Chapter Twenty-Five: Stay On The Phone With Her

A/N: OMA! Guys… you don't understand the appreciation I have for all of you right now. I got the sweetest comments last chapter, and I just, thank you so, so much. It means so much to know that you guys all honestly enjoy my work :)

A/N (Side note about the story): The last "section thingy" of it, is from the sixth memory of A Christmas Carol. So this story is dealing with a future circumstance, right around Christmas. It takes place right around break of Patricia and Eddie's fourth year of college. (They attend separate schools)

Disclaimer: I don't own House of Anubis

***o***

Stay on the phone with her...

"Hey I heard about your, um grandmother." Eddie frowned when she let out a hopeless sigh, that was somewhere between a cry and moan. "Look babe, I'm really sorry. I promise I'm going to be there as soon as I can."

"You're coming from New Jersey?" She squeaked.

"Of course, and don't try to change my mind, because I'm already in the airport."

"How did you get a flight?" She pressed further.

"I'm Eddie." He shrugged lightly. "And I love you so I'm coming. Besides, we haven't seen each other in months."

"And we were supposed to spend time together…"

"Exactly. Now stop arguing, and let me come, okay?"

"Sure." Patricia shook her head, suppressing both a smile and a cry. "When do you think you'll be here?"

"1 am your time."

"Okay, don't wake me up."

"Okay." Eddie laughed. "You'll be in the hospital?"

"Yeah, we're waiting here until she… until something happens."

"Your grandmother will be perfectly fine, don't worry."

"Promise?"

"I think so." Eddie let out a breath, before grabbing his sort-of "to go" suitcase and handing it to the large woman behind the desk. "So who's we?"

"Mum, dad, Piper, Alex, my grandfather, my aunt, her husband, their son, and my great aunt."

"Where the hell are all of you sleeping?" Eddie waved his thanks to the employee and then took off towards the back of the airport.

"There's a hotel a couple of miles away. Mum and I just volunteered to stay the night."

"And I'll be allowed to stay too?" Eddie heard Patricia repeat the question to her family.

"As long as we're within fifteen feet of each other tonight." Patricia laughed. "Grandpa's not exactly adjusted to modern-day relationships."

"Good thing I brought my tape measurer." Eddie chuckled. In the background, he heard an unfamiliar voice, and a couple of gasps, immediately making his heart beat faster. "Patricia are you okay-"

"Something's wrong." She whispered into the phone.

"It's going to be okay," Eddie assured her, even though he highly doubted it. "I'll be there as soon as possible. I love you." As he continued to rush through the airport, desperate to get to England's Kingston Hospital, he kept his ear pressed to the phone, trying to listen to what was going on over there, and ignore the noise around him.

Patricia didn't answer him, she didn't talk at all in fact, but he continued to stay on the phone with her, the same way she was with him. He wanted to be as available as he could during the situation, even though they were an ocean apart. He figured they were rushing to whichever room her grandmother was being held in, but he wasn't planning on asking.

After six years of dating the hot-headed red-head, he knew for a fact that her family was what crumbled her walls. Sometimes it was the fact that she felt like her parents didn't want either her or Piper, or that they preferred her musically-talented sister over her. Once in a while it was the fact that she had the most annoying cousins, but always felt bad for them because she didn't particularly trust any of her aunts or uncles. But her grandmother was the one person that Patricia loved, and figuring out that she had had a heart attack was probably one of the most straining experiences for Patricia. And Eddie wasn't particularly fond of listening to the girl he loves fall apart, and not be capable of holding her tight, and knowing for a fact that everything would turn out okay.

***o***

"Patricia!" Eddie ran towards her, wrapping her in a warm embrace. "Are you okay?" He pressed a couple of quick kisses to her head. "Do you need anything?"

"No." She whispered. "Just stay here, okay?"

"Of course." He told her, holding her as tight as he possibly could. Apart from the several nurses behind the counter, and the few in the hallway, the waiting room was nearly empty. Mrs. Williamson was in a deep conversation with one of the nurses, and only peeled her eyes away for a second when she heard her daughter's name. However, upon figuring out that it was Eddie, she resumed her conversation, and allowed the American boy to attempt to comfort her recently emotionally broke daughter.

"Grandpa's here." She told him.

