Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for my OC's.
Here's the next one guys! Enjoy! : )
CiCix3: Because I like making you cry? Not really, its just one of those things. (Hands over tissues). Uh…I'll think about it. Lol, don't hate me! : )
Ayesha: What was different? Aw, I'm sorry for making you sad. But lets see if I can make it up to you : )
PunkShieldGirl: Where the hell have you been? Seriously, thought you vanished off the face of the earth, ha ha. Yes I do miss them actually. Don't disappear on me again for such a long time, you'll be giving me heart attacks next ; )
Shaq Gaddy: That means I need to start planning and preparing, ha ha. Aw, thanks! I shall try to live up to your expectations, lol. Nah, I'm just gonna do what I want : )
Wolfgirl2013: We all do and thank you! : )
AmbroseLover726: Ha ha, you make me laugh. She is alive cause she's breathing. She's just in a long state of unconsciousness. I think you need to pick your words carefully my love : )
Paisley2: (Hands over tissues) Yeah Iris, wake up jeez : )
Seth rollins babe: Thank you, i'm glad you do! Yay, I love it when people tell me they're addicted to it. As for Iris, well we shall see. I hope you like this one! : )
CHPATER 53:
"And he didn't believe you?" questions Dean, pacing the apartment they were all in. He, Ariana and Roman had to go into work and as soon as they were finished they came straight back. Only to be bombarded with the fact that Iris moved and it was ignored by the doctors.
"Not one bit," says Seth bitterly. "He thought I was imagining it all," he tells them.
"Were you?" asks Roman, deciding someone needed to play bad cop here. They couldn't take the risk of hoping Iris was gonna wake up when it was possible Seth thought he saw something.
"Absolutely not!" defends Seth. "And you know what? No wonder Darren wouldn't believe me if my own friend doesn't!" he says angrily. Why was everyone thinking that it didn't happen when it did? He would never lie about something like this.
"Guys, calm it. Evan's down for now," says Ariana, coming out of the nursery. She decided Seth needed to rest and had been taking care of Evan since Seth got back.
"How can I when my own friend thinks I'm imagining things?" questions Seth.
"Ok," says Ariana, walking over and sitting down right next to Seth. "Seth, look at me," she says and he looks into her eyes. "Did it really happen?" she asks him but for some reason he doesn't get mad when she asks him, not the way Darren and Roman did.
"Yes, it did," Seth simply states and Ariana nods her head.
"Then I believe you," says Ariana, winking at Dean. His whole positive thing had rubbed off on her and she knew Seth wouldn't make up something like that.
"I'm sorry, but I know what it's like being a Father," starts Roman, looking at Seth. "I know how stressful it can be and I couldn't have imagined Galina being in a coma at the same time but if you're sure-" Roman isn't able to finish because Seth cuts him off.
"I'm sure," says Seth.
"Alright then," says Roman.
"Plus it'd be stupid for him to make the whole thing up considering he'd be gutted when it turned out it didn't happen, I mean Seth wouldn't do this to himself," says Dean, making a lot of sense to everyone.
"But what can we do?" asks Roman. "You've told Darren and he checked her over saying everything was alright, nothing had changed. So maybe it was a fluke," he suggests.
"Well then that's really shitty and Iris can do so much better," comments Dean, standing in the middle of the living room.
"Seth, I'm curious to know but when exactly did Iris move?" questions Ariana.
"Oh, um well I was talking to her," starts Seth, thinking back to the day's events. "I just thought it was wrong that Evan hadn't been anywhere near her so I got him out and put him next to her. Kept one hand on him and the other I used to hold Iris's hand," he explains to her and Ariana smiles at the sweetness of the moment. "It was the perfect moment," he admits with a small smile himself as he remembers it.
"Is that when Iris squeezed your hand?" asks Ariana and Seth nods his head.
"She squeezed my hand but then I let go of her because I had to get Darren," Seth tells her.
"What are you thinking?" asks Dean, directing the questions at Ariana.
"I'm thinking that lightening may just strike in the same place twice," answers Ariana.
"So if Seth does exactly the same thing then she might do it again?" asks Roman for clarification.
"Maybe," says Ariana. "There's a chance it won't work but…" she trails off.
