Thanks for the reviews as always. Sorry this has taken so long to update once again, this is a LONG, emotional rollercoaster of a chapter so be prepared and keep those reviews coming in please! :)

Chapter Twenty Five

Shannon sat alone in the kitchen looking through some old photo albums of Caitlin. She'd found the pictures just a couple of days ago after she'd finally emptied the last of her boxes. She should have sorted her shit out ages ago but what with all the goings on over the past few weeks she'd kind of put it to the back of her mind.

Jake's problems had taken a toll on everyone, Phil had heard from a friend of his back home that Jake had gone back to Seattle a few days ago and he was hitting the bar and club scene hard. Phil had wanted to go to Seattle to try and talk some sense into him but Josh had managed to change his mind and Shannon was glad. She liked having Phil around and so did Caitlin, he needed to be here with them for the time being, especially seeing as Caitlin's all important hospital visit was tomorrow. Just a couple of days ago, she and Josh had taken Caitlin back to the hospital for blood tests and scans, the results were now back and it was time for them to find out if their little girl was going to be okay or if the cancer had come back once again.

That's why instead of being in bed trying to sleep Shannon was sitting up looking at pictures of her daughter. Caitlin was so happy now, she talked constantly about what she wanted to do when she was older, how she wanted to go out on the boat with her dad and granddad and how she would just LOVE to be a bridesmaid at her parents wedding. She had so much to live for, so much to do but that could all be taken away from her tomorrow if the Clare told them that her cancer was back again.

They'd spent so much time worrying about Jake and wondering what they were going to do about him recently that thoughts of her daughters cancer coming back had managed to float to the back of her mind. Over the past few days though those thoughts had come back stronger than ever before, she kept looking at Caitlin trying to see if she looked sick, if she could notice any sign that it was back but to her she looked much better. If she was sick again surely there would be some sort of sign? Surely Caitlin wouldn't be running around without a care in the world as her daddy played soccer with her in the park? But then she wasn't a medical professional, she couldn't actually SEE the cancer, Caitlin could be feeling fine whilst the horrible fucking disease was beginning to build inside her once again and if it was, Shannon was powerless to fucking stop it.

She kept staring at one particular photograph in the album, the very first photograph that had been taken of Caitlin. It had been taken just a couple of hours after her birth, Shannon remembered taking it herself because no one was there to take a photograph of both of them together. She'd been in labour for almost twenty hours, she was tired physically and mentally but the night that she was born she got no sleep. As soon as the midwife placed Caitlin in her arms the love she had for her almost made her explode, she couldn't and wouldn't take her eyes off of her, she swore that she would do anything to protect her, she'd promised her that she would always be safe and she hadn't kept that promise, she could only look at the photographs in front of her and hope that the family albums wouldn't be coming to a premature end. She wanted to see Caitlin grow into a woman, she just prayed that she would get that chance.

Josh turned in his sleep, searching for Shannon's body which he'd somehow lost at some point during the night. His arms reached over to her side of the bed but she wasn't there, the fact that she was missing made him open his eyes and slowly sit up in bed. He looked across the room to their bathroom expecting to see a light on but no, the bathroom was empty. He was tired, really fucking tired, but he wouldn't be able to get back to sleep without her lying next to him so instead of lying back down he got up out of bed and pulled on some sweatpants and a shirt.

He tiptoed down the hallway to Caitlin's room and quietly opened the door. His daughter was fast asleep in her bed and Shannon was nowhere to be seen so she had to be downstairs, she would hardly jump into bed with Phil….he hoped not anyway, so he started to make his way downstairs.

When he reached the last step he noticed that the light was on in the kitchen, he should have realised that she wouldn't get any sleep tonight, he was amazed that he'd managed to drift off himself. Once he reached the door of the kitchen, he looked in and found Shannon sitting at the kitchen table engrossed in a photo album that was sat on the table.

