What Happens After the End
AN: Hi all! Before I begin, I want to say this is my first story written for The Middle. I am so sad it ended, and even though Sue and Sean FINALLY got together, I really wish we had been able to see them be together as a couple. So, I decided I'm going to write it. I'm still rolling around different ideas for a re-write of the last half of the season beginning with the New Year's Eve party, but this other idea popped into my mind and here we are.
Also, while this is my first Middle fic, it's not my first fic overall. I usually write Rookie Blue fic, (if you have never seen it, Rookie Blue was a Canadian cop show that ran for 6 seasons on ABC in the summer. RUN to your Amazon account and catch up ASAP #McSwarekForever #TeamAndyonSam To my RB followers, I SWEAR I am going to pick up on "The One Where we Re-do Season 3". I did not abandon it, I just have a really hard time writing during the school year between teaching, grad school, the kids, the hubby, and the house. In a few weeks my schedule frees up dramatically and then I got you!
Synopsis: This is set after the finale, but obviously before Frankie gives us a glimpse into the future. Sue has been doing anything and everything to keep herself busy and her mind off of her new boyfriend, but it's a lot harder than she thought it would be. Sean's first phone call home is to let her know sending mail is futile since there's a chance they may not see any until after he gets back home. So Sue decides to do something special for when Sean gets home.
80 days. It had been exactly 80 days since Sue had last kissed Sean. At first the excitement and emotion of their moment on the side of the highway had been enough to keep Sue calm, but in the days and weeks that followed, that sense of calm was replaced with a deep sense of longing. Sue didn't just miss Sean, she LONGED for him. The way you might long for water after walking through a desert. Sure, he had called as often as he could, and they were even able to get in not one, but two Facetime calls regardless of the shoddy reception he had. But that was it. The first call came about forty-eight hours after they parted ways. Sean wanted to let Sue know he had safely made it and was with the other doctors at the clinic. He also wanted to let her know that not only was it going to be difficult to make calls, (Sue had already figured as much when he told her weeks earlier about where in Ghana he was headed) but that mail was unreliable at best. He told her the other doctors said if they saw one mail truck in a three month time span they were lucky. The nearest post office was a two hour drive. Sean knew Sue would be writing to him, not only had she mentioned it when they were both still at school, but he just knew writing would be a very Sue thing to do, and he didn't want to miss getting her letters. Sue had been upset, naturally, but it wasn't just because she wanted to make Sean feel less homesick like he thought. For Sue, writing to Sean would help keep her focused and hopefully stop her from being a hot mess on her parents couch all summer. She thought Sean leaving not knowing how she felt would be bad, but him leaving knowing they loved each other had proven to be far worse.
When the Heck's arrived back in Indiana after prying Frankie away from Axl and Denver, Mike had reminded a very mopey and sullen Sue that she told him before they left that she was not going to let the thing with Sean ruin her summer. Sue decided her dad was right, only instead of finding ways to have fun, she found ways to keep her mind off the state of things. This meant that for the first few weeks she pulled extra shifts at the mall until she got a phone call from a professor at East Indy asking if Sue would want a job in the Housing Department working in the office and assisting the summer RA's. Sue jumped at the chance. It was beyond hard living at home with a constantly emotional Frankie, an even quieter Mike, and Brick, who had been spending all summer redecorating his now single room. That, coupled with also dealing with an overly emotional Nancy Donahue was more than Sue could take. So fourteen days after returning to Orson, Sue found herself back at her East Indy apartment.
At first, the quiet was nice. It gave her time to mope over Sean in peace. Brad had taken a job as an NBC Page in New York. He had applied ages ago and the call came while Sue was in Denver. She was happy for her friend, and knew that even though Brad was content at home, he needed to be able to dip his toes back into life in the city. Lexie was on vacation in the Bahamas with her parents, and planned on staying at their villa until her trip to see Axl. Sue, of course, had been invited by Lexie and her parents to come crash in the Bahamas as well, but Sue declined. She didn't think her and Lexie both moping would be good for either of them, and she needed to work. So, when Sue wasn't working, which was a lot, she picked up as many hours as the university would allow, she worked on the project she dreamed up the day after she arrived back at school.
