Letting Go

[Sally_Fletcher]

Topic Title – Letting Go.

Topic Description – Beth is dead. Now the Holdens and Hunters have to cope with it.

Type of story: one-shot

Rating: G

Main Characters: Beth, Matilda, Tony, Kit, Robbie, Henry, Hayley, Lucas

Genre: Drama/Angst

Warnings: Spoilers!

Is Story being proof read: No

Summary: How will the Holdens and Hunters deal with the death of their beloved mother?

“Mattie…”

Matilda looks up, closes her eyes and open them again. Then she sighs deeply and glares at the woman standing a few feet away from her.

“Go away, you’re not real.”

She folds her arms and looks out at the ocean.

“Mattie, you need to let me go.”

“NO! You weren’t supposed to die! How do you expect me to cope on my own? HOW?”

“Oh, my sweet. I know it’s hard, but you have to. You’ll be fine.”

Finally Matilda plucks up the courage to look at the woman. She tries to stare her down but starts crying instead.

“How do you know that?”

“Because you’re strong.”

Matilda shakes her head firmly.

“I’m not.”

“Yes you are. Oh, you have no idea how strong you are.”

Matilda starts sobbing, her shoulders shaking heavily.

“Mum… why?”

“I don’t know, darling. It’s just one of those things. But I can’t go until you are ready to let me.”

“I’ll never be ready! Why can’t you just stay?”

“Because it’s not right. Not normal. I want to hold you so much, but I can’t. Don’t you understand, Mattie? I have to go.”

“I can’t, mum. I’m sorry, I just can’t.”

Tony opens the door with dead eyes.

“Come in.”

He looks at the tear-stained face of the teenager without taking it in.

“What happened, Tony?”

“It was a truck… it hit her and… the doctors say she died from the blow. She wasn’t in any pain.”

He catches the crying boy as he falls down in grief, stroking over his white hair.

“Why did I leave? I had so much time with my mum and I just gave it up!”

Tony sighs, helping the boy to sit down on the couch.

“It’s not your fault, Henry. You’re back now. Mattie is still there and she needs you.”

Kit stares at the ceiling, counting the stains on it.

Why white?

Why were hospitals always white?

She looks to her side as Rachel enters with Archie in her arms.

“Kit, your son wants a feed. How about you take him?”

Kit closes her eyes.

“No. I don’t want him. Take him away.”

“Kit, it’s your son…”

“My mother is dead, Rachel! I don’t want a baby to make up for that! I want my mother back!”

Rachel nods slowly.

“You know, Archie will never replace your mother. But he will have his own special place in your life. Don’t…”

“Stop preaching and just leave. And take the kid with you.”

Rachel glances at Kit sadly one more time before leaving.

“We came as quick as we could. Where’s Mattie?”

“I don’t know, loves.”

Robbie frowns at Irene.

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“She needs some alone time.”

Tasha puts a gentle hand on Robbie’s arm.

“Irene’s right, Rob. Give Mattie some time.”

Robbie nods and looks away, tears forming in his eyes.

“This is all so unreal. Why mum?”

Irene hugs him tightly and sighs.

“I don’t know, love. I really don’t know.”

Lucas stares out in front of him blankly, tears streaming over his cheeks.

Beth… she was like a mum to him.

The only one he’s ever had…

Why did this have to happen?

Why?

“Lucas? What are you doing here?”

He looks up sadly to see Cassie standing next to him.

“Thinking.”

She sits down next to him and puts an arm around his shoulder.

“Are you all right?”

He shakes his head.

“No. It’s not fair! Why her?”

“You know, after Flynn died… I felt the same. Why him? Why my dad? But you learn to deal with it. To live without them.”

Lucas starts sobbing, clutching onto Cassie’s hand for dear life.

“Cas… Why can’t I have a mum? Why do they all die on me? Why?”

Sally sees the figure sitting on the beach and walks closer.

“Tony?”

He looks up, his eyes still dead.

“Hey Sal! Want a drink?”

She takes the bottle out of his hand and frowns.

“This doesn’t help.”

“What do you know?”

“I’ve lost Flynn, Tony. I know what you’re going through.”

He shakes his head, laughing.

“Oh you have no idea what I’m going through. It’s only the second time I love a woman and she dies. Some track record that is.”

He makes a grab for the bottle with a childish frown.

“Gimme the bottle back.”

“No. Tony, I know you’re angry. And sad. And scared. But you have to think about Lucas and Mattie now. They depend on you to be strong.”

“Are you telling me not to grieve?”

“No. I’m telling you to do that. Grieve Tony. But do it without alcohol.”

She stands up and walks away, leaving him sitting there.

He stares out at the ocean and tears start forming in his eyes.

Mattie looks in the mirror.

Her hair is tied up in a bun and the make-up does little to hide her swollen eyes. She looks over her shoulder at Beth.

“I’m still not letting you go, you know.”

“Please, Mattie. You have to do what’s best. For everyone.”

“How can it be best for me not to have a mother? HOW?”

“Matilda?”

She looks over her shoulder in shock.

“Hayley? What are you doing here?”

“I’m here because I need to talk to you.”

“Where’s Scott?”

“He’s in the living room with the others. Robbie, Henry, Tasha, Kit… But there’s something we need to talk about. Before the funeral.”

“And now ladies and gentlemen, Matilda Hunter would like to say something.”

Matilda slowly stands up, strengthened by Ric squeezing her hand quickly. She walks forward, looking at the faces of all the people who loved her mother.

All the people who let her go because they knew it was best.

She takes a deep sigh before opening her mouth to speak.

“My mum… her death has left a lot of people in shock. I was even angry. At her. For a while. And I wasn’t about to let her go. I thought that… that she belonged here. With me. That is was a mistake and not her time to go. But… then… then I talked to Hayley. And she told me that no matter…”

At this point her voice breaks and tears start flowing over her cheeks.

“No matter what happened, she will always be there. To watch over me. And that I had to let her go. Because it was her time. God doesn’t make mistakes. And I know that wherever she is, she can hear us and see us. And she’ll watch over us. Always. Goodbye mum. You will be loved and missed forever. Rest in peace.”

And when she looked at the sun, she could swear that she saw a figure disappearing into the blue sky…

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