Russia (2)

"Madam, the paperwork is ready," Sergei said as he walked inside holding onto a large briefcase. "Should I step out?" John asked and his mother shook her head, "No, Johnny, I know I haven't been present in your life, but you are the only blood I have, and these are yours by right. I wanted to pass them onto without your father's interference so sign these papers for me."

He looked at her with a slight frown and she smiled saying, "Do not worry, your father isn't so horrible as to steal from his own son, I just don't want him mingling with my life's work. Oh, also for now, I want you to focus on learning with your uncle Cyrus, because Sergei will be responsible for all management till you turn 25. You are free to take these challenges on earlier if you'd like, you just have to let him know and if you need anything feel free to reach out to Sergei."

He nodded saying, "I will, mom." She smiled as her eyes water a little and she blinked it away. He read the paperwork understanding what he could and asking questions when he couldn't. His mother soon went to bed, but John stayed up reading and signing with Sergei guiding him.

They finished the paperwork around dawn and Sergei left to get them approved. John stayed by his mother side for the next few days, leaving only for a few hours to change and freshen up every day.

He spent majority of the day inside the hospital talking to his mother and tell her about his internship and how he met Jian, about Adrien and then about his plans for the future. She listened gently smiling as teasing him every now and then as the days passed.

It was around midnight when he fell asleep laying his head down next to her hand which he held ever so slightly, and she smiled reaching froward gently to caressing his hair with the other hand as she closed her eyes.

She said in a gently tone, "Johnny, thank you for coming to see me one last time, I am proud to see how well you have grown, and I love you." Her head laid back and a few hours later John woke up. He could feel the light warmth of her hands as he looks up at her closed eyes. His eyes watering as tears escaped and he cried into the bed.

...

"I don't know how I knew but I didn't have to look up to know she wasn't there anymore," John said as Jian held him closer, and he sniffled. She closed her eyes as a few tears escaped them as well. They stayed like that for a few minutes before he pulled away and Jian gently wiped the tears away from his face.

"Jian," he said unable to say anything else as his voice trembled and she closed her eyes hugging him again as she said, "It's alright, everything's going to be okay, I am right here." Her voice was gentle as she softly caressed his back and head.

He sniffled before they pulled away and Jian fetched a box of tissue wiping the tears away and before opening the bottle of water for him to drink. "Thank you," he said, and she smiled saying, "Of course, mister crybaby." He glanced at her a small smile on his lips as he reached for her face. "I wasn't the only crybaby," he said as he wiped the light mascara line off her face.

She smiled a light blush on her cheeks as she reached for his hand that held his face asking, "Just this once, now I am going to change, you want your extra clothes?" He nodded getting up cleaning the piles of tissue while Jian came back with his clothes.