"Cameron is that really you?" Sam asked the shadow that appeared in the doorway, peering at him through dream filled eyes.
"Yeah, it's me." Cameron Mitchell looked at his fragile mother with so much love and adoration. Over the last couple of years her health had deteriorated and she had begun to confuse him with his father. He would love to have met the man that his mother was still very much in love with and he would consider himself to be a very fortunate man if he ever found someone to love him as half as much.
Cameron glanced at his reflection in the mirror and saw his father staring back at him. He knew from the photographs of his dad that he was the splitting image of him, a constant reminder to his mom of the man she had lost long ago.
"You came back!"
Cameron nodded, pulling up a chair and sitting down beside her bed, "I came back for you Sam." If a small white lie gave his mother this much happiness then he would tell a thousand of them just to see that lovely smile of hers.
Crying she reached out for his hand holding it tightly over her thundering heart, feelings of pure love and tenderness radiated off her. Held in his; her hand was small and delicate, "I've missed you so much Cam. It's been so lonely without you, look at you…you haven't aged a day, so young and even more handsome than I remember…" With her other hand Sam brushed away the tears which were flowing steadily down his face, "Oh no, baby don't cry, we'll be together again soon. I just want to see our children one more time," Cameron squeezed his mother's hand, his chest tightening with emotion. "I did a good job with them, didn't I Cam? They're both so grown up. Kara, she's feisty and independent and strong minded…in a lot of ways she reminds me so much of you; and then there's Cameron, my beautiful little boy…I named him after you…" Sam smiled fondly thinking of her son, "he's just like you, he's got your eyes and your smile and your strength. You would be proud of them."
Cameron stayed with his mother well into the night, watching her sleep, his heart crumbling when she called out for his dad in her sleep. In the darkness of the hospital room, Cameron allowed himself the freedom to cry.
Cameron and Kara laid flowers on their parents' graves. They were finally together, sleeping side by side.
The doctors had ruled her death due to natural cause but her children knew different. She had been dying of a broken heart for a long time, holding on long enough to raise them into the people they were today.
"Mom, Dad we love you both very much. It won't be long now, just a couple of more days…" Planting a kiss on each of the headstones with her fingers, Kara said a final goodbye to both her parents.
Looping her arm through her brothers' they walked to the car, ready to fulfil the promise they had made to their mother on her death bed.
"I love you both with every fibre of my being, I couldn't be more proud of you." Struggling to breathe; she held onto the two of them, praying for just a few more minutes. "I've watched you grow up to be two different but equally wonderful people, I've been blessed to have you in my life. The world is a much better place with you in it but... now it's time for me to go. Your fathers' been waiting for me for such a long time, I don't want to keep him waiting any longer. Be there for each other…" With her last breathe she added as she faded away, "he'll be there won't he?" Kara nodded kissing her mother on her cheek, "You promise?"
"We promise mom, you and dad will live your life the way you were supposed to, Cam and I won't allow fate to cheat you twice."
Holding onto the two people that meant most to her in the world she passed away, peacefully.
Chapter 11 coming up!!