Chapter Text
A/N: Well, this has been incredibly emotional to write. Not just because this is the final chapter and this story has been such a challenge, yet still a joy, to write, but also because we nearly lost my Dad last week.
He was very unwell in hospital and was even told the procedures of how his end of life care would go, and then, somehow, miraculously, he started to get better and better, and now, he is out of hospital and back in his own home!
We are all very aware of his mortality, but so extremely grateful to still have him with us now, and cherishing every moment we have left.
Writing Oliver in this story and the development he made as a character has hit so close to home as I've worked on this last one. He is a devoted and loving family man and his character perfectly mirrors my own dear Dad.
I really hope you all enjoy the conclusion of "A greater cost than fortune". It has been quite the emotional ride for me and I thank you all so much for riding along with me.
Peace and love,
Renee.
...
Oliver spent seven weeks in hospital and during that time, Grace barely left his side.
In spite of her commitment to their company, Oliver was by far her most pressing priority.
The members of the board were all quite understanding and willing to take over operations while Grace was needed at Oliver's side.
He had a long road to recovery, not just from the sepsis but from the months of physical abuse and malnutrition he had suffered. It took a lot of intensive therapies and a lot of time for him to even be able to go home. It would, of course, take much longer for him to return to his normal self.
Not only had he endured physical distress, but the psychological trauma was something they all knew, might never leave him.
He didn't speak much about it for the first few weeks, in fact he didn't speak much at all. For those first few weeks, Grace's main concern was his recovery, but once he became more lucid and started talking more, she naturally wanted to know where he had been and what had happened to him during his ten month absence.
He typically only had enough energy to talk about his experience in short bursts so he gradually filled Grace in over the course of several days. His wife listened in disbelief and abhorrence.
She shook her head at him, teary eyed after he had told her about the labor camp. "How were you able to escape?" She asked him.
Oliver felt a pit in his stomach. It was a question he had been dreading having to give an answer to, for all the shame he felt over it.
"In order to gain my freedom, I had to make a deal with the devil. I had to pay one of the guards ten million dollars."
"That's why the bank contacted me about an unusual wire request", Grace realized out loud.
"Yes. My conscience has been so full of guilt over it. Just the thought of giving anything to those monsters, not to mention the loss of income for the company", he looked down forlornly at the crisp white hospital sheet.
Grace reached for his hand. "Oliver, we've made nearly twenty times that amount this past year, that's all because of you."
"It's because of me that we've lost so much money too."
She squeezed the hand she was holding gently. "We didn't lose you. I'd give up our entire fortune just to keep you in my life, my dear, courageous husband."
Oliver allowed a tear to slip from his eye. "I'm so sorry, Grace. I should never have gone on that trip. I should have listened to you, and as soon as I'd seen that the factory was fine, I should have come straight back home."
Grace released a big sigh. "As much as I agree with you, and as much as I've worried and stressed about not knowing where you were these past months, I'm also incredibly proud of you."
More tears slipped from Oliver's eyes at his wife's platitude.
"I love that you care about people so much and I love that you were willing to take such a huge risk in order to help your friend. It speaks volumes about the man I know and have always known, even when most others could only see the money-crazed workhorse, I saw the incredibly kind and generous, steadfast and determined man whom I ultimately fell in love with, and that is one of the very reasons why."
Her emotional speech made Oliver lose it. The combination of how touched he was by what she had said and of all the fear he'd had about letting her and Annie down, coupled with the pain from all he had been through, all came to a head as he sobbed in her arms.
"Oh my darling, it's alright", Grace whispered comfortingly to him, kissing his head and hugging him tightly. "It's all going to be alright."
…
Oliver was finally discharged and allowed to go home on October the eighth. As Annie, Grace and Gordon helped him inside from the car, he looked up at his daughter with a slightly coy expression. "I know I promised you I would be home for your birthday. Well, it's true if you don't count the fact that I'm a year late."
"Oh, Daddy", Annie cried, dropping down to hug her Father in his wheelchair.
She could care less about her birthday now. She was just relieved to have him home at all.
Despite needing quite a bit of assistance with his daily life and requiring ongoing therapy, Oliver was keen to get back into work.
