My Forever (Canary Series) (13 page)

"Yes she does, we all do. Our little family is strong and this will make us stronger," she smiled at him and gave him a kiss. "What do you say we go see her and then head to the house and get some rest?"

"Sounds good," he gave her another quick kiss before grabbing her hand and they walked to the Medical Building hand in hand.

***

Nate was sitting on Olivia’s bed holding on to her hand just looking at her begging her to wake up. "Please Canary, wake up. I need to see those beautiful blue eyes of yours. I miss those eyes, your smile, and your laugh. Please just wake up for me." Tears started to fall down his cheek and he leaned down and kissed her forehead. He rearranged himself so that he was lying beside her but being careful of all the tubes and wires that were connected to her. Nate ran his hand through her hair and started singing to her quietly the song that she had wrote for him. He closed his eyes towards the end of the song and fell asleep with his head resting on top of hers.

There was a knock on the door that caused Nate to jump up and look around. When the door opened he looked at it and relaxed some into the bed and took Olivia’s
hand into his. "Hey," he said as Christine and Garrett came inside.

Christine
walked over and sat at the foot of Olivia’s bed, "Hey Bowen, how is she doing?"

"She is holding on, she is one tough cookie."

"That she is dude," Garrett said moving a chair to sit on the other side of the bed. "She will get through this she is a fighter and a survivor."

"I know I just can't help but worry."

"Well, don't worry. Because I believe she can feel that you are worrying. And we all know the kind of heart she has. She will fight to wake up but not for her but for you. Just be positive and be strong," Christine said as she rubbed Olivia’s feet through her blanket.

"If only it was that easy?" Nate said fighting back tears.

"Nate, it is that easy. You were strong for her at the start of the year when she was going through a hard time after Ian's death. Draw from that, you can do it again." Garrett said sternly hoping that it would get the point across.

Nate laughed, "This time it's different, her life is at risk."

"It's not that different."

"Garrett, it's a huge difference. I can't believe you can say it's not that different. She is fighting for her life this time, she is sick, her body is beating her. Last time it was just her mind, her heart was broken, and she lost someone and lost her way a little bit. So, don't you dare say it's not that
different." Nate said his voice raised some. Olivia squeezed Nate’s hand causing him to sit up and look at her, "Canary? If you just squeezed my hand please squeeze it again." She squeezed his hand again and slowly opened her eyes.

"NURSE!"
Christine called out jumping off the bed and towards the door.

Olivia looked around and started to freak out. She tried to get up but winced in pain. When she looked up at Nate all he
could see was fear in her eyes. "It's OK Canary. You're going to be alright. The nurse is on her way and we will get the tube out of your throat. Just calm down, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." He bent down and kissed her forehead and then wiped away a few tears that had escaped. Nate tried so hard to keep them hidden but seeing her awake just broke down the walls he had put up. "I love you Olivia, so much."

The nurse came in and he had to get off the bed when he went to take a few steps so he could get out of the way Olivia’s grip got tighter on his hand. "It's OK I'm just moving to the side so the nurse can get in and check you out but I won't be out of your eyesight." He kissed her hand and move to the foot of the bed so that way she could see him while the nurse checked her out.

"It's so good to see you awake Olivia, we have been so worried. You gave us a scare while you were in surgery." The nurse explained while she was checking her vital signs. Olivia looked around frightened and started to fight against the tubes and wires but the nurse placed her hands on her shoulders and held her down. "Olivia, if you don't stop fighting we will have to get you something for you to go back to sleep. The doctor will be in soon and we will see about taking this tube out of your throat. But, in the meantime, stay calm. We will be back in a few minutes and let you know everything that happened and what is going to happen." The nurse turned to walk away and looked at Nate, "Nathaniel, please, help keep her calm. She needs to rest and relax."

Nate nodded as the nurse left the room. "Oh nurse, make sure it's a different doctor." The nurse nodded and left.

He walked back to the side of Olivia’s bed and took his spot beside her and held her. She looked at him confused and scared. "It's going to be OK; you're going to be OK." A tear started to fall down her cheek and Nate bent over and kissed it away. "You want me to tell you what happened?" Olivia nodded, pleading with him with her eyes to tell her everything. Nate looked at Garrett and Christine trying to get strength from them.

For the next
ten minutes Nate told her about everything that happened from her passing out at their picnic, to her needing surgery. He even told her about the complications during the surgery. No matter how many times Garrett and Christine tried to get him to stop talking he kept going. He wasn't going to leave her in the dark about anything. He told her he would always be honest with her and he meant that. Especially when it came to her health, the look in her eyes when he told her everything allowed him to breathe a little easier. She seemed more relax and at ease with everything.

