A/N: Sorry if this is a scary chapter. I assure you things will be fine.

Chapter Ten

Spring arrived with warm weather and sunny skies. Treena had asked if it was alright to use Stortfold Castle for Thomas' fourth birthday party and Mr. Traynor said she could use the courtyard. The only concern I had was how Will was going to be able go onto the grass.

"They'll think of something, Clark," Will has said as we moved down the path and saw the people gathered on the grass. Tables and chairs were set up for eating and some kid's' games were scatter around a green and yellow bouncy castle.

"Auntie Lou! Will!" Thomas shouted as he ran to us and he had a paper birthday hat on his head. He stopped near me when I picked him up and hugged him. I placed him on Will's lap as Thomas carefully knelt on Will's thighs and hugged him. "I'm four now!"

"I know," Will said with grin.

"What did you bring me?!" Thomas asked as he carefully tried to see where we had hidden his present in Will's wheelchair.

"What makes you think we got you anything?" Will asked and Thomas pouted.

"You didn't?"

"Of course we did," I said. "I gave it to Mom before we came outside."

"Then Will's teasing me?"

"Yep," Will said and Thomas frowned, crossing his arms over his chest. "Oh, come on. I'm sorry."

"Ok," Thomas said and gave him another hug. He settled on Will's lap while leaning against Will's chest as the wheelchair moved down the path and Thomas pointed at the bouncy castle. "I have a castle."

"So do I," Will said. "When I was little, I was allowed to play in it."

"You mean that castle?" Thomas asked, pointing to Stortfold Castle.

"Yep."

"That's because your daddy owns it."

"Well, he doesn't really own it, but I was allowed to play in it," Will said with a laugh.

"Can you play in my castle?"

"No, but Auntie Lou can," Will said, looking at me.

"But I want you to play, too."

"I'll have fun watching," Will said as we came to the end of the path and saw a wooden path leading onto the grass.

"Granddad did that so you can come onto the grass," Thomas said and I looked over at Dad. He gave us a nod as I nodded back and Will moved the joystick. The wheelchair moved along the wooden path when we came to Mom and Treena and Mom walked over, hugging us.

"I am so glad you came," she said.

"We were a little worried about how Will was going to be able to come onto the grass," I said.

"Dad spent most of the morning setting it up," Treena said.

"Are you hungry, Love?" Mom asked as she looked at Will and he glanced at the table where the food was set up.

"I could eat something," Will said. I returned a few minutes later with some food for him and we watched the kids playing in the bouncy castle. "Go on, Clark."

"Uh…"

"When was the last time you were in a bouncy castle?"

"I never have," I said then walked toward it, turned and Will gave me a big grin. Mom came to stand next to him when I removed my shoes and looked up at Thomas watching me from behind the netting.

"Are you coming in, Auntie Lou?" he asked.

"Yeah," I said and he cheered as I went inside. I saw the happiness on Will's face as he watched me bouncing around and I laughed after I landed on my back then Thomas lightly landed on top of me.

"How's the wedding planning going?" Treena asked while we watched the kids playing some party games and I sipped on some punch. I could still hear Mom's screech when we called to tell them we were engaged and made a little grin.

"Well, when I'm not breaking up fights between Mom and Will's mom over menu for the reception, things are going great."

"Picked a dress yet?"

"I've narrowed it down to two dresses," I said when I saw a few of the kids with the strings of the balloons in their hands and looked at Treena. "What are they up to?"

"Let's go find out," she said. We followed the kids when my heart jumped at the sight of the kids tying the balloons to Will's wheelchair and he seemed to giving them directions on where to place the balloons. "Uh…"

"What are you kids doing?" Treena asked and Thomas smiled.

"We're trying to see how many balloons it will take to lift Will's wheelchair off the ground," one of the kids said and Will smiled.

"No, you're not," Treena said as she removed nearly all the balloons then led the kids away and I knelt down next to the wheelchair. I admitted seeing the wheelchair surrounded by balloons made me smile, but the idea of Will and the wheelchair sailing up into the air made my heart slam in my chest.

"What's the matter?" he asked as I stood up and looked at the balloons. I pulled on one of the strings as the green balloon moved up and down and his eyes followed it.

"I was just thinking about you taking off surrounded by balloons."

"That only works in cartoons, Clark," he said and I was stunned.

"I never knew you saw that movie."

"I've seen a lot of movies over the last few years," he said with a blank look.

"Uh, no, don't go there," I said and he knew what I meant. He smiled as I looked up at the balloons and the balloon swirled around in the breeze.

"Your mother told me where they're going to have cake and open the presents."

"Where?"

"I don't know if you're going to like it."

"Will!"

"It's at the center of the hedge maze," he said and I looked toward the hedge maze.

"Why would Treena agree to that?"

"I don't know."

"She knows I can't go in there."

"It'll be alright."

"Did you forget what happened when you dared me to go in there?"

"No, I remember," Will said while Mom came closer and smiled.

"I am so sorry," she said and Will smiled.

"It's fine."

