Chapter Text
Riza
When Riza had flown to Xing she’d been so focussed on the tragedy of discovering Mia was injured and in hospital that her fear of flying didn’t rear its head once.
But flying home? Now, it was another story.
Her heart raced in her chest, much the same as it had done, as she’d practically ran down that first hospital’s corridor, in search of Mia. Her hands were sweating so much it was causing her passport to slip slowly from her grasp because of how tightly she was clutching at it.
It was a wonder no one had noticed –
“Riza?”
The call of her name was quiet. Private.
Riza was startled from her thoughts of planes, travel and turned to face concerned eyes. Roy was watching her closely and, she knew, he could absolutely tell she was not okay. However, he was waiting for her to choose to voice it herself – to choose whether or not to tell him something was wrong.
Riza licked her lips as her eyes darted around her surroundings. She noted the child looking as white as a sheet, a paper bag held up to his face as a woman rubbed his back comfortingly. She spied the man sleeping, sprawled out over multiple seats at one of the empty gates. Kids ran around playing a game while tired adults rested, shrieking and laughing as they tried to entertain themselves while they waited.
Every sight and sound grated on her nerves.
Riza gave him a tiny shake of her head.
Roy’s fingers slowly entwined with hers and Riza latched on tightly as they walked through the airport.
A member of staff had met them upon arrival and had provided Mia with a wheelchair. Her crutches were resting across her lap as she travelled and the young man manoeuvring her through the busy space kept an easy rapport with her, chatting about anything and everything. Mia had shared her fears of flying home and not knowing what to expect regarding her pain, but the young man was putting her entirely at ease. Her tense shoulders had relaxed and Riza had heard her laugh at whatever he’d said more than once.
That was one worry off her mind – Mia was at ease.
They’d been directed to a restaurant just down from their gate. They had five hours to wait for their flight but with Mia on crutches or in a wheelchair, there wasn’t much else for them to do, so they opted to arrive at the airport well over the time needed for an international flight. Once situated, Riza tried to calm herself and focus on the menu in front of her. She knew she should eat, but the words were swimming on the page and the thought of eating anything was so far from her mind as her stomach was turning and twisting itself into knots.
“This looks good,” Roy hummed excitedly. His eyes hungrily scanned the page. “I don’t know what to choose.”
If only she were that lucky.
“What do you want to drink?”
Roy paused and shot Mia a look. She simply smiled calmly. Her forearms rested on the table before her, hands clasped together expectantly. Perfectly at ease.
“My treat,” Mia tacked on.
But Roy was already shaking his head. “Mia, no.”
“Dad, yes. It’s the least I could do. To say thank you.” Her confidence wavered for a second and uncertainty and worry clouded her eyes for a moment.
“And I told you there’s no thanks needed, little love,” Roy shot back with an easy wink.
“Dad, please.” Her entire demeanour changed. Mia looked between them both with wide, pleading eyes. The same expression Riza had been sucker to for years. “I want to.”
She desperately wanted to do something for her parents.
The urge to deny her rose naturally, but Riza paused. It obviously meant a lot to her to be able to do something like this.
The specialist at the hospital informed them this could, and most likely will, happen. The feeling of guilt for putting them through this ordeal. For them having to watch her, helpless, and uncertain. And of course, knowing Mia, Riza knew this was exactly the kind of thing she’d fret over. She was like her mother. Riza knew Mia would be trying to pay them back for this for months, perhaps years, to come.
So, she conceded.
Seeing Mia’s face light up made it worth it.
“All right.” Riza snapped his menu closed. “Your treat, so you choose for us.” She’d manage a drink, at least. She’d do it for Mia.
Roy’s gaze flicked to hers. She could tell from the corner of her eye. However, he didn’t question her. He slowly closed his menu and placed it on the table.
He was following her lead.
“Really?” Mia grinned.
“Yup. It’s on you, Mia.”
Riza knew that mischievous look in her daughter’s eye, so simply grinned back at her.
So, Mia ordered them both large margaritas.
“When you said a drink, I was thinking more a drink of juice, Mia,” Roy glared playfully at her while eyeing up his large cocktail. They were comically large glasses.
Mia just stuck out her tongue at him in response.
In all honest, Riza thought the alcohol may be for the best. It would certainly help settle her nerves.
“You deserve far more than a strong cocktail after what you’ve been through the past few weeks. And! We can count it as a celebration.” Her smile was triumphant, knowing she’d won them both over easily. She lifted her glass of water (necessary, due to her painkillers), and toasted, “to my good health.”
