Suddenly
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer.
`
Chapter 4
Truth
`
Two weeks later, Matt was with the rest of Miranda's friends and family her the reading of her will. Matt was pleased to see that the lawyer had called her Miranda Sanchez, just like her headstone read. Her parents made it clear that they didn't want her remembered with her murderer's name. Matt was surprised when he was called into a side office before the reading was to begin. When he took a seat, the lawyer began. "Mr. McGuire. Mrs., I'm sorry, Ms. Sanchez, wrote most of her will out, to be read aloud. However, she also made some tapes as part of her will, each only to be shown to the named people, and only under certain circumstances." He removed two tapes from a large brown envelope labeled 'Matt McGuire'. "You will see one of those. Which one depends on the answer to one question."
"What's the question?"
"Did you love her at the time of her death?"
Matt felt like he'd been pouched in the stomach and testicles at the same time. That question meant only one thing. His mother had been right.
"Mr. McGuire?"
Matt refocused on the man. "Yes. I did, I do, love her."
Without a word, the man put one of the tapes back in the envelope. He then put the other in the VCR on the bookshelf behind him, and pushed play. The tape came to life, and Miranda's face was there.
"Hello, Matt." Matt barely kept from falling apart again. "If you're seeing this, then you were right, and Todd killed me." Now he was confused. If she knew . . . "I can't believe right now I'd ever go back, but I must have." She shook her head. "I can't explain it better than I already have, Matt. But rehashing those arguments isn't why you're here. I need you to know something, if you haven't guessed it. I love you, Matt. I've always been afraid to tell you, but it's true." A small smile came to her face. "I think I understand Lizzie and Gordo better now." His hold was slipping. "Don't cry. I know you too well. You're probably blaming yourself for this. Don't. I hid from it as much as you did." He knew she was right, but that didn't make it hurt any less. "I have so much to say, but I don't know how. Besides, at the time I'm recording this, I have no idea how you feel, and I don't want to get too worked up, just in case I'm wrong. Instead, I have a final favor to ask of you."
"Name it." He said aloud, even though she couldn't hear.
"If you're seeing this, then Maggie and Sara either have no parents left, or the only one left is in prison." Actually, Todd had gone to prison, but was killed in a fight earlier that week. "Mom and Dad would take them, of course, but their not as young as they used to be. Matt, I know it's asking a lot, but would you be willing to care for my girls?"
He didn't need to think about it.
by TheRealXenocide
`
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters, settings, or anything else you recognize from the show Lizzie McGuire. The plot, at it's base, has been around since Homer.
`
Chapter 4
Truth
`
Two weeks later, Matt was with the rest of Miranda's friends and family her the reading of her will. Matt was pleased to see that the lawyer had called her Miranda Sanchez, just like her headstone read. Her parents made it clear that they didn't want her remembered with her murderer's name. Matt was surprised when he was called into a side office before the reading was to begin. When he took a seat, the lawyer began. "Mr. McGuire. Mrs., I'm sorry, Ms. Sanchez, wrote most of her will out, to be read aloud. However, she also made some tapes as part of her will, each only to be shown to the named people, and only under certain circumstances." He removed two tapes from a large brown envelope labeled 'Matt McGuire'. "You will see one of those. Which one depends on the answer to one question."
"What's the question?"
"Did you love her at the time of her death?"
Matt felt like he'd been pouched in the stomach and testicles at the same time. That question meant only one thing. His mother had been right.
"Mr. McGuire?"
Matt refocused on the man. "Yes. I did, I do, love her."
Without a word, the man put one of the tapes back in the envelope. He then put the other in the VCR on the bookshelf behind him, and pushed play. The tape came to life, and Miranda's face was there.
"Hello, Matt." Matt barely kept from falling apart again. "If you're seeing this, then you were right, and Todd killed me." Now he was confused. If she knew . . . "I can't believe right now I'd ever go back, but I must have." She shook her head. "I can't explain it better than I already have, Matt. But rehashing those arguments isn't why you're here. I need you to know something, if you haven't guessed it. I love you, Matt. I've always been afraid to tell you, but it's true." A small smile came to her face. "I think I understand Lizzie and Gordo better now." His hold was slipping. "Don't cry. I know you too well. You're probably blaming yourself for this. Don't. I hid from it as much as you did." He knew she was right, but that didn't make it hurt any less. "I have so much to say, but I don't know how. Besides, at the time I'm recording this, I have no idea how you feel, and I don't want to get too worked up, just in case I'm wrong. Instead, I have a final favor to ask of you."
"Name it." He said aloud, even though she couldn't hear.
"If you're seeing this, then Maggie and Sara either have no parents left, or the only one left is in prison." Actually, Todd had gone to prison, but was killed in a fight earlier that week. "Mom and Dad would take them, of course, but their not as young as they used to be. Matt, I know it's asking a lot, but would you be willing to care for my girls?"
He didn't need to think about it.