Authors Note: Hello! Here is the sequel to Shelter. If you haven't read it, you should check it out. It'll help you understand the journey Erin's been on with the Voights. I can't wait to hear what you think of this first chapter. I know that the last chapter of Shelter left us all sad, but I don't plan on keeping you guys sad for too much longer. :D

Thank you to Jordan for her wonderful help. For those of you who know me, know that I love input. So please, any suggestions or idea you'd like to see with this story, don't hesitate to tell me.

Enjoy the first chapter!

Camille sat at the dining room table. She pushed around the roasted chicken and vegetables that Hank prepared on the grill. Normally they would be gone by the time they were placed on her plate. But Camille couldn't even think about eating. Even the thought to food made her sick. Her stomach was bundled in knots. Her nerves took over her body and mind. She didn't even notice everyone was staring at her.

Hank cleared his throat for the second time, this time louder than before.

Camille finally looked up at her plate before she could think of an excuse to leave, Hank asked her to meet him in the bedroom.

Ever since she got home an hour ago from her doctors appointment, she was silent. She would either fake a smile or nod as a response. Erin caught on quickly and brought to Hank's attention.

Once the adults were behind closed doors. The air became thicker for Camille. Making it harder for her breath. She walked over to their bed. Desperately needing to sit as she felt her legs gave out. How does she even break the news to Hank? Where to begin?

"What's wrong?" Hank sat next down to his wife, his eyes were filled with worry. His voice hushed. He placed a gentle hand to her back, "Cami?"

She sucked in her breath before she let out a sigh. Her eye began to water as she went to speak. "I-I…."

"You what?" Hank pushed. His concern only heightening as he watched his wife begins to crumble. "What did the doctor say?"

"They found a lump." Camille cried, her sobs filling the quiet room.

"What?" Hank leaned in; he took Camille's shaking hands in his. "Do you mean-"

"It's cancerous." Camille finally said it. Cancer . The moment the word slipped out of her mouth she felt her stomach flop. She quickly rushed to the bathroom, emptying her nerves and worries into the toilet. Hank was there right behind her, holding her beautiful locks of hair in his hand, and rubbing her back with the other.

"Shh…." He consoled. Tears fell and hit the tile floor; he tried to choke them back. He tried to act brave but he was in shock. "Shh…we'll figure this out."

HOME

Camille stood up with the help of Hank. He guided her to the sink as she splashed water on her feverish face. Then she was led to the bed, he helped her weak, emotionally drained body under the covers.

"You just rest for a little but. I will let the kids know you don't feel good." He placed a sincere kiss on top of her head before he placed one her on the lips. "I love you."

Camille bit her quivering bottom lip as she fought back tears. "I love you too."

"I'll be back in a second to check on you." Hank turned to walk out of the room, but was stopped by his wife pulling him back to her.

"Hank." She called in a hush tone.

"Yeah?" He turned to stare into his wife's bloodshot eyes.

"What are we going to do?"

"We will worry about that when I come back. Please, just get some sleep." Hank pushed himself off the bed and walked out of the room. A sad sigh escaped his lips as he went to turn back into the room. He wanted to desperately fix his wife. Pick her up, rush her to the best damn doctor he could find. He'd take her out of the country if he had to. He just didn't want to see her that distraught ever again.

Justin and Erin just finished clearing their plates and were washing them when Hank came downstairs and into the kitchen.

"Where's Mom?" Justin asked as he stood on a step stool next to Erin, who held a sponge with soap in her hand. Justin had a towel in his hand ready to dry them.

Erin turned the water off and dropped the soapy sponge into the water as she paid close attention to the frazzled man in front of her.

"Uh..." Hank cleared his throat. "She's laying down right now. She's not feeling well."

Erin studied Hank's face. She could tell it was something more serious, but for Justin's sake she didn't ask questions right then and there.

"Why don't you guys go play outside?" Hank asked, "I can finish up the dishes." He really just wanted some alone time, a distraction.

"It's okay we are almost done." Erin went back to the faucet to turn it on. She wanted to help.

"Just go." Hank raised his voice, "Now!"

Justin, who was startled practically, fell off the stool by the sudden outburst. He quickly ran out of the kitchen.

Erin knew something was wrong. She glared at Hank as she went after Justin.

"Erin..." Hank sighed; his voice was low and there was hurt in his eyes.

Erin just shook her head and threw her hands up in defense, "It's fine. I'll check on him." She was upset but understood that Hank never had outbursts. At least not in the year she lived with him.

He didn't have to defend his actions, but seeing that no one knew why he acted like that only complicated things. He quickly cleared the tension in the room, "We will talk later."

Erin nodded understanding that his actions would soon be explained.

Erin checked outside to find Justin sitting on the top step of the porch. He had a piece of chalk in his hand and he was doodling what looked to be a dog.

"Hey Bud." Erin took a seat next to him. She too grabbed a piece of chalk coloring in the flower she drew earlier. "I like your dog."

"Thanks." Justin mumbled.

