Jamie carefully folded the last shirt and placed it on top of the others in his already packed suitcase. He had been p acking for a week excited to be starting college at Harvard University. After completing undergrad he would at for the law school.

Satisfied he had everything Jamie dragged the suitcases downstairs, standing them up at the bottom. Frank appeared with Mary who already started bawling as her baby got ready to leave.

"You need any help son," Frank asked softly. His own voice cracked in disbelief his youngest was starting college. He remembered holding Jamie's hand taking him to pre-k.

"I'm good dad, mom I'm going to college not dying. I'll come back and I'll call every day." Jamie flinched receiving a smack to his arm from Mary for the dying comment.

Danny laughed glad it wasn't him receiving his mother's wrath or his father's. "You deserve that one kid." He offered a smile as Henry hugged his grandson goodbye. Frank followed ordering Jamie to call when he arrived.

"I love you Jamison," Mary sobbed hugging him tight. Frank smirked waiting a minute before pulling his wife off and hugging her. Linda stepped forward also crying hugging her brother in law.

"I'm gonna miss you squirt," Erin sobbed ace print a hug from her little brother. "I'll see you before you know," Jamie smiled at her before pulling back.

Joe and Danny each took a suitcase helping bring them to the car where they would say goodbye. After loading the car Danny faced his youngest brother. "Hey enjoy college life okay kid? It isn't just studying. You'll do great kid I want to hear all about it," Danny pulled Jamie in for a tight hug.

Joe paused promising it wouldn't be a tearful goodbye but he felt water swelling in his eyes. "Call me when you get there. I'm gonna miss you kid." The two brothers embraced in no hurry to separate.

When they separated Eddie stood behind them wearing a pink skirt, her curly blond hair framing her face. "We'll let you two say goodbye," Joe grinned following Danny inside.

"I'm going to miss you Jamie," Eddie admitted already fighting back tears.

That was all Jamie needed to hear to step forward and envelope her in a tight hug. "I'm going to miss you so much but I'll call, we'll skype every day. I want you to have this, it's a promise ring that when I come back we'll be together."

Jamie cupped her cheeks, leaning in to kiss her hard while blinking furiously. Sobbing as their lips brushed, opening for aid before brushing again Eddie held onto him not wanting to let go.

Sniffling but smiling Jamie brushed a cheek over her cheek stepping back to his car before he changed his mind.

Jamie only stopped for gasoline, the rest of the time he just drove straight to Harvard. He felt like if he didn't put distance between himself and home, he'd turn back. His mother had looked so tired when she said goodbye, but that was probably just her worrying over his departure. When Jamie arrived at school and checked himself in, he found the payphone and called home.

Frank leapt to pick up the phone, Mary had just had her chemo and was resting upstairs. It was only her second round, they hadn't told the kids yet. "Hello," Frank said quickly. "Hey, Dad, just wanted to tell you I'm here safe and checked in. How's Mom, feeling better?

Frank's breath caught a minute, Jamie noticed. "She's got a migraine," Frank told Jamie. That was no lie, the treatment gave Mary a horrible headache. "She had a rough week with you going off to school. Mom's okay, she'll be okay."

He knew they'd have to tell the kids but opted to wait until the next round so the doctor could give insight on her progress. Time came quicker then Frank would have liked as three weeks later the doctor told them no treatment would be able to help.

He gathered Henry, Danny, Erin and Joe telling them first, asking Joe to be the one who told Jamie.

Joe made the trip up to Cambridge swallowing hard as he knocked on Jamie's dorm room door. Travis opened the door surprised to see the middle Reagan letting him in. Jamie looked up from his bed surrounded by books preparing for an exam. His eyes widened happy to see his brother. "Hey Joe, what's going on?"

"Um can we talk kid?" Sending a family conversation Travis excused himself from the room leaving the brothers alone.

"What's wrong Joe," Jamie asked feeling his heart racing seeing the sad look in his brother's eyes.

Joe took a deep breath before explaining in a cracked voice. "Dad took mom to the doctor she.. the chemo isn't working and the doctor gave her a few months."

Jamie stared at his brother wide eyed letting the shock sink in before trembling. "Mom, I have to see her." Joe wrapped an arm around his little brother wordlessly biting his lip too.

"I know kid."