"Oh you've got to be kidding me. More waterworks?" Will sighed, trying to be sympathetic even though he was at his wits end.
"C'mon now sis, buck up. This is the exact moment you've been waiting for for months!"
"He...he's right Dixie." Jenny said, trying to be strong for everyone even though she was on the verge of tears herself. This whole process hadn't gotten any easier since she had to go through it with Tad.
"Hey now, what's so upsetting about my being right for a change?" Will asked, sounding slightly offended.
"Oh gosh Will. It's not, it's not that, it's just..." Jenny tried to choke out, before she proceeded to break down crying herself and give Dixie a huge hug.
"I'm gonna miss you so much hon."
"She's right Dixie, we all will." Erin said sadly.
"And, hey hon, if you get a chance. Once you get back, I know that you and my brother's weren't exactly on the best of terms back then what with the whole Emma situation, but if you could just..."
"Of course I'll keep an eye out Erin. I mean, what with our girls being best pals, I don't have too many options do I?"
Dixie joked.
"No, but I swear, Ryan and I were friends for a long time. I'll make sure we get back to that somehow.Don't worry."
"Oh Dixie.What will I do without you?" Gillian said.
"I'll miss you too hon. And listen to me. There's no way that as long as I'm back there, that you're gonna fade anymore, alright. I'll make sure you're gonna keep getting valentines from your guy until he's here with you. You got me?"
"Yes, I do. Thank you so much. But you have to get your happily ever after too. Do you understand?"
"Oh yes I do." Dixie said with a sad smile as she, Erin and Gillian all embraced.
"Wow, Will's right. There's way too many waterworks in this part of the cosmos now." Simone said with a sigh, knowing she had some damage control to do.
"Okay, I know it's a major bummer now and we're gonna be up here crying for the next month, but just think about how much better everyone's gonna be once we get someone from our side back home, right? Take Tad for instance. The guy's barely been recognizable for months, but in that minute he walks in that door of that shack and sees you, he's gonna be happier than he's been in a long long time."
"What makes you think he'll only be happy for a minute?" Dixie asked quietly with a sly smile.
"Now, coming from me that's a major compliment." Simone said, unaware of Dixie's comment.
"How do you figure?" Erin asked.
"Well, 'cause we all know that Tad, by far, was happiest during all those times he was with me. A loaded can of whipped cream can do that to a guy, if you know what I'm saying." Simone stated, getting an eyebrow raise from Ethan standing nearby.
"Excuse me?" Dixie said loudly, sounding apalled.
"Oh come now Dix, you know I'm right." Simone joked.
"Oh I wouldn't be so sure of yourself there Mrs. Cambias. Because I happen to recall a particular instance involving rope, handcuffs, and the floor of the Chandler Jet. Let's just say that night our beloved cad proved his worth, even tied up like a Thanksgiving turkey!" Dixie said with a mischevious grin as the group burst out laughing.
"We're not worthy!"
Erin and Gillian said bowing repeatedly.
"Yeah well you just try to combine the two, alright Mrs. Martin. We'll just see if you truly reign supreme."
Simone said with a smirk before she reached out and gave Dixie a hug.
"Now you don't seem like a whipped cream kinda gal so my only request of you is this.
Just keep our guy smiling, alright?"
"I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Alright, step aside my goddess of dessert toppings." Ethan said with a wink as he took Dixie's hand and kissed it.
"My best wishes darling. Best of luck to you and your turkey."
"Thank you Ethan."
"Also Dixie, if you don't mind my asking. Despite the rather unpleasant circumstances which surrounded you and my father most recently, would it be possible if you gave him my regards when you return?"
"Oh yeah, um. Of, of course." Dixie stammered.
"Dixie? Are you alright?" Ethan asked with concern.
"Wha, oh. Yeah, I'm, I'm fine. Just nervous, I guess."
"Oh come now darling. What about returning to the land of the living could possibly give you the jitters?" Ethan joked.
"Oh yeah, why should I be nervous. I mean considering my stellar track record as far as coming back to life is concerned." Dixie said bitterly.
"Oh come now dear."
"No, there's no need to worry Ethan. I promise I'll give Zach your regards. I owe him that much. Considering I totally took advantage of his good nature way back when, and had the privilege of being the town pariah to prove it."
