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"So Close Yet So Far"
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Alternative ending based on this comic. This is a gift for her <3 Words number: 7069 Genre: Drama, Comedy, Illness, Dorks in live, Wedding stuff Characters: MC, Gavin, Lucien, Original!Character Published on Ao3 Chapter 1
Gavin sighed dramatically because he was stuck in a very sad story of 2 pages where he was fiancé to a girl called MC who happened to have Alzheimer also her doctor was a weirdo neuroscientist who sees everything but the colors.
This was Valentine day, and as he did each year because he was a bit masochist, he had brought flowers and chocolates. If he was not, he would have brought alcohol at least for a good hangover! He was secretly hoping this would, one day, help her to remember him, but he was failing totally on this side.
Definitely, if there was a cure to Alzheimer, no flowers nor chocolates were implied. Maybe in the future, there would be a miraculous treatment.
Gavin was lost in his thoughts looking tragically at the back of MC because MC did not look at him because she thought he was not her fiancé when he heard a cough behind him.
"Excuse me"
A tall girl with thick bangs and color round glasses, wearing a white blouse as medics here was standing by the door of n°707 room, which happened to be MC's room where Gavin was. Not knowing this person, Gavin seeks for the badge of the personnel to identify the person, but she has no one.
"Who are you ?", asked Gavin
The stranger smiled and says
"Someone you do not know", she answers with the same tone.
Chapter 2
Gavin frowned at the stranger's answer : in other circumstances, he would have been pissed off, but his character profile was too tragic in this story, so he just sighed again dramatically, but with a bit of impatience.
"Was this a joke? I would like to stay with my fiancé if you don't mind"
"It's not a joke. You do not know me. I can make jokes if you want, but I am not here for this."
Pointing at MC, the annoying stranger, which attitude was, to Gavin's eyes, dangerously similar to his not-half lavender-haired brother, stated clearly:
"She knows me"
MC, whose back was still turned to the strangers of her room, whispered from the extinguished voice of hers
"I do not know who you are. I am waiting for my fiancé"
But the stranger smiled triumphantly to Gavin.
"See? She does not know who I am. But also she has Alzheimer. That is a joke! Ouch !"
The flowers with the chocolates had fallen on the ground and Gavin had grabbed the wrists of the stranger. Being huge like all MLQC boys, he had backaches and was taller than the mysterious stranger, even if, for a girl, was tall.
The girl stood still and looked at Gavin.
"Be nice, it's just a joke."
"Who are you? What are you doing here? You are not from this establishment, do you ?"
"No, I am not, you smart. I cannot tell you who I am, because of the reason why I am here. But for you, let's say I am a Genie. You know. These creatures who can grant wishes."
She moved slightly for Gavin to release her, but the BirdCop did not let her go. What kind of game this girl was playing at? Didn't he see her already somewhere? He had the impression of a curious familiarity looking at her face.
The girl was beaming arrogantly at her. Since Gavin did not release her, she approached him, until they were face to face. Gavin noticed the girl had a strange birthmark near her right eye, partially vanished by the color glasses but still present. She whispered again.
"Can I grant you a wish, Mr Gavin? I know you have one. Just tell me. The Genie wants to hear you say it."
Chapter 3
Gavin had gripped firmly her wrists, but at the moment when the Genie proposed to grant him a wish, he slightly softened this, as a physical manifestation of considering the possibility, how improbable and desperate it was.
How provocative the so-called Genie was, there was also a confidence which has not been shaken by his physical reaction...which was, honestly, not very usual.
Or maybe because this was Valentine day, and Gavin was more vulnerable to this.
He was not ready to tell his wish neither. What he wanted was obvious, as obvious the Genie knew what he wanted the most in the world. Which was raising a troubling question: the Genie knew too much about him.
In reaction, the Genie expression dropped to a more softened and serious expression. Again, the impression of familiarity stroke Gavin, sending a painful wave up constricting his heart. Where did he meet her? Did he know who she was?
Softly, the Genie rose her arms, until her hands reached his forehead.
"Thanks, Gavin"
He felt like an electric surge before the control of his body escaped him and his consciousness faded. Fighting reflexively, he uses his last strength to grip the wrists he was still holding, in vain.
