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Fan Fiction

 Title: True love
Author: Trang
Genre: Romance/Drama/Humour
Started: 29. July 2001
Finished: 06. November 2001

CHAPTER 22 - Promise me you won't leave

"Marie, you okay?" Maite asked, running passed Paddy and Angelo.
Paddy's arms dropped off of Angelo. He swung his body around and saw Marie sitting on the floor, pain filling her face.
"Marie!" he practically yelled, running over to her side.
Patricia was already there, talking to her, trying to find out what was wrong.
"It hurts." Marie kept saying over and over. Her eyes closed in pain as Patricia tried to get her to stand up.
"We have to get her to the hospital, quickly." Kathy said, looking over at Paddy.
"Angelo grab the door." Paddy screamed, picking Marie up off the floor.
"Paddy don't panic." Kathy ordered, jogging behind him.
Paddy ignored it and walked straight to the limo.
"Jimmy open the door." Paddy shouted, seeing Joey and Jimmy decorating the limo with cans and a "Just Married" sign.
Looking back at Paddy a little surprised, Jimmy saw Marie in his arms and immediately opened the door. Paddy laid Marie down inside, and told the guys that he'd see them later.
"To the hospital." they heard Paddy tell the driver, before he shut the door.
"What happened?" Jimmy asked.
"Something's wrong with Marie." Angelo said.
"Guys, we're gonna follow them." Johnny said.
"Quickly!" Jess said, joining the group with Amanda and Nicola.
"Get in the car." Joey said.

*In the Limo*
"Marie… you're gonna be okay!" Paddy said as happy as he could, making it sound like a command. But underneath all that, he was scared to death. 
Marie's body rocked back and forth as she laid on her back, the cold leather hitting her bare skin.
"Paddy… it hurts!" She cried, squeezing his hand harder.
"I know baby I know." Paddy tried to comfort his newly wed wife. "Damn it can't we go any faster!" Paddy screamed at the driver, letting Marie claw the life out of his hand.
"Sorry sir, it's not the easiest to speed through town in a stretch limo." The driver apologized.
Paddy looked down at Marie, she was breathing heavily.
"Remember to breath?" He smiled.
Wincing in pain, Marie let out a low groan.
"Something's not right" she whispered in between her gasps of breath. Paddy glanced back through the window and saw his siblings' cars following them with Jimmy's close behind. He smiled at his caring family and friends. Rubbing his thumb over Marie's hand, he nervously started singing. Paddy didn't know why he was singing, maybe to calm Marie down a bit.
Just then the limo pulled up next to the emergency door, and the driver shoved it into park. He ran to the other side to open the door, while Paddy got Marie ready to go. Getting a good grip on her legs, Paddy carried her through the sliding glass doors.
"I need some help in here." he screamed, looking around for a doctor.
Hearing his screams for help, a nurse came running in.
"What's the problem?" she asked calmly, looking at Marie hanging in his arms.
"My girlfriend… I mean my wife is in pain, can't you see that?" Paddy said, getting frustrated. He hated seeing Marie like this and he wanted to fix her as soon as possible.
"Well… I'll go get a doctor." the nurse in a pink lab coat said.
"She's pregnant." Paddy revealed, watching Marie turn her head slowly over to look at the nurse.
"Oh, she probably just went into labor." the nurse said, wheeling a wheelchair over to them. "Please sit in this… Mrs…" she said looking at Paddy.
She knew who he was, her daughter loved him to death but she wasn't going to say anything.
"Mrs. Kelly." Paddy whispered.
"You gonna push or would you…?" the nurse started to ask but was interrupted by a painful scream coming out of Marie.
"You walk, we'll follow." Paddy instructed. He grabbed the handles and started pushing Marie down the hallway.
Getting on the elevator, the nurse lead them to the room, where a doctor and his crew would be waiting.

"Hey guys" Angelo said.
"Hey" Johnny said back.
"I see you haven't went inside yet." Patricia acknowledged.
"Nope just got here." Jimmy smiled.
"Well let's go in, no use standing out here." Barby laughed.
The large group walked inside and watched as Johnny went to the front desk. After receiving directions he walked back to the quiet group. Johnny told them to follow him and they walked to the elevator.
"Paddy!" Marie screamed, sending chills down his back.
"What babe? I'm here." he said gently, standing next to her.
Paddy glanced down at the doctors examining her.
"Is she going to be okay?" Paddy asked, not caring if he interrupted their conversation.
Dr. Williams looked at Paddy and shook his head.
"She's going to be just fine." the doctor told Paddy.
Paddy sighed in relief.
"She just went into labor, that's all… this outta calm her down." the doctor said, shooting epidermal some into her.
"How are you feeling, Mrs. Kelly?" Dr. Williams asked a few minutes later.
Marie smiled up at him, indicating she was doing better.
"Okay, I guess I better get used to being called that." she had almost forgotten that today was her wedding day.
Marie's eyes dropped and she fell into a deep sleep. 

