Stand By Me by Fullmetal Pyromaniac
Chapter twenty
The walk back to Margaret, Gilthunder, Merlin, and Arthur was long and uncomfortable. Elizabeth's legs were sensitive from running, so she had to lean on Meliodas who helped her down the stairs and to her room. The two didn't speak much on the way, but their smiles spoke volumes, and hand in hand the pair walked down back into the hospital, and back into reality.
Elizabeth's family were all waiting in her room, Veronica had been given an emergency leave from her work, and Elizabeth's father had been picked up by Gilthunder almost immediately after she had run away. Arthur and Merlin were still looking for her, but had their pagers on just incase she came back before she was found.
Elizabeth could hear Margarets sniffles from outside the room, her breath hitched and guilt hit her like a tidal wave. Meliodas' hand squeezed her own reassuringly, and he gave her a weak smile.
"You don't have to go in there, you know. We can go to the club room first if you want?" he asked softly, Elizabeth shook her head no.
"It'd only prolong the inevitable. I want to know what's happening, and I can't do that by running away" she said, voice strong. Meliodas nodded.
"I'll be with you every step of the way"
They both stepped into the room, immediately everyone within it stood up, eyes wide, and went to hug Elizabeth. Margaret was the first, letting out another half-sob, half-sniffle, and almost throwing herself at Elizabeth who in turn held out her arms as to keep Margaret at a distance. Even Meliodas was surprised at her coldness, Margaret's eyes widened in hurt. Elizabeth glared into them sternly.
"Call Merlin and Arthur. We need to talk"
Margaret visibly gulped, "Yes, I think we do"
Elizabeth turned back around to Meliodas, "I want you to meet the others in the club room" he went to protest, but Elizabeth cut him off, "I've worried them all enough today. After this is all sorted out, I'll come find you"
Meliodas looked conflicted, but relented and pressed a kiss to her forehead, "Okay. Be careful though"
"Always" and he left, looking over his shoulder one last time, then dialling a number and talking to someone that Elizabeth couldn't hear. Merlin and Arthur arrived a few minutes later, they had apparently been running from wherever they were looking. Arthur straightened himself out and frowned deeply.
"Lets talk"
...
"Your illness, Elizabeth, resides in your legs. The illness attacks the muscles and receptors in the legs, causing burning sensations and occasionally numbness"
Elizabeth nodded along with Arthur's description, still ignoring her family, though her tough façade was quickly fading.
"When you were admitted a month or two ago, the illness was still in the lower part of your legs, however whilst monitoring it we noticed it spreading. This was around the time of your fall during our testing period. It was then we considered medication, but as the weeks went on you were slowly getting worse. Your family chose to keep this information from you in case you got better, it was to save you from worrying for nothing" He coughed awkwardly and sighed,"We planned on telling you in a civil manner, but Vivian told you first. She won't be returning, ever, by the way"
Elizabeth felt a bit lighter at that information, but soon the lead returned to her stomach.
"That's good, but what happens to me now, am I really dying?"
"I can't sugar coat it, Elizabeth, at the moment there's nothing we can do but wait. At the moment the illness has spread up to your thigh muscles, it's slowly reaching the danger zone. Once it reaches your lower back it's a matter of weeks, which is why, when we get to that stage, we'll need to perform surgery.
"Even then you're not out of the water. If it goes well, you'll be placed in an induced coma to allow your body to heal, however- some people can't cope with the stress and will simply never wake up. It's guaranteed that if you haven't woken after eleven days, you never will. It's a tough operation, and the rehabillitation is harrowing, which is why you have the option to not have the operation and to live out your life as far as it will go"
Elizabeth was silent, as were her family behind her. The air was thick and decidedly awkward.
"Elizabeth, you know why we did this, don't you?" Her father said, healing the silence like glass. Elizabeth sighed, and turned around to face them.
"I...I guess so" she sighed, Margaret shuffled her chair closer.
"It wasn't right of us to keep it from you for so long, but you were so happy. We just wanted to keep you that way for a little bit longer"
"We're sorry, Ellie" Veronica said sorrowfully, hanging her head, "Can you forgive us?"
"Of course I forgive you, I know why you did what you did, though it doesn't hurt any less. There's no point in holding grudges against you" Elizabeth told her family with a weak smile, Veronica went over to her and pulled her into a tight hug.
"What did I do to deserve such an amazing sister like you?"
Margaret stood and joined the hug, wrapping her arms around both the sisters.
"What are you going to do about the surgery?" Margaret asked after she had pulled back.
"Just remember that we'll support you whatever your decision is" her father chimed in, Elizabeth sat back down in her chair.
"I'd like to ask Meliodas' opinion first, then I'll decide"
Merlin placed a slim hand on her shoulder, "that's a good choice Elizabeth"
...
Meliodas was sitting in her room when Elizabeth got back, Merlin had fetched her wheelchair with strict instructions that she had to use it if she wasn't in her bed resting.
His face lit up as soon as Elizabeth entered her room, and Meliodas stood to help her into her bed.
"So..." he prompted, when Elizabeth didn't say anything he continued, "How'd it go?"
Elizabeth was silent for a little longer, her brain twisting and turning and trying to find the right words to say.
"I...I'm not getting better" and the dreaded truth was out. Meliodas paled considerably, his sclera's nearly blended in with his skin.
"My time here is limited, medicine won't work for me now, there's nothing I can do. There's an operation, however, but even that's risky. I might not wake up, or it might be passed onto my children. But I could be cured" her voice was soft and fragile. Meliodas stared at the blank wall opposite them.
"How long have you got?"
"Months, at most. At the very least, weeks"
Meliodas eyed her sideways, "Are you going to get the operation?"
"I...", she started, but stopped halfway through, "I...I don't know. It's dangerous, I might not live, which is why I wanted your input as well as my families" Elizabeth gave him a weak smile.
Meliodas was at a loss for words, he opened his mouth, then shut it again. He leaned back and sighed softly.
"I say...do whatever makes you happy" he said finally, returning Elizabeth's long lost smile. "But remember that there's a slight chance that you will live if you get that operation, if you don't, death is certain, and my Elizabeth doesn't go down without a fight. But if you're tired, then let go"
His words had a horrible, bittersweet finality to them which lit something in Elizabeth, a small fire burned in her soul.
"I want to live, Meliodas. I want to be a waitress at the Boar Hat with you Ban, Gowther, King, and Diane" she glared at the white wall infront of her, "I'm not going to die"
Meliodas smiled softly, and leaned over to press a soft kiss to her temple. Elizabeth turned red, but leaned into him.
"That's great then, I guess our forever will be longer than we expected"
End of chapter twenty.
A.N. happy April fools! No surprises here, I'm not that cruel ;) maybe next year. I have writers block at the moment so I uploaded this just cause.
Its my brothers birthday today! All his friends are adorable :3
I don't have much to say, expect maybe one or two more updates in the holidays as I have exams in April and May, after that it'll be regular hopefully and I'm planning on finishing this by the Summer.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE IN MY POLL (ON MY PROFILE) FOR WHAT STORY YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO WRITE NEXT! All will be written at somepoint, but whichever one is most popular will be written directly after I've finished this story.
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- Ruby xxxx
