December
April looked around as everyone else at the table continued to talk. April loved hanging out with Troy, but his friends were another thing. She wanted her friends. And almost automatically after thinking that, Mike and Megan walked in. April got a huge smile before running to the door, Troy didn't even notice as she enveloped them both in a hug. "We're over here." She told them, pulling both of them with her until they reached the table.
It took Troy a minute to realize they were even there, but when he did, it was a quick hello before getting back into the conversation with his friends. April was obviously irritated with him, but the night carried on, April with her guests and Troy with his even if they were supposed to be meeting each other's friends. After a while, April began getting twitchy, knowing her addiction was calling. "Hey," April spoke, interrupting a talk between Troy and one of his friends. "I'm gonna go out for a smoke." It was something she developed after her mom died. She wasn't proud of it and she knew she should probably quit, but it was such a load off from real life.
"Okay." He spoke like he was confused as to why she was telling him. April sighed as he turned back to his conversation. He probably wouldn't even notice she was gone. Mike rolled his eyes at how blind he was. If he had April, he wouldn't blow her off every time she tried to talk to him.
"I'll go with you." Megan offered, also picking up on what Mike saw.
"No." April spoke, shaking her head while tearing off the packaging of her fresh pack. "I don't want you to breathe in all that nasty air."
Megan opened her mouth, about to continue, but Mike cut in, knowing Megan wasn't gonna stop until someone was going with her especially after her Women's Studies class. "I'll go."
April studied him, confused, but pleased. "You sure?"
"Yeah, I could use one too." He spoke as he picked up his jacket and the two began making their way outside.
The bar they were in had a huge window placed behind the bar so you could see all the alcohol carried and watch the bartender make the drinks from outside. That's where Mike and April took their break. April had already taken her fist puff when she saw Mike patting himself, trying to find his lighter. April rolled her eyes at him automatically bringing a flame to her lighter, making Mike smile while letting her light his cigarette. "So," Mike spoke between his puff. "That Troy kid is one keeper."
"Can we not do this here?" She complained, tilting her head back to blow out some smoke. That's when she noticed snow was starting to fall.
"I'm just saying," Mike spoke as his eyes fixated on the snow just like her. "You have a tendency to be with assholes."
"Oh, I've noticed." She made a point to give him a dramatic look, making him give her an irritated smirk as she just laughed. "Let me live my life."
"You could do a million times better than that twerp." Mike commented, pointing to where he knew they were sitting, stressing April out. If they didn't suspect they were talking about them before, they knew now. "You need someone who actually likes spending time with you and will actually give you the time of day."
April rolled her eyes, knowing he was being a complete hypocrite right now. "Yeah, you're one to talk."
Mike stopped for a moment, knowing she was taking a jab at his marriage. Once April saw the look on his face, she felt insanely guilty. "I didn't mean it."
"No." Mike spoke before taking a hit of his cigarette to take a long pause to think about how to go about this. Especially what he was about to tell her. "You're right."
"I'm not." She pressed on, shutting her eyes as she moved closer to Mike. "You're a great husband."
"You're the only one who thinks that." He mumbled before looking off into the street.
April looked his face all over, sensing there was something he wasn't telling her. She also thought back to how he looked when he came into the bar. He automatically looked…sad. "What's wrong?"
Mike let out a dark chuckle as April continued to look through his face, running through all the possible scenarios, hoping it wasn't too bad. "Leah filed for divorce today."
April had to take a moment to let that process. She was happy, but also sad. Above all, the main emotion stabbing at her was guilt. They didn't have the best marriage before she came along and she knew he didn't love her anymore, but April couldn't help but think that she caused that. And honestly, now that Mike was single, the two had no idea what to do anymore. They had a deal a year ago that when Mike and Leah got a divorce, they were going to go public with their romantic relationship. Well, a year later, they no longer had a steady romantic relationship. They had a rocky shit show, they didn't know where it was going to take them next.
"I'm sorry, Mike." That was the only thing she could say. There wasn't anything else that she could think of to make this better.
"Yeah," Mike whispered, switching his attention to the snow again. "You know, it's what I wanted, but now that it's happening it feels…weird."
April moved closer to him, their arms touching, April hoping that would make him feel better as she laid her head on his shoulder. "I'm here for you if you need to talk about any of it." Mike looked over at April just as she took a hit of her cigarette, smiling a little bit. Getting a divorce was worth it if he and April could be more like this. That's when he leaned his head on April's, knowing that this whirlwind of a change wouldn't be so bad with her by his side.
"I almost forgot." Mike spoke, digging his hands into his pocket while April pulled her head up from his shoulder. "Why don't you take a look at your Christmas present?"