Moments later, she woke up very disoriented.
"Paddy?" Marie called out, searching the room.
"I'm here, Marie." Paddy said, pulling himself out of the nearby chair.
"Oh good. I thought you left me there for a sec." Marie sighed.
"Now why would I do a stupid thing like that?" Paddy asked, walking over to her side.
"I don't know." Marie whispered.
"Sit with me… please." Marie begged moments later.
Paddy sat on the bed next to his wife, and watched her grab onto his hand. She kissed his fingertips and then smiled when she saw his wedding ring.
"You're mine now." Marie said.
"I wouldn't have it any other way." Paddy replied, kissing her forehead.
"My you're looking better." the doctor said, walking into the room with his clipboard.
"Yeah… I feel better." Marie smiled, sitting up on her bed.
Just then an overwhelming sense of pain soared its way through Marie's body. She arched her back, as if trying to get away from the source. Paddy jumped off the bed and looked at her with wide eyes.
"What's the matter?" Paddy asked seeing Marie's face twist in pain.
"Contraction." the doctor replied simply.
Yelling at the nurse, Dr. Williams announced that Marie was 9 centimeters dilated. She was going to have this baby whether she reached ten or not.
"Okay dad, we need you go up and keep her focused." the nurse told him.
Paddy obeyed and grabbed Marie's hand. Looking out the window into the hallway, he saw his father, his brothers, and sisters. They all stood there smiling at him. He was glad they were there supporting his new family.
"Paddy… ouch… damn… remind me to never let you touch me again." Marie screamed.
Paddy looked over at the doctor in horror. Dr. Williams just laughed as he put Marie's feet on the stir ups.

"I wonder what's wrong." Jess whispered to Nicola. 
"She probably said the most famous line woman say during labor." she said.
"Oh what's that?" Angelo asked.
"You're never going to touch me again." Patricia replied.
Joey and Dennis looked at each other and laughed, both remembered the birth of their children.

"Does she really mean it?" Paddy asked, worry drowning his voice.
The doctor shook his head 'no' and laughed silently at Paddy.
"They always say that, but deep down inside they still love you." he said seconds later.
Paddy let out a sigh of thankfulness and looked down at Marie, sweaty on the bed next to him. Pushing her long hair back out of her face, Paddy could feel her skin burning.
"Is she supposed to be this hot?" he asked, looking back at the doctors.
The head nurse looked at Dr. Williams, he nodded to her and she went up to examine Marie.
"Doctor she is running a temperature of a hundred… and it's rising." she said, looking into the doctor's eyes.
"Pam… get the rags and Jacob get the antibiotics." Dr. Williams ordered his medical students in a harsh tone.
"Mr. Kelly, you are going to have to wait outside." the doctor told Paddy, pushing him towards the door.
"I'm not going… I'm going to stay with my wife." he screamed, pushing himself through the tall doctor.
"Sir you can't! Pam call security." the doctored hammered, knowing Paddy was no match for him.
Paddy turned to the doctor, reading his name tag.
"Kurt, you have a wife?" 
He nodded his head 'yes' and Paddy continued.
"How long you've been married?" 
"Six years." the doctor answered, his eyes lowered.
"I haven' even been married six hours, and I'm not going to walk out on her now." Paddy stated. He looked over at Marie laying there on the hospital bed, her eyes slowly rolling back in her head.
"I'm not going to deal with you, I have a patient to tend to." Kurt said slowly, he saw security walk in, he nodded and they did their thing.
"Sir you need to come with us." they said, standing on either side of Paddy.
Looking at the two tall, wide men standing next to him, Paddy decided to turn and walk back to Marie, not caring what the hell the security guards were planing on doing.
"What the hell are you doing?" Paddy screamed, when the two men grabbed his arms, practically dragging him out the doors. 

"What's going on?" Angelo asked, seeing the whole conversation between Paddy and the doctor.
"I don't know." Kathy muttered.
"Everything will be fine." Johnny mentioned.
"No, it's not." Jess said, pointing out the fact that the security guards were taking Paddy away.

