A/N This is a quick update... I would like to thank people for their reviews. I lost a close friend to Lung cancer, the effect was devastating seeing her fade away in front of me and I couldn't do any to help. I have also worked with families who are dealing with cancer, so I hope to bring a sense of reality to this story.

She hears the sound of laughter fill the loft as Richard and Katherine enter and they're soon followed by Alexis. It's a sound she wants to etch into her mind, she never wants to forget that sweet sound. She sits at the top of the stairs, just out of view for a few minutes absorbing the sight before her. Her family altogether enjoying each others company.

" Mother, are you here?"

Her cover is blown as her son heads towards the stairs. He spots her before she can get up.

" Hey you okay? You look like you have been crying?"

She was going to wait till after dinner but she supposes now is as good as later. She ushers him back down the stairs and she soon brushes some of the tears away and addresses them, her voice cracking with emotion as she does.

"Everyone sit down, I need to tell you something."

They don't argue, Alexis sits in the arm chair, Richard and Katherine take the couch. They sit as close together as they can, his hand clasped between her delicate ones. She stands in front of them, she takes a deep breath and begins.

"I went to the doctors a few weeks ago due to my cough. I had a bunch of tests done and I got the results today. It's...It's."

The tears come like a torrential down pour she can't stop them. Richard goes to stand up but she ushers him back down with hand gesture.

She needs to finish this, she takes a deep breath.

" It's not good, I have cancer, lung cancer to be exact."

She hears Alexis sob and head towards her. She pulls the girl to her side, the other two are just appear shell shocked, tears are streaming down their faces as their brains process the news.

"It's terminal a year at the most, 6 months if I'm not so lucky."

She is enfolded in a crushing hug by all three before she can think. The warmth of having them embrace her, fill her heart with something she can't place. A feeling that only your love ones can give you. A feeling that resonates inside and bubbles to the surface. Alexis is sobbing into her shoulder, she can feel her tears soaking through her thin top. She cradles her to her side almost rocking her as she used to do when she was a baby.

" Mother I can't lose you, not now and not ever."

Hearing her son cry, breaks her heart into a million pieces. She feels it shattered and there is nothing she can do. Katherine has pulled back and has gone of to the side. Her expression is emotionless, but Martha knows her better than that. She can see that the news has brought Katherine's own mother's death to the surface. This is her coping method, her barrier and her shield. She has been damaged and hurt before she can almost sense the walls go back up. However something in Katherine's eyes tells her that she will be there for her son. She wishes that she had more time to spend with the woman who has stole her son's heart. She wishes she could see her grandchildren, she wishes she could see them get married. She can't face it no longer she pulls away from them and with lighting pace heads back towards her room. She needs time to think, to breathe, to come to terms with her illness. She can't let her family see her break. She shuts the door to her room, collapses on the bed and the sobs wrack her body as she realizes the true horror of the past 24 hours.

A/N: The next chapter will explain the next stage of the disease: Denial/Guilt.