His voice was cracking, like he had been crying. Erin scooted as close as she could; she swung her arm around his shoulder. "Dad isn't mad at you."

"Then why did he yell?" The seven year old wondered, not comprehending the rather complicated thoughts that ran through an adult mind.

Erin simplified, "Sometimes, when something bad or sad happens, our feelings get jumbled." Justin looked up at her with a confused look on his face. "Remember when you found your Power Rangers action figure that you thought you lost."

"Yeah." Justin tried to understand.

"What did you do when you found it?"

"I cried."

"Were you sad?"

Justin shook his head, "No. I was happy."

Erin smiled as Justin realized. "See. So dad isn't mad at you. Something is just bugging him."

"What?" Justin questioned as he back to drawing.

Erin shrugged, "Not sure. But he'll tell us soon."

"Do you think he lost a toy?" Justin innocently asked.

Erin sighed, "I don't think it's that simple Bud." She could wish. She could see him through the screen door pacing around the kitchen his cell phone pressed to his ear.

"What do you say we go inside and play a board game?" Erin looked over to Justin then back at Hank.

"Can I pick?" Justin dropped the piece of chalk and looked hopefully into her eyes.

Erin smiles sweetly and nodded. Justin jumped up from the porch and ran inside of the house. Erin dusted the chalk from her hands onto her jeans and walked into the kitchen.

"Hank?" Erin stepped cautiously towards the cop, who buried his head in his hands. His elbows rested on the dining room table.

Hank looked up, he forced a smile. "Yeah?"

"Justin and I are going to play upstairs. I can take him to the park if that's better?"

Hank sighed, "The park is a great idea. Just keep your cell on you."

Erin nodded, "Okay." She gave the man a small smile before she went to get Justin.

"I found Candyland…or we can play Sorry."

"Dad said we could go to the park." Erin said excitedly, "We can play the games later."

"Cool!" Justin set the boxes of games down on his bed and followed Erin back downstairs.

"We're heading out." Erin announced as she grabbed Hank's keys from the key hook. "I have my cell."

Hank nodded still sitting in the dining room table. "Be safe. Love you."

Erin nodded, "Love you too."

HOME

Justin ran around on the jungle gym, sliding down the slide for umpteenth time since they got there. Erin rested on a blanket she had brought with them. Her sunglasses shade her eyes and she flipped pages of a magazine she got from the 7-Elelven, along with a Slurpee for both her and Justin.

"Hey." Tristan came by, he sat next down to Erin.

"Thanks for coming." Erin smiled gratefully.

"You sounded upset. What's up?" He rested his arms on his knees as he looked over at his girlfriend.

"I think something is wrong with Camille."

"What do you mean?"

"First, Hank yelled at us for no reason. But right before he went with Camille to talk with her in the bedroom. She just didn't look good. Like she was sick or something was on her mind." Worry was in her voice.

"Did they say anything to you?" Tristan reached to grab Erin's hand; he rubbed circles with his thumb.

"No." Erin sighed, "Hank said we would talk later."

"Then you just have to wait." Tristan kissed her temple, "I'll wait with you."

Erin smiled softly, "Thanks."

"Hey Tristan!" Justin ran over to the young couple. He sat down next to Erin, taking a sip of his cold drink.

"Hey Justin." Tristan greeted. "That was some pretty fast sliding."

"Yeah," Justin panted as he caught his breath. "Do you want to join me?"

Tristan let out a laugh, "Thanks but maybe later."

"Okay. Well I'm going to go on the monkey bars!" Justin announced, running back the playground.

"Be careful!" Erin warned as she rolled her eyes at the young boy's spirit.

Silent struck as the duo took in the summer air. Relaxation took over their body as they lay down on the blanket. They looked up at the sky watching the puffy white clouds moving across the blue sky.

Erin pointed up to the sky, "Doesn't that one look like a piece of broccoli?"

"Yeah." Tristan pointed to cloud, "That one looks like a cat."

"Which one?" Erin scanned the sky, not seeing a cat shaped cloud.

Tristan took Erin's hand in his moving above the cloud he was talking about, "That one."

"That's not a cat. That looks like an elephant."

"An elephant?" Tristan chuckled, "Where to you see a trunk?"

"There." Erin pointed.

"That's the cat's tail."

Erin laughed, "Oh my gosh, I see the cat!"

Tristan laughed as Erin broke out in fits of giggles. "What's so funny?"

Erin tried to speak but she couldn't stop laughing. She was tired, maybe more tired than she thought. Tear fell, as the laughing got unbearable. She sat up as her stomach contracted.

Tristan sat up and ran circles on her back, small laughs escaped his lips and Erin slowly calmed down. "What was that?"

Erin sighed and laughed once more, "I have no idea."

"I think some one is sleep deprived." Tristan stated.

"I've been sleeping okay."

"On average how many hours?"

"Like seven. But mostly six since I get up early for work."

"Maybe you should take a break."

"Sure." Erin said sarcastically.

