthly dinner reunions quickly became my most anticipated event. I had taken to circling the dates in glitter gel pens and adorning it with stars on our calendar tacked to the fridge, and I found myself grinning at it every morning as I fed Wendy, petting her as she wound herself between my legs in greeting. Our little family had grown from our initial three to an eight and knowing the rest of them, more was probably to come.
Kiara and I sat perched on the couch with matching glasses of wine whilst everyone else moved around the kitchen, getting things ready.
"Did you ever think this would be possible?" Kiara mused, watching her wife with adoring eyes, "Because I didn't. I thought I was a lost cause from the get-go."
"I stopped thinking things were impossible the day you and Brent became friends."
"Shut up." She snorted, then glanced at me, lowering her voice, "We're going to adopt."
"Shut up!" I squealed, grabbing her hands in mine, "Ki, that is amazing! I am so happy for you!"
"Thank you." She smiled, shaking her head, "We're thrilled. It feels so weird."
"Life is fucking weird." I shrugged, "One day we're in our twenties carrying a corpse throughout the country and the next you're best friends with Brent and trying to find good schools in the area."
"I hate being a grownup." Kiara groaned.
"I don't think you do." I smiled, but she wasn't listening.
Cassie moved towards us, perching herself on the arm of the couch and leaning down to kiss Kiara gently.
I turned away, leaving them to their private moment and smiling as an arm wound around my waist.
"What's going on in that brain of yours?"
I smiled, glancing at Fitz, "Just thinking about life. Everything that's gotten us here."
"Any regrets?"
I paused for a moment, surprising myself with the resounding no that echoed through my brain, "No. We're here. If I changed any little thing we wouldn't be. I wouldn't change a second."
Fitz grinned, laying a kiss on my forehead, "Me neither. Have you heard from your father?"
I sighed, shaking my head, "Nothing since the check he sent after the wedding."
"He'll come around, love. He's your father. He loves you."
"It doesn't matter." And weirdly enough, this was the first time I had said it aloud where I realised just how true it was, "I have my family. If he doesn't want to be a part of that, it's his loss."
Fitz nodded, humming thoughtfully, "Speaking of family...did Kiara tell you the news?"
I nodded, "I'm guessing Cassie told you?"
"Yeah. As if we didn't already know."
I giggled, shaking my head.
"You want one of those?" Fitz murmured into my ear softly.
I shrugged, "I'm pretty content with just us right now."
"Me too." He grinned, nipping my ear gently, "Though I won't say no to some practice..."
I giggled, tilting my head to give him better access, watching everyone laughing and smiling around me.
Life was perfect, finally utterly perfect.
YEAR TEN
BRENT AND PEARL
"Sweetie, are you alright?" Pearl's hand on my back made me jump in my seat and jolt out of my thoughts.
"Y-yeah, I'm all good, sorry." I smiled, shaking my head to clear my thoughts, "C'mon guys, I'm starving!"
"If you want it so bad then you cook." Violet snarked from the kitchen, "It's always me anyways. Set the table, it'll keep you busy."
"Sorry, Vi." I groaned, giving Pearl a peck on the cheek and standing to help Elvis set the table.
Seven place settings were sprawled across the table and I looked to see one more in Elvis' hand, which he was staring intently at, hand shaking gently. I gave him a smile and took it from him, placing it on the last vacant spot at the table. He shot me a grateful look and I nodded, clapping him firmly on the back.
"Here we go!" Violet smiled, exiting the kitchen with Dixon, Fitz and Cassie on her heels, all carrying plates of food, "Dig in!"
We ate with enthusiasm, passing small bits of conversation back and forth. It was delicious, which I noted happily before Pearl nudged my shoulder and told me not to speak with my mouth full, rolling her eyes fondly.
"We finally got around to sending out thank you notes from the wedding!" Dixon said, taking a sip from his wine, "So expect those in a few days."
"Oh goodie." Violet smirked, squealing when Elvis pinched her arm, "Ouch! Just because you have girl hands doesn't mean that shit doesn't hurt!"
"I don't have girl hands!"
"Do to!"
"Some things never change." I smirked, "You're the same now as you were ten years ago."
"He started it!"
"You literally did." Elvis rolled his eyes, "You're such a child."
"Don't call me a child!"
"Alright, alright!" I boomed, stopping them before they could start a proper squabble, "I have an announcement if you can stop tearing each other's heads off before then."
Violet sat back, folding her arms, "Go on."
I cleared my throat, "Well, I just want to say how happy I am having all of you in my life. In the last ten years, we've all really become a family. And I don't know what I would do without you."
"Oh Brent." Violet's eyes were wide and shining.
Cassie was watching me with a strange look, almost like she knew what I was going to say next.
"You've all been there through everything and never left me, no matter how much of a dick I was being. Everything we have gone through in the last ten years has only served to bring us closer together and I am so happy that we had each other to get through it all. And you." I turned to Pearl, who was watching me with a soft smile and a hand on my knee, "You have changed my life in the most amazing way. Every day with you is better than the last and you are simply everything to me."
"B..." She whispered, a singular tear rolling down her cheek, "Are you...?"
I reached into my pocket and pulled out the ring box, holding it out to her with shaky hands and quickly opening the lid.
"I want to spend the rest of my life with you. Would you let me? Will you marry me?"
Pearl was silent for a beat before screaming and throwing her arms around my shoulders, "Of course I will!"
The room filled with applause as we kissed and I beamed, pulling back and sliding the ring onto her finger.
"I love you-"
Slam!
I glanced up to see everyone fallen into silence, staring at the balcony door Cassie had just exited through. I sighed, feeling dread seep through my core.
"I'll go talk to her." I pecked the top of Pearl's head before standing and following Cassie outside, closing the door gently behind me.
Before I could even speak, Cassie whirled around to face me, gnawing on her lower lip, "I'm sorry for reacting like that. It was so rude I am so sorry."
"Cassie, it's okay. It was thoughtless of me to do that."
"No." She said firmly, smiling shakily, "It wasn't. You wanted to propose surrounded by family, that's beautiful."
"I should have warned you, I'm sorry."
Cassie simply shrugged, staring off into the city lights and up into the sky. I watched her for a few moments, struggling to find the words to comfort her.
"She's going to come home, Cassie."
Cassie turned to face me, tears welling up in her eyes, "What if she doesn't? What if something's really wrong and she needs our help?"
I grimaced, not wanting to say what I was thinking.
"I know what you're thinking. But Kiara wouldn't do that. She wouldn't just run away and...leave me." Her voice cracked on the last words as she burst into tears.
"Hey, hey." I wrapped her up in a hug, patting her back softly, "It's okay."
"Nothing's okay!" She snapped, pushing back from me, "You're all happy! You're all fine and married and engaged and having kids. And I'm just...here! Alone!"
I reached out for her again but she pushed away from me, stalking back inside. I flinched as the sound of the front door slamming echoed in the apartment. I stared up at the dim stars drowned out by the city lights and sighed deeply, my body sagging against the balcony.
"God, Kiara. Please just come home."
The honking of a car and the giggles from passersby below were my only answer.
"We need you."