Paddy continued to kick and scream as they drug him out the doors, right when he was outside with the rest of his family and friends, he heard the security guard lock the door.
"I want to be with Marie god damn it!" he roared pounding on the window. 
The rest of the people standing in the hall all shuddered at Paddy's outcry of pain.
He looked over at Marie, tears running down his cheeks.
"I said 'Till death do us part'." Paddy wept, watching the nurses place icy cold rags on her forehead. The doctor was working hard on her. Paddy stood watching through the window. He saw her eyes roll back in her head for the last time, and he knew something was wrong. Daring to look at the others, Paddy glanced quickly in their direction. Just as he suspected they were all staring at him. Standing there, trying to figure out how to explain the situation, Paddy just moved his feet restlessly before banging his head against the glass. The security guards looked at him, and turned back around to watch the medical procedure.
"I feel so helpless." Paddy whimpered into the silence.
"Sweetie there is nothing you can do." Kathy whispered, rubbing her brother's back.
"I could be with her, hold her hand, let her know everything was going to be okay." Paddy replied, pushing harder onto the glass.
He lowered his eyes to the floor inside the delivery room and heard those threatening words.
"We have to get her to Emergency Room" Dr. Williams screamed.
He pointed at all the instruments that they needed to take with them. The nurses pampered Marie with icy towels and fans, adding medicine into her blood. They kicked the latches on the wheels and started rolling Marie towards the doors to the left of Paddy.
"Open that damn door!" Kurt screamed at the security guards standing there.
The first one started fumbling with his keys while the other pushed against it.
"You stupid idiots." Angelo muttered under his breath, watching the repulsive men.
Paddy pacing back and forth with tears building up in his eyes, wanted to just bust down the door. He knew he could with all the adrenaline he had, and the strong urge that he had to get Marie back on her feet.
"Maybe you should sit down?" Jimmy suggested, walking up next to Paddy.
Paddy stopped and looked at Jimmy.
"Are you crazy?" he asked, starring deep into his eyes.
"Paddy… I'm sorry, I was just…" Jimmy started before going back to the rest.
Paddy just looked at the group before looking back at Marie lying on the hospital bed.
"God, please help her." Paddy prayed silently, if he could he would have taken Marie's spot in a heartbeat but he knew that couldn't happen.
"Doctor, her temperature is rising." Pam, the medical student, screamed, sending chills down Paddy's spine.
"For Christ's sake, open the fucking door!" Kurt hollered not wanting to meet Paddy's eyes on the other side of the glass window.
"Open the door!" Angelo whispered behind Paddy.
Finally the first security guard got his key into the hole and opened it quickly.
"Never again am I to see another door in this hospital locked while a patient is in a room." Kurt ordered pushing Marie down the hall.
Paddy saw them moving quickly and took off in a sprint, on their heals in seconds. Dr. Williams pushed Marie into a more equipped room and set up for what had to be done. He looked up and saw Paddy standing there. Paddy grabbed Marie's limp hand hanging over the side of the bed and looked up at the doctor, pain and pleading in his eyes.
"You can stay." Kurt whispered to Paddy before telling his students what had to be done.
"Thank you." Paddy replied, looking down at Marie.
"We are going to have a cesarean section to have complete success of the delivery and a better attempt to lower Marie's temperature. It seems her body wasn't ready for the delivery, as if it was on vacation and then her contractions started. The regular hormones aren't used to overloads like this, the pregnancy ones were so to say asleep." the doctor explained to Paddy in easy terms, as he prepared his first incision.
"But she's going to be fine, right?" Paddy asked, swallowing hard.
"Oh yeah, she'll be fine, have a little scar on her abdominal area but that's about it." Kurt explained.
"And the baby?" Paddy questioned.
"All seems well." Kurt explained.

Paddy looked down at his wife, sweating uncontrollably on the bed beneath him.
"Shouldn't her fever be going down?" he asked cautiously.
Kurt nodded and went back to his incision on Marie's lower stomach. Paddy watched carefully as the sharp knife cut through Marie's soft, delicate skin like butter. Flinching at the sight, Paddy looked down at his 'sleeping' beauty and wanted nothing more then to hold her in his arms.
"We have a successful opening, large enough for the baby to pass through." Dr. Williams announced.
Paddy smiled up at him, his hand still resting in Marie's. Looking out through the operating room window, he saw his family and friends' eager faces. They too wanted to know that everything was going to be okay. Paddy smiled and waved with his free hand, indicating everything was going smoothly.

