Stand By Me by Fullmetal Pyromaniac
Chapter twenty-five
The world outside was surprisingly bright for the sorrowful day, the sun woke Elizabeth up early shining softly on her and her boyfriend who was dozing next to her. She squealed again at the word boyfriend. Her mood became more somber as she stared at him though, and soon her mind was wandering to what ifs and buts.
Meliodas murmured something in his sleep and buried his face into the back of her neck, his arm still slung around her waist curled tighter, enough to turn Elizabeth red. She closed her eyes, and slept some more.
A soft, comforting touch gently stroked her hair, and Elizabeth leaned into the touch, frowning slightly when the touch seemed to chuckle.
Gently, her eyes opened to reveal Meliodas smiling at her fondly, and stroking her hair. Elizabeth hummed in contentedness and closed her eyes again.
"You enjoying that?" Meliodas teased, Elizabeth hummed again.
"Mmm, very much so"
"Well princess, I'm afraid that I can't do that for much longer, you've got to get up soon. A big day's ahead of you"
Of course there was, this was the day Elizabeths life was decided. But she didn't feel upset, instead she felt confident that she would make it through. Sitting up in her bed, she kissed Meliodas on the cheek.
"It is a big day, and I'm so glad I have you here with me"
"I wouldn't be anywhere else for the world" he replied, "now, we need to get you all ready. Your father will be here in two hours, and I think you'd rather be prepared before he arrives"
"That's true" Elizabeth said, stretching while Meliodas got her wheelchair, "I'd best be off to see Merlin, I'll be back soon. Wait here for me?"
"I'll be here" Meliodas said, after he had helped Elizabeth into her chair. Lying back on Elizabeth's bed and taking out his phone, "just hurry back, yeah?" and he winked.
She waved at him, wheeling herself out, "Be back soon!"
"I miss you already!~" Meliodas hollered from her room, Elizabeth was in fits of laughter all the way to Merlin's room.
...
"Well, it's good to see that you're doing alright Elizabeth" Merlin observed, while helping her get into the uncomfortable surgery gown, tying it in a neat bow behind Elizabeth's back.
"I've been sad, so there's no point now. I'm feeling confident today Merlin!" she cheered. Merlin lowered her back into her wheelchair, then sat next to her, fiddling with her clipboard and biting her lower lip.
"Can I ask for advice?" Merlin inquired softly, "and I want your true opinion, is that okay?"
Elizabeth nodded, "Of course, I'll try and help in any way I can"
"I- Arthur and I, were thinking about possibly adopting Gowther"
"Adopting him?" Elizabeth exclaimed, eyes wide. Merlin nodded, fiddling with her clipboard and pen, tapping it against the wooden board and clicking it on and off.
"Yeah...I'm basically his guardian anyway, I've looked after him since he was barely five years old, and Arthur wants a kid but I can't have children" she let out a soft sigh, "I just don't know if I'll be a good enough mother, or if he'll even want me to be his mother"
Elizabeth didn't know what to say, bearing your fears to someone was petrifying, you needed to respond but you didn't want to say the wrong thing.
"I" she began, "I think you'd be a wonderful mother. I mean, I'm sure everyone considers you a mother figure, I know I do, so I'm sure Gowther thinks the same"
A large grin spread across Merlin's ruby lips, "Thank you Elizabeth" she replied earnestly. A buzz and crackle sounded from Merlins desk, she went over and picked up the receiver of her sleek black phone, nodding and humming as a tin voice sounded over the receiver.
"Your father's here Elizabeth" Merlin said softly, "We'd better get you back to your room"
...
Baltra was sitting chatting to Meliodas when Elizabeth was wheeled back to her room. Her father looked younger than he had in years; laughing with her boyfriend like they had been friends for years. She wheeled herself in with Merlin just behind her and attacked her father in a hug, the best she could while they both were in wheelchairs.
"Father! I'm so glad you're here!" she cried cheerfully. Baltra wrapped his arms around his daughter and laughed heartily.
"Ellie, how are you feeling?" he replied, kissing her forehead gently.
"Better now you're here" Elizabeth replied honestly, pulling away and waving a quick goodbye to Merlin.
Meliodas stood and helped Elizabeth onto her bed, sitting on the edge and linking his pinky with Elizabeth's. The conversation flowed like crystalline water between the three, Elizabeth explaining erratically about her many adventures with the sins in great detail, telling about her day with Escanor and Diane and King's new relationship. an hour passed then the joyful air was interrupted by Merlin and Arthur tapping on the door with a rolling bed and a solemn expression.
"Are you ready, Elizabeth?" Arthur asked tentatively, Elizabeth looked to Meliodas who squeezed her hand and nodded.
"Yes" she answered, and with the help of Meliodas, Arthur, and Merlin, was lying comfortably on her movable bed. Meliodas stood next to her and gazed lovingly down at her, he slowly leant down. Elizabeth closed her eyes in anticipation, almost whining when his lips pressed to the very corner of her lips, leaving behind a tingly sensation in their wake.
"Meliodas?" Elizabeth asked, confused and trying not to let the hurt show. Meliodas leant down again, his mouth close to her ear.
"The moment you wake up" he promised, "I'll kiss you and never let you go, so wake up soon, 'kay?"
A tearful smile spread across Elizabeth's face, "Okay" she replied just as softly.
Baltra said his goodbyes, then he and Meliodas watched as Elizabeth was wheeled away. Meliodas buried his face in his hands, why hadn't he kissed her? He might never again. A comforting hand touched his shoulder, and Baltra stared into his emerald eyes.
"She'll make it through this"
Meliodas nodded, but couldn't help the regret.
...
There was no fear in Elizabeth as she was wheeled into the operating room, the world around her whizzing past, blurring into greys and whites. Merlin stood, sorting things as she walked beside Elizabeth, a nurse Elizabeth had recognised as Gowther's favourite pushed her bed. Her lavender eyes smiling kindly.
Eventually the bed was pulled into a room which Elizabeth could only see the ceiling of. Arthur and Merlin came back into her vision donned in green surgical clothes and masks.
"Now Elizabeth, we're going to give you this gas okay? Breathe in deep and slow, and count back from ten, you'll be out before you know it" Arthur explained, Elizabeth nodded while Merlin put her long hair into a green cap.
"Before you do it, I have Meliodas, and the sins waiting on me, so do your best" she whispered, Arthur nodded.
"I'll do everything I can" He said, placing the mask over Elizabeth's nose and mouth.
She relaxed and took deep breaths.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4...
Elizabeth never made it to 3 before unconciousness swallowed her and her operation began.
End of chapter twenty-five.
A.N. This has got to be the quickest update I've ever done xD so yeah...poor Elizabeth huh? Meliodas chickening out of kissing her was so satisyfying to write, but don't you worry, the next chapter will be out soon! :D
Okay, so thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourited, and followed, and of course thanks for reading. I've been procrastinating all day but this is finally here! Tah Dahhh! Not too long to go now, about five chapters I think, are you looking forward to it? Drop me a review or even a PM I don't mind xD
Okay...I'm going to bed, twitter and Tumblr bla bla...review, follow, favourite...see you soon!
Love you all,
- Ruby xxx
