I love you guys and honestly – enjoy the chapter. Try not to cry too much.

Chapter 21 – Long Road

Gabi's POV

It's crazy how your life can change in a matter of moments. One minute you are smiling with your kids and having the time of your life.

The next you are dead in a hospital bed, your eyes glazed over staring at the ceiling thinking of your last interactions with everybody you loved. Each second counted down until your last breath. A ticking clock, everything between larger clocks, each spot holding a memory. You're first birthday you remember, first boy you loved, first guy you kissed, bad days, your proposal, marriage, babies, school, and milestones, everything in between clocked in little areas.

They say that your life flashes between your eyes before you die.

I didn't know if this was true but I saw flashes of people, words were said, things that made me want to curl in a ball and cry but this light was so warm and inviting. My dad was in my ear talking to me, we talked, and we talked about my kids. I saw him, or I felt like I did. Then I felt him curl up next to me. I felt him touch me and kiss my forehead. I pulled away from my dad, as I wanted to touch him.

It was crazy how one person could touch you and change your mind about everything. It was crazy how one person could love you so much that they could completely save your life.

Troy's POV

I raced to the hospital, he said I needed to come urgently that it was important. He would be waiting for me in the waiting room of the ICU. My stomach twisted, as she couldn't be dying. I knew it was a possibility for her to go completely brain dead. They told me. They told me a hundred times but I figured ten days. I had ten days to prepare how I was going to tell her how much I really loved her. I had ten days to prepare to hold on to her forever. I had ten days and suddenly on the 10th day it was coming crashing around me.

I wasn't prepared, I wasn't ready, there was no way I was going to be able to sign those papers today. I wasn't ready.

Finding the first parking spot, I threw my car into park as I ran inside; I ran up the stairs, I ran to the ICU, as Dr. Roads was looking right at the door. I burst through them and he looked at me, my knees grew weak as he shook his head and he then smiled.

"She is breathing on her own Troy," I looked at him as if he just told me I was going to be a dad again, "I came in this morning and she was breathing on her own, her kidney functions are better, her heart and lungs sound good, her liver is working, her fever is gone," my knees completely gave out on me as I grabbed the desk. I never wanted to cry in front of another grown man but that day, August 2nd, the day that changed my life forever was the day I decided I didn't care as I lowered my head as I cried.

"She is living,"

"Troy, she isn't out of the woods as this may be a surge of sorts but I don't think that this is it. She hasn't woken up yet and she may not for several more days but she is breathing on her own."

I laughed as I pressed my hands against my face, "I thought she died, that she was brain dead, I thought everything but that." I stopped as I looked at him, "Can I please see her?"

"Yes, come on,"

I followed him, as there was no stopping any tears as he led me into her room. She was off the breathing machine, most of the other machines stayed, "She is hooked up to most of them still, keeping everything going, the feeding tube is still in place and everything but she is breathing on her own,"

I looked at her pale lips as I went over and grabbed her hand; I shook my head as I held her hand so tightly in my own. "Thank you God, thank you," I cried as I pressed my face close to hers, I wanted to hold her and press her against me, I wanted to kiss her, I wanted to do everything with her, I just prayed that she wakes up. I prayed and prayed that she would wake up.

"What if she doesn't wake up?" I asked, sobering up for a minute, "Troy, there shouldn't be any reason she shouldn't wake up, it's a pure miracle. I was so sure she wasn't going to make it this far and then today was the 10th day."

I wiped my eyes as I looked at him and I couldn't wait to tell my kids, I couldn't wait to tell my mom, I couldn't wait to tell all of them that we had hope. We weren't out of the woods yet but we had so much more hope than we did ten days ago. "I'm giving her 80% chance of beating this Troy, she has fought and she isn't done with you yet apparently. If she wakes up she has a long way to go before she will be okay but she'll most likely live to tell the story."

"Thank you, thank you so much,"

"Thank you for not letting me do anything before today,"

I nodded, "I'll be back in a little bit," he said, I looked at Gabi as I sent a text to my mom asking her to bring the kids up to the hospital as soon as possible. I looked at Gabi as I shook my head, my eyes glued to her, as I needed her to wake up now because I just needed to tell her everything I loved about her.

