Chapter Text
CHAPTER ONE: HURRY HOME
“What do you want from a relationship? A. Companionship, B. Romance, or C. Great sex?”
Lucy forced herself to take another slow and labored breath. The heart monitor next to her bed beat a steady rhythm.
It sounded like a ticking time bomb.
“Hm… To be honest I am thinking ‘C’, but we should say ‘A’ so we get a better score.”
COUGH
COUGH COUGH
COUGH COUGH COUGH
The monitor sped up.
“Luce?! What do you need?” Two warm arms wrapped around her shoulders and began to gently pat her back. “You are going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine.”
Lucy wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince.
“Water.” Lucy moaned once her cough had abated. Her throat was dry and scratchy from her lengthy slumber. She had been sleeping more and more lately, the new meds she had been placed on meant to make her comfortable. Nobody ever wanted to mention what it was they were making her more comfortable for, but Lucy knew. She had always known.
Lucy opened her eyes as the feeling of a straw met her lips. She was greeted with the warm and slightly panicked face of her best friend, Florence Karim. The two girls had been friends since Lucy had moved to London when she was a teenager. They had met at the hospital. Lucy had been there after a minor scare had sent Pops into a panic. Florence had laying been in the cot next to her, getting her arm plastered after breaking her wrist. A few episodes of The Great British Bake Off and one bad hospital meal shared between the two of them later and they were inseparable. They had thirteen at the time; they were twenty-five now.
Lucy frowned as Flo fluffed her pillows before gently laying her against them once more. Just the simple act of holding herself in a sitting position for a few seconds had drained her.
“Flo?”
“I know, I know. We should have been honest and put ‘C’.” Flo smiled though it did not reach her dark brown eyes. “Make sure you tell Georgie next time he comes, yeah? He will probably want to turn all three answers into an experiment. I would never turn down more romance and sex.”
Lucy pulled a face. She feared if she tried to fake vomit like she wanted to it would cause her to do the real thing, not like there was much in her stomach to begin with. She had barely touched any food in days. Only Pops and Flo could get her to eat a few bites and occasionally George. The young man, Flo’s husband and a good friend of Lucy’s in his own right, had brought her favorite biscuits when he had come to visit a few days ago. They had tasted like ash in her mouth. She had eaten them anyway. Nothing tasted good to her anymore, not even Pops’ world famous—according to him—Italian fish and chips.
Pops.
Lucy forced herself to stay awake and alert for what she needed to say. It was too important for her to fall back asleep now.
What if she didn’t wake up?
“You have to promise to take care of Pops for me.”
Tears pooled behind Flo’s eyes. “You are going to take care of him.”
Lucy slowly shook her head. “I may not…” She swallowed thickly, the sight of Flo’s watery eyes causing her own to tear up. “I may not get a heart.”
“Don’t think like that. There is still a chance—”
“I don’t think… I am… going to make it.” Lucy whispered. Every word was more and more difficult to say. She had only been awake for a few minutes and was already exhausted.
“You will. I know you will.” Flo held her hand and rubbed small circles in her palm. “All you need to think about right now is all the things you are going to do when you get better. Ride a bike—”
“—a bike—”
“—fly on a plane—”
“—a… plane…”
“And go to—”
“—Disneyworld.” Lucy finished for her with a sigh. “Ride… a-a rollercoaster. And we-wear the… ears.”
“We will buy you every single pair of them.” Flo forced a laugh. “You’ll do it. I know you will because Lucy Carlyle is the strongest person I know. When she sets her mind to something, watch out world, because she is going to fucking do it.”
Lucy accepted Flo’s gentle fist bump from. Disneyworld had been a dream of hers since she was a young girl and had watched all the animated classics when she had stayed in the hospital for over a month. They had been so magical. She dreamed of going on adventures to faraway places with the characters. When Tangled had come out, she had cried, wanting so desperately to be like Rapunzel and experience a world that often times felt off limits to her, the disease raving her heart her own Mother Gothel.
A single tear fell down Lucy’s cheek as she remembered who she had promised to go to Disneyworld with.
“Noni… I—I promised her we would go together.”
Lucy had met Noni at a support group for young people with terminal illnesses before she had moved to London. Lucy had still been living with her poor excuse for a mother at the time. Noni was funny and kind and full of life. She battled cancer with such courage everyone had thought she was going to make it. She had printed up a map of Disneyworld and checked off all the places they would go to first and in what order. In the corner she had written ‘LUCY AND NONI WERE HERE’ in big block letters.
