Me Without You

"Yeah, Jauregui, we grew up."

Sofi had brain damage, to what extent? Lauren couldn't really catch all the medical terminology but she could see that the youngest Cabello was struggling with speech and her right hand was being problematic in the way that it couldn't stop shaking. Lauren was sure there were other side-effects to her surviving but no one in the room really cared much for them right now.

Because right now Sofi was cuddled up beside her best friend trying to babble on about the dream she had while she'd been under.

Camila hung onto every stuttered words that passed through her sister's lips and cradled her head like a protective mother trying to shield the girl from the world. From the second they entered the hospital room, Camila had not detached herself from Sofi. Alejandro was perched on the chair beside the hospital bed and Lauren was leaning against the doorframe watching the family's interaction.

Her family's interaction.

That's what she'd learned throughout the duration of recent events. Family was no longer limited to blood but family was more broadened to loyalty. And the Cabello's had never shown her even a second of wavering loyalty. They were her family more so than her own blood, aside from perhaps Chris, and Lauren felt more comfortable...more at home with Camila's father and younger sister than she could ever feel in the cold fortress that encased her family.

So for Sofi to be sitting on that bed, a wide smile sporting her bucked teeth and chubby cheeks...it was a miracle. It made Lauren feel like she could breathe again.

She hadn't known it at the time, but during the hours of uncertainty, she'd been holding her breath too...almost as much as Camila. She'd been clutching at strings of hope for the little girl's survival to prevent her mind reaching towards insanity and she was glad she had.

Like Camila...Lauren hadn't the slightest idea what she would do had Sofi not survived. Like Camila...Lauren was sure she would also have been lost to her own grief.

The creaking of the door behind her stirred her out of her reverie and she spun around swiftly to find Lucy being wheeled into the room by Normani, closely followed by Vero, Ally, Dinah and Keana. The entire group slipped into the room with a chorus of 'Hellos' before settling into their decided spots in the room.

Lucy stayed close to Lauren, allowing the green-eyed girl to settle herself onto the arm of her best friend's wheelchair. Vero and Keana opted for the uncomfortable looking couch on the left side of the room whilst Dinah, Ally and Normani were quick to surround the bed and offer Sofi their undivided attention.

The little girl was soaking it up like a sponge as she delved into her dreams again, a stuttered recount but no one paid it any mind. Sofi was smiling. Sofi was laughing. Sofi was undeniably alive.

"Kid's strong." Lucy commented softly, her eyes never wavering from the youngest Cabello for a second.

"Takes after her sister." Lauren eyed her girlfriend thoughtfully.

Alejandro's boisterous laugh echoed through the room and a small smile tugged at the corners of Lauren's lips but she fought it, still very adamant on maintaining her stern look. But this family was breaking her, they were breaking down the last of the boundaries she had around her steeled heart and she knew it was just a matter of time before she let them crumble willingly.

"Don't come back to Miami, Laur," Lucy sighed, placing her hand on her friend's knee and the raven-haired girl was taken aback by the seriousness of the older girl's tone. "There's nothing good for you there aside from us. The shit you went through...you need to stay here. You need to build a life with Camila and you need to accept the happiness around you." Their eyes met briefly and Lucy smiled. And it wasn't one of her lazy smirks or devious grins. It was real. "Take a walk with me?" And Lauren nodded because she knew Lucy wouldn't be like this lightly.