Bruise stained skin

Baby

You awoke to the suns beams tickling the hairs that sat on your arms. After looking down you noticed that you had Aaron's arm tangled around your waist pulling you as close to him as possible and he was awake and aware of what he was doing

"Good morning beautiful" he said, his voice five octaves deeper than usual

"Good morning" you smiled back at him, your voice hoarse and dry

Aaron had told you that your aunt called in the late hours of last night but you were far too tired to answer.

After five minutes she finally picked up the phone:

"Hello" your aunt's silky smooth voice rang through the phone and and you instantly feel warm

"Aunty, is everything okay"

"Natalya! Thank goodness you called, you need to get to Seattle"

"But I'm in New York what's happening?"

"Can you get to Grey-Sloan memorial hospital as soon as possible?"

"Yes I can, is everything okay?"

And with that she put down the phone.

The hospital?

You told Aaron and he instantly arranged for the two of you to get to Seattle straight away, his sense of urgency made you feel even worse than you already did and your head rushed with every possible bad outcome.

Who was hurt?

Was it serious?

Was it important?

Finally after what seemed like forever you both made it to the hospital where your mother met out at the entrance, her eyes clouded with a puddle of tears.

"what's happening are you okay?" You said quickly before she suffocated her in the tightest hug you had ever had

"I'm sorry" she whispered softly as her voice broke. She stroked you face and looked sombrely into your eyes "it's your father, he needs brain surgery"

"And that's why you brought him here? What did Derek say?" You said quickly blinking back the dam of tears threatening to overflow from your eyes

"He said it's inoperable." Your mother said with a sigh "he's only got a few weeks left Tal"

"No" you whispered softly as the tears fell from your eyes

"You will be the Empress of Italy in one month Natalya. Please dry your eyes, you can't seem too upset"

"I will what? What about Sergio?"

"Sergio was never in line to the throne. It has always and will always be you who sits in that throne Tal"

"Okay. One month" you said with a sigh as you walked into the wards of Grey-Sloan memorial, your heels clicking behind you echoing through the halls. Aaron's hand was placed cautiously on your back. You could tell he was uncomfortable and it hurt you that he thought that way

You finally reached the room your father was in when you heard a familiar voice call your name. You slowly turned and you were met with the man who would ultimately be the one to kill your father: Derek Shepherd

"Derek! Hi" you said quietly as your jaw clenched

"Natalya i am so sorry for all of this. Your father started showing his symptoms a while ago. If we had caught it sooner maybe this wouldn't be the case but some things just aren't meant to be" he said enveloping you in a hug

"I've missed you" you said quietly

"I've missed you too Tal, how are you?"

"Apart from this I'm good, this is my boyfriend Aaron" you said slipping Aaron an apologetic smile

"It's great to meet you Aaron" Derek said extending a hand to shake Aaron's

"How do you two know each other?" Aaron said cautiously smiling at Derek

"We met when we were younger. She was friends with my Ex- wife. We have been friends ever since I met her"

"Speaking of ex- wife" you said happily "where is she? Oh and the new one?"

"Well I will take you to see both of them after you see your father, how about that?" He said happily before opening the door for you

Your father was heavily sedated and had wires all over him making sure he could breathe.

It hurt to see him like that. He was your father. He was supposed to be strong. The was the opposite at the moment ...

At that moment the monitor started to beep and Derek called a code blue.

This was it.

The tears spilled from your eyes and trickled down your cheek.

Your dad.

Gone.

Of course he was never much of a dad, more like a business partner

It still hurt

All you could do was stand and watch as he slipped away

Aaron pulled you into his arms as your heart broke in two.

You remembered the day he took you to the park for the first time.

You were on the swing. You were wearing his favourite blue dress with the flowers on the bottom. He pushed you higher and higher until you touched the clouds.

"Careful principessa" his voice echoed around your head as Derek said it

"Time of death, 2:22 pm"

He walked you out of the room to a private smaller room with a pretty vase of flowers in the middle of a table.

"Natalya, when will you be able to become the empress?" Your aunt asked quietly

"I'm ready whenever you want me" you tried to muster up some courage

"That's my girl" she said proudly "how about next Monday?"

Monday.

Two days until your life begins.