Roy lifted the glass in a toast. “To Mia’s good health.”
“To your good health.” The spike of lime and hint of tequila hit Riza’s tongue. It was tasty and she could already feel her shoulders relaxing ever so slightly.
Hopefully, it would be enough to ease her burdens and anxiety, at least for a little while.
At least, to give Mia peace, so she wouldn’t worry about her flying home.
Roy
Riza wasn’t doing too well.
Roy could tell she was anxious and fearful as she settled into her seat on the plane. Her hands shook as she secured her seatbelt and as soon as it was done, she gripped the arm rests tightly, leaned back in her seat, and pressed her head against the headrest with a sharp exhale.
His heart ached for her. No doubt, on the journey over, she’d been so wrapped up in the uncertainty of Mia’s condition that she hadn’t thought much about flying. But now, it was rushing back to her.
They’d been on holiday once together before, years ago, when Mia was seven. Roy knew then Riza was scared of flying, however he hadn’t understood just how bad her fear of it was. It had never come up and she’d never offered up much beforehand. But had still went along with it, for Mia’s sake. While Mia had her face plastered to the window in awe at the ground rushing away from them, Roy had tended to a terrified Riza. Who, despite her own debilitating fear, still did it all for her daughter. Who still tried to give her everything, despite her own reservations and fears.
So, Roy did the same as he’d done back then.
He looked to Riza.
Mia had already sighed happily and relaxed into her seat anyway. She’d been manoeuvred into a space where she’d have enough leg room to stretch out and prop up her broken leg. She’d bought a book in the airport and was already pulling it out excitedly, ready to dig in.
Ideally, they’d all be sitting together in a three, however it wasn’t feasible with Mia’s needs. So, she sat in the row across from them at the back of the plane in a single seat. One which has been shoved into the space to maximise passenger numbers, but it worked in their favour. Riza and Roy sat in a two beside her.
Before, Riza had voiced how she’d felt trapped while sitting in the middle seat. When she sat at the window, motion sickness was nearly instant as soon as the horizon rose or dipped. Understandable, after he’d read up on motion sickness. So, Roy had arranged for himself to sit at the window and her at the aisle. With Riza there, Roy figured it would give her some sense of freedom and would somewhat block the view of the window – or at least he could try and block it as best he could.
It was a shame both Riza and Mia were separated, however they weren’t far. And if anything were to happen, Mia was within reaching distance across the aisle from Riza. And Roy would be right there with them, for whatever they needed.
“Hey.”
Roy kept his voice low as he slowly collected Riza’s hand in his. She latched on to him, gripping his fingers so tight the ends turned deep red with a dull pulse of pain.
“I don’t like flying,” Riza confessed immediately in a whisper.
This, he knew. Of course, he did.
“I know.” Roy lifted her hand, bringing Riza’s knuckles to his lips. He kissed them gently, giving her hand a squeeze. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Either of you.”
Riza let out a quiet laugh. Her eyes shined as she met his gaze. “Are you offering to fly the plane?”
He shot her a grin. “My training does include pilot training. I could do it, you know.”
She laughed again. Her grip on his fingers loosened slightly. Her shoulders lowered.
“It will be okay.”
“Mum?” Mia’s call disrupted them from their moment. She peered across the aisle worriedly.
“Fine, honey. Just a little uneasy, that’s all.”
“We’ll be fine. I’ll make sure of it,” Roy added, patting Riza’s hand.
He’d hoped the extra cocktail or two would ease her nerves somewhat, but that didn’t seem to the be case. No matter. Roy would be by their side, ready to reassure and assist where need be. Just like he’d always tried to be.
He’d stumbled and failed a few times along the way, throughout their lives, however, no more.
Never again.
“She’s okay.” Roy looked over at Mia. “How are you doing?”
Mia’s concern dropped, changing to a hint of fear and worry, before she flashed him a grin. “All right.”
He couldn’t help but detect a hint of a question, an uncertainty, to her reply. All he had to do was raise an eyebrow and her façade fell.
“A little bit nervous,” Mia admitted. She rubbed at her sore leg.
“The doctors said you’d be okay to fly, so don’t worry too much about it. And we have painkillers if you need it.” Roy wished he was by her side in that moment. “Just let me know what you need, okay?”
Her smile was nervous, but she did it all the same. “I will, Dad.”
Roy settled back in his seat – his hand still clasped tightly in Riza’s – and prepared to get comfortable for the long flight ahead.
As soon as it was indicated as safe to do so, he’d lower the window shade for Riza.
Despite it all, he was grateful he was there with them. To go through this with them.
