So it's been a few days, but here's the next chapter! I hope the fact that it's almost 6000 words makes up for the small delay :) This is the longest chapter for this story! I hope you guys enjoy it :) Thanks for the wonderful reviews, you guys are the best!
Enjoy!
-Jen
That evening, Ariella insisted that they all go home and sleep in their own beds, insisting that she really just wanted to be alone, think. So, they all left and slept, but got up early, and were back at the hospital by ten. It was a Saturday, so the kids had no school, and Maureen and Kathleen both had the day off from work.
Kathy worked as a nurse in the hospital, and had told Elliot that if they wanted, they could take Eli for the weekend. She was bringing him in when she started her shift at noon.
When everyone arrived at the hospital, they headed to Ariella's room and went in past the guards, only to find her sound asleep, cuddled against Taylor, who looked to have dozed off. Even in sleep, his arms were around her in comfort, protection.
Brooke went over and gently shook Taylor, who woke with a start, looking around drowsily at everyone standing around. "What time is it?" He muttered, yawning.
"Ten fifteen in the morning," Brooke said quietly back. "How early did you get here?"
"She called me at like, three this morning." He said. "She said she just needed me to come here, and when I asked what was wrong she wouldn't say." He whispered. "She still wouldn't tell me when I got here, just insisted I lay with her. I must've fallen asleep."
Even though the crazy protective part of Elliot hated any of his daughters having a boyfriend, and hated how serious Ariella was with hers, he had to admit that he was a good guy. He was only nineteen, they'd been together for two years. He knew every part of her horrible past, knew she was sick going into the relationship, and it didn't stop him. He did anything he could to protect her and make her feel safe, and he treated her like a princess, he was a gentleman.
Ariella started moving then, yawning as she opened her eyes, squinting against the light. "Good morning," Taylor said to her, kissing her forehead.
"What time is it?" Ariella mumbled, snuggling closer to him, burying her face as she tried to hide from the light.
"Almost ten thirty." Taylor said, gently stroking her hair. "You should eat something, baby."
Ariella shrugged, before finally pulling her self into a sitting position, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, running her fingers through her hair. Taylor sat up too, stretching, letting his arms slide around her waist from behind.
"How are you feeling?" Olivia asked, feeling her forehead.
Ariella shrugged. "About the same. I didn't sleep very well. It's difficult sleeping with the IV and monitors attached, even if I should be used to it by now."
Taylor, who had checked a text message on his phone, sighed. "Babe, I have to go back to the hotel, shower, and go to lunch with my mom like I promised. She wants to come see you after, is that ok?"
Ariella nodded. "Yea, sure. I'll miss you." She said, looking back at him.
"I'll be back soon. I promise." He said, kissing her. "Relax and try doing the video for your fans like you told me you wanted to do, ok?"
She nodded, "Have fun with your mom, I'll see you soon. I love you."
"I love you too," He smiled, kissing her again, before getting up, bidding goodbye to everyone else, and leaving.
Ariella got up and went to the bathroom, wheeling the IV Stand with her. When she came back, and once she was settled in bed, Brooke said, "Your breakfast must be there," pointed to the covered tray in the corner. Ariella gave it a look of disgust.
"I don't know what's under it, but no thank you. I'm not that hungry anyways." She shrugged.
"You need to eat something, honey," Elliot insisted from the chair he'd taken on the side of her bed, Olivia right next to him.
"How about I send one of them out to Dunkin's for you?" Brooke said, meaning the security guy. "He can get you a bagel and coffee, your favorite."
Though she really didn't want anything, Ariella nodded to pacify them. Once Brooke had asked one of them to go, Ariella said what she'd been thinking for a few days, since he'd held her hostage.
"Brooke," She said, "I want to change my name. My last name." She said, sitting up so she could look at Brooke properly.
Everyone looked kind of surprised. "Oh?" Brooke asked.
Ariella nodded. "I don't want anything to do with him. I don't want to be tied to him by my last name, he doesn't deserve to have his name carried on."
"What would you change it too?" Brooke asked.
Ariella looked at her. "What do you think I would change it to?" She said, teenage sarcasm dripping from every word.
"Don't get smart with me." Brooke said sternly.