*A half hour later*
Marie slowly awoke from her medication, and saw Paddy standing in front of her.
"Is everything okay?" her groggy voice asked.
Paddy nodded his head 'yes' and watched her reach for her forehead, pushing the strands of hair out of her face.
"The baby?" Marie's worried motherly voice spoke.
"It's just fine!" Paddy smiled.
The nurse wheeled over the crib, containing the most precious thing in the couple's life.
"Mom, I congratulate you on you're new bundle." the nurse said, handing Marie a newborn wrapped in a hospital blanket.
"Is it a boy or a girl?" Marie asked Paddy.
"A boy!" Paddy grinned proudly.
"What's his name?" Marie gushed, looking down at her baby boy.
"I was waiting for you." Paddy stated, watching Marie's dark brown eyes meet a smaller pair of dark eyes.
"Mickey Patrick Kelly, after his daddy." Marie whispered, a sly grin spreading across her face.
Paddy felt his throat tighten up as his breath caught up in it. Swallowing hard, he tried hard not to cry. Just then the door opened up.
"Knock knock." Angelo smiled, in the halfway open doorway.
"Come in guys." Marie said, waving them in.
"Isn't he cute?" Maite chuckled, tickling the baby's small foot.
Paddy leaned up against the back wall, watching everyone oh and ah over his son. It was about one in the morning when his Mickey was born and Paddy was completely tired. Having to get up early for his wedding day and then end it with his girl having complications.
"Paddy you okay?" Angelo asked, standing next to him.
Nodding his head, Paddy slid his fingers through his golden locks nervously.
"Okay, sorry for the inconvenience but Mrs. Kelly needs her rest." the nurse said.
They said goodbye to Paddy and Marie, and slowly walked out of the room. 
"We'll see you later!" Patricia giggled at little Mickey.
The nurse closed the blinds and started picking up some of the unused tools left over from the surgery. Looking at Paddy, she knew he wasn't one to mess with about getting out. Throwing him a quick smile, the nurse left the room quietly but only to return a second later.
"Mrs. Kelly would you like to be moved into a better room for the night?" she asked, half scared of what Paddy would do.
"No this is just fine… but do you have something for my husband to sleep on?"
"Yes madam let me go get something." she said before taking off down the corridor.
"Marie, it's okay. I don't need anything." Paddy said calmly.
"No, you've had a busy and hectic day. You should a good sleep." Marie insisted.
Paddy picked up the sleeping child in Marie's arms and placed him carefully in the already made bed next to them.
"He's beautiful just like his mother." he said.
Marie blushed at his comment and looked over at the closed window covered by drapes. Paddy sat down on the edge of her bed and placed his hands on her shivering body. He slid them from her bare stomach to just underneath her chin and over her shoulders and to her back, rubbing her soothingly. His eyes closed as he held her in his arms.
"I wish I could have taken you on the honeymoon of your dreams, showed you things you've only wished for. Laid with you on the beach, made love to you in the ocean, sent your troubles away. I'm sorry you had to go through all that pain, I did the best I could." Paddy said, his emotions breaking down.
Marie grabbed onto Paddy's body, feeling his sobs of sorrow begin.
"Paddy, honey, it's alright. You've already given me enough, more then I could ask for. You made me your wife, the one true love of my life, you've become. Look over there. Look at our sleeping boy…"Our" baby. Paddy, that's the best thing you can give me. Your love is all that I need." Marie said with such passion.
Paddy couldn't take it any more. His hand slid down the small of her back, the other pressing on the back of her neck. Pressing his lips to hers, Paddy whispered a faint "I love you" before he continued.

*A month later*
"Hey honey, you want to go check on little Mickey and get his cloths ready to go over to Angelo's?" Marie hollered from the kitchen.
She put another dish in the dishwasher, when she heard her husband shout back a yes. Grinning to herself, she wiped off the counters and continued to clean the rest of the kitchen.

"Hey baby!" he giggled, seeing his son happy to see him.
Paddy picked up little Mickey and noticed a soggy wet diaper. After a quick change and a new outfit, Paddy grabbed his diaper bag and the half-gone bottle along with his son. He walked out to the living room where Marie stood waiting for them.
"We're all ready… just need another bottle or two." Paddy grinned, kissing Marie sweetly on the lips.
"Okay, I'll get them." she replied, kissing him again.
Mickey started to smile at his parents loving affection towards each other.
"You want a kiss too, baby?" Marie laughed, kissing her son's nose.