Dixie said angrily, reflecting on everything that had happened between her and Zach during what seemed like ages ago back in Pine Valley. The costly, selfish mistakes she had made that led everyone she cared about to suffer for months.
She remembered how broken and alone she'd felt when she'd first come back to town, and how she was so desperate to find someone who would be able to help her, without judging her or making her feel guiltier than she already was. And unfortunately, the only person who fit that description was Zach Slater, a man who had issues of his own he'd set aside, all so he could play hero for a woman he'd just met, who was literally trapped underneath her own baggage, her old life she'd been hiding from for four years, just to protect everyone who mattered to her.
"Dixie, listen to me. One little perk of having multiple lives, is just that, you have another brand new one to live, however you choose. But the best part, is right now you have a clean slate. A whole new wonderful life you've earned the right to have. So why are you so afraid to go back and take what's your's?"
"I...I'm not afraid!"
"Oh alright..."
"I, I just. I don't want to come back and throw everyone I care about into a tailspin and do nothing but hurt them. I mean considering my track record I think I've earned the right to be a bit worried."
"Well, if you insist. However, judging from the Dixie I've had the pleasure of getting to know the past several months, I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you. Because you see, the Dixie standing before me, is someone who is more devoted to family than anyone I've known, who has nothing to be sorry or ashamed over, and has no reason to think otherwise."
"Ethan I..." Dixie said with a sad smile, about to break into tears at Ethan's kind words."
"And, the Dixie standing before me is also a woman who needs to learn not to get excessively emotional in situations like this or I tend to get uncomfortable."
"Consider it learned."
Dixie said with a sad smile as she gave Ethan a hug and glanced over at the portal. As relieved as she was to see it was still available, it truly had begun to sink in that she'd soon have to leave this place she's been calling home for over a year. This magical place that had given her so much, although she was too busy grieving and trying to leave to see everything it had to offer her, along with everything it had already provided.
She'd been fortunate enough to get the chance to spend time with family she'd wrongly spent so little time with back on Earth, become best of friends with people she'd never expected to befriend, and even had the chance to make ammends with people she'd taken for granted earlier on. She just wished that somehow she'd be able to remember what had happened to her up here, the visits to the attic, shopping sprees at Lacey's, and what she'd treasure most, the ablity to take care of her first daughter.
But even if all this would feel like some incredible dream tomorrow when she hopefully woke up, one thing that couldn't be taken away from her was the fact that she had earned this chance to come home. That everything she'd been working for for so long, was finally gonna happen. She just hoped that everything would go to plan, and that she would make the most of this do over. She just was hoping that there would be no repeat performances of her last return to Pine Valley.
"Um, hey Dix? Hate to break it to ya but, um...we're kind of in a crunch for time and..."
"Oh, gosh. Right, yeah. Sorry I just...Wow, this, this is really happening, isn't it! I...I'm going home!"
"You certainly are dear. Why, it's just a miracle isn't it " Bess said with a sad smile.
"Well Ma, we are pretty long overdue."
"I should say so." Kate said with a grin as Jenny nodded in agreement before turning attention to her friend.
"Now, Dix. I have a feeling you should know that this whole return business isn't exactly a walk in the park. You're gonna feel a heck of a lot different, I mean back there you've been in a coma the past year. Your body's gonna be in pretty bad shape for a bit."
"Oh something wonderful to look foward to. The luxurious accomodations of a hospital bed with the added relaxations of not eating or breathing on my own. Paradise."
"Yeah, and stuck in some small town backwoods hospital of all places. You poor thing." Erin said.
"And without one person to give the comatose you a much needed manicure? How can you possibly deal? At least when Kendall was playing Sleeping Beauty we got to keep her looking pretty."
Simone said.
"Well, she may not have that, but even if she's not gonna be in a shack of a hospital, she'll definitely get all top of the line treatments, have no medical bills to be paid, and have an excepionally amazing hubby who will soon be catering to her very wish while she's making an unusually fast recovery. I say give her two days time max til she's up and running."
