A/N: Double Update because I'm nice ♡

𝐌𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐲𝐧'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

Lili's phone buzzed once on the coffee table, but she ignored it, halfway into a very aggressive, very ridiculous argument with JD over whether or not Drew had just cheated in Monopoly.

"I didn't cheat," Drew said, flicking a chip at her. "He bartered. I gave him Boardwalk for two Get Out of Jail Free cards and a protein bar. That's called strategy."

"That's called fraud," Carlacia muttered.

Storm was nestled beside me on the couch, legs curled under her with a bowl of popcorn in her lap, giggling at the whole scene. She had just beat Carlacia at Uno two rounds in a row and had declared herself "unbeatable."

My phone buzzed from the other side of the couch, but I didn't check it either. Not tonight. Not when things felt good for once.

"I think Storm's scamming all of us," JD said, eyeing her playfully. "She's been keeping score."

Storm gasped with mock offense, tossing a kernel of popcorn at him. "I am not cheating! I'm just very skilled."

Lili's phone buzzed again. This time, she picked it up.

"Y'all keep being loud," she said absently, already getting up and heading toward the hallway. "I gotta take this."

"Oooooh," Drew teased. "Tell Caleb we said hi."

"She's definitely going to have an X-rated convo in your hallway," JD added to me with a grin.

Carlacia snorted. "Poor Madelyn, she'll never look at that hall the same."

I laughed lightly, shaking my head, but the teasing jolted my memory back to this morning—when Y/N had cornered me against the vanity, her voice low in my ear, her body flush against mine.

The way her mouth had moved against my collarbone, how close she'd come to...

I blinked, sitting up straighter. That wasn't what I wanted to think about. Not right now. Not after everything. Not when we hadn't even really made up.

"Okay, let's reset," Carlacia said, shuffling the Uno cards. "Storm, you're first since you're apparently some kind of Uno prodigy."

Storm beamed and dramatically cracked her knuckles like a little villain. "Prepare to lose, mortals."

JD clutched his chest. "She's getting cocky. It's over for us."

I couldn't help smiling, leaning back against the couch as the game resumed. Storm's joy was contagious—pure, effortless. And she kept leaning into me, her body warm against mine, her laughter bubbling up whenever JD got a Draw Four.

It felt... normal. Better than it had in days.

Then Lili came back into the room.

She was composed, smiling lightly as she stood near the edge of the couch.

"Hey, Mads?"

I turned toward her. "Yeah?"

"I forgot to ask—do you mind if I borrow something from the closet? My jacket's in the car and I'm freezing."

"Uh... sure," I said, blinking. "You know where it is."

She nodded once and glanced toward Carlacia. "Can you come help me decide?"

Carlacia's brows furrowed for a second before realization dawned in her eyes. She stood without a word, casting a quick glance my way before trailing after Lili toward the bedroom.

I looked back down at Storm, trying to play it cool, even though something about that moment stuck a little. A few minutes passed.

I started a new game. JD was trying to convince Storm to go easy on him "just this once" when I heard the soft creak of the bedroom door.

"Madelyn?" Lili's voice called softly.

I looked up. Both she and Carlacia were standing just inside the hall. Their faces were tight, unreadable. My stomach dropped.

"Can you come here for a sec?" Lili asked.

Storm looked up at me, but I smiled like it was nothing and ruffled her hair. "Be right back, Stormie. Don't let JD cheat while I'm gone."

"I'm literally right here!" JD cried.

I followed Lili and Carlacia to the bedroom, the second I stepped inside, I could feel it—the shift. The weight. I closed the door behind me.

"What's going on?" I asked, heartbeat already climbing.

Lili's face faltered. Her mouth opened like she was going to ease into it, but nothing came out at first. Then she stepped forward.

"It's Y/N," she said softly. "Something happened."

My entire body went still. "What?"

"Caleb called," she said. "She collapsed. They were on a call—and she got hurt. They don't know the full extent yet. She's at the hospital."

My hands flew to my mouth. The air disappeared from my lungs. "Is she—what happened? Is she alive? Is she okay?"

"He said she was breathing when they got her into the aid car," Lili said, her voice shaking a little. "That's all I know. Caleb was freaking out. He could barely talk. I just knew I needed to tell you."

I sank down onto the edge of the bed like the weight of her words had pulled my knees out. "Oh my god."