"Sorry." Ariella sighed. "I don't know exactly. One of theirs. Both of theirs." She said softly, looking at her parents, before looking back to Brooke. "I don't care what the court paper say. They're my parents, I'm their child. I-Is that ok?" She asked hesitantly, looking to her parents. Olivia looked like he wanted to cry (a look she'd had a lot lately), and Elliot looked happy, touched.
"Of course." They both said together.
Olivia looked at Elliot for a moment, before going on. "But...just change it to Stabler." She said. "We were going to wait to tell you, till the ring came in. But uh...we're engaged, so my last name will be changed eventually too."
After a minute passed and everyone let the news sink in, it was Ariella who grinned, happy. "Really?" She exclaimed.
Olivia grinned too, "Really."
"This is awesome!" Ariella said, bouncing slightly with excitement.
"Congratulations," Brooke and Mary both said, smiling.
Elliot looked to his children, who hadn't said anything, and asked, "Are you guys ok with this?"
"Please be honest," Olivia said, "I'd understand if you weren't."
"Of course we are!" Maureen said quickly, speaking for all of them, who nodded in agreement. "We love you, Liv. But...you guys aren't going to get married like, tomorrow are you? You'll take some time?"
"We're going to wait until I have the baby, first of all," Olivia said, nodding. "I'd rather not be pregnant at my wedding. And we want to wait until Rellie's all better." She added, "I want you to be my maid of honor."
Ariella smiled wider. "Really?"
"Of course," Olivia nodded, taking her hand. "Who better than the one that brought us together? You'd be the maid of honor, and I was hoping you three would be bridesmaids."
All three Stabler girls smiled, agreeing instantly, happily.
"Does Dickie get to be the ring bearer?" Lizzie teased her brother.
"Actually," Elliot said, "That'd be Eli's job. I was hoping Dickie would be my best man."
Dickie looked up at his father, kind of shocked. "R-really?"
Elliot nodded. "Of course."
The seventeen year old slowly smiled, nodding. "Yea. That'd be cool, I'd like that."
Then, Elliot decided to bring up what Ariella had mentioned a few days previous. "Also, Liv and I were talking. About what you told me, Rellie." He said. "About the custody thing. And we both agreed that...if you want that, then so do we."
For the third or fourth time that morning, Ariella asked, "Really?" Only this one came out faint, a whisper, tears pooling in her eyes.
"Of course," Olivia said. "It's something I never should have given up in the first place." She said, moving to sit on the edge of her bed, facing her. "I understand if you don't want to, since you're almost eighteen, and all, and I don't care what the law says because you are my daughter, you're our daughter. We're a family. But it'd be nice to have it be legal, huh?"
Ariella nodded through her tears, wrapping her arms around her mother, Elliot moving over to put his arms around both of them, kissing Ariella's forehead.
Smiling, Brooke said, "I'll call the judge in Nashville, see what he says, he's a friend of mine. The custody thing we can do, and of course we're so happy for you two, Elliot, Olivia. But Rellie...I don't think you can change your name, honey."
"What? Why? I have to!" Ariella argued.
It was Mary who explained, gently saying, "Rellie, you're whole enterprise is under the name Ariella Snow. Your albums are under that name, your merchandise, everything. It's not easy for a celebrity to just change their name. You're Ariella Snow, everyone knows who that is."
Ariella thought for a moment, and then said, "We don't have to change that. It can still be my stage name, my 'celebrity' name. I just want it to be Stabler legally."
"That could work," Mary reasoned. "I'll talk to the company management, ok?" Ariella nodded, satisfied with that for the moment.
Ariella sighed, pushing the nurse call button. "What's wrong?" Olivia asked.
"I need them to take the IV out and the monitor off, so I can shower." Ariella said, "I need to post a video explaining things to the fans."
"I thought maybe you could do a live chat instead," Mary said.
"Ok, sure." Ariella shrugged.
The nurse came in then, and Ariella asked for the removal of the IV and monitor.
"It's dangerous, Ms. Snow," The nurse said, hesitant, "You could pass out."
