A game I can't lose

Mom's approval

Not much happened with Jallery over the next couple of weeks.
Although Jordan was feeling pretty content with life. At least compared to a year ago.

They were at camp, everyone was teasing them over both players reluctance to admit their feelings when Jordan's phone rang.

"Hello? Who is it?"
"Jordan..." Xabi's sniffs could be heard "Mama's at the hospital."

With that Jordan was out. She quickly told the team that she had to leave before informing Jill and Dawn of a "family emergency".

Quickly packing her stuff, Jordan didn't expect the door to open.
"I'm coming with you."
"Mal..."
"I'm serious. We're inseparable. Always have been."
Jordan looked up from zipping her suitcase.
"It's just my mum...I don't want you to..."
She felt her hand being squeezed. "I'm here," her girlfriend firmly told her, "always."

The nearest plane was taken from Chicago to Denver where Mal and Jordan rushed to the hospital, finding her distraught siblings in the reception.
"Is mama going to be ok?" Britt wailed.
Jordan didn't know. She didn't.

"I'll stay with them." Mal broke the silence.
Jordan looked to her girlfriend in surprise.
"You don't-"
"It's fine." Mal gently kissed her on the head, "Go see your mother."

Jordan went to the receptionist, being told that her mom was in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit.
She then sped to the ward where she saw her stepdad outside the room, wiping the tears off his face when he saw her.
"What's going on?" She whispered, aware of the sound of the heart monitor.

Francesco shrugged. "They're looking at heart failure." He admitted.
Both of them sat outside for hours and Jordan spent the time by putting her head in her hands, ignoring the looks of pity she got from staff passing by.
She was going to message Mal to tell her she should go back to camp when a nurse came out the room, saying that they could visit.

Jordan waited for Francesco. To her surprise, he didn't take long although he looked even more upset than before.
"You can go in," was all he uttered to her.
So Jordan entered the room, her eyes at first laying on the doctors, nurses, then...her mom.

Cristína was a strong woman. And it hurt Jordan to see her like this.
"Chiqa?" She gasped and all the animosity between mother and daughter had disappeared.
The tears ran down Jordan's face, "Oh mama...I'm so sorry."
Cristína waved a hand away as best as she could. "Don't be." She then made full eye contact. "Donde esta ella?"
Jordan frowned. "Mal?"
Cristína tried to sit up, although the nurses quickly persuaded her to lie down.
"Sí," she nodded, "Me gustaría conocer a la futera esposa de mi hija."
Jordan rolled her eyes. "Mom it's Mal. You've known her forever!"
Cristína shrugged before wincing. "Cierto. I've not seen her in a while though."
Jordan nodded. "I'll go get her."
Just as she was turning on her heel she heard, "Jordan?"
Jordan turned around.
"Sorry," her mother whispered, "for not being more accepting. It's just...I've never known any different. It's how I was raised, it's how you were raised. I just want you to be happy."
Jordan nodded, not sure if she could forgive her mother. "I know mama."

Jordan was back at the reception, seeing Britt sleeping on Matteo's shoulder, her youngest brother playing on his Nitendo Switch and Xabi on his phone.
Mal had been pacing about but stopped upon seeing Jordan.
"How is she?" She instantly said and got the attention of Jordan's brothers.
Slightly overwhelmed by the sudden attention, Jordan told them, "Not too bad thank God. Mal...she wants to meet you."
Mal frowned. "She's known me since I was four."
She received a shrug. "Beats me."

So they were back. Jordan didn't imagine her introducing a lover in circumstances like this, but at least her mum seemed more accepting.

"Hello Cristína," Mal went to almost curtesy but was stopped by her concerned girlfriend.
Not that Jordan's mom really cared. "Hello Mallory, we've not spoke in a while."
Mal anxiously giggled. "Yeah, I don't know why."
Jordan's mom looked to the clock, aware she should be getting some rest now.
"I just want to say that Mallory...you have my full approval."
Despite her mother's apology, Jordan raised her eyebrows although Mal's face lit up.

"And that..." Jordan was shocked to see tears coming down her mom's face , "could you try...and take care of Jordan the best you can? Please? The kid's a fighter but she's been through so much,"
Cristína's eyes were on her daughter and Jordan got the reference to her dad.

After her final goodbyes, Mal left, telling Jordan she'd be with the rest of her family in the reception.
Jordan looked to her mom whose eyes were now shut, the heart monitor indicating her heart rate was a lot slower.

"Bye mom," she kissed her mother's head, before walking out, for the last time.