Liam's POV

"Your dad wants you to come up to the hospital now," I looked at my grandma, as everybody wasn't in the mood for this. We were all dressed, we had all been shoved into a car and we were all quiet. When Lo asked where we were going Grandma told her again.

I turned away as I tried to call Alexa but she must have still been asleep. My eyes glazed out of the window and when I saw the hospital come into view, I felt like I could throw up everywhere.

Emma looked at me with sad eyes as I hugged her, "It's going to be okay,"

"It's going to be hard," she corrected, "I know," I whispered, Wes looked at us and I rubbed his head, we all got out of the car and began to walk inside. A big raindrop fell from the sky as it felt so fitting to have the worst day of my life be filled with my least favorite thing.

Storms I hated them. I always have according to my mom. When it stormed we would watch movies all day together and just hang out, a Liam and mom day. I would never have another one.

The walk to the ICU was a long one and when we got there we saw my dad, he had been crying and I knew he had already said goodbye to mom. I knew he said wonderful things to her and I knew that she was probably smiling wherever she was.

Troy's POV

I looked at the kids walk in the door as each of them looked like they were ready to roll over and cry. I felt my heart sink a little as I saw the pain they were facing, I then felt it warm as it was going to hopefully give them so much more hope.

"Hey," I said, they all looked at me as I took a deep breath, "I have something to show you guys," I said, I picked up Lauren as I led them back into the ICU. They followed me and Lo pressed her face into my neck. I tried to hide the smile on my face as we walked towards her room, "I don't want to say bye to mommy," Allison said making the whole group stop, I felt tears catch in my throat as I turned to face him. I got eye level, my eyes looking into hers.

"I'm so glad you don't want to baby, I'm so glad because you don't have too. Not today, you don't have to say goodbye today,"

"Dad," Liam said, I shook my head as I bit on my lip, "Your mom," I paused, I looked at my mom as she smiled at me as if she already knew what I was going to say. "Your mom is breathing on her own guys, she is breathing on her own and everything is better, her results are so much better than yesterday," Liam looked at me as he shook his head, "Don't lie dad, not today,"

"I'm not, Liam," I shook my head as I lead them back to the room, Liam walked in first as he looked at her and spun around to look at me. "She is okay?"

"We don't know if this is permeate but she isn't dying today, we aren't saying goodbye today because she is still fighting. She is still here with us; she is okay right now and breathing. If she wakes up they think that she will stay awake. She might have some other things to deal with but she will be better,"

Liam sank into the chair as he buried his head into his hands. Emma burst into a sob as she went over to Gabi's bed and tried to hug her because that's all she wanted to do. Wes looked at me surprised as he looked at Gabi going to her side. Lauren and Alli stayed close to me, "Oh my God," Liam shook his head as I gave my mom Lo and I went over to Liam.

"We aren't out of the woods yet," I said as I hugged him, "We still have a long way to go but it's better. It's so much better." He nodded as he let go and went over to Gabi. I swallowed against the lump in my body as my mom laughed shaking her head, "Just wait until your house hears,"

Later that evening, after the kids left, I looked at Gabi, as she was still breathing on her own. She still had a steady heartbeat underneath of my fingers. I crawled up next to her as I rested my head on her shoulder; my fingers found her hand as I squeezed it gently.

"Oh Brie," I whispered, I kissed her cheek and then I kissed her so softly on the lips. "I love you so much," I whispered, "I love you, I love you I love you and I just now need you to show me those pretty brown eyes because I miss them like hell. I miss your smile and your voice, I miss you, please, and I still need you. You gave me hope but I need you okay? I'm not done fighting for you."

I pulled her close to my body as I rested with her, I didn't talk much after that, and I just rested. I didn't want to make any sudden movements, I kept her close to me and she breathed at her own pace. The pace I was used too. I listened to her heartbeat and I let my hand hover over her chest.

My fingers gazed her knuckles and I knew everything just might be okay.

Liam's POV

Two days had passed since my mom was taken off the breathing machines, she was taken off the dialyses machines because her kidneys were functioning at normal levels, she was still getting food through tubes because she wasn't awake yet which was nerve-wracking.

My dad was there early and there late because he wanted to be there when she woke up so she wasn't alone. I wouldn't want to wake up alone either, the hot Wednesday afternoon reminded me how much I needed to get a haircut.