He guessed that the photographs were of Caitlin, he hadn't seen them yet, he was planning on waiting until she had the all clear before he looked at them but seeing as Shannon was going through the albums now, he felt that it was right for him to join in.

'Hey baby, how long have you been up?' Josh's voice made the hairs on Shannon's neck stand up as she turned to see him walking towards her.

'A couple of hours, I watched you sleep for a while, then I thought I'd come down here and take a look at some of these old photographs,' Josh sat down next to her and wrapped one of his arms around her waist as he looked at the photo album that Shannon had open in front of her.

Staring back at him were pictures of his beautiful daughter as a new born baby, he felt so proud when he looked at them but at the same time he just felt so fucking sad. Sad because he would never get the chance to hold her in his arms as a baby, sad because these photographs might soon be the only thing he'd have left of his little girl.

'She was so small, look at her fingers,' Josh sighed as he found himself unable to look away from the images of his little one.

'She was six pounds eight ounces but Jesus when I was pushing her out it felt like she was ten times that weight!' Shannon laughed as Josh's eyes connected with hers.

'You had someone there with you didn't you? You didn't go through that alone?' Josh had never asked about their daughter's birth before, he probably should have but with everything that had gone on since he'd got here a lot of questions had slipped to the back of his mind.

'Mom was there, not that she was much help, she kept praying for me but she never held my hand or anything. The midwife, Sarah, she was amazing, she got me through it,' Shannon smiled as Josh leaned forward and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

'Mom left not long after she was born, she wasn't exactly a happy grandmother, she was ashamed more than anything else. When I was alone, holding her in my arms, I thought about calling you and telling you everything, I really did Joshua but I was still so fucking scared. I wish I had, I wish I could go back and change everything to give you more time with her…'

'Hey, hey don't talk like that baby, we have plenty of time left with her, plenty!' Josh began to stroke her back as he saw the tears beginning to pool in her eyes.

'How do you know that Josh? If the cancer is back, the chances are she won't make it, you and I both know that. We have to be realistic, a lot of kids don't get through this…'

'She's not just any kid Shannon, she's OUR kid! She's tough, she's strong, she's a fighter! Most kids wouldn't have got this far but look at her, she's been running around, playing soccer, laughing, joking, she's NOT sick, I know she's not!' Josh didn't know who he was trying to convince more, Shannon or himself.

'You don't know Josh! I really fucking wish you did, I really want to believe that everything will be okay but I'm scared, I'm so fucking scared!' Shannon buried her face in her hands and started to cry, she'd been so strong over the past couple of months but now she just needed him to hold her close and that's what he did.

Josh wrapped his arms around her and let her cry. He was close to tears himself but he managed to hold them back, one of them had to be strong right now. Of course he was absolutely fucking terrified about what might happen at the hospital, of course he was scared about losing the daughter that he loved more than life itself but until the doctor actually told them that the cancer was back he was going to believe that it wasn't. Caitlin had so much to live for, the thought of her being taken away just didn't make sense to him, she was so fucking innocent and good, children shouldn't have to suffer and die so young.

'I'm sorry,' Shannon whispered when she'd managed to calm down a little after a few minutes.

'You don't need to say sorry baby, I understand. Things will be okay, I know they will, our baby will be okay,' Josh whispered back to her as he continued to hold her in his arms. 'Come on, let's put this away and look at it tomorrow with Caitlin, you need to try and get some rest baby.'

Josh closed the photo album and pulled Shannon out of her chair, guiding her out of the cold kitchen and back up the stairs to their bedroom. Shannon followed him without saying a word, she felt like she was in some sort of a trance and only he could do that to her. She laid down in their bed first and crawled over to the other side so Josh could slide down next to her.

She all but buried herself in his arms as he wrapped them around her cold body in an attempt to warm her up.

'Just close your eyes baby, everything will be okay, I promise you that it will all be okay,' Josh whispered softly as he gently started to rock her in his arms.

