Elizabeth opened her eyes, her vision blurry and unfocused. It took her a moment to get her bearings, to remember where she was. Slowly, the memories came back - the attack, the hospital, her mother.
She looked over at the chair next to her bed, her heart clenching at the sight of her mother and Doug there, fast asleep, their heads leaned against each other.
It was a strangely adorable sight. These two very tough, very strong people, who always seemed to be at the top of their games, now both looking so vulnerable and weary, clinging onto each other for comfort.
She let them sleep. She took her phone out and took a photo of them sleeping. It was a beginning of a relationship she could feel it.
From her point of view, she could capture her mother's face, the rare moments of peace and vulnerability etched on her features. There was a small, unconscious smile on her mother's lips, even in sleep. And Doug, his head leaned against her mother's, a steady and reassuring presence even in slumber.
Clicking the button of the camera, she captured the moment, a small, bittersweet smile curving her own lips. It was a moment she knew they would want to remember, and one she knew she would cherish.
Her fingers lingered over the photo, the image of her mother and Doug ingrained in her mind. She was struck by how right it felt, how natural it seemed.
She pocketed the phone, deciding to let them sleep a bit longer. Her mother, in particular, looked like she needed it.
It was a few hours later when they woke up. The sun was setting, the sky outside the window fading from blue to purples and pinks. Kamala stirred, her neck aching and stiff from the uncomfortable position she'd been sleeping in.
"Hey mummy"
Her eyes flickered open at the sound, her body immediately alert. She sat up, her gaze falling on her daughter, and her heart leapt into her throat.
"Liz!" she exclaimed, her throat tight with emotion. She scrambled out of the chair, leaning over the bed, her hands reaching for her daughter. "Oh, Liz, you're awake."
"Hey stop yelling you will wake Doug up"
She immediately lowered her voice, a flicker of guilt crossing her face. "Sorry," she whispered, her fingers finding Elizabeth's and holding them tightly. "How are you feeling?"
"Hmmm like I've been shot?"
She winced at her daughter's casual tone. "Don't joke about that," she scolded, her eyes flickering over the bandages and tubes. "You could have died, Liz."
"You too Kam"
"Me? I wasn't the one shot." she retorted, her eyes flickering to the bandages across her daughter's chest. "I'm not the one currently in intensive care."
"Mom that bullet was meant for your heart"
The truth of her daughter's words struck her, and her shoulders slumped slightly. "I know, I know," she whispered, guilt fluttering in her stomach. "But that doesn't change the fact that you almost-" her voice caught, her eyes suddenly watery.
"Say it" she wanted to take her hand but she hissed from the movement.
The sound of her daughter's pain brought even more guilt crashing over her, her voice coming out as a hoarse whisper. "You almost died," she admitted, the words like sandpaper in her throat. "And it would have been my fault."
"In any scenes it would not be your fault Kamala." She tried again and hissed form pain but catched her hand.
Her daughter's hand gripped her own, slender and strong despite the injury. Kamala leaned forward, her eyes locking on her daughter's face.
"It would be," she insisted, her voice thick with guilt. "I was the one who was supposed to be targeted. I was the one they were aiming for. You shouldn't have-" her voice caught in her throat.
"Today is a day of finishing sentences. Say it Kam."
The stubbornness and determination in her daughter's gaze were unmistakeable, and Kamala knew she wouldn't get out of this. With a deep sigh, she swallowed, her eyes flicking to her daughter's bandaged chest, then back up to her face.
"You shouldn't have taken that bullet for me," she said, the words bitter and heavy on her tongue. "You shouldn't have been hurt. It should have been me."
"Okay i get it you're not happy with my decision, but it was my decision, not yours so it is not your fault."
The matter-of-fact way her daughter spoke made her huff, torn between frustration and relief. "You're too stubborn for your own good," she muttered, her fingers tightening around her daughter's.
"I told you, I'm not burying the only family i have."
Her daughter's words hit her like a punch to the gut, sending a wave of guilt through her. "You don't know what you're saying," she shot back, her voice slightly sharp. "You can't just risk your life like that!"
"Shhh don't scream" she reprimanded her. "I am perfectly capable of making my own decisions."
Her daughter's reprimand, combined with the stubborn set to her jaw, ignited a flicker of irritation, and she leaned closer, her voice low but intense. "You're still a child, goddamnit! You're not supposed to be making life-or-death decisions!"
"I'm 25, I am a grown up, and you can't yell at me for saving your goddamn life. Why can't you understand, you would have been dead."
