I am SO SO sorry that I haven't updated this in like forever. I had technical difficulties...my computer had a really bad virus thing and I couldn't do anything on it, I had to wait for it to get fixed before I updated. Sorry. :( But on the bright side Miley and Peyton finally meet in this chapter! So yeah, thank you guys so freaking much for all the reviews! I got like 35 or something crazy like that! And we broke 200! :)) You guys are the best! Therefore I officially dedicate this to: LaLaLax6, mcandnj61106, xsamsmileyy, Mz Fizzle, JustJulz, nileylooover, XoXoNiLeY2010, JOJOATIA, rubberducky, SaritaHsM, nienlovesjonas, lcxx916, klouise94, smileeex8, FinnHudsonFanatic, Kristen, MileyNick123, JustToLetYouKnow, p3aCel0vEaNddAncE, Asdfghjkl, Desirrie, nuhnuhnuhniley4ever, AprilRainer18, EssenceBiJan, smileymee16, nileyfan1, SpinMeAroundx, Alexa, DemiLovesNiley, R'Canena, LollipopFandom, livelovenileyjemi, and teammiley4ever.
rubberducky: You should totally get an account! You don't have to have a story, and it's a lot easier to contact people and everything. And I don't think your reviews are boring at all, I love when people write long reviews, it's a lot more meaningful than "loved it, update soon!" :)
Disclaimer: I can't even think up another witty disclaimer. OBVIOUSLY I don't own anything too important.
"What happened?" Nick asked hastily, not willing to wait for at least a partial explanation. "Is it really serious?"
"I gave her strawberries, she's really allergic, and her throat closed up," Joe said rapidly, sounding like he was crying again. "When we got here she was unconscious and they won't tell us anything. We don't even know if she's breathing or not. Come quick."
Thurs. August 25, 2013, St. Claire Children's Hospital, Hollywood, California, 3:14 p.m.
Nick's head was spinning. This was all too familiar; sitting in a very uncomfortable chair with his face buried in his hands, crying so hard he couldn't see anything, thinking only about fear and all the things that could go wrong and how he could so easily lose the person he loved the most. It was a horrible feeling. Already he had lost Miley, and now that he might have gotten her back, he could be losing Peyton in her place. For the second time in four years, his daughter was seconds away from death, and he couldn't help but wonder if their luck had run out since the first time.
Miley sat beside him, just staring at the wall beside her. She was thinking faster than her brain could process the thoughts and she was crying silently. Only minutes after she found out her daughter was alive, she was sitting in a hospital waiting room knowing that her daughter could be dead. It simply wasn't fair. She thought about her own mother, and how she still didn't remember her. So many things she had wished they could have done together. If her only daughter was to die before she even had the chance to meet her, she would be officially convinced that the universe had something personal against her. She felt as if her blank eyes were burning a hole through the plain white wall as she stared it down.
Joe and Taylor sat directly across from the couple, Taylor's face pressed into Joe's shoulder as he held her silently. They were numb from the shock of everything that had happened that day, and especially from seeing Miley and Nick together. This had been a surprise to both of them in different ways, and they tried to push the curious thoughts to the back of their minds for the time being. Nick and Miley had offered only a very brief explanation and in this time of distress, Joe and Taylor didn't press them for answers.
The entire family was very close and therefore the small waiting room was nearly full. Nick's parents sat directly beside him, but had given up on trying to comfort him when he simply wouldn't let them. Frankie sat to the left of his father, looking awkward and out of place although, oddly, he seemed to be the calmest one in the room. Kevin and Danielle sat next to Joe and Taylor, their son and daughter curled up in one chair together beside them, sleeping silently. Occasionally they would glance over at their twins and feel a surge of guilt. After everything Nick and Peyton had been through...they couldn't help but feel bad that their two were not the ones in the hospital.
Joe had quietly explained everything to everyone when they walked in, and Miley was grateful not to be getting the stares and questions she had expected. Still, she got an odd feeling of comfort from seeing this family together, so different from the way she remembered them and yet somehow the same, all consoling and reassuring each other and praying for her little girl. She liked the thought that Peyton had so many people who cared about her. She deserved a loving family, especially since she had no maternal relatives at all.