"I'll have one of my sisters sit in there while I shower if it'll get you to take them out. Once I'm done, I'll call you right back and you can put them back in. Call Doctor Reynolds, she always allows this." Ariella said, already aggravated with the overbearing staff. The nurse did call Linda who approved it, and so ten minutes later Ariella was in the shower, Elizabeth sitting in there to make sure she didn't pass out and get hurt. Everything went fine, and thirty minutes later, the IV was hooked back up. Linda said the heart monitor could stay off, and for that Ariella was grateful. The constant beeping got annoying.
Since her hand was attached to an IV, Kathleen offered to dry her hair for her, and by the time Mary had the live chat set up, her hair was straightened and dry, and Kathleen had applied light makeup for her. She was wearing her own sweatpants and Taylor's old high school sweatshirt, so she wasn't in a hospital gown.
"Where's Eli?" Ariella asked, noticing it was past noon and he wasn't there.
"Kathy's shift got pushed back, he'll be here in a few hours." Elliot answered, just as there was a knock on the door and Taylor came in with his mom.
"Hey, how're you feeling," He said, coming over to her to give her a kiss.
"Alright," Ariella shrugged. "Hi Kelly," she said, reaching up to accept a hug from her boyfriend's mom.
"Hi sweetie, I can't stay long, the car's waiting to bring me to the airport to head back to Los Angeles, I just wanted to come see how you were, I missed you." She said.
"I'm alright," Ariella shrugged. "Better than I was yesterday."
"You're a strong girl, sweetie. You'll pull through." Kelly said, confident.
Ariella smiled, nodding. "I have a great support system here, so I hope so."
"If you need anything, let me know, ok sweetie? I'll be thinking of you. Call me sometimes to stay in touch, ok?"
Ariella nodded. "I will, Kelly. Have a safe flight back."
"Thank you." Kelly said, hugging Ariella again, kissing her forehead. "It was wonderful to meet you all," Kelly then said to everyone, "You and Ariella are all very lucky to have each other."
Taylor got up from the bed and hugged his mom, "Have a safe flight, Ma, call me when you land."
"I will, honey. I love you." Kelly said, kissing Taylor's forehead.
"Love you too," He responded, before Kelly left.
"Ok, we're all set," Mary said, wheeling the tray table over to Ariella. On it sat her laptop, set up and open to 'U-Stream', the website she used for live chats. Although her laptop had a web-cam, they used a separate attached one because it could be moved around, so that was attached on top of the laptop. Beside the computer was Ariella's iPad, propped up in it's case and open to Twitter, where her fans could send in questions. "I sent the link out on your Twitter and Facebook, so just hit connect when you're ready. You, over there," She added to Taylor, who fake pouted, but moved.
Ariella sighed, taking a deep breath, and then pushed the connect button. After a few seconds, she was on live.
"Hey everyone," She smiled, waving at the camera. "I know you all probably have a lot of questions after the sudden cancellation of my concerts, and so I'm basically doing this to answer that, and any questions you may have, as well address some news stories about me that have been around lately." She said. She glanced at the iPad, and saw a common question was whether or not she was in the hospital. "First of all, yes, I am in the hospital. I've been here for a few days. I came in a few days ago for some routine testing for my cancer, and after the tests uh...after the tests I was taken hostage by Thomas, my ex-adoptive father." she admitted. Instantly, hundreds of people were Tweeting apologies and concerns. "Thanks to the excellent help of the NYPD, no one was really hurt. I got a few cuts, but he is back in custody, and is going back to jail for the rest of his disgusting life.
"Yesterday, I went to the NYPD offices and got to talk to him, and finally get some real closure, but after I was done, I got really sick, and collapsed, and got taken to the hospital by ambulance. It turns out that my cancer is fully back now, and is worse than ever before." She said, trying to sound brave.
She saw on Twitter that more than a few people were asking if and why Taylor wasn't there with her, and so she said, "And yes, Taylor is here with me. He's been extremely supportive, and just wonderful." She said, motioning him over. He stood and came over, taking her outstretched hand, and sitting beside her, coming into view of the camera.
"Hey guys! I am right here by her side of course. There's no where else I'd be during this." He said, kissing her cheek, causing people to Tweet about just how "oh so adorable" they were, while Dickie faked gagging off view of the camera, and Lizzie smacked him upside the head.
