Alright, so I didn't get any reviews for the last chapter so far. It made me cry a little inside. Not really, but I was hoping to guilt trip you guys into reviewing this chapter. And look at it this way: after this, Natara only dies one more time and then I let her live!
Title: Till Death Do Us Part
Pairing: Mal/Natara
Words: 545
Mal sat by Natara's bedside, holding her hand in between both of his. The hospice people had set up a hospital bed in the corner of their living room, and that's where they knew Natara would spend her last days. Her breathing was heavy and sporadic, and Mal grew more and more concerned with each passing second. He couldn't believe it. She had fought so hard for so long, and now her fight was going to end like this. He knew, deep in his heart, that he didn't have much time left with her.
Natara knew it, too. They had caught the cancer too late. It had already spread too far, and the only thing they could do was let it run its course. She had come to accept her inevitable death in the following months, and now here she was, on her deathbed.
She squeezed Mal's hand, and he was alert in an instant. She slowly turned her head, wincing at the pain it caused. Mal stroked her hair a few times then pressed a kiss to her hand.
"What do you think Heaven's like?" she asked, her glassy eyes focused on something past his head rather than on his face. Mal choked down a sob and had to clear his throat before he could answer.
"I... I don't know," he said shakily. Natara blinked slowly a few times, her eyes focusing back on his face.
"Make something up," she said, gripping his hand as hard as she could. Mal swallowed as he felt how feeble her grip had become.
"Uh, well, I imagine it's a lot like the earth," he began, sitting up straighter. "I think that there are houses and stores and all sorts of things to do, only you never have to pay for anything. People don't run rampant, so there's no use for a police force, and everyone's happy. No one cries. They're not even allowed to be sad." Natara smiled at him.
"That sounds nice..." she trailed off, closing her eyes. Mal felt panic rise inside of him until she opened her eyes again. "I love you. You know that, right?" Mal nodded, blinking back his tears. Natara smiled again.
"Good. Don't forget that, even when I'm gone." Mal nodded, pressing his eyes closed. He stood and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead, then wiped her tears away with his thumb.
"Promise you'll wait for me in Heaven?" he asked her.
"Of course," she whispered. Mal smiled through his tears and sat back down. Her hand was still clutching in his, and he watched as her eyes closed. After making sure she was still breathing, Mal laid his head down next to her hand and let his eyes slowly drift closed.
When he woke up again, hours later, it was dark out. He blinked a few times as he tried to orient himself. He looked up at Natara's still form, and he realized how ice cold her hand was. Her face was blank and serene, and her chest wasn't moving. Mal felt his face crumple as he began to sob.
"Oh, Natara."
