Hey guys, sorry its been so long! School has been hectic, but i really wanted to update before heres the next chapter xxx . . . I know a lot of people will not bother to read this, but here are some shocking facts.

Cystic Fibrosis:

1)About 1 in 2,500 babies in the UK are born with cystic fibrosis. Over 9,000 people currently have cystic fibrosis in the UK.
2)1 in 4 chance that the child will have cystic fibrosis
3)Cystic fibrosis is a lifelong condition. With improved treatment there has been a dramatic increase in the survival of people with cystic fibrosis over a period of 20 years or so.
4)Today, many people with cystic fibrosis are living into their late 30s and beyond. With optimal care and treatment, it is estimated that about 8 in 10 of today's children with cystic fibrosis should live into their mid 40s or 50s.
5)One person dies from cystic fibrosis in Canada each week.
6)Currently, there is no cure for Cystic Fibrosis, but researchers are working on it. So hopefully one day there will be.
7)Lung transplantation has been available to people with cystic fibrosis for almost 30 years. Techniques have changed as surgeons have become more technically skilled; today the most common operation carried out is called a double lung transplant.
8)Translates seem to be the most effective way to treat CF at the moment.

Organ Donation

1) Nine thousand people in the UK need an organ transplant but unfortunately, only 3,000 people a year receive one.
2) One thousand die waiting.
3)96% of people believe that organ donation is the right thing to do, only 4% don't. But only 30% of people actually join the list, meaning 70% haven't.
4) Over 117,000 people are currently waiting for an organ transplant. Every 10 minutes, a new person is added to the organ transplant waiting list.
5)On average, 18 people die every day because they did not receive a needed organ donation.
6)You can impact up to 50 lives by being an organ & tissue donor.

So many people people need a transplant to stay alive, but there are so little donators that not everyone has to chance at having one. I know not everyone likes the idea of organ donation, its a scary process, so I'm not telling you to go out right this second and sign up. I've given you some facts and you can do what you want with them. But just pray for those people who are relying on kind hearted people to help save their lives. Keep them in your hearts. If anyone has any questions relating to CF or organ donation, then don't be afraid to PM me.

Claire's POV

Aria passed away at 3:30am that morning.

Michael, Eve, Shane and I had agreed that by 1:00am, it was time for us to go home. I was reluctant to leave because deep down I knew it would be the last time I saw her. But it would have been selfish if I had stayed, she needed to be with her family. Her family needed to be with her. By the time we left the small girls condition had gotten worse. The oxygen pumped into her was at the highest level, she had been moved to half hourly obs and all she wanted to do was sleep.

But she stayed awake. For us.

But no matter how hard things had gotten, I still didn't cry. It was almost as if I couldn't cry. To cry seemed like I had given up hope on her, even though I knew in my heart that all hope had gone.

I had slept in Shane's bed that night, wrapped in his comforting arms. When I say 'slept', I don't mean literally. I don't think anyone in the Glass House really slept that night. I hadn't move when I heard the phone in the passage way go, because there didn't seem like any point in answering it. I knew who it was, and I knew what they would say. I didn't want to hear anyone say. If I heard those words, it would make it true and i wasn't ready to face that yet.

I think it was Eve who had answered the phone. I could hear her soft voice outside Shane's door, which was closest to the upstairs phone. I was aware of the fact that Shane had kissed my forehead, knowing that there was nothing he could say to make how I was feeling any better. That night, mixed in with my usual symptoms of fatigue, nausea and irritability really did not make me feel very well, and I didn't move because I new that if I did the evening would not get any better.

There had been a gentle knock on the door before it had slowly opened to show Eve and Michael hand in hand, both stood there with wet eyes.

"Claire sweetie?" Eve had asked softly to see if I was awake. Had she really thought I would be able to sleep? To answer her I just groaned. I attempted to sit up, thinking that I should at least make the effort to face her while she tried to tell me the bad news. Of course I couldn't sit up, so Shane had to help me.