"Genie" caught Gavin to accompany his fall to the ground. After checking quickly his pulse on his neck, she closed the door and locked the 707 room from inside, before putting Gavin's body in sitting position on it. She then jumped quickly to the window and worked to close partially the shutters, putting the room in the shade before sighing in relief.
MC, who was still looking at the window, had zero reaction to what had happened in her room. Genie looked at her back which was so painfully and abnormally unfamiliar. Going around MC, she sat on the bed and lowered her head to face her. At that time, MC was still young, in her mid-twenties, nearly Genie's age, yet, her illness and the fact she had stayed in this room for so long was marked in her face, despite the medical team efforts, and you would have given ten more years or more, easily.
MC was looking at Genie like she was transparent. Her eyes did not focus at all. Not expecting any reaction, Genie whispered gently but clearly.
"Hello Mom"
Chapter 4
At the beginning, you are born, at the end, you die and between the two, whatever the struggles, you live.
At the beginning of "life", this is childhood, and, when you are lucky enough, you have "parents" taking care of you.
They like to say the end of your childhood is when you reach puberty. When you are of age. When you have your first lover. When you kiss your lover for the first time. When you finish your studies. When you have your first pay. When you left your parents' home.
Maybe childhood really dies when you have to take care of your parents because the ones who raised you are too vulnerable.
Maybe childhood really dies when only the child is conscious of this.
MC did not have any reaction to what Genie said. She had a little smile on her face, a relaxed expression, and was slowly blinking. She was very alive, yet was an empty doll. MC finally muttered weakly.
"You're not my fiancé"
Genie put her colored glasses on the top of her head, revealing her distinctive, reddish birthmark printed on her white skin near her right eye. She took gently MC's cold hands in hers, partially covered with black leather mitten adorned with silver, with a moon pattern studs. Fixing MC's chocolate eyes with her black, with purple reflect ones, she answered like she was reciting a repeated speech.
"Yes, I am not. My time here is very limited, so I will explain this very quick. You currently have an Alzheimer-like condition, which is primarily due your Queen's power sacrifice. It is manifesting physically as an Alzheimer's, so due to a prion or proteins which shape's change, altering their water solubility and by a mimic effect, they are slowly but surely destroying your neuron cells and brain's capacity. As your Queen's powers were strongly linked to souvenirs and emotions, your memory and ability to remember are damaged both the physical illness and this sacrifice.
In this dimension, at the current point of time, the scientists have not found a cure to Alzheimer's - and I am very sorry to state this will not be in the medium run despite their best efforts - and their knowledge on Evol and Queen's powers are too limited to change your condition. Your fate is sealed, but as long as you are alive even as an empty shell, this world, which is linked to you as the last Queen's power carer, will go on.
But this is not what happened in this dimension because it cannot be stable for a long time, and should this dimension collapses, others will too, so it was decided to repair this one at this time. Today is patching-up day, and I am the sewer. I shall draw the Loop-In-Time, granny-paradox compliant, which will prevent total collapse and gives a definitely different and brighter future to you and your world.
I am not going to say the operation is with zero risk, nor painful, or your recovery will not be challenging. In general, the patient's consent is necessary, but you cannot give this fully since a long time. I cannot ask your official tutors here for obvious reasons. Since I am who I am, I could be the one asked to take this responsibility too. In all cases, ethics and basic empathy command to always tell the patient what is going to happen, like this at least their subconscious will remember this information and the potential trauma linked to the operation will be significantly reduced according to several studies."
MC had again no reaction, still fixing an invisible point while Genie delivered her very dense speech. When Genie stopped, silence fell again in the adapted room and MC's smile widened slowly, giving it a gentler, candler aspect. She then whispered, while gripping the hands holding hers gently.
"It is OK, I understand"
Genie blinked twice and an emotion passed through her features for the first time since she was here. She frowned a bit and her grip subconsciously got stronger while MC's head lowered to look at her hands she intertwined with Genie's. Was this statement a subconscious consent or a dementia improbable random reaction?
Again, MC spoke, in a flatter, lower voice.
"You are not fiancé"
Genie sighed and reluctantly but firmly untangled her fingers from MC's to hold them. Standing up swiftly, she ordered MC.
