Series: iPod Shuffle Challenge
Fandom: Eli Stone
Character / Pairing Focus: Maggie Dekker; Maggie Dekker x Eli Stone
Rating: K Plus / PG / All Ages
Notes: Shortly after 02x04 ("Should I Stay or Should I Go?").
Disclaimer: Eli Stone and all respective properties are © ABC. Megan D. (Veritas Found) does not, has never, nor will ever own Eli Stone.
I Do (performed by Jewel)
'Cause love is a game until it's played
And if it's lost it can't ever be saved
We have heaven to gain and hell to lose
And the difference is up to me and you
So if you will, I will
Stop sayin' 'I won't' and start sayin' 'I do'
She had wanted him to ask her to stay.
She had wanted more than that, but if nothing else she had just wanted to hear those words. "Maggie, stay." Please stay. I want you to stay. Stay with me. Stay.
She had been fooling herself, really. She knew there was no way he could ever feel the same, but she was beginning to realize there would always be that part of her that wished he would. That tiny part of her that wished she had been marrying him, not Scott, and that nothing had happened to upset the engagement. She could see it – if only it could work. They'd have their rough patches (they had them now, when all they were was fr…associates), but it could be – would be – something great. Eli and Maggie Stone, like it always should be.
But wasn't that what he was always telling her? She was too naïve, too optimistic – the real world didn't get the fairytale ending. The real world didn't even get a not-quite-but-good-enough ending. The real world found her leaving for the enemy, just wanting one simple request that – if she hadn't left when she had – she would be waiting on forever.
Because she would, for him. For Eli, she would wait forever. And now the hardest lesson she'd have to learn is that sometimes…sometimes, she couldn't. She had to let him go.
Maybe for him "Not Posner and Klein – don't do that" was as good as "Stay", but sometimes you need the actual words.
Sometimes "I love you" has to be met with "I love you", and sometimes "I can't stay here" has to – needs to – be met with "I can't lose you". Sometimes you have to walk out on your breaking heart, and sometimes…
Sometimes, you have to be ok with that.