Generations: The Long Game

Emery Turns Two: Marjorie

TW: potentially fatal disease, illness

Earlier that day:

"Mia?" Her voice was raspy and wavered.

The redhead roused from her sleep. Marjorie was barely audible but after all these weeks Mia had gotten used to listening for the most minute sounds. "What is it, Marjie?" She antagonized her as much as possible to keep her in the fighting spirit, but the use of Marjie had lost some of its efficacy. It had almost become endearing to them.

"What day is it?" She had hoped they would forego this conversation, but Marjorie had asked every day for a week.

"It's the 24th of May, Marj. It's Emery's birthday." It was pointless to try to hide it. She would just ask everyone who came into the room until she got an answer. The redhead turned away at the sight of the tears streaming down the brunette's face.

The doctor had denied her discharge again last night. She was still too weak. Mia had wondered if her staying here, away from the people she loved, was causing more harm than good, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. The doctor only cared about her physical wellbeing and seemed to have forgotten that her emotional wellbeing was equally as important.

"Marjie, I'll be right back. Gonna go get a coffee. You want one? I know they said no coffee but today is rough enough." Her face lit up a little behind the tears. "Winter will be here soon. He might get in before I get back."

The redhead walked down the corridor with purpose passing Viv on her way out. "See ya later, Viv!" As she settled into the Mustang, she felt the hot tears burning down her cheeks. She passed right by the coffee shop and pulled in behind some shrubbery by Autumn and Winter's house. She twisted her body to rummage through a very messy backseat. She had practically been living out of the car for nearly thirty days now. Locating the jumper, she pulled it over her head and put the hood over her head tucking every tendril of the wine-stained hair back and away.

She climbed over the fence from Autumn's garden to the neighbors; repeating this from garden to garden until she reached Reece and Marjorie's. Pulling her hood closer around her face she used the code to enter the garage. It took a minute for her eyes to adjust, but she spotted it right away. A small replica of the Mars Rover. She flipped it over and popped the key out.

She pulled the cord and lifted the garage door manually before getting into the Range Rover. "God dammit Reecy do you have to be so freakishly tall!" She pulled out and slapped the button on the fob to trigger the mechanism to put the garage door back on the track and lower it. With one fluid movement, she swung the vehicle around and sped out of the driveway.

She pulled back into the hospital car park with purpose slamming the Rover into park before making her way back to the ward. "I want to see her doctor. Now!" The nurses were already terrified of the redhead. All except for Viv which is why she waited for her to leave.

"How can I help you?" He wasn't the normal doctor. Hell, he barely looked old enough to have gone to Uni.

My friend in 304 wants to go home and you are gonna make that happen. Today is her kids second birthday. She wants to see him and his little sister. Today! I am not walking away until you sign those papers. Do you even know how much changes in a baby's life in 29 days? I can see you are just barely past that yourself, but between two and three months old their whole life changes. That little girl should be able to recognize her mummy's voice but instead she hasn't heard it in 29 days. That little boy has no idea where his mummy is while everyone else is fussing over his big day. Now you are gonna sign those papers and get these nice nurses to gather the equipment we will need."

The young doctor looked from her to the nurses and said, "okay. She is gonna need a fair amount of equipment do you have a big enough vehicle?"

As she turned to get Marjorie, she tossed him the keys like he was a valet. "The Range Rover right outside the door."

She stood outside the room for a moment trying to still herself. She listened to Winter reading to her. The same book every time without fail. "Marjie, we're going home."

Winter and Mia looked like nothing more than a flurry of limbs as they packed a month's worth of cards, gifts and personal items and took them to Winter's car. As Winter went to sign the paperwork for all the equipment that had been loaded into the Rover along with detailed instructions, Mia helped Marjorie dress.

The tears never stopped. From the minute the cool breeze hit her face as they exited the hospital to the drive in front of her house she cried. "Here Marjorie, clean yourself up. You don't want to frighten them." The brunette wiped her face.

"How do I look?"

"Marjorie, you are gorgeous. Now let's get you inside to your babies. Mia's breath caught at the word, and Marjorie placed her hand in her own.

"Thank you, Mia."

Mia scooped her up and carried her in bridal style. With all the chaos she was surprised Reece hadn't turned around, but Emery saw her.

"Mummy!"

She placed her gently on the sofa and watched Emery climb up. Marjorie winced a bit, but the smile never left her face. Reece scooped Rory up from the floor and brought her over too. He and Emery stared at her like she was going to disappear, but no one really spoke.

Finally, Reece uttered just one word through his sobs. "How?"

Through her tears Marjorie smiled. "Turns out our Mia is a hero after all, my love."