Carlacia knelt in front of me, her hand gentle on my knee. "Mads, it's gonna be okay."

I shook my head, eyes already burning. "She left this morning and I didn't even kiss her back."

Lili moved toward me, kneeling beside Carlacia. "Don't go there. You didn't know."

"I was cold. I was still mad. I didn't say I loved her back the way I should've—what if that's the last thing—" My voice cracked. The tears spilled fast and hot. I doubled over, trying to hold it in, but my body betrayed me. A sob ripped out before I could stop it.

They both pulled me into them, arms around my shoulders as I cried, letting myself fall apart for the first time all day. It didn't last long. It couldn't. Because Storm was still out there. Because I couldn't let her see me like this.

I sniffled and sat up, wiping at my face. "I need to get to the hospital."

"I'll take you," Lili said instantly, already reaching for her keys.

"I'll stay here with Storm," Carlacia offered.

But I was already shaking my head. "No. She should come with me. Y/N is the only family she has left. I wouldn't be able to live with myself if—if god forbid something happened and Storm wasn't there to say goodbye."

They both went still, and I saw the way the words hit them. I didn't mean for it to sound like a goodbye. But we didn't know what this was yet.

"We're going with you," Carlacia said firmly. "No matter what."

Lili nodded. "Just give me one minute to grab my bag."

I stayed frozen for a second. Then I stood, wiped my eyes again, and squared my shoulders.

I had to be strong. For Storm. For Y/N.

When we came back into the living room, JD was showing Storm how to build a card tower and Drew had his feet up on the coffee table.

"Hey," I said, clearing my throat. "We need to head out. Something happened with Y/N at work. She's okay—we think—but I need to go see her."

Storm stood up immediately, face pale. "What happened?"

"She got hurt during a rescue," I said gently. "She's at the hospital. We're gonna go check on her, okay?"

Her lip wobbled. "Is she gonna be okay?"

I didn't know. But I nodded anyway. "Yeah. She's strong. And she'd want you there."

Storm nodded quickly. "I'll get my coat."

As she hurried off, Carlacia and Lili exchanged glances behind me. I couldn't hear my heartbeat anymore over the roaring in my ears. I wasn't going to fall apart again. Not now. Not in front of Storm.

JD stepped forward, voice low. "Keep us posted, alright?"

I nodded. Drew gave my arm a squeeze. "She's gonna be okay."

Then we were heading out, Storm's small hand in mine, Carlacia and Lili flanking us like sentries. Lili climbed behind the wheel. Carlacia slid into the passenger seat.

I climbed into the back with Storm. My hands were trembling. I stared out the window as we pulled away from the curb, Storm's tiny fingers laced through mine, and I clung to them like they were the only thing tethering me to this moment.

My mind wouldn't stop racing. Y/N's face this morning. The way her lips pressed against my forehead even though I didn't lean in.

And the sound of that damn door clicking shut behind her. God, please let her be okay. Please. I squeezed Storm's hand tighter. She squeezed back without a word.

I wasn't ready to lose her. Neither of us were.

. . .

The second we stepped into the ER, the smell hit me. That sharp, sterile blend of antiseptic and something heavier—something I always associated with panic.

The fluorescent lights felt too bright. The noise too loud and yet somehow muffled. Phones ringing, footsteps echoing, a woman sobbing quietly two chairs away as a nurse tried to calm her. Someone called for a trauma surgeon over the intercom.

I gripped Storm's hand tighter.

"Hi," Lili said quickly, stepping up to the front desk. "We're here for Y/N Calloway. She was brought in by emergency services."

The woman at the desk didn't look up right away. She clicked something on her computer. "Relation?"

"Partner," I said immediately, breath catching in my throat. "And... this is her sister."

I felt Storm squeeze my hand again.

The woman finally looked up. Her expression softened, just slightly. "She's still being evaluated. She was brought in with smoke inhalation and blunt force trauma to the upper shoulder and ribs. Vitals are stable, but they're monitoring her closely."

"She... she passed out," I said, trying to keep my voice level. "My friend said she lost her pulse."

"I can't confirm details from the field," the woman said gently. "But she's here. And they're taking care of her."

Carlacia stood just behind me, arms folded tightly across her chest like she was holding herself together by sheer will.

Storm looked up at me, eyes wide. "Can we see her?"

