This skips forward around 2 weeks in time.
Alex and Hayden were waiting in the arrivals hall at the airport. They were picking up Ava who was coming home for summer break and Hayden was rather excited that she'd be home to celebrate her birthday. "Ava," Hayden shouted excitedly as she spotted Ava wheeling her suitcase behind her, Ava looking around for Alex. "Ava here, here." Hayden ran over to her, jumping up onto her for a hug. Ava let go of her suitcase just in time and grabbed onto her niece, Hayden wrapping her arms tightly around her.
"Hey Jelly girl," Ava said. "How have you been?"
"It's my birthday." Hayden cheered.
"Tomorrow," Ava corrected her. "You are going to be two, right?"
"No," Hayden shook her head. "I'mma be 3." Hayden pulled back a little from the hug, showing Ava 3 fingers.
"What?" Ava faked shock. "Stop getting so big." Ava tickled Hayden's side, resulting in Hayden giggling.
"I have to grow." Hayden said, rather matter-of-factly as Ava put her hand back onto her suitcase and walked over to Alex, who was standing a little bit away from them.
"Hey, how was the flight?" Alex questioned.
Ava put Hayden down before giving her sister-in-law a hug. "It was okay," Ava answered as she pulled back from the hug. "I hope you weren't waiting too long. The cases took ages to come through."
"No, not that long." Alex said.
"Where is he?" Hayden questioned, pulling on Ava's shirt. "Ava, where is he? Where is he?" Hayden was looking around, like she was trying to see if she could see him.
"Huh, who? You mean Ryan?" Ava questioned, and Hayden nodded, still looking out for him. "He still has some more stuff to finish up for school. He'll come home next week." Ava said. She'd thought about staying and coming home with Ryan, but she wanted to get back for Hayden's birthday if she could and she also wanted to talk things over with her sister regarding the whole Maria kidney thing.
"Oh," Hayden pouted. "Well Emmi is at school and Mama is at work."
"Yeah, it's Emmi's last day though, right?" Ava asked as she took Hayden's hand as they made their way out of the airport.
"Yeah," Alex answered. "She does actually like going to school but she is rather pleased its summer break."
"Oh of course," Ava replied. "How many times she planning on dragging you to the aquarium over the break then?" Ava chuckled as they stopped at the machine, Alex putting her ticket in to pay for the car parking.
"To many times probably," Alex murmured. "It's a good day out but fish are fish. Is it really that interesting to see the same kinds time after time?"
"Well you could say that about a lot of things people enjoy." Ava murmured. Alex exhaled lightly, having to agree with Ava's statement.
"Oh wow," Hayden gasped, spotting the diamond shining on Ava's finger. "That would be good treasure." Hayden reached for Ava's hand, pulling it closer to her face as her eyes were on the ring. Alex took the ticket from the machine then looked down to the ring as well.
"It's beautiful." Alex told her, moving to the side to let the man behind pay for his parking.
"It sparkles," Hayden noted. "Yours don't Mummy." Hayden said, glancing at Alex's rings.
"They just need a little clean," Alex told her as they started walking across to the car, Alex grabbing Hayden's hand to keep her from running out all of a sudden. "So, uh…" Alex had to ask her. She could sense the topic was already hanging over them anyways. "Did you get tested?"
"I did," Ava nodded. Despite Maggie telling her she'd get tested so she didn't have to, Ava still got tested to see if she'd match Maria. "I'm still waiting on the result though," Ava said. "How far is Maggie into the testing process?"
"Uhm," Alex pursed her lips. "She's a blood type match so she's had a physical exam, chest X-ray and that kinda stuff," Alex informed her. "Her compatibility test for tissue type was a match as well," Alex said. "Last result we are waiting for is cross-matching." Alex unlocked the car and opened the back door, Hayden climbing up onto her seat as Ava opened the car boot to put her suitcase in.
"So, if the cross-matching is compatible then she's a match and can go ahead with the transplant?" Ava questioned.
"Yeah, she'd be able to," Alex answered. "Uh, where are you about in the process?"
"I've just had the first blood test to see if that'll match," Ava informed her. "I uhm…I told the hospital that I was coming here though so they're sending the results here and if I can go ahead with anymore of the tests then I will do them here."
"I see," Alex pursed her lips. "Well you are pretty far behind Maggie, so…" Alex stopped talking. "If this test is a match, I…." Alex stopped talking once again. She made sure Hayden was clipped into her seat then she closed the door before looking back to Ava. "Is it wrong of me to want her to not be compatible?"
Ava shrugged. "Maria is a human being. Is it really okay to leave her on dialysis when we have the chance to help her have a better quality of life?" Ava questioned.
"After everything she's done it's not something she deserves from you two." Alex retorted.