Shannon closed her eyes as she let herself drown in the scent of him, if anyone could make her feel calm and relaxed it was him. The more time she spent with him the deeper she was falling under his spell just like she had as a teenager but this time she knew that they were going to make it work, to make it last. She soon found herself drifting off to sleep in his arms and Josh wasn't far behind her.

They remained locked together in each other's arms for the rest of the night until they were awoken by Caitlin running into their room.

'Come on get up! We're gonna be late!'

Shannon jolted awake when she heard her daughter's voice yelling from the foot of their bed.

'What time is it?' She asked as she turned to look at the clock alongside the bed.

'It's almost nine o clock, we've gotta be there at eleven!' Caitlin yelled again and Shannon could hear the panic in her voice.

'We'll be there on time honey, I'll jump in the shower and be down in fifteen minutes to make you some breakfast,' Shannon climbed out of bed and made her way towards her daughter to give her a hug.

'I'm really scared mom,' Caitlin said quietly as Shannon hugged her.

'Don't be scared baby, no matter what happens we'll be here for you. Your daddy, your granddad and me,' Shannon stroked her daughter's face as she tried her best to reassure her.

'If I'm sick again, will you and daddy make me a promise?' Caitlin looked over at Josh who was getting out of bed to join his girls in a hug.

'What promise do you want us to make baby?' Josh asked as he looked down at his daughter.

'I want you to get married…'

'Honey, we've talked about this before….' Shannon tried to interrupt but Caitlin wasn't going to stop.

'I'm not stupid mom! I know that I probably won't make it if the cancer is back again and I want to see you get married, I want to know that you'll be okay if something bad happens to me and I know that daddy will take care of you, I don't want you to be alone,' Caitlin began to cry and Shannon couldn't help but cry with her.

Josh stood back and watched as his girls hugged each other and cried, he choked back his own tears but he was unable to speak, if he opened his mouth right now he knew he would lose it completely and he had to try and be the strong one right now. Caitlin's words had made him realise exactly what he had to do no matter what the doctor had to tell them today.

When a few minutes had passed and his girls had stopped crying, Josh kneeled down in front of Caitlin and held her tears soaked cheeks in his hands.

'No matter what happens today baby, your mom is never, ever gonna be on her own again okay? She's got me, you've got me and I am not going anywhere, ever, you got that?' Josh said quietly and Caitlin nodded.

Shannon watched as Josh pulled his little girl into a hug and once again she started to fucking cry. She was hoping, no scratch that, she was PLEADING with any higher power that would listen for her daughter to be okay. If she had to be taken instead of her then she would lay down her life right now, nothing could happen to Caitlin, it just couldn't.

'Okay baby, your mom and I need to start getting ready or we will be late, I can smell pancakes downstairs, grandpa must be cooking your favourite for ya,' Josh smiled as a little smirk appeared on Caitlin's face.

'Grandpa makes the best pancakes ever!' Caitlin smiled as Shannon managed to get a hold of herself and cross her arms whilst looking at her daughter.

'I thought that I made the best pancakes ever?' Shannon pouted.

'Sorry mom, grandpa kinda beats yours but only by a little bit! You still make the best mac and cheese!' Caitlin smiled as Shannon leaned down to plant a kiss on her forehead.

'Well you go and fill that little stomach with as many pancakes as you can handle baby, your dad and I need to get ready or we will be late,' Shannon smiled before she too kneeled down to come face to face with Caitlin. 'You are such a brave, strong, special girl my darling, I am so proud of you and I love you so very much. No matter what happens today we are going to be there for you every step of the way.'

'I know mom, I love you,' Caitlin wrapped her arms around Shannon for one last time before Shannon sent her downstairs to have some breakfast.

