Sometimes You Think The Most Desperately Action Is The Only Way

by Kismet R.T. Realtin

'I must do this Mami ... it's the only way.' Veronica looked her mother dead in the eyes. Hermione's heart broke at the hopelessness in her beloved only child's tone. She tries to fight through her daughters walls ... but she was no match to the sheer granite that Veronica had managed to place around her soul. Only one person could break through.

Bingo Slot (35) - {Dialogue} "[Name] you don't have to do this." For the Riverdale Fanfiction Challenge Forum.

The Yearly 365 Challenge Prompt #322 (Relationship) Child/Parent

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Veronica paced up and down the living room.

"Ronnie?" Hermione spoke in a soft concerned voice as she simply watched her only child worrying herself into a silent sickness. "Baby." She walked over when her daughter didn't stop her pacing. She put her hands on her moving daughter; forcing Veronica to stand still. Lifting her hands to cup her baby's face in the palm of her hands. "Ronnie." She gently husked out.

Veronica looked lost.

"Come back to me baby girl." Hermione gently caressed her daughter's right cheek. "Come back to Mama please." She begged her eyes tearing up.

"Mami." Veronica whispered.

"Yes it's Mami." Hermione whispered.

Veronica's eyes began to focus. A lone silent tear rolled down her right cheek.

"What's going on baby girl?" Hermione whispered as she pulled her daughter into her for an embrace. Her right hand rose to to stroke the back of her daughter's head; and her left one rested on the curve of her shaking spine.

Veronica wrapped her arms tightly around her mother. The one parent that had always been there for her. Whom had never lied to her. Whom had never left her. She rested her head against her mother's shoulder as she began to cry wracking sobs.

Hermione hummed the lull a bye that she used to use to calm her infant daughter. It started to work after it's sixth run through.

Pulling away from her mother; Veronica stepped back wrapping her arms across her waist.

"What's going on baby?" Hermione asked one more time. Praying that her daughter would confide in her.

Veronica breathed deeply. "I'm going to turn back into 'old' Veronica again."

Hermione's heart stopped. "Veronica you don't have to do this." She said breathlessly.

Veronica looked her mother in the eyes with dead eyes. "Yes I do. It's the only way."

Hermione shook her head in denial.

"It's the only way to save her." Veronica whispered her voice broke at the final.

Hermione stepped forward. "Veronica, Betty would never want you to hurt yourself in this way. Not for her. Not for anything." She reached out to touch her beloved daughter. "She wouldn't want you to lose yourself."

Veronica shrugged her mother's hand off of her. "What else can I do to protect her? I tried protecting her through my sheer love. But it's not enough." Her heart broke. "It's not enough. I have to bring back 'Old' Veronica ... only she can finally save and protect Betty."

"Ronnie ..."

"No Mami. I have made up my mind, and my heart. I'm doing this. It's the only way." With that Veronica turned and walked from the room.

Hermione stared sightless at the empty door. "Forgive me." She sighed as she turned and walked from the room. She had someone to see. Only she could save her beloved daughter.

Hard Sad Ending