"It's all we've got," says Seth and Ariana nods her head. It's all they had right now and they know they have to work with what they've got. Seth actually felt kind of hopeful…more so than when he was getting Darren to see Iris. He, and everybody else, just hopes it works. All they had been doing so far is hoping and maybe just maybe it'd pay off.
"Ok, good luck," says Ariana as she puts out her arm to stop Roman and Dean from going in.
"Wait, you guys aren't coming in with me?" asks Seth and Ariana shakes her head firmly.
"Nope," says Ariana. "Some people say that in a coma, a person can listen to what you say. If that is true, us gathering around and making a plan won't motivate Iris. Something you said must have made her want to do what she did so…" she trails off.
"Go in there and work your magic," finishes Dean. They all wish him luck and then disperse, Seth going in there with Evan. He honestly had no idea if this was going to work but it was worth a shot.
"Hey Iris," says Seth, sitting down on the chair and keeping the stroller near him. "I really thought you were going to wake up yesterday when I felt you hold on to my hand," he admits to her, knowing she can hear him. "But you cheated me Iris, when Darren came you didn't do it. I don't know why and again I can't ask you anything but I'm hoping you'll do it again," he says, taking her hand in his. "I was so happy when I felt your grip, please do it again. We need you back with us," he says, placing her palm on the side of his face.
Seth looks at everyone on the other side of the window who give him encouraging nods. They're all depending on him and he can't let them down. Also, there's a part of him that wants to prove what he saw wasn't his imagination running wild.
"Look, I brought someone who wants to meet you today," says Seth, taking Evan out of the stroller and holding him. "We've named him Evan, just like you wanted us too," he says and puts him besides Iris. "Evan Rollins Buckley, right?" he says, holding her hand just like he did yesterday. "It's a great name you know," he comments, using his thumb to stroke the back of her hand. "None of us can live without you Iris, please," he comes close to begging and smiles when he sees Evan playing. "See? He knows when he's next to his Mama, he's all smiley," he says and Seth freezes when he feels Iris's hand squeeze his. "Iris?" he asks but she doesn't respond. Without making too much noise he looks up at the guys with a smile and gestures for them to go get Darren.
"Holy shit, it worked!" exclaims Dean before running off to go find Darren.
"Do we go in there?" asks Ariana, wanting to see this.
"I think we should wait for Darren, what if she stops doing it?" asks Roman and they both knew they couldn't take that chance. This may have just been a lucky coincidence and they had to make sure Darren got to her first. Darren instantly comes with Dean and goes in the room, the rest of them following behind and making sure to keep quiet.
"Let me see," says Darren eagerly, knowing that if all of them saw it then Seth mustn't have been hallucinating. Seth sighs and shakes his head.
"She let go," answers Seth, looking down and feeling upset with himself.
"Damn it!" says Ariana, shaking her head. "Darren, will you still please just look her over?" she requests him and he nods his head and does what he needs to do.
"I'm sorry guys but everything is absolutely the same," Darren tells them all. He gives them a reassuring smile before leaving the room.
"What the hell Iris?" questions Dean as everyone looks on at him confused. "Oh so Seth can talk to her and that's not weird but I'm having a go at her and that is," he then comments.
"You're seriously going to tell off a woman that's lying in a coma?" questions Roman.
"Damn right," says Dean stubbornly. "Just because she's in a coma doesn't mean she can get away with everything," he then mumbles to himself but everyone hears.
"I don't get it," says Ariana. "Why did she let go?" she then asks, moving to stand behind Seth and keeps a hand on his shoulder.
"I have absolutely no idea," says Seth, feeling confused about it all himself. "One minute it seemed like she was never going to let go and the next…she just did," he tells them all.
"Maybe we should just leave it," suggests Roman.
"How can you say that?" asks Ariana in disbelief.
"Because there's nothing we can do," says Roman, not wanting to give anyone false hopes. "Maybe she's not ready to come out of the coma yet and we can't force these things," he says and everyone knows he's right. "It's just a waiting game," he then says as everyone tries to come to terms with the fact that Iris is going to be in a coma longer than they thought.