"Let's start...can you...just lie on your bed? Yes, like, this..."
MC was obeying the verbal and gesture orders, seemingly able to understand most of them and agreeing to comply. She was now lying on her bed, her arms aligned with her trunk and closed her eyes reflexively.
Genie put her bag on the chair and extracts an electronic device, in the shape of a half moon. She approached it from MC's forehead and the device stuck perfectly on her head with a small click.
She also grabbed in her back of what looked like a screen, which vibrated synchronically with the electronic headband. Genie talked then to the screen, as if it was an audio recorder.
"OK, Moon. Quick Pre scan for Alzheimer recovery please"
An androgynous, contralto voice could be heard for the screen, which turned white.
"Hello Luna. Quick Pre scan brain request recorded. Please move backwards during operation"
Genie joined Gavin, who was still at the door, his mouth slightly opened. She sat near him, closing his mouth with a smile before checking his pulse.
After one minute, the screen projects on the floor a brain scan, with a remarkable space between the tissues and the skull and figures appear on the screen while Moon's voice resonated in the room
"Scan terminated. Results available. Conclusion: the 40% damage does not allow the Alzheimer recover process"
Genie jumped on her knees, looking at the brain scan on the floor, upset.
".... What...no"
Maybe childhood really dies when you have to let go your parent.
Chapter 5
GENIE
Was she too late? How was it possible? Did that mean she has to go back in the future and find a solution to repair it early? Genie had her two hands on her temples and was thinking hard. She could not believe the results.
"Moon, Event log of last Pre scan, underline "fail not responding inaccuracy" on screen please"
"Luna, here is the — event log — with Pre scan. Research had 0 occurrence found on the requested words. Use: holographic touch to navigate through"
The scan was not supposed to have mistakes.
"Moon, display expected results if procedure is applied on 40% damage brain"
"Luna, if Alzheimer procedure recovery is applied on ineligible brain, best cases: partial recovery with no possible improvement in the future. Very high risks of failure with : fatal death, epilepsy crisis, Some cases of induced meningitis were encountered."
"Moon, brainstorm Alzheimer treatment"
"Luna, based on last database version here are the keywords I have: genetic therapy, botulinum toxin, transhumanism project, human-droid hybrid, embedded brain, cryogenics treatment, hematopoietic stem cells, savior sibling..."
Genie who was turning around while the synthetic word recited the brainstorm results a bit about brain, stopped suddenly on her tracks. In her not damaged brain, a light bulb had switched on.
"Moon, stem cells Alzheimer"
The synthetic voice did not speak for some and long seconds, before answering to Genie.
"Stem cells treatment are used as a cure treatment against failure on Alzheimer, Parkinson, strokes recovery process. Direct injection of preprogrammed cells brain allow implementing new circuits, which can be loaded with memory fragments."
Luna knew this, of course, but this was not exactly what she sought.
"Stem cells brain ?"
Again, the contralto voice called "Moon" did not speak for some long seconds.
"Stem cells are used to rejuvenate and strengthen brains. The process has a short span effect and must either be maintained by stimulation, or new injection. A two-year delay between two injections must be respected to avoid over mutation and Apoptosis Disorder Syndrome."
"Moon, quick simulation on stem cell + Alzheimer treatment"
"Using stem cells on the damaged brain followed by Alzheimer treatment was not tested and would not be advised as the stem cells are supposed to be the backup of Alzheimer treatment"
Luna sighed.
"Of course..."
Genie approached MC, who seems to have started dozing off peacefully with the headband.
"...it means this is a one shot. First, you need to survive stem cells treatment with the hazardous conditions of this underdeveloped time and my butcher surgery skills. Then, should the recovery process does not work, you have zero net and this will probably kill you."
MC did not answer this time. Her smile was floating on her lips, empty and peaceful like the one who passed away quietly.
GAVIN
A cold airflow awakes me. This or the stiff neck. Or the headache currently turning my brain as a mush. Or the combination. My eyelids are heavy and are greeted by a shiny light.
What the heck happened ...? Did Eli make me drink again?
