Breathe (Cheryl Fanfic)

Chapter 20

Monday morning comes and the Cowell family are on their way to the shelter. They were excited to see Athena who they haven't heard from these past two days and somehow they were craving for her presence specially Eric who's been talking and asking about her sister. He was easily attached to her.

" You go ahead. I'll just get the stuff in the trunk." Simon says as he turned the engine off. Cheryl nods and smiles before climbong out of the car and opening the backseat where she found her son with a full smile on his face holding her arms up for his mother to carry him and this made Cheryl giggle.

She took Eric from the backseat and walked in the shelter. And as soon as the other kids saw her they immediately rushed to her making Eric hold onto her mother tighter and it somehow lighten up Cheryl's mood.

"Oh Mrs. Cowell, Kids settle down." Marvin says and the children gladly obeyed him taking a step back giving Cheryl and Baby Eric some space.

"Yea, Hi Marvin. Can I see Athena?" Marvin gives her a small smile making Cheryl confuse. Its like Marvin wasn't happy with the idea.

"I'll lead the way." Marvin says as he walks upstairs which Cheryl gladly follows.

"Mammy! I want to give a flower to Athena." He smiles and it made Cheryl melt. She loves it when her son talks about Athena so much. She finds it cute and adorable.

"Later Bubba when daddy comes with the box of white roses yea."

"Later?" Cheryl nods and placed a kiss on her son's forehead as they stopped in front of Athena's door.

Marvin knocked three times before the door opens revealing Lisa and she manages to smile when she saw Cheryl and Eric.

"Oh hi. Come in." She whispered as she stepped aside for them to come in.

"How's my daughter?" Cheryl says and it made Lisa sigh causing Cheryl to frown.

"She's sick and it's been two days." Cheryl's heart filled with worry as she walked towards the bed where she saw her daughter curled up her back is facing her.

"She won't eat and she refuses to go yo the hospital-"

"Her bruises are still dark." Cheryl whispers as she noticed the girl's arms. Cheryl sat by the bed and her heart was beating fast in worry.

"Athena!" Eric cheered as he made his way beside her sister hugging her from behind.

At the sound of Eric's voice, Athena woke up in her sleep and slowly turn around to find her Mam and brother are in the room and it somehow made her smile.

"Hi" It was barely a whisper and still she manages to smile. Her eyes are half open as she turns to her little brother taking him in her arms which made the little boy move closer to his sister and cuddles to her.

Cheryl smiles at the sight. But that smile fell as she studies her daughter and noticed that there are bruises that weren't there efore she left and it made her heart skip a beat.

"Baby.." Cheryl whispers as she softly touched her daughter's arm afraid that she was going to hurt her.

Athena weakly opens her eyes and lets out a small smile. Cheryl looks at her woth full of worry in her eyes before placing a soft kiss on the girl's forehead.

"How're you feeling. Lisa said you're sick."

"I'm fine" Athena croaked before pulling herself up with all her strength which Cheryl immediately act on helping her daughter up.

Cheryl was about to say something when the sound of the door shut closed made them turn seeing as Simon walks in and immediately sees his family and walk towards themwith a smile.

"Hey, are you okay?" Simon says as he placed a soft kiss on Athena's forehead making the girl give him a small nod and a smile.

"No you're not" Cheryl cuts in making Athena look at her.

"I'm okay" She croaks. But Cheryl wasn't buying this. Her daughter wasn't looking good. She's pale.

"Flower!" Eric reached for the box and opens it getting one white rose and giving it to Athena which made the girl smiles and gladly took it placing a soft kiss on her little brother's forehead.

"Thank you sweetie." She whispered before letting out a deep breath. She was tired and all she wanted was to sleep but she was trying her best to stay awake and strong so she could spend time with her family.

"You don't look so good darling." Simon said as he sat beside his wife who has been staring at Athena for a while now. Simon was getting worried aswell at the state of the girl noticing the constant letying out of deep breaths.

"W-Where's Lisa?" Athena whispered noticing the red head's presence was gone.

"Oh, I think she left earlier."

"Babe, I think we should get you to the hospital." The little girl shakes her head and lets out a smile.

"I'm fine, I promise." Athena speaks in a soft voice. She doesn't want to be a bother. And its only a fever, she'll get better in days.

Cheryl was getting scared. Her girl wasn't looking good. Dark bags under her eyes and it stands out with her paler skin and the color of her lips had drained out and her bruises that are much bigger than before.

Athena can feel eyes on her as she watch his little brother play beside her. She doesn't want to worry them.

It's just fever

She thought. Well, that's what she believes. That's what she knows. Though she was extremely feeling weak, and with the fact she hasn't had a proper meal in her, that only contributes to what she's feeling

"Do you want something to eat?" Simons asks with lace in his voice.

"I'm not hungry. Thank you though." The girl smiles before turning to her little brother.

"When was the last time you ate?" Cheryl says firmly.

"I'm just not hungry." She whispers.

"Babe, you need to ea- Oh My God you're bleeding." She gasped as she saw blood dripping from her nose and at the same time she collapse in bed.

Simon immediately went to the girl's side taking her in his arms carrying her as Cheryl carried Eric which caused th little boy to look at his parents in confusion.

They all stormed out of the room rushing downstairs which caught the attention of the people there inuding Marvin and Lisa who was confuse on what was going on.

Simon immediately went out while Cheryl tells them that they're going to the hospital which made the two nod in response.

"We'll follow behind" They said. Cheryl nods and runs out of the shelter and straight to their car.

"Mammy, what is happening? Is Athena okay?"

"She will be, soon Bubba. " Cheryl is starting to doubt herself. She knows there something more on her daughter's condition. Her bruises are getting worst well instead they should be on the healing process right now.

What is happening to my daughter?