"Well maybe if I was your blood relation you'd think differently." Ava responded.
"To be fair, Maria is not your blood relation." Alex murmured.
"True," Ava sighed. "But until I got pregnant she was in every sense of the word a fantastic mother to me. Maybe I want to show her I am thankful for that time," Ava said. "I know there's not much of a chance that I am a match, but I also want to do this for Maggie," Ava admitted. "She's been through hell because of Maria. It's not fair for her to feel like she has to do this."
"But she is mostly doing it only because you said you would," Alex reminded her. "She was all for not doing it until you said you would do it."
Ava sighed lightly. Maybe it was her fault that Maggie had decided to get tested. "Well there is still a chance she is not a match, so…" Ava shrugged. "And besides, if I pull out now for Maggie's sake, is she really going to as well? She's told Maria she'll do it now, right?" Ava questioned.
Alex nodded. "She could always just tell her she's not a match in the end."
"You think she'd do that now?" Ava questioned. "She is almost at the end. She's not going to back out. You know once she'd made her mind up then that's her."
Alex opened her mouth to reply but looked to the side as she heard a knock on the window. Hayden was staring at her, her little fist still knocking against the window. "Let's go." Hayden shouted. Alex gave a little nod then looked back to Ava.
"Let's get you back home huh," Alex decided to put an end to the Maria kidney talk. "Emmi doesn't know you are coming home yet so it's going to be a nice surprise for her after school."
"Aw sweet," Ava smiled. "But Hayden knew, and she managed to keep it a secret?" Ava questioned as they got into the front of the car, Ava throwing her backpack down at her feet before she sat down.
"I told her on the way to the airport," Alex answered. If she'd told her any earlier, then there would be no way Hayden would keep it a secret from Emmi. "This one can't keep anything secret."
"No." Ava chuckled.
"So, you got much planned for this break?" Alex questioned.
"Well, I mean, depending on the whole situation with Maria," Ava said as Alex pulled out of the driving space. "But I plan to catch up with Izzy and then not much else," Ava shrugged. "Well they said at the diner where I used to work that I can help out there over summer so will see," Ava knew a job would be useful to save up more money, but she also wanted a break from working and studying. "What about you and Maggie?" Ava questioned.
"Well I guess like you said, it also depends on what happens with Maria," Alex spoke quietly as she gripped the steering wheel tighter. She didn't want Hayden asking who Maria was. "But we don't plan on going anywhere. Emmi is keen to but it's late notice for work – for Maggie at least – and to be honest right now, as long as Maggie and I are together it doesn't matter where we are."
"It would be nice to get a little break though, no?" Ava questioned, watching as Alex came to a stop, opening her window and leaning out. She put the ticket into the machine and the barrier lifted up allowing Alex to drive out of the airport.
"We had a break last month at the lake." Alex reminded Ava.
"I guess," Ava exhaled lightly. "How are you two doing anyways?"
"We're doing great," Alex smiled. It had been a hard road and there were still some bumps, but Alex was happy with how things were between her and her wife right now. "Things are good."
"Well I'm happy to hear it," Ava smiled at her sister-in-law. "You have had such a tough time of it lately."
"Well unfortunately life was never meant to be easy," Alex murmured, indicating to the left before coming to a stop at the traffic lights. "But at least right now it's getting back to being more manageable," Alex said. "But enough about me," Alex said. "How is that fiancé of yours doing?" Alex questioned, her eyes staying on the traffic lights, waiting on them to turn green so she could continue with the drive home.
Maggie was driving Emmi home from school. "Are you finished work now, Mama?" Emmi questioned.
"Yeah I am," Maggie answered. "And I am off this weekend too," Maggie told her. "We can have some fun, huh?" Maggie came to a stop at the traffic lights.
"Hmm," Emmi scratched the side of her head. "Are you and Mum keeping a secret from me?" Emmi questioned.
"No," Maggie answered. "What makes you think that?" Maggie questioned. She was glad she was driving, and that Emmi was sitting in the back and not able to see her face. Even if she did have a good poker face, she didn't want her daughter looking into her eyes.
"Well you've been whispering," Emmi replied. "You aren't going to start fighting again, are you?"
"No, no." Maggie shook her head.
"Well I still think something is going on." Emmi sighed.
Maggie looked around to her daughter. "Are you playing detective?"
Emmi chuckled. "I guess."
"Well, c'mon then. You need more to go on than just me and Mum whispering to each other." Maggie informed her.
"Uh…." Emmi pursed her lips. "I feel it."
Maggie laughed. "You just feel it, huh?" Maggie said. "Well what kind of secret do you think we'd be keeping from you?" Maggie questioned, her lips curing into a grin as she kept her gaze on her daughter.