Almost half an hour later, the twin two-year-olds woke up, hungry. The whole family decided to go to the cafeteria for a snack – not because they were hungry, but because they had to get away from the depressing stillness of the waiting room. Joe and Kevin practically dragged Nick from the room but Miley refused to go, and though they tried a little awkward persuasion, no one insisted that she come. Nick asked her to but she simply couldn't go. She couldn't move. She needed to stay and be with her thoughts.
She was surprised when Frankie asked to stay with her, so she wouldn't be alone.
She watched the eight figures shrink until they turned the corner and then looked down at her lap, falling back into her sadness.
After several minutes in silence, Miley's thoughts were interrupted when she caught a flash of red sinking into the chair beside her. She looked up to be met with two gorgeous brown eyes, but not from the face she had been used to seeing them on. She offered a small smile.
"Hey, Frank."
He smiled brightly. "Hi, Miles. Good to see you." He seemed to be looking her up and down, analyzing just how much she'd changed, and she took the opportunity to do the same to him.
Frankie had been nine the last time Miley saw him – small and chubby, with messy hair and a hole in his mouth from one of his final baby teeth. Now he was thirteen, awkward and lanky with absolutely unruly hair hanging in his eyes and orange braces gracing his teeth. He looked like a regular little ladies' man and she smiled as she realized he was the same age Nick was when she met him. He actually looked a lot like Nick, when she looked closely.
"I missed you," he told her quietly, and she reached out to brush his curls from his eyes. "I missed you too, baby brother."
His smile took on a sort of gentleness that looked strange on a boy of his age. "Peyton's gonna be okay," he said, without a hint of doubt. "Don't worry."
Miley sighed, and he shook his head before she could say anything. "No, really," he insisted. "Listen, P is always gonna be okay. She's the toughest kid I know. When she was born..." he paused, as if he expected Miley to burst into tears at the mention of that day, but when she only winced he went on: "When she was born she was supposed to die. None of the doctors thought she would survive. No one knows I overheard this, but when Nick was in the cafeteria one of the nurses told Mom and Dad to prepare him for her to die – and probably you too, but they were trying harder to save you. And she said that if Peyton did survive, she would have some sort of disability. But she doesn't."
He paused again, his eyes fierce with emotion. "She's fine – perfect. Everybody thought she was dead before she was born and she came out crying. There's nothing wrong with her the way the doctors said there would be. So many things could have gone wrong, and they didn't. She has a whole army of angels looking after her."
He paused, shaking his head as if her worry was ridiculous as he finished: "One little strawberry is not going to take her out."
Miley was crying by the time he finished speaking, and she smiled at him. "Thanks, Frankie," she whispered.
He grinned. "No problem."
Then he stood up, walking over to his original seat and flopping down into it. And just like that, the moment was over.
Minutes later the rest of the family came walking back down the hallway, taking their respective seats silently and offering comforting smiles as Miley glanced at them. The twins stared at her curiously from their parents' arms, and she knew they had been told who she was, even if they didn't understand.
When Nick sat down, he stared at his feet for a moment before looking up at Miley. She felt his eyes on her and turned to meet his gaze, and he silently held out his hand.
She took it with a small smile, and he gently ran his thumb over the back of her hand, soothing her in the smallest of ways.
Even with this small reassurance, Miley didn't like the overall feeling of discomfort in the room. People spoke in hushed tones, even quieting the babies. Everyone sat perfectly still, only moving when it was completely necessary. No one looked at Miley for very long, and it left her feeling cold, as if she didn't belong. Joe was crying quietly, obviously overwhelmed with guilt, and it made her feel awful. She was the only one who should be guilty. She hadn't been there – not ever. And even if it wasn't her fault, part of her would always blame herself.
And as she was thinking about all of this she felt more tears brimming in her eyes, and she jumped slightly when she felt Nick's arms wrap around her, pulling him to her chest. Neither of them said anything; they simply held each other.
Suddenly the sound of approaching footsteps invaded the almost silent waiting room, and everyone seemed to hold their breath.
The doctor seemed to walk painfully slowly, though it was probably just in Nick's imagination. Finally the young man was in the center of the room and he glanced around at all the people, seeming to realize that they were all family.
