A/N: Thanks as always for reading, reviewing and following! I appreciate it. I'm sorry for posting a little later than normal. The mother of one of my best friends passed away this week, and I really needed to be there for her so the story was put on the back burner. The visitation and service was Saturday, and I was gone for that most of the day and was drained by the time I got back home. This is a slightly shorter chapter, but as you can guess, it was kind of a rough week so I hope you understand why. This chapter picks up the following day from the previous one. Hope you enjoy this update!
/
The next morning found everyone gathered back at Kendall's hospital room with Jack and Ryan joining those who were there the previous day. Unlike yesterday, Kendall didn't even try to have Bianca come to the hospital later. She needed her sister and wasn't going to even attempt to pretend otherwise. Zach had brought the boys over the previous evening to see their mother. It was something they all needed. They didn't go into too much detail about what was happening in the morning since they thought it might be too much for them to understand. As a result, Spike and Ian had gone to school as normal that morning after talking to their Mom before they left. Zach and Kendall believed keeping their sons in their regular routine was best for them.
Susan came over to Minx Manor to watch Danny, and Bianca and Marissa dropped their oldest children off at school before heading to the hospital. Greenlee and Ryan dropped Emma off at school as well before joining the others.
Erica and Jack were there before everyone else had arrived with the exception of Zach who didn't leave Kendall's side once he had gotten there. While Jack waited in the waiting room, Erica watched as her daughter was prepped for surgery. The diva was doing her best to keep her emotions in check, but it was hard. She and Kendall had a tumultuous relationship early on, but through many trials and tribulations, they finally reached the point where they were extremely close and would do anything for each other and couldn't imagine their lives without the other.
Feeling a hand on her shoulder, Erica turned to find Bianca there. "Good morning, sweetheart."
"Morning, Mom."
"Where is Marissa? Did she change her mind and stay home with Danny?"
"No, Susan's still watching him. Rissa's in the waiting room with Uncle Jack. She thought we would like a few minutes alone with Kendall. She doesn't think anything bad is going to happen, just that we would want some time."
"That is very thoughtful of her."
"Hey, Binx." Kendall flashed her sister a lopsided grin. She had been given something mild to help her relax before the surgery. Because she was pregnant, the doctors were carefully monitoring what medications she was being given.
Bianca smiled. "Hi, Kendall. How are you feeling?"
"Not bad. This is some good stuff." Kendall glanced to her husband. "Zach, could you give us a minute?"
Zach nodded and kissed her forehead. "I'll be right outside."
/
Kendall turned serious, well as serious as she was capable of being at the moment while under medication. "If something happens to me …"
"Nothing is going to happen to you. You are going to be just fine." Bianca sat on sister's bed.
"Bianca, I need to say this. If something happens to me and I'm not saying that it will but if it does, I need the two of you to promise me that you'll be there for Zach and the boys, take care of them for me."
"Of course we will. You don't even have to ask, but Bianca is right. You are going to be just fine. Do you hear me? I simply will not allow otherwise. Am I understood?"
Kendall nodded. While she knew they didn't want to have this conversation, she also knew her point had been made. Her request was simply a formality because Kendall knew her mother and sister would be there if she couldn't be just as she would if the roles were reversed. "Understood."
"Good."
Bianca squeezed her sister's hand. "Don't worry about them. Mom and I will take of them should the need ever arise, but …"
"I know."
"I love you."
"I love you too." Kendall smiled at her sister before turning to glance at her mother who was sitting on the other side of the bed. "I love you, Mom."
"I love you too, Kendall, and I am so proud of you."
/
Zach knocked on the door and popped his head inside. "Greenlee's here."
Kendall wiped some tears away. "Send her in please."
Greenlee rushed in and stopped at the foot of Kendall's bed. "Hey."
"Hey."
Bianca stood and offered her seat to Greenlee, and the petite brunette took it gratefully.
"Okay, I'm not going to get all sappy or anything because we don't really do sappy. That's just not us. I love you, and you love me. You're my best friend and the closest thing I have ever had to a sister."
"Right." Kendall nodded. Just as she needed to have her earlier conversation with her mother and sister, she knew that Greenlee needed to have this one with her.
"You are strong and one helluva fighter so I know you're going to be okay. You have to be okay because I need you to be and things just won't be the same without you around, not to put any pressure on you." Greenlee took a deep breath and needed to lighten the mood. "Besides, what would Batman be without Robin?"
"Wait, you're saying you're Batman?"
"Duh, of course I am. You don't think you are, do you?"
"Uh yeah."
"No, I refuse to believe that."
"I don't care what you believe. It's true. Batman's the more logical one, and he's a lot taller than Robin."