"Aw," Eddie smiled lightly. "I was hoping to break his rule."

"Don't worry. He's not moving from her side." Patricia explained. "He hasn't for hours. She got worse Eddie. I really don't know if it's going to be okay."

"Hey." Eddie ran his thumb over their intertwined fingers. "Everything will work out." He strayed from saying everything would be okay, because he knew their definitions of okay were very different.

"C'mon." She pulled him over to a section of open chairs by the front door. Once the two were seated, hands still clenched together, and solemn looks still on both of their faces, Patricia started talking. "So what are we going to do?"

"About?"

"Christmas is in two days, we were supposed to be in New Jersey right now."

"So, I'll just spend Christmas with dad, no big deal."

"You sure? I know you don't really like to spend that much time with him, especially your free time, and I don't want it to be uncomfortable. You can go back to America if you want, go spend time with your mum…"

Eddie cut her off with a quick kiss. "I'm not going to leave. This is one Christmas, and you need me here, so I'm staying here."

"Thank you." She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into another embrace that he returned.

***o***

"It's not even fair!" Patricia whimpered, biting down on her knuckles.

"I know baby, I know." Eddie wrapped his arms tightly around her, and placed a kiss on the top of her head. As she buried her face into his blue shirt, and tucked her knees farther up to her chest, Eddie exchanged a worried glance with the rest of her family who were scattered around the hospital waiting room, all teary eyed as well. "Hey Yacker?" Eddie lifted her chin up with his fingers and her eyes met his. "Would you like to go get something to eat, you haven't eaten anything all day."

Patricia shook her head no, but Eddie still stood up, and led her away from the tons of other upset people. "I'm not hungry." She complained, still clutching onto his arm, and keeping her face buried into his shirt.

"You're getting make-up all over my shirt Yacker." Eddie lightly pushed her head away, examining his shirt, which was too dark to notice the mascara, but not dark enough to miss the bright pink smudge of lipstick.

"Sorry," she sniffled. "I'll get you a new one for Christmas."

"Oh no, babe I didn't mean it like that, it's fine, really." Eddie laughed lightly at her cute offer, but couldn't find it in himself to act as if this wasn't a big deal.

"Okay." She sighed, re-burying her face in his shirt.

"But you should probably adjust to the light." Taking her hand, Eddie lifted her head up as they continued to walk down the hallway.

"I was really close to my grandmother, that's all." Patricia smiled faintly. "She tried to talk my parents out of boarding school when I was younger. You know I didn't want to go."

"And if she had managed, then I wouldn't have met you, and you know I can't imagine life without you." Eddie kissed the edge of her lips lightly. "Your grandma's in a better place really, and she doesn't want to see you upset, she wants you to be happy, just like I do."

"I suppose." Patricia shrugged. "Even though it's still not fair."

"I know, but I'm going to do anything to make it up to you. We still have Christmas to look forward to; I don't want that to be ruined for you."

"Thanks Eddie."

"You know I would do anything for you." He nudged her arm lightly before enveloping her in another hug.

"I wouldn't bet on that." Patricia finally smiled for the first time since that morning.

"You have the most gorgeous smile." Eddie traced his finger along her lips, which were still slightly curved. "And you are the most gorgeous girl I've ever met, so of course I'd do absolutely anything for you."

"And you are the cheesiest boyfriend anyone's ever had." She pushed lightly on his chest, and casted her head down, trying to hide the second smile that was on her lips.

"You know, considering the circumstances, I'm going to take that as a compliment."

"Then that's your first mistake."

"Someone's starting to feel better." The couple stopped in the middle of the hallway, facing each other. "Hey, you've got some make up right here." Eddie traced his thumbs gently over her cheeks, rubbing off the make up to the best of his ability. "Better."

Patricia's eyes found his for a second, before she brought her lips to his. "I love you." Her voice cracked again as she began to remember her surroundings and her grandmother's death. She continued to kiss him desperately though, her hands cupping his face, and running her fingers through his hair, soaking up the comfort and love that only he can provide her, as tears continued to stream down her face.

…Even if she's not saying anything.

***o***

A/N: Tell me what you thought! Personally… I liked it, they're easy to right about in the future actually. And I kind of enjoy emotional Patricia every now and then ;)