I looked out at the pool as everybody was holding out more hope than the week that we had that was good. Everybody was happier it felt like and my dad looked like he was on cloud nine compared to the last week. Emma and Wes were playing together outside, Lo was playing with arts and crafts as recently she had been asking for mommy more and more.

Dad hoped that she could see mommy soon. That she would be able to say our names soon.

They were worried about memory loss and all sorts of things. They didn't know how twelve days half dead were going to be to her brain. It was just waiting for her to wake up on her own time, everyday she seemed to be stronger according to my dad. Her heart rate would go up, her BP was better she looked better. It was always something these past couple of days giving us something to hold on to.

I heard the door open and shut, as it was most likely Chad.

I looked up and I was right, he smiled, "Your dad said she is doing well,"

"Yea, I think I got the same text,"

"Good, do you guys need anything from the store? I'm going for a run and am making sure that you guys have everything."

"Yea, I mean, I have no clue really. Grandma Lucille has been doing a lot of that. Grandma Maria has been busy being with my dad a lot."

"Yea, I bet she is worried sick along with your dad,"

"He seems to be doing a lot better than last week,"

"Probably," I smiled as I looked out the window again, miracles do happen I thought. Something happened that made my mom come back to us, to breath again, something happened and I am so ever thankful for whatever that is.

Gabi's POV

I was so tired and cold I wonder where he went. He was keeping me warm and then he left, why did he leave? Where was I? I felt my chest rise as I felt my eyes blink but once I opened them they hurt, I shut them again as I moaned, they hurt.

I opened my eyes again as I glanced around, I was in the hospital. I looked down to see tubes coming out of every other place, my head pounded against my skull; I closed my eyes as it was dark. A machine beeped making my arm jump I wasn't hurt.

The last thing I remember is Troy telling me he loves me and me thinking of the last interaction with each of my kids.

Where was Troy?

I tried to lift my head but it seemed so heavy, my fingers moved as I tried to find my call button. Once my hands found a thing, I brought it closer to me as I pressed the nurses button weakly, my arms felt so tired and exhausted. My body felt like a bus had ran over me.

A sudden scramble broke outside the door; a page ran through the hospital intercom, as I felt dizzy just laying here. My chest and throat were on fire as a nurse burst through the room and I tried to move my head to look at her, I stopped short at the yelping pain.

"Troy?" my voice was barely audible. My throat burnt at the words and my eyes were so tired. "We'll call him okay? He'll be here soon," I felt tears as I suddenly saw Dr. Johnny in my view, "Gabi, hey, do you remember me?"

I nodded my head as he smiled, "Good, my impressions are lasting. Can you tell me why you are here?" I looked at him lost, "No," I cringed as my throat hurt so bad. "How many kids do you have?"

I held up my five fingers as he nodded, "Good, good, can you name them?"

I didn't want to talk, it hurt so badly, and "I know it might hurt but try for me okay?" I tried to take a deep breath but it hurt, "Liam," my voice broke, "Emma, Wes," I closed my eyes tightly, "Alli, Lo," I finished as I felt breathless. "Good, fantastic,"

"Troy," I whispered, he nodded, "I'll call him, and I'll call him right now okay?"

"Please,"

Troy's POV

I wasn't sleeping. I couldn't sleep. Every night since Monday, which had now been three, I counted the hours until I was let back into the hospital. I took a deep breath as my phone buzzed on my nightstand next to me, I bolted up right and I took a hold of it.

I answered without looking, "Hello?"

"Troy,"

"Johnny?"

"She is awake,"

I felt everything in me explode as I bolted up and I pulled on a pair of sweat pants and a t-shirt. I told him I would be right there as I found my car keys and bolted. I opened the garage and drove out of the driveway.

My fingers and hands shook so violently that I thought I wasn't going to be able to drive myself there. I felt every emotion wash over me as I hoped she would still be awake when I got there. I prayed that she was fine that she had all of her memory. I prayed that she would remember me.

I didn't get any more details from Johnny besides that she was awake. I parked as I ran, I ran like it was the 10th day. I ran like I thought she was dying. I ran the same exact path but he wasn't waiting for me in the ICU. I burst through the doors as a nurse tried to stop me as it wasn't visiting hours.

"Marcy," I saw Johnny, he said something more to her as I moved to her room. I slid the door open and pushed the curtain away as she was lying on her back, her head moved the other way. She turned towards me and I felt everything inside of me fall apart.