"Claire, there is no easy way to say this but - "

"Don't." I whispered, cutting my best friend off. "I know what you are going to say, just please don't say it out loud." I sounded like I was begging, but I didn't care.

To that comment Eve just started to cry silently. Now there's someone who can't control their emotions, I thought to myself.

"Claire, I'm so sorry." Michael said to me as he wrapped his arm around his wife's waist.

"Please just leave." I told him, my voice not sounding like mine at all. "I can't deal with your pity right now."

Even I could hear the harshness in my voice, but I couldn't help it. I didn't feel like myself at that moment in time. I had felt Shane stiffen next to me, obviously shocked, but when Michael had looked at him, my finacee had simply nodded, letting him know that he should do what I say.

After Michael had steered Eve out of Shane's room, there was complete silence. Neither Shane nor I know what to say to each other. But finally Shane asked, "What can I do Claire? What can I say?"

I had shook my head and replied. "I don't know. But can you help me to the bathroom? I really don't feel well."

I received a kiss on the cheek before we both slowing walked out of the room.

I had thought to myself, This is the worst night of my life.

I figured out later that it really wasn't.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Shane's POV

All of us took the news of Aria's death badly, but obviously Claire took it the worst. The morning that we had gotten the phone call Claire did not act like herself at all. I expected her to cry, or even try and comfort the rest of us, but I never expected her to act so nasty. Maybe it is her illness causing her to change, but surely it wouldn't make her change that much. Not at the level it was at.

However the next morning Claire did apoligise to us all.

"Eve, I'm sorry for making you cry." She had said as she entered the kitchen the next morning. "Michael, I'm sorry for being so mean. And Shane," She had turned to me. "I'm sorry for being so blunt and ignoring you."

I didn't really take in what she had said at first, because all I could concentrate on was how bad she looked. Not trying to sound mean or anything, but there were bags under her eyes, she was leaning against the counter for support, and she was so thin that the new clothes Eve had bought her about three weeks ago were to big already.

I had walked forward to her and taken her hand, noticing that it felt very frail. "It's okay CB." I told her. "You were in shock, we all act differently when it comes to -"

"- Please don't say it." She interrupted. Instead of arguing, I had just nodded.

We had all gone into the front room after that and just talked for a bit. Claire wound't talk about Aria being dead, but she had agreed to talk about the funeral. That had been Sunday.

Today is Wednesday, and I am currently sat in a Church, waiting for Claire to return.

To tell you the truth, I hadn't been looking forward to today. The last funeral I went to like this was my family's, and I hated to be reminded of it.

Michael and I were wearing black and whites suits while the girls wore black dresses. Eve had added a black veil for extra affect.

I was genuinely surprised when I saw how many people had turned up to the funeral because Aria had made it sound like she didn't know very many people, which seemed to differ to what I was seeing at this very moment in time. Or maybe a lot of people knew Aria. I thought silently.

I looked at my watch, then at the church door. The service was going to start in a minute, what was taking the girls so long?

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Eve's POV

When we all arrived at the church and found our seats in a row near the front, Claire had quickly excused herself, leaving the beautiful building without an explanation. I had looked at the boys, who wore the exact same expressions. Before Shane could follow her I said, "Don't worry, I'll go." He didn't protest.

I felt sorry for Shane. He loved Claire, but he had told me earlier in the week that he had no idea how to comfort her, because he didn't know what she wanted anymore.

"Sometimes comfort doesn't come in the form of words." I had told him. "Sometimes comfort is just standing close to the person you love, and knowing that they will catch you when you fall."

Yep, even I didn't realise I could sound so wise.

As it turned out, Claire hadn't gone very far, only to the bottom of the church steps. She sat there like a porcelain doll, staring at the lake to our left in the church garden. Preparing myself mentally I took a deep breath and walked down the steps, sitting next to my best friend.

