I'll tell everyone this right now: this is a VERY sad, major character death story. It takes place about thirty years or so into the future. So break out the kleenex and read on!

Disclaimer: Not mine!

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"Then your dad carried me out of the water and saved my life. I was barely conscious, but I remember seeing his face and thanking God that he wasn't really dead." Fiona Glenanne sighed softly. "When I woke up again, I was at your grandmother's house, and he was there with me. He didn't let me out of his sight for almost three days after that."

Riley Westen smiled at her mother's expression. "I love that story."

"Mm, so do I." A tear slowly ran down her cheek.

The younger woman's face fell when she saw her mother's tear, and without a word, she knew what was wrong. Her dad had died six months ago, and since then, her mother had been steadily declining. Riley knew she missed him, and there was nothing anyone could do about it. Swallowing hard, she reached out and took her mom's hand, squeezing it gently.

Fiona looked at her only child with such a deep sadness that Riley's breath was taken away. She and Michael had spent thirty years together. They built a life together, raised a beautiful and intelligent daughter, and they had been happy. He had died as she held his hand, and now she didn't know how to live without him. She let out a mournful sigh.

"You miss him, don't you, Mom?"

"Of course I do." He was the other half of her, and without him, she was lost. She shivered and rested her head on the pillow.

Riley absently tucked the blanket tighter around her mother. Then she moved from the chair to the edge of the bed. Her parents had been the most amazing example of true love. They fought, laughed, and lived for each other. Her Uncle Sam had once told her that she was the reason they had decided to make their union official, but when she was old enough to understand, she knew that wasn't the case. They would have eventually married even if they hadn't had her. They were bound by fate and blessed with the gift of true love.

Beside the bed was a picture of her and Michael, and Fiona looked at it. Then she sighed and closed her eyes. "I love you, Riley."

Tears filled Riley's cobalt eyes. "Love you, too, Mom." Leaning over, she kissed her mother's forehead.

Fiona smiled softly and squeezed her daughter's hand. Her heart was so weary of being without him, of not having him to hold.

More tears slid down Riley's cheeks as she held her mother's hand. "You both have waited long enough. Give Daddy a kiss for me, Mom."

A silence settled over the room, and as her mother's breathing grew shallow, Riley felt strangely at ease. She didn't want to lose her mother, too, but at least she would finally be happy again.

It happened so quietly that it took a moment for Riley to realize that her mother was no longer breathing. With a tearful sigh, she gently placed her mom's hand on her abdomen. Then she bowed her head and closed her eyes.

"Take care of each other."

And somewhere, she could have sworn she heard her father's voice say, I love you, baby.

Fin.

A/N: *sniffle* No idea where this came from, but there it is. Now I'm off to write some fluff or something. Thanks for reading, and please review!