April looked to what he had pulled out of his pocket, instantly gasping and bouncing on the tips of her toes. "Oh my god!" She yelled, now jumping up and down as Mike began to smile from her joy. "You didn't!"
"They sold out because I bought the last two."
She looked to Mike, throwing her arms around his neck, too excited for words. She then broke from him remembering her best friend. "Oh, I have to go tell Megan!"
April threw her cigarette to the side before hurrying back into the restaurant, finding Megan and talking quickly before she could show her the concert tickets. Troy seemed confused as they talked quick just as Mike trailed in behind her. "What are 'Broods'?"
"A band." April almost screamed at him. "I've told you about them at least a hundred times. They're my favorite band!"
Troy looked to Mike as he smiled proudly at how happy his gift had made April, immediately feeling defensive. Even if he wasn't the most affectionate towards April, he still loved her. April turned back to Mike, thanking him before throwing her arms around him for another hug. All of it made Troy's chest squeeze from either pain or jealousy. He wasn't sure yet. She was always happy around Mike. She got the biggest possible smile on her face when she saw him. Did that mean she has feelings for him? The longer they stayed like that, the more Troy knew he had to step up his game.
April walked with her arm looped through Troy's as they walked into the restaurant for lunch. "You know you don't have to do this."
"I want to." He assured as she gave him a confused yet playful glance. Troy had been acting super weird lately. He was being very sweet and charming which was the exact opposite of how he usually was.
The two moved to the hostess, April immediately giving her a description of her grandmother, but before she could even finish, Grandmother Asher appeared, squeezing her arm lightly to make her jump. When April's eyes finally fixed on her, she got a huge smile on her face before wrapping her in a hug. "Hello, Grandmother."
"Hello, sweetheart." She spoke while giving her back a pat. Grandmother Asher had been trying to see April for the past few weeks, but April was just so busy with finals and friends and work, but today was all about her and her grandmother. And Troy. When she pulled away from her granddaughter, she got a big smile on her face just at the look of her. She really did miss April.
"Grandmother, I would like you to meet my boyfriend Troy."
He came out from behind April, taking her grandmother's hand immediately. "It's so nice to meet you."
Grandmother Asher looked him up and down for a moment before agreeing to take his hand. She knew April got this boyfriend because of everything that happened between her and Mike, but she honestly didn't expect it to go on as long as it did. No one did. "Nice to meet you." She spoke it with such a subtle distaste only April picked up on, making her shut her eyes. "Come on, I've gotten us a table."
"Yes," April spoke, putting her arm through Troy's again to make sure her grandmother knew they were still a couple and nothing she said was going to change that. "Let's."
When they had settled at their table, Grandmother Asher had asked Troy all the questions as the woman figure in April's life. He passed, but there was still something about him she just didn't like. Maybe it was the sadness in April's eyes when she looked to him and knew that he wasn't Mike. That she would never be able to have what she had with Mike in anyone else.
Before they got their entrees, Troy excused himself to go to the bathroom, making sure to press a kiss to April's temple before leaving the table. April watched him walk off and once she was sure he was out of earshot, she leaned in to her grandmother. "Can you at least pretend to like him?"
"I never said I didn't like him." She countered before taking a sip of her water.
"Oh," April spoke, poking at her salad with a fork. "That unimpressed look says it all."
"Well," she spoke, leaning in just in case anyone around them could hear what they were saying. "It's hard to like anyone trying to be with you after how in love I saw you with Mike and how heartbroken you were when it was over."
April practically dropped her fork on her plate from anger. "Can we not talk about that for once in my adult?"
"You shouldn't waste your time on someone when you've already found the perfect someone."
"Grandmother," April spoke slowly, knowing if she talked any faster she would blow up in her face. "There's nothing I can do if he broke things off to be with his wife."
"What about his divorce?"
April furrowed her eyebrows together. Megan didn't even know about that. "How do you know that?"
"I have my sources." She gloated before taking another sip of her water.
April sighed, getting a slight smile on her face, knowing her grandmother was just worrying about her and her happiness. "Maybe if the time is right, but not until he's one hundred percent divorced."
"I guess I can accept that." She spoke with a sigh in fake disappointment as April rolled her eyes with a smile. She really did love her grandmother even if she was insanely nosey.
Troy sat back down at the table, April smiling at him, but almost immediately her grandmother began to develop a nasty cough. April looked to her, her brows furrowing in worry. "Drink some water." She advised. Her grandmother just continued to cough, though.
It was getting heavier and raspier. "Grandmother?" April asked just as she fell out of her chair and to the floor. "Oh my god!" April yelled, hurrying to her side. "Call 911!" She alerted Troy, automatically doing as she said. April then began to react as a nurse student should, she began checking her vitals, trying to stabilize her until the ambulance arrived.
