Man I am really enjoying writing Army Wives fanfictions so here's another one! ^_^
For context's sake, this takes place during 2x02 where Claudia Joy is recovering from Amanda's death and when Roxy walks into Claudia Joy's room to check on her. (I don't understand why the writers didn't finish that scene -_- Like we see Pamela and Denise talk to her but not Roxy?)
Oh well, that's why we have fanfiction! ^_^
P.S: Please stop asking about Saiyan Shinobi as my interest in that story isn't really there right now anyways, THANK YOU ^_^
Now with all that said, let the fic begin already! ^_^
The loss of a child is nothing short of devasting to any parent, especially when they die at a young age and no one was feeling that more than Claudia Joy Holden.
When she woke up from her coma only to learn that her oldest daughter Amanda had died in the bombing of the Hump Bar, to say Claudia Joy was devastated was an understatement. She felt like she had utterly failed as a mother. Amanda was only eighteen and had all these plans for the future and her life only for it to all be snuffed away by a selfish man.
Naturally when Claudia Joy's friends had found out the news, they were devastated at the news. None more than Roxy Leblanc. Not just because the life of a young woman who barely got a chance to experience life was snuffed out unfairly but such a tragedy happened to such a kind and great woman who didn't deserve such a misfortune.
For god's sake, Claudia Joy was held at gun point not even a few months prior and now she went through a parent's worst tragedy in having to bury her own child?
Just what the hell did Claudia Joy ever do to deserve such pain?
With all the good things she had done in her life, it seemed like a cruel sick joke from some sort of divine entity.
Thankfully none of her friends were going to let her go through this alone, especially not Roxy Leblanc, after everything Claudia Joy had done for her.
With the result of Claudia Joy having an emotional breakdown at the PX, naturally her friends were concerned and wanted to check in on her which was what Roxy was doing right now as she pulled in her car into the Holden driveway.
Roxy rang the doorbell where Claudia Joy's remaining child answered.
"Oh, Mrs. Leblanc. Hi." Emmalin Holden smiled at her mother's friend.
Now normally Roxy would very pointedly correct both Amanda and Emmalin to not call her that whenever they would refer to her as "Mrs. Leblanc" but given recent events with Amanda's death and Claudia Joy's earlier freak-out with Emmalin at the PX for wandering off alone, Roxy decided to cut her some slack.
"Hey, Emmalin. Is your mom in?" Roxy inquired.
"Y-yeah. She's upstairs." Emmalin pointed to up the stairs though Roxy picked up on the slight tremor in the younger woman's voice.
"Thanks. And also….you okay?" Roxy asked the younger Holden sister. In all actuality, Emmalin was barely holding herself together and this morning's events only served to exacerbate that issue. But she didn't want people worried over her.
"I'm fine but more importantly you should go check on my mom." Emmalin pointed out to Roxy who knew she was covering how she was really feeling for her mother's sake which Roxy could understand. It was admirable and Roxy wished she had that kind of relationship with her own mother.
"Okay." Roxy nodded before heading up to Claudia Joy's room where she heard the voices of Claudia Joy and Denise talking about something, most likely Amanda's death. Not wanting to be too gloomy given the current circumstances, she decided to give her usual humorous introduction.
"Knock knock! Hope you guys don't mind, I decided to let myself in!" Roxy playfully knocked, making her entrance into the room with both Claudia Joy and Denise smiling in amusement at the sight of their young friend.
"Roxy…." Claudia Joy and Denise murmured good-naturedly, especially Claudia Joy. It was something she admired about Roxy, she knew how to brighten a room no matter the circumstances.
As Roxy decided to sit down by Claudia Joy's bedside, she caught wind at the end of the conversation between Roxy and Denise.
"Denise….you do say and do the right thing." Claudia Joy managed a smile at her longtime best friend.
"Thank you…." Denise quietly thanked her friend with Roxy quietly watched the exchange between the two. She wasn't going to say anything out of respect as she knew that while Claudia Joy adored her, she knew her bond with Claudia Joy wasn't on equal footing as the one Claudia Joy had with Denise.
As Denise left, the FRG Leader turned to the young blonde.
"Roxy….what're you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home with TJ and Finn? And I know you're worried sick over Trevor?" Claudia Joy tried reasoning with Roxy as Roxy knew she was trying to cover up how embarrassed she felt about her earlier meltdown at the PX.
