the three of us {chim}

Piece 120

hello, my loves!!  i am so deeply sorry that i have abandoned you for so long!  but i'm back (hopefully)!  hope you enjoy!!!!  merry christmas!! ❤️

Author's POV

Cheryl is still sprawled out on Camille's hospital bed, now fully holding her baby. The mother has never felt more protective over Camille in her life. It's beginning to take its toll on Cheryl — Kimberley can tell.  It's not often that Cheryl goes mute and ignores everybody.  Kimberley's family have come in to visit Camille and Cheryl hasn't budged or said a word to any of them.

"Baby, do you want to eat something?" Kimberley asks her fiancée as she rubs her back.  Cheryl timidly shakes her head and refuses to eat.

A knock sounds on the door and everyone except for Cheryl turns to look.  Joan's face appears and everyone seems to take a fresh breath of relief.  If anyone can snap Cheryl back into place, it's Joan.

"I'm so happy to see you," Kimberley sighs and hugs Joan immediately.  The woman takes the blonde in her arms and can feel her slowly breaking.

Joan releases Kimberley and looks past her shoulder.  There lies a lost Cheryl and an unconscious Camille.  The mother takes a step closer to her daughter and granddaughter and frowns at the sight.  Joan walks over to Cheryl and strokes her hair.

"Cheryl," Joan speaks and everyone holds their breaths once again, "What's wrong, pet?" She asks and sees Cheryl slowly crack.  Her eyes become watery, her hold around Camille becomes tighter, her stone-cold expression fades.

"Me baby," Was all Cheryl could get out before breaking down in front of her mother.  Kimberley began shuffling everyone out as she realized what was about to happen.

"Cheryl-" Joan tries to calm her daughter down.  Kimberley just stands silently at the door and watches.

"Mam, I don't know what to do!" Cheryl bursts and sits up on the bed.  She looks down at her babygirl and puts her hand on Camille's head.

"She'll wake up-" Joan tries again to keep Cheryl on the ground but gets interrupted.

"It's been days!" Cheryl urges on and doesn't take her eyes off of Camille.

"Just give her-" Joan speaks up but doesn't get the chance to finish — once again.

"I've done everything I can!" Cheryl chokes on her words and bites the inside of her cheeks.

"Bubba," Joan grasps Cheryl's shoulders and looks intently into the terrified eyes of her daughter, "You have to be strong!  You need to pull it together!" Joan almost shouts at the grown woman, needing her to collect her brain and jam it back into her head.

Cheryl takes a deep breath and looks down to the floor.  She calms herself down and stands up for the first time since last night.  She walks over to Kimberley and embraces her tightly.  The blonde doesn't question the hold and wraps her arms around Cheryl's slim figure.

"I'm sorry," The brunette mutters and kisses Kimberley's cheek.  The blonde smiles and pulls back to see Cheryl in tears.

"It's okay, my love." Kimberley smiles and wipes her fiancées tears.  She holds the delicate cheeks in her hands and kisses the Geordie's soft lips.

"Nothing to apologize for." Kimberley understandably mentions as her and Cheryl walk back to Camille's hospital bed.

"Can we come in now?" Garry asks as he pokes his head around the door.  Cheryl turns around and nods with a giggle.  She goes to hug her brother and sees her Dad standing behind him.