A Terrible Thing

A Terrible Thing (GregxArabella)

Greg went to sit down, Callum not too far behind him.  His face was dreadfully pale and he was barely able to stand.  Soon that was relieved when he sat down in a chair, half-heartedly motioning for Callum to sit down across from him.
He looked at the floor, not sure if he was ready to see Arabella in Callum's face yet.  She was gone... he let her go.  They could have done something.. He could have done something.  His fists clenched somewhat as he attempted to look at Callum in the eyes.
No matter how much Callum looked like him, all he could see was Arabella looking back at him.  Callum hade her bright blue eyes that were so full of life until a few days ago, her nose, her entire face.  He couldn't get the picture of her smiling at him, full of energy and completely healthy out of his head.  It's not like he wanted that part of her gone, but it's the memories that replayed over.. and over... and over again after that.  He saw her on the wall wheezing, then in the hospital, then being let out of the hospital only to be rushed into the ER.  Finally he saw her a few moments before death and then finally... completely lifeless.
He took a deep, shaky breath and said, "Callum, I have something to tell you.."
. . .
There she was again, that pink headed girl.  Greg looked at her from his desk on the complete other side of the classroom.  Only when the bell rung was he knocked out of the daze she always made him go into.  He saw her get up, wait she was coming this way?  Oh shit, had she caught him?  He scrambled to start to pack up, hoping to get out of there before he got completely embarrassed and made a total fool of himself.
He couldn't get out fast enough.  The sound of books being set down on the desk over to his left alerted Greg of that.  He hesitantly looked up to see the most beautiful girl he had ever seen looking straight at him.  He could have tried to act smooth or deny it, maybe if he could go back he would change it.
"Before you say anything I can explai-" he started frantically, only to be cut off by the voice he had only heard from afar.
"Can I tell you a wonderful thing?  I can't help but notice you staring at me.  I know I shouldn't say this, but I really believe, I can tell by your eyes," She started, taking a small breath before saying something that would change both of their lives forever.  "That you're in love with me."
. . .
Greg swallowed a growing lump in his throat, continuing on with only a slight waver in his voice.  "Now, son, I'm only telling you this because life has done a terrible thing."
His son already had a growing sense of worry showing on his face, it was obvious that he already had the worst in his mind.  It was only his luck that it was exactly what Callum was thinking.
. . .
Tears streamed down his face and his gripped at his sides, laughter bellowing out of him.  He just couldn't stop.  Right beside him was the woman that made him the happiest man alive, laughing so hard she looked like she was about to fall off hammock the two were in.  Greg's arm was wrapped around her waist as he pulled her closer to him.
It wasn't long after their laughing fit were the two gently swinging back and forth in their hammock, staring up at the star filled sky.  This wasn't something you were able to see everyday.  However the look in her eyes seemed to outshine any star that was out that night.
He could just imagine Arabella telling him how cheesy that was had he said it out loud, but it was true.  Around her his entire world just lit up like their were thousands of fireflies erasing any darkness.
. . .
It was just over two years later when he finally got up the balls to propose.  He shifted around nervously as he waited for Arabella to get back from the bathroom.  This was it.  He was going to make her his, forever.  This was his moment.  He couldn't mess it up.
In his pocket his hand never left the velvet container that held a diamond ring.  He took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself down as he saw her walk back towards his way in that beautiful shimmering, dark purple dress that only added to the beauty of her eyes and the rest of her body.
"Are you ready?" he asked, getting up from the table the two had been eating at.  Arabella nodded, casting him that smile that always made him feel like he was on air, no matter how many times it was directed towards him.
"To the beach?" she asked him as the walked out of the restraunt that was conveniently right next to the ocean.
He chuckled, "You know me so well," he said, going in that direction, only stopping at the ramp to the beach as she caught up with her heels now in hand.
The two walked in silence for about ten minutes until Greg stopped suddenly, waiting until the love of his life was a few steps ahead of him.  He cleared his throat, getting on one knee and taking out that velvet box that he hadn't let go of since they finished eating.
"Arabella," he started, watching as she turned around and her eyes travel to the now opened box, showing off the diamond ring glinting from the light of the moon.
Her hands traveled to her face, covering her completely agape mouth.  He took a deep breath, she didn't hit out of his hands which was one of the things he had made himself worried about.
"I remember when we were in high school, from the moment I saw you I knew you were the girl of my dreams.  You were, still are, and forever will be the most beautiful woman I have ever seen.  You know that I love you.  Arabella, I want to be there for you for the rest of our lives.  Will you do me the honor of marrying me?" he asked.
She was silent for a few moments, which only made him nervous.  Why wasn't she saying anything?  Were those tears?  Had he done something wrong?! These thoughts were cut short when he caught her nodding.  She nodded again, probably seeing the astounded face he was making.
"Y-yes!" she cried out, taking the ring and  placing it on her finger.
. . .
Greg tried to keep his gaze trained on Callum, his poor little boy.  "The doctors... well you see.. Y-your mother.. she didn't.."
. . .
He hadn't thought any moment would be better than the moment he was able to kiss Arabella on the lips at the wedding and officially call her his and her call him hers.  This news just seemed so great.  A few moments ago he had been told he was going to be a father.  A father!  He kissed her cheek, twirling her around carefully.
"This is great news!" he told her.
Now after several hours of his hand getting completely crushed and then patient waiting for the baby to get cleaned up, he was gazing lovingly at the little boy his wife was holding. 
"Hello my baby boy," he had heard Arabella whisper to the child.  "Hello my beautiful Callum.  Welcome to the world."
. . .
Everything had been expected to only get better, it was only a few weeks ago that Arabella had told Greg that she was expecting another child.   But no, Arabella's health had taken a turn for the worst.
He had caught her coughing and wheezing, her arm on the wall to keep her up right.  Almost immedietaly he had taken her to the doctor to make sure it wasn't anything serious.  That wasn't the case though.  They told him that they could save her, that they had caught this dreaded lung disease early enough.
Even she had smiled at him and told him, "Don't worry Greg, I'll be fine."
. . .
".. She didn't make it.." Greg finally said, his resting on his legs, bunching up the cloth from his pants.
Silence seemed to pass over the two of them like a heavy blanket.
The same things that had gone through Greg's head when he was first told the news must have been going on through Callum's head.  Had he heard him wrong?  No.. she wasn't really dead.  She had to be alive!
. . .
She had to be alive!  She couldn't be dead!  "Let me see her!" he had cried, he wasn't going to believe them until he saw her!  No, she wasn't dead.  He had to refuse to believe it!  What else could he do?  He couldn't just take it so simply, this was his wife they were talking about!  She was not dead.
He pushed past the doctor, going into her room, people were already unhooking her from the machines.  What were they doing?  She wasn't dead yet.  She wasn't dead yet!  Though then his eyes went to the still plugged in heart monitor, a completely straight line was there.  No heartbeat...
He hardly registered the tears running down his face or how he had dropped to his knees.  Everything seemed to slow down, the only thing that he could see was his wife's deathbed.  He couldn't even see her body anymore, they had covered it up.
'Come back Arabella, don't leave me in this world alone,' he thought.
. . .
That had only been a few hours ago, he wasn't able to say anything for the longest time.  There was no way he could pass on the news before.  Now it just seemed to be even worse than he had imagined.  He saw tears build up in his son's eyes and soon enough he felt tears build up in his own.
Callum launched himself into his father's arms, at which Greg was only partly surprised with.  He hugged him tightly, tears streaming down both their faces and falling onto the others' back.
This was their son.  Greg was determined to be the best father he could possibly be, to make sure Arabella lived on through him.