A/N: Now here is the sad conclusion to the story that a few people have found enjoying. I hope you like it and can see past what grammatical errors that may be hidden in here. And please overlook Mira's potty mouth in one portion of this chapter. That is all gentle people. Please continue to read…
X.X.X.X.X.X
Eight Years, 3 Children and 1 Happy Wedding Later…
Mira had everything she wanted in life. She had good friends, a family, a wonderful husband, and enough money to make sure that her family would never be without…And she was going to lose it all. She just didn't know when.
No, it wasn't her cousin that was going to take away everything from her, though Mira knew that it wasn't from lack of trying. Her cousin had actually eased up on her attacks for the past year or so. For that, Mira was grateful.
What was taking everything away from Mira was simply a disease. She didn't know how she got it; all she knew is that there was no cure for it that the doctors could come up with. Green Eco couldn't do much more than ease her pain for a little while and all that did was make it bearable to sit up and talk without feeling like her nerves were on fire. Money had been spent that they'd never get back and still more money was going to finding a cure for the disease with a name that she couldn't pronounce or spell.
So, Mira grew weaker everyday. Soon she couldn't even make it out of the bedroom. All she'd do was sit in the comfy chair by the fire place and stare into the fire while shivering under three blankets. Razer didn't want to allow her friends to see her, thinking that they would just make her problem worse, but when Mira pleaded with him, he allowed hourly visits to anyone who cared to see her.
Razer himself wouldn't stay near her for very long. Mira didn't want him to. She wanted him to continue to race because she wanted him to go on living as normally as possible. She wanted him to make Razer II smile and be proud of his father. She wanted Razer to teach her twins, Jezebel and Gerard, to ride bikes, to tie their shoes, and the joy that came from racing. She wanted her family to be happy.
Mara was a completely different story. She was always around Mira except when it was night and Razer was in bed with his ailing wife. She swore that Mira was looking better everyday and that Mira would somehow beat the disease and make a full recovery. Mira would smile and wish it would be that simple.
"Mara," Mira whispered one day as she lay in her bed under a pile of blankets.
"Yeah kiddo, I'm here," Mara replied, tossing her black hair over her shoulder and scooting her chair closer to the side of the bed.
"Mara, I think – I think that it's almost time," Mira breathed, her green eyes glinting dully in the dim light.
"Time?" Mara looked confused. "Time for what?"
"I think it's almost time for me to go…"
Mara shook her head quickly and took Mira's hand in hers. Mira's skin felt like ice in the palm of Mara's warm hand. "You can't go. Not yet. We still have time to find…to find a cure for you. Mira, you can't give up now."
"Mara, you know as well as I do that there is no cure. If there was one, we would have found it by now." Mira sighed and closed her eyes for a moment. "Besides, I'm tired. I'm tired of living with this pain…Everything hurting and aching and not doing what I want it to do…I'm tired of it."
"What about your children? They need a mother in their life. They need you."
A weak smile graced Mira's lips. "I've left them messages in my diary for you and Razer to play for them every year. And I want you to step up and be a good godmother to them, Mara. They love you so much already…"
"I can't replace you. No one could. Mira, you can't go…"
Mira squeezed Mara's hand gently. "Don't think that I want to go. I have to go. Soon. And there's still so much that I want to do. So many people I haven't said goodbye to." Tears sparkled in her eyes, but she refused to let them fall. "I have enemies that I want to make amends with and I may not get the chance to…I might not get to settle things with Rayn or Kiera…"
Mara reached over and gently stroked Mira's hair. "You'll get to make amends with everyone and you'll be able to say goodbye…I promise you that you will. And you'll live for many more years and have many more children with Razer…You'll get the happily ever after that you've always wanted."
Mira shook her head slowly, but still smiled. She knew her friend was only trying to make her feel better and comfort herself and was thankful for it. But she needed her friend to be able to let go when the time came and move on with her life.