It was coming up to nine thirty by the time Caitlin left the room and both she and Josh ran around like crazy to get themselves ready to leave the house by ten thirty. Josh was ready in twenty minutes, he was used to getting ready in record time, Shannon was a different story. By the time she'd done her thing, Josh, Phil and Caitlin were waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs as she came running down them and sat on the bottom step to put her boots on.

'Sorry, I went as fast as I could!' Shannon said breathlessly as she stood up and pulled on her jacket.

'We saved you some pancakes mom, you can have some when we get back, well, if we get back,' Caitlin said sadly and Shannon instantly took her hand.

'Whatever Clare tells us today, we are coming home tonight and having a meal here together, daddy might even sing High School Musical for you,' Shannon smiled as she tried to make her daughter feel better, she knew deep down that nothing other than the all clear would make her feel okay but she had to at least try and be positive.

'I'll make a deal, I sing High School Musical if you sing some Hannah Montana,' Josh smirked and Shannon nodded.

'You got a deal mister,' she smiled even though on the inside she felt like she was dying. She just wanted to get this over with, she needed to know what was going to happen to her beautiful girl.

'Right we'd better go or we'll be late,' Phil said as he began to edge them all out of the house.

He'd been a Captain of a crab boat facing life threatening conditions out on the Bering Sea for over thirty years but this day was the most terrifying, frightening and scary time he had ever been through in his entire fucking life. He'd grown so fucking close to his granddaughter, she was feisty, loud, funny, she reminded him SO much of Joshua as a child and he loved her with every single fibre of his being. He'd even grown close to Shannon once again, the woman that he was convinced he would hate for the rest of his days but ever since Jake had left she'd taken care of him, she'd been there for him even though he'd treated her like shit when he'd first got here. He loved both of them and he knew what losing Caitlin would do to her, it would tear him to pieces so he couldn't even imagine what kind of pain Shannon and Josh would feel, they would never get over it and he knew that each of their lives would fall apart and never be the same again. This day was the turning point in all their lives and he felt sick to his fucking stomach.

Shannon made sure that the house was locked up and secure whilst the other's made their way to the car. She took a moment alone to try and gather herself, she had to be strong from this point on, crying wouldn't help Caitlin at all, it would just make her worse and she needed a strong momma now, not a weak one.

Once she had taken a few deep breaths she followed the three of them to the car and got into the backseat alongside Caitlin who immediately reached for her hand and grasped it tightly. None of them spoke on the short journey to the hospital and the tension could be cut with a knife.

When they pulled up outside the hospital Caitlin's grip on Shannon's hand tightened all the more and Shannon planted a kiss on her head to try and calm her down a little.

'I can't go mom, I can't go in there again,' as soon as Shannon opened the car door Caitlin pulled her back and started to cry.

'Baby we have to go…..'

'NO! Daddy and granddad can go in, I can't I can't!' Caitlin started to cry so much that she began to hyperventilate and Shannon immediately began to rub her back and encourage her daughter to take deep breaths to try and help her.

Josh looked on and felt like a useless prick because he didn't know what to do.

'We've got five minutes till we're meant to be in there, maybe we should go in alone and leave you girls here?' Phil offered and Shannon turned to him and shook her head.

Caitlin wasn't in any fit state to get out of the car and if the test results were all clear there was no need for her to go back into the hospital again. As much as she wanted to be there when Clare gave the news, she couldn't leave Caitlin when she was like this, she just couldn't.

'You two go in, we'll be fine,' Shannon looked at Josh who briefly met her gaze and nodded before shutting his door as Phil did the same.

'It's okay baby, daddy and granddad are going in, we're staying here, just breathe baby, just breathe,' Shannon quietly whispered to Caitlin who started to calm down and settle herself.

She could only hope that Phil and Josh would come back with good news, if they didn't then she didn't know what the hell they were going to do.

'Jesus Christ how long is this fucking elevator gonna take!' Josh punched the elevator button in frustration as they waited for it to arrive on the ground floor.