"So what?!" she snapped, her voice rising despite her daughter's warning. "You don't get it, do you? I don't care if I would have been dead. It's better it was me than you!"
"Kamala Harris do not yell." She squeezed her hand. "If i go to the random place in the world and ask if they know who Kamala Harris is there is a big chance they do, you are important, even if your vice presidency is almost over."
Her daughter's cool logic and calm demeanor only fueled her irritation, and she huffed, fighting the urge to shake her by the shoulders. "That doesn't mean my life is worth more than yours!"
"No it does not, but it also means it is not better you than me"
"Yes it does!" she argued, leaning closer until their faces were almost touching. "You're young, you have your whole life ahead of you! I've lived, I've had a great career, I've seen the world. You're just starting out!"
"I am not a big fan of dying either, but you have to find your big love, you gave me 20 years of your life, all i did is gave you another 20."
The mention of 'big love' made her falter for a moment, a wave of sadness and regret crashing over her. But she quickly recovered, her irritation still boiling under the surface.
"It's not that simple, Liz. I'm not supposed to outlive you. Parents aren't supposed to bury their children," she said, her voice a hoarse whisper.
She holded her hands out to hug her. "Come here just easy."
Something in her daughter's tone, in the way her eyes were still so steady and calm, shattered the last of her irritation, and she let out a shaky breath.
She leaned forward, careful not to disturb the tubes and cables, and gingerly wrapped her arms around her daughter, her face burying in her shoulder.
She whispered to her ear "You like Doug??"
Her daughter's sudden question caught her off guard, and she pulled back slightly, her face flushed. "Excuse me?!" she sputtered, a hint of embarrassment coloring her voice.
"Shhhhh goddamn it."
Her daughter's hushing made her huff again, but she relented, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Why would you ask me that?" she demanded, her cheeks still faintly pink.
"Because of this." She pulled out her phone with the photo.
Her eyes widened at the sight of the photo, the image of her and Doug sleeping on each other's shoulders. Embarrassment flared through her, her face heating up even more.
"How did you-" she started, then stopped, her eyes flickering up to her daughter's face.
She smiled "I was awake for quite some time before you did."
Her embarrassment flared even brighter, the knowledge that her daughter had been witness to that moment adding to her mortification. "How long were you awake for?" she mumbled, her voice almost a whine.
"A few hours." She smiled "he woke up during them. He didn't even notice me, he was looking at you, like you were the most important thing in his life."
Her heart skipped a beat at her daughter's words, a flutter of something warm and hopeful welling in her chest.
But she quickly squashed it, reminding herself that it was ridiculous to feel this way. "He was just worried about me," she dismissed. "He's a good friend, no more."
"I know love when i see one and you're blushing"
Her face heated up even more at her daughter's directness, her heart beating slightly faster in her chest. "I'm not- " she protested
But the sight of her daughter, with her raised eyebrow and knowing smile, made her falter. She huffed, averting her eyes. "Maybe you're imagining things," she muttered, knowing her excuse was weak.
"Yeah yeah. Tell me everything mummy."
Her daughter's eager insistence made her huff again, but she couldn't keep the small, slightly sheepish smile off her face.
"There's nothing to tell," she denied weakly. "We're just friends, that's all."
"He had blood on his suit, I assume mine, so you had to be there before you got to clean up, and blood dry up. He had to hug you, because the blood is on his chest."
She blushed even more at the obvious evidence laid out before her, her mind trying to come up with a rebuttal. But there was no denying the logic, the fact that the blood on Doug's suit could only have come from her.
"Okay, fine," she relented, her voice a grumble. "He was there, and he hugged me. But it doesn't mean anything!"
She smiled widely
The sight of her daughter's smile, so smug and satisfied, made her want to snatch the pillow from behind her and shove it in her face.
"Why are you so happy about this?" she grumbled, trying to ignore the strange, fluttery feeling in her stomach.
"I'm happy for you."
Her annoyance faded a bit at the genuine happiness in her daughter's voice, her chest tightening slightly. "And why is that?" she questioned, her voice softer again.
"Because you're falling for him"
She huffed, a mixture of embarrassment and denial rushing through her. "I am not-" she started to protest, then stopped herself with a sigh.
"Fine," she admitted, the word reluctant but honest. "Maybe, I might have, sort of, kind of, developed...some feelings for him."
"Than tell him that because he just woke up" she laughed
"What- now?!" her voice came out as a squeak, her eyes wide with alarm. "I can't just go up to him and blurt out "I might have kind of maybe sort of developed some feelings for you"!"
