Ten years later, Allie was ten years old. She looked exactly like Vanessa but had Zac's cobalt blue eyes. Zac and Vanessa had gotten married when Allie was two years old. Life had been tough for the Efron family. Allie was sick and her doctor was trying to figure out what she had. Zac and Vanessa tried to remain calm. But sometimes it was difficult because Allie would ask her parents questions about what was wrong with her. As for Zac and Vanessa, they were happier than ever. Their families were supportive of everything they did and were a big help in raising Allie. One morning, Zac walked upstairs and walked to Allie's room. He walked into the room and sat on the edge of her bed and put his hand on her back.
"Allie, you need to wake up honey. We have to go see Dr. Scott today" Zac said.
Allie moved around in her bed and opened her eyes slowly.
"I don't want to go, dad" Allie said.
"Allie, I know you don't. But it's the only way we are going to figure out what's going on okay?" Zac said.
Allie nodded.
"Okay" Allie said.
"Alright, go get dressed and come downstairs" Zac said.
"Okay" Allie said.
Zac kissed Allie's head and got off the bed and walked out of the room. Allie got out of bed and got dressed. She then walked downstairs and went into the kitchen and found Vanessa.
"Good morning Allie, make yourself some breakfast and we need to go to Dr. Scott's" Vanessa said.
"When are we finally going to find out what's wrong with me?" Allie asked.
Vanessa kissed Allie's cheek.
"Baby, we all want to know what you have. I know it's frustrating and that it's hard. We will find out soon, I promise" Vanessa said.
Allie sighed and ate her toast that she had made. After Allie finished, she looked at Vanessa.
"Are you ready to go?" Vanessa asked.
"Yeah" Allie said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
Zac came into the kitchen and smiled. He walked over to Vanessa and kissed her lips softly.
"Are you guys ready to go?" Zac asked.
"Yeah" Vanessa and Allie said simultaneously.
The little family left the house and got into the car. Zac drove to Dr. Scott's office and parked his car. Zac, Vanessa, and Allie got out of the car and walked into the office. Vanessa signed Allie in and sat down next to Zac. A few minutes later, a nurse who was probably in her mid-thirties came into the waiting room with a file.
"Allie Efron?" the nurse called.
Zac, Vanessa, and Allie got up and followed the nurse. The nurse took Allie's vitals and escorted Vanessa, Zac, and Allie into an exam room.
"Dr. Scott will be right with you" the nurse said.
The nurse left the room. Zac and Vanessa looked at Allie, who looked very nervous.
"What's wrong Allie?" Vanessa asked.
"I'm scared" Allie said.
"Allie, I know you are scared. We are too. We need to find out what the problem is so we can help you" Vanessa said.
"Honey, there may not be anything wrong either. It could just be a bug or something" Zac said.
Allie shrugged. There was a knock on the door and Dr. Scott, a tall man with dark brown hair and who was probably forty years old, walked into the room.
"Hi Allie, Zac, and Vanessa" Dr. Scott said.
"Hi Dr. Scott, what's going on with Allie? Did you get the test results back?" Vanessa asked.
"I did. I am afraid it's bad news" Dr. Scott said solemnly.
"What's wrong?" Zac asked.
Dr. Scott took a deep breath and looked at the Efron's.
"Allie has Leukemia" Dr. Scott said.
Vanessa and Zac's eyes widened.
"Cancer?" Vanessa gasped.
"Yes" Dr. Scott said quietly.
"How bad is it?" Zac asked.
"It is progressing but I don't know how fast it's spreading. Right now I am assessing it as stage 4" Dr. Scott said.
Zac looked at Vanessa and entwined his fingers with hers. The couple looked at Allie.
"What is the next step? Where do we start?" Vanessa asked.
"We need to first kill as many cancer cells as possible with chemotherapy. After chemo is done, we need to move onto radiation" Dr. Scott said.
"Okay, when do we start?" Vanessa asked.
"Let's start on Monday so you all have time to process everything. Zac and Vanessa can I talk to you both for a second?" Dr. Scott asked.
"Sure" Zac and Vanessa said.
A nurse came into the room and took Allie out of the room.
"I know that this was a shock and I understand that. But you need to stay positive. It's going to be hard, but Allie needs you to be there for her more than ever" Dr. Scott said.