ARIANA POV
"You ok?" I hear Dean ask me as he comes into the room and takes a seat next to me on the edge of the bed. Taking a hold of my hand and intertwining it with his.
"I put too much of my hopes into this," I tell him with a sigh. I shouldn't have been so sure that it'd work and despite the fact it kind of did none of us got the result we expected.
"I think we all did," Dean tells me. "She will get better," she reassures me and I turn my head to look at him.
"Its hard Dean, this is the second longest time I'm going through without having talked to Iris," I explain to him, hoping he'd understand. "The longest time being when she left after what Seth did," I add on.
"And you can complain all about that to her when she wakes up," Dean tells me, putting an arm around me and kissing the side of my head.
"I know you miss her too," I say, leaning my head on his shoulder.
"Of course I do," says Dean, sounding offended that it needs to be said which makes me chuckle. "I got no one to joke around with who doesn't take it seriously. Got no one to feed me. No one to tell me off for swearing so much," he goes on, a smile covering my face. "Oh that's it, let her come out of this and she is gonna get it from me," he comments as I turn my head to look up at him.
"Who knew someone apart from me someone could grow on Dean Ambrose so much?" I question, remembering to when we first got together. Dean thought Iris was too perky and basically needed to shut up. But then he got used to it and they started to get along and…things changed.
"I know, its kinda scary what you do to me," says Dean, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Me?" I ask, my voice just above a whisper.
"Well yeah, before you I wouldn't even talk to many people. Kept to myself. Now I just, I dunno, I'm not like that anymore," he explains to me in any way he can.
"Is that a bad thing?" I then ask him.
"Maybe, cause then I wouldn't be so sad about Iris," Dean admits to me. I raise my head and place a soft kiss on his lips.
"But then you wouldn't have had all that fun with her either would you?" I start to get him thinking. "You wouldn't have the things you just said you don't have right now that you miss. Iris telling you off for swearing. Her cooking. And you'd have no one to joke around with when Seth and Roman aren't in the mood," I go on to explain to him.
"True," says Dean with a nod of his head. Its going to be a long road ahead of us, adjusting to Iris not being around us as she should. Without it being said though, we're all supporting each other. And when Iris wakes up, she'll find us just like she left us. I just hope that day comes soon.
ROMAN POV
I can't believe it worked. Iris responded but none of us got to see it. Her body was covering her and Seth's hand from our angle. I don't disbelieve Seth but maybe it would have been better if that didn't happen. Because it doesn't seem to be making a difference as to whether her condition has improved or not. I thought it would be harder to convince everyone that we're going to have to leave it, especially Ariana but surprisingly it was easier than I thought.
None of us want to believe we won't get Iris back. But we all do need to accept this can go on for longer than we thought. That's it's a longer term situation we're just going to have to deal with. It's not nice to think about it like that but its more realistic. It'll be better for us and Evan. We need to get him into a routine and focus on our work too. Even though the only thing on any of our minds is Iris. But if me, Dean or Ariana can't accept it, especially in front of Seth then there's no hope for him. He needs to understand that Iris could be out for a longer time so he needs to spend all his energy taking care of Evan. It's a difficult decision but the right one nonetheless.
*A MONTH AFTER EVAN'S BIRTH*
THIRD PERSON POV
"Hey Ariana," says Nikki, walking up to her as they stand at the Gorilla ready for their match.
"Hi," says Ariana. It had been a month since she lost her best friend to a coma and she was keeping up a brave face. One that was a total lie because she was not ok with it. She wasn't ok with the fact that her best friend was in a coma and she couldn't do anything about it. They were all still flying back and forth, except for Seth who's been told he can come back whenever he's ready.
"How's Iris doing?" asks Nikki, being brave and approaching the subject because they all knew it could end up lasting longer so they'd eventually have to talk about it.
"The same," answers Ariana, shrugging her shoulders.
"I'm sure she'll get better soon," Nikki reassures her, placing a hand on Ariana's shoulder and then going to make her entrance in the ring.
"You and me both," mutters Ariana to herself. Things had been tough and Ariana hated that every second Iris was in that coma she was missing out on Evan's life. She knows it's not Iris's fault but her heart was breaking that this little child would laugh or do something silly and each and every time Iris wasn't there to see it. They had been taking videos as much as they could but you can't plan whenever a kid will do something funny or amazing.
