Summary: A young Schuyler and Cordelia go to visit Allegra in the hospital on Christmas. Yeah yeah I'm about 4 months late but....
Bittersweet Memories
Cordelia's POV
I strode into the hospital. The familiar sterile smell of rubbing alcohol and antiseptic wrapped around me. The little girl beside me had to almost jog to keep up with my pace.
I looked down. The girl with her dark hair and bright eyes, held a neatly wrapped present. I knew she had carefully picked out the gift.
Too bad those efforts would go to waste. Her hard work and careful planning would go unnoticed by its recipient.
I sighed and tightened my hand on the handle of the picnic basket Hattie had packed for us.
The hospital staff knew us so well by then that they didn't even check our visitor's badges. We didn't need them.
We passed the ICU and the ER and we came to the west wing of the hospital. We walked into the familiar room. It looked less like a hospital room and more like a hotel room. It was nicely furnished with drapes and a stocked closet and bathroom.
That – of course - were never used.
I sat comfortably in the chair beside a table where I laid out the meal.
But the little girl went straight to the bedside. The sleeping woman didn't move when the girl stroked her blond hair.
Her face, though beautiful, held a sadness, that even in sleep did not go away.
"Mom" I heard Schuyler whisper. When the woman didn't react she turned, holding back her dissappoinment to place her gift on the table.
Next to all the other gifts she's brought over the years.
I felt sorry for her, watching her stare at the pile of unopened presents. They were dusty now. Her hand ghosted over each card, lovingly written but never read.
"Schuyler, why don't we eat now?" I asked gently.
She nodded and came to sit. We ate in silence.
I remembered when she was first born. I had been angry at the time.
But when her mother went comatose, she was the last link to my daughter.
She looks so much like Allegra. I thought to myself as I watched her eat her lunch.
I smiled when she pulled apart her sandwich, eating it piece by piece like her mother used to do when she was her age.
I pulled out a box from the basket. Schuyler looked up, interested.
"What is that?" She asked. I held the small velvet box in my hand. "This is for you." I said.
She eagerly pulled off the ribbon and snapped open the lid. The wide eyed look on her face made me chuckle.
"It was your mother's." I explained. "It seemed appropriate."
She pulled out the simple silver necklace. It had a simple pendant on it. It wasn't extravagant or gaudy. I knew she would wear it.
I helped her put it on and she delicately touched it around her neck.
She smiled brilliantly. "Thank you Cordelia."
"You're welcome." I said. "Merry Christmas."
"Miss Schuyler! Your grandmother is waiting for you!" Hattie hollered up to her.
"Coming." She said as she bounded down the stairs. She was dressed in her usual black. Leggings, a baggy gray shirt, scuffed up combat boots and a long black coat made up her outfit.
I waited for her in the car. Julius was tapping his foot in impatience. She walked out the front door, holding her gift. She settled into the car and Julius sped off.
I looked over at her. Despite her ratty clothes she was beautiful. I could see blue marks on her arms and face. Faint, but there. I looked down at her neck and smiled.
She was wearing the necklace.
"Merry Christmas, Schuyler."
Good? Bad? Way too late for Christmas? I know.
Can you tell me which chapter you'd want next because I'll only have time to write one.
Charles/ Trinity Wedding
Kingsley after VAL
Allegra in her coma
Mimi's day out in New York
Dylan/ bLiss date in Blue Bloods
Lawrence POV of meeting Schuyler in Masqurade
Tell me in a review or PM!
Windy