"You know," I began, noticing briefly that Claire jumped slightly when she heard my voice. "its okay to be upset. She was our friend Claire. Not many people take the news of losing someone like that very well." I placed my pale hand on her even paler arm. It was actually a nice day for a change, so we were able to wear short sleeved dresses. "You don't have to pretend you're okay anymore CB."

Claire looked at me then, her eyes tired and sad, but there was no sign of any tears. "I am upset Eve, I just don't think crying about it will do any good." She sighed and allowed me to take her hand in mine. "I'm sorry if I've been a crap best friend lately. I really don't deserve you."

I shock my head, making sure to emphasis every word clearly. "You are a great best friend sweetie. But you've been through a lot, I mean you are still going through a lot." I moved slightly so that she was looking at me properly. "We worry about you Claire, especially when disappear like that. Care to explain?"

"I try so hard not to worry you guys." She mumbled under her breath. She pulled her hand away from mine and began to fiddle with her fingers, looking down so she didn't have to face me. "I guess being in the church just made it all real, you know? And I wasn't feeling very well this morning either, so I think it all just got on top of me. I needed some air, but I'm fine now so I guess we can go back in -" As she spoke Claire stood up slowly, carefully turning around so she could make her way back to the boys.

Before she could get anywhere I pulled her back down gently. She didn't have the energy to fight it.

"Look at me." I instructed firmly. When she did I continued, "You haven't been 'feeling well' for a while now Claire. Is it different to what you normally feel like?"

My best friend just shrugged. "I dunno, I guess I have just been feeling a lot more tired and drowsy lately. The nausea has gotten worse, but I think that's just because I have had so many damn dose of radioactive stuff."

I thought for a minute. I remember thinking only yesterday that Claire had started to look worse. The amount of weight she had lost couldn't of been healthy either.

"Look CB, do you think we should call the hospital? Its just-"

"No." My friend interrupted, her eyes startled and panicked. "Please don't do that. I have an appointment in two days anyway."

"Okay." I replied quickly so I didn't upset her. "I won't call the hospital."

"I'm sure everything's fine." She told me, but her face suggested she thought differently. I didn't reply, because I knew nothing I could say would make this all better. I was worried about Claire, more worried than I liked to let on. Something just didn't feel right. In my heart, there was an empty space, and it was almost as if I didn't know how to fill it.

So instead of saying anything, I just leaned in and hugged her. I expected her to tense, but she actually hugged me properly, her thin arms wrapped around my waist. I couldn't remember the last time Claire and I had hugged like this.

"Stop holding it in." I whispered. "Nobody is going to hate you just because you need to cry."

"Thanks Eve." She replied. She pulled out of my embrace and looked at me before adding, "But crying makes me look weak, which I am definitely not." With that, she stood up and slowly made her way back up the steps.

I sighed inwardly. Maybe I should call the Doctor I thought to myself. But what could I say that he doesn't already know?

Figuring that maybe the best idea is to talk to Michael, I stood up and followed Claire into the church. I knew that this day wasn't going to get any better.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Claire's POV

I wish I could just snap out of this depressing state I'm in. I would never tell my friends, but I am so worried about Friday. I know that its not doing me any good to think about it, but what if the treatment hasn't work? What will I do then?

I forced myself to concentrate on what was happening right now, not that I wanted to. The funeral was traditional, but apparently Aria had chosen the songs and readings herself.

I didn't really listen to a lot of what the priest was saying, I wasn't really aware of what was going on. Shane sat to my left and he held my hand. He was looking straight ahead at the coffin that was placed in the isle in front of us. Being here must be bringing bad some awful memories for him.

To my right sat Michael with his arm wrapped around his wife's shoulder who was crying silently, her head resting on his chest. Across from us was were Chace, Aria's father, and a few other people I didn't know. I would have thought that they were the rest of Aria's family.

