Baby Clifford

Gone

Weeks past as Michael laid beside and sang and read and talked to his coma sleep daughter. "Good night my sweet child. Daddy loves you." He said and leaned down and kissed her temple as the nurse came in to tell him that visiting hours are over. Michael closed the book and went back to his too silent and too dark house, no matter how many lights were on or volume on everything. He sighed and took off his jacket and shoes.

He went into his closet and pulled out the boxes. Michael felt his heart turn soft as he opened one of them and saw the picture from when they were at Warped Tour. "I'm going to telling her about you, Haylie. I'll tell her everything, I promise. I should've known she would've wanted to know and I shouldn't have hid you from her." Michael admitted.

*Next Day*

He wore a small smile as he entered the room and took his same seat and took his daughter's hand. "Hey Melody, I'm back, don't you worry." He spoke. His voice became ruff from being so tired. "I'm not leaving for a while now." Michael said.

The rest of the 5SOS and their children came into the room about an hour or two later. "How is she?" Calum asked. "Doctors say that she should be out of it soon." Calum nodded, "It'll be different when she wakes up, won't it?" He asked.
"Hey! Let's not talk about how it'll change. Let's just all be grateful for her being alive still. Melody is still in our family and lives no matter what!" Ashton raised his voice.

"Hey Melody, it's Clare. I-I'm sorry for having them lead you to this." She muttered as she ran her thumb over Melody's knuckles. She took a step back and let her uncles and father talk.

"Whenever she wakes up, by the end of the day, we're going to talk to her, either all one on one or either all at once. I don't want my baby girl doing or even thinking about this again." Michael spoke. Ashton sadly nodded, remembering when he was the same age as Melody, but his story was different. Then again, no one's story are exactly the same. "She's all I have, other than you guys, but if no one finds her, if there is a next time. I wouldn't forgive myself." He explained.

Just then, something clicked. Melody's hand flinched. Michael's eyes went straight to her, her hand never flinched. A few noises came out of the coma girl's mouth. "Luke go get a nurse or doctors, I think she's waking up!" Michael's green eyes shined like polished emeralds. Her eyes clenched shut before opening them. Michael's heart fluttered like a butterfly escaping its cocoon. Luke obeyed his order.

"W-where am I?" Melody croaked. Michael stood up, "You're in the hospital baby girl." He answered. Melody had a confused look on her face. "W-who are you?" She asked. Someone shot the butterfly. "I-I'm your dad." He said, trying not to cry. Luke came back with the nurse and a doctor. Melody looked around the room at her family that she didn't remember.

"Melody, do you remember anything?" The doctor asked. She shook her head. "Don't worry too much, this happens sometimes after a coma. Her memories will come back after a while, you must be patient with her. They won't all come back at once. It'll take some time." He explained, "If you must, you might have to re-introduced yourselves. Don't pressure her either, just let her take it to her own speed. Do you have any questions? " He added. "About how long will all of the memories come back?" Ashton asked. The doctor shrugged, "It's different for each patient. My guess, about three to six months." *I have no idea* "Any other questions?" All of them shook their heads. "Alright, if you need anything just ask one of the nurses, but right now we're going to test some of her blood while she was in the coma." He said and both him and Ann left. "Guys, go head out to the lobby." Luke said to all of Melody's cousins.

"I'm your Uncle Ashton." Ash spoke. He had to admit. It was weird introducing himself to his niece of sixteen years. "Uncle Calum." Cal added. "Luke." Luke spoke. "Where's my mum?" Everyone was silent. "No. She died in childbirth." Michael roughly answered. "Do I have any siblings?" She asked. "No. You're an only child." Calum answered.

"Well, what do I have?" She asked, a bit frustrated. "A wonderful boyfriend named Danny. Your rockstar uncles. An obsession with Peter Johnson-" "Percy Jackson!" She snapped then her eyes went wide and she covered her mouth with both hands, "I remember," she whispered. She remembered how Annabeth's mom, Athena, didn't like how Poseidon's son Percy and her were dating, Grover and finding Pan, Leo with his harsh last moments his mum and all of the different characters from Heros of Olympus. "I remember," she exhaled. "He reminds me of myself because-" she cut herself off and covered her mouth, shaking her head.

The doctor came in the room, "May I borrow Mr. Clifford for a few minutes?" He asked, Michael nodded and walked out into the hallway with the doctor. "Let's take a walk." He spoke and walked to his right, Michael following. "The first thing I want to tell you Mr. Clifford is that I'm not telling you you're a bad father. I'm going to ask you some questions." He spoke calmly as if it was his day job, but he didn't look at Michael, no he looked down at the white floor where his white shoes were walking.

"Did Melody have reckless behavior, like sneaking out, getting drunk, using drugs, sex?" The doctor asked. "I know she did sneak out and went places without telling me. She has gotten drunk too." Melody answered. "How was she doing in school?" He asked. "An A and B student," Michael replied. "How does Melody act with friends or other company?" Michael swallowed, "With friends, she's like any other teenage girl. Company like family, she wants to lock herself in her room and talk to anyone. She hates going to school. She doesn't have many friends and their the same kids they've been her friends since preschool. She never comes home happy after school." Michael explained. "How does she act in public?" "Anxious like someone might attack her." Michael answered. "Has she always been this way?" Michael nodded, "Melody been that way forever." The doctor nodded, "Mr. Clifford would you mind if we have a physiologist interview your daughter? We think she may have depression and maybe social anxiety or some form of anxiety." The doctor told him. Michael bit his lip. He always hoped that Melody didn't end up like him with those sort of things. He doesn't have any major anxiety anymore, but depression reappeared. He always had a hard time accepting Melody inherited it.

*You guys okay? Sorry this was kinda shitty*