Emmi looked like she was thinking. "Oh, is Mum having a baby?"
"No." Maggie shook her head in response.
Emmi looked a little disappointed. "Are we getting a puppy?"
"No." Maggie once again shook her head.
"A kitten or a rabbit?" Emmi guessed.
"No more pets," Maggie told her. "You don't think Gertrude and your fish are enough?"
"I guess," Emmi exhaled lightly before looking behind her as a car horn beeped. Maggie turned her head to look back out of the windscreen, the traffic lights now at green. She drove off, continuing the drive back home. "Oh, maybe you are just whispering about Hayden's birthday because that's tomorrow."
"Well yeah it could be that." Maggie was actually quite enjoying teasing Emmi about the 'secret'.
"Hmm," Emmi now didn't sound sure. "Your answer has made me change my mind," Emmi said. "Why can't you just tell me, Mama?" Emmi sounded a little frustrated.
"Well then it wouldn't be a secret." Maggie replied.
"So, there is a secret?" Emmi said as Maggie turned off to the left.
"I never said there was," Maggie said. "I just said if there was a secret, it would no longer be a secret if I told you it." Maggie pointed out, Emmi sighing, knowing she wasn't about to be told anything from Maggie any time soon.
"I still think you are keeping something from me," Emmi muttered as she looked out of the window, seeing they were pretty close to the house. "Is it a vacation?" Emmi questioned, deciding she was not done with this guessing game just yet.
"No vacation," Maggie told her. "Me and Mum were probably just talking about general things," Maggie said, turning left again. "We do talk, you know."
"I know." Emmi chuckled before she sighed and went quiet.
"You giving up?" Maggie questioned. "You are not going to make a very good police officer if you give up on questioning so easily. You need to improve on your interrogation game sweetie."
"I don't want to be a police officer." Emmi responded as Maggie turned into street their house was on.
"What?" Maggie gasped. "Way to break your Mama's heart."
"You know I don't want to be a police officer." Emmi said.
"I know. I'm only winding you up," Maggie pulled into the driveway, parking her car up beside Alex's. "Now let's go see what Mum and Hayden have been up to today, shall we?" Maggie said, a little smile appearing on her face as she turned around to face Emmi, who had unclipped her seat belt already.
"Yes." Emmi answered.
Maggie took the keys from the ignition before she took off her seat belt. She got out of the car and then opened the back door, the child lock preventing Emmi from getting out herself. Emmi jumped down and left her school bag on the floor of the car, running up to the house. "I guess I will get this for you," Maggie muttered as she picked up Emmi's school bag. She closed the door then locked the car before she followed after Emmi, walking over to the front door. "It's open. Mum's home." Maggie said as she saw Emmi was waiting at the front door for her. Emmi opened the door and walked into the house then ran down the hall and went into the living room.
"Ava," Emmi gasped as she saw her Auntie sitting there. "I knew you were keeping a secret for me," Emmi scowled over to Maggie who was standing in the door way. Maggie gave a little chuckle as she watched Emmi run over to her Auntie. Ava stood up just in time, as Emmi crashed into her, giving her a hug.
"Hey," Ava wrapped her arms around her niece. "Nice to see you."
"How long are you here for?" Emmi questioned.
"For all the summer." Ava replied, Emmi grinning as she pulled back and looked up at her Auntie.
"Ah cool," Emmi grinned. "Is Ryan here too?"
"He still finishing up at school, so he'll be here next week," Ava informed her. "That you all done with school?" Ava questioned.
"Hmm," Emmi grinned. "I'm going to be in fifth grade when I go back." Emmi widened her eyes.
"Yeah, you're almost done with Elementary school, huh?" Ava said, Emmi giving a little nod.
"Oh Ava, it's such a surprise you are here," Emmi sounded pleased to see her. "We can have so much fun over summer, right?"
"Sure we can," Ava answered before she looked over to Maggie, who had walked further into the living room. "Hey." Ava smiled at her sister.
"How was the flight?" Maggie questioned.
"Yeah not bad," Ava answered. "That you done with work now for today?"
"She's off all weekend, Ava," Emmi told her. "We can go to the aquarium," Emmi suggested. "Oh, can we Mama, please?"
"We'll see." Maggie said, and Emmi frowned. She hated it when Maggie or Alex replied with a 'we'll see'.
"Mama," Hayden came running into the living room. "I just had a poop."
"Hayden," Alex sighed as she walked in the room after her daughter. "You don't need to tell people that," Hayden giggled as she ran over Trudi who was playing with her toy bone by her bed. She sat down next to the dog and started patting her. "How was school Em's?"
"Yeah fine we didn't really do much," Emmi answered. "We cleaned out our trays and stuff and watched a movie," Emmi told her. "Mum, can we go to the aquarium tomorrow?"