"Mara, when I go I will have lived my life as happily as I ever could have dreamed. I will have loved someone to the best of my ability and will have been loved just as much. I am content to let myself go and you should want this for me. It will be the cure we've been looking for."
Mara shook her head and looked away, but not before Mira saw the tears sliding down her friend's cheeks. "Death is not a cure. It's an ending."
"It's a beginning," Mira corrected softly. "I'll be somewhere where there is no pain. No sadness. There's only peace and happiness forever and ever." She smiled at her best friend. "And I will save a place there for you, Razer, Jak, and the rest of my family for when your time comes."
"We – we can't lose you!" Mara cried. "You're the only person that Razer cares about. With you gone, he could go insane and destroy half the city…"
"I'm going to talk to him later and make him understand. I won't have him taken by surprise when I don't wake up…" Mira yawned and slid her hand out of her friend's grasp. "I'm so tired…I must have slept for half a day though…Mara, please watch over me while I close my eyes for a few minutes."
"I won't look away," Mara swore.
X.X.X.X.X.X
Razer swore under his breath as he watched the television at the Bloody Hook. They were doing another story on how his racing seemed to be off and were blaming it on his wife. Well of course it was his wife! He cared for her and she was dying slowly before his eyes. It was enough to make even the most coldhearted mercenary lose his head and he never expected it to happen to him.
With an evil look at the television, Razer rapped a knuckle on the counter expecting more Wasteland Brew to be sent his way. Sanders didn't offer him any.
"Razer, I haven't had to do this to you for as long as I've known you, but I'm cutting you off," Sanders announced, cleaning a mug with a dirty dishrag. "You don't need anymore alcohol in your system."
No, what he needed was his wife to get better and stop looking like a living corpse. But alcohol was the only thing he could really get these days. And the old bartender was cutting him off!? Who did he think he was telling this champion that he couldn't have any more alcohol?
"You need to go home to your wife," Sanders continued with a sympathetic look in his eyes. "If what you've told me is true, you may not have much time left with her…You should spend every moment you can with her when you're not racing, Razer. Maybe she'll get better with your company, but hey, I'm a bachelor. I don't know what you're going through…"
Razer frowned at the bartender and got up, sticking his cigarette back in between his lips. Without another word to the old bartender, Razer turned and left the Bloody Hook.
Sanders was, of course, right and he usually was. Razer knew he should be by his wife's side more, but he just couldn't stand to. He couldn't stand to see her look so weak and lifeless. She was supposed to be a vibrant twenty-eight year old enjoying every minute of her life while he was supposed to be a tired forty year old, but she wasn't. She was slipping away right before his very eyes and he couldn't stand to see it. He expected to die long before his young wife, but she was beating him to it and he hated her for that.
As he stepped out into the sun, Razer watched Mara's car zoom past. For once, the girl didn't grind her car up against a wall when she made a tight turn. He knew then that it was his turn to go home and watch his wife.
"Mira…" he sighed and walked slowly over to his Havoc.
It took him less than ten minutes to get to his mansion. He slowly walked into it through the garage and turned some lights on. His heart jumped in his chest when he saw that Mira was standing in the hall using the wall as a support. Even from where he stood, he could see that her legs were trembling underneath her and knew that at any second she would fall and probably hurt herself.
"Mira, you know you're not supposed to get out of bed," Razer said, trying to keep the snappiness out of his voice as he walked over to support his wife. "The doctor doesn't want you to overexert yourself."
Mira smiled weakly and let him pick her up. Razer hated how light she felt in his arms and blamed the disease for making her waste away.
"Razer," she whispered, resting her head against his shoulder. "Please take me out for another ride…"
"No. You're going back to bed."
"Please Razer," she was begging now. "Please take me out for a short ride…a joyride like you used to take me out for…please."
Razer shook his head and started walking in the direction of their room. Mira made a sound of protest and started pounding her fist against his chest as hard as she could. Razer was taken aback by her sudden fit of anger and stopped in his tracks.