"Mind if I take some photos?" Mom asked. After I knelt down next to the wheelchair, she took photos of us as we smiled and she seemed to tear up a little from how sweetly Will and I looked at each other.

"Uh, Mom, why did you put the cake and presents in the middle of the hedge maze?" I asked, standing up.

"I thought it would be fun for the kids to do the maze. I assured their parents it's not that scary."

"Mom, what about me?"

"What about…?" she asked when she remember what happened and gasped. "Oh, Lou, I forgot!"

"I have an idea," Will said as he moved the joystick and the wheelchair headed down the path. I followed close behind him when we went inside Stortfold Castle and the security guards looked a little stunned at the sight of the balloons tied his wheelchair. A few minutes later we were on the roof as he smiled and headed for the rampart where we could see the hedge maze.

"Why are we up here?" I asked.

"I thought this would be more fun than the hedge maze," he said, looking up at me. I carded his hair when my phone buzzed and I removed my phone from my purse.

Where are you? Treena text.

I'm on the castle roof with Will.

Why?

Because I can't go in the hedge maze.

Oh, Lou, I'm sorry. I forgot.

That's ok. Tell Tommy… I text then stopped. I didn't know what to tell Thomas about why we were up there then smiled, finishing the text.

"Auntie Lou! Will!" Thomas said afterwards and carefully climbed onto the wheelchair. "Thank you for my present!"

"You're welcome," Will said then looked at Treena. "I know an art kit isn't something you'd want him to have, but the markers are washable and he is only allowed to use the crayons and paints on the paper or coloring books."

"What happens if I don't?"

"Then Mommy takes them away," he said with a stern look and Thomas frowned.

"At least you didn't give him a toy drum set," Treena sighed.

"Who gave him that?!" I asked.

"A friend I am not longer talking to."

"Auntie Lou, did you wash your hands?" Thomas asked and Will frowned, glancing up at me.

"Why would she have to do that?" Will asked.

"She text Mommy and said the reason you weren't there to see me open my presents and have cake was because she had to help you go potty," he said and I wanted the ground to swallow me up.

"Did you wash your hands?" Will asked with a laugh.

"Yes," I said.

"Good," he said with a grin and I leaned down to kiss his cheek.

"That was fun," Will said after we came back to the annex and he followed me into the kitchen.

"Yes, it was," I said, placing some leftover food Mom had given me into the refrigerator.

"I still can't believe you told Treena to tell Thomas the reason we couldn't be there for cake and presents was because you had to help me go to the bathroom."

"I had to think of some reason for why I couldn't go in there," I said, closing the door.

"Clark, it's alright."

"No, it's not alright. I should be able to go in there without having a panic attack."

He moved the wheelchair closer as he looked at me and I brushed the hair out of his eyes.

"Would you feel better if I had Father remove it?"

"But it's been there for centuries."

"Yes, I know. The thing is I will not allow anything to upset you. I hate it when you are."

"That's sweet, but I guess it's something I'll have to live with," I said, leaning over to kiss his lips. "Want to go watch a movie?"

"Only if it has subtitles," he said with a grin. Rolling my eyes, I nodded and we left the kitchen.

Professor Lake gave very interesting lectures as I sat in class and wrote down notes. She glanced at the classes now and then as she talked and strummed her fingers on the dais.

"What is that sound?" she suddenly asked when I noticed my phone was buzzing and a blush moved over my entire body.

"I'm sorry," I said when I picked up the phone and was about to turn it off then I noticed it was Nathan's number. My heart slammed in my chest as I swallowed a lump in my throat and looked at her. "Uh, I really need to take this."

"Go outside," she said as I nodded, picked up my things and headed out into the hallway. I knew Nathan would only call me if there was something wrong with Will and placed my things on the floor.

"Nathan, what's wrong?" I asked after pushing the button and was curious when I heard people talking in the background. "Where are you?"

"Lou…," Nathan said when I heard someone calling some doctor's name and my stomach sank.

"Are you…? Are you in the hospital?" I asked, sliding down the wall.

"Yes."

"What happened?"

"You know Will wasn't really hungry this morning…"

"What happened?!" I repeated while my voice echoed down the hallway.

"He started having trouble breathing after we had dropped you off. I took him straight to the hospital and…"

"Is it…? Is it pneumonia?"

"Yeah," he said then sighed.

"I'll be right there."

I ran by the A&E doors when I ran to the nurses' desk and placed my hands on the counter. I was amazed when Headmaster Parks drove me to the hospital after I had called him to tell him about Will and I told him I would call him once I found out how bad Will was.

"May I help you?" the nurse asked.

"Yes, Will Traynor was just brought in. Do you know where he is?" I asked as she typed on the keyboard and looked at the screen.

"He's in CCU Room Seven," she said.

"Thank you," I said then turned to run down the hallway.

"Wait!" she said and I looked at her. "Only family members are allowed up there."

"I'm his fiancé!"

"I'm sorry, but…"

"Louisa!" Mrs. Traynor said as she came closer and the look on her face caused a cold chill to move through me. I was a little shocked when she hugged me and placed her hands on my shoulders. "Thank you for coming."

"I want to see Will," I said.