"Hey Iris, I brought you some daffodils, your favorite," says Seth, walking into Iris's hospital room ever so casually. It was the same thing every day, he'd bring her flowers and sit down and talk and then leave. He puts his hand on Iris's who gives him a tight squeeze. Seth smiles and then goes to put the new daffodils in the vase. "You know, if you only keep squeezing my hand then you might start to make me feel like I'm special or something," he says as he arranges the flowers.
After their failed attempt at showing Darren what Iris was doing, the group had to let it go. But as the time went on Iris began holding Seth's hand more frequently. He never bothered telling Darren because by the time he'd come, Seth would just end up looking like a mad man. He never told his friends either, he didn't feel it was right to get Ariana's hopes up and then see them get crushed. Ariana wasn't showing it but they all could tell she was having a hard time adjusting to all of this.
"Jade, he's here again!" shouts Liza, gesturing for her friend to run down the hallway. They both stand as far away as they can without getting caught but close enough to be able to see.
"Oh my, and more daffodils," says Jade with a dreamy sigh, looking at the man before her talk to the woman on the bed as if she was actually awake. "He is such a keeper," she comments.
"It is so sweet that he does this everyday," says Liza. "I really hope she gets better, for his sake".
"Yeah," agrees Jade, looking at them both. "Why can't I ever find someone so…like that," she comes out with, not being able to find the right word but when she thinks about it she doesn't think there is a word.
"You will," Liza reassures her. "He is so in love with her, I hope I'm here when she finally wakes up," she says and Jade nods her head in agreement. "Shit, bossman! Lets go," Liza quickly says as they notice Darren talking with someone at the other end of the hallway. They'd already been told off three times for standing around doing nothing. But in their defense they were ahead of their work.
"You know, even Mom thinks Evan's smile has gone completely on you," Seth talks to Iris. Obviously he had to inform his family that they had a new addition and they were ecstatic. He did get a bit of a beat down on why they weren't told he was going to be a Father but then he explained everything to his Mom who listened for ages and he swears she was crying by the end. He told them not to come down, not yet anyway because he didn't want it to be like this. He wanted Iris there when his family first see Evan and the same was going for everyone else. He could feel it that Iris would get better any day now. Still, he knew it was unfair to others. So if Iris didn't wake up in the next month, he'd have to get his family involved.
He had to get back to his job as well and couldn't take a baby so tiny around with him everywhere. And who else apart from his family would be ideal to look after Evan? He sure as hell wasn't going to ask Andrea who had done a disappearing act ever since Seth revealed he was Evan's Father.
"But yeah, the first thing they mention is the eyes and I feel so incredibly proud," Seth tells Iris. He continues to hold her hand and as long as she held his as well, he knew for sure she could hear him. "I just wish we didn't have to keep seeing you here, Ariana says everything is ok but its not. Roman acts like nothing's changed but even I know it bothers him and Dean…well his whole positive vibe is making me feel like I'm in a parallel universe," he says and can just imagine her laughing at that last comment. "Oops, I didn't realize," he then says gets up to leave. "Gotta go otherwise Roman will kill me for leaving him so long with Evan," he says. Seth presses his lips to the top of Iris's forehead and then leaves the room, ready to spend time with his son.
"Sorry," says Jade as she nearly knocks into Seth as he's leaving the room.
"Oh, that's alright," says Seth and then leaves from there, wondering why the nurse was giving him strange looks. But he just shrugs it off and goes home.
"I get that Ma," says Seth as he tries to get a word in edgeways. When he decided that his family shouldn't come over, well he sent a text message to his Mother. And then ignored her calls endlessly till just now when Roman handed him the phone and didn't tell him who it was. He glares at Roman as his Mother continues to shout down the phone. "You don't understand ma," he tries to explain.
"Oh, I don't understand…." she goes off into another rant as he hits his head against a wall. "You're purposely keeping me away from my Grandchild," she continues and then says stuff along the lines of which he considers emotional blackmail.