It had been a rainy day, and once Sue had her things moved back into the apartment, she collapsed on the couch with plans to find the sappiest chick flick and have yet another good cry when it hit her. Sean said that she shouldn't write because he probably wouldn't get the letter before coming home, he didn't say he didn't want her to write. So Sue decided right at that moment that she would write to Sean, only instead of mailing the letters, she would compile them and give them to Sean when he came home. Sean told her that before he could officially come home, he would need to participate in a post-program workshop that would be taking place in Indy immediately upon his return. It was supposed to be the last three days of his three months, and he would get to go back to Orson as soon as they were finished with him. Sue's plan was to email Sean the letters so he could read them in his spare time in Indy.
Sue had decided to forgo writing each day, and decided to write weekly. She figured it would give her something to look forward to and serve as a way for her to countdown the weeks until Sean's return. Besides, she really was picking up as many hours as possible so between working, her twice weekly trips back to Orson at her mother (and Nancy's) insistence, and applying to internships for next year, Sue kept so busy that most nights she fell asleep not long after getting back to her apartment. Her plan to keep busy had worked, and although she didn't get to enjoy the summer as much as she could have, Sue was happy. She had made it to the last letter before Sean was due home. Almost three months had passed, classes were starting again in about three weeks, and in just six short days, Sean would be back in Orson and all would be right with her world. As Sue put the finishing touches on what would be the last letter, she thought back to the first and the rest of that day.
They had arrived at the hotel in Denver, and upon seeing the free Wi-Fi sign in the lobby, everyone except Mike had immediately turned their phones back on. Sue was both happy and a little upset to find she missed a few texts.
Lexie: OMG Axl texted me the news! He actually flagged you down on the side of the highway? Soooo sweet! I'm so happy for you, Sue! These next few months will fly by! Offer to vacay in the Bahamas still stands! Love ya!
Brad: OMG your MOM sent me a video message. At first I thought she turned on the camera because all I saw were feet, but then she fixed it and I caught EVERYTHING. I want details as soon as you get home. I don't leave for New York for another week so we have plenty of time to re-hash! Love ya!
Nancy Donahue: Sue, oh sweetie! Your mom sent me the video of you and Sean and I am just so happy for you two! I knew something was up when you came looking for him in that dress the night of your dance. I knew I should have said something then, but all's well that ends well! Come over when you get home, I have been baking up a storm to stop thinking about Sean leaving. Have a safe trip!
Sean: Suzy Q, I'm back at the airport and I have a little bit of time before my next flight. I just wanted to text you and tell you again that I love you. I feel like such an idiot for not telling you a million other times, but I swear when I get home I will make up for it. I already ordered a new snow globe. I know, it's not the same as the one we lost, but I feel like that snow globe needs to be replaced. A fresh one for a fresh start. I'm already counting the days until I'm home – with you. I love you, Sue Heck. Xoxoxo
Sue sighed with happiness and spent the next hour rereading Sean's texts as her family bickered over beds and bathroom order around her. She didn't care about anything except the man who's heart was now hers. Sue still couldn't believe things finally worked out for them. She couldn't even be angry with her mom for filming the whole thing and would have to get Frankie to send her the video later.
As the night wore down, and her family drifted off to sleep, Sue decided to start writing her first letter.
Dear Sean, Letter 1
Well, we arrived in Denver. As soon as we got here and we connected to the hotel Wi-Fi, I saw your text. I wanted to cry when I realized I could have responded before you left. Oh Sean, I don't think I've ever been this happy, or this sad all at once! I also can't believe Axl knew you liked me and that Brick took the things you brought for me! When I said they are so frustrating I meant it. Neither felt bad, by the way. Axl also said that while the thought of us makes him want to vomit, he also really did think you were drunk that night and swears he would have told me if he thought it were true. I think he's happy for us. He keeps looking at me and mumbling "my sister and my best friend" and shaking his head.
I keep replaying that moment on the side of the highway over and over in my mind. It's like the best daydream, except it wasn't a dream! I'm still really sad about the snow globe but I think it's super sweet that you want to replace it. Even if you don't, I swear I will always be your special snowflake. OMG Sean, I have so many things I want to say to you and I just can't seem to make enough sense to get it out, but I will try my best because I realize that you laid it all on the line out there on the highway and I just kind of reacted. Not that kissing you wasn't the best, because it was, and I am already sad that I have to wait three months to do it again, but there are things I want to say that I didn't get the chance to.