I tuned back in on what the priest was saying, trying not to get distracted.

"- was a girl who acted older that her age, who had gotten life completely figured out. She did so many amazing things in her short life including a yearly charity event which raised money to go towards the Cystic Fibrosis research fund." The priest looked around the congregation, smiling warmly at everyone. "She was a very special girl who did not deserve the horrible fate she received, but God puts everyone in a situation for a reason. It is clear to me that Aria was very motivated and the exact right person to spread awareness of this disease and do all she could to help find a cure. Now, her big brother, Chace, has asked to come up and say a few words to you all . . ."

My head snapped to Chace, who nodded to himself before standing up and, with his head bowed, making his way to the podium. Once there he addressed us all. "Thank you for all coming. I know Ari would have been pleased to see how many of you are here." He cleared his throat before continuing. "Um, I don't really have a lot to say, but after my sister d - after my sister passed away, I found this letter in my room. It just had a message for me on it, and also a poem that she wished to be read out today." Chace laughed dryly to himself. "So I'm gonna try and so my best to read it to you."

He took a folded up piece of paper out of his trouser pocket and began to read it gently.

"If tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see if the sun should rise and you find your eyes fill with tears for me.
I wish so much you wouldn't cry the way you did today, while thinking of the many things we didn't get to say.
I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, and each time that you think of me I know you'll miss me too."

When you think about it, surely death is worst for the people that get left behind. I know, it sounds selfish, but maybe its the truth. Look at Shane, his whole family is dead, and he's been left behind knowing that he is never going to see them again for the rest of his life. That must kill him. Without thinking I gently squeezed his hand. He turned to me and smiled, though I could see it was strained.

"But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand.
He said my place was ready in heaven far above, and that I'd have to leave behind all those I dearly loved.
But as I turned to walk away a tear fell from my eye, for all my life I always thought I didn't want to die.
I had so much to live for, so much left to do, it seemed almost impossible that I was leaving you."

I had told Aria that she was my angel, and I still believed that she was. When my grandmother died, for the first year I would look out the window every night for the same star that I had named as her's. And every time the stars came out, that one star used to look like it was shinning so much brighter than the rest. But after a while, I began to be able to cope with her death slightly better, and at that point I slowly stopped seeing her star until I never saw it again. It upset me, but I kept telling myself that it wasn't her leaving me, it was her letting me know that I was ready to move on by myself and that I know longer needed her help. All psychological I know, but it helped me to cope. Not many people that I know believe in angels, but I do. Without my angels, I'm certain I would never be able to get through some of the things that happen in my life, and right now I need my angels more than ever. Now I have one more.

I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all love we shared and all the fun we had.
If I could relive yesterday just even for a while, I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe make you smile.
But then I fully realised that this could never be, for emptiness and memories would take the place of me.

When I walked through heaven gates I felt so much at home, God looked down and smiled from his golden throne.
He said "This is eternity and all I've promised you, today your life on earth has passed but here life starts anew.
I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day here is the same, there's no longing for the past."

So when tomorrow starts without me don't think we're far apart.
For every time you think of me, I'm right here in your heart."

I look around the church and almost everyone was in tears. The poem, even though I knew that it wasn't, sounded so much like Aria had just written it herself. It was so grown up, so heart warming. I would never forget the words. I would never forget her.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

After the service we all drove down to the cemetery and regrouped around an open grave. I saw the funeral car drive through the gates, though to me it looked like it was happening in slow motion. Even though it was a warm day, there was still a gentle breeze in the air. I'm certain it was the only thing keeping me from falling asleep.

The whole event went by in a daze, and as it dragged on I found it harder and harder to concentrate. My eyes kept drifting to other headstone, thinking about how many people must come to the cemetery to visit loved ones that have passed away. The idea of so much death and sorrow in the world made me feel very sad.

"Claire," The gentle voice of my finacee said from next to me. "Do you want to go and throw a handful of soil into the grave?"