Her eyes light up as she looked at me, I moved to her bed as I grabbed her hand, "Oh thank you Jesus, thank you," I began to cry like a blubbery mess, I held on to her hand as I felt her other rest on top of my head. I felt her hand move against my head as I lifted my head up as I looked at her, tears steamed down my face as her eyes looked at me. "Oh my God, Brie, thank you, thank you, thank you Jesus, thank you so much." I whispered as I let my hand touch her face, which was pink with color.

Gabi looked at me with tears in her own eyes, I leaned over as I pressed my face close to her. "I love you so much Brie, I love you so much,"

"Troy," I broke apart at the sound of my name going through her lips, I held her hand, as it had been 13 days without her saying my name. 13. It had been so many days since she had kissed me and hugged me. She looked at me and I shook my head, "I'm so sorry Brie,"

"What happened?" she asked, I pressed my hands against my face as I wiped away any tears, "You got really sick on me Brie," she nodded as I moved to lay next to her. She looked at me and then scooted herself although she winced. I lay down as she leaded her head against me. "I love you, I love you," I whispered as I held her, "I love you too," I pressed my lips to her baldhead as I never thought I would love those words so much.

"I'm so sleepy," she whispered, fear struck through me, as I didn't want her to close her eyes. I didn't want to have a fear of her never waking up. "Oh my God," Dr. Roads came scrambling into the room as he shook his head, "Gabi,"

She opened her eyes and looked at him, "Thank you Jesus," he said looking up at the ceiling, "Can I examine her?" Dr. Roads asked, basically asking me to move. "Yea," I began to slip away but her hand grabbed my shirt. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise," I said as I grabbed her hand. She nodded as she looked at me, "Dr. Johnny told me you remembered all five of your kids, in order, your name, and who he was."

I said another sweet prayer to the lord above us as he examined her. "Gabi, if you are strong enough, I want to tell you what happened in the past two weeks,"

"What?" she asked, "Can I have water?"

"Yes, of course," he paged a nurse to get Gabi fresh ice-cold water as I let my hand squeeze hers. The nurse brought her some and with help she took a couple of sips, "I'm tired," she said, "We can talk later, get some rest,"

Dr. Roads waved me over as I kissed her forehead, "I'll be right back, I'm going to talk to Dr. Roads," she nodded as I kissed her lips softly, "I love you,"

"I love you," she said, I squeezed her hand as I went over to him. "She is a miracle Troy,"

"I know,"

"I'll be back in a couple of hours to check on her. In a bit she will go get some scans done,"

"Should I be worried when she falls asleep?"

"I don't think so but let her rest,"

I nodded as he walked away, I went back into the room, and "What did he mean by two weeks?" she asked, her voice was a little stronger but she sounded exhausted. I scooted the chair close to her bed. "You were unconscious for 13 days Brie,"

She looked at me and tears grew in her eyes, "That's why you acted like you did,"

"We can talk about it more later, rest," I encouraged, "No, tell me,"

I sighed softly as I kissed her forehead, "Brie, you had bacterial meningitis," she looked at me with her brown eyes and I nodded, "You were on life-support for ten days and then everything looked better and you began to breath on your own, you spent three more days unconscious and now we are here."

"How are my babies?"

"Scared," I told her, "They will be thrilled to know you are awake,"

"I want to see them,"

"After you rest,"

She nodded as she pulled me towards her, "Lay with me, please,"

"Of course,"

I lay next to her as she curled against me, her heart moving to mine; I kissed her every so often as she went in and out of sleep. I couldn't have asked for a better miracle.

I didn't register in my head that it was three thirty in the morning and both of her doctors were here. I let out a long breath as Gabi opened her eyes again as the sun was slowly coming up over the sky, I kissed the top of her head as she struggled as she let out a moan, "What's wrong?" I asked her softly, "I hurt,"

I wouldn't know why should we hurt because nothing was hurt but spending two weeks in a bed must be hard. "Okay, okay," I said as I stood up, "Let's see what I can do,"

I went out to the nursing station, "Hey,"

"Gabi's husband right?"

"Right, she is really uncomfortable, pain I guess,"

"Probably, her body has been through a lot in the past two weeks. We'll get her set up with some more pain meds," I thanked her as I went back into the room. I wanted to break down as I looked at her, her brown eyes looking at the TV. I haven't told anybody she was awake yet, relishing in the moment that my wife was breathing. I had almost lost her. I almost completely lost her and here she was, breathing, alive.