"You're seriously pulling out the height card?! I'm calling foul on that. And you are not more logical than me. Bianca, you can vouch for that."
Bianca held up her hands. "Oh no, I'm not getting sucked into this. I'm just going to go get the others."
Erica raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to ask me?"
Greenlee scoffed. "No. We all know how you would answer."
Kendall grinned. "See, I'm Batman."
/
Marissa entered just as those words left Kendall's lips. "Exactly what kind of drugs have they given you, and do I want to know what brought this conversation on?"
"Red!"
"Hey, Curly. You're feeling good." Marissa laughed.
Kendall nodded. "I need you to do something for me, Red."
"You know I will if I can."
"I know. Come here."
Marissa did as requested and took Greenlee's spot.
"Come closer."
The redhead leaned in closer.
Kendall lowered her voice to a whisper. "I know I really don't have to say this, but I'm going to anyway. If anything happens to me, take care of Bianca. I know you will, but she's going to need you like never before. Don't let her push you away. I have a feeling you'll have to be the rock for her, Mom and even Zach and the boys, and I know that you can do it."
Marissa took a deep breath and whispered back. "You don't have to worry about that. You know that I will. Bianca is my heart and soul. Whatever she or the others need, I'll be there."
"Thank you. One more thing. Take special care of Greenlee too. She acts tough, but inside, well you know how she is. She has the biggest heart and feels so much."
"You're right about her. I'll do everything I can for her too. You need to do something for me though."
"What?"
"Fight. We all need and love you. So, fight and don't give up. Deal?"
Kendall smiled. "Deal. Love you too."
/
A nurse came into the room. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but it's time."
Everyone took their leave with Bianca, Erica and Zach being the last to go.
"I'll see you soon, and I love you." Bianca kissed her sister's cheek.
"Love you too, Binx."
"Remember what I said, dear, and I love you."
"I will, Mom, and love you too."
Soon, it was just Zach and Kendall.
"I need you to fight for me. I need you. The boys need you. We're going to have a long and happy life, got it?"
"Got it. I love you."
"I love you."
"I'm sorry, Mr. Slater, but we have to go."
Zach gave Kendall a loving kiss. "Alright. Take good care of her for me."
"We will."
/
"So, what do you think Kendall said to Marissa?" Greenlee asked as they sat in the waiting room. Kendall had been in surgery for over an hour, and the group had settled in the waiting room, keeping each other company and attempting to distract each other if only for a little while. Marissa had gone to a private room to pump a few minutes earlier, and Bianca had gone with her.
"If I were to take a guess, I'd say it was probably about Bianca. You know how much Kendall worries about her." Jack guessed.
"You're probably right. She has to know that she doesn't even have to ask that of Marissa though. She'll do that without even giving it a second thought. To Marissa, Bianca is everything."
"Very true. I have a feeling it wasn't only Bianca on her mind however."
Greenlee turned to Erica. "You mean Zach and the boys.
"I mean all of us, dear, especially you."
It was that last comment that left Greenlee speechless, something not easily done.
Erica observed the younger woman's reaction and continued. "Greenlee, you know how much Kendall loves you and worries about you. The two of you have a very special place in each other's hearts and lives. I'm not surprised by her making that request. You can't really say you are either, now can you?"
"I suppose not."
"And if your positions were reversed …"
"I would do the same thing."
"I know. You also know how Marissa feels about you, how she feels about all of us really." Erica chuckled softly. "In many ways, Marissa keeps us grounded. She and Bianca seem to be the only ones who can do that. We tend to be …"
Greenlee grinned. "A handful at times."
"Yes, I suppose that is an appropriate description."
"I don't think we should tell them that though. We don't want Bianca's and Marissa's heads to get too big. It would be like the inmates running the asylum if that ever happened."
Erica smiled. "Agreed."
/
"Any word?" Bianca asked as she and Marissa returned. On the way back to the waiting room, the couple had picked up coffee for everyone and were now passing the beverages out.
Zach shook his head as he gratefully accepted his drink. "Not yet. I'm hoping soon though. I can't stand this waiting."
"Yeah, we're not the most patient bunch, are we? She's going to be fine though, Zach. I know my sister."
Marissa tapped Bianca. "It's Dr. Chambers and Dr. Abbott."
The group turned as one as the doctors approached. Dr. Chambers smiled and took a seat while Dr. Abbott took the one next to the cardiologist. Before anyone could ask anything, Dr. Chambers spoke.
"Kendall is fine, and the surgery went very well. There were no complications. She's resting comfortably in recovery, and you'll be able to see her after we've moved her back to her room in another 30 to 45 minutes."
Dr. Abbott quickly picked up where her colleague left off. "The baby also came through the surgery very well. There were no complications and no signs of stress on her. She's good."