Oh, I am in MC's room. It's Valentine day, I remember. I have brought flowers. And here they are, on the floor. The window is wide opened, and you can see the plum trees, which have blossomed. This generally happens one month prior the cherry trees. I have already planned to walk MC to a park next to here to watch them, if her doctor agrees.
Speaking of MC...
I noticed she is not here. I stand up not easily from my position, but I see white flashes and I need a moment to adjust. I approach the bed and I feel my heart tighten.
Her bed is empty, but I see some hair grips and some blood on the sheets, then on the window outline.
In panic, as my brain slowly awakes, I go to her wardrobe and see her coat is missing. I spot another trace of blood on the floor.
"Shit"
I go through the window and I take off. I have to find her until it is too late.
Chapter 6
GAVIN
She could not be far away. This looks more like an escape than a kidnapping. He had found no traces of fighting or aggression, and even if he could not determine why he had dozed off, he thinks cries would have awoken up. Plus, who would want to kidnap her? She had no more power : the only reason would have to hurt him, but even if he was still /working in STF, the situation on the Evol side was pretty calm since she had sacrificed herself.
Considering she escaped, the next question was: where MC would go? The only place he went with her from her new home was the plums and cherries trees park which was 2 km from here. That's we were he headed, hoping he was not too late, worried she would, in her current state, meet someone with bad intents.
Arrived in front of the park entrance, he landed in front of a father with her small daughter going out of the park. Desperate, he asks them, slightly panting - this curious nap had left him without stamina, curiously:
"Excuse me. By any chance, did you cross the road of a woman, in her twenties, brown-haired, with bangs, maybe looking a bit dreamy, wearing a pink and yellow long wool dress in a brown coat ?"
The little girl happily answers
"Oh, we saw the woman with a robot helmet and she had a pink and yellow dress !"
The father confirmed, frowning slightly.
"Yes, we saw a woman with a curious helmet. She seems a bit upset and off but I talk to her and she told me not to worry, she was here for a short walk..."
"...and she told us her name was MC!"
LUCIEN
At the same moment, the professor Lucien arrived in his desk, and he was surprised to find his office's door slightly opened. Suspicious, he opened the door slowly, checking for any intruder, then for any intrusion. The latter was somehow easy to find. A thick file was on his desk, and on the top of it was a post-it.
Intrigued, he took the folder. On the post-it was simply written:
IMPORTANT
For Professor Lucien Xû Mo, about MC
It is not the folder, or the post-it which provoked the surprise on a face usually not showing emotion.
It was the writing.
It was his writing.
How...
Opening the folder, there were two letters, one seeming to have been written quickly on a paper belonging to his desk, one other with, again, his writing.
There were some views, radios, a data sheet about a "headband" and a document about a certain "Alzheimer recovery procedure".
"..."
He chose to read the first writing.
"Professor Lucien Mo:
Everything you need to know is explained in the other letter, and what you need to know for the following days and years too.
This was supposed to be complete minus some last minute stuff I had to do for the process. So, here what you need to know:
1/ I left a visible headband on her head: this is CRITICAL you do not seek to remove it. You have to let the headband until it falls. I told MC already.
2/ This should not last more than one month, but wait for this. I cannot stay this time long, sorry.
3/ The recovery is not total yet because the brain was too damaged when I arrived. The function of the headband is to repair the brain, enabling the total recovery.
4/ The USB key is her remaining missing memory. Do NOT try to read it on a PC. When the LED on the headband is ON, please put the USB key in the hole, and wait for the LED to switch off.
She may have moments where she is totally off, but she should not last more than 15 seconds. It is good if she can be on monitoring for at least two months.
Do not hesitate to simulate her and be sure she gets proper rest, too, the recovery is exhausting.
Good luck for your research.
SLEEP!!!
See you later.
Genie ☽"
Next to the signature name Genie, a small moon croissant was drawn.
The professor blinked twice at the mysterious letter, but started reading the second one, the one with his writing.
"Professor Lucien Xû Mo.
I apologize for spilling the beans and avoid you the positive stimulus to guess who has written this letter. Yes, you are currently reading a letter from your future self.
For reasons I cannot detail, a stitch has to be made at this current time, implying making MC recover from her current Alzheimer syndrome. The mission was entrusted to a person you should probably not meet.
