A couple of hours had passed and Leela and Cameron were still having doubts so they hadn't signed anything yet. Peri said she should have the operation because it would just get bigger if she didn't so right now Leela and Cameron were discussing what to do; well Leela had broken down crying in Cameron's arms because she didn't know what to do.
"If she has the operation she could lose her memory, she might have all sorts of problems..." Leela broke off crying "What if..." she dissolved in tears as she thought about everything the Doctor had said.
"Babe, I know it's horrible, I would give anything to swap places with Peri, but I think we need to agree to this operation" Cameron told her causing her to look up "If she doesn't have it the tumour will just keep on growing, then it might not be able to be removed and Peri will have to live with the symptoms that come with the tumour forever and even if it doesn't grow it will still be there, giving her headaches, a constant reminder that someday it could grow and eventually..." he stopped as the next words he was about to say died in his throat as it was too painful to say out loud.
"So you think she should have the operation?" she questioned in a weak voice as her eyes watered.
Reaching out to dry her eyes he placed both his hands on her forearms "I do" he told her gently as he looked into her eyes seeing the pain behind them "I know you're scared, I'm scared too..."she cut him off "She's my little girl, I can't lose her Cameron"
"I know baby, I understand that, believe me I do, I only just found her" he said.
"I'm sorry" she sobbed.
"Hey, I'm not blaming you" he said as he pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair soothingly.
After a long moment Leela sniffed, trying to calm her tears as she pulled out of his embrace and stood up, holding her hand out for him which he quickly took with a gentle smile "Let's go and speak to Peri" she whispered.
Entering their daughter's cubical they saw her sat on the bed, as they walked in she turned away from them and wiped her damp eyes before turning back to them.
Leela walked over and wrapped her arms around her daughter in a tight embrace "I love you" she whispered.
"Love you too" Peri replied as she looked at her Dad over her Mum's shoulder.
Slowly pulling away from her daughter Leela sat in the chair and just looked at her daughter for a moment.
"So am I having the operation?" Peri asked, barely above a whisper.
Cameron walked over and took his daughter's hand in his before making sure she was 100% okay with having it.
"I'm scared, but I just want it gone" she told him.
"You do know there are risks?" Leela questioned her daughter.
"Yes, but the Doctor said it will grow eventually so whatever I do it's a risks, we just have to accept that there isn't a perfect answer, but removing it seems like the best option, the doctor seems to think so" Leela smiled weakly at her daughter; she was she level-headed and seemed so calm but she knew her daughter and knew she was terrified on the inside.
"Okay" Leela whispered just loud enough for everyone to hear as Cameron walked forward and took her hand, giving it a gently squeeze "I'll go speak to the Doctor" she told them before walking from the cubical.
Just than Peri got a text on her phone so she looked at it on the bedside table and saw Tom's name flash up; a huge smile appeared on her face before she grabbed her phone and eagerly read the message but her face quickly fell again once she had read it.
"Who's that?" Cameron asked from where he stood.
"Tom, he can't come after school" Peri told her Dad sadly.
"You can ring him later and speak to him" her Dad said trying to cheer her up.
"Yeah, I just wanted to see him" she told him with a frown.
"Hey" walking over to her, he took her hand in his "Ain't me and your Mum good enough for you?" he said with a gently smile on his face.
"Of course you are" she said, leaning over to hug him "I'm glad you're here"
"I know, I'm only teasing" he told her, kissing the side of her head "You love him" he said in a funny voice while pulling a face at his daughter.
"Dad" she groaned as she felt embarrassed which caused him to laugh.
Just then Leela walked in and smiled weakly at them "I spoke to the Doctor, he's going to come talk to you soon"
Peri's face fell slightly as she heard this and a tear slowly ran down her face.
Neither parent knew what to say to her to make it better so they just sat with her and tried their best to reassure her.
...
The Doctor had been in and explained that Peri couldn't eat or drink anything but water for the next 12 hours then she would have another MRI and if everything was good the operation would go ahead tomorrow evening.
Cameron sat on the end of the hospital bed while Leela sat in the chair as they both looked at Peri in concern; she had suddenly gone really quiet.
"What's up baby" her Mum questioned.
"What if after the operation Tom doesn't want me anymore? What if..." she trailed off as she sobbed lightly.
Cameron reached over and took her hand making her look up at him through teary eyes "What if you don't what to be my Mum and Dad anymore?" she asked weakly.
"Peri, we will always want to be your Mum and Dad" Leela told her making her turn her head in her Mum's direction "Why would you even think that?
"Because..." she paused "Just forget it" she whispered as she pulled her hand out of her Dad's and lowered her eyes as silent tears filled them.
Making his way over to his little girl he lifted her chin gently and made her look at him "Tell us what's bothering you, we won't be mad, we love you no matter what"
"When I was born..." she trailed off as her eyes drifted to her Mum and she took a sharp intake of breath before letting out a pained sob "You didn't want me then, what if I wake up and you don't want me anymore?" she broke down into tears as she pushed her Dad away from her trying to protect herself.
Leela looked at her daughter and her eyes filled with tears "Peri..." she gasped, standing up and trying to take her daughter's hands but she struggled "Peri, please, I've always wanted you, I wanted you when you were born, I want you now and I'll want you after all of this, nothing, NOTHING in this world will make me not want you" she promised her daughter with passion.
"Peri, you're our little girl, you and your Mum are the best things that have ever happened to me, you give me a reason to live" Cameron said.
"I didn't want to give you up Pez but I was only a child myself and I didn't get a chance to tell your Dad so I did what I thought was best for you, but I've always loved you as a mother, even at fourteen I was your mother. I wanted to be but Mum wouldn't let me so I had to pretend to be your sister" Leela told her daughter honestly for the first time "I want you forever Peri, I love you, I'm not going to leave you"
"What if I lose my memory or have problems? I know this operation is the best way but I'm so scared Mum"
"We'll deal with whatever happens together" her Mum promised "I know you're scared and I wish so much I could be in your place because seeing you like this kills me"
...
Visiting hours were up and Leela and Cameron were just about to head home when Peri broke into tears "Hey, we'll be back first thing tomorrow, I promise" Leela told her as she rushed to her daughter's side.
"Promise?" Peri asked as she threw her arms around her Mum "Promise, promise, promise" Leela said as she kissed her daughter's face.
Peri held her pinkie up and Leela quickly hooped hers around it before blowing a kiss on it making Peri smile as she and her 'sister' always did that when she was a kid; she remembers a time when she was 5 and Leela was 19 and she made Leela pinkie swear that she would buy her some sweeties
Flashback
Leela walked up to a 5-year-old Peri and looped their fingers together, quickly blowing a kiss on it before saying 'Promise' then she walked out of the front door leaving Peri staring after her 'big sister'
End of Flashback
Peri always liked spending time with Leela over Tegan, there was something about Leela; Peri definitely had Leela wrapped around her little finger growing up.