Stand By Me by Fullmetal Pyromaniac
Chapter twenty-nine
Three Months Later...
Elizabeth sat patiently in her room, awaiting Merlins arrival with the results of her, hopefully final, check up. She had been up all night talking to the Sins group chat about it, and now she was shattered but didn't regret a thing.
Meliodas had sent her a good luck text that morning, Elizabeth sent her reply and spent the rest of her time grinning at the text. Margaret texted as well, wishing her good luck and sending her latest ultrasound picture with it.
Merlin arrive a few minutes later, her lips twitched at the edges hiding an obvious smile.
"This is it Elizabeth" she said, "You've finished your physio, there's nothing more to be done" Merlins voice cracked a little with emotion, Elizabeth couldn't believe her eyes.
She was cured.
It was over.
A single tear slipped down her face dropping onto her lap, Merlin walked forward and brought her into a tight hug. Elizabeth buried her face into Merlins shoulder, letting the happy tears flow freely.
She was free...it was such a lovely feeling.
"Thank you Merlin, for everything"
"It's my job, and my pleasure. I've let your father know, Margaret and Veronica will be there to pick you up tomorrow"
"Tomorrow?" Elizabeth squeaked, "That soon?"
Merlin nodded, "Yes" she patted Elizabeth's head. "This is the start of your life Elizabeth, this is it, so go out and do your best okay?"
"Merlin..." Elizabeth choked out, "I'll come back and visit you, I promise"
The older woman scoffed and gave a half smile, "I'm counting on it! It gets very lonely here and that club room won't stay immaculate by itself"
"I'll make sure it stays in shape, don't worry"
There was a moment of silence between them both, then Merlin checked her wrist watch and sighed.
"I've got my bed changing shift now, I'll be back to see you off tomorrow, okay? Do well for me" and Merlin left. Elizabeth lay down on her bed, another year sipping down her cheek onto the bedsheets.
It was relieving to not have to come back, but still, the hospital and club room had been her home for the last seven months. It would be weird going back, but still she couldn't wait.
Grabbing her phone, Elizabeth stood and went down the familiar path to the club room. She had a call to make.
...
The room was just as they'd left it. Clothes were tucked away in the chest, now clean plastic plates and cups lay out on the table.
Paintings were still as vibrant as they had been when Ban had redone them months ago. Elaine and Liz watched over her with closed eyes, and Elizabeth swiped a finger over the tiny details on the wall. She'd miss them too.
Her fingers went to the contacts in her phone and pressed one, Elizabeth lifted the phone to her ear, listening intently to the dialling tone.
"Hey Elizabeth, What's up?" His voice sounded tinny over the receiver, but it sounded like home. She was quiet, wondering the best way to tell him.
"Elizabeth? Is there something wrong? Are you there?"
"Yes I'm here" she said, "I got my results"
There was a pause. "Oh? And?..."
"And..." she waited, "I'm going home"
There was more silence, then the sound of Meliodas' breathing filled her ears.
"Meliodas?" She said uncertainty.
"You're shitting me" he said finally, "Are you serious?" His voice had gone all high pitched. Elizabeth laughed slightly, relief flowing through her.
"Yes, I'm going home tomorrow"
Another squeak, Elizabeth didn't even know he could make those noises.
"Tomorrow? That soon?"
"I know, it was so sudden. But yeah today's my last day here, finally"
Elizabeth wandered around the room chatting to Meliodas, it seemed so different without her friends, the paint seemed a little duller without them. The story book lay in the middle of the table, untouched for months, as there had been nothing to add.
Perhaps they should write an epilogue, but that would mean their adventures were ending, and that wasn't true at all. If anything their adventures were just beginning. Saying goodbye to Meliodas, Elizabeth hung up and sat in one of the stools. The room was silent, as usual, the ghosts of the sins ran around, their voices echoing in the larger room.
Sighing, Elizabeth left the room, her hand trailing down the door as she pulled away.
...
The next day, Elizabeth woke up to her phone buzzing. It was Meliodas texting her, wishing her good luck on going home. She sent a quick reply and got up, changing into her regular clothes. They felt weird after not wearing them for months, but Elizabeth loved it.