Zac and Vanessa nodded.
"Alright, I will set up an appointment with the oncologist that I know and that is local and I will let you know the time" Dr. Scott said.
"Okay, thank you Dr. Scott" Vanessa said as she shook the doctor's hand.
"No problem" Dr. Scott said.
Dr. Scott, Zac, and Vanessa walked out of the exam room. The couple looked at Allie and hugged their daughter. The little family left the office and walked out of the office. Zac drove home and parked his car. Zac, Vanessa, and Allie got out of the car and walked into the house.
"Allie, honey let's talk about this okay?" Vanessa said.
"I have cancer" Allie said.
"Al, I know it's shocking. But we need to stay positive okay?" Zac said.
"How can I stay positive dad? I may die" Allie said as tears formed in her eyes.
Allie ran upstairs and the couple heard the door slam. Zac and Vanessa looked at each other.
"I am going to go upstairs and try to talk to her" Vanessa said.
"Alright" Zac said.
Vanessa walked upstairs and saw Allie's door closed. She walked over to the door and took a deep breath. Vanessa knocked on the door.
"Allie, open the door please" Vanessa said.
"I don't want to talk to anyone" Allie said.
"Honey, I know this is hard to think about. Can you open the door please?" Vanessa asked.
Allie opened the door. Vanessa looked at Allie, whose eyes were bloodshot and she had tears running down her face. She opened her arms and Allie ran into them.
"I love you and I am not going to let anything happen to you okay?" Vanessa said as she kissed Allie's head.
"Am I going to die?" Allie asked.
"I can't answer that question, baby. I don't know. Your dad and I are here if you need anything" Vanessa said as tears ran down her face.
Allie nodded and sniffled.
"I'm scared" Allie said.
"I know you are Allie. We are too, but we need to take everything as it comes" Vanessa said.
"I didn't do anything wrong" Allie said.
"Baby, don't blame yourself. It's not your fault, things like this just happen" Vanessa said.
Allie took a deep breath.
"Why don't you take a little nap okay?" Vanessa suggested.
"Okay" Allie said.
Vanessa kissed Allie's head.
"I love you" Vanessa said.
"I love you too" Allie said.
Vanessa left the room and walked downstairs to the kitchen. She looked at Zac and let her tears flow freely.
"Baby, come here" Zac said.
Vanessa walked into Zac's arms and cried. Zac rubbed Vanessa's back soothingly.
"We need to take everything as it comes" Zac said.
"Our daughter has cancer" Vanessa said.
Zac kissed Vanessa's head. He tightened his grip on Vanessa and had tears running down his face.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too" Vanessa said.
"We need to do what Dr. Scott said. We need to make her feel comfortable and let her come to us if she needs to. We have to stay positive" Zac said.
"It's really hard" Vanessa said.
"I know. Allie is ten years old. She doesn't know what cancer can do to a person. If she has a question, we need to make her feel comfortable coming to us and asking or she can ask the oncologist" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded. The couple heard footsteps and turned around and smiled when they saw Allie.
"Hi sweetie, do you feel a little better after your nap?" Vanessa asked.
Allie sniffled and looked at her mother.
"Mom" Allie cried.
Vanessa let go of Zac and walked over to Allie and hugged her tightly. She rubbed her back soothingly and cried herself.
"We are going to get through this okay?" Vanessa said.
Allie didn't answer. She just cried in her mother's arms. A couple days later, it was Monday, the day Allie would start her chemotherapy. The Efron's were going to meet the oncologist, Dr. Thomas at the hospital. The little family arrived at the hospital and got out of the car. Vanessa wrapped her arm around Allie and walked into the hospital. The Efron's went up to the fourth floor, the oncology unit and signed Allie in and waited in the waiting room. A few minutes later, a nurse came into the room and smiled.
"Allie?" the nurse called.
"Come on sweetheart" Vanessa said as she took Allie's hand.
Zac, Vanessa, Allie and the nurse walked into a hospital room.
"Allie, Dr. Thomas will be with you shortly" the nurse said.
"Okay" Allie said.
The nurse left the room and Vanessa looked at Allie.
"Are you feeling okay baby?" Vanessa asked.
Allie shrugged.
"It's okay to be nervous honey" Zac said.