"When can I see my babies?" she asked, "In a while, they probably aren't even awake yet." I said she struggled as she wanted to sit up but it was better to keep her flat. She then broke down into tears, "Hey, hey, hey," I whispered, I picked up her hand as I rubbed her knuckles with my thumb. "I'm tired and I hurt," she complained, her voice so magical and wonderful to hear. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry," I whispered, I kissed her temple and I kept my face closer to hers.

I knew how I was going to tell the kids as I picked up my phone. I called Liam's cell phone as I looked at Gabi who was struggling emotionally right, she hadn't said much due to being in and out of sleep.

I stayed close to her as Liam answered, "Hey Liam,"

Liam's POV

My cell phone rang next to my bad as I reached over and I picked it up, "Hello?"

"Hey, Liam,"

"Dad? Are you calling me from upstairs?" I asked I pushed off the bed, rubbing at my eyes.

"No, not at exactly, somebody wants to talk to you,"

"Who? Where are you?" I heard the shuffle of the phone and then speaker phone, "Liam," I sucked in a breath as I felt every emotion run through my system, "Mom?" my voice broke, "Hi sweetie," she sounded exhausted, tired, barely awake, "Mom, oh my god," I started to cry as I leaned forward, "I love you so much mom,"

"I love you too baby,"

"Liam, go wake up your siblings," my dad instructed, I ran over to Wes's room and I sat down, "What?"

"Somebody wants to talk to you," I said as I looked at him, he looked at my confused, "Wes?"

Wes looked at me and then he looked at the phone, "Mom?"

"How is my big man?"

"Mom, I love you so much, I knew you would wake up," Wes began to freak out as we moved upstairs, I burst through Emma's door as she jumped up, "What?" I broke into a smile; I looked at her, "What is dad on the phone?"

"Yea," my dad said, "So what?"

"Is that my Emma?" Emma grasped loudly as she scrambled up from the bed and grabbed my phone from my hand, "Mommy?" she asked, "My girl,"

"Oh my god, mommy, mommy, I love you, I love you,"

"Guys, go give the phone to your grandma so we can talk about when you can come and see her,"

Emma rushed the phone to where my grandparents were staying.

"Grandma! Grandma! Mom's awake!"

Grandma Lucille sat straight up, as she looked at us three as if it was Christmas morning. "What?" Emma pushed the phone to her face as she put it to her ear, "Hello?"

She listened to my dad talk for a moment and then her face changed, "Oh my God Troy, when?"

We all grinned and giggled as Emma ran down the hallway, I followed her as she went into where Grandma Maria was. "Grandma Maria!" she moved as Kyle was on the floor, he shifted too and they looked at us. "Our mom is awake," Emma said as she burst into a big smile, "She woke up and dad is with her,"

Grandma burst into tears as Kyle shook his head as Lucille brought the phone in, "Dad, Grandma Maria wants to hear mom's voice," I said as I put the phone on speaker, "Gabs, hey, your mom,"

"My mom?"

Grandma Maria gasped quietly as she put her hands over her mouth, "My baby,"

"We'll see you guys soon and tell Lo and Alli when they wake up."

"We'll see you soon,"

We hung up and we all looked at each other as we laughed and cried. We then gathered each of us into a big hug crying and laughing, as she was awake. Everything was falling back into place.

Troy's POV

Gabi had fallen back asleep after she did a bunch of testing and scans. I leaned forward as I watched her sleep; "I think you are quite possibly the best husband I have seen because normally after this, the husband pokes her making sure she wakes up,"

"I honestly want to," I said shaking my head, "I bet, she is doing well though. I think we are going to keep the feeding tube for now though,"

"She hates it," I said looking at him, "She isn't going to want to eat and we need to keep giving her nutrition. Only a couple more days,"

"How long are we looking for her to be in the hospital?"

"We'll probably keep her here until after her next chemo round. I'd rather keep her here where we can keep an eye on her and her immune system is shot. It'll be a while," I rubbed her hand gently as she woke up and looked at me, "Can she sit up?" I asked, "Yea, we can sit her up a little bit." Dr. Roads came over and sat her up gently, Gabi shifted, as I looked at her sit up a little bit.

