Richard woke up with a start and was a bit disoriented. He then remembered falling asleep while leaning on his brother's tombstone. After looking around and finding his bearings, he slowly stood up and went back to his car.
He arrived home to two worried parents who wondered where he was after getting a call from Mary Anne that Richard left 2-hours ago. After much debate and with his car keys confiscated, he wasn't allowed to leave the house until Rio was satisfied that he had gotten enough rest. Richard just begrudgingly followed.
The forced rest did him good though. He fell asleep almost immediately once his back hit the bed. This time his dreams were abstract and his brother didn't haunt him. He had a restful sleep and he got the much needed rest his family wanted for him.
Richard was on the road again heading back to the hospital after exactly 8-hours of sleep. He admitted needing the rest and thanked his mother profusely for forcing him to do so when he got ready to leave again.
With his guitar and a packed dinner fit to feed a small community strapped firmly at the back of his car, he reached the hospital in record time.
"See how a good amount of sleep would do for you?" Mary Anne said as Richard handed her the packed dinner that Rio made for them.
Richard just smiled and helped her with the unpacking.
"How's Maine?" He asked.
"Still no change," she replied. "But Dr. Vega said the test results will be ready later. He'll stop by to give us the results and our options on how to move forward."
Richard just nodded in understanding. He and Maine's mom continued to unpack and began segregating their food to offer to the hospital staff and some companions of other patients in their floor. Ted came in a few minutes later.
"Good timing," Mary Anne said with a smirk. "You need to go down again and get some paper plates and cups. Rio gave us too much food as always."
"Your mom never got her portions right," Ted said to Richard which the younger man smiled.
"Ironically, sir," he replied. "She only does it for other people. When she cooks for us, she gets her servings right."
"Thank her for us nonetheless," Ted remarked. "In the meantime, leave Me-Ann with the food. Join me downstairs and help me out with the errand."
Richard reluctantly put down the container that he was holding and with one last furtive look at Mary Anne, who just smiled and nodded at him, he slowly followed Ted outside. Even though he and Maine's dad were on good terms, Richard still found Ted intimidating. He always made sure that he was at his best when he was with Maine's dad, never giving the older man reason to find him not suitable for his daughter. Ted kept a conversation flowing while they were doing Mary Anne's errands. Richard kept pace, answering his questions and giving his opinions when asked.
"How are you holding up, son?" Ted asked as he led Richard to a coffee shop beside the store they went to for their errands.
"I'm doing my best to keep it together, sir," he replied honestly.
Ted reached out and held the younger man by his shoulder, giving it a tight squeeze. He said, "Maine will pull through. We have to believe in that."
Richard smiled and nodded an affirmative.
"I saw that you brought your guitar with you tonight," Ted said. "Are you planning to play for her?"
Richard nodded again and replied, "it usually calms her whenever I play for her. I'm hoping that I would reach her like I was able to do before when I first met her."
Ted smiled and said, "your music has always made her feel better. I have no doubt it would still have the same effect. Speaking of, we need to head back. Me-Ann would be wondering where I brought you."
They headed back to the hospital where Mary Anne had finished repacking the food to give to the hospital staff. Once they've fixed everything, the couple left the room to distribute the extra food. Richard was left alone with Maine.
"Hey," Richard said once he settled himself on the chair beside her bed, his guitar in hand as he made final adjustments and checking if it was in tune. "Sorry if I've kept you waiting. In between both our parents, there really wasn't anything that I could do. Mom, all but locked me up in my room. Confiscated my car keys, hid hers and dad's keys too. She even locked the gate for good measure. And both your parents were adamant that they wouldn't let me see you if I didn't get a decent sleep. I'm just your fiancé. You're parents still trumps me in visiting rights."
He paused for a few seconds and took a deep breath before he continued, "I had a chat with my brother a few hours ago. It was really strange seeing him again. But, I'm really sorry, Maine. I didn't realize that I was hurting you as I hung on to my brother. I could have lost you both. So, I'm really sorry.