"We're here!" Paddy spoke loudly, opening up the front door to Angelo's house.
"Come on in, everyone is out back." Angelo said, walking from the kitchen.
"Okay, great." Paddy said, smiling at his younger brother.
Marie held onto Mickey as they walked to the back deck, stopping off to put a few bottles in the refrigerator.
"Oooh let me hold him!" Kira squealed as soon as she saw them step onto the brick patio.
"Here you go!" Marie said, handing over her son.
"Be careful." Paddy added, his protective side showing through.
Joey smiled at him as he held onto his very own kid.
"You guys hungry or anything?" Angelo asked, walking back onto the porch.
"Um… a little." Marie replied.
"Being a parent isn't that bad!" Joey said.
"Yeah when you don't do anything." Tanya teased, sitting down next to him.


"Well we are gonna head out." Patricia announced, her arm slung over Dennis's shoulders.
"Okay, well thanks for stopping by." Angelo stood up, walking his guests out to their car.
"I think we are gonna head home too!" Joey whispered to Angelo as they passed each other on the front lawn.
"Okay see ya later" Kira said.
Angelo walked back into his living room and smiled.
"Aren't we the usual group?" Jimmy joked, looking around at everyone.
Amanda yawned as she shook her head, her hair falling in her front of her eyes.
"I think I should get home." she whispered minutes later to Jimmy.
"Okay let's go." Jimmy replied standing up.
Just then Marie realized how late it was getting and wanted to take Mickey home and her husband said that would be a good idea.
Jimmy and Amanda were already in the car, letting it warm up as Marie walked out to the car, and put Mickey to his seat. Right as she turned around, a hand clamped over her mouth. Marie's eyes shot open as a hand clasped around her arm.
"Owhmm." she whimpered, trying to break free, but the hand around on her mouth didn't budge.
Glancing at the open door of her car, Marie could see little Mickey's car seat. He was playing with a toy Jimmy had brought over with him that evening.
'Please don't see him' Marie begged as she tried to move her way out of view.
"Don't move." a low, raspy voice whispered into her ear.
The stiff body behind her moved Marie into the dark shadows of the tall oak tree.

"Is it ever going to get warm in here?" Amanda asked, running her hands down her thighs.
"Hold on a minute babe, it's an old car." Jimmy smiled.
Just then they saw Marie walk out of the house, carrying her little bundle of joy.
"She's so cute with him." Amanda remarked.
Jimmy nodded, taking his eyes off of Amanda. He waved at Marie, across the street as she placed her baby in his car seat.
Finally Jimmy's car got warm enough to head towards their home, passing Marie's car without noticing she wasn't there. They headed up the long one way street.

