The Edge of Reason finale...for now

The Cradle Will Rock

    "Grace, you're not going to believe this!"
    It had been a month since Melissa had moved back into her own house after she told Eric about Grace. It had only been a week since Grace had announced she was pregnant.
    "What?" Grace was intrigued.
    "You're going to have a pregnant buddy!"
    "Oh my God! Are you serious!?"
    "Just got home from the doctor! How cool is that?"
    "This is so weird!" Grace was giddy.
    "I hope this doesn't make things weird between us. I mean, it is kind of an odd situation, don't you think?" Melissa got serious.
    "What do you mean?"
    "Well, I mean it figures we finally don't have to hide how we feel about each other and now we're both pregnant. I mean, we're both going to be moody as hell, we're going to feel closer to Warren and Eric than each other, and I mean how awkward would it be for us to be together, if you know what I mean? Two married, bi-sexual, pregnant lovers going at it?"
    Grace was silent for a moment.
    "I don't think you should worry about it unless it becomes an issue."
    "Look, Grace. I didn't mean to piss you off. I guess the hormones are getting to me already," Melissa tried to laugh. "I'm just worried, that's all. I don't want things to change between us. Especially now that they're so great."
    "I know. I'm sorry. I guess I'm just getting a little moody too," Grace laughed. "Listen to us using hormones as excuses already!
                                                    ***
    "Hey. How was your appointment?" Melissa was nervous.
    "Oh it was great, Melissa! Warren even got to go. The baby has a nice, strong heartbeat. The doctor said everything is fine, Melissa. Do you know how relieved I am?"
    "Yes, I do. I was holding my breath for you. I'm so glad everything's fine. I've been worrying about it all day. Now I'll have to worry about myself!" Melissa laughed.
    "Melissa. I love you."
    "I love you too."
                                          ***2 Months Later***
    "I'll be right back. I have to go pee AGAIN," Melissa laughed as she wiggled her way off the couch. Grace was sitting right next to her and gave her a push.
    "What would I do without you?" Melissa called from the hallway.
    She and Grace had been opening presents at Grace's house for their baby shower. All their friends from work were there, along with some family members.
    Melissa had been feeling kind of weird all day and she began having shooting pains in her abdomen about half an hour ago. She figured it was just gas pains or something stupid, but it was really starting to worry her.
    Melissa sat down and went about her business, but her stomach started hurting even worse. Something wasn't right. Melissa stood up and almost fainted. The toilet water had turned red and there was blood between her legs. Her stomach began cramping even worse.
    Melissa finally managed to scream.
    "GRACE!" her call for help was blood-curdling. Once she started she couldn't stop. She yelled for Grace over and over until she came through the door.
    "Melissa! What is wrong?" she said before she could take everything in. Melissa was halfway bent over and holding her stomach. Grace finally saw what she was screaming about.
    "Oh my God," Grace whispered in horror. "Somebody call 911!" she yelled out the door.
    Melissa's mom came running down the hall. "What's....? Oh my God, Melissa!"
    "Anna, can you get me some towels out of the closet in the hall?" Grace tried to stay calm. She knelt down in front of Melissa.
    "Just try to stay calm, babe Everything's going to be fine, okay? We're going to get you to the hospital as soon as possible. I'll cal Eric, okay?"
    Melissa couldn't even respond. She just stood, rocking back and forth, holding the baby inside of her as if she were afraid it might fall out if she let go. Melissa couldn't stop crying uncontrollably. Grace had never seen her so scared.
    Melissa's mother, Anna, came back in with the towels and handed them to Grace.
    "Thank you. Can you call the ambulance now?"
    "I already did."
    "Okay, good. Can you help me?"
    "Of course!"
    "Melissa, your mom and I are going to help you lay down, okay? It will take some pressure off the baby and we need to control the bleeding, okay sweetheart?"
    Melissa finally managed to nod her head. Grace and Anna took Melissa's arms and helped her to the floor. Grace took the towels and placed them underneath Melissa's bottom and between her legs. It only took a few seconds for them to be completely soaked in blood.
    "I'll go get some more towels," Anna rushed out of the room.
    "I'm so scared," Melissa sobbed. "I can't handle this."
    "Yes you can, Melissa. You're going to be fine," Grace fought back tears of her own. "Elena is going to be fine."
    Melissa and Eric had just found out they were having a daughter the week before and had already picked out a name.
    Anna came back with more towels and sat down next to her daughter.
    "You're going to be okay," she stroked Melissa's hair.
    A few minutes later the ambulance pulled up outside. Grace and Anna followed Melissa and the paramedics outside.
    "Family only," one of the paramedics stated. Anna almost had a look of guilt as she looked at Grace while climbing in the ambulance.
    "Hold on," Grace said as she got inside real quick. She looked into Melissa's eyes then kissed her forehead. "I love you."
    Melissa feebly smiled back.
    "I'll be right behind you!" Grace called as the paramedics shut the doors.