Mike nearly knocked over someone who was in his way as he hurried into the hospital. Leah had text him and lately, she wanted to have the least possible communication with him. But he was happy she text him what she did. It was still burned into his mind from the second he read it at the Treasury. April's in the hospital.
He quickly explained to his boss that there was a family emergency and left. He almost left without telling anyone. April was his everything and if she was hurt and he wasn't there for her, he would never be able to forgive himself. He immediately went to the reception desk, asking for her room, almost getting into a verbal argument with the woman on the fact that he wasn't a family member and then hurried to the ICU.
A million thoughts ran through his head, but mostly, he wondered if April was okay. He had no idea what was wrong with her and that's what was scaring him the most. She was in the ICU. That was the worst possible place he could picture her. He didn't want to walk in her room and see her unconscious and breathing through a machine. Or worse, he didn't want to see her gasping for breath and shivering in pain.
When he finally got down the hall the woman said she was in, he saw April pacing as Troy sat in the waiting room chair and Megan stood near her. "April." Mike breathed out, mostly happy she was okay.
When April turned around and looked to him, she had tears rolling down her cheeks as she ran to hug him. He hugged her back, knowing something was wrong, but at the same time insanely confused. He held her as tight as possible as she gripped onto his suit like her life depended on it. "April," he whispered, pulling away from her slightly so he could look at her face. "What's going on? What happened?"
Megan put a hand to her mouth, hating to see April gasp and cry like that as Troy just looked down into his hands, not sure what to do. "She was sick." April gasped out. "And she didn't tell anybody."
"Who?" Mike demanded, holding onto her shoulders and leaning down a little so he could look her right in the eye.
April's gasps worsened and she ended hiccupping out, "My grandmother."
"April." Mike repeated as April nodded, realizing why they told him the correct room number when he said April Asher. She and her grandmother shared the same name.
Mike pulled her back in for a hug as April continued to cry. He made sure to cradle her head, thinking back to the moments where he thought he was never going to hold her like that again. He shut his eyes, the two holding each other even tighter if that was possible. Troy just looked at the two and he didn't need any more confirmation. There was something there. The two of them had feelings for each other whether they knew it or not.
They pulled away when they heard other people jog into the waiting room they were in. They saw Roma and O'Neil before they saw Ben and Conner. When April saw her dad, she gasped and hurried to him, pulling him into a hug. When Mike saw Ben, he felt insanely uncomfortable. Ben's one request was for him to stay away from his daughter and here he was at the hospital to comfort her before her father could even make it there.
Ben pulled away from his daughter, about to question everything that had happened since he received a crying call from April, but Grandmother Asher's door opened up, out coming the doctor and Leah. Everyone looked to the two, hoping for some good news, but knowing the chance was slim. The doctor looked to them all before saying, "She wants to see April." April immediately pushed past everyone and hurried into the hospital room, not really wanting to hear the news anyway. She knew it was just going to be bad.
Ben looked to the doctor, moving closer as did Roma and O'Neil. "What's wrong with her?"
"Kidney failure." He spoke, briefly looking to his clipboard before looking back to the President of the United States. "And by what I can see, it's been going on for a while."
"So why hasn't it been treated?" Mike asked, almost as if it was the doctor's fault. That's when Ben looked over at Mike, still surprised by his appearance here.
The doctor paused for a moment, not sure how to say it, so Leah said it. "She's refused treatment."
Everyone let silence pass over them, Megan finally being the first to speak. "What?" It was so soft, Roma and O'Neil couldn't even hear it.
"She doesn't want treatment." Leah repeated. She didn't care for this family. They were one of the reasons for her divorce, but she would never wish this on anyone. Especially April who they could hear muffled cries from. It wasn't fair for her to lose her mother and then her grandmother just a year later.
Everyone was in shock; no one knew how to act or what to say. Until finally Ben spoke up. "So, what do we do?"
"We can make her comfortable." Tears began to flow down Ben, Megan and Conner's cheeks, but Mike just continued to stand there in shock, everything the doctor continued to say going in one ear and out the other. April could not lose her grandmother. Not like this. Not so soon.
The door to her room suddenly opened, alerting everyone to April. Her cheeks were stained with the tears still coming down as she turned to Mike's direction. "She wants to talk to you." Everyone looked to Mike confused. Even Mike didn't expect that, but how could he say no. He moved to the door, giving April's hand a quick squeeze before letting go and walking into her room.
Beeps from all the machines hooked up to her took up the whole room. It was the only sound you could hear. It was also dark inside matching the mood in everyone's hearts. The only light was the one above Grandmother Asher's head to be able to see all the buttons and switches just above the headboard. "Ms. Asher?" Mike called out once he got to the footboard.
