Regrets (Worm AU)

As the coughing fit passed, I tried to not grimace at the small smear of blood on my fist. I had years left still, years left to organise something for my little girl. Moving down the hallway I could feel all my old aches from healed injuries come to life, no matter they had been treated by Panacea. My body demanded I know about them then and now.

Steeling myself against the ever present pain, I made my way up the small staircase.

She was waiting, her little head the only part of her not covered by the fluffy coloured dooner, that I had thought was white? As I stepped into the room, her little smile made the room seem all the brighter.

"Look what I can do mummy!" Her little voice called excitedly, as he freed her arm from her bedding. In her hand was a small sketchpad.

A riot of colours danced across the paper, blues, reds and yellows twirled mixing and forming pictures, scenes that I recognised from our sleeping beauty books or simple geometric shapes. No! "Mummy?"

"W-wwhen?" I stumble to her bed, pulling her into a one armed hug. What had happened for my baby to trigger? How had I missed it, had she been attacked, as my heart pounded I felt the lump in my lungs make itself known, choking back a bloody cough I looked at my little girl.

She looked away, the little light in her eyes dimmed at the memory, "W-when Grand-danny took me to the hospital…"

Damn it, Dad! I didn't want her to see me like that, at least not before I woke up. Little tears streaked down her cheeks, "You wouldn't wake up, Y-you j-just laid there… I w-was scared you were g-gone for ever"

I hugged her just a bit tighter, as she sniffled. Brushing her light brown hair away from her eyes I gave her a kiss on her crown.

"I'm still here, Lisa" I murmured into her hair as her sobs eased, and I would be as long as I could.

Tweaking her nose, I tried to change the subject to a happier one, "So Little Owl, what can you do so far?"

Her little pout and muttered indignation at her being treated like a six year old instead of the respectable nine year old she was, was adorable I resisted the urge to coo.

A/N: Just a rough draft that wouldn't get out of my head. So all the talk of lesbians before put this in my mind, Single mum Taylor with her daughter named after her best friend is dying of cancer/miscellaneous illness.