Word count : 1138
"We're here, Vi," Niall says softly touching my shoulder to wake me. I sit up to see we're parked in the hospital parking lot. Niall is the first to get out after turning off the car. I get out of the passenger seat as Louis and Liam get out of the back and get Emily and Addison out of their car seat and booster seat.
Niall reaches out and wraps my hand in his. We all make our way into the hospital with solemn expressions. The doctors told us a week ago that she only had a few days left, max, so every day we were all spending our time at the hospital with Gem.
"Hey, Gem, how you feelin'?" I ask once we step into the hospital room.
"Tired, as usual, but excited to see all my lovely family members," she says. She reaches her arms out and Louis hands her Addy.
"How's my lovely princess doing?" Addy coos and spits bubbles with her lips and Gemma wipes them with the blanket.
We spend the day playing card games, watching The Price is Right, and eating lunch together. After lunch Niall and I pack up everything and eat ready to head out.
"We'll see you later, Gem. We've got that pot roast in the cooker for dinner tonight," I say and she smiles.
"You do make a fine good roast, Violet May. I'll be here, waitin' for you lot to come back," she says with a grin. I nod as we all bid our goodbyes. Louis and Liam help get Emmy and Addy in their car seats and we drive off. We drops Louis and Liam off at their place since they already had plans to make a homemade pizza, so Niall and I head home with the girls.
Once we arrive we all get changed into our pajamas early and watch a movie before dinner.
"Hey, Ni? I'm gonna go feed Addy, will you get the table set?"
"Yeah, babe. I got it."
I take Addison upstairs and quickly feed her before putting her down. Her bedside clock reads 7:49 and I head down stairs after turning out the light.
I dish out the roast on three plates along with potatoes and a dinner roll for each. The table is already set with a fork, knife, and glasses filled with wine and a glass of water for Emily.
"She eat okay?" Niall asks picking up a bite of roast. I nod and Emily begins to speak.
"Is auntie Gemma dying?" I nearly choke on my potatoes before I set my fork down.
"Baby, auntie Gemma is really sick. She's got something called cancer, and it's a very bad illness to get because it can make you really sick."
"Sick enough to die?"
"Mhm, but we talked about what happens when people die, right Em?"
"They go to Heaven."
"They do, they go to Heaven."
"But I won't see her anymore."
"I know, baby, but we can talk to her and visit her, but auntie Gemma isn't gone yet. Just keep eating baby," I say softly feeling uneasy. We finish our dinner and for dessert we have a fruit platter Harry brought home from a work party the other night.
The phone rings and Niall excuses himself to pick it up.
"It's Harry," he says monotonously. As soon as he picks up the phone I can hear Harry sobbing on the other end.
"She's gone, Niall. She's dead." Harry sobs and I can feel myself halt my breathing. I look up at Emily and she looks back at me. Tears fill her eyes and she begins to cry. Niall begins comforting Harry over the phone while my eyes begin to burn. Emily runs up the stairs to her room and I feel my heart sink in my chest.
"Okay, we'll be there as soon as we can, bye mate."
"Violet," as soon as my name leaves his lips I collapse into the floor screaming and crying.
"No!" I shout hoarsely as sobs rack my body. "No! We were just there, she was fine! She held Addy and Emily, she was smiling and talking, she was fine!"
"Baby," Niall says soothingly. "Harry says she went to sleep after we left. He went to the bathroom and when he came back nurses were in the room. Once she went to sleep, she went."
"I, can't," I choke as I begin to feel my stomach churn. I quickly stand with the help of Niall and he holds my hair as I empty my stomach into the trash.
"I'm fine, go check on Emily."
"Harry says we can come say our goodbyes if we want," he offers. I nod and wipe my mouth.
"Go get Emily ready. Has Harry talked to Liam and Lou?"
"Yes, he said they were on their way when I talked to him."
"What about Addy?"
"Call Zack, or Ava," he says. I nod and pull out my phone once he makes his way up the stairs.
"Hey, V! What's up?" Ava asks.
"I need a big favor, Ave," I say brokenly.
"Yeah of course, what's wrong?" She asks.
"Gemma's passed, Niall Emily and I are going to the hospital to say goodbye. Is there any way you could come watch Addy? Or we could drop her off?"
"Yeah! No problem, I'll be over in just a moment. I'm actually on my way back from dropping Zack Jroff at Zack Sr's house, funny how that works out, but I'll be there in about ten."
"Okay, thank you so much, I owe you." She chuckles at this and I can see her smiling in my head.
"No you don't, babes. It's fine."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome, and Vi? I'm sorry."
"Thank you, me too," I reply before hanging up. I walk up the stairs into Emily's room to see Niall sitting on her bed with her in his lap.
"Do you wanna go say bye bye to auntie Gemma?" Niall asks softly. Emily shrugs and I sigh.
"You don't have to, baby. Ava is coming over to watch Addy, you can stay her with her if you want," I tell her. She nods at that idea and I smile when I hear the doorbell ring. Niall tucks her in as I get the door.
"Hey," Ava greets.
"Hey. Both girls are down, Addy's asleep and Niall's getting Em ready for bed. I just needed someone here to make sure they're safe and okay if anyone wakes. There's a bottle of milk in the fridge for Addy. She shouldn't wake but if she does you know where it is."
"No problem. You okay?"
"It hasn't hit me yet, but it will," I say as Niall comes down the stairs.
"Ready?"
"Ready as I'll ever be."
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