'I know this is hard son but you need to calm down or you'll get us fucking kicked outta here before we've even seen the doc!' Phil said quietly as he patted Josh on the back.

Josh nodded and tried as hard as he could to remain calm and composed even though every inch of him was shaking. When the elevator finally arrived, he and Phil quickly made their way inside and pressed the button to shut the doors behind them, they didn't have time to fuck around. It was already a minute past eleven and for all they knew Clare could be calling them now.

As soon as they got to the third floor, Josh ran on ahead to the reception desk to give his name and no sooner had the receptionist taken down his details, Clare poked her head out of her room and smiled at him.

'Where are Caitlin and Shannon? They are coming today aren't they?' Clare asked as Josh walked over to shake her hand, Phil caught up just in time to do the same before Josh explained why Caitlin and Shannon were absent.

'Oh no! Is Caitlin alright? Do I need to go down to the car?' Clare asked in a panic and Josh shook his head.

'No she's fine, Shannon's managed to calm her down, she just didn't want to come back into this place,' Josh sighed as Clare opened the door to her room and ushered both he and Phil inside.

'Well I can't blame her for that, we were pretty tough on her,' Clare smiled and Josh just wanted to scream at her to tell him what was going on. 'Don't look so nervous Josh, can't you tell by the smile on my face what news I have for you today?' Clare beamed back at him and Josh's heart all but began to leap out of his chest with joy.

'You, you mean she's okay? She's clear? There's no cancer?' Josh said excitedly as Clare nodded happily.

'She is all clear and she is a perfectly healthy, normal eleven year old girl, it's gone Josh, she's beaten it, she did it,' Clare smiled as Josh just broke down in floods of tears, even Phil began to cry and he NEVER cried.

Josh had never felt so happy and overjoyed in his entire fucking life but his thoughts soon turned to his two girls downstairs waiting in the car for the news. He needed to get to them and tell them that everything was going to be okay, they were all going to be a happy family from now on and Caitlin didn't have to suffer any more.

'I'll bring the girls up here to see you, I think Caitlin will be okay to come in now that we know everything's fine,' Josh wiped his tears away and got up from his seat.

'Want me to come with you?' Phil offered but Josh shook his head.

'I'll be fine, you stay here, I won't be long,' Josh smiled before he left the room, leaving Phil to talk to Clare alone.

Josh ran all the way out of the hospital with such a huge fucking smile on his face, people probably thought that he was nuts but he didn't care, he didn't care one fucking bit.

'Mom?' Caitlin said quietly as Shannon held her in her arms.

'What is it baby?'

'You'll be alright won't you? If anything happens to me I mean,' Caitlin asked and Shannon felt the lump in her throat bulge again, how could she answer that question?

She was trying to put together something in her head which would put Caitlin's mind at ease when suddenly Caitlin's door flew open. Shannon immediately locked eyes with Josh and as soon as she did, she knew that there was no need to respond to Caitlin's question.

'You did it baby, it's gone!' Josh beamed at his daughter who sat open mouthed in silence as Shannon began to cry tears of joy instead of pain.

'I'm not sick anymore? I'll be here to see you get married and have brothers and sisters?' Caitlin asked and both Shannon and Josh burst out laughing.

Not only did she want them to marry but she was now talking about baby brothers and sisters as well? Damn this kid moved pretty quick!

'Yes baby, you're gonna be here for a long, long, long time to come!' Josh smiled back at her before he pulled her out of the car and picked her up, spinning her in his arms as she squealed happily.

Shannon quickly got out of the car and walked around to them with tears still dripping down her face. She had prayed and begged so hard for this moment to come but she knew that the credit for this day belonged to Caitlin and the brilliant doctors who had worked on her so brilliantly and tirelessly.

'Come on mama, come here!' Josh put Caitlin back down on her feet and picked up Shannon instead, causing her to shriek out loud enough for the whole of the hospital to hear, when he began to spin her around though she started to hit his back to get him to stop.

