Always - Chapter Three

Author's Note: I feel like this chapter is actually pretty weak. I wrote it really quickly and while falling asleep, wanting to finish before I totally lost all interest (I might revise it later). I actually wrote the 'Epilogue' before it. Anyway, if anyone who managed to somehow stumble into this fic and has gotten this far and are as unsatisfied with this part as much as me, please feel to write your own version if you want. Just tell me where I can find it. Thanks!

Chapter Three

Part One

Hunter sprinted towards Stephanie, only concerned with her safely, and didn't see Xerxes stand up behind him. Just as his knees touched the ground, he found himself being lifted and flying backwards.

'I don't think so,' the huge man growled, turning to glare at him. 'No one, and I mean no one dares to interrupt me!'

Stunned at the man's raw power, Hunter just stared dizzily up at him for a moment. Then he shook his head, and tried to get to his wife again. Only to be thrown back again.

'You want to join your wife in death, boy?' Xerxes sneered. 'Your wish I my command.' He turned to the prone Stephanie. 'But first…'

*

Extremely exhausted, and at the brink of not caring for his own life, Chris lifted himself onto his elbows and shook his head to clear it. However, what he saw wasn't at all encouraging. Stephanie was lying on the ground, dazedly shaking her own head as Xerxes towed above her with his sword held high.

With a sudden rage he didn't even know he possessed, Chris hurriedly got to his feet and tackled the big man down. But even as he did, he knew that it was too late. The sword wasn't in Xerxes' hands when they both went down. It was stuck in Stephanie's stomach.

Chris felt like his insides had been ripped out, and he looked at Stephanie. She had a look of confusion and alarm on her face as she looked down at the weapon sticking out of her.

*

Connor watched the scene unfold before him. Hunter finally reaching his wife, utterly distressed and not knowing what to do. Stephanie, asking him fearfully if she was going to die. And Chris…

Chris had somehow managed to retrieve his fallen sword, and was back to attacking Xerxes with a vengeance. Well, attacking wasn't exactly the right word. He went straight for the kill. Xerxes was dead, and Chris received only his second Quickening.

Part Two

None of the doctors could do anything for her now. She was dying, but she wasn't afraid. More than anything she was furious at the thought of not being able to see her daughter grow up into a woman any mother would be proud of.

'Mommy?'

Stephanie turned slowly towards Caitlyn. She had been asleep in her room during the fight, and Hunter had woken and brought her to hospital. Maybe he too had known that this would be the last time they would ever see each other?

'Hey, baby,' she whispered, reaching out weakly towards the scared little girl. Hunter lifted Caitlyn gently onto the space beside her.

'Are you sick?' she asked timidly.

She smiled down at her, smoothing back the girls' hair. 'Yeah, I am.'

Tears quickly filled Caitlyn's eyes. 'I don't want you to be.'

'I know, baby. I don't want to be either.' Stephanie felt herself getting weaker. 'Come here and give me a hug.' Caitlyn slowly climbed onto her, and despite the painful pressure on her chest, Stephanie held her with all of her strength. 'Always remember that you are the most important person in my life. I love you so much.'

'I love you, Mommy.'

*

'I love you,' she whispered, gazing deeply into his eyes. His face was the last image she wanted to see, wanted to keep imprinted into her mind.

Although he was trying hard not to cry, to be strong for her, a few tears slid down his cheeks. 'I love you,' he whispered back. 'I always will. I'll never forget you, Steph.'

She smiled softly at him. 'And I'll always remember you, Hunter.'

*

Chris watched the tender scene between husband and wife with mixed emotions. It hurt that it wasn't him in there with her, but he also knew deep down that it wasn't meant to be him in there with her.

As Hunter gently pressed his lips to hers, Chris finally turned away. He had said his final goodbye earlier, and knew that it was time to move on. Time to live an eternal life he wasn't sure he wanted.

Part Three

28 January 2008

'Go away,' Hunter muttered.

'No, not yet.'

He wanted to put to words what he was feeling inside, but knew that it would be of no use. He knew that it hadn't been Jericho's fault. Neither of them wanted Stephanie to die.

'What the hell do you want?' he asked bitterly, turning away from the other man.

'I just…I wanted to make sure that you were okay before I left.'

'I'm perfect. My wife just died. Now, leave.'

'I loved her as much as you,' Jericho shot back angrily. 'I know how much this is hurting!'

Hunter's jaw clenched. 'Why don't-'

'You really don't get it, do you?' Jericho interrupted.

'Get what?'

'Look.'

Hunter reluctantly shifted his gaze to where Jericho was pointing. He was pointing to Caitlyn, sitting silently by herself on the large couch. She looked so much like her mother.

'Stephanie gave you a daughter,' Jericho pointed out. 'One half of herself. You still have that.' He paused. 'I have nothing.'

Hunter hung his head, suddenly aware of how selfish he had been the past week. Caitlyn – Stephanie's daughter, his daughter. Their daughter. She had needed him, and he hadn't been there for her. He turned around, unsure of what to say but wanting to say something anyway.

Jericho was gone.

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