Noni passed away two years after they had met. The cancer had been too aggressive.
Lucy’s mother had abandoned her a week after Noni was laid to rest. She left her only daughter with nothing more than a single note saying she could no longer watch after such a high maintenance child. The letter had made Pops’ blood boil. Lucy was not high maintenance like that ‘selfish bitch’ had claimed; she was sick. Pops had driven the few hours to her village without question as soon as Lucy explained to him what happened. Being her only next of kin—he was the father of her own father, who himself had passed away when she was a toddler from the same heart defect Lucy was battling against—and taken her with him to London. Pops was gruff and sarcastic and had a frightening looking skull tattooed on his forearm that often made people terrified of him. He was also caring and funny and for the first time in her life Lucy felt like she had an adult who truly cared for her when she moved in with him. He took her to all of her appointments without question, slept in the hospital with her when she needed to stay overnight, read so many books about how to help her that Lucy thought he could be a doctor himself, and had left the restaurant he loved so much in the hands of his workers last summer so he could take Lucy on a road trip to see every single beach in England because she loved the water so much. She had grown progressively weaker as the weeks went by. At the final location, Pops had carried her to the ocean, gently setting her toes against the sand and holding her against him as the waves crashed along the shore.
“Pops.” Lucy whispered. “Promise… me.”
Flo sadly nodded her head. “All right. I promise.”
XXXXXX
Anthony Lockwood laughed brightly as a tall and slender blur ran past his room and up the stairs.
“You’re late.”
“I am not late! I am home at precisely the time I wanted to be, which is right now.”
“Well then, I suppose since you are not in a rush you can help me with my bowtie? I can’t seem to get the knot—”
“Anthony Lockwood you will tie your bowtie yourself or so help me God—”
“Why, Jessica, you aren’t stressed are you? Someone who is running on time would most certainly—”
Jessica Lockwood opened the door to her room and glared down the stairs at her younger brother with such fury, Lockwood was grateful he wasn’t close enough for her to cuff him behind the ears.
“Don’t finish that sentence.” She threatened.
Lockwood raised his hands in surrender and smiled his most placating smile at Jessica, all white teeth and understanding brown eyes. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Small feet charged towards the stairs. Toad let out a happy bark when she saw her favorite Lockwood sibling home. The brother and sister had bought the corgi three years previously.
“Jess, get Toad to eat. She wouldn’t listen to me. Again.” Lockwood glared at the adorable dog as she wagged her tail happily. “You traitor. You know, I am the one who walks you.”
Toad rolled onto her back to demand belly scratches.
“Toad, eat.”
Toad immediately bounced onto her legs and pranced happily to the kitchen.
“Now, about this bowtie—"
Jessica huffed before closing the door. A soft thud followed by a curse word caused Lockwood to laugh. Jessica had never been on time in her life. It only made sense she would be late to the gala she was effectively in charge of.
Lockwood gave up on his bowtie after failing to knot it properly for the sixth time. He chose to instead wear his favorite skinny black necktie with his freshly pressed slim fitted black suit. Looking at his beloved trainers fondly, Lockwood instead placed his black dress shoes on his feet.
“Lockie, the event is ‘black tie’.” Jessica said with a frown as she ran down the stairs to where he was waiting for her by the door.
“I’m wearing a tie.”
“You wear that one every day.”
“How dare you.” Lockwood gasped. “I wear this one every other day.”
Jessica sighed in exasperation. She finished clasping her diamond earrings and gave a small twirl. “How do I look?”
“Nice?”
Jessica scoffed. She playfully nudged him in his shoulder, an act she had done to him many, many times whenever he annoyed her, which was often.
“Okay, fine. You look lovely. Everyone is going to bid on you.”
Toad barked agreeably from the kitchen.
“They aren’t bidding on me; they are donating to the foundation. Honestly how do you not know what is going on when you are the architect in charge of the entire project?”
“Oh, I know what is going on.” Lockwood assured her. He took her hands, slightly shaking from nerves, and smiled reassuringly. “Everything is going to be fine. You will get the donations. I am going to build Coco and Roger and the rest of them the best primate house. They will be so happy. And it will all be because of you.”