That's when she looked up at him and smiled. That was also the moment Mike noticed how skinny she had gotten. "Mike." She responded, her voice as weak as he had ever heard it. "I would like to talk to you." She spoke, sitting up slightly.
"I heard." Mike spoke, sitting in the chair placed right next to her bed with a smile on his face. Losing the first April Asher would be a loss to the world.
"Has April ever told you about her grandfather?"
Mike's eyebrows furrowed, not recalling anything. "No, ma'am."
"Well," she smiled, thinking of all of her memories with him all over again. "He was a lot like Troy." Mike leaned in a little bit, intrigued in what she had to say. "Very by the book nice, but in all reality, he wasn't." Mike smiled a little bit, shaking his head, not sure what she was getting at, but he wasn't going to say anything. Knowing her, it was all going to make sense in the end. "The person I loved before him was…magical." She looked back to Mike, a soft smile growing on her face. "What I'm trying to say is, I didn't end up with my Mike Banning for a stupid reason like the one you and April are apart for." She laughed a little before her face grew serious, Mike hanging on every word. "I love my son and I love my grandchildren, so I don't regret marrying her grandfather, but sometimes, I wish I could have had my Mike Banning. Don't let my April end up with the wrong guy like I did."
Mike nodded, looking down, knowing this was one of her last requests. He grabbed her hand which she gripped as tight as she could with the little strength she had left. "Yes, ma'am." He whispered it, knowing there was nothing else he could say to her. And he intended to follow her request out.
So, April dressed in all black for the second time in a year. Everyone came to the funeral held in Pennsylvania. Even Troy. They had it on their old family estate in the bright sunshine. After the ceremony, the reception was held for close friends and family in the huge farm house. Mike was walking around aimlessly with a drink in his hand, feeling quite awkward since the only one he really knew here was April and the Secret Service agents. That's when he noticed April outside sitting on one of the tree swings.
April loved their old family house ever since she was a little girl. The tree swings always being her favorite part. When she was little, she and her mother liked to decorate the rope with flowers. She hadn't been out here in so long, she forgot how freeing it was to just sit there, looking out on the now frozen lake and slowly forgetting everything. It was the best place to think or not think at all.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone sit on the swing next to hers. She half expected her mother, but she knew that was impossible. When she turned her head and saw Mike, she knew that was the next best thing. She gave him a light smile while he gave her one back. She just looked so beautiful out here, the wind blowing her hair back, the look of complete relaxation on her face while the sun also beamed down on it. He thought back to what her grandmother had told him. April had to end up with him. Not right now. That would be too selfish, but it was going to happen.
"So, who's the girl with the wooden leg?"
April began to laugh, knowing Mike would ask her anything to make her feel better. That's what she loved about him. She almost forgot about Cousin Harley. "My dad's cousin Harley. If you ask her, she'll tell you a different story every time. I don't think I even know how it really happened."
"I thought it would be rude to ask her so I needed the inside scoop from you."
April looked up at Mike, searching his whole face, wondering where she went right to end up having someone as amazing as Mike in her life. "Thank you." She whispered as her hand moved to place hers on his.
Mike simply shrugged at her, wondering the same thing she was. How did he get so lucky? He then looked up to the branch. "How sturdy do you think this thing is?"
April looked up at the branch holding it as Mike got up. "Well, my grandmother's uncle Irving used to use it all the time and he's not the lightest – " She couldn't even finish her sentence before Mike took the rope and spun it quickly. April let out a loud squeal, not expecting it, but glad it happened. Mike then grabbed the rope suddenly stopping it making her laugh more as a strand of hair fell in front of her eyes. "I wasn't expecting that."
Mike laughed with her, staring into her eyes, loving that she could find joy on one of her saddest days. "Wanna go again?" April bit her lip before nodding excitedly.
He ran around her, letting the rope wrap around itself, building up momentum before letting her go to spin. That's when Troy looked out the window, seeing the two. Mike was always the one to make her happy. Always the one to make her laugh. Troy would never know her like he did and he could never bring a smile that big to her face. That's when he knew that he had to do something to keep her. Something drastic.
MisfitCarter: Thank you so much! You always have something nice to say that makes my day better. I hope you like the new chapter, love!
Mrs. HappyAnarchy: There will be a little more of a respect between April and Leah in this chapter and the next so she won't treat her bad like that for much longer. I hope you liked the chapter, hun!
Igor Bionsky: Maybe, maybe not *insert smirk*
Kagom309: Thanks for the compliment!
Guest: Me too, man.
*GASP* What does Troy have up his sleeve? The next chapter is going to be about April's 21st birthday and then we'll jump into the movie. I hope you all liked this chapter and remember to review. Thank you!