[Milliways] OOM: London, March 7, 2007

[his_sarah_jane]

She had received a text mere hours before. James was on his way home from his unknown destination and Sarah Jane had been more than eager (and more than nervous) to see him again. Maybe they could finally talk. Maybe they could finally figure things out. Maybe they could act like the mature adults they were supposed to be.

But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

In the midst of working on last minute preparations on Valerie's room, her water broke. Eleven days earlier than expected, Sarah and James' daughter was too impatient to wait any longer. Sarah panicked. Now she was on the way to the hospital and terrified that James might not get back at time. No matter what state their relationship was in, she wanted him to be here for this.

By the time the car service pulled in, Sarah Jane felt exhausted already. After reception and the like, she was shown to a room. The nurse reassured her that it would only be a matter of time now, that everything would be okay. But after a visit from Dr Ross minutes later, Sarah wasn't certain that everything would be okay after all. The umbilical cord whad slipped in to the birth canal ahead of Valerie. There would have to be surgery.

The nurse went out to attempt to call James again as another began to prep Sarah Jane.

Comments

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

She smiles wryly at that. When she finally does tear her eyes away from Valerie, there is forgiveness in them.

He needs space. He needs to adjust. And she needs to stop pushing.

"Will you be coming home then? For good, that is. I know it's empty now, but Valerie and I will be there before the week is up and, well... James, if you still want your family, you have it."

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

"I am coming back."

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

Sarah Jane nods absently. That's enough of an answer for her right now. She smiles again, happy and content in this small room. Quietly, she moves his free hand to rest gently on top of Valerie's. Sarah slips her hand underneath and smiles again.

"Thank you. Not just for that, but for everything."

For Valerie.

[callitavesper.livejournal.com]

He kisses her head again, closing his eyes, breathing easy. "You're welcome, darling. I love you. Everything's going to be better from now on."

Though he doesn't know if that will be true.

But he dearly hopes that it will.

[his-sarah-jane.livejournal.com]

"Or as well as it can be, given who we are," she responds before kissing Valerie's forehead and James' hand. "We can try harder than we did. And that's by far enough for me if it means I get you two."

Sarah is not so naive anymore to believe a simple statement like his. But, in her opinion, trying is so much more than they've done. She can live with that. She has her family now, for however long possible.