    Grace waited impatiently in the waiting room outside of the maternity ward. Warren happened to be with Eric, so he met her at the hospital and tried to be as supportive as possible. He tried to help Grace relax the few times she did sit down by rubbing her neck and shoulders.
    Grace finally let herself cry, off and on, during the hour and a half wait. The minutes seemed to tick by slowly as she paced around the room. At one point Warren rubbed her growing belly, but she could only force a smile. She knew what he was thinking, but she couldn't get her mind off Melissa.
    Eric finally came through the maternity ward doors with a tired smile on his face. Grace and Warren both stood up.
    "Melissa's okay," Eric sighed with relief. "The baby is fine too." Grace walked over to Eric and hugged him tightly. She couldn't help but start crying again.
    "So the baby wasn't, born yet, right?" Grace had to ask.
    "No, no. They didn't have to take her yet. Apparently the placenta started tearing away from the uterine wall. That's why Melissa was bleeding so bad."
    "But she's okay now?"
    "Yah. Everything's fine. They stopped the bleeding, but Mel's probably going to have to stay here for a few days. After that the doctor said she'll probably have to stay on bed rest for about a month, if not longer. They're just waiting to see how it goes right now."
    "Can we see her?" Grace asked hopefully.
    "Yah. Of course. She might be kind of out of it though."
    "Thank you, Eric."
    Warren held Grace's hand as they walked to Melissa's room. Grace poked her head inside.
    "Knock, knock," she said quietly.
    Melissa smiled. Her eyes were tired and her voice was hoarse.
    "Hey."
    "Hey, babe. How are you doing?" Grace held Melissa's hand.
    "I'm fine. Tired. Really, really tired," she rasped.
    "We won't stay long," Warren promised.
    "Thank you guys for coming. You don't have to worry about me any more," Melissa smiled.
    "Oh, you know we're still going to worry about you for the next month," Warren teased. "I just wanted to see how you were doing. I'll leave you guys alone now," he kissed Melissa on the forehead on his way out.
    Grace stared at Melissa for a long time. Melissa could see her eyes beginning to water.
    "I was so worried about you," Grace cried as she laid her head on Melissa's shoulder.
    Melissa let her cry and used what little energy she had left to play with Grace's hair.
    "I'm okay now," Melissa whispered.
    "I know. But I was so afraid I was going to lose you. You have no idea how I felt."
    "Yes I do," Melissa said solemnly.
    "Melissa, I don't know what I would do without you," Grace sobbed.
    "Sshh. I'm not going anywhere for a long time. Grace?"
    "Yah, babe?" Grace's cries wracked her whole body.
    "Thank you for being there for me. Not just today, but all the time."
    "No problem. That's what I'm here for. You will never know how much I care about you," Grace whispered.
    "Yes I will..." Melissa trailed off as she fell asleep.
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Into the Hollow