His good friend President Roosevelt was, of course, extremely pleased to hear from him and eager to update him on the ever unfolding national and international situation.
Upon his arrival at the Warbucks mansion, the President greeted Oliver with a slight grin at seeing him also in a wheelchair. "Well Oliver, at last we're seeing eye to eye."
"I'm happy to be seeing you at all, Franklin."
"You know, that may be one of the nicest things you've ever said to me", the President joked before smiling sincerely at Oliver, reaching over to shake his hand. "It's good to have you home."
The two men filled each other in on what they knew. Oliver, of course, was wiser than anyone about the situation in Europe.
After President Roosevelt had his meeting with Oliver, Annie asked to see him as she wanted to introduce him to Gordon. President Roosevelt had become almost something of a Godparent to Annie.
Gordon was quite awestruck and somewhat intimidated at meeting the president.
Once President Roosevelt had left, Grace pulled Oliver aside, wanting to know what he had said about the current state of things.
Oliver was nothing but truthful with her, though his tone held a darkness that it wouldn't have otherwise if he had not been through what he'd been through the past year.
"We're winning Grace, but ultimately both sides are losing. There are no true champions in war. There's no good or bad, there's just wrong on both sides and until each side decides that they've had enough of the destruction and the killing, it will go on and on for decades upon decades. From one century into the next. Until everyone can agree to peace, there will be no end to these wars." He spoke as a man who had witnessed far too much.
Grace's heart ached for the world as a collective, but even more so for the man she loved.
…
That evening, the entire family came together for dinner - Gordon included.
Annie and Gordon had decided to wait until Oliver was well enough to spring the news of their engagement on him. Now that he was home, Annie was really hoping to have him walk her down the aisle. He wasn't quite strong enough to do that yet but she was also quite desperate to be married to Gordon who had been such a wonderful support to her while her Father had been away.
After they had all enjoyed a delicious meal, Annie and Gordon decided it was a wise idea to let Oliver digest his food before speaking to him about their engagement. They decided it was time to let him in on the news, just hoping his reaction would be supportive.
Once he was nice and relaxed and seated comfortably in his favourite lounge chair, the two of them, along with Grace for back up, all approached him to share the good news.
At least they all hoped he would take it as good news.
"Daddy", Annie approached him cautiously. He was sitting back in his chair with his eyes closed. After only being home from the hospital for one week, he still got tired very easily.
"Yes, my girl?" He murmured, only cracking one eye open at first, but upon seeing the audience he had, he quickly opened both eyes to give them his full attention.
He cleared his throat. "What kind of inquisition is this?"
Annie gave him a nervous smile. "It's not so serious as that, Daddy…well, actually I suppose it is quite serious, but it's nothing bad, I promise, at least we don't think it is and we really hope you'll feel the same way, I mean…"
Gordon lay a calming hand on her shoulder as Oliver began to look alarmed.
Annie took a breath, smiling at her fiancé appreciatively, then looked back at her Father and in a much calmer and more determined tone, told him, "Daddy, Gordon has asked me to marry him and I've said yes."
He stared at them all silently for several long moments which was not very reassuring for any one of them.
"Since you weren't able to be here, darling, Gordon asked me for my permission which I granted on behalf of us both", Grace studiously added
Oliver said nothing. Instead, he very slowly and carefully pushed himself up out of his chair. When the others tried to help him, he waved them off, and stood up as straight as he could, bringing himself imposingly close to Gordon.
"Daddy, what are you doing?" Annie asked him in concern.
But rather unexpectedly, Oliver's face softened as he quietly spoke. "Well, I just figured I'd better start getting back on my feet quickly if I'm to walk you down the aisle, Annie."
Gordon released a breath he didn't know he'd been holding as Oliver extended his hand to him.
"Life is far too precious to not spend it being as absolutely happy as you can be and to love every person you have in it", he declared before he found himself enveloped in his enraptured daughter's arms.
Grace smiled tearfully at the two of them and her future son-in-law. As horrific as his experience had been and as much as she wished he'd never had to go through it, there were some changes in her husband that she was amazed by and grateful for.
