Stand By Me by Fullmetal Pyromaniac

Chapter twenty-four


"I'm sorry Elizabeth"

The words were so softly spoken, they were almost gone with the wind. But there's no air in a hospital, and for the most part, it suffocates. Elizabeth gasped for breath, clutching at her chest and closing her eyes. When she opened them, tears streamed down her face and obscured her sight. Merlin rubbed her back up and down gently, there was nothing to say really. No amount of apologies could stop the hurt.

"I thought I had more time" Elizabeth said weakly, "I...It's only been two weeks. Why is this happening now?"

"I don't know" Merlin replied, because that was the only answer. "We've called your family, they'll be here soon. I'll get Meliodas too. It's decision time, Elizabeth. Do you know what you want?"

Wiping her tears, Elizabeth sat up straight, "Yes, I do" she stated confidently. Merlin smiled and stood up, placing a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll come back and get you once everyone's arrived"

Then Elizabeth was alone.

...

The air in the meeting room was like treacle, dark and hard to breathe in. Elizabeth's family were all there, including Meliodas, who looked suspiciously red-eyed but grinned at her anyway.

Elizabeth sat on her own chair, separated from the group. Even Arthur looked dull, his hair less bright and his personality dimmed. It was no surprise though, life threatening surgery was no laughing matter.

"So," Arthur started awkwardly, shuffling papers, "There's not much to say here Elizabeth, we urgently need to discuss your operation. If we wait any longer then your life will be at risk, there was a cancellation, luckily for you, and we can perform the operation tomorrow. But we need to know now, Elizabeth"

"I want to do the operation" The air grew thicker around her. Margaret excused herself, while Veronica and her father tried to hide their sadness behind smiles, though it just made Elizabeth more solemn.

Meliodas had a habit if closing himself off when he was vulnerable, and now Elizabeth couldn't read him.

"That's very noble of you, Elizabeth. I just need your father to sign a few papers and then...it's done"

And then it was, Elizabeth's fate sealed in two documents. Her life lay on her body and the supreme accuracy of Arthurs scalpel, he was a great surgeon, but things always went wrong occasionally.

Margaret came back into the room, sniffling but smiling. It seemed like the only thing everyone was capable of doing.

...

Elizabeth's room seemed smaller, Meliodas had gone to the club room, leaving her alone with her family. They all sat sharing stories about their lives together, the happy ones, sad ones, everything.

"Father, do you remember that time that Ellie called that woman in a green jacket a Telly-Tubby?"

"Or when she stole a dove from the Queen's Park?"

"Or after mother's funeral when she told jokes all afternoon to try and make us feel better?"

Baltra coughed, then his eyes crinkled, remembering the , "Ah yes, I remember that time, you girls started crying and suddenly we were all crying" he chuckled, "You've been good girls over the years, looking over your old dad and younger sister"

Margaret snorted, "Remember when you and mother brought Ellie home? Veronica sulked on top of the bookshelf for hours, until she realised that Ellie could be her sidekick" Elizabeth let out a laugh while Veronica pouted and looked away.

A loud beeping came from Margaret's phone. and she cursed, shoving it back in her pocket. Another solemn smile returned to her lips, and she stood, gathering her jacket.

"I'm sorry Ellie, but I have to go now"

Elizabeth teared up and threw herself into Margaret's arms, slow tears worked their way down Elizabeth's face and she felt some on the top of her head.

"I...I can't make it in tomorrow, but father'll be here and-" A sob cut her off, "I love you so much Ellie, and I'm so proud of you, please always remember that"

"I will" Elizabeth promised, crying softly, "I always will"

"I'd better be taking father back too" Veronica said, getting her own coat, "No doubt your friends won't be happy if we hog you all day"

Elizabeth hug-attacked Veronica next, then her father.

"I love you all" She cried, "I promise I'll survive this"

"We know you will Ellie" Baltra said, patting the top of her gently, though he didn't look convinced.

She watched as her family waved, then left the hospital. Elizabeth made her way towards the club room for possibly the last time, already missing her sisters.

...

The sins were all gathered around the round table, with Meliodas flicking through the story book slowly, looking at it but his eyes not reading the pages. Diane looked lost in thought, her hand interlinked with King's, who gently rubbed a thumb over the back of her hand, an equally empty look in his eyes.