I already know the answer of your question, but cannot write it because of the person doing the mission.
Should this mission be a success, MC should recover 90% of her capacities within the week. The last 10% will be missing memories which have been in a long time in her subconscious, and maybe some cognitive capacities she will be able to recover with proper stimulus. Please note her Evol will also come back hazardously.
You obviously should read all the documents and apply strictly all the recommendations.
About your research, this will certainly help you to advance on the matter on some aspects, and in others delay you. In my career, I have noticed, sometimes, taking a step back and a half day off had a better effect than all-nighter.
You should probably enjoy the nice weather today. And take the opportunity to think about the windows.
Good continuation.
Professor X."
Lucien frowned. If the letter was authentic - and he had little doubt about it-, the last line was clearly a hint to...something. He remembered it was Valentine's Day, which meant MC was with Gavin.
Taking the letter and the folders, he half ran to MC's room and found it locked. He took out his universal key and opened the door. There was no one and the window was opened.
He noticed the flowers scattered on the ground; the traces on the floor let by dragged dark boots near the door, the cupboard opened without her coat, the traces of blood on the bed, and then, the window wide opened.
"..."
The letter said, "think about windows".
He approached the window slowly and he leaned forward. There was a small footprint on the grass.
He chuckled.
GAVIN
Gavin used to love this park, but right now, he loathed it. This park was too big, too dangerous. The road was not smooth because of the roots of the trees, there was a pond, even some bridges !!! Once he will have saved MC from the danger of this place, he was decided to make close the park until the roads were redone and a Plexiglas tube was set on the walking zone to avoid any danger to the visitors.
...
To sum up, Gavin, even if he should be relieved MC was pretty near and in the last news safe, was freaking out completely. What happened when he dozed off ?? Why did he doze off? The face of a curious woman, looking familiar, with a curious mark on the eye, flashed in front of his eyes but when he was trying to attach this to the past, the memory was slipping.
He had first taken altitude on the park but discovered he was too tired to cover all the park like this. He had landed again, and was now running on the main road, asking visitors if they did not see a woman with a helmet.
He finally spotted her, in the middle of a bridge, alone. He saw her bend to touch a plum tree branch who was too far. He caught her and MC, surprised tries to push him away.
Gavin could now see the "helmet", which was an ugly electronic, sophisticated anthracite headband.
MC looked at Gavin, seeming a little lost, before losing her focus : however Gavin was more worried about that headband. What if it was a bomb ?
He cupped his hands on MC's face, and MC looked at him.
"MC....are you all right ?"
MC did not answer. With his right hand he tries to touch the headband. MC went backwards.
"Don't, Gavin. She says we should not to remove it !"
MC
It is like she had awoken from a too long dream. A dream where she was mostly not totally conscious but grasp some elements of the reality. The room where she was. The voices who sound familiar but she could not tell where this familiarity come from. Her brain and her conscience were damaged and most of her energy was dedicated to hold on, like if she was alone, in the middle of the ocean on a small and fragile boat.
She was waiting for her fiancé. She called him a lot. He was her brightest star in this lonely cloudless night. She knew for sure one day, he will come and she will remember his name, his face, his voice, and what "fiancé" means.
When she woke two hours ago, there was a woman near her, who was tidying her bag. She called her MC, asked her if she was okay, and she remembered this was her name.
"...yes. Hello."
Her head was heavy, but she tries to rise because she needed to. The woman helped her to sit, putting one of her hand behind her neck - she was wearing nice gloves with shiny elements.
The woman had nice coloured glasses and very shiny hair. She wanted to touch them. She needed. The woman let her touch her glasses.
"...MC (...) I cannot stay here (...) remember what I said just one hour ago ?"
When she says that, her brain gave her an answer. That was so weird, yet she painfully remembered this was not that extraordinary before.
"You ... cure."
"Yes, I am curing you."
The mysterious woman caught her mirror and showed to MC. In the mirror, she saw a woman..no...she saw herself, wearing a lost, forlorn, expression. She moved her mouth and the reflexion did the same. On her forehead, she had a thick electronic headband. She reflexively touches it with her hand.
The mysterious woman commented, slowly.