The relief at hearing this news was clearly evident on the faces of each member of the group.
"Thank god!"
"You're sure?"
Both doctors nodded. "Positive."
Zach finally released the breath he'd been holding since the doctors' appeared. This was the news he had silently been praying and bargaining for.
Dr. Chambers continued. "I want to keep her overnight for observation, and if there are no complications, she can go home tomorrow."
"The same holds true for the baby. I will continue to monitor her. Because of how far along Kendall is, I was going to be seeing her weekly anyway so nothing will change there. When she is ready to deliver, Dr. Chambers will be present in the delivery room. It's strictly a precaution."
Dr. Abbott and Dr. Chambers continued to answer questions from everyone in the group for several more minutes. By the time they left, Kendall's family and friends had an understanding of what her recovery would entail and were comfortable with what would be required of them in order to help her. A short while after the doctors left, a nurse informed them they could back to see Kendall but no more than three at a time. Zach went back first. As much as Erica and Bianca wanted to see Kendall, they knew the husband and wife needed some time alone before Kendall was bombarded by visitors.
Erica and Bianca had gone back to see Kendall when Zach had asked a nurse to get them. Kendall was just as anxious to see them as they were to see her. Eventually, the others visited with her as well. It was soon approaching noon. Kendall needed some rest, and she knew the others needed to get something to eat as well as just taking a break so she insisted they go home with the concession of allowing them to come back later.
/
"I feel like I can finally breathe." Bianca sighed when she and Marissa were finally back home and alone having relieved Susan from watching Danny. "I'm just so glad that she's going to be okay."
"That definitely makes two of us." Marissa noted as she fed Danny while her wife fixed them something to eat.
"Are you sure you don't mind keeping an eye on Kendall?"
"I told you already that I don't mind. We're family, and I know that she would do the same for me."
"She would. We have a couple of days to get ready. You have anything planned to keep yourselves out of trouble?" Bianca smirked.
Marissa feigned offense. "I'm deeply hurt that you would say something like that."
"Uh huh. I know the two of you. I also know that you'll take care of her."
"I will, and I do actually have an idea of something she can help me with. It's something I've wanted to do for a while but just haven't had the chance to."
"What is it?"
Marissa shook her head. "Nope, it's a surprise."
"I bet I could get you to talk." Bianca lowered her voice an octave, knowing exactly what it did to her wife. She couldn't help but smile at seeing the shiver it evoked in Marissa.
"I'm sure you would give it your best shot, but we still have a couple of weeks before you can tempt me with your wicked wiles."
The couple definitely had an active sex life, and it hadn't been slowed down by Marissa's pregnancy. The redhead's hormones only added fuel to the fire, and Bianca did not complain about that at all. It, however, wasn't the foundation the couple's relationship had been built on, friendship was and always would be that. They started out as friends and still were. The physical aspect of their relationship was important, just not the end all be all, and it was an aspect they enjoyed immensely. In short, they loved to show how much they loved each other in a physical way, and it added to their connection. This period of forced celibacy was the longest they had gone without making love since their relationship had changed. They cuddled and kissed since Marissa had given birth, but it really wasn't the same. This was something they were both painfully aware of. Marissa had not been cleared by Dr. Abbott yet though to have sex. As a result, they had to wait, and while waiting could be difficult, the alternative was not worth risking Marissa's health.
"Yes, I know. I guess I'll just have to come up with something else."
"I have no doubt that you will certainly try your best. Anyway, I want this to be a surprise, and I think you're going to like it."
"Do I get a hint?"
Marissa thought for a second. "It's something we've talked about."
"Well, that doesn't do much to narrow it down for me. You know that we've talked about a lot of stuff."
"Yeah, I know, but that's your hint."
Bianca scowled while her wife chuckled and gave her a quick kiss. "No fair."
/
The following Monday, Zach brought Kendall over to Minx Manor after they had dropped the boys off at school. Marissa and Danny were the only ones present since Bianca had taken AJ, Miranda and Gabby to school.
Zach looked at his sister-in-law. "If anything happens …"
"I'll call you right away. I got this, trust me."
"I'm sorry. I do. My assistant knows to put you through right away. If she or anyone else gives you a hard time, let me know."
"I will."
"If you need anything …"
Marissa smiled. "Got it."
"If Kendall gives you a hard time …"
"I'll let you know that too."
"By the way, Kendall is right here."
"Why do you think he's telling me that?" Marissa smirked.
Zach gave his wife a quick kiss. "Behave yourself. I love you."
"I love you too. Go. I promise I'll be good."
After sharing one more kiss, Zach left.
Kendall turned to the redhead. "Okay, Red, what's on the agenda?"
"I'm glad you asked."