You guys know the drill. I don't own Elijah "Falsken" (Wood) or Dominic Monaghan, but I do own the protagonista, Margaux Falsken.

Quite a tearjerker, in my opinion. Takes part from Tim McGraw's "Don't Take the Girl", which I hold no ownership claims.

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Elijah Falsken had memorized the tile-work of the hospital floor in the last few hours he’d spent pacing it. His wife, Margaux, had been in one of the back rooms of the Oncology Ward for those hours and the doctors had kicked him out. It would be the third child for the couple, and, though they’d been taken by surprise, they were expecting to accept this little bundle of joy with open arms, and that much more. When the nurse had ushered him out, he had almost shoved his way back into the room and demanded to stay, until he’d seen the grave look on her face.

The doctors had warned Margaux about the possible effects of another pregnancy after she had a little trouble with their second-born, Carter. She, apparently, would endanger, not only herself, but also her unborn child if she risked having another baby.

This information had left Mrs. Falsken absolutely heartbroken. Even before they’d gotten engaged, much less married, she’d always been passionate about children and had said how she wanted at least four or five little ones running around. The thought that she could only bring two into the world devastated her. Elijah hadn’t been without his share of regret either. The only thing he loved more than Margaux were their sons, Adam and Carter.

A few months after Carter was welcomed into this world, Elijah and Margaux were to plan their fifth anniversary, and sent the boys to stay at Mama and Papa Falsken’s house. Elijah prepared a delicious dinner of pasta, bread, wine and ice cream. And, with a suggestive wink, the uneaten pasta went cold, the wine was abandoned, and the sheets of their bed were used to their best extent.

And, with the Falsken’s wondrous luck, Margaux started to be motion sick when she wasn’t moving, her boobs were sore, and she’d been long overdue. Slowly, she pondered whether or not to enlighten her husband on their visitor. But, by seeing the look on Adam’s face when he gazed at his baby brother, she knew she couldn’t abandon her values and abort her child for her health. This was the first time, however, that Elijah didn’t jump up and down for joy at the thought of bringing another child to life.

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“Elijah,” Margaux had started, the uneasiness obvious in her voice, “I … I need to tell you something.”

He looked worriedly back at his wife, picking up his glass of water, “What is it, baby?”

She held up the bag of groceries she’d just walked in with, and pulled out an EPT box, “I don’t really think that this is necessary, but I want to be sure.”

There was a loud crash as the glass slipped out of his hand and shattered on the tile floor, making Margaux instinctively recoil.

“You’re pregnant?”

“Yeah. Or at least, I definitely think I am…and don’t you think a mother of two would know by now the symptoms?” she joked.

“This isn’t funny, Margaux.”

Just the look she gave him was enough to make him want to crumple into a million pieces and float away with the breeze, like specs of dust. It was a look of almost betrayal, but showed him that she was thinking exactly the same thing. Then, because he didn’t know what else there was to do, he pulled her into a hug and began kissing her cheeks, trying to dry her tears.

“Em, do you remember when you said you’d never… terminate … a pregnancy?”

She pulled her head back away from his chest, and replied sadly, “I still hold to that, Elijah. I won’t ever, ever, have an abortion willingly.”

“But Margaux!”

Margaux knew exactly what he was thinking. They’d gone over this. They’d decided to not have any more children. The risk of her life was too great for him to handle, “No, Lij. We don’t even know if this baby is truly threatening me. For all we know, it could work out perfectly fine.”

“YOOHOO!!!” came a shout from the foyer. “Your most favorite-ist person is HEE-EERE!”

Elijah’s best friend walked in the kitchen door.

“Hi Dom,” Margaux said timidly, greeting him with a friendly embrace and a peck on the cheek.

“Well,” Dom stated, “you two look like you’ve seen some sort of apparition or something…” he would have rambled on if he hadn’t seen the look on Elijah’s tear-stained face.
-----

And so, now here they were. The doctors and nurses, fretting over her health. Elijah, memorizing the sound of his feet touching the floor. Margaux, trying to endure the agony of childbirth. Adam and Carter, anxiously awaiting the arrival with their grandparents.

“Excuse me?” a female voice jolted Elijah out of his reverie, “Mr. Falsken?”

“Y-yes?” he stuttered in reply. Was it good news? It had to be good news. Didn’t bad news always come with blood-stained shoe coverings?