Jessica threw her arms around her brother. “I love you, Lockie.”
“Love you too, sis.”
XXXXXX
Lockwood stood in the middle of the bustling ballroom. Jessica had just delivered the most amazing speech to all the stuffed shirts in attendance. He was sure that even the blackest of hearts would donate to her cause once the night was over.
Jessica Lockwood was a distinguished zoologist at the London Zoo. She worked extensively with their primates, particularly the gorillas. Tough their current habitat was well kept and loved, it was also small, and with the zoo’s desire to breed their male and female to help with conservation efforts, Jessica was determined to raise the necessary funds to build them a larger home. Lockwood’s architecture firm had won the bid to create the space.
Lockwood smirked as Jessica touched the bun resting at the nape of her neck. It was her signal she needed rescuing from whatever inane conversation she was being forced to endure. Lockwood made a short detour to the where live band was tuning their instruments before making his way to his sister.
“Lockie, there you are.” Jessica said with a tight smile. Clearly, she was unimpressed with how long it had taken him to rescue her. “You remember Mr. Stevens.”
Lockwood did remember Mr. Stevens. He was an old man with an enormous amount of wealth who loved to give ‘anonymous donations’ to whatever cause he cared about at the time. He was nice and harmless enough if a bit dim.
“Hullo, Anthony.” Mr. Stevens said as the two men shook hands.
“Lockwood, if you please.”
Mr. Stevens raised his eyebrows. Jessica laughed lightly and patted Lockwood on the chest.
“Lockie has always had a bit of a complex about his first name. There were several boys with his same name in school, you see, and he despised being called ‘Tony’ or ‘Anthony L’ so he settled on being called Lockwood. He insisted we all called him that at home to keep things neat and tidy.”
“Yes, yes, it is important for a young boy to have a name to call his own. It gives him a sense of purpose.” Mr. Stevens said sagely.
Lockwood tipped his head to the side and forced himself not to laugh.
“Did your sister tell you about the donation I made?”
“The anonymous one? Yes. I believe she did.”
“The missus and I love the gorillas. We went on an expedition to see them in the wild a month ago. Can you imagine? Me and the missus on an expedition to see the gorillas!”
“It boggles the—”
Jessica stepped on his foot. Hard.
“It sounds lovely.” She said politely.
“Of course it was nothing compared to Greece. Have you ever been to Greece? The beaches there are simply fantastic. Me and the missus even tried a nude beach! Can you imagine? Me and the missus naked as the day we were born!”
“I’ve always wanted to go to Disneyworld.”
Jessica choked on her champagne in response to her brother’s deadly serious statement.
“Disneyworld?!” Mr. Stevens declared. “At your age?!”
“I’m only twenty-eight.” Lockwood replied evenly.
“Well I suppose it could be a considered fun to pretend to be child for a day or two.”
“I think it would great fun.” Jessica offered brightly now that she had been given a bit of time to compose herself. She pressed a napkin against her dress to clear away a few small drops of champagne.
“You do?” Lockwood turned to his sister in mild surprise. He had only said that to get a rise out of Mr. Stevens. His sister, however, looked completely genuine.
“I do. We have both been working so hard these last few years. I can’t remember when we were able to take a vacation. It would be nice to go somewhere fun and silly, don’t you think?” Her brown eyes twinkled. “Besides, I would love to see you out of your suits for once and in those ridiculous family shirts everyone is always wearing.”
“It’s a deal.”
Jessica’s brown eyes, so much like her brothers, widened in surprise. “Wh-what?”
“Once all this business is taken care of you, I am taking you to Disneyworld.”
“And you’ll wear the shirts? And the ears? And take the picture in front of the castle?”
“I suppose if that will make you happy—”
Jessica squealed. She threw her arms around her brother and laughed delightedly. “Thank you Lockie! I am holding you to this, you know. I won’t forget.”
“Neither will I.”
Jessica disentangled herself from her brother. She playfully mussed his perfectly styled brown hair he had brushed to the side and textured with product to give it a bit of volume.
“Return to me.
Oh my dear I’m so lonely.”
Jessica’s eyes turned soft. “You didn’t…”
Lockwood nodded, beaming. “I did.” He returned his attention to Mr. Stevens. “It has been a pleasure speaking with you. However, I do believe I promised my sister a dance. If you will excuse us.”