"But, that's why I had to cancel the shows." Ariella continued, hand laced through Taylor's now. "I wish I could more than anything, but it's just not safe for me to do them right now. I'm back in the hospital, clearly, and I start treatment tomorrow. A lot of you are asking if I'll be ok, and to answer that, I really hope so. We're not giving up, so don't worry. We're going to try and fight this, and prolong my life until we find a bone marrow donor." She said.
"Is Taylor the only one here with me?" She recited a question she saw on the Twitter feed. "No, he isn't. Here, I'll formally introduce you guys more personally," She said, reaching to twist the camera. "These are my parents, Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler," She said, and they waved at the camera. "These are the parents I found at the end of my search, and I couldn't be more happier. They're great, and are the best parents ever, and they've been with me since I found them and aren't going anywhere. Then over here are my two older sisters, Maureen and Kathleen!" She said, and grinning, they waved and said hi. "Since I thought I was an only child and never had siblings growing up, I was ecstatic to find I had quite a few. These are my siblings, Elizabeth and Richard, they're twins and about my age. The only one not here is my little brother Eli. I love my brothers and sisters with all my heart, and they've been amazing throughout this whole ordeal too." She said, smiling over at them. "And of course, you all know Brooke and Mary, my lawyer, agent and publicist, and legal guardians! They've been with me since the beginning of my career, and have been with me through everything." She smiled, turning the camera back on herself, then looked at other questions on her Twitter feed.
speaknow1423: are your parents together?
tayellaforever: is taylor going to be there with you? you guys are the cutest couple ever! will you ever do a show again?
liamlovessnow: MARRY ME?
colleen1678: is it true that you went to the hospital because you had a miscarriage at the breaking dawn party?
Ariella looked at Mary over the laptop, and just by the look, she got up and came over, and Taylor pointed out the question. She sighed, and shook her head, mouthing, "Don't say yes!"
"Ok, now to answer a few of your questions I have here...yes, my parents are together happily." Ariella said, and before she could answer the next two, Taylor did.
"And yes, I'm going to be with her every step of the way. I'm not going to leave New York until she is healthy and out of this hospital. And sorry Liam, no, you can't marry her, she's taken." He said, kissing her cheek again to make his point.
Ariella laughed, pecking his lips. "Sorry Liam, you heard the man. And I don't think my dad would like me getting married right now either."
"No, no I wouldn't!" Elliot agreed from off camera, where he sat with Liv.
"And for the last question, this is the first and only time I will acknowledge this," Ariella said. "All of you guys mean the world to me, and I love each and every one of you with all my heart. For the past five or so years, I've tried to be as open with you as possible about everything, as open as I can be without feeling like my privacy is being invaded. I know I signed up for what came with fame, meaning the reporters and press. However, the intricacies of my health, beyond what I choose to tell you guys, shouldn't be any ones concern. I have always been honest with you guys, and I told you before that I was rushed to the hospital the night Breaking Dawn premiered because of complications with my cancer. That's the truth." She said, feeling so guilty. "But now, I actually want to perform a song for you guys. I just recently wrote this one, and want to share it with you." She said, "Baby, can you get me my guitar." she asked, pointing to where the black sparkly acoustic stood propped up in the corner of the room. He nodded, and went and retrieved it, handing it to her, then sitting in a chair next to the bed instead of with her, to give her room.
She reached to the bedside table, and grabbed a guitar pick, and got situated, before talking. "Ok, so this song is called 'Bless the Broken Road,' and I hope you like it." She said smiling, before she began to play, soft music flowing perfectly as she played. It wasn't long before she began to sing.
"I set out on a narrow way many years ago, hooping I would find my fate along the broken road. But I got lost a time or two, was beaten down but kept pushing through. I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to you." Her voice was still strong, but soft and beautiful as she sang the soft acoustic tune. Strumming the music on the guitar still, she went into the chorus. "Every long lost dream led me to where you are. Others who broke me down, they were like Northern stars, pushing me on my way into your loving arms. This much I know is true...that God blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you." As she sang, she looked over at Elliot and Olivia, smiling, before turning back to the camera, glancing down at the guitar.
"I think about the years I spent barley making it through, I'd like to have the time I lost and give it back to you. But you just smile and take my hand, you love me, you understand, it's all part of a grander plan that is coming true...every long lost dream led me to where you are, others who broke me down, they were like Northern stars, pushing me on my way into your loving arms. This much I know is true...that God blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you."