“Please come with me. We’re preparing your wife for a Caesarian Section and she wishes to see you.”

The moment the word ‘Caesarian’ reached Elijah’s ears he’d flinched. That meant that the birth was not going as planned. It meant that there was something wrong. It meant that, through all the precautions they’d taken, through every little detail they’d planned for, something went wrong.

As he walked towards the hall, he nodded towards the petite nurse, as if saying he knew the way, which he did. But, never before had the hallway seemed so long. Were the doors always spaced this far apart? If he didn’t know any better, he would have said it was yards, miles even from door to door. Then, finally.

Room 316.

He slowly turned the knob and nudged the door open. There she was, his angel. He’d always thought Margaux was the most beautiful, the fairest of all if you will. He wouldn’t go so far as to say it was “love at first sight” because both of them knew that, as romantic as it sounded, it was far from being true. He hadn’t even asked her for a date until they’d known each other for a couple years. But, no matter what, he’d always found her somewhat attractive, whether that be when she’d just rolled out of bed after a sleepless night, or having just finished getting ready for a night on the town.

And now, she was still, his beautiful angel.

He didn’t know how long he’d been standing in the doorframe, smiling at her, before the doctor behind him muttered, “Excuse me. You’re Mr. Falsken, I presume?”

Elijah quickly slipped out of the doorframe and into the room, allowing the man to cross the threshold.

“Is a C-Section really necessary, Doctor…” he looked for the doctor’s nametag, “Witten?”

They both gazed at the woman sleeping on the hospital bed. The doctor gazed at her husband pitifully, “I’m afraid so.”

Elijah knew what the doctor would have said had he not stepped over by his wife and grasped her hand, but the good doc simply slipped out of the room and quietly closed the door, leaving the couple in peace. Elijah plainly laid his head down next to her sleeping form and closed his eyes, silently weeping. He didn’t know when she did it, but he soon realized that she was playing with his hair, her way of trying to help him to calm down. When he looked into Margaux’s hazel eyes, he’d always been able to see what she was feeling, but now, all he saw was understanding. Not pain, like were mirrored in his own, but understanding and sympathy.

She knew, and yet she didn’t feel any remorse whatsoever. Elijah was in disbelief. How could she be doing this and not feel any pain or grief over leaving him? Too many similar thoughts ran through his troubled mind before he reprimanded himself. She knew what she was doing nine months ago. They had both known the risk, and, much to the dislike of doctors everywhere, they’d gone through with it. And now, … he didn’t even want to dwell on the thought.

Margaux lifted her hand from atop his head and wiped his tears away, before smiling, “I love you, Elijah.”

“I love you, Margaux,” he replied instantaneously.


Hours later, how many only God knew, Elijah and Margaux were both back in Room 316, adoring their newborn baby girl. The two would point out everything from how cute her little pink bracelet looked, to wondering what color her eyes would eventually turn.

Eventually, the family came and went, but the doctor had broken the news to them, and they wanted to give Elijah as much time as possible. He’d insisted they pull in a cot for him to sleep next to her, and his demands had been fulfilled.

Margaux fell in love with her baby girl the moment she felt the softness of the blanket touch her arms.

“Charlotte Jane Falsken,” she whispered softly a moment later. “That’s her name, Lij.”

“You know I always loved the name Charlotte,” he stated, before softly singing a stanza from an old song he remembered.

Same old boy
Same sweet girl
Five years down the road
There’s going to be a little one and she says it’s time to go

Doctor says the baby’s fine but you’ll have to leave
’cause his momma’s fading fast
and Johnny hit his knees
and there he prayed

Take the very breath you gave me
Take the heart from my chest
I’ll gladly take her place if you’ll let me
Make this my last request

Take me out of this world
God, please don’t take the girl


Two weeks later, a dark brown box was being lowered. He could see her there, inside. The procession had been painful, but not overly-exerting. Elijah kept thanking God that he had such a wonderful group of friends aiding him in this. He still wished that Adam, Carter and Charlotte had their mom here instead of him. He could just see, ten years down the road, one of them needing something (especially dear Charlotte Jane) from him that he couldn’t give.

He wished that God really had traded him places with Margaux, but they kept telling him that he had to stay strong for his kids, and that’s what he did. He didn’t know when he’d hit his breaking point, and he knew he’d hit it eventually. But he wasn’t going to hit it now, not when she was depending on him to pull through for their three.