"If we have a good day, I'll let you change your clothes tomorrow too."

Gabi let a soft smile cover her face as she closed her eyes, "Gabi, I want to talk about what happened a little bit, Troy informed me he filled you in a little bit,"

"Yea," Gabi said quietly, Dr. Roads pulled up a chair as he faced Gabi, "It was very severe, you were on life-support the day you walked in her, and you had a very high fever. We ran the normal tests and everything came back, all of your levels were out of whack. You had no immune system. We then did several other tests, your spinal tap came back positive for bacterial meningitis. At this point you had a seizure, you had intubated you and we started antibiotics." Gabi looked at me, "We had you stabilized and then we ran more tests, your organs began to fail. You had another seizure."

Gabi closed her eyes, "You had fluids in your brain, we went in and but a shunt in. At this point so much was happening and your body was giving up, all of your organs began to fail and we put you on life support. If we hadn't you wouldn't have made it through the night. I talked to Troy and we kept you on it because he wanted to give you time for your body to recuperate. Your levels stabilized and you didn't go into complete organ failure but damn you were heading there. We went through ten days of running tests and nothing changed until the 10th day," we had decided not to tell her about the days and everything of taking her off until she was much stronger than she was right now.

"You began to breath on your own again, your heart picked up pace and your lungs sounded very well. Everything began to look up and we had faith that you would wake up, three days later here we are. You fought a lot, your body is very weak, and we have got to take everything easy for a couple of days. We want to get you up pretty soon because you haven't walked in thirteen days and you are going to have to do physical therapy. You will probably have some issues for a couple of days but you have to remember where you came from. You fought like hell to be here and we are going to take it easy. Nothing much to let your body build back up, you are going to be in here for a while because I'm not ready to send you home, okay?"

She nodded her head as she closed her eyes, "Rest up, have your kiddos come see you because I know how scared they were," Gabi nodded her head as Dr. Roads left. I looked at Gabi, "You okay?"

"That was a lot,"

"It really hurt you,"

"There is more," she proclaimed looking at me, "Yea, there is, but can we wait a few days on that one? I'll tell you every little detail but right now, I want to celebrate you being awake and breathing on your own before we hash out the past thirteen days I lived."

"Okay,"

I lay down next to her as she closed her eyes; I wrapped my arms around her as she still had so many tubes. She still had so many machines. She still had so much to overcome but we did the hardest part I felt like. I pressed my face into hers as she slipped her hand through mine. "I love you,"

"I love you too," she said quietly, I kissed her temple again. I never wanted to let her go.

I looked at the parking lot as I was waiting for the kids, I knew they would be here at any moment, they would be storming into the hospital, moving as fast as possible. When I left Gabi she was tired. She didn't have much energy for much of anything. I alerted the kids that she might not be up for very much. She might talk a little bit but it hurt her to talk too much.

I knew she was going to have to grow all of her strength back. I saw my mom's car pull in as Liam and Emma bolted from the back. Wes was close behind as my mom helped the younger girls. The three oldest bolted for the doors as they race through the parking lot. Once they hit the doors they stopped at me, they bombed me in hugs as I laughed hugging them. "I can't wait to see her, she is okay right?"

"We have a really long road ahead of us but we are going to be okay."

They all grinned as we waited for the younger kids, "Can we finally see mommy?" Alli asked, "You keep saying soon,"

"You can finally see mommy," I said with a smile, "She will finally get to see you,"

"Good, I missed her."

I took a big breath thinking of how they would have reacted if we lost her but that thought was pushed very far away from my brain. We went up in the elevator as we talked quietly, Maria and my mom were both together as I was going to take the three oldest back first and then I would come get the younger two. I would take them to lunch to let the two grandmothers visit with Gabi and stay with her while I took the kids out.

"Alright, I'm going to come back for you two in a minute okay? We can only have so many people back there right now," Lo and Alli nodded, as Liam and Emma were about to jump through the door. Wes was just as eager as I let them back as we made it through and I opened Gabi's door. We all had to wash our hands and once they moved past the door I watched them.

Gabi turned her head and she smiled, "Mommy," Emma's voice broke the surface first as she went over and buried her head into Gabi's chest. Gabi wanted to lift her arms and wrap her in them but so many wires weighed her down and stuff she was hooked up to, Emma was just fine holding on to her though. Gabi whispered something to her as Liam stood by the door. Wes moved closer as Liam didn't move very far from the door.