The nurse returned with the doctor, Nate looked at him and nodded. He moved back to the foot of the bed and held onto Olivia's feet while the doctor looked her over. "You want me to take the tube out Olivia?"
The doctor asked. Olivia nodded and this caused the doctor to smile, “OK, on the count of three I want you to blow like you are blowing candles out. This will help to get the tube out, afterwards your throat will feel sore so don't try to talk too much. We will bring you some water for you to sip. Are you ready?" Olivia looked at Nate and he smiled at her and she looked back at the doctor and nodded. "OK, here we go. One, two, three." Olivia blew and the doctor pulled the tube out. As soon as the tube was clear she started coughing. Nate wanted to rush over but knew that the doctor wanted to check her first. After he listened to her lungs he let Nate know it was OK for him to return to her side. The nurse handed Olivia a cup of water and she slowly sipped it.

"Thank you," Olivia said hoarsely.

"You're welcome," the nurse said. "Now get some rest and I will be back in a little while to check up on you." Olivia looked at the tube coming out of her chest and looked at the doctor.

"We will take a look at it tomorrow and see if that can be taken out too. Just rest up and tomorrow we will talk about what the plans are.
Alright?" Olivia just nodded and rested her head on Nate’s chest while he wrapped his arm around her. "Take care of her Nate and make sure she rests."

"I will make sure she rest
s doc, and thanks for checking her out," Nate said as he held his hand out for the doctor to shake.

"Not a problem," the doctor replied as he shook Nate’s hand. He turned around and walked out of the room with the nurse shutting the door behind them.

"I love you, Nathaniel Cole Bowen," Olivia said quietly before cuddling up into his side.

"I love you, too
, Olivia Carman McGuire," he said placing a kiss on top of her head.

Garrett and Christine smiled at the two. "Well, we better get going let you two get
some rest. It's been a long day. We will come back tomorrow and see how she's doing." Christine said. She walked over and gave them both a soft hug not wanting to disrupt them.

"Yeah, if you need anything just text us and let us know. Good to see you awake Poptart, you had me worried but I knew you would wake up." Garrett smiled and then kissed Olivia on her head and patted Nate on the back.

Christine and Garrett left hand in hand, not even thinking about it. Olivia looked at Nate and he laughed, "Yeah, they are together."

She smiled and closed her eyes, "Cole?"

"Yeah, Canary?"

"Can you sing me something?" He looked at her confused and she let out a soft giggle, "When I was out I heard you singing. Please, sing me something."

He nodded, "Of course, anything for you. Just relax." Once he felt her start to relax he started to sing. Her breathing started to even out and he knew she was asleep so he kissed her, settled in and soon fell asleep himself.

Christine was smiling as she took a bite of her apple at dinner. It felt like the world had just been lifted o
ff her shoulders. She was trying her hardest to be strong, not only for Olivia but for Nate and Garrett as well. Seeing Olivia in bed after her surgery made her realize that, no matter what, life could end at any moment and that they shouldn't take anything for granted.

"What are you smiling about love?" Garrett asked.

She smiled even bigger, "I'm smiling about the fact that, even though we could have lost Olivia, we didn't. She woke up when we didn't expect her to. It's a good day, a very good day." She went to take a drink and a few tears she had been holding back broke loose.

Garrett rushed over to he
r and pulled her into his arms. “Let it go love, just let it go.  You’ve been holding it in way too long.  I lost it and so did Nate.  You don’t have to be strong anymore.  We don’t need you to be.”  Christine turned and buried her face into his chest and cried, let it pour from her heart all the pain that was pent up.  “That’s it, let it out,” he comforted her as he rubbed her back.  “I’ve got you.”

After a few minutes she started to calm down, her breathing evened and she felt a little more relaxed.  She pulled back and looked up at him.  Her eyes were red and swollen from crying.  “Feel better now?”
She nodded and lifted her head to kiss him gently on the lips. "Thank you, I really needed that."

He smiled, "
I’m always here for you, and you should know that by now. How about tonight we just relax? I don't think you should be alone tonight and Nate will be at the hospital all night with Olivia. Why don't you stay with me tonight?"

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah I'm sure; I want to be able to hold you through the night and wake up to your beautiful, smiling, angelic face."

Christine laughed, "Babe, you already have me
; there is no reason for you to go and compliment me."

"Oh well, if you want me to stop then just tell me. But I thought we were being honest with one another and I can't help but tell you what I feel
, how much I admire you and how beautiful I think you are." He turned and acted like he was going to get up.