"Peyton Lucas?" the doctor asked, glancing at his clipboard. Nick stood up, pulling Miley with him when she hesitated.
"How is she?" Nick asked urgently, squeezing Miley's hand.
"She's going to be fine," the man said with a small smile, and everyone sighed in relief. "She's reacting well to the treatment and she's awake. We let her have her teddy bear too. She's been asking for her father, even though we keep telling her not to talk so much." He chuckled lightly and then turned serious.
"You know, she's very lucky," he continued sincerely. "She got here just in time. I'd say twenty more seconds without treatment and she would have been dead."
Nick swallowed hard, closing his eyes. He really was seconds away from losing her.
"What happened, exactly?" Nick asked after a second, seeming slightly more calm.
"She has one of the most severe allergies we've ever seen here," the doctor said gravely. "Her throat constricted and she wasn't getting enough oxygen in her system. Has she ever had an allergic reaction before?"
Nick shook his head. "I didn't know she was allergic to anything."
The doctor nodded slightly. "Well, if it wasn't obvious, she shouldn't have strawberries anymore. It's possible she could grow out of it, but I doubt you'd be brave enough to test it yourself. There are blood tests you can do every few years to see if the severity has decreased any, and to check for any other allergies."
Nick only nodded. "Thank you. When can we see her?"
The doctor glanced at his clipboard again. "Now, if you'd like. Just make sure she doesn't talk too much; her throat is very sensitive right now."
"Thank you," Nick said again, his voice blank as his mind ran wild.
Moments later he found himself staring at the door of his daughter's hospital room, breathing deeply as he thought about what he was about to do.
Working up all of his courage, he turned the knob and opened the door, glancing back at Miley one last time from where she stood beside the door, out of the sight of anyone inside the room.
"Daddy!" Peyton cried happily when she saw him, holding her arms out for him, and he frowned at the sound of her hoarse voice.
"Hey, Princess," he said gently, walking over and giving her a careful hug. "How are you feeling?"
"Icky," she said simply. He smiled sympathetically. "I'm sorry. You're gonna feel better really soon, okay?"
She nodded. "Daddy?"
"Yeah?"
"What happened to me? No one will tell me."
He sighed. "You're allergic to strawberries," Nick told her. "When you ate them, your throat had a bad reaction and that's why you couldn't breathe. And I'm afraid you can't have strawberries anymore."
"Good," Peyton sniffed, looking very small. "Because I hate them. That was really scary..."
Nick almost started crying again. "I know; I'm sorry you had to go through that and I'm sorry I wasn't with you," he told her, stroking her tangled hair. "I'm proud of you, though. Uncle Joe says you were very brave."
She trailed her tiny fingers across his shoulder, taking comfort in the familiar soft fabric of his shirt. "Thanks."
He smiled comfortingly. "Now stop talking so much," he instructed. "Just listen, okay? I have something...important to tell you."
She looked at him curiously, not speaking as she had been directed.
"Okay..." Nick took a deep breath, trying to find a good spot to begin. "You remember that story I told you, right?" he asked finally. "The one about Mommy?"
She nodded.
"And...do you remember when you stayed with Nana and Papa and I was too busy to come get you? So you stayed with..."
She cut him off with a sharp nod and hugged her teddy bear closer to her, obviously still upset over the memory.
"Well..." Nick gulped, licking his lips. "The reason I couldn't come get you is because I was with Mommy."
Her tiny eyes widened and she squeezed his arm, but still she said nothing.
"I saw her when I was out the night before. Some bad people were trying to hurt her." He paused. "So I saved her."
Peyton smiled slightly. Just like a real prince and princess!
"She didn't remember me," he went on. "She lost her memory in the accident, remember? So I didn't tell her who he was. Because I was afraid..." he trailed off, running one hand over his daughter's cheek. "I was afraid that if I did she would tell her father and he would take away my princess."
Peyton's eyes widened even more, and she rested her little hand on top of his on her cheek.
"So I pretended that I didn't know her. I took care of her until she could go back to her own house," he explained. "But I never told you about her because I knew that you could never meet her."
Her expression took on a look of confusion as she silently asked him why he was bothering to tell her now.
