This idea had sprung into mind an awful lot. I've read stories where Iain and Lily support each other through their ordeals but what if they were both going through the same thing? I've been nervous about posting the story as not only do I want to make it as realistic as possible but I also wanted to explore all aspects of cancer.

A big thank you for TheBeautifulNerd for her support, summary ideas and the best way to end this story. I hope I can do you proud.

Please enjoy.

Chapter One

It took effort to resist the urge.

Lily Chao felt the bugs crawl underneath her skin. She felt irritated as they always start moving at the worst possible time.

One time was when she was having lunch with Ethan. They were having an argument over the best way to cook an egg. It was a silly argument. But all Lily could think about are the bugs under her skin. Taking time to remind herself not to scratch, Lily found it was becoming unbearable. Scratching however, will only make it worse.

Another time was when she went shopping with Alicia and Robyn. Alicia saw a dress she liked and held it out in front of herself in a mirror, but to her dismay, it didn't quite suit her. Lily however, was a perfect match for it. Encouraged by Robyn, Lily went to try it on. That was when the bugs made a return. Lily groaned, she now can't go shopping without needing to scratch.

Those bugs then came back again tonight. At the exact moment when she was trying to sleep. This time, they were moving faster. Must be the heat, in the middle of October which Lily found freaky. Gem however was the only person in the flat who treated the temperature of the flat to how it should be in October, complaining that it was the Arctic. But Lily and Iain had both compared it to a sauna.

Lily tried hard not to fidget in bed as she didn't want to wake Iain up, who was sleeping soundly beside her. Hand locked with hers. He looked so peaceful, taking each day as it comes. Lily never admits it to him, but she wishes he'd never change.

Thinking about Iain suddenly took Lily's mind off those irritating bugs. They must have known Lily won't let them bother her, not whilst she had something good to think about. She slowly shuffled closer to Iain, letting her nose touch his, before she drifts off to sleep.

Not willing to back down from a fight, the bugs crawled into Lily's arm. She silently squeezed her eyes as if she was telepathically telling those irritating bugs to go away and let her have a good night sleep. Sadly, not only did it not work, but the bugs were multiplying themselves, making every feeling feel ten times worse.

Making the difficult decision to separate her hand from Iain's, Lily slide her feet off the bed, picking herself off from the bed. Unsure of what's allowing those bugs to irritate her skin as well as disrupt her silent slumber, she stood up and quietly tip-toed out of the room.

Not noticing the sound of coughing and stir that was happening behind her.

Lily walked past the empty bedroom, secretly thankful that Gem was on a night shift since she is normally a light sleeper. The image of what happened after Iain woke Gem up is still fresh in her mind, considering she had to talk Gem out of killing her brother. With the memory in mind, Lily clearly didn't fancy being on the receiving end of a cranky Gem.

Once Lily entered the bathroom and pulled the cord, adding light into the room, she started to check her arms, legs and chest for any signs of redness, spots or even a sign. Her arms were clear and so we're her legs. Even her front was as clear as a new born baby. Nothing. She found nothing. No indications of a rash or spots or red skin. The only place Lily hadn't checked were her back, she turned around but from her vest top, it did appear clear.

Could the bugs irritating her skin be telling her something?

Lily was about to ignore the thought until she caught a glance of someone approaching in the mirror. She secretly cursed herself, under the impression that she woke him from his peaceful paradise. His hand was over his mouth as Lily noticed he appeared to be clearing his airways of something. Air? Dust? Phlegm?

Lily pushed that to one side as she turned to face him, feeling guilty for waking him up.

"I didn't wake you up," Lily nervously whispered to Iain, "Did I?"

Lily watched as Iain froze in front of her. It soon dawned on the paramedic that whilst his coughing spells had interrupt his sleep, but he didn't notice that there was an empty space in his bed. The feeling of guilt grew inside of him, his coughing fits must had woken Lily up.

"No," Iain answered, inhaling then exhaling a few seconds later, "It was me. Sorry Chuckles."

"Don't," Lily sighed, looking at the mirror, "I must had slept through the coughing. I needed to check something. Actually, could you help me please? I wasn't able to check my back."

Iain nodded and gestured to Lily to turn around, before pulling her top up.

"What am I looking for?" Iain asked her.

"Any redness, spots or a rash," Lily answered.

Iain frowned at Lily's request before lowering her vest top.

"Clear," he coughed, getting the last of the irritation out of his airways before looking at his girlfriend, "Is everything okay?"

Lily hated it whenever someone asked her that question. It always gave her two different options. Choice one, say nothing, assume it's nothing and treat it as nothing. But she asked Iain to check and she knows that if he is aware that something is troubling her, he'll try to push her before she gives up and tells him. If she tells him, there's a chance he'll overreact. But what can she do? Tell him now or later?

Taking a deep breath, she decides to tell Iain about the bugs now than later to make sure he doesn't need to worry about her.

"I don't know why," Lily admitted, "But I've been feeling itchy for the past few weeks. Now I can't sleep because of it. That's why I'm up to check for any signs."

"Starting to bug you?" Iain asked, wrapping his arms around her waist.

"Please don't say 'bug'," Lily groaned as she placed her head on his chest, "I've been calling them that since they arrived."

Iain chuckled at Lily's statement, resting his lips on her head, letting Lily feel comfortable and warm in his arms and using his chest as a pillow.

It took three deep breaths until Iain notices how tense Lily is feeling. Realising what she needs is to let her muscles relax, her tense muscles gave him an idea.

"I think I know what you need," he suggested, winking at her, "A special Dean back rub. Recommended for all stresses in your life."

Lily secretly rolled her eyes. It was still a mystery his head still fits through the door frame but she couldn't help but laugh at his ego. The idea of a back rub actually sounds nice, the suggestion itself already relaxed her muscles.

"Okay," she pretended to sigh, knowing Iain is aware that she was tempted.

"Come on then," Iain removed his warm arms from around her waist and locked his hand with hers and took her to the sofa.

Lily closed her eyes as she felt circular motions within her shoulders, removing the tension she was feeling, taking away the small problems she was facing with at the moment.

Lily felt Iain's magic fingers at the back of her neck, where she is the most ticklish. Trying hard not to show her boyfriend he was tickling her, she clinches her eyes, trying to block the touch of his hands.

She suddenly opened her eyes. Whatever she did must have worked since she didn't feeling anything, not even those bugs. Happy that Iain got rid of them, Lily turned to face him, only to see the look of Iain's face. She peered into his green eyes but only saw two things; fear and concern.

Lily took in every movement that Iain made as he bolted from the sofa to their bedroom, running back into the sitting room with his phone in his hand.

"I'm sorry Lily," Iain panted the camera in his hand, "Do you mind?"

It only took five seconds for Lily to realise what Iain was indicating about. Cautiously, she moved her hand to the back of her neck, rubbing her skin, where she felt a bump.

"Spot?" Lily asked, hoping it was something not as serious as what she thought it was.

"No," Iain answered, taking her hands in his as Lily watched tears filling his eyes, "A lump."

Lily knew right there and now what a lump usually means.

Cancer.

This chapter is a bit shorter than the chapters that I normally write for "Sisters" and on that subject, I haven't abandoned that story. I've still been thinking about plot lines to make the story understandable.

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