"But I think I'm okay now. Well, Rich thinks that I am. I guess that was all that I needed. To see him one last time and just reaffirm that we were okay. That after everything that has happened, we would always be brothers. And I guess that's just what I was waiting for. To be able to tell him everything. I guess that's how I'm able to let go."
Richard reached out and took Maine's hand in his. He placed her hand on his cheek, before he turned his head and kissed her palm tenderly. He said, "come back to me, my Heart. Please wake up..."
He placed her hand back gently on the bed and readjusted his guitar to him. And without anymore delays he started strumming the first cords of the very first song he wrote for her.
-oo-
Maine sat by the tree, her back leaning on the trunk, waiting for Alden to return. She sat in silence with her thoughts, when she heard the sound of strumming in the distance. She knew the melody by heart and she smiled when she heard the distinct voice of Richard singing "Central Park".
"He is so predictable," she heard someone say from her left. She turned her head to see Alden walking slowly towards her. "I mean, seriously. He wrote a bazillion songs. Why'd he have to play 'Central Park'? I'd never thought I'd still suffer LSS now that I'm dead."
"It's the first song he ever wrote for me," defended Maine as she stood to meet him.
"Yes," he scoffed. "Defend him, why don't you. You'd make an excellent wife. Always siding with her husband! But I swear, I will haunt the both of you if you will use that as a wedding march. Please, don't use it as a wedding march! Use another song! Like 'Running Home To You' or maybe even 'Everything'. That song he sang when he toured you in Rome was also nice. Use that instead!"
Maine couldn't help but laugh as she kept hearing Richard in the background. His voice was clearer now and louder, which made her smile even more.
Alden smiled as well as he listened to his brother sing. He said, "he's calling for you. You would need to wake up soon. But before you return to him, I have three favors to ask. The first one being, that you don't use 'Central Park' as a wedding march. I'm serious about that."
"I can't promise that, Alden," Maine said. "I do love that song so much. I guess that's why he's playing it now for me. He knows I'll respond to it. But what are the other two favors?"
Alden sighed and shook his head in defeat before he continued, "start calling me 'Rich', that's my second request. It's high time you do. You'd be legally my sister-in-law in three months and as my sister, you are obligated to call me 'Rich' now."
"Done," Maine giggled. "And the third?"
"Stop using the two-way radio."
"What?"
"Stop using the two-way radio," he repeated slowly. He sighed once more when he could see the disbelief in Maine's eyes. "Maine, you need to."
"Why?"
"You're going to keep me here if you don't stop," he explained. "You still talk to me like I'm still here but let's face it. I'm dead. It's time to close that chapter, Maine. You could still talk to me. But do it like any other person would. Visit me in the cemetery. But not all the time. Maybe once a month...or maybe even less. Continue to live your life to the fullest. And enjoy the time that you have with my brother. And like what I told him. Get married. Have babies. And don't forget to name one after me."
Alden paused and waited for Maine's reaction. She looked troubled that he sighed out loud and said, "and I thought Arge was the only one who's having trouble letting go. How am I going to get reincarnated as your offspring if I stay here? Come on, Maine. I thought you were okay?"
"I am," she replied slowly. But still her eyes had some inhibitions. She went on, "I'm just being selfish, I guess."
"Being selfish how?"
"The connection that RJ and I have," she said tentatively. "Would it be severed once you leave? Were you the reason why we could feel each other even if we're far away?"
"Oh," Alden replied. "Yes and no. It's my heart that's actually connecting the two of you. Not me, per se. When I leave, your connection to each other would be stronger."
Maine's eyebrows shot up in question but she kept silent. Alden just chuckled and said, "think of my heart as a wifi router. The more people are connected to it, the less signal you get. The less people using, the better the connection. Once I leave, there is nothing there to jam the connection. On the downside, you might feel his pain and he might feel yours. Kinda makes me want to see if that holds true when you give birth. That would be hilarious to see."
"Alden!"
"You promised to call me 'Rich'!"
"I'm already foreseeing that you would be a handful if you do get reincarnated as my son," Maine remarked, a hint of a smile penetrating her serious demeanor.