Allie nodded. There was a knock on the door and Dr. Thomas walked into the room. Dr. Thomas was a tall man with dark brown hair and was probably fifty years old.
"Hi I'm Dr. Thomas. I heard from Dr. Scott that Allie was diagnosed with Leukemia and you are here to start your chemotherapy today" Dr. Thomas said as he shook everyone's hand.
"Yes" Vanessa said.
Dr. Thomas looked at Allie, who was holding onto her father's hand for dear life.
"Allie, I know you are scared because you have no idea what is going on. But, you have to trust that the treatment is going to work okay?" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Allie said.
"Do you trust me?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"Yeah" Allie said quietly.
"Alright. How this is going to go is that Allie will receive her chemotherapy for six to seven weeks until we get as many cancer cells out as possible. She then will receive radiation and after that, we will see if it has gotten better or worse and see what the next step is okay?" Dr. Thomas said.
The Efron's nodded.
"Okay. Allie, we are going to hook you up to an IV where the chemo will be inserted into your body. There are some side effects that come with the chemo, but don't worry, they are normal" Dr. Thomas said.
"What kind of side effects?" Vanessa asked.
"Nausea, exhaustion, hair loss, and blood clotting. Effects like that. They are minor, but they are still serious" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
"Alright, anymore questions?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"Baby, do you have any questions?" Vanessa asked her daughter.
"I am going to lose my hair?" Allie asked.
"As the treatment proceeds it will fall out. But it will grow back, Allie" Dr. Thomas said.
Allie looked at her parents with tears in her eyes. Zac kissed her cheek softly and rubbed her back.
"Are there anymore questions?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"No" Vanessa and Zac said.
"Okay, let's get you hooked up" Dr. Thomas said.
Dr. Thomas hooked Allie up to her IV and made sure everything was working properly.
"I will be back in a little while to check on you. There is a call button if you need me" Dr. Thomas said.
"Thank you Dr. Thomas" Vanessa and Zac said.
Dr. Thomas left and the couple looked at Allie.
"Are you feeling okay honey?" Zac asked.
"I feel sleepy" Allie said.
"That's normal Allie. Is that all?" Vanessa asked.
"My hair is going to fall out" Allie said.
"Baby, it's going to grow back. I promise. Dr. Thomas said that it would also" Vanessa said.
A couple hours later, Allie was sleeping in the hospital bed and Zac was sitting with her while Vanessa left the room to make a call. Allie woke up and looked at Zac.
"Hi sweetie, how are you feeling?" Zac asked.
Allie just leaned over a bowl that was next to the bed and released the contents of her stomach. Zac rubbed her back soothingly, whispering comforting things in his daughter's ear. After Allie finished, she looked at her father.
"How long do I have left?" Allie asked.
"You have an hour left honey. Do you need anything?" Zac asked.
"Hold me" Allie said.
Zac lied on the side of the bed carefully, because of the IV, and wrapped his arm around Allie.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too" Allie said.
Vanessa came back into the hospital room and smiled.
"How are you feeling honey?" Vanessa asked.
"Sick" Allie said.
"She just threw up" Zac said.
"You are almost done" Vanessa said.
Allie sighed.
"Do you want to try to go back to sleep?" Zac asked his daughter.
Allie nodded and leaned her head against her father's chest. She then fell asleep in her father's arms.
"Was there anything else that happened while I was gone?" Vanessa whispered.
"No, she woke up and immediately threw up" Zac whispered.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
An hour later, Dr. Thomas came into the room and smiled.
"Hi guys, how are you feeling Allie?" Dr. Thomas asked.
"Sick" Allie said.
"I'm sorry. On a positive note, you finished your first chemotherapy dose. I am going to take the IV out and you will be free to go home" Dr. Thomas said.
Dr. Thomas took Allie's IV out of her arm.
"Vanessa, these are some anti-nausea and pain pills just in case there is a problem" Dr. Thomas said as he handed her a bag.
"Thank you" Vanessa said.
"I will see you for another round on Wednesday" Dr. Thomas said.
"Okay" Allie said.
Dr. Thomas left the room. Zac and Vanessa looked at Allie.
"Are you ready to go sweetie?" Vanessa asked.
"Yeah" Allie said.
Allie got off the hospital bed and felt dizzy. Zac caught Allie in his arms.
"Are you okay?" Zac asked.