Oliver was still somewhat reliant on his wheelchair, particularly during long periods of standing or walking, but with continued physical therapy, he was indeed able to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding two weeks later.
Annie was a vision in white and seeing her hit Oliver hard. He held back strong emotions as he thought about all he had almost missed out on. He tried to get through the ceremony by focusing on how happy his daughter looked, and being glad and grateful for that, despite feeling like he hadn't had nearly enough time with her being his little girl.
It was an incredibly emotional day for everyone, and when Oliver and Grace bid Annie and Gordon farewell as they left for their honeymoon in upstate New York, Oliver had become as tearful as his wife had been all day.
After they went back inside the house and Grace helped Oliver down onto his chair, she went and poured him a drink, holding it out to him with a sympathetic expression on her face.
He chuckled as he looked up at his dear, devoted wife. He took the glass, but set it down on the coffee table next to him. "You know what? I haven't had a drink in nearly a whole year. I think this might be a good opportunity to give it up."
Grace raised her eyebrows at him, surprised and impressed.
"Besides, there's something else in this room I'd much rather partake of", he reached for her hand and pulled her gently to him until she found herself in his lap.
Humming happily as he brought his lips to hers, Grace kissed him ardently and adoringly.
As they pulled apart, Grace had tears in her eyes. "I'm so happy you're here."
"Me too", exhaled.
"You know, it feels like…", Grace began timidly, but then stopped herself.
"What?" Oliver prompted her.
"Well, it feels as if you're really here. More than you've ever been before. Like you're more present somehow. Does that make sense?"
Oliver nodded with a small sigh. "The experience I've had has changed me inexplicably. I suppose inside of myself those changes have left me damaged and scarred, but I'm determined to make my pain my motivation. I'm determined not to let myself ever forget how darn lucky I am."
Grace's flow of tears increased in reaction to his powerful words.
"For all of these months I had so little control over my own life and now I have control again. I have the power to decide exactly who I want to be. I want to be a better man, Grace. A better husband, and I've realized something marvelous, that all I have to do is to decide to be."
Grace palmed his face, giving him an emotional smile. "You know I've always loved you, Oliver. Always. I've wanted only you ever since the day I met you. All that time, I've been waiting for you to discover within yourself the person I've seen all along." She pressed her forehead gently against his. "I think you've finally found him."
"Things will be different now, my love, I promise you they will. I'm going to be more devoted to you and to our family. Not just because I want to, but because I want to prove to you that I am worthy of all of the time and all of the love you've given me these past years. I'm going to spend far less time and energy doing things for people who don't even know me and much more on those I love and who love me, namely you", he added, only partially seriously, "I'll even sell the whole company if it's what you wish."
Grace nuzzled into him with a soft laugh. "Oh no, I don't want you to do that. After all, we both need something to do, especially now that Annie's growing up and no longer needs us as much."
Oliver sat back to look into her eyes. "Well, since you mention it, I had actually been thinking that with this war going on, there are, unfortunately, going to be a lot more orphaned children in the world. I'm considering setting up a foundation for them and I'd like you to head it."
"Me?" Grace blinked in surprise.
"Yes. Not only that, but I was also considering the possibility of adding to our own er…collection."
She laughed at his terminology, then gazed at him adoringly. "You mean you want to adopt more children?"
"Well, we have the room and the resources. I may be more advanced in years but you have so much energy still and one very great big heart that I know some lucky children could benefit from."
Grace became teary-eyed once more at his sentiment, and at the idea of them becoming parents again.
She curled her arms around his neck, a wide smile dressing her face. "Let's wait a bit, though. I think I'd quite like to have you to myself for a little while."
"Well, there's a thought", he grinned back slyly. "As a matter of fact, I think I'd quite like to have you right now."
She bit her bottom lip, her face flushing as she caught his meaning. "Are you sure you're feeling up to it?"
He replied passionately, leaning in to capture her lips with his own, "With you in my arms, I feel invincible."
…
For the next month, while Annie and Gordon were away, Grace and Oliver made the most of their shared time together. It was like they were experiencing the honeymoon period that they'd never really had.