"Of course."

"She can't," the nurse said then cringed at the cold look Mrs. Traynor glared at her. We walked to the lift then down the hallway a few minutes later and Nathan got up off the chair he was sitting on when he saw us. He gave me a hug as we walked to the family waiting room and sat on the couch.

"Has the doctor said anything yet?" I asked.

"No," Nathan said with a shake of his head.

"I called Georgina," Mrs. Traynor said with a sigh. "She's getting the first flight and will be here as soon as she can."

I was barely aware she was talking or that she was holding my hands in hers.

All I could think about was Will.

I remembered the first time I had experienced him having pneumonia as I looked at her hands and tried hard to keep my heart from slamming through my chest.

Suddenly the doctor arrived as Mrs. Traynor stood up and he had a chart in his hands.

"Are you Mrs. Traynor?" he asked.

"Yes," she said with a nod. "How is my son?"

"He's holding his own," the doctor said, looking at the chart.

"Can I go see him?" I asked.

"Follow me," he said and we left the room. I stood at the window to Will's room and looked at him. He was surrounded by tubes and wires and I placed my hand against the glass with tears rolling down my cheeks.

"Lou?!" Mom called out as I turned to look at her and she came closer. She hugged me as I looked at Dad and he nodded. Nathan had called them after I refused to move from the window and Mom looked at Will. "Oh, he looks so ill."

"He has pneumonia, Mom." I said.

"But this isn't the first time, right?" Dad asked. "His dad told me he had a bout of it last year."

"Yes," I said when the nurse walked toward the doorway and I tapped her shoulder.

"Excuse me," I said and the nurse looked at me. "Can I…? Can I go in?"

"I'm sorry, but only medical personnel are allowed in the room."

"Please. Have some mercy," Mom said. "She's his fiancé."

The nurse looked at me then at Will when she nodded and, after washing up, having put on surgical clothes, surgical gloves, a plastic face shield and surgical boots, I walked to the bed. The hissing and clicking noises didn't bother me as I looked at him and Will's face was pale. I reached over and stroked his hair when I leaned closer and had my lips close to his ear.

"I don't know if you can hear me," I said. "But you need to fight this. You need to wake up. Please. Please come back to me."

The nurse looked like she wanted to cry as she pretended to look at the heart monitor screen and sighed.

"Don't give up," I whispered when a soft rush of breath fogged up the oxygen mask and I frowned, standing up.

"Ok," Will's weak voice said from under the oxygen mask and his half-opened eyes locked with mine. "I won't."

"Lou," Treena said as I looked up from the book I was reading and she had Thomas in her arms.

"He's not supposed to be up here," I said.

"I snuck him passed the nurses' station," she said with a grin then walked to the bed. "How is he doing?"

"He's better then he was yesterday," I said as Thomas looked at Will and I saw how worried he looked.

"Is...?," Thomas asked then pressed his lips together. "Is Will going to die?"

"No," Will's tired voice said from under the oxygen mask as I saw he had his eyes open and he looked at Thomas.

"Promise?"

"I promise," he said with a small smile.

"Stop talking," I said and Will glanced up at me.

"Can I sit on the bed with him?" Thomas asked. I carefully placed Thomas on the bed so he was sitting near Will and Thomas took Will's hand. "Why is he wearing that?"

"Will has something in his chest which is making bubbles," I said. "These bubbles make it hard for Will to breath so this helps him until the bubbles go away."

"How will they go away?"

"See this?" I asked as I pointed to the plastic intravenous bag. "In there is medicine that will make the bubbles go away. The medicine goes down this tube and into the back of his hand then it will go into Will's chest."

"And that will make the bubbles go away?"

"Yes," Will said.

"Hush," I said and Will gave me a hurt look. I gently stroked the top of Will's head as he made a small smile and Thomas looked at the heart monitor.

"What is that for?" Thomas said.

"This shows the nurse what Thumper is doing."

"Who?" Will asked, glancing up at me.

"I mean your heart," I said, lightly patting Will's chest then looked at Thomas. "See how the lights are going up and down?"

"Yep," Thomas said.

"That means Thumper's moving. The numbers show how fast he's going."

"Oh," Thomas said when the nurse stopped in the doorway and looked at us.

"What is going on in here?" she asked, walking to the bed,

"I'm sorry, but this is my sister and nephew and they wanted to see him," I said.

"Well, I'm afraid they have to leave."

"We were just leaving," Treena said as she picked up Thomas and Thomas looked at Will.

"See you later, Will," he said as they left and the nurse examined Will. She wrote on the chart when she left the room and I sat on the edge of the bed, taking Will's hand. Will looked sad and tired as I wrapped our fingers together and tried to figure out what was going on inside his head.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"Why are you sorry?"

"I should have told you I was sick."

"Yes, you should have."

"I…."

"You need to stop talking," I teased and he half closed his eyes.

"Don't go."

"I'm not going anywhere."

"Neither am I," he said then closed his eyes and I blinked the tears out of my eyes. Watching him drift off to sleep, I kissed his knuckles and looked at the lights moving on the heart monitor.