Gabi opened one of her arms as Wes moved closer, he tried to stop his own tears but he couldn't. He pressed his face into her neck as she began to cry herself as they held each other, I felt choked up watching them. She talked to them both as they kept telling her how much they loved her and how happy they were that she was awake. Gabi looked over at Liam who seemed to scare to take another step forward. "Liam," she said, her voice weak.

Emma moved away from her bed as I glanced at Liam, he then shook his head before he left the room. I looked at Gabi as I smiled, "I'll be right back,"

Liam was right outside the room as his hands were caught in his hair, "I can't, I don't know what to say and she looks so sick,"

"She is really sick Liam, I told you she has a really long way to go in this journey but she is one step closer to coming home and living a normal life. She came out really well in this and you know that, what's really wrong?"

Liam shook his head, "That's what Rayne's mom looked like towards the end, so much tubes and wires, so much there and I can't stop thinking,"

I held on to his shoulders, "Hey, look at me," he did and I held his gaze for a moment, "Your mom is going to be just fine. She is going to have some bad days and is going to have a couple of set backs but she is alive and three days ago we didn't think we would ever hear her voice again."

He nodded, "If you don't want to go back in there you don't have too but your mom would love it."

He nodded his head again as I nodded, "Alright," I let go of him as we both went back into the room, Emma moved away again as Liam walked over, "Liam," Gabi's voice was a little stronger as Liam grabbed her hand as he fully broke down in front of her. Her face crumbled softly as she moved her arms as her mother's determination overtook her as she tried to wrap him tightly in her arms.

He held on to her as Emma and Wes backed away, I have personally never seen Liam so emotional before showing me how much he had kept inside. Showing me how hard he was taking the entire thing. I took a breath as he quieted as Gabi talked to him quietly. He kept saying some things and nodding as she released her arms, she smiled at him as she reached up touch his hair.

He rubbed his eyes as I walked forward, "You guys can come back tomorrow, there are more people who want to see her."

Gabi looked at me as I knew she was tired, "We'll keep the next one short okay?" she nodded as Liam followed me out as they told her they loved her once more. They hugged and said goodbye as I walked out into the lobby. I grabbed Lauren and Allison as I lead them back to the room; Gabi was overjoyed to see them as well.

We kept the visit short as I kissed her lips as she was falling asleep, "I'm going to take the kids to lunch, I'll be back in a little bit, your mom and my mom are waiting to see you, but rest, rest is more important."

She nodded her head, "I'll be back in a while,"

"I love you Troy,"

"I love you too baby,"

Gabi's POV

I was so exhausted. I got to see all five of my kids and my mom who I hadn't seen since I was diagnosed. Troy had returned but I had been asleep for most of the afternoon, too exhausted to do anything.

It had become dark and Troy had fallen asleep in the chair but woke up a while ago. He retrieved food for himself as I looked at him. He hadn't slept in a while. He still wasn't sleeping very well in that chair and he was looking thinner. He ate only half of his food as he looked up at me, "I should probably be heading home," he said, I felt a rush of emotion wash over me.

"Please don't leave," he looked at me as he stood up, "Hey, what's wrong?"

"Don't leave me please, I'm scared," I said, he sat down next to me, "What's wrong? What are you scared of?"

"I didn't breathe for ten days Troy, not on my own and I'm scared it's going to happen again, I don't want to be alone," my hands shook as he nodded, "Okay, okay," his hands slipped behind my head as he kissed my forehead, "I won't leave, I promise,"

"I don't want to be alone," he pressed his head against mine as he wrapped his arms around me, he settled against me as he kissed my temple. His hands stroked my side, I calmed down as we watched some stupid show on the TV. I pressed my face into his random t-shirt he had chosen, his fuzzy face against my baldhead; the cancer was a back thought in my head, I was still battling cancer.

My fingers wrapped around his t-shirt and I held on because I wasn't letting go of him. After a while, I heard him talking to somebody, "She freaked out when I tried to leave, it took me a while to calm her down, I'll get out of the way if something happens, I want you to save her."