"Razer, take me out now!!" Mira commanded. "I'm your boss and you have to listen to me!"
Mira had never played the boss card before. She had always let him do what he wanted, when he wanted and she never seemed to have a problem with it. She had promised never to command him to do anything and here she was, ordering him to take her for a joyride of all things.
"Mira, you're in no condition to go outside," Razer stated.
Mira wrapped her hand in the cloth of the front of his coat and yanked on it so he was pulled closer to her face. "You take me outside Razer or I'll ask Shiv to leave his family for an hour and take me on a joyride himself…"
Razer ground his teeth together at the idea of his crony taking his wife out on a joyride. Joyrides were something that a couple should do together and there was no way in Hell that he'd let Shiv, of all people, take his wife out on a joyride.
"No Mira. You're not going out."
"Razer, please!! I just want to spend more time with you!" Mira pleaded, tears swimming in her green eyes. "Why won't you just go out with me for one fucking hour?"
"Mira…"
In all his years of knowing her, he had never heard her swear like that. To hear such a word on her lips was…odd.
Mira buried her face in Razer's shoulder and her body trembled as a spot on his shoulder grew wet. Razer stood there, holding his wife and silently begged the Precursors for help for the first time in a long time.
"Mira, if it'll make you feel better, then I will take you out on a joyride," Razer said slowly. "But only for an hour. Then you must go back to bed."
Mira nodded into his shoulder and wrapped her arm around his neck. "Thank you Razer…"
X.X.X.X.X.X
Mira leaned against Razer as he sped around town. She wasn't strong enough anymore to sit comfortably in the passenger's seat without bumping into the door and falling over, so Razer kept a firm arm around her trembling body. When he glanced down at her, he could see a small smile on her face. And even though she was wasting away, he still thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
"Razer, thank you for loving me," Mira whispered, resting her head against him. "Without your love…I don't know if I'd still be around or have a family."
"Mira, don't act like you're saying goodbye," Razer ordered quietly. "We've already been through this. You're not going to die until you're old and gray."
Mira smiled slightly. "Razer, you know I'm dying. I know I'm dying soon. And I don't want you to be scared to admit that…You've never been scared of anything except proposing marriage and holding Razer II when he was first born…"
Razer frowned. "Mira, you're not going to die anytime soon. I know I'm a firm believer of ladies first, but in this case it should be men first."
"Razer, if you were sick and dying, I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want me to be in denial…You'd want me to prepare to move on with my life and raise our children as if nothing bad had happened…Well, I'm going to ask you to do the same thing…"
Razer turned the Havoc sharply and Mira's eyes sparkled with dim happiness. "You're asking me to give you permission to die. Well, if it keeps you alive, I won't give you any."
Mira sighed. "Razer, you can probably tell that I'm getting weaker. Our sex life has kinda taken a nose dive even if we have it every other night…You've been so gentle with me and to tell you the truth, I hated it at first, but now I know you're just trying to be considerate of my broken body." She turned her head slightly and placed a small kiss on his cheek. "But you're going to have to be able to love someone as fiercely as you loved me when we were both happy and young in our love before the sickness was even thought of in our lives. I want you to make someone else happy."
"I'll take no other after you."
"You will so! Our children need a mother figure in their lives and you know that the kids only view Mara as an aunt. That's not what they need when I die."
"Then don't die." A simple solution that was completely impossible. "Wait until you're one hundred and one and then you can die."
Mira rolled her eyes. "Razer if I live that long, I'll be extremely lonely because you'd be gone…Besides, you know as well as I do that it's not possible anymore."
"We haven't tried Dark Eco yet," Razer pointed out.
Mira pushed herself away from him. "Razer, we've been through this before. I am not pumping Dark Eco into my body in an attempt to kill the sickness. The side effects are far worse than the sickness itself."
