The Law of Love ~ #Wattys2015

Chapter 13

Robin walked into the hospital not long after hanging up with Regina. He held Roland's carrier in one hand as he walked with his father to the room Marian was in. When he walked in, he saw his sister was hooked up to several machines, a few of which beeped occasionally, leaving it impossible to forget they are there. Marian was thrilled to finally see her brother and her baby boy.

Robin's piercing blue eyes were now clouded by tears. Never in his life would he have imagined his sister becoming ill with cancer, and definitely not dying from it at such a young age. His baby sister isn't supposed to die before him. That's not how life should work; or so people dream. No matter what he had previously imagined or not imagined, the circumstances were real; they were happening, and there was nothing he or anyone else could do to stop it.

He walked up to Marian's hospital bed and set Roland's carrier in the chair beside the bed. He grabbed her hand and smiled at her- tears slowly beginning to fall from his eyes.

"Hey- don't cry. I can't stand seeing my big brother crying," she said softly- her voice raspy with restlessness and weakness.

That only made more tears flow down his face. "I love you lil' sis. Always have, and always will."

"I know you do. And I love you too Robin. You are the best big brother a girl could ask for," Marian smiled faintly. She turned her head to face her parents. "Mom, dad, could you give us a minute please?"

Andrew and Kristin walked out of the hospital room with Roland, leaving Marian and Robin alone in the room. Robin sat in the chair that had previously held Roland's carrier. He looked at her curiously, "What is it Marian?"

"Robin... as I'm sure you're aware, I'm not gonna make it to the end of the weak," she started quietly, trying to avoid eye contact to make this conversation less difficult; though it was all to be in vain, because this was the hardest thing Marian would ever have to speak about.

Robin, unable to form words, bobbed his head back and forth once in affirmation.

"And I'm also sure you understand what that means for Roland- he won't have me anymore. I need someone I love and trust to take him- to raise him and love him and be with him," her voice broke, and she couldn't finish her thought. The pain she felt physically wasn't anything compared to the pain she felt emotionally. The pain of knowing she's leaving her precious newborn son parentless; The pain of knowing that this child has already lost his father and is about to lose his mother. How was she supposed to speak about it, and verbally ask someone to take her child and be a parent to him without feeling excruciating pain?

Robin took her hand again and forced her to look at him. "Marian, ar-are you asking me to-to take Roland?" He couldn't fathom the thought. It killed him. Of course, he'd do anything to make sure his nephew was safe and was raised well, and he'd do it for his sister, but it just reminded him of how real this situation is.

"Please Robin! I need you to do this. You are the only person I know of that is qualified to take care of my son. You are so good with him, and he adores you. You have spent our whole lives protecting me and being that source of accountability, so I know you're wise, and I know you would make wise parental decisions. You're capacity to love people is overwhelming. The way I've heard you speak about Regina, and the things dad has told me about your relationship with her, shows me just how caring and gentle you are. I couldn't think of anyone better to ask to watch over my son for me than you. So please, Robin, do this for me. Adopt Roland and be his father," she pleads with him.

Robin is close to sobbing at this point. He opens his mouth to answer, but he can't form words. He takes a few seconds to calm himself down so he can answer her. She deserves an answer.