"Well..." he scratched his head in thought. "I didn't know it then, but when Mommy saw me she started to get her memory back. Ever since then she's been slowly remembering things and people...especially me and you."
"The evil spell was broken," Peyton said quietly, smiling. He chuckled. "Yeah, I guess it was."
He sighed, his smile fading. "Well, when your mother started to remember she found me again," he said, swallowing hard. "Earlier today. And she...she wants to meet you."
She was quiet for a long moment, thinking, and she just stared at him. Then she smiled.
"Really?" she asked in a small voice.
"Really. She's outside in the hall right now."
Peyton's smile grew. "Can I meet her now?"
Nick smiled slightly at her excitement. "Yes, but you can't talk so much, P. Your throat will only hurt worse."
She nodded quickly, pressing her lips tightly together and pretending to zip them closed. He smiled, ruffling her hair, and then stood up.
"Come in, Miley," he called, trying to keep his voice from shaking. He couldn't let them know how nervous he was.
The door, which had been discretely cracked open the whole time, slowly opened to reveal a very nervous Miley, tears dripping slowly from her eyes as she walked into the room and stopped when she came close to the bed.
Two identical pairs of blue eyes locked and time seemed to stand still.
As Miley looked at her little girl laying there in bed, looking broken and yet strong, and staring right at her...she couldn't believe it. It was really her. Peyton was really alive and she was really there, wanting to meet her.
Almost even more shocking was the flood of memories that came rushing back to her. Suddenly she remembered everything. Her early childhood, things that had happened before she met Nick. She remembered her mother. She remembered it all.
Peyton was the final piece of the puzzle.
While she was thinking this, Peyton stared at her with wide eyes, not sure if she was real or not. It was too good to be true – her mother and her father, together in one room, with her. She had been sure she would never meet her mother. But now she was. Her mother wanted to meet her. She broke the evil spell and came back for her. And knowing that was the most amazing feeling she had ever felt.
"Hi, Baby Girl," Miley whispered finally, wiping the joyful tears from her eyes as she took a step closer. Nick backed away silently, giving mother and daughter their moment, observing them both and smiling slightly. The mere thought of them knowing each other, of Peyton growing up with both parents...it was enough to make him cry as well.
"Hi, Mommy," Peyton whispered back, in a small voice that was almost inaudible. She squeezed Chewie to her tightly and Miley timidly took another step closer.
The two simply stared at each other for a long moment, neither trying to touch the other for fear that they would disappear.
It was Miley that reached her hand out first. Gently she touched Peyton's small hand with one finger, and the little girl carefully wrapped her fingers around her mother's hand, squeezing it gently. Her other hand held Chewie close to her body, and when she glanced down at him she swore she saw him wink at her.
"You're prettier than you were in your picture," Peyton whispered. Her voice was soft and very small, still sounding rough from her injured throat.
"So are you," Miley said with a smile. Her daughter tugged hesitantly on her hand, and Miley took the hint and sat down on the edge of the bed, carefully reaching out her hand to push Peyton's curls out of her eyes. Peyton winced slightly when her mother's fingers touched her forehead. After only a second, though, she felt herself lean into the comforting touch, surprised but very pleased to see that her mother's embrace was just as calming as her father's.
The room was silent for a long moment. Peyton had spent many lonely days thinking about all the things she would say to her mother if they ever met, but now she simply couldn't find any words.
"Did you really forget me?" she finally asked, her quiet voice sounding strained.
Miley managed a weak, sad smile. "Yes. But I remember now..." she squeezed her daughter's hand again.
"Are you going to stay here?" Peyton asked, not seeming quite as nervous as before. "And live with us?"
This question posed a slight problem. Miley glanced up at Nick, her eyes questioning. What were they, exactly? Yeah, they had kissed, and snuggled a little. But that wasn't exactly a real relationship. It had been four years, after all. For all she knew he could be in a relationship with someone else. She didn't really have the right to -
"Mommy?" Peyton snapped her mother out of her thoughts, concerned by the long silence. She smiled as the single word left her lips; she had said it before, but it felt so new and special to say it now.
She repeated her previous question and Miley looked up at Nick again. He nodded.
Turning back to Peyton, she smiled lightly. "I guess so, if you and your father don't mind."