"You'll only have a dark side Mira and all that'll do is make you want to kill more people more often…And your eye color will change. That's it."
"I'll also die younger."
"Jak hasn't died yet. Unfortunately."
Mira's eyes narrowed at the rude comment about her friend. "Jak also has a good side and that keeps his dark side at bay while preventing the harmful side effects from occurring…I may not be that lucky because I'm no hero and the Precursors didn't chose me for anything special. I don't want to die a wicked creature with blood on my hands."
Mira was appalled by the idea of Dark Eco in general. She only liked Jak because he was really a considerate man who had almost completely conquered his Dark Jak tendencies. And Razer wanting her to turn into one of those creatures…it was too much.
She rested her elbow on the passenger side door and rested her forehead on the palm of her hand. "Razer, why won't you just let me die the way I want to? Why do you always have to try to reassure me that things will get better when we both know that I'm only going to get worse if I continue to live like this?"
"It's what a husband is supposed to do. And a champion never gives up."
"A true champion knows when it's time to give up," Mira shot back wearily.
Razer winced. He hated the idea of giving up even though he had given up on trying to murder Jak when the blonde had become friends with Mira. Giving up on her was something he really didn't want to do.
"Mira, I'll never give up on you. No matter how much you beg and plead. I don't care if you cry. I'm not going to let you die."
Mira laughed lightly. "You should have been a poet or a singer with all the rhyming you can do…" She sighed. "But Razer, I'm telling you that tonight is my last night on this planet. And I want to settle a few things with you before I go."
Razer shook his head and turned the car sharply to avoid scraping against a wall. Mira slid against him and he wrapped his arm around her again, holding her securely by his side.
"You know I've kept a journal ever since I became pregnant with Razer II. Well, there are several entries that I want played for the children on birthdays and holidays. I want them to know that I love them and that I'll always be in their hearts if they need me…"
Razer gave a curt nod.
"I also met with some people and have had titles transferred over. You are now the boss of yourself and the rest of the people Uncle left to me. Do what you want with this power, but make sure that Rayn can still live comfortably. I won't have her living on the street or dead because of a hate between the two of you."
"Three of us," Razer muttered. "You, me, and her."
Mira shook her head. "I've already talked to her today. We've worked out our problems and put our hate in the past. If I were still going to be around for awhile, we could have even gone back to the way we were when we were children…So close, so happy…"
Mira sniffled and looked down at her hands for a moment, trying to control her emotions. Razer waited patiently for her to continue.
"I also had a talk with Kiera…She still doesn't like me as a friend, but she doesn't hate me anymore. I asked her to help you teach Jezebel how to fix cars…"
"That grease whore doesn't know a GB Spanner from a wrench," Razer mumbled with a small smirk.
"She's smarter than you give her credit for Razer. She can do things you can't and I want her to teach Jezebel so you'll have a daughter capable of creating a whole new line of combat racing cars." She sighed again, forcing her eyes to stay open. "Your name would become a brand name all over the world."
Razer could see what she had visualized and he had to admit that if the name of Razer became a brand name, he would be able to retire comfortably someday. Maybe he shouldn't give up on Jak's grease whore so fast.
"I want you to let the children spend time with Jak and his friends too. I know you don't like them, despite everything I've done to make it easier for you two to get along, but you'll have to get over that. Jak and his friends can teach our children things that will help them survive in this dangerous world of ours and how to use their power to help others…"
Razer rolled his eyes. Why did she have to always want what was good for others? Why didn't she want what was good for her?
"Don't you roll your eyes at me, Razer!" Mira snapped, her anger flaring up briefly. "If you don't respect my requests, I'll – I'll haunt you forever!"
"Yes. That's a very terrifying threat, Mira," Razer commented sarcastically. "You should use it more often on people. Maybe you'll scare some children into giving you their lunch money…hm, hm, hm…"
Mira groaned. "Razer…this final request, I'm sure you're going to want to deny with your whole being, but I hope that someday you'll go through with it…"
"What is it?"