He’d rather it hadn’t happened at all, but it had.
And he was there. With them.
There was nowhere else he’d rather be.
Mia
Dad was dozing by the window – and much to Mia’s surprise, so was Mum. She was sitting with her head on Dad’s shoulder.
The sight caused a smile to blossom on Mia’s face.
Even when they’d awoken before landing, they’d fumbled and pretended it was nothing, but Mia had seen the blush on both their cheeks. The way they clung to one another, even still. And how they had done throughout the whole flight.
Now, in the transfer back home, they slept against one another again, exhausted.
Because of her.
Mia tried to shift the difficult feeling, but it was hard. She wasn’t sure if it would ever leave her. She didn’t want to tell her parents, in fear it would riddle them with guilt. And then it would end up a never-ending circle of the same emotion.
It was up to her deal with. She wouldn’t trouble them with it.
Still, a thrill went through her chest at the thought of them being so close with one another. Whatever they chose to do, was up to them. She’d learned their relationship was complicated enough. They didn’t need her to make it worse.
So, she’d see where it went…
Although all signs were obviously pointing to what Mia desired most for her parents. But she’d wait and see…
(Wait and hope.)
Dad travelled with them all way back to their house. He helped her get settled and made sure they were comfortable.
He even went shopping for her and Mum – and brought back everything they’d asked for, exact same things and brands they’d usually get. As if he’d memorised their weekly shop.
Mia didn’t know why that meant so much to her – and to Mum – but it did.
He settled into their lives as easy as breathing.
As if he’d never been away.
He was all easy smiles and jokes as he put their shopping away. There was the odd cupboard he got wrong, but he found where everything was stored so easily and put them away without thinking. As if he’d lived with them his whole life.
Mia’s heart warmed.
She knew Mum had noticed as well.
As Mia’s eyes drooped, it took the two of them to help her up the stairs. Mia managed to change into pyjamas herself, but called Mum in to help her get into bed.
Her head popped around the crack in the door to check on her, wide, worried eyes immediately searching her face.
Mia shot her a sheepish smile. “Can you help me get into bed?”
She’d tried pulling the duvet cover over but couldn’t do it comfortably enough and couldn’t situate it so it didn’t bring her any discomfort.
“If it rests on my foot it hurts.” Mia winced as her leg throbbed painfully. “But I can’t throw it off enough to keep it away from it while also keep me warm –”
Mum swooped in effortlessly, moving the cover so it rested snuggly over her leg to keep her warm and comforted, while keeping her toes and foot free from any external pressure.
Every time Mia had tried to throw it off her foot, she’d caught it, causing shooting pain up her leg.
“Thanks, Mum.” Her sigh was full of relief.
Mum ran a hand across her head and down her cheek. She pressed a kiss against her forehead. “No thanks needed, sweetheart. Are you okay? Comfortable?”
“Yep.”
“Any pain?”
Mia shook her head.
“Dad wants to come in and say goodnight. Is that okay?”
“Yeah, of course.”
As soon as the words were out her mouth, Dad’s head popped round the door, just like Mum’s had. If she hadn’t been so tired, Mia would’ve laughed at how comical it looked.
“Okay, little love?” He immediately sat on the edge of her bed and ran a thumb over her forehead. Mia’s fringe was brushed off her face and Dad cupped her cheek as he smiled down at her.
Mia felt so loved and cared for. She felt safe. And she was so pleased he was still there, with them. Just like she’d always silently hoped he would be, one day.
“Yeah, Dad.”
He pressed a kiss against her forehead. “Sleep well. And if you need anything, just give us a shout, all right?”
He rose to stand beside Mum, slipping his hand into hers.
“Are you going to be staying with us, Dad?” Apparently, her tiredness had caused a burst of courage and boldness.
But Mia didn’t miss how Mum and Dad shared a soft look. Dad tried to remain casual and neutral – but failed. He immediately looked to Riza, expectantly.
A slow smile spread across Mum’s face.
“I think so, Mia.”
Dad wrapped an arm around Mum’s shoulders tight and pressed a kiss against her temple. As if he’d been waiting for her to take the first step and confirm what he wanted, more than anything.
Mia grinned. “Good. I want him to say.”
Tiredness was loosening her tongue, apparently.
“I’ve always wanted him to.”
“I know, sweetheart. I know.”
Her eyes drooped with the safety and comfort of knowing her mother and father were watching over her, as they always had been.
And always would be now, it seemed.
“I’m not going anywhere, Mia. I’ll be with you and Mum, from now on.”