I really do love you so much. I want you to know that I didn't just say that because you did. I think I've been in love with you for a long time. I mean, I have had a crush on you since I was younger, but at some point in the last year that you have been home and at St. Matt's that schoolgirl crush on the boy next door became so much more. I am really angry at myself that so much time was lost because we have terrible timing and because I had convinced myself that there was no way you could feel the same way. I mean, I thought you liked Lexie, and she and I are definitely not the same. I can't imagine what this year has been like for you, seeing me date other people. I don't know why I did. I think I was trying to convince myself to just move on, that you and I was really just some little girl's dream and that all we would be was friends. If I had known the night I found the snow globe that it was from you, I would have gone after you, I swear.
But, I suppose if you were here you would tell me to stop feeling bad, and that you could have stepped up more. It's kind of odd, having you in my head like I do. As I write, I find myself hearing your voice in response. I think that's what happens when you've known someone your whole life. I should have just talked to you after we kissed on Christmas. That night was one of the best moments of my life and when it all came apart a week later I didn't know what to think, or do!
I've been thinking about what you said, about how I am your soulmate. Well Sean, that is mutual because you are my soulmate. There's no one that makes me feel more like me, than you, No one makes me feel whole or happy like you can. I've had that feeling for as long as I can remember. It's crazy, isn't it? That we've had these feelings and we've spent so long pushing them away? Can you imagine how things would have been if we had done this sooner? Maybe it's better if we just think about the future, huh?
I hope you like it in Ghana. Brick has been looking up everything related to your trip since we got here and he keeps spewing different facts at me, none of which sound so great, by the way. I know you are supposed to be in a safe place, and this program has been going on for a long time, but it doesn't mean I'm not going to worry about you. Just stay safe, okay? I know you will, but obviously I'm going to worry.
I should probably go. We have to get up early and get Axl moved into his new place before we start the trip home. Mom has been stress eating and binge watching the video she took since we got here, so tomorrow should be funnnn. I'm totally lying, tomorrow is going to be long and torture. But it's one day closer to you coming home, right? Anyway, I'm going to stop here.
I love you, Sean. I can't wait for you to get back here so I can hug and kiss you and tell you I love you to your face.
Love,
Your Special Snowflake
Sue smiled and wiped the tears that started every time she read back over her old letters. If anything her love for Sean only grew over these last few months, which Sue thought was interesting since she had only been able to talk to him three times, and the calls were each less than ten minutes. She and Sean had yet to even go on a real date, but here she was, desperately in love with the beautiful man she got to call hers. Sue closed her laptop and wondered into the kitchen to make a quick dinner. She had just been home for one of her twice weekly visits the night before, and as usual, Nancy Donahue had sent her back to East Indy with a stockpile of food. Nancy and Frankie had grown even closer over the summer, and spent the first week of Axl and Sean's departure crying and drinking wine glass after glass together. After that they both started to try to go back to normal, although Sue noticed they seemed to hold more barbecues (not that either of their husbands minded) and any time she was home, she was not sent back to school without something. Nancy had even insisted Sue stop at their house for dessert before making her way back to school. Sue had to admit, she did enjoy spending time with Sean's family. After all, he had spent so much time with hers over the years, the least she could do was spend some time with his. So she enjoyed twice weekly desserts and conversation with the Donahue's, and each night Nancy handed her a bag of food and goodies to take back to school. Sue knew she often did this when Sean would go home and graciously accepted the gifts as Nancy's way of staying connected to her son and their routine. Her cooking was excellent, and Sue didn't have to spend time in the kitchen other than to reheat things, so she was not about to complain.
Dinner finished, Sue was about to head to bed when she heard a knock at her door. Confused, she peeped through the hole, than opened the door wide, a look of pure shock written all over her face.
A cliffhanger on Chapter 1? Who would do such a thing? The answer is me. Hope you like it!
Disclaimer: I am an English teacher by trade and we are generally our own worst enemies when it comes to writing. So either we over analyze every single word we write, or we just choose to ignore and submit. I am the latter, so my writing is done completely off the cuff. No beta, no edits. I apologize for any grammatical or syntactical mistakes in my writing.