"You see, it is you. And you have a headband. (...) you must not try to remove it. It is to fix you. But you must not remove it, nor let people remove it, OK ? This is what is going to save you. Do you understand ?"
"..."
The woman grabbed slightly the chin of MC.
"Can you repeat, MC, what I just told you? Please. I need to know you understand."
Again, her brain managed to answer.
"I must not remove the headband. It is important. For...save."
"Good. You are strong. I wish I could stay longer, but I have to leave."
The woman quickly hugged her, and MC felt moved by this contact. She observed the woman taking her bag and taking a box from her pocket.
"....please close your eyes. You must not see this."
MC smiled a bit and obeyed. Silence fell in the room. She opened her eyes long minutes after. The woman was not here anymore. She was attracted by the light managing to go through the closed windows and falling on the bed. She managed to open the shutters. Via the window, she could see the blossomed plum trees. She managed to open the window, and the refreshing outside air entered her room, and she heard the bird chirping.
SHE
HAD to
GO.
OUTSIDE.
NOW.
The idea was OBSESSIVE.
Her conscience faded a bit, but she found herself in front of a park entrance. She entered it, not paying attention to the people glaring at her curiously.
At one moment, a man and her daughter talked to her. She reassured them by telling them she knew her name and continued to walk. This was like she has been in jail for so long, but now she was outside, and she was grasping more and more details from the outside and this was stimulating and moving. She needed to see, to hear, and to touch, everything, like a newborn discovering the world.
One man appeared before her. She already knew his voice.
He spoke to her, before trying to take the headband.
Again her brain woke up suddenly and she heard herself say.
"Don't, Gavin. She says we should not to remove it !"
...Gavin ?
Who was Gavin ?
She felt her eyes filled with tears, as, again, her brain gave her answer in the shapes of scattered bits of memories.
Was he really her... ? This was so painful, and she found herself scared. Scared that this was true, or not true.
"Are you..."
The man in front of her looks upset but also speechless.
"Are you...my ... fiancé ... Gavin ?"
GAVIN
Gavin froze, when MC called her by his name then tells him he should not remove the headband.
His worst nightmare was happening: would MC remember her before dying from a violent death?
He heard his phone ringing but ignored it.
Now, MC was starting to cry, asking a question which made his heart stop.
He took her slowly by her shoulders.
"Yes..I am your fiancé Gavin...do you remember? Do not worry, I will save you, just trust me"
Again, he was touching her cheek, to wipe her tears, and she froze.
Again, his phone was ringing.
MC came back to her and talked very fast, with an authoritative voice.
"Gavin, answer your phone."
"...what ?"
MC insisted, fighting to align words.
"It is important...answer your phone. You're going to ...answer..."
"Okay, okay stay with me"
The call was from Lucien, and to stay with MC he put the call on headphone. The voice of the professor was immediately heard.
"Gavin ? If you are with MC, she has a headband (...) not remove it."
She felt reassured and the next moment, it was like her small boat was surprised under a waterfall of exhaustion. She could not feel her legs and she lost consciousness.
Chapter 7
LUCIEN
At the third attempt, the Officer finally answered. Lucien did not wait to hear his voice and state what is the most urgent thing to communicate to MC's fiancé. He then heard rubbing noises and like something loud falling but waited.
Then he heard the panic voice of Gavin.
"...god, Lucien, is the headband a bomb? How do I remove it? She has just fallen unconscious???"
"No, it's NOT a bomb. It is a device to cure her...so do not remove it and ... protect it from any damage. Try to stay calm and check her vitals. Where are you? I will pick you up."
Fifteen long minutes later, Lucien was sitting in the ambulance with Gavin in front of him, and MC lied unconscious on the stretcher between them. She was OK but was obviously exhausted and her blood pressure was low. No wonder she fainted.
After the nurse put her on IV, the professor summed up the elements he had in my possession and the officer, who seemed in shock, gave his elements : he remembered a woman, called Eugenia or something similar, looking evil and naughty, who had threatened him and acting suspicious. This seems to assemble with my pieces of the puzzle, minus the aggressive aspect, but several holes were let. Of course, since Lucien had read the letter from his future self, he was pretty sure he would not have all the elements. Since he would not be able to advance more on this topic now, he moved on another concern at hand. Gavin was pale, a bit confused and he offered him to go on a quick check. The Officer, loyal to the "it's just a scratch" reputation, declined.