"I guess I should go out there and take my babies home." Paddy smiled, standing to his feet.
"Yeah." Angelo whispered, walking Paddy to the door.
"See ya later man." Paddy said.
"Bye" Kira replied, closing the door behind him.
Paddy walked down the front porch and headed straight to his car, not bothering to look up. A gust of wind hit his face as he nearly walked into the open passenger side door. Glancing down, a dark brown eyed little baby smiled up at him.
"Hey Mickey where's mommy?" Paddy asked, squishing his toes playfully.
Taking in his surroundings, Paddy heard a scuffle come from the darkness behind him. The casting shadows played evil tricks with his mind, his feet slowly pivoted around and he stared deep into the unwantingness of the oak tree's dangling branches.
"Marie?" Paddy called out, closing the car door a little bit just enough so that the cold won't go in but a baby's cry could escape.
He took a step away from the small yellow car, inching closer.
"Don't make a sound." the voice pierced its way into Marie's ear.
The sting of a cold blade hit Marie's neck and she knew right then that this was it. She was going to lose faith, and Marie felt it. She watched as her husband walked closer. All Marie wanted to do was scream out his name, order him to stop, tell him to turn around and run, but she was to scared of what would happen to her.
'Stop being selfish.' Marie punished herself, sending chilling words of Paddy's death to her heart.
The arms tightened around her small frame and pulled her back a little more.
"Marie!?" Paddy hollered a little louder, picking up his pace.
Marie's eyes closed slightly. A sigh murmured out of her lips and Paddy picked it up. Turning around he saw Marie in the arms of a man covered with dark clothing, up against the tree.
"Let her go!" Paddy screamed, walking closer to them.
"Don't move." the man threatened, revealing the knife. The silver reflected off of the moonlight.
Paddy froze instantly in his place, his eyes shooting wide open.
"Please…" Marie started to beg, the shook of everything to much for her to handle.
"Who are you and what do you want?" Paddy asked, his voice quivering.
"None of your business." the man shot back.
"My wife is my business!" Paddy cried.
He took a step forward, only to quickly move back when he saw a trickle of blood seep out of Marie's neck.
"Just let her go." Paddy pleaded.
The man stared at Paddy, his black eyes shinning through his sky mask. Paddy thought a moment.
"Take me instead." he said.
"No!" Marie mumbled, her eyes full of tears.
"Fine!" the monster of a man said suddenly.
Paddy walked towards them, nodding for the man to let her go. Right when the dangerous arms shot out to retrieve his new victim, Paddy pushed Marie out of the way and jumped between her and the offender. The sound of the gun shot pierced through Marie's ear drums, never to leave again.
The patter of heavy footsteps filled Marie's mind as she tried to sit up, only to realize Paddy was laying on top of her.
"Oh no. Please God no!!" Marie screamed, pushing Paddy gently off of her, only to have him fall in her arms.
The warmth of his blood soaked her cloths and body. Marie rolled him over so he was carefully cradled in her arms.
"Paddy! Paddy!" Marie screamed.
His eyes opened and a smile spread across his face.
"Hey Baby!" he grinned, knowing full well what happened to him.
"Paddy" Marie choked, the tears falling onto his forehead "Why did you have to do that? You were so stupid."
Paddy wiped the tears falling from her face, and replied meekly.
"It's my job."
"No!" Marie whimpered.
"You're supposed to stay with me forever." the tears overflowed every emotion, as Marie removed her hand and Paddy's from his chest.
A gapping hole was placed into his chest cavity.
"What's happened?" Angelo hollered running down the lawn, seeing Marie crouched over under the tree.
"Angelo, please call help. Paddy was shot!" Marie cried, wiping her nose carelessly.
"Oh my god!" Angelo stuttered, staring at Marie sitting on the road covered in Paddy's blood.
"Please Angelo… hurry!" Marie gave him one last hushed cry.
Angelo turned around and ran off to his house.
"Marie, I'm sorry I let you down." Paddy apologized, tears flowing freely down his rosy cheeks.
"Paddy don't be sorry." Marie sobbed, holding him closer to her body.
Paddy couldn't help it, the tears kept coming as he watched the one he loved mourn over him.
"I don't want you to miss me… or cry over me." Paddy asked, looking up into Marie's dark brown eyes.
Marie opened her mouth. 
"Please!" Paddy begged.
"Paddy, I can't do that." 
"Yes you can. I never meant you hurt you like this, all I cared about was getting you…" Paddy moved in Marie's arms, a gasping painful groan crept out of Paddy's lips.
"I love you Marie." he whispered, seconds later, resting his head on her arms.
"Oh god… Paddy please…" Marie couldn't help it, the moment caught itself in her throat.
Paddy blinked slowly as Angelo sprinted down the lawn.
"Who the hell did this?" he asked, kneeling down beside them.
"I don't know." Marie replied, watching Angelo crying helplessly "Probably Jean… he hates us."
"Goodbye my love!" Paddy murmured.
"I don't want to hear you say goodbye. I don't want to know you'll never be with me again, to be held in your arms and kissed by your lips. Damn it, I wish till death do us part didn't have to be so soon." Marie wept, holding Paddy close to her body as he started to tremble.
His body was going into shock.
"Where the hell is the ambulance?" Angelo asked the crisp night air.
Marie's eyes shifted from Paddy's pale face to Angelo's. Paddy, also looking at Angelo, spoke up.
"Angelo?"
"Yeah Paddy."
"Take care of Marie and Mickey for me." he whispered, not meeting Marie's eyes.
"Sure buddy it will be my pleasure." Angelo sobbed.
"Paddy you don't need to worry about that… you're not going anywhere." Marie cried, kissing his tender lips holding on for what seemed like eternity.
They could hear the sirens in the distance racing towards them, but Paddy knew they wouldn't make it.
"Marie, honey please just listen to me." Paddy said, parting their lips. 
Marie nodded not prepared for what he was going to say.
"Baby I've loved you ever since I saw you, the day I walked into that bar I knew you were gonna be 'the one', my true love. I wanted you every day till then and I will love you every day after. I messed up really bad this time, and I want you to know that I will be watching every move you make and breathing every breath you take. I'm gonna fight to be your guardian angel, just like I fought to be with you that day in the hospital. But bear don't fight for me any more. I'm going to a place where I can watch both of the most important people in my life. And…" Paddy wiped away his tears.
Marie couldn't see Paddy clearly enough laying in her lap, the tears were blocking out all the memories. Paddy took a deep breath, hurting in the process and continued.
"You know how you love it when its raining off in the distance and you can see the sun shining through the clouds, the mist lighting up?" he asked. 
Marie sighed.
"Well from now on… I'm going to be standing atop those clouds, peering at you with all the power vested inside of me. I'll be watching you, being with you… Baby don't cry." Paddy choked.
Angelo let out a low muffled cry, loving the way to two acted to each other, sad to see it end like this.
"Paddy please don't go!" Marie cried, running her hands through his short blonde locks.
"Baby I can't help that. I was placed on this earth to watch after you and I did the best I could." Paddy explained, knowing that was his whole purpose on earth.
Just then the ambulance pulled up.
"I'll be missing you baby, and I'll be waiting till we can be together again."
His eyes lids slid down slowly and Marie let out a mourning cry.
"Paddy, dear god no!" her arms tightened around her loved one's limp body.
She barely heard Paddy whisper "Goodbye isn't forever" as he hung in her arms.
"I love you Paddy!" Marie said into his ear, watching the paramedics rush towards her.

