Chapter 14

"Life isn't fair, it's just fairer than death, that's all."

xXx

*2 WEEKS AFTER THE ACCIDENT*

The beeping of the life support machine was the only thing keeping Randy awake. His eyes kept fluttering between the limp Mara and the little girl sitting on the chair outside the room, swinging her legs on the red plastic chair. Sofia had been in to see her Mum but didn't really understand the severity of the whole thing yet she refused to move from the chair outside. Mara had tubes coming from her arms and mouth, her hair was scraped back, still in a neat bun. Randy gripped her hand, just sitting staring at her, willing her to wake up. There was a small click to the side of him and something tapped on his shoulder. Randy turned to see Sofia standing beside him, rubbing her tired eyes.

"Rands... can you take me home?" Randy sighed. He really didn't want to leave Mara.

"Let me talk to the nurse, then we can go back to the hotel." Sofia nodded and walked around to the other side of Mara's bed just as Randy left the room. He saw a nurse and called her over. She looked tired.

"Um... I need to take my daughter home but I don't want to leave my partner in case she wakes up. Is there any chance she could wake up in the next twelve hours?" Randy watched as the nurse flipped through some papers. She sighed before looking up at him.

"Look, I won't bullshit you. I honestly don't think Mara will be waking up anytime soon so I suggest you take your daughter home and both of you get some sleep. It will do you both the world of good." Randy was a little taken aback of how straight to the point she was.

"Thank you." He muttered half heartedly before letting himself back into the room which his girlfriend occupied.

"So I promise to keep my bedroom tidy and I'll only ever have two scoops of ice-cream instead of three. I won't ask for a puppy until I'm eighteen and I promise I'll make ou breakfast in bed for a year although I hope you can eat toast because I can't cook eggs." Randy smiled as Sofia whispered to her Mother softly yet loud enough for him to hear.

"What you talking to her about sweetheart?" Randy bent down to her level and Sofia leant against him.

"I was promising her that I'll be good if she promised to wake up." Sofia sniffed and Randy took her hand. He grazed Mara's hand and kissed her on the forehead before leading Sofia out of the private hospital room. Sofia held Randy's hand tightly as they both walked to the front entrance. It was then Randy began to panic. Bright flashes blinked in front of them.

"Rands... What's that?" She asked, sounding slightly scared. Randy instinctively picked her up.

"Keep your face hidden sweetheart... These people want to put your picture on magazines." Sofia let out a wail as they left the hospital and the paparazzi started snapping away, screaming questions about Mara and trying to block the entrance to Randy's car. After getting her in her car seat, he handed her a shirt and she used it to cover her face, screaming when people started banging on the window. Randy ignored them as he started the car and backed away, not caring if he hit anyone.

xXx

Sofia stayed silent on the way back to the hotel but she was wide awake. Randy desperately wanted her to talk and blabber on the way she usually did. He missed hearing his baby girls voice. Then she asked the one thing that made his heart melt.

"Are you and Mommy in love?" She asked, looking at him in the mirror situated in the front. He looked into the mirror to see her staring at her, awaiting an answer.

"Of course I do... Why do you ask?" He asked, watching both the road and her ever changing face of emotions.

"Well in the films I watch, If the prince loves the princess, he kisses her and she wakes up. Why can you not do that?" Randy sighed.

"Trust me sweetheart. If it were tha easy, I would have done it long ago but I'm afraid life doesn't work like that." Sofia looked down.

"But Mom says true love solves everything and I think she really loves you." Randy smiled.

"What makes you think she loves me?" He asked, trying to keep the conversation going.

"She says 'Her heart was a secret garden and the walls were very high.'" Randy grinned. That was a quote from a film but he couldn't quite put his finger on which one.

"Well me and your Mom decided that we would be together again and you and her were going to move in with me... If you would like that." Sofia looked at him but didn't reply. Randy pulled into the car park of the hotel and shut off the engine. Sofia was looking outside and Randy distrupted her gaze when he stood in front o the door and opened it for her

"If Mom doesn't wake up... Will you look after me." She asked, looking up at him with hope in her eyes. Randy bent down to her height.

"I will always look after you, whether your Mom is here or no." Sofia again stayed silent. Her next actions nearly took Randy off his feet. They were certainly unexpected forwards and wrapped her two arms around his neck, burying her face into his neck and trying to get her legs around his chest. Randy held her close as he shielded her face from the sharp wind.

xXx

They managed to get into the hotel room with as little hassle as possible. They had met in with Cody and Brandi but sympathetic looks were the only things exchanged. Brandi slipped Sofia a teddy and she gave her a hug as a thank you. But nobody spoke. They all felt the pain Randy was going through.

After bedding Sofia in the single bed next to him, her sat upright on the bed, afraid to sleep in case Mara woke up. Or the complete opposite. When she was knocked down, medics had told everyone to expect the worse. When Randy had contacted Mara's Mum, she was upset and said she would fly down. Randy was more than shocked when he sent Natalya to pick them up and she came back with a very upset Sofia in tow. Mara's mother was no-where to be found and the joint bank account Mara used to send her Mother money was completely cleared out. She had disappeared with nearly ten grand and wanted nothing to do with her Daughter or Granddaughter. It made Randy sick. His phone buzzed beside him and it was Nikki texting him to say she was staying with Mara for the night. At least she had someone and he knew Nikki would chat to her all night. Even though she would get no reply.

It was around 3am when Randy felt his bed dip. His eyes shot open from the sleep he had been drifting in and out of to see a teary Sofia lifting the sheets and lying beside him.

"Are you okay sweetie?" He asked, sounding worried. She nodded and lay her head on the pillow Randy settled back down and the words which came out of Sofia's mouth next made his breath hitch and his heart melt.

"Night Night Daddy... I love you."

xXx

Randy never got the chance to get back to sleep. His phone rang and he was alarmed to see it was Nikki. Sofia shot up and looked at him wide eyes as he answered the phone, a wailing Nikki crying down the phone.

"Randy.. You need to get down to the hospital... NOW!"

xXx

There were two quotes in this chapter. Which film did they come from? Answer in the reviews!

I found this quite upsetting to write. I found it so real and when I read over it, I nearly cried. Poor Randy and Sofia. Will Mara pull through or has Cadie succeeded it ruining Randy's life.

We reached out views target and we need 2 more to get to the reviews target! When I finish this story I will compile a collection of my favourite reviews! So get reviewing!

Love you all so much,
Amanda Xo