"After I die, I want you to find someone else to love and marry her or him…whichever you decide…"
Razer slammed his foot on the brake and the car jerked to a complete stop. He stared down at Mira with a mean glint in his eyes.
"One, I am not gay. Two, I'm not going to marry someone after you die. Three, you're not going to die tonight or tomorrow night!" Razer snarled. "Understand?"
Mira shook her head slowly. "Razer, get over it! I'm dying! I'm dying tonight and there's nothing you can do about it! There's nothing anyone can do about it! So just accept it and move on with your damn life!!"
Mira's chest heaved after she shouted at him and her body trembled. Her chest hurt and a headache was forming. She could feel the tears trickling down her cheeks, but couldn't do anything about it.
"Razer, I just want the pain to stop…" she breathed. "I want my family to be happy that the pain is going to end soon…I can't stand to have my family watch me suffer, so please don't make me…Please…"
Razer gently wiped away her tears with his thumb and held her close to him. She was so small and fragile in his arms and he wanted to hold onto her forever. Gently, he stroked her hair and rocked her slowly as she cried.
"Mira, if this is what you want…I suppose I can't do anything to stop you," Razer whispered into her hair, breathing in the scent of lilacs. "But I'm not happy about you dying."
"I don't want you to be happy about my death. I want you to be happy for me finding peace…" She reached up and placed a hand against his neck. "And I want you to know that I love you with every fiber of my being."
Razer tilted her chin up and kissed her gently. Mira smiled a small contented smile when he pulled away. Razer looked ahead again and starting driving.
Mira's head was starting to feel heavy as were her eyelids. Her breathing became shallow and she was starting to feel very sleepy.
"Razer, I'm tired…" Mira yawned, nestling closer to him. "Can we go home now?"
Razer could feel his wife grow colder through the sleeve of his coat. He knew that home wasn't the place for her right now. "Sure. We'll go home and I'll put you to bed. I'll even read to you…"
"Mm…that sounds good," Mira breathed, letting her eyes close.
Razer spun the car around and tore down the street in the direction of the hospital.
X.X.X.X.X.X
Razer looked up when he heard the door open. It was Jak and Daxter leading Razer's and Mira's three children into the room with Sig following close behind. He stared at his children for a moment as they lined up on the other side of Mira's hospital bed.
Razer II looked so much like him even as an eight year old, but he had his mother's eyes. Jezebel was the spitting image of her mother and Gerard, her six year old twin, had the same face, but had Razer's eyes. Right now, each brother had an arm around their sister, comforting her as she sniffled.
The machines beeped quietly in tune with Mira's faint heartbeat, shattering the silence that hung in the air. Her chest rose and fell with each shallow breath she took. The light blue of the hospital gown she wore made her appear whiter than a sheet.
"How's she doing?" Sig asked, putting a hand on Gerard's small shoulder as he watched Mira sleep.
Razer stopped himself from snapping at the man that his wife was dying. "The doctor thinks she won't make it through the night," was his answer.
"Maybe she'll prove him wrong," Jak muttered as Daxter jumped from his shoulder onto Razer II. "She has a tendency to do that…"
Razer nodded and gently rubbed the back of Mira's hand with his thumb. Jezebel started crying and turned away from her mother. Sig reached down and scooped the little girl up in his arms, patting her on the back comfortingly.
Mira stirred on the bed, barely opening her eyes. "Jezebel…is she – is my baby crying Razer?"
He nodded and Mira turned her face in the direction of her daughter's sobs. "Oh honey, please don't cry…Mommy's going to be all right. Mommy's just going to go to that special happy place that I told you about."
Jezebel looked at her mother with tears streaming down her face. Razer's heart broke at the sight of his crying daughter.
"You're going to go see Uncle Krew and Grandma in their new house," Jezebel muttered, wiping her nose on the sleeve of her shirt. "Right?"
