The Fault in Our Stars Plot Twists

Ava Grace

This plot twist was not written by me, but I did change parts of it. It is from unknown origins.

Augustus Waters stared down into the little plastic cradle. They were at the hospital, and he was staring down at what was biologically his daughter. Leaning against the edge, he shifted in his chair.

"I can't love you, you know," he told the little thing idly, as if it could understand him. "You're the reason she's dead. I still remember that day, two months ago, when there was a breakthrough in medicine. It could've cured her. But she didn't want to give you up."

He pointed down at her and her little hand wrapped around his finger tightly. He took a deep breath. "I can't take care of you," he continued, though his eyes had softened. "I'm a junior in high school. I turn eighteen soon. I'm not responsible enough to handle a child."

The boy took a long breath, exhaling and looking away. The rest of this little room was deserted, except for a nurse who was typing away at the computer.

"Hazel Grace wanted me to take care of you. To raise you and always keep her in my memory. I'd do that with or without you." He sighed. "I have this feeling you're going to look just like her," Augustus commented, looking back to the small baby. "You need a name, too. Hazel Grace's parents said it was up to me."

He leaned his chin against the edge of one of the sides, still letting the small girl grip his finger. "If you were a boy, I would've named you Max Mayhem. Talk about a killer name, right? But I might've been setting you up for too much. Hmm, it'd be cliche to name you after your mother. I mean, you deserve your own name."

He swallowed thickly, closing his eyes. "I could name you Anna or Anne. Anna is the character in our favorite book--An Imperial Affliction. Maybe I'll read it to you one day, he paused, shaking his head. No, no. He couldn't take care of her. He wouldn't be able to handle it. A single dad at eighteen?

"Anne was for Anne Frank," he continued, "That's where she and I first kissed; at the Anne Frank House. But those names are kind of boring. Not exciting like Max Mayhem. What else could we name you?" For someone who didn't want the baby, he seemed quite concerned on the topic. His brow furrowed as he wracked through names in his mind.

"What do you think about Daisy? It's a pretty name, right?" he murmured. "There was a character in The Great Gatsby named Daisy. But...well, she was a bitch. Maybe not that," he mused. "What about Ava? It means life. And well...that's what you are. A big life force," he said quietly. "Ava Grace? That's kinda pretty and you'll always have part of your mother with you." He squeezed her hand softly.

"I think that's what I'll call you. Ava Grace Waters. Or Lancaster-Waters. I don't know." He sighed. He was silent after that, just staring down at the little figure. After a while, the little girl squirmed slightly, bright blue eyes opening up. They were the kind of blue that all babies had when they were little. As he looked into them, he desperately hoped that they'd turn green.

"Well, good morning to you," he said softly. Their eyes locked, her grip still on his finger. They were both quiet, staring at each other.

"Maybe I'll keep you around." He slowly started to pull his finger away. Ava let out a little whimper, and Augustus froze. "No, no, no. Don't start doing that..." he bit his lip, continuing to pull his finger away.

As soon as he got it free from her grip, she started crying. The boy shifted uneasily, not quite sure what to do. Giving a look to the nurse, who wasn't really paying attention, he sighed, reaching into the little cradle. He picked up her small frame, awkwardly cradling her to his chest. "Shhh," he hushed her softly, trying not to crush her. She was so small, so frail, so easily breakable. The whimpering cries of his daughter continued, and he bounced slightly on his good knee. "I'm sorry. Daddy's here. Don't cry," he pleaded, pressing his cheek against the pink beanie on her head. Her crying subsided after a short while, and Augustus could breathe easily again.

"She wanted me to take care of you," he said quietly, pulling her away enough so he could look into the baby's eyes. "She called you our little infinity. Said you'd be my greater purpose in life." He was crying, silently, letting the cotton hat the child wore soak up the tears. "I'll protect you, baby girl." He let out a shaky breath. "I'm so sorry. I'll be here, okay?" he whispered. "I love you. Impossibly so, considering you're only a few hours old. It didn't take me very long to fall in love with your mother, either," he remembered.

"And you have two sets of grandparents that love you, too. You won't be alone in this world. I won;t allow it." He kissed her rosy cheeks softly, hugging the tiny baby to him again. It was as if his little monologue was for naught, though, as bright blue eyes had already closed to fall back into peaceful little snores. "Daddy's here," he murmured.