"It's fine, Pamela's watching them." Roxy winked as Claudia Joy blinked slightly in surprised.
"But Rox…" Claudia Joy was starting to realize it seemed Roxy pulled out all the stops to be here for Claudia Joy.
"Look Holden, I ain't leaving and parking my ass on your bed so you better just zip your lips and keep your face shut." Roxy gave the woman a mock glare with Claudia Joy managing a laugh although Roxy noticed her laugh wasn't as vibrant as it usually was.
Although given recent events, it was very understandable.
"But seriously….I'm not just gonna leave someone I love in pain. Especially when that person was the first one who accepted and gave me a chance while the "better officer wives" just looked down and treated me like shit not for being the "new kid on the block" but because of me." Roxy admitted with a small smile.
"Roxy….." Claudia Joy softly murmured, putting down her tea cup as Roxy took her free hand.
"Please let us be here for you….If the roles were reversed, you'd be here for us…." Roxy softly begged her friend with tears building up in Claudia Joy's eyes.
"Roxy….thank you….." Claudia Joy managed a smile through her tears as Roxy knelt down to her position in the bed and hugged her with Claudia Joy graciously accepted.
"Of course." Roxy smiled, wiping Claudia Joy's tears with her thumb as Claudia Joy giggled.
"Hey you laughed!" Roxy jokingly bragged with Claudia Joy smiling softly.
"Yes, I suppose I did….But Roxy?" Claudia Joy began.
"Hm?" Roxy was curious.
"No matter what happens with TJ and Finn, always appreciate the good times you have with them. Never take those little moments for granted. Right now I think maybe I didn't do that with Amanda enough…..especially when things got a little jaded during the whole Jeremy debacle." Claudia Joy advised her young friend with a sigh with Roxy gulping. She hoped the tragedy with Amanda wouldn't happen with her boys given before she met the tribe only her boys and Trevor made her feel like she was actually worth a damn. Hopefully that would never happen to her but the least Roxy could do was be there for Claudia Joy.
"Of course. Kids are a precious gift. And remember Claudia Joy, it's all bad. You still have Emmalin. She's gonna need her mom more than ever with Michael all around the world like Carmen Sandiego." Roxy advised Claudia Joy who smiled teasingly.
"Look at you sounding all experienced. You could be a good FRG leader if given the opportunity." Claudia Joy tried teasing Roxy who noticed she wasn't at her usual energy but Roxy was at least making progress.
"Yeah thanks but no thanks." Roxy snorted with Claudia Joy managing to laugh a little more genuine for the first time in days.
As the two managed small talk about topics unrelated to the Hump Bar, Betty or Amanda, eventually the sun was starting to set.
"Well, I better get outta here. My boys are probably starving and hopefully they aren't eating off each other." Roxy joked with Claudia Joy chuckling.
"Sounds good. And Roxy? Thank you for being here for me. I appreciate it more than you know." Claudia Joy smiled softly with Roxy grinning.
"Of course. If the shoe was on the other foot, you'd be there for me." Roxy said with Claudia Joy nodding.
"Yes. And one more thing. Don't let those wives get to you. You're an amazing woman; someone who's funny, fierce, loyal, unique and someone I'm glad to have known." Claudia Joy held out a hand which Roxy happily accepted.
"Claudia Joy…" Roxy was amazed at how Claudia Joy truly thought about her. She knew Claudia Joy loved her but….
"I mean it. I admire your strength of will." Claudia Joy reassured Roxy with Roxy managing a small, surprised smile. To Think Claudia Joy Holden of all people admired her.
"I….don't know what to say." Roxy blinked.
"Then don't say anything." Claudia Joy giggled before the two friends shared a laugh.
Although it took a while, Claudia Joy managed to find her way and get over her grief over losing Amanda. Although she never stopped thinking about Amanda, she managed through the pain with the help of her friends.
Especially with the help of Roxy Leblanc.
And that's the end of this fic and I can make a sequel where Claudia Joy comforts Roxy after her miscarriage in 4x07 if you all want me too! ^_^
Getting the first five seasons of Army Wives on DVD has given me LOTS of fic ideas! ;)
But in any case, please let me know your thoughts on this fic and I'll see you all in the next one! ^_^