"We'll see." Alex answered, and Emmi frowned once again.
Everyone looked over to the couch as a ringing entered the room. Ava looked down, seeing her mobile flashing. She didn't recognise the number on the screen, but she saw it was a National City area code. She took a deep breath before she answered the call. "Hello…..yes this is she," Ava said, her lips pursing as she felt her heart beating within her chest. "Yes, I did. Yes….oh, okay…..hmmm." Alex and Maggie glanced at each other.
"Em's take this up to your room," Maggie held out Emmi's school bag that was still in her hand. "How about you pick out a game we can play." Maggie said, wanting Emmi out of the room as she was sure the phone call was regarding the transplant and right now, she didn't want Emmi knowing.
"Okay." Emmi walked over and took her school bag from Maggie before she ran out of the room, Alex and Maggie hearing her thumping up the stairs.
Maggie glanced down at Hayden who looked to interested in annoying Trudi to be paying attention to what they would be saying. She looked to Alex before she looked back to her sister. "Yeah," Ava said. "Thank you, goodbye," Ava exhaled lightly as she hung up the call. She looked to Alex and Maggie, who were staring at her, waiting on her to tell them. Ava cleared her throat as she shook her head. "I'm not a blood match, so I guess it ends here for me."
Maggie looked relieved. "Well it was nice of you to get tested." Alex murmured, not really knowing what else to say.
"Well at least you don't need to inconvenience yourself for her," Maggie said. "And it let's you have a nice summer off from uni." Maggie added.
"Yeah," Ava exhaled. "I guess so," Ava looked downwards for a moment. "Do uh, do you know when you'll get your last results?" Ava asked.
"No," Maggie shook her head. "Well, I guess within the next couple of days."
"Right," Ava murmured. "Well, I'm going to go call Ryan. I told him I'd let him know as soon as I got my results." Ava said as she walked out of the living room, going to go down to her bedroom to have some privacy to call her fiancé and let him know her results.
"She looked disappointed." Maggie noted.
"Yeah," Alex nodded. "Just…don't think it's all about Maria, okay?" Alex said as she stepped forward and rubbed Maggie's arm, Maggie feeling a little confused by the comment but nodding anyways, wondering if she'd feel disappointed or not once she got her results.
Maggie had been called into the hospital just after breakfast the next day. Alex had gone with her, leaving the girls to have some time with their Auntie Ava. "I'm a match, aren't I?" Maggie questioned. "That's why I am here, right?" Maggie pursed her lips. "To talk about the next stage?"
"I uh," Alex rubbed her hands together. "I dunno. Maybe because you've had more tests done they felt it more professional to tell you this stage face to face," Alex suggested. "With Ava it was just one little blood test but with you it was a lot more." Alex said.
"Hmm." Maggie looked downward.
"You know, you don't need to do it just because they tell you that you are a match," Alex told her. "You still have a choice in the matter." Alex reminded her.
"How can I be a match then not do it?" Maggie wondered.
Alex gave a little shrug. "Donors pull out, Maggie," Alex said. "There's a lot to think about."
"I know." Maggie sighed.
"Your future health could be impacted." Alex wasn't trying to put her off, but she was just wanting to make Maggie fully aware of what she might be getting into.
"But what are the chance of anything going wrong for me?" Maggie asked. "Millions of people must have donated a kidney, you know," Maggie said. "So, they wouldn't allow living donors if it was that dangerous."
"Maybe so but there are risks and if you are a match I want you to really consider them," Alex said. "If not for me then for the sake of Hayden and Emmi." Alex spoke softly, Maggie giving a little nod.
"Well lets just see what the doctor tells us because right now I am her only option." Maggie said, her leg shaking nervously.
Alex was about to reply when they heard footsteps. She looked up to see the doctor walking over to them. "Maggie Danvers."
"Yeah." Maggie stood up, looking up to the man who'd given her all the tests so far.
"Do you want to come down to my office?" Dr Phillips said. Maggie gave a little nod, looking to Alex as she stood up. They followed him down to the room and walked in behind him, the three of them sitting down at the desk, Maggie and Alex sitting next to each other, opposite Dr Phillips. "How are you this morning?"
"Uh…yeah, I'm okay," Maggie answered. Alex picked up on the quiver in Maggie's voice. She reached her hand out and took Maggie's in hers, giving it a little squeeze, bringing her wife some comfort. "I just want to know if I'm a match of not."
"Of course you do," Dr Phillips told her. "That is why you are here after all," Dr Phillips looked down to the file on the table. He read over it again then looked up to Maggie and Alex before he spoke, telling her outcome of her results. "You are a match. You can donate your kidney."
Thanks for the reviews. :)
Thoughts?