'I'm dizzy! Stop!' She giggled until Josh put her back down on her feet.

She immediately grabbed Caitlin in her arms and gave her the biggest hug she'd ever had in her entire life.

'I love you so much, this is a whole new start for us baby,' Shannon said as Caitlin pulled away from her.

'I might not be sick but I still want you guys to get married and have babies, I think you should do it soon, now that I'm better I can be your wedding planner mommy!' Caitlin clapped excitedly as Josh and Shannon shared a smile between them.

'Okay Vera Wang, when your dad and I do get married, and it might be a while yet, you can be my wedding planner BUT right now, I think we need to go into the hospital so you can see Clare and say thank you to her and all the other doctors and nurses that looked after you,' Shannon replied as Caitlin nodded.

'I made Clare a thank you card, I think she'll love it!' She smiled happily as Josh took Caitlin hand in his and grabbed Shannon's as they all began to walk into the hospital together.

They spent at least an hour in the hospital seeing Clare and saying goodbye to the other staff that had taken such good care of their precious little girl. When they'd finished saying their goodbyes, Josh came up with a brilliant plan which he knew would make Caitlin's day complete.

'Okay here's the plan, why don't you and dad head to Citrus City and get us a table there, Caitlin and I have got something that we need to do,' Josh said as the four of them got outside the hospital.

'Uh and how the hell are we meant to get to Citrus City if you take the car?' Phil replied, looking confused as Josh began to pull some bills out of his wallet.

'Take this, that's more than enough to cover the cab fare from here, just go and don't ask any more questions okay?' Josh replied as he handed the notes over to Phil who looked more than a little suspicious.

'Hmm well don't be long, you know how much I love the cocktails there, I might just have to work my way through the menu while I wait,' Shannon smiled, she had no idea what the fuck was going on but she had a feeling that her daughter and boyfriend were plotting again.

'We won't be long, I promise,' Josh smiled back at her before giving her a kiss.

Both she and Phil exchanged goodbyes with Caitlin and they both watched as they got into the car and drove off.

'Do you know what's going on?' Shannon asked Phil as he lit up a cigarette.

'I have no fucking idea but I do have my own news to share,' Phil smirked.

'Oh yeah and what news is that?' Shannon raised an eyebrow.

'I got myself a date with Clare, seems she likes older men who captain crab boats,' Phil smiled slyly as Shannon began to laugh.

'Oh Jesus, let's hope she doesn't like strap-on dildos like Rosa! Phil, you're a dog you know that right?' Shannon instinctively pulled him into a hug as both of them began to chuckle happily.

'Daddy, where are we going?' Caitlin asked excitedly as Josh drove along the streets to find the place he was looking for. He'd noticed it a while ago, it looked like a pretty decent, high end place and he wanted the best for her, only the best.

'Well, you said you wanted your mom and I to get married right?' Josh asked and Caitlin nodded excitedly. 'Before we can get married, we have to get engaged and I haven't got her a ring yet, that's where I need your help.'

'You're buying her a ring? Oh my Goddd!' Caitlin started to kick the dashboard excitedly and Josh had to try and calm her down as she started reeling off a list of things about a dress, cake, venue…she was definitely going to be a wedding planner when she was older, he'd never seen someone so excited in his life!

It was another ten minutes before Josh finally pulled up to the place that he'd been looking for, Teresa's Jewellers. Before he got out of the car, he thought he'd better tell Caitlin his whole plan before they went to look for the ring.

'Okay here's the deal, I need you to keep this a secret, you can't say one word about this, not even to grandpa,' Josh said as Caitlin looked confused.

'But I thought you were gonna propose today?' Josh shook his head, he knew where he wanted to do this and it wasn't in California. He wanted to go somewhere special to both of them and he knew where that place was.