Their spare hours were spent going on gentle walks around the grounds, hand in hand, or swimming in the pool for the sake of Oliver's physical therapy, though it usually turned into them canoodling under the water.
As much as they had enjoyed the few weeks alone together, reigniting their romance, they were both very excited to see their daughter and son-in-law when they returned home from their honeymoon in the first week of December.
Annie ran and jumped into her Father's arms and Oliver, now much stronger, caught her confidently and hugged her tightly while Gordon hugged Grace.
The family fell into a contented rhythm. Gordon went to work every day at the hospital, but he was still quite diligent at keeping an eye on Oliver, especially now that he'd completed his practical nursing training.
Annie, now with a business degree of her own, had begun officially working for Warbucks industries which lightened the load for Grace and Oliver and allowed them to spend a greater amount of time enjoying life together.
On the morning of the 7th of December, their newfound contentment was destroyed with a phone call that rocked them all.
The American Naval Base at Pearl Harbor had been attacked by the Japanese. Over two thousand Americans had been killed. Roosevelt would declare war the following day.
Naturally, the whole family and everyone living at the Warbucks mansion were distraught. Gordon was especially troubled, knowing he had only just become a married man, who was about to start building a life with the woman he loved. He wasn't an uninformed young man by any means, he knew the realities of war and now with America joining the fight, and his twenty-first birthday approaching, he knew the time for him to be drafted was imminent.
He was scared, and rightly so. Annie was beside herself with tears at the thought of sending him to the battlefield.
"It's not fair, we haven't had enough time, not nearly enough time", she sobbed as he talked through his concerns with her.
"I know, sweetheart, but once I'm twenty-one I won't have much of a choice when Uncle Sam comes calling", he frowned despondently.
She ran to her Father, pleading with him. "Daddy, please, please help us. There has to be something you can do."
Grace's heart ached for her daughter, she looked at Oliver pleadingly as well. In the background, Gordon, who was too ashamed to ask Oliver to bail him out of active duty, remained staring at the ground.
Oliver picked up the phone, dialing a familiar number.
"Oliver, you know I'm always glad to hear from you, but I am a trifle busy right now…"
"I'll only be a moment, Franklin."
His wife and children's ears pricked up at the use of the President's name.
"Go on, Oliver."
"I need to ask you to make an exception in the conscription requirements. As you know, I'm still part way through my recovery and…"
"Oh, Oliver, I'd never dream of drafting you. I know you're injured and besides which, you're much older than the required age."
"Ah no, I'm not asking for my benefit, well, actually I suppose in a way I am. I still have a way to go in my recovery and I still require the care of a nurse. So as to be more comfortable, I would much prefer a male nurse to tend to me while I'm here at home."
Gordon lifted his eyes to stare at his Father-in-law, his savior.
"As it happens, Annie's new husband, my new son-in-law, has just qualified as a nurse."
The President caught on quickly. "I see, well that's most convenient. A close and trusted family member could only be good for your recovery, Oliver. I will see to it that he is not made to leave his post."
"From the bottom of all of our hearts, Franklin…"
"Don't mention it…and I mean that, because I could get into trouble."
"May God bless you, Mr. President", Oliver said sincerely.
"And all of you. Now there's just the little matter of a war unfolding that I must deal with, so if you don't mind..."
"Of course. Goodbye…my friend."
When Oliver got off the phone, he found his family look at him, all of them with tears in their eyes.
Gordon approached him slowly, complete and utter gratitude written all over his face. "I don't know how to thank you", he wept.
Oliver placed a hand on his shoulder and glanced over at Annie. "Yes you do, son."
Annie came up to them and kissed her Father on the cheek before grabbing Gordon and holding on to him tightly. Grace joined the other three, placing warm and loving hands on her husband and daughter's arms.
"Everything is going to be different now, isn't it?" She asked, gazing into her husband's eyes for reassurance.
He kissed his wife gently on her forehead. "Uncertain times are undoubtedly ahead of us, but whether our days on Earth ahead are to be many or few, I know one thing." He gave the members of his family an emotional smile. "We've had each other and that makes all of us very, very fortunate indeed."
THE END.