Hey again! Hopefully you enjoyed Chapter Two. (: Here is Chapter Three! If you can't tell already, this fanfic will be sad; but cute comforting Maltara moments are also included, so I think that makes it okay. (;
Also, in answer DizzyRedhead's question, 'How old is Madison?', she is six! I briefly mentioned it in the first paragraph of Chapter One, but it was kind of easy to miss.
Anyways, enjoy!
Chapter Three – Hello To Goodbye
Once again, I was startled awake by a voice. This time, though, it sounded vaguely familiar; and urgent. The pressing tone of the person's voice fully roused me. I was again momentarily puzzled as to my location, and exactly why I was there. I was caught in that blissful stage of unawareness. Wrapped in a warm blanket and Mal's arms, I could almost forget everything that had happened. Almost. Like yesterday, it all came flooding back. When I came to full consciousness, the urgent look on Doctor McNeil's face caused me to immediately awaken Mal, prodding him into consciousness.
"Mr. and Mrs. Fallon, I-" He began to say something, but I anxiously cut him off.
"What is it? Is Madison alright?" I interjected, standing stiffly from where I had been lying. Beside me, Mal sat up and groggily looked around, obviously momentarily wrapped in those few seconds of bliss. Then his eyes grew colder as he took Doctor McNeil's disconcerted face in, and it was apparent that those few seconds had all too quickly passed for him, too.
"Is she okay, Doctor?" Mal asked quickly, rigidly arising from his sleeping position.
"That's actually what I came to inform you of," he said wearily. "Madison is... I'm not going to sugar-coat it, alright?" I felt myself nod, but I don't remember doing it.
"She's in bad shape," he continued. My heart sank, and a small lump began to rise in my throat again.
"We did all that we could, but Madison lost a lot of blood, and her body is going into shock. I'm sorry, but... you should probably go and say your goodbye's. She's trying to hang on, but she physically won't be able to much longer. She's a smart girl, though; I think she knows."
"She's her mother's daughter," Mal said shakily, squeezing my hand.
"She's holding on for you two. I'm truly sorry," McNeil added.
I thanked the Doctor, then turned away and covered my mouth with my hand, trying to control the round of sobs I felt coming on. My body shook with the effort, but for once in my life, I didn't really care.
"Come on, Nat," Mal coaxed gently. His voice shook, and I knew he was fighting to control it, for both mine and Madison's sake. He stood and extended a hand down towards me, helping me up. I forced a small smile in thanks, then followed Mal through the double doors once again. We walked silently but quickly down the hall, wanting to spend every moment we could with our daughter.
Upon entering her room, I immediately noticed how pale she looked. Despite her physical state, her face lit up when she saw Mal and I.
"Hi, mommy! Hi daddy!" she greeted happily, delighted to see us. I was surprised at first, given the whimper-y state we left her in last night.
"Hi, sweetheart," I murmured unsteadily, determined not to lose it in front of her.
"Hi, princess," Mal said, obviously fighting for the same resolution as I. We couldn't show her how upset we were; we didn't want to scare her. Despite my best efforts, though, a few tears slipped out. I quickly turned and brushed them away, hoping Madison hadn't seen. From the concerned look on her face, though, she had.
"Are you okay, mommy?" she asked, her innocent eyes full of concern. The question made my voice catch in my throat, and I abruptly blinked the tears away. I was anything but okay, but I couldn't tell her that. I felt Mal slip his arm around me again, pulling me close to his side.
"I'm fine, honey," I replied softly, reaching out and stroking her hair.
"Okay," she said, looking like she didn't believe me.
"Do you like the doctors?" Mal asked tentatively, unsure of whether to change the subject or not.
"Yes!" she answered eagerly. "They're really nice, especially the nurses. One of them even gave me a lollipop!"
"Ooh, nice!" Mal said enthusiastically, smiling at her. I forced a small smile and brushed hair away from her eyes.
"Did the doctors... did they tell you anything about how you're doing?" I inquired cautiously, unsure of what to say. I wanted to know how much she knew.
"They told me I'm not doing so good," she said matter-of-factly.
"Yeah," was all I managed to choke out. Mal looked away, flinching at her words.
"The doctor told me you were excited to see us," Mal sad softly, seeming to recover his composure.
"Yep! I've been waiting to see you and mommy. I heard the doctors say I was holding on just for you." She smiled up at us, and even in her rapidly-deteriorating state, her eyes still shone with that precious innocence she always possessed.
"Well, thank you for hanging on," Mal said quietly, taking her tiny hand in his.
I knew what I had to say, but I didn't want to say it. I had to let her know that she didn't have to hold on anymore. Her little body wouldn't be able to take it much longer, no matter how hard her spirit fought. It would shut down on its own, and neither Mal nor I wanted that. I opened my mouth to speak, and the words caught in my throat. Mal looked at me and gave my shoulders a squeeze, like he knew what I was going to say.
"You can let go now, Madi," I choked out, begging my building emotions to hold on just a little longer. "We love you so much," I added, wanting to make sure she knew that.
"Okay," she said, leaning back against her pillow. She was clearly exhausted from fighting death's awful grip. "I love you, mommy and daddy."
"I love you, too," we said in unison, each taking turns leaning in and kissing her forehead. I have no idea where the sudden brave-face came from, but it really did help make it at least a tiny bit easier. Not easier to lose her, but... I don't know, really.
"I'm going home now," Madison whispered, relaxing herself against the sheets. "I'll be waiting for you guys, okay?"
"Okay," Mal said.
"Okay," I said. "We love you," I added one last time, feeling my voice and heart break.
Madison smiled up at us, lovingly looking at us with her pretty brown eyes. I treasured the sight, because I knew I wouldn't get to see them again. I knew there were pictures, but... it would never, ever be the same. Nothing would be the same, really. I heard someone walk in behind us, but I hardly noticed. My full focus was on Madison.
"Love you, too," she said again, closing her eyes. She took a final breath, then lay still. The heart monitor by her bed beeped a few more times, before it flat-lined, sending a long, harsh tone through the room.
"I'm terribly sorry," Doctor McNeil said from behind us. A second later, I heard him turn and walk out of the room, closing the door to give us some privacy.
That's when we both lost it.
I broke down in tears, still kneeling in front of the bed. I rested my arms on the bed, leaning my head into them. I was sobbing loudly, but I was far past the point of giving a single damn. Mal kneeled behind me and wrapped his arms around me. I heard him crying into the back of my shirt, losing the composure he was fighting for seconds earlier.
I knew I should be thankful for the six short years Mal and I had with her, but the only things I could think about right then, were the things that I'd never get to do with her. I'd never get to see her finish kindergarten. I'd never get to watch her start middle school, then later high school. I'd never get to take her prom pictures, or keep tabs on her boyfriend. I'd never get to see her graduate and go off to college. I'd never get the chance to watch her walk down the aisle, marrying the guy of her dreams. I'd never get to spoil her grandchildren. I wouldn't get to watch her grow up.