    Melissa sat shivering in the bathtub, fully clothed, hugging her knees to her chest and crying. For whatever reason, she decided to take her cell phone in with her, deep down hoping that someone would call, caring. She hadn't felt this bad in a long time.
    The sound of her ring tone made her jump. She picked up her phone carefully. 'Grace'. She should have known. Without even thinking, she answered it.
    "Hello?" Melissa greeted with no feeling.
    "Hey. What are you doing? I didn't wake you up, did I?"
    "No. Not exactly," Melissa sniffed.
    "Have you been crying?"
    "Why did I answer the phone?" Melissa started hating herself even more, if that was possible.
    "Yah, but I'm okay," she quickly added.
    "Melissa, you don't sound okay. Do you want to talk?" Grace was getting concerned.
    "I want you to get out of my head," Melissa laughed and began crying again.
    "Melissa, I'm coming over." Grace knew she had been a little bit depressed lately, and she knew Melissa's history. She didn't want her doing anything she knew she would regret later on.
    "Good luck," Melissa said. "I think I locked the door. And I am NOT getting up to let anyone in."
    "What is going on, Mel?" Grace didn't like the way Melissa's voice sounded.
    "Nothing. Nothing, is, wrong, Grace. I don't even know why I answered the phone."
    "Why? Why, Melissa?" Grace was getting upset. "I'm coming over there, even if I have to break in!"
    "Grace! No!" Melissa pleaded, but Grace had hung up on her.
    Melissa looked at the bathroom door. Unlocked. "Damn it!" she thought as she mustered the strength to stand up. She went to check the front door. "How did I forget to lock that?" she thought. "Oh well. She can't get into the bathroom."
    Melissa hobbled her way back to the bathroom. Her body ached all over. Especially her wrists. Stupid. She managed to lock the door and laid back down in the tub. She waited in silence, staring up at the ceiling, knowing Grace would be banging the other side of the door any minute.
    "Why are you so stupid, Melissa?" She questioned herself. She tensed up as she heard the front door open. "Fuck," she whispered.
    "Melissa!" Grace called. Melissa could hear her walking around outside the bathroom.
    "Let me in, Melissa," Grace knocked. She was trying to stay calm, but she was getting angry, and wasn't sure why.
    "Go away, Grace," Melissa started crying again.
    "I'm not going away until you let me in and tell me what's going on."
    "I can't," Melissa sobbed.
    "Why not?"
    "I don't want you to see me like this, Grace."
    By this point, Grace was imagining the worst. She was convinced that Melissa really wasn't going to let her in at all, so she did the only thing she could think of.
    Grace started ramming the door with her entire body as hard as she could.
    Melissa stared in shock through tears. A few minutes later the bathroom door burst open and Grace barely caught herself from falling. She quickly regained herself and took in the scene before her.
    Melissa was still lying in the tub, looking at Grace through bloodshot eyes. Grace was speechless for a second and just looked back at Melissa.
    "What's wrong, babe?" she rushed to her side. Melissa tried to hide her arms from Grace.
    Grace stroked Melissa's hair and tried not to start crying too. "What's this blood from, Melissa?" Her voice began to shake. Melissa looked away and shook her head. Grace grabbed one of Melissa's wrists. Her jaw just dropped.
    "Oh my God, Melissa!" Grace whispered. She grabbed the other one and found the same thing. Melissa cried even harder, but still wouldn't look at Grace.
    Grace couldn't help but start crying herself. Melissa had cut herself four or five times down each wrist. The gashes were still spilling out blood, though it had been nearly a half hour since Melissa had done it. Grace couldn't help but ask the obvious.
    "Did you try to kill yourself?"
    Melissa shook her head. "I wasn't trying to kill myself," she sniffed. "I just, feeling the pain reminds me I'm still alive sometimes. It's like I do it to make sure I can still feel, you know?" Melissa's lip trembled.
    "Will you let me help you?" Grace asked Melissa. She nodded her head and rested it against the shower wall.
    Grace got to her feet and wiped tears away from her eyes. She found a rag and ran it through warm water in the sink. Grace returned to Melissa. "Can you get up, babe?"
    "Will you help me? I hurt. All over," she sobbed. Grace bent over and helped lift her friend up from beneath her arms. She held onto Melissa as she stepped out of the tub and walked over to the sink.
    Melissa took a glance at herself in the mirror and quickly looked away. She and Grace were silent for the most part while Melissa let Grace bandage her up.
    "Are you sure you don't want to go to the emergency room?" Grace dared to ask again.
    "Absolutely not. They'll put me in the fucking psych ward or something."
    "Okay," Grace said quietly. "Now," she finished up, "why don't you go change your clothes and come sit with me in the living room?" Melissa nodded as she walked out of the bathroom.