'Yeah that sounds about right. And also consider this Dix, at least you get to wake up from your coma in human form on a nice bed rather than being stuck as a ghost on a cloud someplace." Rosanna said with a sigh.
"Way to show the love Ro!" Simone chimed in.
"Hey ease up on the girl alright. She's got every right to feel like this." Dixie said feeling empathy towards her lookalike.
"It's just 'cause I'm gonna be without my better half, that's all." Rosanna said shyly.
"Hey, if someone rubs me the wrong way feel free to throw a little bitchiness my way."
"You've got yourself a deal."
"Okay guys sorry to break up the party but we kinda gotta do this thing, like now!" Jenny said nervously.
"She's right girls, we can't afford to let this chance slip away." Nola said with Bess and Kate by her side.
"Now Dixie, promise me that you'll keep that grandson of mine in line."
"I promise Gram, no need to worry."
"And listen dear. That beautiful daughter of your's is going to be in your arms before you know it."
"You really mean it?"
"As long as she has my name she'll know exactly where she's supposed to be. I swear it. You'll find you way back to eachother right away. She's been away from you and Tad long enough."
"Oh, she most definitely has, but so has her big sister! Anyone seen that sweet angelface around recently?"
Bess asked, wondering where her namesake had run off to.
"Oh God, where is she? I...I have to say goodbye to my little girl!" Dixie said anxiously, knowing she didn't have much time left but that she had to see her daughter one last time.
"Dixie, dear. I'm sorry but there's not enough time! You have to leave now, right now!"
"But Nola I..."
"Dixie, she's right. As much as I hate being a downer here we've only got a few minutes left. Now look, it may feel a bit strange once you get back. You're gonna be comatose and possibly not totally out of the woods. But give it a few days and you should be as good as new."
Jenny said fighting tears.
"Oh Jen, how can I ever..."
"No, don't. The only thing you can do is get back to your kids and my brother and hug and kiss them all like crazy for all of us who aren't lucky enough to be right there with them.You understand?"
"Yeah and Dix, tell that niece of mine that her uncle Will is gonna keep an eye out for her. And tell Uncle Palmer, just...tell him thanks, from me."
'"Of course Will." Dixie said as she gave her brother a hug for the last time.
"I...I love ya sis."
"Right back at you bro. Same goes for all of you. Everyone here. You guys have just been so..."
"Okay, enough tears! I mean it!" Simone said.
"I...I just wish I could've said bye to Bess!"
"Oh no need to worry about that Dixie. You'll see your baby soon enough."
Ro said with a smile as she and the rest of the crowd saw Dixie vanish in a huge flash of light.
The last thing she remembered was a familiar looking crowd cheering and waving goodbye to her. But then they disappeared in a flash like they were nothing more than a wonderful dream. When this new reality set in, all she felt was scared, and exhausted. She was unaware of her surroundings.
All she could hear was some vague mumbling and a persistent beep, but she was trapped in nothing butdarkness. All she felt was weak, exhausted, and feared she was paralyzed.
To make sure this wasn't the case, she tried to stretch a bit, wanting to get some movement back in her stiff hand.
Then somewhere in the confusing blackness, she heard a far off voice.
"Oh my word...Doctor Andrews, Mr. Cortlandt! Come...come quickly!"
"Nurse Davis, is everything...Oh my, is she...?"
Then the voices bgean to sound closer, then she heard footsteps and sensed there was another person at her side.
"What the devil, is...Oh my God! I knew it."
Somehow this voice sounded more familiar to her.
"DDixie, oh my. Darling. Thank God! I..I knew you'd fight this. I knew it. Come on now dear, you're almost there. All you need to do open your eyes. Please dear. For your old uncle's sake, please. I can't take much more of this! I... I know you can do it Dixie. Just wake up. Us Cooney's are fighters, we always have been. You just need to fight a little more now. Just open your eyes. Please Dixie."
But as much as she wanted to fulfill her uncle's request, as hard as she tried she couldn't seem to open her eyes. As much as she wanted to find out what had happened to her, she knew there was a very important piece of this crazy puzzle that had become her life that was still missing. The one person who could do more than all the medical treatments in the world, who could truly save her from this nightmare she was in at the moment and give her enough incentive to fight back. That being no one other than the love of her life.