Thank you so much for the kind reviews! :) They keep me writing.
I didn't expect this chapter to be like this but it seems that today I am a bit too emotional so there. It is kinda short but it's done.
Hope you like it.
Btw, still don't own Lie To Me.
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Gillian had wished for Zoe to be more human many times before; she had felt like killing that woman with her own bare hands, for God's sake. However, those feelings had nothing to do with the way Zoe treated her but with the way she had treated both her husband and her daughter.
Gillian wouldn't ever forget what Cal had gone through after finding out about Zoe and Roger. Hurt had been written all over his face for ages and he wouldn't even make any effort to hide it. He would have given up on his own life if Gillian hadn't interfered and opened his eyes to the fact that he had a daughter that loved him, a best friend by his side and a company that needed him.
Memories from those dark times never abandoned Gillian's mind.
She couldn't remember what she had worn the day she received the call from her lawyer announcing that she was officially divorced but she could tell exactly what Cal was wearing on the day he got the divorce papers by mail; she could describe what he looked like, what he smelled like, what he sounded like… she knew every single detail from what she had seen of his life by heart and yet she didn't seem to recall what her own husband had told her on their honeymoon.
Gillian knew that it wasn't right to overlook her life and focus on Cal's but this was no longer a matter of right and wrong… this was a matter of heart and when it comes to heart, there are many things that you can't really explain… and that's just the way love is.
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"Take care of them for me."
Zoe's words caused Gillian's eyes to fill with tears that she knew she wouldn't be able to hold for much longer.
"I will." She answered quietly, leaning over Zoe and kissing her forehead gently. She now recognized the person that her partner Cal Lightman had fallen in love with and somehow she couldn't help but love her as well.
"Em…" Zoe murmured, closing her eyes as she swallowed hard.
"They will be here soon…" Gillian said, caressing the other woman's face gently.
"Tell them…" Zoe's face showed pain but she seemed to be quite peaceful. "I love them." She added in nothing more than a whisper. "Tell him…" She took a deep breath and let the air out slowly. "I am sorry…" She squeezed Gillian's hand tight. "So sorry."
"He forgives you. You know he forgave you a long time ago…" Gillian replied calmly, never taking her eyes of Zoe's face even though her tears were rolling freely down her cheeks.
"Gillian…"
"I forgive you, Zoe." She whispered tenderly. "I forgive you." She repeated confidently.
What she witnessed next made her start sobbing. A smile had taken over Zoe's lips… it was a true smile and it was directed to her.
"Shhhh." She heard Zoe. "It's okay…" The other woman added quietly.
"I am so very sorry…" Gillian finally said, closing her eyes. "I didn't mean… I didn't want…"
She knew Gillian was talking about Cal and their relationship. Zoe had witness him falling in love with Gillian on the very same day he brought her home for dinner, introducing her as his partner and co-founder of the Lightman Group.
"I forgive you… too." She said, reaching out for Gillian's face. "I… need you to be strong… for them."
Gillian sighed and nodded.
Suddenly one of the monitor's alarms went off. Gillian quickly pressed the button to call a nurse before trying to understand what was going on. She felt the hand she was holding going weak.
"Zoe? Zoe?" She called out. "Stay with me… Don't leave them yet…" She begged. "They need to say goodbye…"
The nurse walked into the room in a matter of seconds and soon was followed by the doctor.
Gillian took a step back and allowed them to work, watching the scene from near the door. On that moment she wished she was having just another nightmare. She was tired of watching her loved ones suffer and the image of Emily crying didn't leave her mind. Why were they so unlucky? Why did the world seem to be against them? What had they done wrong?
"Miss Foster?" She heard the soothing voice of the doctor. By the tone, she knew exactly what he was going to tell her. "I am afraid she's gone." He said, resting a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"She's what?" The new voice in the room was low and exhaled exhaustion.
Gillian didn't need to turn around to know who had just joined her. She took a deep breath before turning around and looking at both father and daughter. She wiped away her tears, answering to the question that Cal's eyes kept asking her with a nod.
"Em…" She heard Cal say as he wrapped an arm around the girl's shoulders.
"No… No…" The girl tried to get away from her father and closer to the bed with her mother's lifeless body now laid. "She didn't… She can't…" Tears started rolling down the younger's cheeks.
Gillian took a step back, allow the girl to find her way towards the hospital's bed.
"Cal…" She whispered, resting a hand upon his arm. "Let's give her a few minutes." She told him, resting her forehead against his cheek for a second. "C'mon." Cal nodded, grabbing her hands and taking her outside with him.
They had been outside for just a few seconds when Cal wrapped his arms around Gillian, hiding his face on the space between her shoulder and her neck, taking in her comforting scent.
She held him tight, slowly feeling his body melting against hers and then the tears. She knew he was over her but she also knew she had been the one to give him the best thing in the whole world… she had given him a daughter.
They sat in silence by the room's door, holding each other's hand while they waited for Emily.
Gillian watched their laced fingers, wondering whether they could be any more perfect together.
They stood awkwardly as they heard the door being opened. Emily's tears seemed to have ceased but as soon as she closed the door behind her, they returned with even more strength.
"She left me alone."
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It might sound a bit OOC now that I re-read it.
R & R if you feel like it.
Chapter 8 will be up hopefully before the end of the week! :)
Hugs,
Reesa
xx
