Generations: The Long Game

Family and Delusions

TW: potentially fatal illness/disease

AN: This book and all the planning that has gone into it these last seven months has been a true labor of love, and I am humbled by those of you who joined me on this journey. Today for the first time in Generations' history I have invited my favorite TNN fanfic writer to collab with me in a two chapter collaboration. Thenurserynursefan1 thank you for honoring me and this story with your beautiful collaboration. I know you love this story nearly as much as I do. 💚💚💚

Home

When he woke the next morning it all came flooding back to him and he remembered he and the children weren't alone. Mia stayed with Marj, and Char and their children were still with them. Marjorie would be angry at him for the way he behaved the night before. After he prepared their dinner, he went directly to their room and locked the door. He knew if he added the insult of not getting out of bed today, she would be livid.

He sat on the edge of the bed contemplating their future. What would his world be like without her. He had lived in a dark world before her. If he slipped back into the darkness, he would fail her. Fail their children. That wasn't an option he could live with. He wanted her to survive this. Needed her to survive this. But if she ... He couldn't let the thought form in his head.

He padded off to the kitchen fully expecting it to be in disarray. Charlotte had cleaned off every countertop, hand washed every dish, and it seemed, swept and mopped the floor. He had staff at the restaurant that weren't this proficient. With Mia's family here he pulled the waffle iron out. He still hadn't put his finger on what was going on with her and Char, but he knew all the time apart couldn't be easy even if they weren't struggling.

The smell of the freshly made waffles seemed to beckon people to the kitchen, and the lonely world he had been imagining for himself came alive with the laughter of children. Even if she left him in this world on his own. He wouldn't be alone. She had drawn him into a world where she had created a family for all of them.

The Hospital

Mia hadn't really left Marjorie's side since she kicked Reece out and made him go home. She felt bad enough for not letting him stay, even though she knew it was what Marjorie would have wanted, she couldn't be the one who left her alone as well.

Marjorie hadn't regained consciousness at all since she'd arrived, she didn't want to show it but even Mia was worrying at this point. Nothing the doctors tried seemed to be making her any better. She sat there staring at the woman now laying in the hospital bed in front of her. She always seemed to look smaller here than she had the whole time she was home. It was hard to believe this was the same woman Mia had battled with for so long. From those first meetings where they hated each other to now when they were family, albeit still with the snarky comments on both sides.

Mia leant forwards and took Marjorie's hand. "Marjie, you have to come through this. You know that right? I looked after that giant man baby for 23 years. You can't quit after 3, we both know you don't like to be outdone by me."

Mia sighed as she leant back in the chair. She thought that might give her the drive to come round but it felt like just another dead end. She leant her head back to try and get some rest, just as her eyelids began to close, she heard it.

"Marjorie?"

She sat back up and stared at the woman in the bed, there was no one else in here so it had to of come from her unless Mia was dreaming. "Marjie? Did you say something?"

"Marjorie?" She mumbled again slightly louder. Mia was about to run and get a doctor when she heard her start to speak again. "Listen."

"Marjorie, I'm here and I'm listening sweetheart, what do you need?"

Her eyes fluttered open slightly, not fully but enough to make out the outline of the redhead. She smiled and reached for her. "Marjorie, it will be OK you know?"

Mia looked at her confused. "Um, Marjorie, I'm Mia. You're Marjorie."

"No, you're Marjorie Van Gould. I know what she said to you. I know all the things she said to you. All the names, all the insults. She may have been right you know." Marjorie said looking Mia up and down.

"Who may have been right about what?"

"Mum, when she said you could lose a little weight." Mia stood there stunned into silence. She didn't know which part of that to be more insulted by. The fact that Marjorie thought Mia was her, or the fact she'd just said she should lose weight.

"I hope you're joking Marjorie."

"No, she always called you an elephant. You're never going to get a man looking like that, at least not a decent one anyway but I suppose beggars can't be choosers. Your hair's looking a bit lank as well. You really should wash it more. Won't look good on your dating profile."

"A man isn't really what I'm after." Mia said through gritted teeth. She was really trying to keep her cool. It was obvious that Marjorie was delusional again, much like when she thought Viv was an angel all those weeks back. The night she thought she.... No! Don't think like that Amelia Roberts. You will not have to make that phone call today or anytime soon because this woman is a fighter, she just needs to remember that.

"At least you probably won't reproduce, the world doesn't need more of you Marjorie."

"You know if it wasn't for the fact you'd already been unconscious, I'd probably put you there myself for those comments." Mia snapped. She looked down at Marjorie who was now not moving again. "Marjie?" She hadn't imagined that had she? Marjorie was just talking, well, insulting her. She bent down and shook her lightly but there was no movement or response at all. Mia ran out of the room, Viv being the first person she bumped into. "Viv, she was just awake. She thought I was her, but she was awake."

"You what?" Viv asked, running with Mia back to the room. Viv checked all the read outs from the machines, checked Marjorie's, heartrate and her breathing, everything was exactly the same as it had been on all the other checks, no sign of any change. "Mia, you're tired. Maybe I should get Bon to come and sit with her for a bit so you can rest."

"Viv I'm fine and I promise you she was talking."

Viv looked at the desperation in Mia's eyes as she tried to get the nurse to understand. "OK Mia. We'll keep a closer eye on her. See if she wakes up again." She placed a hand on the redhead's shoulder before walking back out.

Mia looked back at Marjorie. "Do you just want to make me look stupid? For fucks sake Marjorie!"