Olivia's eyes were tearing up as she smiled watching her, leaning against Elliot who was smiling, arms wrapped around her.
Voice becoming minimally softer, she went onto the bridge. "Now I'm just rolling home, into my momma's arms...this much I know is true, that God blessed the broken road that led me straight to you. That God blessed the broken road, that led me straight to you." She finished gracefully, and finished the last few chords on her guitar. Once she finished, everyone in the room applauded her, and she looked around at them, smiling, handing the guitar back to Taylor, who leaned down to kiss her again quickly.
"I hope you guys liked it, and as soon as I'm out of this hospital, I want to get back to the recording studio, to get my fourth album going! I have so many songs written, and want to share them all with you. And To answer a question from before, I really hope I get to tour again. Once everything is all set and I'm better again, I would really like to start over. I'll get my next album ready, and then tour for that. But we'll see how things go." She said honestly.
"Now, I only have a minute or two left, but I want to apologize to all of you for having to cancel the shows. It breaks my heart to let you guys down, and I will try to make it up to you as soon as I can! Throughout my treatment, I will still have my phone and various electronics, so I'll keep you guys updated as much as I can! Also, you can follow two of my sisters on Twitter, they're to to Twitter, and if I get too sick to Tweet, then they'll keep you guys updated. You can follow Elizabeth, she's LizzieS13, and Kathleen is KathleenStabler13, I'll Tweet them so you're sure to get the right ones. I have to sign off now, but thank you for tuning in, and thank you for all your support. I love you guys, you're the best!" she said, flashing her signature hand heart, before waving, and clicking the disconnect button.
"That song was beautiful, you sounded great," Taylor said.
"Thanks," She smiled at him, before turning to her parents. "I would've said 'mom and dad's,' or 'families'...but 'momma's' sounded better in the song." she said.
"It was beautiful," Elliot said, shaking his head, standing up and going over, hugging her tightly. "It was great."
Everyone agreed, and she smiled, thanking them.
"It's freezing in here," Ariella then said, pulling the thin blankets from the hospital bed up around her, shivering.
"That's a normal symptom," Linda said, coming in. "Too bad Taylor doesn't really have a steady temperature of one hundred nine." She teased, referencing Twilight.
"Right, I say that all the time!" Ariella said, teasing him, "You're no good for me when I'm cold, I need Jacob."
"Ok, let me know how cuddling a fictional character who isn't real goes!" He responded, her sticking her tongue out at him.
"How are you feeling otherwise?" Linda asked, as the nurse came in. "Take her temp, please, Kim."
Ariella shrugged. "Like crap."
"Well, in a few weeks you'll hopefully be feeling better." Linda said optimistically. "I have you scheduled to do the chemo at nine tomorrow morning."
"In here, right?" Mary interrupted. "We don't want her out in the open around here much, we don't want people getting pictures."
Generally in hospitals, the patients receiving chemo went to a special room for the time needed for the dosage to be distributed. Because of Ariella's VIP status, she was always given it in her room, away from the public with camera phones, and paparazzi that snuck past hospital security.
"Of course," Linda nodded.
"The temperature is one hundred and three, Doctor," The nurse said, as the thermometer had just beeped.
"Ok, get her some Tylenol, please." Linda said, and the nurse departed to get the pills.
"How long do the doses for the meds take?" Ariella asked, holding her hand out to Taylor in the chair next to her. Once he took it she gently tugged on it, and he moved over to the bed, and she huddled close to him, shivering. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling the covers up around her tighter, trying to help her be warm.
"Each dose takes about and hour and a half, and I have you on the max routine. Monday will be your first, then you'll have it again Thursday. Every three days." She said.
"Ok." Ariella sighed. "Am I getting a new IV every day, or will you run it into this one?" She asked.
"We can either do a new one, or I'd recommend just having a catheter put in. It gives us a direct line to your heart, so the medication gets pumped through you quicker, and it's one minor surgery. When we don't need it anymore, it comes right out and will leave the tiniest scar." She said.
"Where does that go?" Ariella asked, accepting the Tylenol pills and water from the nurse, and swallowing them.
"It would be right above your right breast. It would remain there until this is all over, but it's a two-line catheter, so we could attach the chemo and the fluids you'll inevitably need. If you want the catheter port, then I'll put you in for the minor surgery in the morning."