"Douglas can she?" he was awake on the chair, he heard it all. He answered.
"Yes she can."
Her face flamed crimson, her embarrassment reaching new heights. She whirled around, her eyes meeting Doug's, her heart pounding wildly in her chest.
"How much did you hear?" she asked, her voice a mixture of mortification and resignation.
He stood up from the chair, his eyes filled with a mixture of amusement and something else, something warm and hopeful. "Enough," he said, taking a step closer. "I heard enough."
Her heart raced in her chest, her mind trying to process the situation. She glanced at her daughter, who was watching the whole scene with a wide smile, then back at Doug, who was now only a few steps away.
"And.. what do you think about what you heard?" she asked, her voice trembling slightly.
Doug took another step closer, closing the distance between them. He reached out and took her hand, his palm warm and reassuring against hers. "I think," he said softly, "that it's the best thing I've heard in a long time."
Her heart leapt into her throat when he kissed her, a mix of shock and pleasure coursing through her. For a moment, she froze, her body tense and unsure.
Then, slowly, she relaxed, her eyes fluttering shut as she let the sensations flow over her. His lips were soft and gentle, the kiss a quiet declaration of something unspoken and growing.
Elizabeth clapped from her bed.
The sound of her daughter clapping jolted her back to reality, and she pulled away, her cheeks flush with a mix of embarrassment and something else.
She shot her daughter a glare, her mind still reeling from the kiss. "Hush," she scolded, her voice softer than intended.
"I need to talk with Douglas. Mummy leave."
She opened her mouth to protest, but the determined look in her daughter's eyes made her hesitate.
"Fine," she agreed reluctantly, giving Doug a pointed look before turning and leaving the room.
"Douglas sweetie, I see that you are interested in my mother, i pushed her to you, just a little. You should be thankful for that. But if you hurt her I swear that i am damn good with a Glock." She smiled at the end
Doug chuckled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Message received and understood," he assured her, holding up his hands in a mock surrender. "I have no intention of hurting Kamala, believe me."
"And if you do" she was still smiling "if you let her love you and than breake her heart i promise that you will deal with me"
The seriousness in her daughter's voice caught him off guard, his amusement replaced with a hint of wariness. "Duly noted," he said, his tone grave. "I'll take good care of her. I promise."
"Amazing, you can go back to kissing. Make her happy."
Doug shot her a look that was half-amused and half-alarmed. "I'll take that as my cue to leave," he said, backing out of the room.
He found Kamala outside the room, leaning against the wall with her eyes closed. "I think your daughter just threatened my life if I hurt you," he mentioned casually.
She let out a soft snort, her eyes opening to meet his. "Sounds like her," she said, a hint of fondness in her voice. "She's always been protective, even when she could barely string a sentence together."
He leaned against the wall beside her, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "She clearly cares about you a lot," he noted, his voice gentle. "Can't say I blame her for giving me that warning."
"She's always had my back," she agreed, a hint of pride in her voice. "Always. Though I wish she'd stay out of my love life," she added with a grumble.
"No way mummy" she yelled from her bed
She rolled her eyes at her daughter's yell, a mix of irritation and fondness in her expression. "See what I mean?" she muttered to Doug.
He chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "She's got a point though, she was the one who pushed you to admit your feelings," he reminded her, a hint of teasing in his voice.
He lowered himself to face her lips.
Her heart skipped a beat as he leaned closer, her eyes locking with his. Her breath caught in her throat, her body tense with anticipation. His proximity sent a shiver down her spine, and she found herself leaning slightly closer, her eyelids fluttering shut.
"We got an order from your daughter to kiss."
She let out a soft snort, her lips curving into a smile. "Seems like we have to follow orders then, don't we?" she murmured, her voice low and warm.
Doug chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Looks like we do," he agreed, his hand coming up to cup her face.
The touch of his hand on her face made her breath catch again, her pulse quickening. She let her eyes flutter closed, surrendering to the sensation. She tilted her head, her lips meeting his.
The kiss was soft at first, tentative and exploratory. His lips were warm and gentle against hers, sending a jolt of electricity through her. She leaned in closer, her hand coming up to rest on his chest, fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt.
His lips moved against hers, coaxing a response from her. She responded eagerly, her lips parting slightly to deepen the kiss. Her heart hammered in her chest, her mind a chaotic mix of sensations and emotions.
"Hey hey, find yourselves a room. She is still a vice president." Liz yelled from her room.