Mira nodded and smiled slightly. "I'm going to their mansion to prepare a place for you and your brothers and Daddy so when you get there, you'll have a place to sleep and play."
Razer II and Gerard shared a look, obviously knowing what was going on, but unwilling to upset their sister anymore. Mira reached a hand out and patted her eldest son's hand.
"You be a good boy and make sure your sister doesn't get a boyfriend until she's at least thirty," she commanded gently.
"Yes Mom," he said, sounding just like Razer did when he was younger.
"And you," Mira continued, looking at Gerard. "You listen to your father and all your uncles and aunts. Understand?"
"Yes Mommy," Gerard replied.
Mira smiled and closed her eyes for a moment. "Daxter…"
"Yeah hot thing?" Daxter said, jumping onto the bed, trying to keep the mood light.
Mira giggled. "Keep making people smile and keep loving Tess…You deserve some happiness in your life…"
Daxter smiled. "Don't worry babe. I've got a million jokes."
"I'm sure you do."
Razer didn't even grind his teeth together at the way Daxter was talking to Mira. He wanted her to be happy when she left the world, so he would patiently listen to them say goodbye in their own ways.
"Sig," Mira said, looking at him.
"Hey there, cherry," Sig said gently.
"You'll keep teaching my kids how to use weapons to protect themselves when I'm gone, right?"
"Sure thing." He laughed lightly. "I'll even get them to use the Peace Maker 'cause I'll make them strong like me."
"Thank you," Mira whispered then her eyes turned to Jak. "Jak, I don't think I need to ask you to help my kids when I'm gone."
"Don't worry Mira, I'll be there for them." Jak swore, briefly glancing over her at Razer. "Any time, anywhere. Everyone will be there for them."
Mira sighed and sank further into her pillow. "You, Sig, and the others have been great friends to me despite where I came from and who I married…I couldn't ask for better friends. I'll miss you all…
"And kids, you've made me so proud. I love you all so much and I promise I'll watch over you from where I'm going…"
She turned her head slightly and looked at Razer. "And you…I've loved you even before we met at the Bloody Hook eleven years ago. And my love for you has only grown since that meeting. I want you to know that even though you've never said 'I love you', I know you love me. Otherwise you wouldn't have put with me for so long…" She smiled. "I love you, Razer."
Razer stood up and picked her up in his arms before sitting down on the bed, cradling her against his chest possessively. Mira snuggled closer to him and stroked his cheek lovingly.
"It's time for me to go Razer," Mira whispered, her eyelids drooping.
"I know," Razer said, rubbing her back gently. "I just want to tell you one thing before you go."
Her voice was getting fainter. "What is it?"
"Mira…I…" He rolled his eyes at how hard it was to say it. "Mira, God dammit! I love you."
He could practically see Daxter's shocked face even though he had his back to the annoying little Ottsel. He wasn't concerned about the annoying orange furball though. He only cared about his wife.
Mira smiled a wan smile though her eyes remained closed. "I love you too…"
Razer felt the life leave Mira's moments before the machines let out a never ending beep. Her body grew heavier in his arms and Razer felt tears slide out from his normally cold eyes. The clear drops of sadness fell onto Mira's face and he gently wiped them away.
He didn't even stiffen when Jak put a hand on his shoulder to show his support for the older man. Razer silently thanked the blonde and continued to stroke Mira's cold, but peaceful face.
"Mira, I love you…" he whispered through the tears as his daughter began to cry again.
X.X.X.X.X.X
A/N: And now Mira is dead. I had to do it. I really had to. If you don't like it, you can tell me about it, but just know that it had to be done.
Also, I am considering putting up another chapter which will be centered around Mira's and Razer's children when they're teenagers and young adults. Let me know if you think I should do that…Please!! Reviews are nice. Flames are okay. So, click the button and share your thoughts with me.