"Mickeyeeeeee" Marie yelled scarily when Paddy was brought in the ambulance "Where is my baby?? Oh God, where is my son?"
Paddy heard her scream. He wondered what was going on.
"What is wrong?" he asked a paramedics.
"Sir, please lay down!"
"I heard my wife screamed about my son! Please, tell me what is wrong, please!" me begged again.
"Baby, where are you? Somebody help me!" Marie sat down on the ground and cried hardly. "Angelo, please find my baby! I can't loose them both."
"What's wrong with Marie!" Paddy asked. "The baby…"
A while later Angelo run to Paddy's ambulance not knowing if he should stay with Marie or go to the hospital with his brother. At least he called out Kira to stay with Marie. And then he jumped on the ambulance.
"What… is… gooooinggg… on??" Paddy asked with a very weak voice.
"They are bringing you to the hospital, everything is gonna be ok Paddy, don't say anything!!" Angelo told him.
"Marie… and Mickey… what is wrong?" he murmured.
Angelo wiped his tears away. Firstly he didn't want to tell Paddy anything about the baby missing. But Paddy kept on asking. Angelo couldn't hide the fact anymore.
"Paddy, your son is missing! You have to fight and help us to find him, otherwise Marie will get insane… You can't leave them now!"
"Mickey-boy missing??" he asked in pain and faited after a while.
"Yes Paddy, he is missing. I'm sorry!"
"We are missing him" one of the paramedics yelled.
"Shit! Hold on man!" the other one said "One two three…" he started to do the help-aid.
"Paddy, you can't leave, you hear me?? You can't! Your wife and your son need you!" Angelo yelled hopelessly. "You have to fight bro! You just have to…" Angelo put his head on his hand.
Suddenly one f the men said.
"He is back!"
Angelo looked up and saw in the screen that his heart was beating.
"That is my brother!" he said proudly.
Worrying about Marie, Angelo took the mobile phone and called Kira.
"Did you find the baby?" he asked.
"No, not yet… he is nowhere. Jimmy and the others are in the way to the hospital."
"How is Marie doing?"
"Bad, Angelo bad… very bad…"
"Lord, help her!"
"She is now running from house to house to ask for the baby! I'm scared of her… she is really depressed."
"I can imagine that! Tell her that Paddy is getting better and everything will be ok! I'll be back soon."
"See ya!"

"How is Marie?" Paddy murmured as Angelo hang up the phone.
One again Angelo didn't know what to do. The truth could make Paddy another attract.
"I see, very bad!" Paddy could read everything in Angelo's eyes. They knew each other so well that sometime words were unnecessary.
Paddy closed his eyes like he was paying, but Angelo thought he was going again.
"Paddy, Paddy! Listen to me! Don't you dare to leave Marie and the baby. I'll never forgive you if you do so." Angelo said, Paddy opened his eyes "You know that I loved Marie, I gave up on her because I knew she loved you and all I wanted was her happiness. I believed that you can bring her the happiness, so don't dare to leave her now. Do you hear me? If you leave her… leave us… I'll kill you!" Angelo added angrily.
A single helpless tear fall from Paddy's eyes.

A few minutes later they reached to the hospital. Paddy was pulled to the operation room. Angelo waited outside.
"How is Paddy?" Jimmy, Amanda, Patricia, Maite, Joey, Barby, Johnny, Kathy run to Angelo.
"Not good!" he cried.
"God, please save him. He has so much to do here…" Barby prayed so did the other.
"Where is his wife? She supposed to be here!" Jimmy asked.
"She is looking for little Mickey. He is missing!" Angelo informed.
"What? Missing? What happened?" Joey's jaw dropped.
"I have to go, I'll tell you later. If Paddy… when Paddy gets better call me!" he said and left.