'It's gonna be a few weeks before I do this, I want it to be really special for your mom and it won't be all that special if I do it here but you are gonna have to help me out okay? We're a team right?' Josh smiled and held up his hand to give her a high five.

'We're a team, the most awesome team ever!' Caitlin smiled before high fiving him and kissing his forehead. 'Let's go get the ring!'

Josh couldn't help but smile as his daughter jumped out of the car and waited for him on the sidewalk. He knew how much this meant to her and he couldn't wait to ask Shannon, the only woman he'd ever loved, to be his beautiful wife.

They both walked hand in hand into the store and they were greeted right away by a female sales assistant called Jane who started to show them their huge selection of engagement rings. There were so many to choose from and Josh really had no clue what to get her, he did know that she wouldn't want anything to elaborate or too expensive but as Jane showed him tray after tray of rings his head was in a complete fucking spin. If he couldn't pick an engagement ring how the fuck was he gonna cope with organizing a wedding?

'Daddy come here!' Josh turned to see Caitlin staring into one of the counters. He walked over to her and she immediately pointed at a platinum ring set with a medium sized ruby with two small diamonds either side. 'This is the one dad, she'll love it I know she will!'

He didn't even look at the price tag, he told Jane that he wanted that ring and Caitlin thankfully knew which size her mom took. When they got to the counter to pay it was only then that he discovered the price, $1500. To him it wasn't all that much, he'd been expecting to pay a lot more but if Caitlin was sure that her mom would love it that was good enough for him.

Now all he had to do was sit down and talk to Shannon about their future. He liked California but it wasn't home to him and he didn't think that Shannon really thought of it as her home either. Tonight he was going to ask her whether she wanted to move back to Seattle, his house had been on the market for a couple of months but he hadn't managed to sell it yet so he still had a home there, a home that he wanted his girls to move into.

The whole day was fantastic, Shannon didn't seem suspicious when they arrived at the restaurant with Caitlin's new clothes, the fact that she'd had a few cocktails before they got there seemed to prevent her from asking too many awkward questions about where they'd been.

After lunch they'd gone back to the house and as promised, Josh sung along to High School fucking Musical whilst Shannon did her best Hannah Montana impression which Josh had filmed to embarrass her with for the rest of her life.

By the time it reached eight o clock, Caitlin was fast asleep on the couch. She hadn't had much sleep the night before so it was no surprise that she'd fallen asleep so early and so quickly. Josh carried her upstairs and placed her in her bed before heading back down to the lounge where Shannon was sat on her own. His dad was upstairs on the laptop checking out emails and sorting out some business back home so it was the perfect time for him to talk to her about leaving California for good.

'I need to talk to you,' Josh sighed as he sat down on the couch next to Shannon who turned to look at him.

'Hmm that sounds ominous!' She smiled as she took one of his hands in hers.

'Well, now that Caitlin has the all clear I was thinking that maybe it was time for us all to make a fresh start, a new start,' Josh started to explain as Shannon sat up.

'Go on,' she replied, she thought she knew where this was heading at least she hoped she knew where this was heading.

'I don't think that you've ever been happy here Shannon, I know that you didn't want to leave Seattle, you left because you felt like you didn't have a choice well now you do have a choice, we have a choice,' Josh looked at her and Shannon smiled at him softly. 'I want us to go home, I want us to go back to Seattle to start a life together, I love you so much and I want you to know that it's okay if you want to stay here, I mean I'll stay….'

'Joshua sshh baby, I want to go back and I already know that Caitlin would love to move there, she wants to be close to her granddad and the boat,' Shannon smiled as she leaned in to plant a kiss on his thick red lips. 'A new start, a new home, a new life, it's exactly what we all need, I love you so much.'

Josh hadn't been expecting the conversation to be over so quickly but he wasn't complaining, not when Shannon pressed her lips against his and they began to make out like a couple of horny teenagers desperate to tear each other's clothes off.

This had been the best day of his life and he knew that he had so many more to come, so many more.