Title: The End of Life

By The Psycho

Email: the_psycho@earthlink.net

Rating: PG (Warning, character deaths! Sorta.)

Genre: Popular

Pairing: S/B

Spoiler: No spoiler.

Summary: A morbid little piece about the end of life.

Disclaimer: Not for profit, no infringement intended. The characters are not mine, just borrowing them.

Feedback: Yes, Please!

Archive: Realm

A/N: I was feeling particularly morbid tonight, I was thinking of my first girlfriend and what our lives might have been like if we had stayed together. My morbidity naturally moved my thoughts to how my life would have ended in that case.  This is a Popular version of those thoughts. I cried all the way through.

Well, here I am, lying in my hospital bed. The doctors said I had only a day to live. That was almost 3 days ago. I have long since come to terms with the end of my life. I only now want to make sure my daughters can handle it.

"Daughter" technically. My fiancée died in a car accident a mere month before our wedding. I loved her more than life itself. More than I ever loved my first wife Kelly.

I made a promise to Jane that I would take care of her daughter. Like that was ever going to be an issue. I couldn't love her daughter more if she was my own blood. I raised Samantha as if she were my own. I raised both my daughters until the day they both moved out. That was almost a year ago. And here I lay, a victim of cancer, about to leave them for good and finally be with Jane again.

I turned my head as I noticed the door to my hospital room open. It was my two beautiful daughters.

"Hi daddy, how are you feeling?" Brooke spoke in whispers with such sadness in her eyes it broke my heart.

"Tired honey. I've been sleepy a lot lately."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Should we go and let you get some sleep?"

"No, it's ok. I was wondering if you would do me a favor?"

"Sure daddy, anything."

"Could you step outside for a minute? I need to talk to Samantha alone. Please?"

"Ok. I'll be down at the vending machine down the hall."

I watched as my daughter left the room. Samantha approached my bed.

"She's taking it badly Mike. She cries a lot."

"I know. Look, I want to ask you something."

"Sure."

"How do you feel about my daughter?"

"Uhm. " I could tell the question took her by surprise. "She's my best friend."

I looked at her sternly, "Samantha. You know how I feel about lying."

Samantha got a worried look on her face. She didn't want to lie, but she was afraid to admit the truth.

"I'm not lying. She's my best friend."

"But that's not all she is to you is she?"

"No." Samantha bowed her head.

"You're in love with her."

"Yes." Samantha admitted quietly. "Does it bother you?"

Ignoring her question, "Honestly, how do you feel about her?"

She got a bright look in her eyes as she began to talk about Brooke, "She's kind, caring, compassionate, funny, challenging, beautiful. I think about her constantly. If she's not around, I simply ache for her. When she touches me, it feels like pure heaven. I love her more than anything. and I want to spend the rest of my life with her."

Tears were running down my face as I heard Samantha's admission of love. I felt a lot more comfortable now knowing my daughter will be loved.

"Promise me something. After I'm gone, promise me you will love her and take care of her."

"I will. I promise." Tears were running down her face.

"Now now. none of that. Can't have Brooke seeing you all messed up like this. She'll be mad at me for making you cry."

"I doubt that." She tried forcing a smile as she wiped her tears away.

"Well, shall we have some fun with your girlfriend?"

Samantha laughed, "Brooke gets that same look in her eyes when she's about to do something evil."

"Ok, here's the plan."

* * *

Brooke walked in, looking a little better. "Hi daddy. How was your talk?"

"Oh fine. I just told Samantha the good news."

Brooke looked at Samantha curiously. "News? What news?"

"The adoption papers. After Jane died, I started the paperwork to adopt Samantha. Samantha is about to become your new sister!"

The look on Brooke's face was priceless.

"You can't!"

I put up a sad look on my face. "Brooke, I thought you liked Samantha?"

"I do, but."

Samantha spoke up, "You don't want me to be your sister?"

"No!"

"Why don't you want her to be your sister Brooke?"

"Because. because."

"Brooke, the only way I won't adopt Samantha would be if you two were in love with each other."

"I am!" Brooke exclaimed quickly. I put a look on my face that said that was way too convenient and I didn't believe it. "I am daddy! I'm in love with her! Tell him Sam!" Sam was quiet.

"Brooke, if you don't like Sam, just say so."

Brooke put her hands on her face and cried. I suddenly felt ashamed. I threw a glance at Samantha and she looked at me pleadingly. I nodded at her but put up a finger telling her to wait.

"Brooke, let's answer this once and for all. Samantha? How do you really feel about Brooke?" Brooke looked expectantly at Samantha, Samantha just smiled at me and mouthed "Thank you."

"Well Mike, she's my best friend." Brooke's eyes became very sad. Samantha turned to look deep into Brooke's eyes, took her hands in her own and continued, "She's my best friend. She's also the love of my life. I fell in love with her years ago. And she has become a part of me. She has filled my entire existence with love and beauty. I can't see my life worth anything if she's not a part of it." Samantha reached into her pocket and pulled out a small diamond ring which she placed on Brooke's finger. I hadn't been expecting that. "I love Brooke with all my body and soul, and if she'll have me, I want to spend the rest of my life with her. Brooke? Will you marry me?"

I couldn't hold back my tears if I tried. I sobbed with joy at the love my daughter found. the love that my daughters found with each other.

Brooke simply cried with joy and threw her arms around Samantha saying repeatedly, "Yes! Yes. yes. yes."

I let them hug for a minute, "I'm still hurt Brooke."

"Why daddy?"

"It hurts that you fell in love and didn't tell me!" I had a happy glint in my eyes.

Brooke laughed. "So, you're not mad?"

"No sweetheart. Samantha loves you. You love her. You two will be just fi." Suddenly my body tightened up, my breath became short, the time was close.

"Daddy? Daddy!?!?"

I couldn't see her too well any longer. Her voice was fading away. I saw a light. Out of the light walked Jane. She was more lovely and beautiful than I had ever seen her before.

It's time my love.

Her voice was sweet and music to my ears.

"Look Jane, our daughters are in love!"

"Daddy? Please don't leave me!"

Yes my love. They will be just fine. Come with me now.

"I'm. ready. I. love you. Brooke."

"DADDY!"

I floated above the bed. moving backwards. I turned and put my arms around Jane.

I love you Jane.

My love, we will be together forever now. It's time for us to leave.

I'm ready.

As we walked into the light, Jane spoke.

You did a wonderful job raising Samantha. She's grown up into a beautiful woman.

Of course, she takes after her mother.

* * *

"Mike? Wake up! You're gonna be late for work!"

I awoke with a start. I looked over at Jane, I got out of bed, and pulled her into a hug. "I love you." I poured all my love into those three little words. Jane looked like she was about to cry.

"I love you too Mike."

Tears were falling down my face. I pulled back, moved over to my desk and picked up the adoption papers I had been filling out for Samantha. I ripped them up.

"Mike? Those were Samantha's adoption papers. I thought it was supposed to be a surprise for the girls?"

"It was. But maybe the girls will have a surprise for us."

We both ended up calling in sick that day. I don't think we left the bedroom once.

The End.