Chapter 1

"Are the doctor's sure?" Spencer whispered as he wrapped his arms around his crying sister.

"Yeah they ran another blood test on her the other day just to make sure." Carly sobbed as she rested her head on her brother's shoulder. "They said that since she's still a kid there's a chance that she could beat it. But still it's...it's… Spencer what if she couldn't?"

"Hey! Hey! Don't think like that." Spencer grabbed hold of Carly's shoulders and forced her to meet his eyes. "Carly Anne Benson is as strong willed as her mother and as determined as the woman who raised her."

This garnered a faint watery smile from Carly.

"She can get through this. I know she will." Spencer stated determinedly.

Later that night Spencer went across the hall to visit it's long occupant.

"Spencer do you know what time it is?" A sleepy Marissa Benson asked as she ushered him inside. She hadn't been asleep an hour after spending a grueling day looking over a handful of first graders in Carly Anne's party.

Over the years nothing much has changed, the furniture still stark white and arranged the way they were many years ago, the only difference were the copious amounts of a little brown haired, blue eyed girl, scattered through the walls. Most of the apartment bathed in darkness, indicating that Marissa had been in bed.

She led him to the sitting area and switched the lights on, giving her eyes a few minutes to adjust before she sat down on an arm chair.

"We need to talk Marissa." The seriousness in his tone and behavior led her to rub the sleep from her eyes. The playful nature of the man in front of her had dwindled down through the occurrences in the past years into something more tolerable and mature, yet at this very moment all playfulness seemed to have left him. She motioned for the couch and waited patiently for him to speak. The last time that she saw him this serious was during the custody battle for Carly Anne.

"Would you like some water? Or anything?" She asked, mostly to be polite and to break the silence. She was wide awake now, inferring from his behavior that what he was about to say is no easy matter.

She used to be so furious at the fact that she was not the one to care and raise for the young girl but as Freddie's behavior towards the girl unraveled it left her with no other place to stand. She was grateful that in the end she was still able to maintain constant contact with her granddaughter under the strict rule to never clue her into the true nature of their relations.

"Well there's really no other way to go at this other than just saying it so…" Spencer took a deep breath. "Carly Anne has leukemia."

Heavy silence fell within the room. The sound of the gentle hum from the refrigerator along with the steady breeze from the air conditioner were all that you could hear apart from the two adult's steady breaths. Spencer gave Marissa a few moments to be able to process the news.

"How...Wh-when did you…" Marissa whispered heavily, her arms wrapping around herself in a physical action to keep herself together.

"Carly just told me around an hour ago. Apparently there was an abnormality in Carly Anne's blood when she got a check-up a few weeks ago. They had a complete blood count done earlier this week and due to the severity of the possible diagnosis they had it rushed. They just got back to her yesterday I believe." said Spencer. Having to repeat what he just heard was making everything even more real to him.

Tears began to well in Marissa's eyes at every word that passes Spencer's lips. She had already lost her husband, and now her son. She couldn't fathom how it would be to feel to lose her grandchild too.

"Carly and I have decided to move on this as quickly as we can before Annie actually starts to feel worse and we've both come to the conclusion that we couldn't just keep you out of this."

"Thank you." Marissa whispered gratefully as she tried to inconspicuously wipe her tears.

"We were hoping to get the lumbar puncture done sometime this week to see if the cancer has spread to her brain or spinal cord along with the chest x ray. We just don't want to waste anytime."

"I understand. I'll have to call my supervisor and ask for some leave." She nodded.

"There's also another reason I came here." Marissa's head snapped up at his words, wondering what other news does he have to bring.

"Carly wants Freddie to be involved with this also. Or at the very least to spend some time with his child in case…" Spencer cleared his throat as his eyes watered. "...before he loses the chance."

Marissa leaned back on the couch. She could tell from Spencer's hardened eyes that his feelings towards Freddie has neither changed nor softened. But then again she could not blame him, Sam was like another sister to him. And during her late years, she became a close comrade to Marissa as well. That girl, once given the time and chance, could really catch a heart.

"And obviously you're not very fond of that idea." Marissa stated.

Spencer scoffed. "What do you think? Carly and Annie saw him at the graveyard this morning. It didn't go well. He scared the poor girl."

Marissa started at the news. She had not been in touch with Freddie ever since the accident so she took any piece of information seriously. "How's he doing?"

"So I take it that he hasn't spoken to you yet?" He snarled. He didn't need her to answer. The shadow that passed on her face said it all. She bent her head down, her tears making an appearance again, making Spencer sigh and regret his tone.

"He was sober." Spencer muttered. "for once."

"Th-that's good." She wiped at her tears with her sleeve.

"I'm sorry Marissa. I just… I don't trust him. Not anymore. And especially not with someone like Carly Anne." He placed a consoling hand at her arm.

"I understand." She nodded. "I do. But at the same time he's my son. I know that how he's behaving right now isn't who he really is.

Spencer leaned back in the couch, remembering the Freddie that he used to know and love. The one that he knew would do anything to protect the ones he loved, the one that loved so purely, the smart kid that cherished his friends and family. But he's gone now. And he can't keep holding hope that he'll change only to be disappointed year after year. "I know that. But it's been six years. There's a likely possibility that he's not going to go back to how he was."

"But she's still his daughter, Spencer. At the very least he has to know." Marissa said as she straightened herself.

"I know." There was a brief pause.

"But I will not let him near Annie until we've seen any changes from him." He continued resolutely.

Marissa nodded, not knowing what else to say.

Spencer, not knowing what else to say, cleared his throat and stood up. "Well it's been a long night for all of us. Thanks again for the help with the party earlier."

"Oh it's no problem." Marissa replied, as she walked with him towards the door.

"I'll get back to you on when we can schedule an appointment." She simply nodded as Spencer stepped out into the hallway, opening his door. "Goodnight, Marissa."

Marissa Benson closed the door behind her and locked it with shaking hands. He'll pull through. I know my Freddie. He will.

Yes I know that Spencer is a tad OOC but think about the things he's been through and the tone of the story. He's still the crazy older brother that we all know and love but he's also grown up and is very protective of his family, especially at present circumstance.