Disclaimer: I own nothing but the OC's.
This will be the last of the miscarriage storyline for a while, it's getting too depressing, even for me but this chapter to come will at most be bittersweet and it may put an end to the angst that I bestowed upon the West parents.
The morning of August 13, which would have been Tabitha's birthday was always a grim day for Jade and Tori, instead of celebrating what could've been, the parents were forced to come to terms with what never was.
The second Tori opened her eyes, she felt a giant weight pressing down on her and she let out a soft cry.
"Stupid leg cast"
She felt Jade shift beside her, both women made eye contact, not a words was said between them but they didn't need to, their eyes said a thousand words.
Lovingly, if slightly uncomfortable due to her cast in her arm Jade caressed her wife's face, they did this every year.
They would try to get out of bed, go ahead with their day and remember they still had three other wonderful children in their lives but the pain was too much for them both which ultimately led them to the cemetery to visit their deceased daughter, sometimes they couldn't muster the energy to say a word to each other, during this day but would always find the right thing to say to Tabitha's grave.
Unfortunately due to an accident a couple of weeks ago, both of them had to endure weeks of rest due to their broken arm and leg respectively, so this year getting out of the house was out of the question, much to the chagrin of the married couple.
But alas, like every year, they remember that grim day perfectly, even though it had been nearly two decades ago…
Tori knew something was wrong, she felt something within her gut, not the baby, but actually more like the gut feeling you get when you know things aren't quite right, it wasn't as if she had gone into labor late in the middle of the night, nevertheless Jade took her wife's words to heart, she was as alert as ever and swiftly took her wife to the hospital. What came afterwards was the most painful thing she had ever experienced. She remembered how Jade had fought with tooth and nails with the nurses to stay in the room with her, since she refused to leave her wife alone.
"Screw your system! My wife needs me!"
Those words always made Tori's heart burst.
Sone tests were done on the Half-Latina, doctors came and went but no one was telling them anything, which of course took the two married women straight over the edge.
"What happened? What's going on?"
The terrible news which came minutes or hours later, devastated them severely.
"I'm sorry... She didn't make it"
After that, they were told they had to remove the dead baby out of Tori's body.
She cried during the procedure.
It was the worst night of their life, instead of three people coming out of the hospital, only two did.
Two very sad, grieving souls.
"No parent should ever have to bury her child"
Jade and Tori lost track of time as they rested there, doing nothing but staring into each other's eyes, grimly thinking of their one family member who should be with them but unfortunately was not and would never be.
Around ten, the door to their room opened and Danielle walked in carrying a tray of eggs and bacon.
"Hi," she gently greeted her parents. "I brought you guys breakfast."
Neither women were hungry, but at least they had the mindset to thank their daughter for make them something to eat.
"Thank you baby"
"Looks good"
Danielle nodded in acknowledgement "You two doing okay?"
Jade shrugged. "As best as we could ever be, I mean today's never going to exactly be a happy day."
"Even thought it should be" Tori cried.
Jade nodded, kissing her temple.
"I'm sorry Mom, Mama"
"What for?" Tori asked confused "This isn't your fault"
"I mean about you guys not being able to visit Tabitha's grave like you do every year" Danielle clarified "I know you wish you were there with her today."
"We tried but you know what the doctor said" Tori grumbles, scratching her leg "If I want to get off this cast as soon as possible, then I got a rest"
"Same for me" Jade grumbled, pointing at her busted arm "I can't exactly drive like this"
Just then Danielle's phone began to buzz in her pocket. she pulled it out, looking down at her screen. "Oh, good"
"Who is it?" Tori inquired.
Danielle smiled mysteriously "Be right back"
The teenager walked out of her parents room, leaving the door wide open for two young individuals to come in.
"Hi mom, Hi mama" Anthony said sleepily as he rubbed his eyes.
Foxy whined next to his young master.
"Hi Tony" Jade and Tori greeted their son gently.
The young boy wasn't tall enough to get into his mothers bed unassisted, so he simply stood next to it.
"I made this for you" He said, showing them a crude yet adorable card, he didn't understand why his parents were sad this day but he attempted to make them smile so he made them a drawing, which was of Jade and Tori as elves, because he liked those little mythological creatures.
Both women, looked at the drawing.
"Aww, so cute!" Tori gushed, while Jade smirked proudly.
"Quite the artist we have in the family"
Foxy on his part jumped to the bed, deciding to nuzzle gently on Jade's stomach.
Danielle came back at that moment, her iPad in her hands, she silently went to her parents bed, leaving the device in front of them.
They frowned as they stared at the screen. Suddenly, the webcam flashed to life and a video chat window popped up.
"Wait, what is this?" Tori asked, confused. "What is going on?"
"Mom, Mama?"
Tawny's face came into focus on the screen.
"Tawny?" Jade asked, surprised. "What-What are you doing?"
"More importantly, where are you?" Tori questioned afterwards.
"I'm here at the cemetery" Tawny answered, giving her parents a warm smile.
"I... Huh... Why?"
"I know how much you and Mama wanted to visit Tabitha's grave today" The teenager said quickly. "And I know there's no way for you two to get out of the house in the state your in, so Dani and I thought that maybe you could at least virtually be here."
"What are you talking about?" Jade asked, looking up at her eldest daughter.
"Let me show you" Tawny said, giving them one last smile before moving her iPad down onto the ground in front of Tabitha's grave.
Jade and Tori felt a wave of emotions rush over them as she stared at the screen. It was almost as if they sitting in the graveyard for real.
"I know it's not the same as you being there in person," Danielle said softly. "But-But I thought this might be a good idea."
"My battery is fully charged," they all heard Tawny's voice from the distance. "I'm going to be sitting in a nearby bench, the moment you feel you had enough time with Tabitha, let me know"
Jade and Tori were crying, they looked at Danielle with a smile "You and your sister are amazing, you know that?"
"We know" She replied playfully, she then grabbed her brother by the waste "Come on little man, let's give them some privacy"
"By mom, by mama" Anthony waves quickly "See you later"
Foxy followed them out as Danielle closed the door.
Jade squeezed her wife's trembling hand, looking intently to the screen "We have great children don't we?"
Tori nodded "We do"
Then they began to speak to Tabitha.
"The three people that were here?" Tori said gently "They were your brother and sisters"
"And they love you as much as we do"
I figured that getting the twins, Anthony and Foxy in on this would kinda set the point of "family togetherness." As well as making Jade and Tori realise that while they lost someone they also gained more loved ones.
Invader Johnny Signing Off.
