Disclaimer: I do not own One Tree Hill.
A/n: this has been my plan all along. Sad though it may be.
Chris stood outside the chapel in the bottom of the hospital. Peyton was inside sitting near the front, both crying and praying. Chris glanced back through the glass on the door, then stepped outside, and pulled out his cell phone. Dialing the first number, he found.
"Hello?" Greeted the soft gentle voice of Hayley Scott.
"Hayley. It's Chris."
"Chris?" Hayley asked in shock, looking quickly at her husband who sat next to her, Lucas and Brook, we're seated across from them.
"What the heck does he want?" Lucas asked, scowling. He still had yet to forgive Chris for sleeping with Brook, and did not trust, or like him being so far away with Peyton. He reached across the table and took the phone from Hayley before Chris had the time to answer her.
"What the heck do you want Keller?" He more or less growled into the phone.
"Lucas? Look I didn't call to start anything. And the only reason I called Hayley was cause, hers is the first number I came to. I called to tell you about Peyton. Look I really think if it's possible that the four of you need to come here. Elie's dying Luke. And Peyton's taking it pretty hard. I'm here for her. But I think she would be better, if she had you four, her friends here with her."
"Yes, of course. Thanks man, we'll be there as soon as we can."
"What?" Asked Nathan, as Lucas reach Hayley's phone back to her.
"Peyton needs us. Elie's dying." With a nod, they all went to make arrangements to leave.
Brook Davis, Lucas Scott, and Nathan and Hayley Scott entered the hospital around six that evening, having just arrived via the bus. They headed slowly to the floor Chris had told them. Had they not first seen Chris, they would have first walked right by the fragile weeping blonde girl, who looked so far from being Peyton. Chris was leaned against a wall out to the left of a door. He had his arms wrapped tightly around Peyton, was laid against him, crying into his chest.
"Peyton!" Brook and Hayley called, as the four approached.
Peyton looked up in shock, then extracted herself from Chris and ran into Brook and Hayley's waiting arms. They both wrapped her tightly, holding her close.
"It's all right honey. We're here now." Brook murmured.
"She's dying. Elie, my mom is dying. And they said I'm her only kin listed, so there for I have to make the finale decision on what to do. They can keep her on life support for a short time longer, or I can have her took off, and let to dye. What am I going to do?"
"It's all right Peyton. It will be all right." Hayley whispered into her friends hair, while both Nathan and Lucas shockingly shook Chris' hand, then moved into embrace the three girls, all of which were crying now.
Chris stepped back, and walked down one of the corridors leaving Peyton in the comfort of her friends. He found Alex and Tristan, walking tor wards him. He felt his own tears sliding down his face. He was crying for Peyton, for Elie, and for the pain he felt in knowing how Peyton felt. For not being there when his aunt dyed. He quickly found himself wrapped in his sister's embrace. Alex hugged him tightly, and felt his sobs rake his body.
"It's all right sweetie. Calm down. Peyton's going to need you calm and collected. All right. Just cry it out now, and then we'll go back to Peyton."
"Peyton's with her friends. They came down to help her through this. She doesn't need me anymore." Chris was nearly five inches taller then his twin, so he had to slouch down to bury his face in between her neck and shoulder.
Peyton and the girls had finally calmed down, and were seated in a chair along the wall. Peyton sat in the middle, and Brook was in Lucas's lap, and Hayley sat in Nathan's so that they we're all huddled together.
"Where did Chris go?" Peyton asked suddenly looking around.
"Um, I'm not sure. I haven't seen him since we got here." Hayley answered. "I'm sure his around."
"He wouldn't have left, do ya think?" Peyton asked, seemingly scared looking around.
"No, babe I didn't leave." The group looked up quickly in the direction of Chris' voice. They found him walking down the hall tor wards them. With a tall blonde man and his left, and a slightly shorter brunet woman on his right. She had her arm wrapped tightly around his waist.
Peyton sprang into Chris' arms. Allowing herself to be wrapped tight against him. She pulled back from Chris only to be wrapped in Alex's arms. "How did you do it? How did you handle losing your aunt? She raised you. I only just meet Elie, and knowing I'm losing her now, is so hard. How did you do it?"
"I had Tristan, and my memories. See it was probably easier for me, since I had been with her for so long, I knew I had great memories with her. It still hurt, so much to lose her. But, I'd had her for so long. While you only just met Elie, you still have memories of her, not like mine our Chris' of our aunt, but there still there. It has to hurt more for you Peyton, only having such a short time. You'll be fine, strong. Look how many people you have surrounding you, supporting you. It'll be fine. You'll be fine."
Nodding Peyton fell back into her seat. "It hurts." She whispered softly to them.
"And it'll hurt a lot worse. Then get better." Alex reassured.
"Peyton." The group quickly looked up to find Andrew just exiting Elie's room.
"How is she?" Peyton asked dis-heartedly, standing to meet him.
"Not well. The doctors say you have to make a decision on what's to be done."
Peyton gasped, throwing a hand over her mouth and ran into the nearest bathroom, locking the door behind her.
When she was done throwing up, she moved to the sink to rinse her mouth. Once that was done the best she could, she moved to leaning against the wall. She pulled out her cell phone and hit her number one speed dial. (A/n: I know you're not suppose to use cells in a hospital, but I'm making the exception this once.)
As expected she only reach Tom Sawyer's voice mail. (A/n: couldn't find anything with his real name.)
"Hey daddy, it's me. I..I know I yelled at you. And I'm sorry for just taking off like that, but. I she's dying. Elie is dying. And now their telling me I have to make the finale decision on what well happen to her. Please, daddy can you come down here. I've got Brook, and the others, but I need you. Please." She clicked her phone off and slide down the wall, to the floor, crying.
