Generations: The Long Game

Time to Say Goodbye: Part Two

TW: Potentially fatal disease, mention/insinuation of death

The 24th of August 2027

Mia settled back into her seat and just stared at the brunette. "I know you can hear me, Marjie. This lot is gonna fall apart without you." She shook her head as she tried to let the frustration leave her mind. Rest had not been coming easy, but her eyelids went heavy, and her chest began to rise and fall more rhythmically. She welcomed the mindlessness of sleep. Just as she was about to escape, she was startled awake by a loud rap on the door.

Carly and Eric

She didn't even bother getting up. She just shouted for them to come in. "Eric, Carly, where's Cora?" Carly looked away. She hadn't seen Marjorie in the hospital the first time. "Cory's with mum. Agatha doesn't babysit, but mum has offered for anyone who needs her." Mia looked at the younger woman. "Carly, she can hear you. Sit down and talk to her. I'm going to leave you to it."

She still couldn't look at Marjorie lying there. "Eric this isn't real. This isn't happening. She's gonna wake up. She has to." She was sobbing and pacing when he caught her in his arms and pulled her into him. "Car now is the time to talk to her. If you want her to know what she meant now is the time to do it. Before..." He trailed off. They had never been close like Marjorie and Carly had, but he still couldn't believe it himself. "Eric I can't. I just can't. She is gonna wake up. I will tell her then." He pulled her in closer as she sobbed. "Beautiful what would Marjorie do? You've always told me how much she's done for you; how much she's influenced you. Now's the time to tell her. Show her."

She took in his words.... What would Marjorie do? If it was the other way round, she knew exactly what Marjorie would do. A flash of resolve crossed her face as she dried her tears, moving away from Eric and towards Marjorie. She pulled the chair up close and settled back into it. Pulling Marjorie's warm hand into her own she sat for a moment thinking. "All these years you have been a second mum to me. You never wavered. Never let me down. I wasn't even sure childcare was what I wanted to do, but you and Char... you took me in. You always fought for us. You fought for Reece. I'll never forget that. Never forget your strength." She shifted in her seat and looked up at Eric. The young man nodded in reassurance. "Marjorie, I am gonna look after Reece and the children. I will make sure Emery and Rory never forget who their mom was. How many people she saved because that is what you did. You saved us. You knew we needed each other, and you kept us together. You were going to do it one dinner party at a time if you had to."

She stood from the chair and sat on the side of the bed needing to be closer. "I will stick with it. I will make sure we all get together even if I have to use my doe eyes on Reece to do it." She chuckled to herself. "I will tell Lili and Ben about their auntie. They are really going to miss out, but I will never stop reminding them how much you already loved them. It hurts that you never got to meet our Cora. She's almost two months old and I know you would love her. I know you do love her, and I won't let her forget it."

She shifted again still trying to get as close as she could. "When I am done at university, I am going to come back to the nursery and make you proud. I promise. Thank you, Marjorie, thank you for helping me become the woman and mother I am today. I will never forget the time you took with me. Never."

"I am gonna go home to my little girl because I know that is what you would want me to do, but if you can fight this Marjorie, fight like all of our lives depend on it." She stood and held her hand out to Eric. "Let's go. She would want us to be with Cory. Not sitting here waiting." The young couple walked past Mia in the corridor without a word, leaving her alone with Marjorie and her thoughts.

Siobhan and Vivian

Vivian waited in the employee car park. She had heard the news last night, but she hadn't called Bon. Reece had called her that morning instead of Siobhan. He was worried about upsetting her this close to delivering. Especially with her at home alone with Jamey. The way that man loved and worried about, not just his own family, but all of their families had always amazed her. She had known very few kind men in her life, but he certainly renewed her faith. As she yawned, she felt the arm snake around her waist before she saw the petite blonde. She placed her hand on the bump. "How are the two of you this morning?" She could see her wife's eyes were red and swollen. They had talked about this day, but both had hoped it wouldn't come. "We're okay, I think. I am worried Jamey may have picked up on my emotions this morning, but he was eager to go to school so we might be okay." They held each other for a moment before making their way to Marjorie's room. The blonde walked right through the open doorway without the thought of knocking. "Mia how has she been? Any change at all?" The redhead just shook her head before looking to the floor. "I will give you the room. Just let me know when you are leaving. I don't want her to be alone even if she doesn't really know we are here."

The blonde replaced her in the chair with a small groan. Moving the added weight on her small frame had not been easy these last couple of months. Viv slid another chair up next to her and settled in before taking the blonde's hand. "She is unconscious, Bon, but she can hear us. You can speak to her, or we can just sit here awhile and be with her. It's up to you." She squeezed her hand reassuringly and let a crooked smile cross her face. Her gaze turned to the brunette. "Marjorie how did we get here? All those years wasted." She shook her head thinking about the time they could have been friends, but she had chosen to put herself at odds. "It's not enough. Not enough time. Not enough friendship. Hell, not enough of your crazy emotions. I would do anything to hear them again. You have done so much for us. All of us. But Viv and I especially." She put her hand on her bump. On the baby that might not have existed if it hadn't been for Marjorie and her unconditional love. Vivian pulled the blonde in close to her side as she began to sob. When she had arrived making friends had been partly how she was settling in, but she hadn't imagined finding love or a family that would end up meaning so much to her. She hadn't imagined a new life and a new baby. She had always been closer to Reece and had bonded with Mia these past months, but she couldn't imagine any of their lives without Marjorie.

Through her tears she spoke. "Viv and I are having a little girl. Jamey is so excited Marjorie. It was almost like he discovered Reece's space room all over again. I was nervous. I am still nervous. I thought you would be there... You will be. We will make sure of it. She'll be called Crystal Jorie." Siobhan's sobs shook her body as she continued. She will always know she was named after one of the strongest women we knew. I will tell her about you Marjorie. I will... I will... Viv?"

Vivian looked down at the puddle that was forming below her wife. "It's okay, Bon, but we have to go now, okay?" It had been a long while since she had seen her wife look so vulnerable. "We have to go Bon." The blonde looked back at her friend. "It's not enough time Viv I have more I want to say. More I need to say. More I..." Her body was shaking as Viv lifted her into her arm. "It's time to go Bon Bon. I'm sorry." She carried her through the doorway shouting back to Mia to ring the nurses and they would get someone in to clean up. Mia's eyes widened as she realized what had happened. She waved them off as she reentered the room.

"Looks like it is just me and you again, Marjie. Fancy a fight?"