She pulled him back down and moved to where she was sitting on his lap, "We are being honest with each other and since we are, I don't want you to ever stop telling me all of those things and more."

He smiled and kissed her on her cheek, "Well, you don't have to worry about that. I will always tell you how I feel and tell you how amazing I think you look." She threw her arms around him and held onto him.

"Why don't you guys get a room," Brian said from across the table.

They both looked at him, "Coming from the guy who can be seen kissing some random chick in the hallways throughout the day in between class? But what's worse, it doesn't seem to be the same girl twice in a single day." Christine said.

Everyone started laughing and Garrett gave her a hug, "
That’s my girl. What do you say we go for a walk before we call it a day?"

"That sounds amazing." She stood up and moved to the side so he could stand up. As they walked away they wrapped their arms around one another as if to let everyone know that they
were together.

They walked outside and headed towards the courtyard. Once they got to the fountain they sat on one of the benches and just watched the water cascade down with the lights making the water glow. Garrett
wrapped his jacket around her and held her close to warm her up. Neither one of them said anything, they just enjoyed being together, relaxing and taking everything in. "We're going to be OK, right?"

Garrett looked at Christine
, a bit taken aback by her question, "Yeah, of course we're going to be OK. Why would you ask that?"

"I guess
I’m just worried that now that Liv is awake things are going to change for all of us."

"Babe, of course things are going to change for all of us. Liv is sick and she is going to need us. But as for you and me, we are going to be just fine. Just because she is awake doesn't mean that
I’m going to want to be with her. I'm with you and only you. Liv is with Nate, and that's who she should be with. They are perfect for each other just like we are perfect for each other. So don't ever think that we won't be OK because we are and will continue to be. Alright?"

Christine nodded, "
Yeah, alright."

He took his right hand and turned her head so he could look into her eyes, "Look at me, I mean it. When it comes to you and me there is nothing to worry about.
I’m just happy that I don't have to go through this alone again. Having you and Nate go through this with me is going to make this so much easier. We will all lean on each other and gather strength from one another. I'm not going to lie, once she starts her treatments she will get weak and sick and won't be herself. It's going to be pretty bad, but that’s why she has us. We will help pull her through this and give her the strength to fight."

She continued to look into his eyes and nodded, "I believe you. But let’s make a promise to one another. Let's promise each other that no matter what at least once a week we take a day or an evening for just the two of us. I know that we will probably go and see Olivia every day, but let’s just take at least one day when we don't go and see her.
Nate will be there all the time as it is; we don't need to overwhelm her while she is getting better."

"I promise you that we will have a day to ourselves every week. We can go out or stay in; it doesn't matter as long as
I’m with you."

She smiled and kissed him then let out a yawn, "I'm sorry."

Garrett laughed, "Don't be sorry, we have had a very long day. I think it's time that we head to the house and get to bed."

"I like the sound of that." They both stood up
. Garrett put his arm around her and drew her close to him. She rested her head on his shoulder as they headed to the house.

Once they got back to their house they made plans for her to come to
his room in twenty minutes. That way they both had time to take a shower and change. Garrett took a quick shower and used the rest of the time to straighten up the room and make sure that Christine would be comfortable staying with him. He even made sure the other bed had clean sheets on it just in case she wanted to sleep alone, but he hoped that she didn't.

As time got closer for her to show up he was feeling a bit more nervous than he expected, but once he heard her knock on his door all those nerves went away. He walked over to the door and opened it to see her standing there with her pillow and a bag in hand. "Hi," she said quietly.

"Hi," he said as he took her bag. "Why don't you come in?" As soon as she walked in he shut the door and went to place her bag on the desk that would be Nate’s. "So, I made up the other bed just in case you wanted to sleep there, but I wouldn't mind if you wanted to share a bed with me."

She stepped closer to him and smiled, "I would love t
o share a bed with you. Right now falling asleep in your arms is the one thing that I want more than anything else." She gave him a quick kiss then moved and sat on his bed. He just looked at her taking everything in. She laughed and made herself comfortable, "Well, are you going to join me?"

He nodded
, went to turn off the lights, walked over to his bed and got in. Once they got settled under the covers and he was holding her she rested her head on his chest. He ran his free hand through her hair just taking in the feel of having her in his arms all night long. "I love you, Baby Girl." he said without thinking.

She smiled
, moved and kissed him sweetly, "I love you too, Garrett." She said before settling back in place. He couldn't help but smile and kiss the top of her head. Within ten minutes they were both asleep.