Even Ban and Gowther were acting strange, Gowther was just staring at Ban painting the same spot of the Boar Hat over and over again.

Elizabeth's arrival brought them all out of their trances, Diane stumbled towards her, giving Elizabeth a tight hug.

"Hey, how're you doing?" She asked softly, Elizabeth returned Diane's hug.

"I'm okay...it's just a lot to go through in such a short time. I'm alright though"

Diane wheeled her over to the round table, with Meliodas clearing her a place, and returned to her seat beside King. The air was thick once again, until Meliodas flicked through to a page in the storybook and cleared his throat.

Gathering the book in his arms, he stood on the table.

"Friends, we recently heard news of Princess Elizabeth and a new quest she has recently set out on. From here she must go alone, but not entirely alone, for we shall be with her in spirit.

"Princess Elizabeth Lyones is the bravest soul I know, she's kind, always wanting to do the best for other people, she stands up for herself and others. She's beautiful both inside and out.

"Our story began with the Princess running away from the comfort of her castle and joining me on my quest to gather the Seven Deadly Sins, a group of rogues, to help save the kingdom.

"Diane was first, then Ban, next King, Gowther, Merlin, and finally Escanor who was only with us for a brief time. The princess fought with us, a brave feat for any person, and she fought valliantly, helping myself and others dealing with their sins. But the final battle is upon us.

"Vivian, Merlins ex-apprentice and minion to the dastardly Hendrickson, kidnapped the princess and Hawk who was in the wrong place at the wrong time and held them both in Cells. The princess fought her way out and managed to escape, freeing her sister in the process.

"Next she found her father, locked away in a room, and with thanks to Merlin, we gained access to the room and met up with Elizabeth.

"However, during a fight with Hendrickson, Elizabeth was captured again, giving herself up so that I and the brave knight Gilthunder could live, she was carried off and taken to the broken down castle.

"Dreyfus found the Princess, and wanting to atone for his sins fought Hendrickson. He lost, dying painlessly. He was not the only casualty, Elizabeth was mortally wounded in the battle, a large gash on her side."

Everyone had been watching and listening in awe, then the room turned silent, eager to hear what their captain had to say next.

"Now her life hangs in the balance, she's living, but not quite. The battle is Elizabeth's and we'll support her in any way we can"

Ban raised his fist, his eyes suspiciously misty, "Here here!"

"We'll always support you Ellie" King added, giving a soft smile.

"Yeah, you're the member we never knew we needed. You fight that battle, and you better win because if I ever get married I need your input because I'll be all over the place" Diane waffled, King looked very red and avoided their gazes.

Elizabeth closed her eyes, letting stray tears slip town her cheeks.

"Thank you all so much" She whispered, hugging herself and hiding her face, "Thank you, thank you, thank you"

A warm pair of arms embraced her, and Elizabeth was pleasantly surprised to find it was Gowther with his stick thin arms around her neck and his bony chin on her shoulder.

"Ban has been teaching me to read the room, and I read it and thought you needed physical contact to make you feel better" There was a pause, "Is it working?"

Elizabeth hugged him back, not as tightly, he didn't particulalry like a lot pf physical contact. So it meant even more that he was hugging her.

Eventually everyone joined in, and Elizabeth couldn't remember the last time she had felt so welcome anywhere, she'd never felt so safe before. She would be alright as long as she had everyone by her side, that much was certain.

She would fight, and she would win, but there was always that doubt in her mind that poisoned her thoughts. Elizabeth grinned and beared it, for everyones sakes.


End of chapter twenty-four.

A.N. I totally didn't know that I hadn't finished this and totally didn't finish it in two minutes so its rushed...sorry...I'm pleased with this chapter anyway! We're getting to the good shit folks! We're also winding down, kind of, I am at least because...I put on twitter (Fullmetal_RUBY) that the one year anniversary is happening on the 28th of this month, and I'm planning on posting the final chapter on that day!

So expect a few updates in the near future!

Okey, one last thing- thank you all for being so supportive! Your messages and reviews mean everything to me, honestly, I love you all so much!

And thats all from me, please tell me what you thought of this chapter, and thank oyu to all who have followed favourited and reviewed! You are amazing!

Right, thank you and see you soon! Love,

- Ruby xxx