Generations: The Long Game

Rally and Fight

TW: mention of illness and potentially fatal disease.

"Marjorie, we have to tell them. They are our family. Our closest friends. Our village. Marjorie they are our god damn support system."

She was tired of having this argument. It wasn't that she didn't want to tell them. She did. She just knew that it would change everything. The way they would act around her and look at her. The pity. She couldn't bear it.

"Okay, fine, but everyone all at once, okay. I don't have the energy to do it more than once. Just invite them all to dinner or something. I will deal with one-on-one conversations after they all know.

The group knew she was having surgery in the morning, but they had given no specifics to anyone in the group. Marjorie had even withdrawn the paperwork that allowed Viv to receive her medical information. She wasn't ready, but Reece was adamant.

Reece had already made the arrangements behind her back. He thought she would either give in and tel their friends or they would just have a lovely dinner with them before the surgery. He would never actually tell them without her permission, but he knew he was going to need the support even if she didn't want it.

As people started to arrive, Reece pulled Mia into the kitchen. She looked around. "What is it Reecey? You need help cooking or preparing?" His eyes went to the floor.

"No, no it's nothing like that. I need to tell you something and then I need you to make me a promise." He took a deep breath. "Mia, Marj ... she has ... well she has cancer." His voice cracked at the end. "That is why she is having surgery tomorrow. That is why we asked you guys here tonight. That is why..."

She looked at her oldest friend and she could see he was as broken as he had ever been. "Reece, I don't know ..."

"Mia, I don't need you to say anything. I need you to promise me you will lay off her. No banter, no poking the bear. None of it. If ... when she survives this, you two can go at each other until we are all old and gray. But not now."

"Reece I ..."

"Promise Mia! I need you to promise."

She could tell he was coming undone, but the only thing she could offer him was the promise. She nodded her head. "Yes, Reece, I promise."

They returned to the group, and everyone sat for the meal while Mia and Char helped him serve. He was a bit concerned about Aut, Siobhan and especially Carly. She was so close to Marjorie, and more emotional than Aut or Bon.

As he entered the dining room with the last of the meal he locked eyes with Marjorie. A mixture of fear and anger in them. She nodded her head. She was ready.

They waited until the group had all finished their conversations and their meals. Marjorie was unusually quiet, but as everyone was catching up no one really noticed. She looked around at all of them. The family they had created. He had invited everyone. Even Deliah and Sara were there which warmed her heart, he always was the one to try to help her bring everyone into the fold.

The bumps. She watched as Aut, Siobhan, and Carly discussed appointments and due dates. What if she wasn't here to see them. To hold those children and love them. Would they ever know who their Aunt Marjorie was? Char was deeply involved with that conversation. The way she loved babies always brought Marjorie a bit of joy. It really wasn't that surprising that she was the one that ended up with five children.

Her thoughts went to Lynn and Lucy. They had already lost a parent. Would they be there for Emery and Rory when the time came? She had loved them nearly Lynn's whole life. Hell, she knew about Lucy before Jack did. She wanted to see them grow up. She wanted to see all of them grow up.

She looked up at Reece. His face filled with pain. She had hoped he would do it, but she could see now that she couldn't ask him to. "Ahem." She cleared her throat loudly. "We brought you here tonight before my surgery tomorrow because we need you to know something. Some of you know I haven't been myself. I haven't been well. I ... I ...I have ovarian cancer. It was masked by the pregnancy, and it has progressed. After my surgery I will have to start treatments, and we don't know what that is gonna look like.

We might have to lean on some of you at the nurseries. We might need help with our ...our children." Her voice cracked and she felt the tears stream down her face. As she looked around, she saw the fear and the pity she had hoped to avoid.

Their dining room had become a sea of despair. Reece, Char, and Eric were all holding on to Carly. Her face was red with tears and the poor girl was shaking. Viv held on to Bon who was stoic, but staring blankly. Winter and Autumn uncharacteristically were holding on to each other. Clodagh was trying to calm Sorscha, and even Sara was in tears with Deliah's arms wrapped around her.

She locked eyes with Mia. Her face was sullen. It wasn't pity, but it was pained.

"Amelia Mae Roberts"

The red head raised an eyebrow. No one bit Char had the nerve to full name her. She had made a promise to Reece, and she wouldn't break it.

"Don't you dare go soft on me now. Don't you fucking dare."

Everyone turned their attention to the two. Worried there might be a real fight.

"You are the spitfire. The wildcard. Don't you fucking dare go easy on me. We have fought and bantered for years. How do you think I am gonna fight this if I don't have you pushing me? Fighting with me? Teaching me to be strong. Don't you fucking dare. Don't you dare." Hot tears streamed down her face. "Don't you ever give up on me."

Mia looked to Reece. He nodded in agreement. If this is what she wanted, she would have it. He would give her anything. Everything if he could.

Mia looked up. That mischievous look crossed her face. "For fuck's sake Marjie! You have to be first for everything. Do you really have to be the first to die too?"

The room erupted with laughter through the tears. Marjorie smiled. The mean red head would help her fight, and that is what she intended to do. Fight.