My Beloved Wife

WARNING:  Characters death

Melanie paced the floor nervously as she waited for news on Lindsay. Their son was being born and she was trying to get a hold of Brian so he could be there too. Finally she got an answer.

"This better be good." Brian growled into the phone

"Lindsay's having the baby, you shit." Mel growled back to Brian.

"I'll be right there." He said before hanging up.

Mel shook her head and went back to pacing the floor. She ran right into Brian a half hour later. Brian grabbed her by the arms gently to stop her.

"Slow down there, Ripley. How's she doing?" Brian asked.

"They took her to the OR. Something about complications." Mel sighed, laying her head on Brian's chest as he held her.

"She'll be fine, Mel. Lindsay's a strong dyke." He teased, rubbing her back. He was just as worried as Mel.

"Who's the kid?" Mel asked, finally seeing the cute blonde standing nearby.

"Justin. I was gonna fuck him when you called. I'll just do it later." Brian smirked as Mel punched his arm.

"Pervert." She said with a slight smile.

"Hi." Justin said softly, kind of nervous.

"Hey, Kiddo. Come have a seat and help Brian keep me sane." Mel signed as she sank into a chair.

She had to chuckle as Brian pulled Justin onto his lap, wrapping his arms around the teens waist and resting his chin on his shoulder. He seemed more calm with this kid. Something about him told Mel he'd be good for Brian. They sat in worried silence for a few hours before the doctor finally came out to them.

"Miss Marcus, Lindsay gave birth to a healthy baby boy. He's being taken to the NICU at the moment. Regretfully, Miss Peterson didn't make it. She lost too much blood and we couldn't stop it in time. We lost her. I'm very sorry." The doctor said, trying to keep his tears back as he brought the mother's partner and family the horrible news.

"Wait, wait, wait. Are you telling me Linds is dead?" Mel asked, unable to believe what she was hearing.

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm so very sorry." The doctor said, wiping away a tear.

Mel stood there dumbfounded. Her entire life with Lindsay passed before her eyes. The day they met, she had been swept away by how beautiful and sweet Lindsay was. The day they started dating, she asked Lindsay out on a date and they had been together ever since. The day they moved into their new home together, Lindsay was in love with the little house and it was a good buy to Melanie, especially since Lindsay loved it. And the day Lindsay told her she was pregnant. It was the happiest day of her life. Her and Linds were going to be a real family. A strangled cry left her throat as she sunk to her knees, sobbing into her hands. Brian set Justin in a chair and held Mel as she cried. He could feel her quiet sobs and knew she was thinking about Lindsay and their life together, about all the things they had done and would never do again. He hoped he never had to face the devastation that Mel must be feeling. Finally Brian felt her tears subside and released her. He thanked the doctor for telling them and asked if they could see the baby.

"He's so tiny." Justin said in wonder, looking down at the newborn baby. "Whatcha gonna name him?"

"Linds wanted to name him Gus so that's what I'll name him. Gus." Mel said softly.

"It's a good, butch name." Brian said, rubbing Mel's back as he looked down at his son. "If you need anything, Mel. You call me. Day or night. You hear?"

"Yeah, I hear you." Mel said, emotionally drained.

"C'mon, Mel. Let's get you home." Brian said, looking to Justin. "Here." He said, passing Justin his keys. "Follow me in Mel's car."

Justin nodded and followed the two out. Once at Mel's, Justin helped Brian get the woman upstairs and into bed.

"I know you don't know me but I could stay the night with you if you want." Justin offered.

Mel smiled softly and stroked his cheek "No thanks, Honey. I'll be fine. Go home with Brian and have fun."

"You sure you don't want me to stay, Mel?" Brian asked again. They might not have gotten along, but this was his best female friend's partner and now the mother of his son. He owed it to Linds to watch over Mel now.

"I'm sure. If I need you, I'll call. Take your blonde bombshell home." Mel chuckled weakly.

Brian kissed her forehead before heading back to his loft with Justin. They never fucked, they just curled up together and went to sleep, both thinking about Mel.

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Mel didn't make it through the funeral. She ended up passing out as she approached her beloved's coffin. Lindsay's father and Brian carried her to a back room to tend to her as Lindsay's mother held her grandson. She might not have approved of Lindsay's relationship with Mel but seeing Mel in her condition, she quickly changed her mind about the woman and offered whatever help she could to Mel and for her grandson.

When Mel came around, she went back and made it up to the coffin with Brian's help to lay a rose inside with Lindsay. Mel gazed at Lindsay's beautiful face as she lay in the coffin. She reached in to stroke her love's blonde hair one last time and placed a final kiss on her lover's cold lips. Burying her face against Brian's chest, she cried as Brian led her back to their seats. Brian held Mel close as they watched the coffin be lowered into it's final place. A tombstone stood at the head with an angel with an upturned face gazing towards the heavens. The tombstone had Lindsay's full name and date of birth and death. Under that was inscribed 'Beloved Mother and Life Partner'.

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1 MONTH LATER

Mel dropped Gus off with Brian and Justin.

"You got everything?" Mel asked, passing her son over to Brian.

"We got it, Mel. Don't worry so much. Gus is gonna have fun with me and his Uncle Justin. Right, Sonny Boy?" Brian purred to his son.

Mel gave a sad smile to Gus and kissed his cheek. Brian watched with worry as the woman left, still looking a lost child without her beloved wife at her side.

"Do you think she'll be all right?" Justin asked Brian softly, cradling the baby in his arms.

"I sure hope so, Sunshine. I sure hope so." Brian sighed, closing the loft door.

The feeling of something being wrong haunted Brian all day. His fears were finally confirmed with Carl Horvath, Debbie's police officer boyfriend, came by the loft.

"Brian, I need you to sit down." Carl said softly.

"It's Mel, isn't it?" Brian asked calmly.

Carl nodded. "She's dead, Brian. She over dosed on sleeping pills. The caretaker found her."

"They don't have a maid." Justin piped up.

"No, Justin. The cemetery caretaker. She died at Lindsay's grave." Carl said sadly.

Brian looked shocked as Justin let out a soft, muffled sob.

"Since you're Gus' father, I'll leave the boy in your custody, Brian. Did ya need me to bring any of his stuff over for ya?" Carl asked.

"No. No, I'll do it. Thanks anyway." Brian muttered, seeing Carl out.

The day was spent with family and friends mourning the loss of another of their small family. Gus was the only one who seemed to not know or care that his mother was gone.

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It had been a year since the two women died. Brian was at the cemetery to leave flowers at the grave and to update the women of how everyone was and how Gus was doing. No one knew who did it, but Brian did. Brian knew who carved the words out on the tombstone. He'd never admit to anyone who did it. But he knew. He sometimes thought Justin knew but if the teen did, he never told. Brian smiled and traced his fingers over the words.

"You were this and so much more, Mel. I hope you two are happy together." He murmured softly.

Kissing his fingertips, he laid them against the tombstone in his usual good-bye and rose, heading to his car. The sun shined down on the grave, over the carved words that simply read

'You Were Simply My Beloved Wife'

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