"Who's stolen my baby? Paddy, where is our baby?" Marie cried on Kira's arm.
"Mrs Kelly" a policeman asked "Where was the baby when you last see him?"
"In this car, back seat! He was playing with his new truck… You have to find Jean Erich. It's him who shot to my husband and I'm sure he took the baby." Marie cried. "The bastard took away my husband and my baby!!"
"Marie, calm down!" Angelo came to her and they hugged.
"Tell me that Paddy is ok!" Marie begged.
"He will be ok Marie, he will!" Angelo tried to cheer her up, but he didn't do it too well. "Everything is ok Marie! We'll find the baby. I promise you."
Then Angelo guided her to his home and made her a cup of coffee.
"You need to rest, the police are doing their best to find your baby." He told her.
"Why? Angelo, why?"
"I don't know!" Angelo hugged her.
Kira look at them with a drop of jealousy.
"Do you need something Marie?" she asked.
"Yes… my men back!" she whispered.

"Doctor, is our brother ok?" Barby and the rest stood up when they saw the doctor coming out from the operation room.
"Yes, he will be ok. The bullet was a few millimeters from the heart." The doctor said.
"But he will be ok?" Joey made sure.
"Yes, he will be ok! In a few hour you'll be able to see him." The doctor said.

"Marie… Mickey…" Paddy raved while he was sleeping.
"Paddy" Patricia sat next to him "I think he is waking up!"
Paddy slowly opened his eyes.
"Paddy, hi! You scared us to death!" Jimmy smiled.
"Where…" Paddy murmured.
"You are in a hospital, everything is gonna be alright!" Kathy calm him down.
"Marie… where?" he said.
"She is at Angelo's, don't worry! He and Kira are taking care of her!" Joey informed him.
"The baby… how's my son?"
"Paddy, don't talk so much, you need to rest!" Maite said.
"Marie… Marie…" he closed his eyes and everybody heard a long peep from the life-machine.
"Jesus, nurse!!" Jimmy yelled.
"Paddy, stay with us!" Patricia had yelled before a few medical people came into the room and told them to leave.

"Angelo! Did you find the baby?" Patricia said to Angelo over the phone.
"No, still nothing!"
"How is Marie doing?"
"Bad!"
"Listen, Paddy is in a very bad condition, he might di… die everytime. We think Marie could help him. She did it once so she can do it again."
"She is having a nap, she is very tired Trish. Besides she is dying too… dying of worries."
"Please, she can be the only one who can help Paddy right now! Drive her here! We can't loose Paddy. Talk to dad, ok?"
Patricia handled the phone to Dan.
"Son, I know that Marie is having a very hard time, but Paddy wants to see her. Your brother is… Angelo… the son can't pass away before his dad… I'm sure Marie can help him, I know that!"
"Alright dad, we are in the way!" Angelo hung up the phone.

"Marie?" Angelo shook her "Wake up!"
"What? Did they find my son? Where is he?" she looked around.
"No, it's Paddy… he wants to see you!"
"See me? Is he ok?"
"His life is still in danger. He wants to see you. You saved his life once so we think that if you come to the hospital Paddy will get better…"
"No, I have to wait here for my baby. No, I'm not moving out of here!"
"Marie, you have to! I know it's hard for you, but you just have to go with me to the hospital! Paddy needs you!"
"So does my son!"
"Kira will be here and she will call us if something changes."
"I don't want to go! I know I'm selfish, but I…"
"Please, come with me."
Marie gave Angelo her hand and follow him to the hospital where Paddy was lying.

"Mariee… Mariee… I'm sorry…" Paddy still raved.
"Paddy, it's me!" she whispered trying hard to keep the tears, but they just flew down. "I'm here!" she added.
Paddy opened his eyes when he heard her voice.
"Marie!" he tried to reach her cheek to wipe her tears, but he was too weak. "Our son…"
Marie said nothing, but close her eyes. The tears fell harder.
"I'm sorry I failed you!"
"Yes, you did! You were so stupid replacing me!" she said "You have to fix your mistakes! You have to get well and find our son. Otherwise I'll hate you till the end of my life!" she kissed his hand.
"Marie, stop crying! Please, I can't watch it anymore!" he said.
Marie fade a smile and wiped away her tears and put in his lips a delicate kiss.
"Promise me you won't leave!" she said.
In that moment Paddy's eyes were closed again and the life-line was straight.
"Damn it, Paddy, promise me you won't leave! Promise me!" she cried out loud.

Chapter 23 - Life is cruel and unkind