The person replied as the lights were turned off, Troy grabbed a blanket and threw it over both of us. He was texting every now and then as he was probably communicating with his mom as I tried to think of what else he might need to tell me about what had happened but I knew I put him through the wringer. He hadn't shaved and he was starting to look homeless. I spotted a couple of grey hairs as he sighed.

I let my hand lay on his wrist as he kissed the back of my head.

Troy's POV

I had to pee, so badly.

I moved my leg as I slid off the bed carefully, untangling my arms from around her but she moved and turned her head in a panic, I got off the bed as she looked at me, "Hey, I'll be right back. I need to use the restroom,"

She took a deep breath as her eyes were troubled, I kissed her softly, "I'll be right back, and I'm just going to go down the hall." She nodded as I squeezed her hand and walked out, I was going to have to leave the hospital eventually and the way she was acting it was going to be like dropping a toddler off at daycare, just slipping out.

I used the restroom, washed my hands, and when I returned to the hallway. A few nurses sat at the nursing station as they were writing down in the charts. One stood up as she went to do a thing of vitals. I remember all those years ago, before Gabi got pregnant with Em that she wanted to be a nurse. She would be good at it.

I knew she would, it was a career for her that would have done wonders. She got her RN licenses eventually, not giving up on it but it took her until Emma was older. Once she got it, she never used it. Expired by now most likely but only a test from getting it back, I moved back to her room. I didn't know what to expect from somebody who just woke up from 13 days of the dead.

She was just really tired and I guess I expected that. She hurt more than I thought she would. I walked into the room as she had fallen back asleep. It was four in the morning as I reached for my car keys. It had been a full twenty-four hours since she had wakened.

I moved closer to her bed as I kissed her forehead, "I'll be back, I'm going to run home and grab some stuff okay?"

She shook her head, "Please, stay," she looked at me with her brown eyes, she was scared of something, "Brie, I need stuff from the house. Give me one hour, I'll be back by the next round of medications,"

She let her eyes stare into mine as we had a really long road to travel. "Can't your mom bring something?"

Every time she spoke she was becoming stronger, her voice more natural, not so raspy and worked. "Brie, I need a shower. I haven't showered in a couple of days and I left in a rush yesterday morning. One hour." I bargained, "I'll bring you back whatever you want."

She closed her eyes and she nodded, "Okay,"

"I don't want to leave you as much as you don't want me to leave. You have scared the hell out of me the past two weeks. I would love to stay right here,"

"I'm sorry,"

"Don't be sorry Brie, it's not your fault." She closed her eyes again as she was fighting off sleep. "Do you want anything?"

"Not really, just I want to wear one of your t-shirts with a pair of my sweats."

"Okay," I kissed the top of her head, "I'll be back in about an hour, please, don't panic if I take an extra ten minutes,"

"Okay,"

I squeezed her hand as I walked out, I told the nursing staff that I was leaving and would be back in about an hour. I walked out to my car, as it had been a hell of a week. I was so tired and I wanted to sleep in my bed for hours. I didn't have to worry about Gabi, as much she was awake. My exhaustion was through the roof and I was ready to shave my face. We had such a long road ahead of us I wasn't sure what to expect.

I drove the quite streets as I thought of all of the memories Gabi and I made. We were going to make so many more on the longest journey we could imagine. It sucked that she was going to be there until she could receive her next chemo, getting it in the hospital and then we would probably stay a week before getting to go home. We were looking at a solid month.

The kids would be returning to school.

I rubbed my jaw as I wish she could be home in two weeks but I wasn't getting any of my hopes up. She was supposed to receive chemo this week but her counts aren't there and her body isn't ready. I wasn't going to push any of it, I wanted her to become healthy, and I wanted her to be comfortable with me leaving. We obviously had plenty of things to talk about.

Yet, all of it could wait because she was breathing and talking. That's all that mattered to me.

Awh. SO I decided to update today because you guys are awesome and you guys deserved it because I have put you through shit with the past two chapters and I read a book today and it made me so angry because I have to buy the next one and there is more after and so thank the book because it gave you mercy. Lol. I hope you liked the chapter! It keeps going from there. I'm not sure if you will have an update Sunday.

So bare with me! I hope you liked it though! Thanks for being patient and you better love me for updating early! Haha! You guys are the best and literally your reviews Made me laugh. I loved them.

Please Review and tell me your emotions! Tell me everything! I love you guys!