"Not yet," the woman said. "But I'll let them know you're here. You can wait just down the hall, past those double doors. Quiet area for families."

We thanked her and moved toward the hallway. The second we rounded the corner into the waiting area, I let out a shaky breath and sank into one of the plastic chairs, Storm settling beside me immediately. Carlacia sat across from us. Lili paced.

I couldn't stop fidgeting. My knee bounced. My fingers twisted the hem of my sleeve.

Storm leaned against my side, head resting on my arm. "She's gonna be okay, right?"

"Yeah," I whispered, kissing the top of her head. "She's gonna be okay."

But inside, I wasn't sure if I believed it.

Every time I closed my eyes, I saw her face this morning—sleepy and beautiful in the soft morning light. I saw her biting back words she didn't know how to say. I saw the way she reached for me even when I didn't lean in.

I saw her walking out the door. And I didn't say I love you the way I should have.

Lili finally stopped pacing and sat beside Carlacia. "Caleb still isn't answering. I think his phone's off or he's still in the trauma bay."

Storm sat up slightly. "Is she in surgery or something?"

"No," I said quickly. "They're just... running tests. Making sure she's okay."

We waited. Ten minutes. Twenty. Carlacia checked her phone again and then stood up. "I'm gonna go see if I can find someone who knows more. Sit tight."

She disappeared down the hall, and the silence left behind felt unbearable.

"I hate this," I murmured. "I hate not knowing."

Storm reached for my hand again. "She always comes home."

I blinked down at her, heart swelling and breaking all at once.

"She said nothing could ever stop her from coming back to us," she added.

I blinked fast to keep the tears at bay. "She was right."

A doctor appeared a few minutes later, clipboard in hand. "Family for Y/N Calloway?"

I shot up, Lili and Storm right behind me. "She's awake," the doctor said.

"Stable. Luckily she won't require surgery, she passed out due to all of the smoke she inhaled but, with oxygen we put her on, she's doing great. The beam didn't break anything but, it did hit her pretty hard so, for stabilization we have her wrapped up and her rib bruising will heal and clear up on its own. She's doing great though, no issues and no need to worry. She is a little groggy and sore, but she's asking for you."

Relief slammed into me like a tidal wave. I almost fell into the doctor, nodding too fast.

"She can't have more than two visitors right now," the doctor added, glancing at Storm gently. "But if you want to bring her in for a few minutes, that's okay."

I looked down at Storm, brushing her hair behind her ear. "You ready?"

She nodded, already moving toward the door.

Lili and Carlacia stayed behind as I followed the nurse, Storm's hand in mine. We passed closed doors and soft voices, the hum of machines and the quiet tension of a trauma ward that never fully slept.

Finally, we reached a room with the door half-open. The doctor gave a soft knock and stepped inside. "Got some people here for you," she said gently.

And then I saw her.

Y/N was propped up in the hospital bed, IV in her arm, oxygen clipped to her nose, her cheek scraped and shoulder bandaged.

Her eyes were half-lidded from whatever meds they had her on, but when she saw us—when her gaze landed on Storm, then on me—something shifted.

That quiet strength she always carried, even when she was in pain, came back like a flicker of light. "Hey," she rasped.

Storm ran to her immediately, climbing carefully onto the edge of the bed and wrapping her arms around her waist. Y/N winced slightly but didn't flinch, just kissed the top of her head with a small smile.

"I told you I'd always come back," she whispered.

I stood at the foot of the bed, unable to move. She looked up at me, eyes soft and tired and full of something I hadn't seen in a while—regret. Fear. Love.

"Come here," she said hoarsely. And for the first time in days, I did. I walked straight to her, slid my hand into hers, and kissed the side of her head.

"I thought I was gonna lose you," I said quietly.

"I'm still here," she whispered. But we both knew that wasn't enough anymore. Still being here wasn't the same as being all in.

Still, for now, it was enough. For Storm. For me. For us. I sat beside her as Storm curled into her side, and for the first time in a long time, I let myself just... be there.

Not as someone keeping it together. Not as someone waiting for the other shoe to drop. Just as someone who loved her. And I hoped like hell that this was the moment we'd finally stop running from what we really were.

.  .  .

𝐘/𝐍'𝐬 𝐏𝐎𝐕

The house was quiet again. I was back from my two day stay at the hospital, it was lovely.

