Ayla 3 [A WWE Multiverse]

Chapter 25 - I'm Calling An Exorcist

"Steph" Darcy began, her voice soft but firm, "there's something you need to know. I've been holding onto this for too long, and it's time you heard it from me."

Stephanie's expression shifted to one of concern as she listened intently.

"Remember how my mother had HIV?" Darcy asked, her voice trembling slightly. "It was passed down to me from my mother. I've been managing it with medication for years, and you've known that much. But recently... the treatments haven't been working like they used to. It's gotten worse, and I'm... I'm counting my final days."

"What?" Stephanie's breath caught in her throat, her eyes widening in shock and sorrow. "Oh, Darcy... I had no idea it had gotten this bad."

Tears welled up in Darcy's eyes as she nodded. "I didn't want to burden anyone, but it's been getting harder to hide. I know I've been difficult lately, and a part of me is just scared of what's coming."

Stephanie's eyes began to glisten with tears as well. She reached out, taking Darcy's hands in hers and squeezing them gently. "Darcy, I'm so sorry. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you. But you're not a burden. You're family. You have been family and you always will be. We'll get through this together."

Darcy's voice broke as she tried to hold back her tears. "I just don't want to leave my kids behind. I want to see them grow up, and I want to be there for Ayla too. But I'm so scared that I won't have the time."

Stephanie's tears spilled over, and she pulled Darcy into another hug, this one tighter, more desperate. "You're not alone, Darcy. We're going to make the most of the time we have. You're going to be there for them, and I'll be right there with you."

As they held each other, the emotions of the moment washed over them both. Stephanie pulled back slightly, looking into Darcy's eyes. "What about Ayla? And Lachlan and Caryll? Do they-?"

Darcy quickly shook her head. "No, they're safe. I made sure of it. The virus wasn't passed down to them. They're healthy."

Stephanie exhaled in relief, her shoulders relaxing as she absorbed the news. "Thank God," she whispered, her voice filled with gratitude.

Darcy smiled weakly, another tear slipping down her cheek. "But Ayla... she belongs here. With all of you. You've done an amazing job raising her, Steph. She's turned out to be such a wonderful young woman, and that's because of you."

Stephanie's eyes softened, touched by Darcy's words. "And you're her mother too, Darcy. You're a part of her, and of this family. We both are."

Darcy nodded, the weight of their past tensions seeming to lift slightly. "I don't know why we let it become a competition. Ayla deserves our love, not our rivalry."

Stephanie gave a small, sad smile. "We're both capable of sharing, and loving Ayla as she is. We just forgot that along the way."

They shared a quiet moment, reflecting on everything that had led them to this point. The air was thick with the unspoken apologies and regrets, but also with a newfound understanding.

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The breakfast table at the family estate was always chaotic, and today was no exception. It was a gathering spot where eggs were burnt, chairs scraped, and arguments were as common as the morning coffee. Ayla shuffled in, still rubbing the sleep from her eyes, expecting to find Darcy and Stephanie already bickering over something trivial-like who got to sit next to her or whether Darcy's presence at last night's dinner was 'appropriate.' But when she entered the spacious kitchen, the silence hit her like a punch to the gut.

Instead of the usual icy stares and snide remarks, the two were standing together-like some kind of evil alliance straight out of a comic book. Stephanie was calmly buttering toast, her posture relaxed, while Darcy, of all people, was standing by the stove... making scrambled eggs? For Stephanie?