Royal's age: 12
Royal had just endured a long beating from her mother after she sprayed her down with water in the backyard. Never, did she ever, feel like death was creeping up on her. But that day, she felt like it was. It was a new feeling, and she wasn't scared. She wanted to die, for the first time, she begged a G-d, if there was one, to off her right then and there. Naked and afraid, in the tall grass of the backyard. Just let her die, and she'd thought she'd felt herself slip away. That was, until she heard Derek screaming her name. "Royal! Royal! Don't you dare, don't you dare slip away from me, do you hear me?"
She tried to speak, but her voice caught in her throat and she began to cough.
"Okay, okay." He cooed, picking her up bridal style. "Okay, baby, it's okay. I'm gonna take you to the hospital."
"No." She sputtered. "No hospital, Der, no hospitals."
"Ellie, you could have passed out and your heart could have stopped. You need a hospital." He murmured to her, running her to his car.
"No." She began to cry. "Please take me home. Take me to your house, Der, please. Let me die in your arms, Der."
"Stop that!" He said, placing her in his back seat. "Stop. You're not dying today, Royal. No way in hell will I let you die."
She began to cry. "I want to die, Derek! Let me die! Let me die, Derek!"
Derek began to tune out her pleas for death as he drived her to the nearest hospital to get her checked out.
The news came back with that she was severely dehydrated, and she was severely bruised. Derek had explained the girls home life, and that he was working hard on getting custody of her. In fact, they had a court date in a few weeks. The doctor said he'd only give him back to Derek if he promised to keep Royal with him, and Derek did indeed promise. So an IV and several ice packs later, Royal was sent home with Derek in hospital clothes, since she'd come with none.
"Der, I'm dirty." She mumbled, her voice hoarse.
"It's okay. We can get you a bath." He said, patting her hand.
She felt tears stream down her cheeks. "Why does mom want to kill me?"
Derek felt his eyes water. "I don't know, baby. I don't know."
She tried to make herself comfortable in the seat, but to no avail. Most of her body was bruised and beaten and she felt like she'd never feel better again.
Once at the house, Derek unloaded his sister in his arms and took her inside. "Do you want to take a shower?"
"No!" Royal said, pleading with Derek. "No, please. Bath...don't leave me. Please, Derek don't make me do it alone."
Derek pressed his sister closer to him. "Okay. I'm not going to leave you, El. I promise."
"Forever?" She mumbled into his shoulder as they reached to the bathroom.
"Forever, El."
"Remember, you come find me if you're feeling sick." Amelia said to me, but I was already half way out the door.
"Will do!" I called back.
I needed to find Hunt, and talk some real sense into the man. My sister needed to be happy, and Hunt made her happy.
Finally, I'd found my way to the E.R. and began poking around. That's when I saw my red headed brother in law pass by me, tablet in hand, he was typing fast, so it must have been something important.
"Hunt!" I said.
He stopped in his tracks and turned around. "Oh, hey, Ellie. You alright?"
"I'm fine, but I need to talk to you." I responded. "Is that okay?"
"Sure." He gave me a smile. "Come on, I was gonna go get something to eat anyways, I've been here all night."
I began to follow him up to the cafeteria.
"So what's so important?" He asked.
"I need you to go to Amelia and tell her just how much you absolutely love her." I said.
He stopped in his tracks, spinning on his heels to look at me. "What?"
"I can't tell you why...why she's angry." I said. "Just please, do what I said. She's hurting, bad. And she needs you, Hunt. So please, tell my sister how much you love her, and how much you don't want to lose her."
He sighed. "You can call me Owen you know."
"I know, but I prefer calling you Hunt. Now stop avoiding the conversation."
"Fine. I'll do it." He responded. "Okay?"
I grinned. "Good job, Hunt. Good job. Listening to me pays well."
He chuckled, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. "Let's go eat something, shall we?"
"We shall." I smiled, today was going to be a good day.
That night, Alex was at the house crashing the couch, and Owen and Amelia were upstairs hashing it out. I was proud of myself, I'm not going to lie.
Suddenly, the ceiling above of us banged and we heard laughs. I smiled, "I'm a good sister."
"Shhh." Alex shushed me. "I'm trying to hear them."
"You're disgusting." I shoved him, laughing. "Can you make me popcorn?"
"Do you not have two legs?" He raised an eyebrow at me.
"Of course I do, I just would prefer not to use them." I responded.
"No."
"I have a brain tumor, and I'm pregnant." I crossed my arms.
He groaned. "Why do you always do that?" He stood and began to make me my snack.
I smiled to myself. "I'll always hold it over your head."
"Still? Once the tumor is gone and your baby is born?" Alex asked.
"Maybe not then, I suppose." I shrugged. "Might as well make it last while I can, right?"
"Sure, kid. Sure."