"You'll be a great mom," he said as he came closer to her. "I'm sure of it. I'm pretty excited for the both of you."
It was at that moment that Richard's voice cut through the haze. His voice was loud and clear. The guitar strums so distinct, Maine could already hear the music right beside her.
🎶I'm in the dark, and there's a light that's shining
In Central Park, where all the ghosts are hiding
This city spark starts to fade...🎶
"Time to go, Maine," Alden said. His arms outstretched in welcome as Maine closed the gap between them and wrapped her arms around his waist. "Take care of yourself. And take care of my brother. He could be an idiot sometimes but his heart's in the right place."
"I'll miss you, Al - Rich."
"I know," he said with a smile. "And like I told, RJ, it's okay. But don't miss me too much, okay? Live your lives and enjoy every moment of it. My life might have been short but you've made it all worthwhile. I'm very lucky to have met you, Maine. My heart and my brother are in good hands."
Alden pulled back a bit but leaned forward again to place a tender kiss on Maine's forehead.
"Good bye, Maine."
"Good bye, Rich."
-oo-
🎶And as sure as gravity pulling us down
I'll always be around
I'll always be around...🎶
Richard strummed the last two cords of the song and let if fade. It was at that moment that he heard Maine moan and croaked out his name.
"Maine?"
He saw her face scowled a bit as she tried to open her eyes. He set down his guitar gently on the floor and quickly took her hand in both of his.
"Maine?" He said again. He was rewarded with eyes slowly fluttering open and two beautiful brown orbs stared back at him.
"RJ?"
Hearing his name clearer this time sent a smile on his lips, his dimple prominent on his left cheek. Maine reached out and placed a finger through it and said, "your dimple is pretty deep."
Richard just chuckled and placed her hand on his lips and kissed the palm tenderly.
"Do you do that to all the guys that you meet?" He teased, remembering a conversation he had with his brother years ago.
"No," she smiled. "I only do that with twins. One of them, I'm actually engaged to."
"He's one lucky bastard," he chuckled and kissed her forehead tenderly.
"I'm home," she replied while she caressed his cheek. Staring at him as if committing his face to memory.
"Welcome back, my Heart."
Richard was about to lean forward when the door opened and Maine's parents stepped in with Dr. Vega right behind them. When they saw that Maine was awake, Maine's mother rushed to her side as she started crying tears of joy. Ted tried to stay calm but his eyes were also glistening with unshed tears as he came near his daughter. Richard stood and stepped aside, giving the family time to savour this momentous occasion.
Dr. Vega stood beside Richard, knowing how worried Maine's parents were during the whole ordeal. He would give this time to them before he gives them the lab results.
"You Faulkerson twins are real miracle workers," Dr. Vega said softly to Richard as the younger man faced him for clarification.
"Lab results came in negative," he explained. "It was a mild infection. Nothing really serious."
"So why did she lose consciousness?" Richard inquired as he just watched the Mendozas fuss over their daughter, whose energy was slowly returning.
"Her immune system is different to ours, Jase," Doc Burnz said. "She's an organ recipient after all. A simple cold might have a different effect on her. Our body would usually shut down to force us to heal. The anti-biotics in her dextrose helped as well as the rest. The steroids in her system also counteracted with the infection. I'm recommending another day here in the hospital for observation but she can check out tomorrow."
"Thank you, Doc," Richard said.
"You've done so much yourself, Jason," he replied. "Her steroid levels are really great and I see no other side effects. Eversince you've been keeping tabs on her progress, she never missed taking her meds or appointments. Keep it up. By the time you guys decide to have kids, her body would be more than ready."
Richard smiled at the thought and said, "Maine would definitely be happy about that."
"I think it's about time I rescued my patient from her parents," the doctor said with a smile as Richard followed him back to Maine and her parents.
Their eyes locked on each other and they smiled. Maine felt her heart do its happy beat as Richard mouthed the words "Ti Amo". He smiled his bedimpled smile. The smile he reserves only for her. And she knew that no matter what happens, wherever their lives would take them, they would always be intertwined, and they will be okay.