And he wasn’t quite ready to disappoint her yet.

*bursts into tears* So. SAD!!!

*weeps*

That song makes me cry every time I hear it!.. Nice take on it hun :)

(Random: One time, this guy in my high school math class totally sang the entire song aloud during class. I helped with lyrics *laughs*)

*sniff*... :)

I love that song.

It always makes me want to bawl my eyes out. :cry: Very depressing, but absolutely adorable.

I'm glad you liked it, Jewelz-y. :hug:

:huh: :no: :cry: :cry2: That was so beautifuly tragic!!!! Sammi you never cease to amaze me with what you write. That tore my heart apart!! And you thought I was cruel for almost killing off Katie, YOU ACTUALLY DID HAVE SOMEONE DIE!!!

But that said I adored it, its beautifully written and wonderfully touching. Congradulations on such a wonderful piece.

:hug: Chloe xxx

Okay I was happy just a minute ago before I read this and now I'm crying, Sammi... :cry2:

That was really good, I love that song. It's so sad, but I liked it. It takes a lot to get me crying so either I'm emotional already today or you did a really good job, so I believe it's the second one ;)

Loved it Samma, if I'm ever in a crying mood, I know who to go to lol.

Katie

P.S.

Did I miss something Chloe? lol

Well Katie...ummm...I have a story up in the Original Achievement section called Deimhin Deireadh (Gaelic for Certain end) and Sammi is like my number one reader, and there is a character called Katie and so when it seemed like I killed her off I think sammi was about ready to kill me ehehe.

*puts hands up in defense* Have you forgotten that this is a SHORT story. You almost killed your main character in the middle!! <_<

But thank you, both Chloe and Katie, for the compliments. I'm sorry its so sad. :cry: But it just had to be done... And its done now, so hmm. I don't know; there's not much I can say, except maybe I'm sorry? :hug:

:tehee: You know me.

You had better believe it, buster. :yes: That's me! :hello:

Again, thanks for all your amazing comments, ladies. It mean a lot. Now... those who aren't already, here's a shameless plug: Read Anything Goes. :lalala: (Its in the Lads section...) What? I said shameless. Man, this is MY thread. Pssh. ;)

:heartbeat:
Samma

ALMOST! ;-) I allowed her to live...for now...

And its okay that its so sad, its still beautiful :yes: :hug:

Chloe xxx

You sympathy whore. ^_^ You sent me that link, almost as if no one had read this, and I come, read the whole thing ( :cry2: ) and find out that there are all these people who have said that same things that I was going to say. Loser. :cry:

Nooo! That's not it at all! :unsure: I just needed some Feeb-feedback... its nothing without your thoughts; you know that! :hug: My apologies, babe.

Don't be daft, dummy. I love your story. ^_^ It made me nearly cry ... :cry:

OMG!!!!! :cry: :cry2: :cry2: :cry: That was so sad yet sooooooooo GOOD!!! Sammi you are a writing genius with this! You did an amazing job, I loved it! The scary thing is my parents went through that same ordeal, my mom is a diabetic and I was born 3 months early and we both could've died or one or the other. She had a c-section and I could've died, because they were intially gonna save my mom instead of me if it came down to that. But in the end we both lived and we are both healthy now. brillant job and it really touched my heart.
:love:
~Kit-Kat~

Oh, that was so bitter-sweet! And I love the fact that the whole time we KNEW that one of them wouldn't make it, we just didn't know which one, twists like that are always my favourite.

Beautiful work, my love! :love:

I hate you for breaking my heart! :cry: :cry: :cry:

Yeah, well I hate you for leaving me. Dammit why do they have no pouting smilie?! *pouts*
.. But really, I'm sorry. :hug:

:) I love sad stories like these, those inevitable ones. And, yes, bittersweet. Maybe the only way to describe it.

:eek: You see, its little things like these, knowing that you've truly touched someone's heart, that makes all the stresses about writing flee. This story of you and your mom... :blush: I just.. I dunno.. dunno what to say, really. Other than that is amazing, especially with all the circumstances. You are one lucky kitty-cat. :yay: I'm glad it all turned out in the end (I wouldn't have known you otherwise!). :hug: Thank you for sharing that, Kitty.

:heartbeat:
Samma

When did I ever leave you? :o