Intertwined

Never Again, Never Alone

A/N: Hi gorgeous readers. Hope you are all doing well.

If anyone ever needs to talk I'm always happy to be a listening ear. I know some of the topics through this story can be difficult. My Instagram is naomi_watson1501

T/W: emetophobia paragraph beginning 'On the one hand...'

It was officially my last night in hospital. I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to sleep. I was far too excited. Mia had gone to Antonio's to get our dinner and later everyone was coming in to have a little gathering. Well, our secret intervention.

Winter had been hesitant at first, but I explained to him that all of our partners seemed to be going through something similar and that we didn't expect them to talk about it, just that it might help to be reassure them that they were not alone. He had understood that it might be helpful.

I had also made a few decisions. I wanted to uncover the branding scar I had been so afraid of. I wasn't going to show everyone, and I was still going to have a plastic surgery scar reduction, but I had decided that in the meantime I wanted to be free of the unnecessary bandages. I felt lighter already, not having put anything over it this morning after my shower, although I hadn't told Mia.

I was also wanting Michael to come stay with us, once I was home. I could tell he was very sick, and I wanted Mia to be able to spend as much time as possible with him. Mia had been worried about the girls being around someone who was dying, but I always found with children that being open about difficult things is best.

Often children adapt and adjust better than most adults and while I wanted to always protect the girls from harm, death is a part of life. I wanted to teach the girls that we need to cherish each other and that sometimes people we know, and love may die, but we don't stop loving them, even though we miss them. We can still celebrate the life they lived and be incredibly sad at the same time. I felt like they could experience that in a protected way with Michael and Mia, Dan and I.

They could ask questions safely with us, rather than just grappling with them in their own mind causing misunderstandings and fear. They had met Michael over the last few weeks and they got along well with him. He was cheeky and funny with them, much like Mia could be, but without any of the parental responsibility. I was hoping an honest approach would be helpful for Michael and Mia and the girls.

We had spoken to Dan about it, and he was in agreement. We talked about different questions they might ask and came up with age-appropriate responses with Michael involved as well. If the situation became too distressing for them, we talked to my psychologist about ways to help them.  

'Hey baby,' Mia came back with our dinner and gave me a kiss as she placed the bags down, 'Bella and Niko were there with baby Char, Antonio says he's already teaching her how to cook,' we giggled. I could just imagine the proud grandpa explaining how to balance the ingredients of his family recipes with his granddaughter looking up at him. Mia had taken to calling, Evangeline, our goddaughter, baby Char, even though Charlotte was her middle name.

As Mia lifted lids off the containers the aromas filled the room. 'God this smells amazing,' I exclaimed. Mia lent towards me and gave me a kiss.
'I love you sweetheart. I'm so proud of you,' and she dished up our feast.
'I love you Mia. I'm so grateful for everything you've done for me, not just since I've been in hospital, but since we met,' my heart still skipped a beat when I thought about the first time I saw her...

...I had walked into the office that morning to get what I needed for the day and didn't realise Mia would be in so early and that Reece wasn't in that day. I had heard about Mia but had not yet met her. 'Can I help you?' I heard a voice ask. I spun around, not expecting it to be Mia. I noticed her smile at me, felt myself blush and lost my train of thought. 'Can I help you sweetheart?' She asked. The way she said sweetheart.
'Uh, umm. I'm just g. g. Getting what I need for the preschool room today,' I managed to say.
'Oh, you must be Charlotte. Reece told me you were coming in today,' she stared at me with a slight smile on her face, like she was trying not to smile at me. At the time I didn't know what to make of it, but Mia told me recently, that she was caught off guard by how attractive she found me and was trying not to make me uncomfortable. It didn't work.