    Melissa joined Grace a few minutes later. She stared off blankly for a few minutes. Grace waited until she was ready to talk.
    "I'm really sorry you had to see me like that," Melissa finally spoke.
    "It's okay. I'm glad I could be here for you."
    "It's not okay, Grace. I don't even like seeing myself like that. You don't know how much I hate feeling like this." Melissa could feel tears rising again. Grace reached out and held her hand.
    "We've been over this before. I know it's been awhile, but it still holds true. You can come to me about anything that's bothering you, Melissa. Anything. You know me. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it." Grace and Melissa both laughed a little.
    "You want to know what it is?" Melissa asked. "First of all, it really does just sneak up on me for no reason most of the time. That's what sucks. And I can't do anything about it at all. That's what most people can't understand. It's the most helpless feeling in the world."
    Grace listened intently and waited for her to proceed.
    "You know what else has been bothering me more than usual? You."
    Grace had a confused look on her face.
    "I think about you all the time, Grace. I mean, I love the friendship that we have now, but I can't stop thinking about that night. I try not to, but I can't help it. I guess what it comes down to is that I still wish things could be different, but I don't have the balls to change them."
    Grace was silent for a minute.
    "I wasn't sure you still felt that way," she began. "I'm glad you told me, though, because I still feel the same too."
    "Really?"
    Grace gave Melissa 'the look'. "Come here," she held out her arms. Melissa leaned in to Grace and let her hold her. Grace stroked her hair gently.
    "Will you stay with me for awhile?" Melissa whispered.
    "Of course."
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Release

    "Guess what today is?" Melissa sing-songed.
    "I already know what today is!" Grace chanted back. "That's why I'm picking you up and taking you out to lunch!"
    "Grace, I don't know if Eric will let me. You know how he's been ever since all this has happened. I'll have to practically beg him," Melissa laughed.
    "Please?" Grace whined. "You'll be fine, I promise."
    "Alright. I'll go ask him, excuse me, beg him, so don't be surprised if I don't call you back right away."
    "Okay," Grace was about to hang up when a thought hit her. "Hey wait!"
    "What?"
    "I just had an even better idea that should be easier to talk Eric into."
    "Okay?" Melissa waited.
    "Why don't I fix a picnic and we can park our butts out back?"
    "Alright," Melissa laughed. "I'll call you back in a few."

    "Eric!" Melissa called from the living room. He came jogging in seconds later.
    "What? What's the matter?"
    "Nothing's wrong," she sighed. Eric always assumed something was awry every since she had been on bed rest.
    "I was wondering if you cared if I went over to Grace's for lunch?"
    "Why can't she come here?"
    "I don't know. Does it matter? She was planning on picking me up anyway. It's not like I'm going to be driving...or that far away for that matter."
    "Alright, alright," Eric smiled. "Just take it easy, okay? I mean it!"
    "Thank you!" Melissa hugged him. "You don't mind watching Gavin?"
    "No, now go on," he shooed her. "Go call Grace back," he kissed her and picked their son up. "Sorry. You're stuck with me for the afternoon."
    Gavin just smiled and clapped his hands.

    Eric answered the door."Hey Grace. Come in."
    She walked over and sat on the couch, folding her hands on her giant belly.
    "How are you doing?" Eric asked.
    "Not trying to be rude, but how does it look like I'm doing?" Grace laughed a little. "What the hell was I thinking?"
    Eric just smiled. "Melissa, Grace is here!"
    "You look like hell!" Melissa announced.
    "Thanks, Mel. I love you too." Grace caught herself and hoped there wouldn't be an awkward silence.
    "I'm sorry," Melissa laughed. "Are you sure you want to do this, though? You just look really tired."
    "I'll be alright. Are you ready?"

    Grace had set up a table in the backyard with two lawn chairs on either side. There was a picnic basket in the center of the table with a vase full of freshly picked flowers next to it.
    "Go ahead and sit down. I'm going to run inside and get our drinks." Grace returned a few minutes later with two glasses of lemonade.
    "I realize it's not very picnic-like, but I figured it wise not to sit on the ground because neither one of us would be getting back up!" Grace laughed.
    "No, it's fine, Grace. It's just nice being able to even get out of the house. Trust me!"
    "I know," she paused. "I'm just glad everything is okay now."
    "Me too," Melissa smiled and took Grace's hands in hers.
    "I'm glad we have some time alone. I appreciate this."
    "I'm glad we do too...Now shut up and eat! I'm starving!" They both laughed.