The Surgery

The Daughter I Never Had Chapter 4

A/N: For reference please read Erm31323's story Forever and Always. It's quite the tearjerker and is where the inspiration for this chapter comes from. Her stories are set after the 1982 movie and mine are set after the 1999 movie. I own no characters from Annie. Elizabeth,Mary David and Maggie Warbucks are all ERM3123's original characters.

Things have been quite insane in this household since Grace disappeared. I was so happy to find out the Oliver found her. I really wish he hadn't gotten into that messy situation with William Bennett then all of this would have never happened. Oliver was really concerned about her safety and the safety of the baby. I was too. I prayed every night that Grace would be alright.

Annie was very scared after Grace was kidnapped. I could tell she was really anxious about Grace and angry with herself that they had exchanged harsh words with each other before she disappeared. One evening after dinner she knocked on my door looking close to tears.

"Come here Annie." I said.

Annie ran in to my open arms and I rocked her back and forth.

I let her sit there stroking her curls back.

"Oh Mrs. Pugh, I wish I never said those mean things to Mom. It's my entire fault she disappeared."

I pulled a handkerchief out of my apron pocket and dabbed at her tear stained cheeks.

"Sweetie pie, you shouldn't blame yourself. Your mother's disappearance is not your fault. Someone with a very mean heart took her away."

"Is she ever coming back?"

I kissed her forehead. "Of course she is darling. She loves you very much and she would never abandon you. Your father went to go find her."

"Why would the bad man take her away?"

I shrugged. "Some people don't think before they act I suppose."

"Do you think he is going to hurt Mom and the baby?"

I squeezed her close to me. "I hope not… I hope to God nothing bad happens to her or the baby."

Grace ended up giving birth to twins David and Margaret. Grace and Oliver decided to shorten Margaret's name to Maggie which I like a whole lot better. David was both strong and healthy but there were complications with Maggie's birth. Grace lost a lot blood during Maggie's birth and had to go into surgery soon after getting to the hospital. I was beside myself with nerves and fear. To say the least there was a lot tension in the Warbucks household. I think Oliver was scared we going to lose Grace. We all were. He didn't dare show it because he had to be strong for Annie. I could tell she was scared about the possibility of losing her mother and things going left unsaid between them after their fight.

On another evening after dinner she came into my room looking very anxious.

"Mrs. Pugh, do you think Mom is ever going to get better?"

"Of course dear. Why would you ask such a question?"

"I hear you guys talking in low whispers and it doesn't seem that way to me. I'm really scared."

'This child is very intuitive.' I thought to myself.

I pulled Annie into my lap.

"My dear little girl, your mother is fighting for her life. I am positive that she'll get through this."

Annie looked at me, close to tears.

"Do you think she forgives me for all the mean things I said to her?"

"Oh Annie, of course she does. I don't think she would stay mad at you this whole time."

"She knows that I love her right?"

I smiled. "Yes sweetheart, she does and she loves you too. You have to stay strong for her alright?"

Annie nodded.

"I love you Mrs. Pugh."

I stroked the curls from her forehead and laid a gentle kiss on it. "I love you too Annie. We all love you so much."

There was one day I just couldn't take it anymore. I was making a second batch of pancakes for Annie and her cousin Mary for breakfast and I felt a wave of emotion wash over me. I couldn't focus on baking so instead I sat down in the pantry and started to cry. I was really hoping that Annie or Mary wouldn't come looking for me and find me in this emotional state. Luckily Oliver was the one to find me. He had just come home from the hospital where he had checked on Grace.

"Helen, I know you're upset about Grace. We all are." He said softly.

I looked at him for comfort. "Has her situation improved?"

Oliver looked as if he'd aged ten years in the last 48 hours or so. He shook his head.

"Well, she's out of surgery now and recovering. She lost so much blood during Maggie's birth. It's hard to believe how much blood she lost."

I looked up at him.

" I think Annie is the most worried about her you know."

Oliver was shocked. "What has she said to you? She hasn't spoken to me about this at all."

"Well, you do remember they had a fight before Grace disappeared?"

Oliver nodded.

"She still feels the disappearance is her fault and thinks that Grace is still upset with her."

Oliver looked at me sadly.

"I've told her none of this is her fault… that she shouldn't be blaming herself."

I nodded. "I told her the same thing."

"Did you tell her Grace loves her very much?"

I nodded again. "Sir, do you think she'll be alright?"

Oliver hugged me tightly. "We all need to keep praying. You know as well as I that she's strong and a fighter. She'll get through this."

I kissed him on the cheek. "I'm so happy she has you sir. I don't know what she'd do without you."

Oliver smiled at me sadly "And I don't exactly know what I'd do without her so I'm hoping to God she survives."

I hugged Oliver tightly.

"Well, I should be getting back to the hospital so Elizabeth can be here with the girls. Will you keep them busy until she gets back?"

I smiled "Of course sir. I love it when Annie and Mary help me in the kitchen."

As Oliver left I looked up at the ceiling, whispering to the empty room 'Oh Grace, darling, please get better. We all need you here. I love you so much.'

Two weeks passed and Grace's condition did not improve. We all had the feeling that Grace was going to die. Annie was taking things the absolute hardest and I felt terrible for her.

I went into her room to tuck her into bed and she looked very sad.

"Mrs. Pugh will you lay down with me like Mom always did?"

I smiled. "Of course darling."

Once I was confortable under the covers I pulled Annie close to me.

