"I.V. , STAT!"
"BP 205 over 90!"
"Why is she so pale nurse? She wasn't like this with the other three births."
"Daddy? Is mommy going to be OK?"
"Mr. Corduroy, please, take your children to the waiting room. Now. Please!"
Wendy didn't let go of her mother's hand, it was yanked from her, and the gurney bearing her mother wheeled away down the hall and around the corner.
"Mommy!"
…
The window light cast a slanted beam on the bed, and Wendy could see the strands of white hairs on her mother's temple more clearly now.
She walked up to the bedside, with the twins on either side of her, ready for anything. Dipper looked up at the tall redhead.
If she needs me, I'll be here!
Mabel crossed her fingers.
Please let this work! Then her brother spoke.
"Wendy, ruffle the inner lining so as to release any scent."
Wendy tuned to him and nodded, and then took off her hat and then holding it in her right hand she rubbed the fur inside with her left. She turned the hat inside out and then slowly held it out over her mother's face.
"Sorry mom but…take a good whiff!"
…
Fran Corduroy blinked against the harsh hospital lights blazing down on her, and the contractions made the brightness painful. But more painful was feeling her only daughter's hand being yanked from her own. As a mother she wanted to go back to Wendy, to hold her and tell her not to cry, that everything will be alright.
The gurney wheels vibration shook her and she wished everything would be still, so she could concentrate on her labor and breathing, but then a bump would startle her and she would sharply inhale. She lifted her hand to her face, and inhaled again to smell her daughter…Wendy. It will be alright sweetheart…
...
"Mom?" Wendy wafted the inside out hat across her mother's nose.
The twins stared. Wendy watched.
"Mom?" Wendy gently placed her left hand across her mother's cheek to caress it, and felt that the soft skin was cool to the touch.
Wendy looked down. Dipper could see a teardrop fall, glinting in the window light.
Mabel sadly looked at the frowning freckled face. Then she turned to look at Fran. Wendy had relaxed and let the hat cover her mother's face completely while she was crying. Mabel reached over and gently pulled Wendy's hand away.
Fran blinked.
At first Mabel was so shocked she couldn't speak.
"Uh…uh…reflex? Reflex Wendy? Reflex?"
Wendy and Dipper looked at Mabel. She was pointing at Fran's face. They looked.
Fran's mouth opened. The woman gasped for breath.
"Mom? MOM!"
Wendy cupped her mother's face. Fran blinked again then her eyes scrunched tightly. Then with a soft rasp she spoke!
"So… bright…"
"MOM!" Wendy threw herself over her mother and wrapped her arms around her mother's neck and started kissing her cheek again and again. "Oh Mom!"
Mabel started crying but with a smile, but then Dipper noticed the woman trying to lift her arms under the sheets.
"Mabel! Pull back the sheets!"
The twins pulled back the covers and Fran slowly lifted her arms around her daughter.
"Wen…dy?"
"Oh mom! Oh mom, mom I love you! I love you mom!"
The weak patient smiled and turned her head slightly, and kissed her daughter's cheek through thick red hair.
"Wendy? You…how did you…my goodness is that really you? How did you get so big?" and she giggled.
Then Wendy pulled back and giggled too.
"It is me mom! It's been eight years! I've grown! You were in a coma!"
Fran tried to lift her head but then closed her eyes and her head plopped back down in the pillow.
"Ugh…so …weak."
"It's OK mom! I's OK just rest. Just rest."
"But where…where is my baby?"
"Mom, your baby is eight years old now and chopping down trees."
Fran smiled and closed her eyes. Then opened them again. Wendy could see the love in her brown eyes. Her mother lifted a hand to Wendy's cheek.
"You're so beautiful Wendy."
"Yes she…she is." And Dipper then looked down quickly. Fran turned to look at the young man.
"And who are you?" Fran turned to her daughter. "I think you have an admirer."
Wendy smiled at Dipper then turned to her mother.
"I know mom, but he is also my hero. He saved you. He brought you back."
Then Wendy realized the truth of what she just said. She let go of her mother and walked around the bed to the other side.
"Thank you Dipper." She leaned over and picked him up.
"Whoa! Wendy, you don't have to thank…" He couldn't finish, because Wendy placed her lips firmly against his and held him tightly. He was shocked, and then melted.
Her lips…her…lips…Dipper felt his face blush bright red. It's a good thing she is holding me or I would collapse on the floor…
"Muwaaah!" She leaned back and hugged him tighter, twisting both of them back and forth from side to side. Mabel watched with giggles, her hands clasped together like she was praying. She covered her face but peeked in between her fingers. Oh my gosh!
"Thank you Dipper. Thank you thank you thank you!"
"Awwww gee…you're Welcome Wendy. You know I would do anything for you."
Wendy slowly let him down and Dipper swayed for a moment as he got his land legs back.
He adjusted his hat and then looked up to see Wendy smiling at him. She leaned down and kissed the top of his hat covered head.
"I know you would. I can't thank you enough. But I will try." And she winked at him. Dipper didn't know what she was thinking, but what he was thinking made him blush all over again. To divert attention from himself he turned back to Fran.
"Welcome back Mrs. Corduroy." And he patted the woman's hand.
"From what my daughter says, I owe you thanks too young man. Uh…Dipper."
…
The next few days were like New Years, Christmas and Birthdays all rolled up into one.
Mabel loved hearing everyone bringing Fran up to date with what happened the past eight years, and as a result she got to hear not only the good but the bad of what Wendy and her brothers had been up to.
Everyone in town came to the Corduroy home, bringing gifts and food and well wishes. Fran reviled in seeing how her children had grown, and yet how her husband was just the same and hadn't changed a bit.
But the change that came over Manly Dan was the biggest change of all. He was now friendly to everyone, smiling all the time, and laughing at everything. Even when he found out for the first time from the visiting sheriff that it was his eldest son who accidentally dropped his expensive chainsaw in the river he laughed it off and rubbed the tousled red hair of the boy who smiled but cringed, expecting a whooping at any moment.
But Mabel suspected that Dipper's happiness exceeded Dan's. A day didn't go by without Wendy hugging and kissing her brother.
"Thank you Dipper! Thank you for giving my mother back to me." And she would give him a big sloppy kiss on the lips. No tongue, nothing like that, but to Dipper it was ecstasy all the same. So he made sure to visit Wendy and her family every day, and would come back with a dreamy smile.
One day when he was visiting he asked Wendy a question.
"Wendy, you know, I never heard from you what conclusion you reached after rethinking everything. What did you decide? About…whatever you were rethinking?"
The freckled redhead turned to him and smiled. She picked him up in her strong arms, and he yelped.
"Yikes! Uh, OK."
She then sat down with him on her lap. He tried to appear casual as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder. She took off his cap, and then rubbed noses with him. Then she looked around to see if anyone was watching. Then she whispered.
"That nice things come in small packages." And she kissed him again.