Word spread fast, as Elizabeth's phone was buzzing with messages from everyone. Congratulating her on her release. Merlin stopped by later.
"Hello Elizabeth, how are you feeling today?"
Elizabeth grinned, "I'm great Merlin! I'm so excited!"
"Good" Merlin said, "Your father should be here in about an hour. Here, I have something to give you"
Merlin reached into the breast pocket of her uniform pulling out a key.
"This is for you, it's the key to the club room, I figured you would want it.
Elizabeth took it, squeezing it in her hand. "Thank you so much, I'll go there before father gets here"
"Good, I should be going" She hugged Elizabeth one last time, "I'll see you later"
"Goodbye Merlin" Merlin smiled, opening and closing the door gently behind her.
...
"Father, Veronica, Margaret! It's so good to see you!" Elizabeth cried, hugging her family tight. Margaret hugged her little sister, who was almost taller than her now. Veronica did the same, and Baltra kissed his daughter on the head.
"Are you ready to go, Ellie?"
Elizabeth faltered, "Actually, I've forgotten something. Would you mind if I go get it? I'll be two seconds"
Margaret nodded, "Go ahead, we'll just be signing you out."
"Thank you! I'll be back soon!" Elizabeth gave her bag to Veronica and ran down the halls, out of sight.
"She's not going to stop running now that she can, is she?" Veronica stated, Margaret and Baltra only laughed.
Elizabeth came back a few minutes later, out of breath and carrying what appeared to be a large leather book. Together they walked out of the hospital and into the car park, leaving the fear and terror of the last few months behind.
The Lyones house was large, basically a mansion, in the centre of Edinbourg. Baltra had worked hard to get the house and his girls worked hard to maintain it. Elizabeth carried her bag and her book up the gravelly driveway, taking in the feelign of being home.
"You excited to be home Ellie?" Veronica teased, Eliazbeth nodded.
"It feels good to be back"
"When you get in, we've got a surprised for you in the kitchen so go there first"
Elizabeth raised an eyebrow, "Okay...I'll do that"
Veronica took her bag when she got into the main hall, taking it upstairs to Elizabeth's bedroom. The kitchen was down the hall and to the left, Elizabeth opened it, it was pitch black despite it being light outside. Elizabeth's hand fumbled for the light switch, when she found it, Elizabeth clicked it on.
"WELCOME HOME ELIZABETH!"
Elizabeth jumped backwards at the noise, letting out an undignified shriek. The sins sat around her kitchen table which was filled with party food.
"Wha- what?" Elizabeth fumbled with her words, Meliodas pulled the noise maker out of his mouth and smiled at her.
"It's a little last minute, but it's a welcome home party!" He blew the noise maker, "So welcome home!"
"It's a real swanky house you got here" Ban commented, Gowther nodded.
"It appears to be built in the victorian era, from the roof and styled windows. It's a very nice house"
Diane frowned a little, "Yeah it's a nice house, but I'm starving, so lets eat!"
Elizabeth took a place next to King and Meliodas, placing scotch eggs and sausage rolls on a plate. Baltra and her sisters came in later, Elizabeth thanked them for organising everything.
"Don't thank us too much" Veronica said, "It was your friends who set this whole thing up, we just gave them the space"
Elizabeth sat with her friends and family at the kitchen table, watching as Ban and King had a competition about how many scotch eggs they could fit in their mouths, Diane sat cheering King on from the sidelines, Gowther and Meliodas were placing bets on who would win. Her family sat apart from the rest, chatting quietly amongst themselves. A tap on her shoulder drew Elizabeth's attention to Meliodas who looked at her with concern.
"Are you okay Elizabeth?" He asked.
She smiled, planting a soft kiss on his cheek and taking her hand in his.
"Yes" She said, truthfully, eyes filled with earnest, "I'm better than okay"
Meliodas returned her smile, turning to tease Ban into losing. Elizabeth observed her friends and her family, loud versus quiet, but both of them meant home.
Yeah, she thought, I'm okay.
End of chapter twenty-nine.
A.N. Shit guys, next chapter is the epilogue!
See you there ;)
- Ruby xxx
