PLEASE TAKE NOTE: This book is NOT rated Mature, however it contains the subject of death. This subject matter is heavy and may be a sensitive topic. A character does pass away, but the story deals around the process of healing from that loss and comfort. WHEN POTENTIALLY SENSITIVE CONTENT ARISES, I WILL POST A WARNING IN ALL CAPS & BOLD IT. The coping mechanisms presented may not be the best ways of coping with a loss. Everything presented here is for fanfiction and storytelling purposes. Do not use my work to help you or a friend with the grieving process. Please enjoy & thank you for reading.
Evie had just found out at her latest appointment that she was expecting their first child and she struggled to contain her excitement. She dreamed of this her entire life and couldn't hold in her excitement as she called her best friend who as the Queen of Auradon, already had two princes and princess of her own, Mitchell, Bea and Henry.
"M-Mal?" Evie stuttered as she bit her lip, keeping herself from blurting out her news.
"Hey, Evie. Do you mind, I've got to get Henry cleaned up and Bea and Mitch down for a nap. Can I call you later?" She said seemingly less amused.
"Yeah, of course, M" she said a bit dejected, but had a feeling she'd soon understand as she looked down at her stomach.
"Thanks, E" she said quickly as the phone line went flat and she sighed to herself and stared into blank space.
Way too excited, she suddenly sprang up and grabbed her keys, going for a drive to her in-law's who were always happy to see her.
Annabelle and Dopey had been taking it fairly easy at their resort as they were almost at the Auradon law of retirement age.
As usual, Annabelle was in the gardens planting petunias and tulips with a few other staff members. The woman, so thoughtful and friendly had encouraged staffers to join her when business was slow. She used it as a keen way to get to know those who found dependence in income from the Resort. As Evie drove through the lattice gates that read Meditation Springs, she was elated.
Upon noticing a royal blue sedan pull up, Annabelle immediately knew who had come to visit.
"Oh, my dear, Evie!" She said happily as Evie walked up to the woman who took off her gloves and hugged the girl. Evie smiled and pulled away as together they walked inside and Annabelle washed her hands and offered her tea and biscuits, a staple in the residency of the White's.
"So?" Annabelle said as she already had a feeling for her daughter's presence. After multiple phone calls and chats, Annabelle knew it to be nearly a characteristic for the girl to want a family, and ironically differing to her son, a large one at that.
"You're going to be a Nana!" Evie blurted as she and Annabelle both squealed. For her age, the woman was quite young in mind, body and soul. "I found out like 2 hours ago and I couldn't help but tell someone. I tried Doug but he didn't answer. I assumed he was in the labs, where he usually can't answer me" she explained as Annabelle gave a slight eye roll.
"That boy. He will regret being in the lab during this occasion" She said playfully as Evie giggled. "Well congratulations, Mrs. White"
"Thank you. I was way too excited to even be around myself. I just can't believe it. I honestly don't care whether it's a girl or a boy. I just want a little precious bundle of joy to call me mommy" Evie said glowing with happiness.
"Oh, sweetie. It's the best feeling of your entire life. Granted, I got that experience earlier than expected, but nonetheless, raising Doug and Daisy was and still is so much fun and such an honor" Annabelle said as Evie nodded.
"I just hope they stick around–I" Evie began as Annabelle immediately saw her daughter's face drop. "I have a birth defect, so it may be a risky one. My doctor said I'm fine for right now and so is our Bean, but I can't help but think of everything that could go wrong. I haven't fully explained my condition to Doug, I mean he knows that I have complications but not exactly the extent of it"
"What's stopping you from telling him? I'm sure he'd support you and want to know" Annabelle said as she bit into a biscuit and sat back, concern written all over her face. Evie gave a small smile.
"Well, would he think marrying me was a mistake? The fact that I might have trouble carrying our baby, could be something he will be upset about. I have a fear that he'll think I'm a disappointment" Evie admitted as Annabelle shook her head.
"Evie, sweetie. In that mind of his, I don't think your ability to have little ones was a priority. Too be honest, he is a bit of an oddball. I know you know that he's a bit of a geek, but he once said that he always marveled at your intelligence, determination and how spontaneous and creative you were. Now, I'd be surprised it he's never told you that," Annabelle said as Evie nodded her head. "Did he ever ask whether you could or not?"
"No. I think he sort of assumed since I always said it was a dream of mine to have a large family" Evie replied as she sipped the last of her tea and she refilled her cup.
"I assure you there is nothing to worry about" Annabelle concluded as Evie's smile started to curve back on her face as though she knew everything would turn out just fine.
However, in just a short moment of 10 weeks, Evie would be found sobbing. Silently sitting on the rocking bench on their front porch, letting her hair wave in the wind, she shifted with every rock. Hands clasped in her lap, her eyes closed tight, she whispered a few words.
"My Little Star, wherever you are. Though we never met, you were mine and I was yours. Remembered and loved in my heart, always and forever" She fluttered her eyes open, her tear stained cheeks heating up as she simply stood and let the wind dry her face.
There was not enough courage, nor words to describe to her husband she had lost their anticipated child. To tell Annabelle, her son had incidentally married a nearly infertile freak.
The hurt that stained her heart and left it empty was something she couldn't bare. Making it to the bedroom, she picked up the black and white photograph of the unknown child that the world would never get to meet.
She was now a mother in spirit.
And that's when the heavens of her tear ducts opened and released a waterfall.
Cursing herself a million times, she hadn't realized she had been sobbing for hours. Her face red, her head throbbing,
Doug walked into the room.
He knelt at her side as he noticed the small photograph in her hand. The one that they had marveled at just over a week ago. The pieces to the puzzle coming together, he immediately embraced his wife as she refused to look in his eyes. With now full understanding, Doug held her close and she slowly grasped onto him.
Not a word was said as his head was spinning with questions and concerns. Trying not to overwhelm her with his silence, he whispered sweet nothings in her ear and calmed her down to the point where she could match his calm breaths.
"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" Evie said as he tried to let go to get a good look in her eyes, but she refused with a persistent grip on his forearm.
"No, Evie, no. Don't be sorry. Just let your mind flow free. No worries, no stress, no pain, no faults" he whispered as she started to let go and readjusted herself, lying her head comfortably on his chest as they sat crisscross on the floor. With a few deep breaths, she managed to cry herself to sleep. Doug felt stray tears running down his cheeks, sending tingles down his spine. It wasn't a normality of his to cry. Typically, he let out his emotions in more structured ways, but there were few moments of brokenness in which he felt this way.
He would never admit to her, despite everything he's optimistically said to her, but he had lost a bit of his hope. This came to his surprise, yet he had contemplated at late hours of the night this possibility. But no matter how much he prepared and thought of solutions, no parent, no genius, no one could prepare motions in the loss of a child.
Suddenly it felt like their world had came to a stop, the world halted in its orbit and all things became as still as the silence. It wouldn't be the same. From this moment on, Evie and Doug would find a new definition of love in their relationship and what it meant to live.