The sound of her daughter's voice shattered the moment, and she reluctantly pulled away from Doug, her cheeks flushed and lips slightly swollen. She shot her daughter a glare, her voice slightly breathless.
"You're really enjoying this, aren't you?" she called back, a mixture of irritation and amusement in her tone.
"Find a room and I won't say another word."
She huffed, her face turning even redder at her daughter's brazenness. "We are in a hospital!" she protested, her voice a mix of scandalized and amused.
"Exactly, keep your tongue out of her mouth Douglas."
Doug chuckled, his hand still cupped under her chin. "Yes ma'am," he called out, his voice carrying a note of amused indulgence.
"Thank you very much."
"You're not going to ask us to make out with the door open, are you?" she demanded, her voice holding more amusement than irritation now.
"The door are out of glass"
She huffed again, shaking her head in mock despair. "Of course they are," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "No privacy anywhere in a hospital."
Doug chuckled, leaning closer to whisper in her ear. "I think she's just enjoying the show," he said, his breath warm against her skin.
"First dating than the rest. You're rules mamma"
She rolled her eyes again, her heart fluttering at Doug's whispered words. "I think I liked it better when she couldn't talk," she muttered, a hint of a smile playing at the corner of her lips. "She's getting way too good at commanding us around."
Doug chuckled, gently taking her hand and twining his fingers with hers. "Well, she did get it from you," he pointed out, a hint of teasing in his voice.
"Oh shut up," she grumbled, giving his hand a gentle swat. "I am nowhere near as bossy as she is."
"Oh, no, of course not," he agreed, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "You're the picture of humility and gentleness."
He kissed her again
Her heart leapt in her chest again as he kissed her, her free hand coming up to curl into his shirt once more. This time, she didn't hold back, responding eagerly to his kiss, her lips moving against his in a growing passion.
Her body pressed against his, every inch of her suddenly hyper-aware of his proximity, his touch. His hand on her waist felt like a burning brand, the heat seeping through the thin material of her clothes. Her fingers clenched tighter in his shirt, holding on to him as if to anchor herself in the whirlwind of sensations.
"Eghm"
They broke apart again, both of them breathing heavily. She shot her daughter another glare, her voice a little breathless.
"Yes, Liz?"
"I love you mamma"
The anger she had started to feel faded away at those simple words, her heart melting. "I love you too, sweetheart," she said, her voice softer now.
"Come here please"
She reluctantly untangled herself from Doug's embrace and approached her daughter's bedside. "Yes, love?" she asked, her voice gentle.
"Closer" as she did. She whispered to her ear. "I don't want to be noisy I really don't, but please take it slow and be careful, there are people in this hospital that won't respect your privacy."
She smiled at her daughter's concern, touched by her thoughtfulness despite her earlier mischief. She leaned in closer, her voice lowering to match her daughter's whisper.
"I promise, I'll be careful," she assured her. "And thank you for looking out for me. I love you."
"Go home, but not with him, not yet. Let him take you out a few times. Please."
She chuckled at her daughter's bossiness, a fondness in her voice. "Alright, alright. I'll make him work for it a little," she agreed, glancing at Doug, who was listening to the conversation with a bemused expression.
"You happy now, Miss Matchmaker?"
"I will be happy as long as you're happy."
Her heart swelled with love and gratitude, touched by her daughter's simple words. "I am happy, sweetheart," she assured her. "Very, very happy."
"Hug your almost dying daughter before you go."
She obediently wrapped her arms around her daughter, holding her close, mindful not to cause her any pain. "I love you, Liz," she murmured against her hair. "Don't ever scare me like that again, okay?"
"I love you too mama"
She held her daughter a moment longer, then pulled back, her eyes scanning her face. "Be good, okay? And behave yourself when I'm gone," she instructed, her voice holding a hint of wry amusement.
"Again" she wanted another hug
She smiled, acquiescing and giving her daughter another hug. "Greedy," she teased. "I've already given you plenty of hugs today."
"Mmm" she hugged her tighter
She chuckled, returning the hug with equal enthusiasm. "You're very clingy today," she observed, amusement coloring her voice. "Missing me already?"
"Yhmm"
She gently stroked her daughter's hair, her heart aching at the vulnerability in her voice. "I'm not going far, darling. I'll be back to see you soon, okay?"
"The last one" huggies
She laughed softly, giving in to her daughter's insistence. "Okay, okay. Just one more," she said, wrapping her arms around her one last time. "But then I really have to go."
She didn't want to let go.