"Look Ma, till Iris doesn't wake up no one's going anywhere," says Seth, trying to put his foot down. "Besides, there's so many of you so how can I let you all stay here? And we all know what you guys think of hotels, you and Dad would never stay in one and I don't have the space here for you," he tries to make his Mom see.
"You have to come to terms with the fact that she may never wake up from this," says his Mom in a sweet voice. "Seth honey, you can't go on like this forever," he listens to her and tries to not let her words affect him.
"Watch me," says Seth and then puts the phone down. "Next time its my Mom, please ignore it," he then orders Roman, putting the phone down and taking Evan off of Roman.
"She has a right to see her Grandkid," says Roman and Seth rolls his eyes at Roman siding with his parents. "Just because you can't cope with the eyes of pity doesn't mean he should miss out," he tells his friend. Roman knows that Seth wouldn't be able to cope with all the 'I'm sorry's' and he also knows his family is very meddling and would not leave well enough alone.
"Yeah and I'll keep them all in the warehouse next door (!)" says Seth, walking around the room with Evan. "Its just…Iris shouldn't have to miss out on all this," he then says.
"As long as she's in hospital she will," Roman points out to him. "Look, maybe you should go to your family for a while," he then suggests and before Seth can say anything Roman says, "Let me finish". He gestures for his friend to sit down and does the same on the opposite couch. "Listen man, doing what you are isn't good for you. All you do is see Iris and look after Evan. Maybe it'd be good for you to go and see your family, let them take care of Evan for a bit whilst you relax and I don't know, have fun maybe?"
"You want me to have fun when Iris is in a hospital bed in a coma?" asks Seth.
"Do you think Iris would love to know that all you did was sit around with Evan?" Roman questions. "You think about that," he advises his friend before leaving and heading out. Seth sighs to himself as he comes to the conclusion that Roman is right, he needs a change of scenery and Evan needs to see his family. Iris would want that.
"Hi beautiful, more flowers unfortunately," says Seth, coming into the room with daffodils in his hands like usual. He'd finally agreed to take Evan to meet his family and they were leaving today, before he went he needed to see Iris. He'd gotten so used to seeing her everyday that he didn't know how he would cope with not being able to see her at least once. Seth removes the old daffodils and puts in the new ones, taking a seat next to Iris on the bed this time. "I have some news, it's something you won't really like," he tells her, keeping a hand on her forehead and the other in her hand.
"Oh, sorry," says Jade, realizing she's walked into a private moment between Seth and Iris.
"That's alright," says Seth and Jade leaves the room, going over to where Liza was.
"Oh my gosh he's here!" exclaims Jade, letting out a little squeal.
"What? You're joking, it's not time yet!" exclaims Liza, getting away from the desk and looking from afar. Seth had gotten into a routine and would come at a certain time during the day, the fact that he was here now was odd. "What's he doing here so early?" she questions Jade.
"I dunno," says Jade. "But I went in there and he was there and…something's wrong, isn't it?" she asks her friend, realization dawning on her.
"Well duh!" says Liza as if its obvious. "He shouldn't be here unless something is the matter which means something is going down," she tells her friend, looking at the window suspiciously.
"What do you think it could be?" questions Jade.
"I don't know but it can't be good," says Liza, knowing that for sure.
"Ok, well my parents are really glad that they have a Grandson," starts Seth, finding it hard to let Iris know he's leaving with Evan despite the fact that she's in a coma. It's not like she can do anything or say anything to him. "So much in fact that they want me to go back to Iowa and visit," he says. "At first I was dead set against it but then I realized it wasn't fair. I know you had your reasons for keeping Evan away from me but I can't do the same to my parents. Roman was right, they deserve to see their Grandson and…I guess I need to see them too. Whenever something would go wrong when I was a kid I'd run to Mom, I'd get made fun out of for being such a Mama's boy but that's how its always been. Even as I've grown up and right now, I think I really need her," he explains, hoping Iris would understand. "So, I'm taking Evan and we're going to visit them for a while. But don't worry, we'll be back as soon as we can, I promise," he says and then leans forward, placing a soft kiss on Iris's forehead. What he doesn't notice is Iris's hand clenching the bed sheets as he lets go and leaves from there.
Reviews are very much appreciated! : )