"I am alright. Please.... focus on MC. I really do not like that headband thing."
"She is fine. The headband is a bit unknown for me, I confess, but I am confident this is a positive change. You on the other hand look terrible. I don't want MC to lose you especially if we have MC back.
Let the nurse check on you if you do not want I do this"
Gavin lowered his head between his hands and do not move.
I saw a pale hand landing on his, and he shivered...then she called him.
"Gavin..."
Gavin grabbed MC's hand then lowered his head to fix MC.
"Gavin..."
"MC, thanks heavens...."
"..."
"Are you hurt? Do you want some drink..."
"....'avin..."
"Yes, I am listening??? I am here?"
"...shut up." she whispered.
Gavin froze, not expecting this. Neither did I. From my point of view, I was seeing a miracle. She recognized him...calls him by her name...telling him to shut up. As her physician, I was never expecting to see this.
"Gavin...you...doctor. You...see...doctor...OK? I am fine. Will be fine."
Gavin's eyes filled with tears while he took MC in a hug before I or the nurse could do anything. I exchanged a look with the nurse.
And while Gavin was still hugging her, MC's other hand, the one with the IV, slowly rose in my direction. She locked her eyes with mine. She muttered.
"...Lucien"
I smiled, taking her hand in mine and kissing her lightly.
"Welcome back, MC"
GENIE, aka Luna, aka...
Once Genie was back in the Time Observers sub-dimension, used as an intermediate point, she did not pay attention too much to what was happening here, and focus to adjust the clock to be able to come back to her time & dimension as soon as possible. Happily enough, a jump possibility arrived quickly, and she grasped it immediately ignoring the dizziness to do two consecutive jumps in a short time. She did not land on her feet and stay lying on the hard surface, focusing on the clock, and the time she was giving.
Good. She was home, and at the correct time. She sighed, allowing her to finally relax. She had completed that mission, but it had been totally crazy. There was no one in the room, which was dedicated to be a departure/arrival point. She finally sits and manages to stand up. Putting her bag pack on her shoulder, the door opened suddenly, and a familiar silhouette with a white blouse appears, paused before embracing her tightly.
"....Dad, I am okay"
"You are late"
"...I am late, yes. I had to stay there longer than I thought"
"I know"
"You knew"
The 60-year-old Lucien, who had now mainly grey hair with some white highlights careful combed, remained silent.
"I knew you would encounter some difficulties...and find a solution, which would work. I did not know what solution before you left, of course....and I couldn't..."
"You couldn't tell me because this could have a bad impact."
He released her and they walk out of the room in the living room of Lucien's loft.
Genie was greeted by her favourite white tea her father had prepared. After some silent savouring, their conversation continues. Lucien asked.
"So...stem cells?"
"....Stem cells, yeah. I... her brain was so damaged, Dad. I could not believe she was able...."
"...to still hold on despite her state? She has always been...strong ...even if here, I think this was more stubbornness than anything."
They remain silent a moment, then Luna asks the question.
"Dad...since Mom was saved with material you co invented 30 years after... but you kind of discovered how to do this thanks to your future self, who becomes your present self...so who...did invent this? What is the real truth?"
Lucien smiled knowingly.
"Who was first...the egg or the chicken? Well...it could be both, or none, or any of them... What really matters what is at the centre of the circle, and what makes it turn."
MC, one month after Valentine's day events.
Gavin had taken her for a lunch. She had grown accustomed to her headband which was still in place to the point she thought it would be weird when she would have to leave it behind and not being the droid woman anymore. Her memories and cognitive capacities were back and the moments where she was off were rarer and rarer. Gavin had taken the month off, and she had been constantly with him and answering all her wishes, like a Genie giving her unlimited wishes.
She had sometimes nicknamed him like this. The first time she did, he had a curious expression, like it rang an unknown bell.
Thanks to Lucien, who had taken care of her, she had managed to be able to organize a surprise. She now had to move on her plan, and she was hoping her brain would not reboot in the middle and wipe her efforts.
"Gavin....can we go on the observation point ?"