Dinner was long over—Lili brought takeout and Carlacia kept making jokes to ease the tension while Storm kept checking on me like I was going to disappear if she blinked too long.

I tried to reassure her with smiles, forehead kisses, even promised her she could watch a movie in my bed this weekend if she let Madelyn help her go to bed early tonight.

She agreed—on the condition I didn't die on her again.

Fair enough.

Now I was propped up in bed, the pillows fluffed behind my back, a heating pad pressed lightly against my shoulder. I'd already changed into sweats and one of my looser tees.

The pain meds were kicking in—softening the dull throb in my side—and my good arm was lazily scrolling through nothing on my phone.

I wasn't really looking at anything. I was waiting.

The sound of soft footsteps down the hallway pulled my eyes toward the door. A second later, Madelyn appeared.

She had her hair up in a messy bun, a loose hoodie hanging off one shoulder, pajama shorts riding dangerously high on her thighs. Her face was makeup-free, skin glowing in that soft, warm, natural way that made my chest tighten.

God, she was beautiful.

She padded over quietly, closing the door behind her before walking to the bed. "Storm's out. Brushed her teeth, hugged me like five times, then knocked out mid-sentence."

I smiled a little. "Sounds about right."

Madelyn looked at me for a long moment before crawling up onto the bed. She didn't say anything at first. Just folded herself beside me, sitting cross-legged on the comforter, facing me like she was studying me.

"Hey," I said softly.

"Hey," she whispered.

There was a pause. Her eyes scanned me—my cheek, my collarbone, my wrapped shoulder—and I saw her blink away something that almost looked like guilt.

"You really scared me."

"I know."

Another beat.

"You look better," she murmured, her hand reaching to gently brush my hair back. "Still like shit, but like... alive shit."

I snorted. "That's what I was going for."

She cracked a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes. Her hand lingered at the side of my face, fingers brushing my temple. I leaned into it.

"I was planning to talk to you before all of this," I said finally. "Before the call. Before the collapse. Before I passed out in front of everyone like a dramatic dumbass."

Her brows knit, lips parting like she wanted to tell me not to call myself that. But I kept going.

"I just... I didn't want to say the wrong thing. So I said nothing. And it's not fair. You've been trying. You've been showing up, and I've been making you question if you even belong here."

Her hand dropped into her lap. "Y/N..."

"I'm serious," I said. "I know I do it. The shutting down. The isolating. I've spent so much of my life surviving that I forgot how to let someone be there for me. And then you... you just came in like this quiet storm, turning everything I knew on its head. And I've been terrified of how much I love you."

Her lips parted slightly, eyes glistening.

"I almost lost everything without even telling you how much it all means to me."

Her voice cracked when she whispered, "So say it now."

I reached out with my good arm, curling my fingers around her wrist, pulling her closer.

"You mean everything to me, Madz. You're home. You're the thing I didn't think I'd ever deserve. I want all of it with you—the hard parts, the boring parts, the Sunday mornings, the fights and the makeup sex, the burnt pancakes and—and whatever else comes with real life. I want you."

Her eyes flooded then. She didn't even try to stop the tear that slipped out.

"I want forever with you," I said. "I want to build a life. A home. And I don't want to keep pretending like you're not already a part of that. So... maybe it's time we just stop acting like you don't live here already. Maybe it's time we make it official. Move in. Stay. Be here. With me. For real."

She blinked slowly, then squinted at me. "Did you just try to slide in a 'move in with me' line without actually asking me to move in with you?"

My lips curled. "Maybe."

Her eyes narrowed playfully. "Wow."

"What?"

"That was so smooth it almost worked."

"Almost?" I teased, tugging her wrist until she scooted closer.

She straddled my lap carefully, one knee on either side of me, her hands resting lightly on my chest. "Y/N Calloway... are you asking me to move in with you?"

I grinned. "I'm asking you to never leave."

Madelyn let out a breathy laugh, leaning in until her forehead touched mine. "You're such a menace."

"Yeah?" I murmured, eyes locked on her lips. "Then why are you sitting on me like this?"

She pulled back slightly, her eyes glinting with mischief. "You really want an answer to that?"

"I mean," I said, my voice dropping an octave, "you straddle me in tiny shorts, call me a menace, and then expect