Mr. Stevens waived them goodbye, calling out to them at an indecently high pitch that perhaps he would go to Disneyworld with the missus as well.
“Crazy old bat.” Lockwood muttered under his breath.
“Lockie!” Jessica giggled. “Don’t be rude.”
Lockwood led Jessica to the dance floor. He spun her around as the song their parents danced to at the wedding played in the background. Though he would never tell her, his sister did in fact look beautiful.
“I was thinking…” Jessica hesitated.
“Yes?”
“You should start dating.”
Lockwood rolled his eyes. “I date.”
“You do not.” Jessica said with a scoff. “You are either at work or at home. You never go out. You don’t really have any friends—”
“I have friends.”
“You have work acquaintances.”
It was true. Lockwood didn’t spend much time outside of work with anybody at work beyond the occasional beer. His business partner and former rival turned sort of friend Quill Kipps was constantly trying to get him to go out. Lockwood always deferred. He had never been one for large parties or social gatherings. He preferred easy nights at home reading a book or watching a history program on the telly.
“I am happy, Jess.”
“And lonely.”
“I have you and Toad.”
“But is it enough?”
Lockwood pursed his lips together and remained silent.
“I know you are happy. I just… I feel like you could be happier; find someone who could bring a bit of color into your normally black and white world.” She said softly, gesturing to his stereotypical black and white suit.
Lockwood sighed. “Okay. I promise you I will try to be a bit more social, if only to get you to stop bothering me about it.”
“It’s deal.” Jessica beamed. “I’ve got you on the hook for two things now. I will be monitoring you to make sure you don’t go back on your word.”
Lockwood laughed lightly. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
Jessica began to jump and down wildly as the next song began to play, a faster, swingier version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” Unlike himself, Jessica went out with friends and dated. A lot. Lockwood was sure he would have to play the part of protective younger brother that night as many single men watched her laugh merrily.
Jessica always hated it when Lockwood did that.
Lockwood absolutely loved it.
XXXXXX
“Sir, what happened?”
Lockwood blinked against the bright lights of the hospital.
It was wrong.
All of it.
“I don’t—I don’t…” Lockwood gasped as a fresh wave of nausea assaulted his sense.
“Car accident. A truck hit them on the passenger side.” The paramedic answered for him.
“What is her name?”
“Jessica Lockwood.” Lockwood managed to answer.
“Age?”
“Thirty-two.”
“Any allergies to medications?”
“N—no.”
Lockwood continued to hold his sister’s hand as they ran her stretcher through triage. She hadn’t woken up since the accident. He made to go with her through the heavy door with her towards surgery, but a pair of strong arms stopped him.
“Sir, I’m afraid you can’t go back there.”
“B-but—”
“I am so sorry. You need to be checked out as well. It looks like your arm is broken. Come with me and I will—”
“The blood. It isn’t mine.”
Lockwood’s normally crisp white button down was covered in red. It was Jessica’s blood. He had cradled her body against his own after he managed to get her out of their vehicle. He knew he shouldn’t have moved her but there had been a strong smell of gasoline and Lockwood had feared the car would catch fire with her inside.
“Is there anyone I can call to be here with you? Perhaps your parents?”
“They’re dead.” Lockwood looked at his blood-stained hands with detachment. “They died when we were children. Our nanny passed away three years ago.” His entire body began to shake. “Oh, God.” Lockwood gasped. His legs buckled and he cradled his head in his hands as he collapsed onto the cold hospital floor. “Oh God. She can’t—she cant…” He looked at the nurse with tears streaming down his face. “I can’t lose her. She is my sister.”
The nurse patted his back, her entire being radiating with empathy. “We will do everything we can. I promise.”
XXXXXX
Flo’s cell phone rang. It was loud and annoying.
Lucy moaned in protest as her dream of ridding on a roller coaster with the wind blowing in her hair faded into the recesses of her mind. She had never felt so free in her entire life.
“NO FUCKING WAY!” Flo screamed. “NO FUCKING WAY!!!!!”
Lucy forced her eyes to open. Florence was jumping up and down and screaming so loudly Lucy was sure she was going to be kicked out of the hospital.
“Wh—What happened?”
Flo pointed her finger at Lucy’s chest. “Your heart. You have a heart.”
Lucy gasped as a deep warmth filled her aching chest.
She had a heart.
No.
More than a heart.
She had a chance.