"Yeah, know I don't think we've been able to introduce ourselves." Tristan said as they all stood staring at the bathroom door, Peyton was locked behind. All except Chris, who had disappeared as soon as the door locked.
"No, I guess not. I'm Lucas Scott. My girl friend Brook Davis." Lucas said shacking Tristan's hand.
"I'm Nathan Scott, and my wife Hayley."
"I'm Alex, Chris' sister."
"And don't tell me you're Chris' brother." Lucas said looking at the guy in front of them.
"Brother-in-law. So, you're the promising young singer, Chris got into a lot of trouble over." Alex said, looking at Hayley.
"Um, yeah I guess."
"So, where did your brother go?" Brook asked.
"Goodness knows with Chris. Our twin e.s.p. only works at certain times. Like if one's hurt or what not, but we can just mentally track each other."
"You're twins?" The four asked looking at the girl in front of them.
"Yep. 18 years now. Oh, there my little brother is now."
"We've you been?" Brook asked, as they all watched Chris walk down the hall. Right past them, to knock softly on the door standing between them and Peyton.
"Hey, Peyton, baby! Come on up the door. I went down to the drug store around the corner, and got you a tooth brush, and tooth paste. It's Crest cinnamon rush. Just like you, like."
Peyton's four friends stared with shock at how caring Chris seemed to be for their friend. Even more when the door, opened just enough, for Peyton to reach out and jerk Chris into the bathroom with her. Then heard the lock click back into place.
"They've been together, for a few months now." Alex said looking at the shocked looks on the four's faces. "I'm surprised she didn't tell you."
Chris sat against the wall, and watched Peyton brush her teeth. "Want me to come do it for you, babe?" He offered trying to lift her sprites if not but a little.
"That's okay." When she finished, she moved to sit in front of Chris leaning back onto his chest.
"I brought you something to." He said wrapping one arm around her, and reach into the bag beside him. "Coke, Tylenol, bag of these mine chocolate chip cookie things, and these chocolate peanut butter cookie things. They looked good, and they're chocolate, which never hurts. Both my mom and my aunt always said, a little chocolate well, fix everything. And okay when we were kids I guess that theory worked for me and Alex, but now, it seems like it won't so much. So, how about we say chocolate will help calm ya, and bring things into perspective. Cookie?"
"What no milk?" She joked half heartedly.
"Well, no. but, if you'd like I can go get us some."
"No, it's okay. This is great, thanks. But, I don't feel much like eating anything right now."
"On no, you haven't eaten in a few hours. Several hours to be exact. So, you to have to eat something."
"But, what if I throw it up too?"
"Then, you can brush your teeth again, and then eat something else. Now come on. Besides these are cookies nothing heavy, just enough to keep your sugar up."
"All right, all right. You win. I'll eat."
They sat on the floor for a while longer, Peyton slowly eating her cookies, after taking some Tylenol. "What am I going to do? I mean I don't know anything about this kind of thing. I know she's dying, and I know she's in pain, but what am I suppose to do? Tell, them to pull the plug and let her dye? Or tell them to wait, and make her suffer."
"You have to do what you feel is right baby. I know saying something like that doesn't help, but I promise I'm here for you, and I'll do whatever it takes to help you, and make you feel better."
"I wish I could wait for my dad to get here. But who knows when that'll be, so I guess I'm just going to have to make the decision."
"Maybe, you should go in and see her. If haven't been in yet, have you?"
"No, I haven't been able to bring myself to go in."
"Then, maybe it's time you did." Chris pushed himself, into a standing position taking Peyton up with him. He quickly gathered their stuff, unlocked the door and took her hand, leading her out of the bathroom.
Peyton walked slowly to Elie's bedside. She looked so weak and fragile. She stopped a few feet away from the bed and just stood watching her lay there.
Elie slowly opened her eyes, and seeing Peyton standing there, as slowly raised her hand and motioned for Peyton to come sit by her.
Peyton gently slipped into the seat next to her, and picked up her hand. "Hi, you know, I was standing the bathroom, and I realized just how much I truly look like you. You told me a few months ago, that my mom brought me back to you, so you could hold me after I was born. I'm glad you had that memoire for these past 17 years. And I'm glad you came to Tree Hill to find me. I'm glad I'm going to have the memories of these past few months, to last me for the rest of my life. Good memories not just the ones of me yelling at you, telling you to get out. I'm glad, I got to meet you for a second time. Mom. I just wish it didn't have to end, and so soon." Peyton brought Elie's hand up and kissed, then placed it against her check, so that she could feel her tears. "I really have come to love you. And it hurt to be losing my mom again. But, I want you to know that you did do good by me. You was, are a good mom. I don't want to let you go. Ever. You're always going to be in my heart. But, I need to know if you're in pain. And if you want them to turn the machines off, so you can..." Peyton couldn't finish her sentence, only choked up on my sobs. She leaned forward and placed her face against the sheets on Elie's stomach. Elie gently placed her hand on top of Peyton's head.
"Miss. Sawyer?" A doctor asked coming into the room. "I'm sorry, I know it's hard but we need you to make a decision."
Peyton raised, and looked into Elie's eyes. She could she the pain there. As well, as the love. At that moment Peyton knew, that Elie wanted to be let go. To have the pain let go. To leave, but always be loved, and in Peyton's heart. Where she always would be, right next to the mother who raised her. At that moment Peyton knew what she need to do.
a/n: okay I know hospitals are skanky, even more so there bathroom floors, but heck this is perfect tv/fiction land, so let's pretend that the hospital floors are nice and clean, and not crawling with who knows what germs!