"How are you holding up?"

"Not very well." Annie whispered.

I stroked the little girl's curls back and laid a kiss on her forehead.

"Annie, I'm so proud of you for staying so strong and your mother would be proud of you too."

Annie looked at me, her eyes welling with tears.

"Mrs. Pugh, is Mom going to die?"

I shrugged. "It's quite possible but I am really hoping she's able to pull through."

Annie burst into tears. I pulled her into my arms and let her sit there."

"Shh, sweetheart."

"I just don't want Mom to hate me Mrs. Pugh."

I looked at her square in eye.

"Annie, your mother forgives you for what you said to her before she was kidnapped. You have to realize she loves you."

"She does?"

"Of course she does sweetie pie."

Annie continued to cry and I rocked her in my arms until she fell asleep.

I looked at the ceiling of Annie's room. "Please god, give me a sign that my darling Grace will be alright. This little girl needs her mother."

On a Wednesday night during dinner we got the dreaded phone from Oliver's father that we needed to be at the hospital right away. It was that moment I knew that my beautiful Grace Elizabeth was going to leave us.. though all along I had been hoping for a better outcome.

Things seemed to pass by me in a blur. I just couldn't believe that Grace was going to die..nor did I want to. We took separate cars. Oliver rode with Annie and I rode with Oliver's sister Elizabeth and her daughter Mary.

Elizabeth looked at me sadly.

"How are you Helen?" she whispered.

"Fine as I can be given the circumstances." I replied.

She squeezed my hand. " Grace told me how close the two of you were. I really can't imagine what you must be feeling."

I returned the squeeze. "Yes, Elizabeth Grace meant a great deal to me. If we lose her tonight I will be devastated."

When we arrived at the hospital a nurse stopped Oliver.

"Mr. Warbucks, I'm sorry but it's after visiting hours. Children aren't allowed."

Oliver glared at her. "Isn't true that my wife is dying? The children should see her if this is the case."

The nurse nodded.

Oliver turned to me. " Helen, did you want some time alone with Grace before the rest of us go in?"

I nodded, choking back tears.

The room was dark and dreary. All I could hear was the heart monitor blipping. It didn't show very many signs of life.

I walked over to Grace's bedside and took her hand.

"Grace darling, it's Helen. I know you can't respond but please listen. I know you won't be with us much longer. I wanted to let you know that Annie has been heartbroken over your argument. She wants you to know that she loves you. Watch over her from heaven and be her guardian angel. I love you my beautiful precious girl."

I stroked back her hair one last time and laid a kiss on her forehead.. the last kiss I'd ever give her. My heart was breaking in two that she wouldn't wake up so she would be able to return it.

Slowly but surly everyone else came into say their goodbyes. Oliver and Annie were the last people in and Oliver brought Annie over to Grace's bedside so she could lay down next to her. Everyone else rejoined them with in five minutes. Elizabeth placed David in the crook of Grace's left arm and Annie was clinging to Grace's waist. I stroked her hair back as I watched her sob.

"Mom, I love you. I'm sorry for all those mean things that I said." She whispered.

I bent down and scooped her up in my arms rocking her back and forth. Leaning down and kissing Grace's forehead once more I whispered. "Don't worry darling. I promise to take care of her for you."

We stayed by Grace's bedside for about an hour and a half and then Oliver suggested that Elizabeth take the children home and put them to bed.

"I'm going to stay here and spend the night. I'll call the house with any news or new developments."

I patted Oliver on the shoulder. " Good night sir."

"Good night Helen."

And we all headed for home.

The next morning around 9:00 Oliver called. We all expected to hear that Grace had passed away in her sleep. What Oliver told his father was completely different.

When Henry hung up the phone he was all smiles.

"Well, Helen it appears as if we have a miracle."

"Excuse me?"

"Oliver just told me that Grace woke up this morning."

My jaw dropped.

"Are you sure?"

"Do you think my son would lie to me?"

I shook my head.. still not believing. "I'm assuming he wants us all back at the hospital?"

"Yes, let's all head over there now."
Annie rode over to the hospital in the car driven by the Asp with me. Elizabeth Mary Henry and David were all with Punjab.

"Mrs. Pugh, I'm so happy Mom is okay."

I rubbed her back. "So am I Annie."

When we got to the hospital Annie ran down the hallway to Grace's room. Oliver was there to greet her at the door.

"Daddy, Mom's awake?"

Oliver smiled. "Yes sweetheart, she asked for you."

Oliver took Annie by the hand and led her in to Grace's room.

" Annie, sweetheart come here." I could hear Grace call to her daughter. My breath hitched at hearing her speak. None of us had heard a word from her in two weeks.

Oliver motioned to us to follow him inside the room.

I looked at Grace holding Annie close to her in her hospital bed.

"Now, what's all this about Daddy saying you blamed my kidnapping on yourself?"

Annie shrugged. "I just thought it was all my fault."

Grace kissed Annie on the forehead. "Oh my precious baby of course it wasn't. Furthurmore, I'm not mad at you anymore for all the stuff you said during our argument. I love you Annie."

Annie was crying tears of joy. " I love you too Mom."

I was crying my own tears of joy. I walked over to Grace's bedside.

Grace reached out for my hand.. I took it and gave it a tight squeeze.

"I love you my beautiful Grace Elizabeth." I whispered leaning down and kissing her forehead.

"I love you too Helen." Grace whispered.