The restaurant where they were had an overview on a small lake, with a wooden deck and two benches. They had taken the habit to go and simply staying here, looking at the lake, observing the clouds, and the peaceful landscape. Today, they had the deck for them.
Sitting on the bench and taking her bag off, she opened it and took a gift.
"Gavin, I have something for you."
She put in her hand a white bag, with the mention of the White Day.
Surprised, Gavin opened the gift. There were tens of chocolate tablets, covered with a white sheet of paper, and a handwritten big letter and one with a question mark was written on each of them.
Confused, the officer looked at MC.
"You have to guess my question to you. There are four words."
The letters were : "A,E,I,L,L,M,M,O,R,R,U,W,Y,?"
Gavin had difficulty to comply to the homework, and MC made fun of him, calling him out for being the not-Alzheimer one, but giving him help somehow. He finally found the answer.
On the ground of the observation point, a question, with four words and a question mark, was now written:
WILL
YOU
MARRY
ME
?
GAVIN
Gavin felt like an idiot, but was also touched.
One month ago, he had explicitly said their wedding vows were suspended until MC had her full mental capacities back.
One month has passed, but she was still very fragile, he had to be with her constantly to protect her from danger, yet she has managed to make this little surprise despite him being with her nearly all the time.
The emotion took the advantage, and he turned to MC, who has kneeled near him when he was not looking and had a small box in her hand she had opened, with an elegant ring made of two circles entangled together, one silver, one golden.
"..."
MC took a deep breath, and recited:
"Gavin, will y....mff"
MC
MC tried to say: "Gavin, will you marry me ?" but Gavin interrupted her by cupping her face in his hands and kiss her deeply.
When he released her, MC was out of breath, and pokes him several times on the forehead which had now a red mark, like a print of her headband.
"You did not let me ask....and you did not answer...and depending on your answer, I have to put that ring...you ruined everything."
Now, Gavin was laughing, and MC starts pouting, trying not to join him in the laughter too much.
"And you are mocking me now...do you know how difficult it was ...to..."
To just think about this? Prepare this? She sighed, feeling her brain going down and sat on her knees.
Gavin stopped teasing, knowing always the signs before she was going off. He gave him his right hand and he says.
"Hey...thanks for this. I want to marry you, more than anything"
She beamed, and she slowly took the ring she chose to put it on his ring finger.
MC let Gavin help her to rise, and sit again on the bench facing the lake.
Beaming, she closed her eyes, relaxed.
She heard the slightly concerned voice of Gavin near her.
"Are you alright? Do you want to come back home, maybe ?"
"I am fine. I want to stay here a bit. The sun is nice"
They felt silent again. She had the impression Gavin was moving near him and keep her eyes closed, let her other senses refine, happy that her surprise works so well. It was another step to move on, but an important one.
"MC... Would you mind open your eyes ?"
MC obeyed and gasped.
Gavin had kneeled near her and was presenting a small box in his hands.
He chuckled, before solemnly declaring.
"Like I told you... I prefer postpone all this until you recovered. That would not have been right. When you fell ill, I thought I would be your fiancé forever and it did not really matter. Now you are recovering though, this is not true anymore. I want to be with you...not as your fiancé, but as your husband.
MC, will yoummmmf"
MC hugged Gavin to kiss him deeply without letting him finish. She did not think she would have her occasion to take revenge so quickly. Her future ex-fiancé got it or was okay to be kissed. When she released him, he chuckled again.
"What am I going to do with you, frankly."
"Marry me! Oh, you did not open the box yet. Can I see it now ?", asked MC candidly.
"Yes, you attacked me before, you droid-woman. Here it is, I hope you'll like it."
I was a simple golden ring, with a small sapphire stone in the centre surrounded by two smaller topazes.
She held her right hand as approbation, and declared. "Yes, I want to marry you, Gavin"
Gavin puts the ring he chose on her ring finger, before joining again MC on the bench, putting her thighs on his and hugging her.
It was like a long journey had ended and he could finally rest.
The wind rose, making the trees rustling and the lake surface quivering : waves rippled on the deck's stilts with that peculiar, quiet sound, reminding when wind is invisible, you can still feel it.
Like love.