To the Moon and Back {Chandler Riggs}

T w e n t y S i x

listen to that while y'all read^

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I step off the plane and walk behind GinaAnn to the inside of the airport. Chandler walks next to me, carrying his suitcase.

"Jackson's probably waiting for us at the carousel," I speak up as we enter the busy part of the airport.

GinaAnn looks around at the signs until she spots one pointing to the baggage claim. We follow her even though GinaAnn is the only one who checked a bag.

"Savanna?" A familiar voice calls from behind me.

I turn to see my brother. "Jackson!" I scream excitedly. I run up to hug him, careful of the baby in his arms. "Is this Lily?"

"Yeah. Wanna hold her?"

"Of course," I exclaim, taking my niece into my arms.

Chandler and Jackson shake hands and we start to load up into the SUV. Jackson and GinaAnn in the front. Chandler, Lily, and I in the back.

"Do you wanna visit mom first or-"

"Visit mom," I cut him off.

"Okay sounds good," Jackson whispers to himself.

I take in the LA scenery as we drive down the highway. Palm trees and blue skies. I missed this while I was in Georgia.

"How's Mom doing? Can she come home yet?" I ask, still staring out the window.

"She was supposed to come home last month, but things didn't exactly work out the way they were supposed to," Jackson sighs.

"What do you mean?" I ask nervously as I turn away from the window.

"Towards the end of February, Mom was almost cancer free. She was supposed to be released mid to late March, but she relapsed and they're having to start chemo all over again," Jackson explains.

"Is she doing better now?"

"Not that I know of."

"Of course," I mutter as we pull up to the hospital.

We leave our stuff in the car and walk to my mom's hospital room. The door is open and I can see her hospital bed. I run ahead of everyone and rush into the room.

"Mommy!" I shout, running to her side.

"Hey baby," she smiles weakly.

I embrace her in a hug since she's too weak to sit up. I don't let go for a while because I haven't hugged her for a good nine months.

"Hey Jeanette." GinaAnn sets her purse down on the table and hugs mom after I do.

They take turns complimenting each other which makes me smile. It's obvious that they're really good friends.

"Is that my future son-in-law?" My mom teases, smiling at Chandler.

"Mom!" I groan, feeling my ears get red.

"What? I'm teasing you," she objects.

I roll my eyes, trying to fight the smile that's forcing its way to my lips.

My mom goes on about how tall and handsome Chandler's gotten. Considering she hasn't seen him since Grayson was born, I'm sure he looks very different.

After about an hour of everyone catching up, Brenda stops by with Sofia. They say hi to my mom briefly, but they leave soon after because its nap time for the girls. Jackson leaves the keys to the rental with GinaAnn.

"Chandler and I are gonna grab a bite to eat. We'll be right back. Do you want anything?" GinaAnn offers.

"No, thank you. I'm good," I whisper in response since my mom has fallen asleep.

Chandler and GinaAnn leave and I'm left alone in silence, the only sound is the beeping of my mom's heart monitor. It's slow and steady and loud.

Beep... beep... beep...

"Savanna?" My mom whispers, placing her hand on top of mine.

"You can go back to sleep if you want," I suggest, noticing how tired she is.

"No, I just..." her voice trails off.

I look over at her and notice she's fallen back asleep. I squeeze her hand as the sound of her heart monitor fills the room once again.

Beep... beep... beeeeeeep...

My head whips up. I stare wide eyed at my mom's heart monitor as it flat lines.

"Mom? Mom? Mom!" I scream. "No. No. No. Mom please no! Don't leave me please!" I start sobbing uncontrollably as I shake her lifeless body.

Two nurses rush into the room. One tries to grab me, but I push him away and scramble to see my mom.

This can't be happening. Not now. She can't be gone. She can't be.

"Please," I beg as the nurse grabs me again.

He leads me to what looks like a lobby and tells me to stay here. I don't object. Instead, I sit and bawl my eyes out, not caring who sees.

This doesn't feel real. It feels like my mom is gonna walk up behind me and hug me really tight. It's hard to believe she's really gone.

I can't be the one to tell Jackson that our mom is dead. I can't tell GinaAnn that her best friend is gone. I can't explain to Sofia that she'll never get another birthday or Christmas present from Nana.

I just can't.

A man walks into the lobby and up to the receptionist. I can't see him very well through my tears, but he asks her a question then the receptionist points to me. The man turns around and I finally get a good look at him.

It's my dad.

"Hey baby," he whispers, walking over to me.

"Hi daddy." I stand to hug him and wipe my tears on his suit jacket.

"How are you?" He asks, stroking my long, black braids.

"Mom's dead," I cry, starting to sob again.

"I know. I know," he whispers, soothingly.

We stand there for a moment, just hugging. I don't even like my dad that much, but I just need someone right now. Anyone.

"How's Alex?" I ask, tears still running down my face.

"She's good."

"And the twins?"

"They're good, too. So is Katie," he responds.

Conversations with my dad are usually pretty awkward, considering I only met Alex once while she was pregnant with the twins. And I've never met any of their three kids.

"Are you ready to go home?" My dad asks, pulling away from our hug.

I wipe my nose on my sleeve and shake my head. "No, it's spring break. We're staying here all week then I'll go back to Georgia on Sunday after the um... after the funeral," I manage to choke out the last few words.

"No, I mean home to Arizona. You're gonna come live with Alex and I."

~

(A/N): happy thanksgiving