A/N: Second story for the SMASH fandom hope you guys like it :) Reviews and feedback are welcome!

Leukemia.

Ivy looked at the doctor with utter confusion. "There must be a mistake..." She said quietly, looking down at her own hands. She was shaking. She knew she should not have been shaking. There must be a mistake. Her own daughter cannot have cancer.

The doctor shook his head. "I'm sorry Mrs. Lynn." He handed her a pamphlet.

Childhood Cancer. What comes next?

Ivy just stared the paper for awhile before looking back up at the doctor. "Will she be okay?" She felt her heart skipping beats as the doctor explained. Everything was in medical terms, she was suppose to understand this. All it was doing was making her scared. She couldn't lose Heather. Not now. Not ever.

She walked out of the room and saw the young girl playing happily with the Lego's in the waiting room.

"H-Heather…" Ivy stuttered kneeling down on the cold hospital floor. Heather turned and smiled, her blonde pigtails bounced as she ran to embrace her mother. As soon as Ivy had her in her arms she felt the lump in her throat. She wouldn't be able to hold back the tears forever. I have to be strong for Heather. She thought to herself as she squeezed her young daughter.

Heather managed to pull away and look at her mother. "Mommy, no rain. No rain." She put her small hands on Ivy's cheeks. "No rain." Ivy smiled through the tears filling her eyes. The serious look her daughter was giving her meant she really didn't want her to cry or "rain" according to Heather.

"I'm tryin baby… I'm really tryin." She helped her put on her favorite pink poke-a-dot jacket. She insisted on wearing the thing everywhere. Picked her up and carried her out of the building. The tears were gone and all that was left for today was the walk home. Heather held her mother's hand tight as she pulled her down the street.

Even though it was early Fall it was already cold. The familiar white haze left Ivy's lips at every breath. "Look! Dragon!" Heather exclaimed as they waited at the stop walk. She roared like a dragon, holding up her arms then letting the mist from the cold weather do the rest.

Ivy gasped and hid behind her mitted hands. "Don't hurt me dragon!" She pleaded, hiding her smile behind her hands. "I am not tasty at all."

Heather roared again as they began to walk across the street. "VERY hungry dragon!" She jumped up onto the curb turning to her mother and roaring once again. "RAWRRRRRRR!" She crunched up her face and flared her nostrils. Ivy picked her up and set her on her shoulders.

"What does the dragon want for dinner?" Ivy asked as she walked through the park. Heather held her arms up trying to touch the tree branches. "Would the dragon want spaghetti?" Ivy felt tiny hand pat the top of her head. Another roar sounded from above her, "I guess that is a yes."

Ivy finished washing the dishes from dinner and wiped her hands. "Bedtime." She looked into the living room and it had already been vacated.

"NOOOOO." A little voice called from the bathroom. Ivy smiled and walked in picking her daughter up out of the tub. "NO BED!"

"Oh hush." She said as she carried Heather into her room. "Put on your jams." The tiny blond reluctantly agreed as she pulled on her fairy pajamas and jumped into bed. Ivy gently pulled out the hair bands in Heather's hair before she laid down in bed. She ran her fingers through the soft hair blond hair, Ivy almost forgot about what was going to happen to her daughter's beautiful hair. Ivy sighed and smiled weakly at her. "Goodnight baby girl." She kissed her head and got up.

Walking into the living room she sat herself down on the couch. She finally could cry. Grabbing the nearest pillow she hugged it tightly and began to sob. It took some time to pull herself together before she could pick up the phone. It only took a second for him to pick up. Unusual for him. "Ivy what could you possibly want at this hour?" Derek grumbled, she could hear the sound of pages turning through the phone. He was obviously working on some new musical.

Ivy opened her mouth to respond but all that came out was a small whimper. "Ivy?" Derek answered, she thought she could hear some concern in his voice.

"I-I… need y-you to come over." She stumbled through the sentence, it only took a second before she realized Derek had hung up.

Ivy had made her way into bed but had been unable to fall asleep. Her eyes hurt her body ached, and so did her heart. She heard a rap on the front door. Quickly turning to look at her clock she began to wonder who the hell was showing up at one in the morning. She would have just stayed in bed but was concerned that the knocking might wake up Heather. She walked out of her room, grabbing her robe and wrapping it tightly around her. Unlocking the door quietly, she made sure to open it only a crack.

Derek?

"What the hell were you crying about?"

She flung herself into his arms. He just stood there in shock, confused by Ivy's sudden amount of affection. Ivy couldn't even speak. She just nuzzled her head in his chest. She needed this. She needed him.

Oh god she needed him.