***

Olivia was lying in the hospital bed looking around the room. The lights were off except for the light coming in from the bathroom and the lights outside. She looked to her right and saw Nate lying there sound asleep in the bed next to her. Even by the dim lighting she could tell that he hadn't been getting much rest. She felt so bad for him not resting and blamed herself for it. "I'm so sorry," she said as a tear started to fall down her cheek. "Please forgive me and don't hate me for putting you through all of this. I don't blame you if you want to leave and give up. I know that this will take a lot of time and work. So, I'm giving you an out." She laughed, "Look at me telling you all this while you're asleep. What kind of person does that? I should be brave and tell you this when you're awake."

"You have no reason to be sorry
, Canary," he said in a groggy voice. She jumped a little and he laughed, "I'm sorry. Didn't mean to scare you but you listen to me," he situated himself to where they were both looking at each other, "I’m not going anywhere. I’m here for you through thick and thin. How many times do I have to tell you that before you actually believe me?" She looked down and started picking at the blanket that was on the bed. "Olivia, look at me. Please?" She stopped picking at the blanket and looked at him. "I love you, it’s always been you, and it will always only be you. No one else has stolen my heart like you have. From the first time I saw you, you had my heart. People say that we are young and don't know what true love is but I don't believe that. I believe that once you see that person that you are meant to be with you just know. And baby, as soon as I saw you I knew."

She laughed, "That was many years ago though. I was one of many girls at the pond that day. I just happened to be reading and ignoring everything that was going on around me. So I guess what I want to know is how were you so sure that I was the one?" H
e turned some more in the bed, making sure to be careful that he didn't ruin any of the tubes or wires that were all over her. She hit a button that caused the light above her bed to come on so she could get a good look at him. The look on his face threw her for a loop and made her worry. "Nathaniel, what's wrong? You have this look on your face like there is something you want to tell me."

Nate closed his eyes and took a deep breath, he wasn't ready to tell her this but she could read him better than anyone could and she wasn't afraid to call him out on it. What got him though was the fact that she called him Nathaniel, no one ever called him that except for his father. He sat up and turned so that she was laying back and he was sitting in front of her. "I do have something that I want to tell you. When I told you that the first time I saw you was at the pond, that wasn't really true. I did see you at the pond, but that wasn't the first time that I saw you."

"What are you talking about?"

He took her hands into his, "I have been trying to decide when I should tell you about this
; thinking maybe later would be best."

She removed her hands from his and
crossed them over her chest, she winced a little bit from the pain of the chest tube but put that aside. "The best time would have been earlier when you told me that the first time you saw me was at the pond. But instead of being honest you lied, so before you dig yourself a bigger hole you better tell me now."

He looked down, "You're right and
I’m sorry about that, I really am. So, I'm going to tell you the truth now." He looked at her, waiting to see if she would say anything but she just looked at him; waiting for him to tell her the truth. "OK, here it goes. The first time I saw you was at a party that you were at, your parents were there along with my parents and Michael’s parents. They are all part of the Organization. You were sitting in a chair in the corner reading but every now and then you would shut the book and talk to people who approached you being polite. I watched you for the majority of the night. You didn't move from that chair and Michael would bring you something to drink every so often and then he would leave and flirt with other girls. I thought that was funny because you were only seven. And I know I was only eight at the time but you stole my heart and my breath. It scared me because I had never had anything like that happen to me before. The feelings I was getting were different than anything I had experienced before and it frightened me, but mostly they excited me because they were new. When I finally got the nerve I started to head towards where you were and once I finally got there, after being stopped, you were gone. I looked everywhere for you but it was like you just disappeared. I asked around and finally found out your name. What I didn't expect to learn was that you lived in Boston. So the fact that I was at the pond that day wasn't exactly a coincidence. I just hoped with it being summer that you would be there to relax and enjoy.

"Every time I went to a function with my parents, and then later with my dad, I
would always look to see if you were there. When you were I made sure I kept an eye out for you and, in a way, protected you. I had this need to keep you safe and I prayed daily that you wouldn't follow your parent’s footsteps and join the Organization. I knew that I would never join them and even though I didn't know you personally I knew that you had too good of a soul to join them. So, when you told me about your family I wanted to say that I knew but I didn't want to risk it and take the chance of pushing you away before we even had a chance to see if something could happen. Relief flooded through me when you said that you weren't going to follow their footsteps. Because, in my heart, I knew that, if you did, I would have to join as well to make sure that you were safe. I know I should have told you all of this before, but I was scared. I lost you once before and I just couldn't handle losing you again. I'm sorry I kept this from you, but I hope you understand why I did."