Peyton smiled, nodding her head. Suddenly she realized she had snuggled up closer to Miley, who was now beside her on the bed. The feeling, while completely foreign, was very soothing and wonderful. Her mother was holding her for the very first time.
"I love you, Mommy," Peyton whispered hoarsely into her mother's neck, so quietly that Miley almost missed it. Hearing her daughter say that was the greatest feeling Miley had ever known. Her baby loved her. They were together again and they always would be, no matter what. She felt like she had just given birth as she sat in the presence of this little miracle, vowing that she would always take care of her and love her and do anything in her power to keep her safe and happy.
"I love you too, Peyton," she whispered, leaning down and kissing her daughter's forehead tenderly. The two cuddled for a moment more, sitting in a comfortable silence. Their tears mingled together on their cheeks – Peyton had always thought it was a lie that people cried when they were happy, but now she knew it to be true. The tears flowed out of her eyes freely, even though she wasn't sad, and she noticed her mother crying to. In fact, when she glanced up at the wall, she caught a glimpse of her daddy wiping his eyes on his sleeve as well.
Finally Miley spoke again, still feeling like she wasn't quite welcome in the family. "Well, I suppose we should let the rest of your family take their turn now. Everyone is dying to see you."
Peyton suddenly remembered the doctor saying something about no more than two visitors being allowed in the room at one time. The thought panicked her as she realized her mother would have to leave.
Her blue eyes widened and she gripped Miley's arm tightly. "No!" she shouted, her weak voice cracking. She winced in pain and her parents frowned.
"Shh," Nick reminded her, speaking up for the first time since Miley entered the room, but he was basically ignored.
"Don't leave me!" Peyton said frantically, more tears dripping down her cheeks, and Miley could see fear in her eyes. A surge of guilt ran over her as she realized her daughter was so scared of losing her again that she would give up a change to see all of the other people she loved.
Miley looked up at Nick, and his face only mirrored her confused and sad expression.
"Okay, Baby Girl," Miley whispered slowly, rubbing her daughter's back as Peyton buried her head into her chest. "It's okay. I won't leave."
Peyton only sniffled, still holding onto Miley's arm tightly.
"Should I tell the rest that you aren't ready for visitors yet?" Nick asked softly.
His daughter looked up at him, still sniffling. "They can come," she said, and reached her other hand out for him, "But you and Mommy have to stay, too."
Nick swallowed, taking Peyton's hand to comfort her and looking at Miley, whose expression told him she would be no help.
"I'm sure the doctors will understand," he said finally. "I'll tell someone else they can come in, okay?"
She responded with a small whining noise, tightening her grip on his arm. "Don't leave."
"I'll be right back. I promise."
She looked at him for a minute, and then, ever so slowly, she moved her hand off of his arm and wrapped it around Miley instead, dropping her head down onto her chest.
"That's my girl," he whispered gently. He leaned in and kissed her forehead as softly as possible, and then, after a short pause, he kissed Miley's forehead as well. He had two special girls now.
Nick stepped out of the room and went to retrieve one of his brothers, and Miley and Peyton sat in silence for a moment. They both had so much to say to each other, and yet they couldn't get anything out of their mouths.
"I'm glad you came back to me," Peyton whispered into her mother's chest, so softly Miley wasn't sure if she was meant to hear it.
"Me too," she whispered, kissing her daughter's head again. For the first time, she noticed the tattered stuffed bear that Peyton had in her lap. She couldn't help but smile as a flood of memories washed over her. She remembered that bear. She remembered finding it in a store and thinking it was the cutest thing ever, and stitching those careful cursive letters on the bottom of his paw. They were real memories – things she could recall whenever she wanted, and they weren't strange or unfamiliar in any way.
Peyton picked her tiny head up and looked up into Miley's eyes, a serious expression on her angelic face. "Please don't ever leave us again," she whispered.
Miley's heart broke and she pulled the little girl to her tightly.
"I won't," she whispered back. "I promise."
Aw for the Mommy/Daughter moment! I like this chapter, don't love it, but I like it. :) Unfortunately the drama is just getting started... The 'M' rating will come into play within the next few chapters too. ;) The next update will come pretty fast (hopefully) because I feel bad about not updating for so long.
So yeah...thoughts?