"I got a little dizzy" Allie said.
The little family left the hospital and walked to their car. Zac drove home and parked his car in the driveway. Zac, Vanessa, and Allie got out of the car and walked into the house. Allie walked upstairs and went into her room and closed the door. Vanessa looked at Zac.
"She's hurting, Zac. Our little girl is hurting" Vanessa said as tears ran down her face.
Zac's face softened.
"Baby, everything is going to be okay. Allie is probably in shock" Zac said.
"Yeah. Dylan called me and he said he wants to see her" Vanessa said.
"Is he coming over?" Zac asked.
"Yeah" Vanessa said.
Dylan and Allie were very close. Allie looked up to her Uncle Dylan so much. Dylan was always there when she needed him. The doorbell rang and Vanessa walked to the door and opened it. Dylan just hugged Vanessa.
"How is she?" Dylan asked.
"There is a lot going through her head right now. She's gone through a lot today" Vanessa said.
"Is she upstairs?" Dylan asked.
"Yeah she is. But, I don't know if you are going to get any information out of her, Dylan" Vanessa said.
"There is no harm in trying. I want to be there for her through this whole thing" Dylan said.
Zac and Vanessa smiled. Vanessa hugged Dylan.
"I'm going to go upstairs and see how things are going" Dylan said.
"Alright, let us know if you need anything" Zac said.
Dylan walked upstairs and walked to Allie's bedroom door, which was still closed. Dylan took a deep breath and knocked on the door.
"Who is it?" Allie asked.
"It's Uncle Dylan, Al" Dylan said.
Allie opened the door and jumped into her Uncle's arms. She wrapped her arms and legs around Dylan and cried. Dylan walked into Allie's bedroom and sat on her bed.
"How are you doing sweetheart? I heard you had a rough day" Dylan said.
"I had my first chemo today" Allie said.
"I wish I could have been there" Dylan said.
Allie shrugged and looked at Dylan.
"It's okay" Allie said.
"How are you feeling?" Dylan asked.
"I feel sick. I don't feel like myself. I'm scared, Uncle Dylan" Allie said as tears ran down her face.
Dylan hugged Allie and rubbed her back.
"Hey, I know you are scared and I know you don't feel like yourself honey. But, I know you and I know that you will make this situation into a good one, like you always do" Dylan said.
"I don't know" Allie said.
"You need to stay positive, Al. I know that everyone is telling you that. But that's the only way you are going to get through this" Dylan said.
"It's just hard to think about" Allie said.
"I know it is. When your mom called me and told me, I didn't believe it. My little Allie had a disease that could do more harm than good" Dylan said.
"Am I going to die?" Allie asked.
Dylan stayed quiet and looked at his niece.
"I don't know Allie. I wish I could answer that question for you" Dylan said.
Allie hugged Dylan.
"I love you" Allie said.
Dylan smiled and kissed Allie's head.
"I love you too Allie. I'm not going to let anything happen to you, I promise" Dylan said.
Allie nodded.
"I have to get going. Your aunt Stella is going to kill me for being late. I will see you soon" Dylan said.
"Okay" Allie said.
Dylan left Allie's room and wiped his tears that were streaming down his face. He walked downstairs and looked at his older brother.
"How is she?" Zac asked.
"She opened up to me. I am not going to tell you anything that was said because Allie should be the one to tell you what she is feeling. But you have one brave little girl upstairs, that I will tell you" Dylan said.
Zac smiled and hugged his brother.
"Thank you Dylan for talking to her" Zac said.
"No problem. Let me know when her next chemo is. I want to be there" Dylan said.
"I will" Zac said.
Zac walked Dylan out and closed the door. He walked upstairs and knocked on Allie's door. Allie opened the door. Zac opened his arms and Allie ran into them.
"How are you feeling?" Zac asked.
"I feel tired and a little nauseous" Allie said.
"Do you want your anti-nausea pills?" Zac asked.
"No, because it's not that bad" Allie said.
Zac smiled and kissed Allie's cheek.
"You are a trooper, Allie. I love you and you are going to fight this" Zac said.
"Thanks dad. I hope I do" Allie said.
The rest of the day, Zac, Vanessa, and Allie hung around the house. Zac and Vanessa would help Allie when she would throw up. The little family tried to comprehend Allie's condition and how to deal with it.