"Seriously," Tristan was concerned, "Come over for dinner tomorrow night."

"You sure you want me to meet your parents?"

"Come on, my mom is making her famous lasagna."

"I do like Lasagna." Erin smiled. "I'll have to check home first."

"Completely understandable."

Erin kissed Tristan on the cheek, "Thank yo-" The sound of Erin's cell phone rang through out the park. She noticed it was Hank calling.

"Hello?"

"Can you and Justin come home, please? Camille and I want to talk to you guys." Hank whispered. Clear hurt and concern in his voice.

"Sure. I'll pack up now." Erin hung up the cell phone, she turned her attention to her boyfriend, "I have to go."

Tristan nodded, he stood up with Erin and helped her fold the blanket. Erin stuck her cell phone and magazine back in her purse before tossing her Slurpee cup in the trash bin closest to them.

"Come on Justin!" Erin called to the boy who just made it to the last bar on the Monkey Bars. "We have to go, Dad called!"

Justin hopped onto the woodchips and galloped over to his surrogate sister and her boyfriend.

"Thanks for hanging with me for a little bit." Erin looked up to Tristan.

Tristan placed a kiss on the tip of her nose before giving her a quick peck on the lips. "Call me later?"

Erin blushed as he pulled away, "Okay."

HOME

Erin unlocked the front door allowing Justin to walk in first. He took off his shoes and walked over to his parents who were quietly sitting in the living room. Erin slid out of her flip-flops and hung the keys on the hook before she tossed her purse on the bench. She walked in next to Justin, seeing Camille and Hank on the couch.

"What's going on?" Erin slowly walked further into the house.

"Sit, please." Hank stood up, moving over so there was room for all four of them on the couch.

Camille finally spoke; her voice was hoarse and shaky. "I went to the doctors the other day… the doctor was checking everything to make sure I was healthy to have a baby…"

"A baby?" Justin questioned, he started at his parents who shared looks.

"Yeah. But as the doctor was checking everything…" Camille's breath hitched.

"They found a lump." Hank finished, sensing his wife was still not ready to talk about it.

"What does that mean?" Justin asked while Erin had tears in her eyes. She didn't say anything; she just looked at the rug.

"The lump is making your Mom sick." Hank informed. "If she doesn't get it treated it can make her even sick."

"How do they treat it?" the seven year old asked.

"If it's small enough they can cut it out. If not, then she will have to something called chemotherapy."

"I- I can't hear this-" Erin shook her head as the tears streamed down her face. She stood up from the couch and rushed upstairs. The sound of her door being slammed echoed through the quiet house.

"I'll talk to her." Camille finally spoke.

"No, it's fine. I can talk to her later." Hank didn't want his wife to have to deal anything else other than her health.

Camille shook her head, "I'll talk to her. You talk with our son."

Hank didn't argue, he watched as his wife made her way upstairs.

Camille didn't knock. She let herself into the room of the teenage girl who had never known what it was like to have a real 24/7, always there kind of mom. She closed her door behind her, though with a heavy heart. She sat on the edge of the bed and rubbed her back. "Erin, I know this is tough."

Erin turned her around, eyes puffy because the tears were flowing freely. She started to say something but Camille held up her hand to stop her. She needed to get some things out first. The thing about Erin was that she put on this tough persona because she had to. Nothing ever came easy for her. She had to work for it, And when you have to work for basic things like food and love and shelter, things that should be naturally given...you tend to build a wall around your heart, for protection.

Over the last year, piece by piece, bits of Erin's wall were starting to come down for the Voight's. However, Camille feared that this might be too much for her to handle. That she would go back to that lonely place in fear of losing someone she had grown to love.

"You shouldn't have had to go through so much at such a young age. You should have had to deal with such adult things when you are still just a kid. More than anything I want to shield you and Justin from this terrible thing that is happening but I can't... and I think that it's possible to beat this... I know we can get through it. But the only way we can do that is by loving each other, and being there for each other, You can't run away this time Erin because this family needs you. I need you."

Erin hugged her. She hugged her so tightly and she couldn't stop crying. "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry. I just don't want to lose you."

Camille smoothed her hair. "I know. I know. It's okay..."

"I feel like I should be comforting you...not the other way around." Erin sobbed hard into her neck.

"No sweetie...shhhh... I'm the mom and you're the kid. Its not your job to be here for me. That's Hank job." she smiled. "It's my job to be here for you. No matter what. Understand?"

Erin nodded slowly as she nestled deeply into Camille's neck, her sweet perfume filled her nostrils. She breathed in a little more, not wanting to forget her scent. She wanted to remember everything about this amazing woman. The way she laughed; smiled; or even the way she walked. How she took her coffee or the fact she hated when her mashed potatoes touched her corn. All the little things someone would bypass Erin would definitely treasure those moments.

"I love you." Erin kissed Camille's cheek.

"I love you so much." Camille hugged the teen tighter, pecking her golden brown locks.

Sooo? What do you think? Hope you guys liked it.