"Well, I might as well just do that." Ariella sighed, "Better than constantly being stuck by needles."
"Alright. You'll go in for surgery at six, so no food or drink besides water after six tonight." Linda said. "I'll be in to check on you a little later, but try to get some rest, ok sweetie?"
Ariella nodded. "I will. Thanks, Linda."
Linda nodded, smiling at her. "Anytime. See you all later."
Once the door had clicked shut after her, Ariella sighed. "I hate leukemia. Once I get through this, I swear, I'm getting a huge tattoo that says 'I kicked cancer's ass' or something of the sort."
"No tattoos," Elliot said, shaking his head.
"Daddy, you have tattoos, I've seen them. I'll be eighteen in just five months." Ariella said.
"You can get the tattoo," Olivia promised. "It's for something important, it's not like she wants to tattoo 'I love you Taylor' on herself."
"Of course not, I already have that." Ariella said, "Why would I do that a second time?" She said, completely serious.
"What?" Elliot said, glaring at Taylor.
"I'm kidding, dad, calm down!" Ariella laughed. "Don't kill him."
Everyone laughed, and then a nurse stuck her head in. "I think it'd be good for Ariella if you all let for a few hours and let her rest."
Once the nurse left, Ariella sighed. "That's the bitchy nurse, I always get her!" She complained.
"She's right," Olivia said. "You should get some rest. Do you want someone to stay?"
"No, I'll be fine." Ariella shrugged.
"I'll stay," Taylor said, "If you want. I know you say I relax you."
Ariella nodded. "I mean, if you want to stay," she allowed.
He laughed, knowing that she wanted him to. "Of course I do."
"Do you mind stepping out for a few minutes, Taylor? I want to talk to her alone." Elliot said.
"Of course, sir," Taylor said. Though he called Olivia by her first name, he continued to call Elliot 'sir,' and Elliot never told him to do otherwise.
"We'll come back in a few hours, ok?" Olivia said, leaning down to hug her and kiss her forehead. "If you need anything, call."
"I will. Make sure you bring Eli when you come back, I miss him." She said.
Her sisters and brother hugged her goodbye, as did Mary and Brooke, and they all left, Taylor following to wait until Elliot was done.
"What's up?" Ariella asked as she lay back in the bed, looking at Elliot.
He moved to sit on the edge of the bed, taking her hands. "I'm really proud of you, you know." He said softly, "For doing this. You're so brave."
She shrugged, "I realized that you all were right." She said. "I finally got my perfect family...perfect parents, perfect siblings. I want more then a few months to enjoy it. I want years."
He smiled, gently brushing some hair back. "Honey, we're not perfect." he said.
"Yes you are," Ariella said softly. "You're all more than I ever dreamed of. You're the family I always wanted. It may not be conventional, and it may be dysfunctional sometimes...but we all love each other above anything. That's the perfect family." She said. "You and mom need to stop worrying so much. I can see it in your eyes, you know. Worried that you'll step over a line, or do something wrong. I know I've freaked out before but I realize now...you're a dad. And she's my mom. I know she worries I'm mad at her, and that she's beating herself up, but I wish she would stop. She's the best mom ever, and you're the best dad ever."
Even though he still knew he was far from perfect, he wrapped his arms around her. "Thank you. I love you, Ariella. And when you're all done with this, and all better...I'll take you to get that tattoo myself." He promised.
She smiled, "I love you too. And sounds like a good plan."
He smiled, holding her to him for a moment, before kissing her forehead. "You get some rest, sweetie. I'll be back later."
"Ok. Bye, daddy," Ariella said, waving as he left. Taylor came in a moment later, shutting the door and dimming the lights. He came over, and got into the bed next to her, wrapping his arms around her as she curled close to him, shivering still.
"I love you." She murmured to him, kissing his neck sweetly, the closest thing to her.
She felt him kiss the top of her head softly, and say, "I love you too. Always will."
She smiled, shutting her eyes, knowing that she was as ready as she could ever be for the hell that would start the following day.
Disclaimer: I don't own Twitter, and "Bless The Broken Road" belongs to Rascal Flatts, go check it out! I changed a few things to make it fit Ariella better, however.