"Shhh, sweetheart," she murmured, holding her close and rubbing her back soothingly. "You need to rest. I'll be back to visit soon, I promise. But you need to rest now."
"You need to eat and sleep properly Kammy, and come back tomorrow."
She smiled at her daughter's insistence, touched by her concern. "I will, I promise. I'll eat and sleep. And I'll be back tomorrow. You just focus on getting better, alright?"
"I'm sorry, i can't be with you for your end of vice presidency."
Her heart twisted at her daughter's words, a mixture of pain and pride welling inside. "Hey, don't you dare apologize," she reprimanded, her voice a tad thick with emotion. "You worry about healing. That's all you need to do right now. I'll be fine."
She reached her hands to hug her again.
She couldn't resist the unspoken plea in her daughter's eyes, and she leaned forward to hug her again, her arms wrapping around her slender frame. "Stop this, you're making me emotional," she murmured, her voice a little shaky.
Lizzy had tears in her eyes. "I can't lose you mamma"
Her own eyes misted at her daughter's tears, her heart clenching painfully. "Hey, hey, none of that," she said gently, smoothing her daughter's hair. "You're not going to lose me, okay? I'm right here. I'm not going anywhere."
"That gun was aimed at your heart"
She couldn't deny the truth of her daughter's words, her eyes flickering closed as she relived the moment. "I know," she said quietly, her voice soft. "But I'm fine. I'm unharmed, see?" she added, opening her eyes to give her daughter a reassuring smile.
Liz pulled her back onto a hug.
She let her daughter pull her back into another hug, unable to resist her fierce grip. She held her close, her own arms tightening around her. "Stop scaring me," she murmured, her voice a mix of sternness and tenderness. "I don't need you giving me a heart attack too."
Lizzy moved on the bed hissing from pain but pulled kamala with her to lay next to her.
She protested as her daughter drew her into the bed, her first instinct to pull away. "Hey, you're supposed to be resting," she protested gently. "I'm going to hurt you."
"Mummy please, just for a moment. Than you can go back to Douglas."
She relented, the pleading in her daughter's voice too strong to resist. She gingerly climbed into the bed beside her, careful not to jostle her or hurt her. "Just for a moment," she agreed, settling down next to her.
"Hold me"
She shifted, careful not to cause her any pain, until they were lying facing each other. She wrapped an arm gently around her daughter, pulling her closer. "Like this?" she asked, her voice a gentle murmur.
"Yeah" she relaxed into her embrace
She held her close, her heart clenching with love and worry. Her fingers began to gently stroke her daughter's hair, a soothing motion. "Comfortable?" she asked, her voice a caress.
"Yhmm, don't go mummy." She felt like a 6 year old again, when she called Kamala her mother for a first time.
Her heart broke at her daughter's pleading tone, and she tightened her hold on her. "Oh sweetheart," she murmured, her voice hoarse with emotion. "I have to go, but I promise, I'll be back tomorrow, okay? And the day after that, and the day after that. I'm not going anywhere, I promise."
She nuzzled closer. "please mummy"
Her heart ached at the plea in her daughter's voice, and she held her closer, her hand continuing to stroke her hair. "Sweetheart, I can't stay tonight," she said gently. "You need your rest, and so do I. But I'll be back tomorrow, first thing, I promise. And we'll have all the time in the world, alright?"
"Mummy"
She sighed, her resolve weakening. She hated denying her daughter anything, especially when she looked so vulnerable and scared. "Just for a little while longer," she relented, her voice soft. "But then I have to go, okay?"
"Can't we just sleep like this?"
She paused, her heart warring with her head. A part of her wanted nothing more than to stay, to hold her daughter and keep her close. But another part, the responsible part, knew it wasn't practical. "Sweetheart, you're injured," she said gently. "You need to rest in a proper position, not lying here in my arms."
"Mmm" she was falling asleep.
She could feel her daughter's body relaxing, her breaths growing slower and more even. "You're falling asleep, aren't you?" she murmured, her voice tinged with fondness.
"Mummy stay" she whispered *Mummy, it was hardly ever mummy, it was mama, mum, mamma even Kamala but hardly ever Mummy.*
Her heart broke a little more at her daughter's murmured words. It was rare that she called her 'Mummy', a term she usually saved for younger childhood. "Shh, sweetheart," she whispered, her voice gentle. "I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere. Go to sleep, alright?"
Despite her words, however, she made no move to leave. She held her daughter close, her arms wrapped around her, and she began to hum a soft, soothing tune. The tune was an old lullaby, one that she used to sing to her daughter as a child.