"Oh um," I snapped my concentration back to what was happening, and surely enough people were lining up and one by one dropping small amounts of soil into the grave. It was a tradition, according to Michael who was now currently stood under a tree close by in more shaded part of the cemetery. "Sure, why not." I stood behind Shane and waited as I got closer and closer to the graveside. Soon enough it was Shane's turn, and once he had bowed his head in a silent prayer and dropped the dirt in, he stood to the side, allowing me space to step forward and do the same.

The feeling inside of me changed. I know longer felt angry or mad, and although there was no doubt that these feelings were still inside of me, the emotion that had suddenly overridden them all was sorrow. Heart wrenching sadness.

I forced myself to look down at what was in front of me, but I wish I hadn't. Deep down in the ground was a light chestnut coloured box with all kinds of flowers placed on top. I gasped as I realised that down there. In that beautiful casket was my friend, my sweet dead friend.

What happened next was what I had been trying to avoid happening. The soil that I had picked up fell out of my hands and I stepped quickly bad from the hole, not wanting to look inside anymore.

And I cried.

I cried so hard, that consolable crying that once it has started you feel like it is never going to stop. I couldn't even hide my face in my hands because of the left over dirt that still remained on them. I couldn't even breathe, I just kept sobbing, praying that this wasn't happening. I felt as if a truck had just hit me as the realisation of what was happening settled in. Why was this happening? Did if have to? Why to someone I loved, why Aria?

"Its okay Claire." I heard Shane say as he suddenly appeared at my side, pulling me further away from the grave and shielding me in his arms. I grabbed onto his shirt, holding on desperately, scared that he was going to leave me too. "Its all going to be alright Claire."

"No its not!" I sobbed into his shoulder. "She's dead Shane, how is it going to ever be okay?"

There, I'd said it. I said the phrase that I had been dreading to say every since that awful night. I had made it come true, it was really happening and I couldn't pretend anymore. This made me cry even harder. Shane rocked me gently, stroking my hair in a comforting rhythm.

"You need to cry Claire. Just let it out."

And trust me, I did.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Shane's POV

We left the cemetery not long after Claire had broken down in tears. As hard as it was for me to watch her like that, I knew that she needed to cry. She had been holding it in for too long, and I know that it was her way of trying to pretend like it wasn't happening. She needed to realise that unless she faced the facts, she was never going to move on.

We were currently driving home, Michael and Eve in the front, Claire and I in the back. I let my fiancee lean into me. She was completely worn out, today had taken so much energy out of her. I would probably help her straight up to bed when we get back to the Glass house.

"Today has been awful." Eve summarized front the passenger seat. It was the first time any of us had spoken since getting in the car.

"I know babe, but I very proud of you." Michael replied, taking his eyes off the road for a second to smile encouragingly at his dark haired wife. Eve didn't reply, just shook her head like she didn't quite agree.

"Its been hard on all of us." I said quietly, trying not to disturb Claire, who lay silently with her eyes closed. Something told me that she could hear us. "But its over now, and we have to move on. Aria would not want us to be sad." Nobody said anything after that, but I knew they all agreed. It was the truth.

"Alright, lets get inside." Michael instructed as he pulled up the car. "You okay to walk CB."

"Hmm." Claire mumbled. "I guess."

"Don't worry, I'll help you." I whispered, knowing that she hated asking for help.

Once inside I led my exhausted girlfriend into the front room, settling her down on one of the sofas while I went to get us both a drink and Claire her medicine. When returning from the kitchen I saw the small girl leaning forward with her head in her hands.

"You okay babe?" I asked as I reached her. Bending in front of her I removed her hands from her face, making her look at me.

"Yeah, I'm fine just a headache." She replied, trying to smile weakly.

"Here, take these." I told her, handing her some tablets and a drink of water. "This may help."

"Thanks Shane. For everything."

"No problem. You're my girl and its my duty to look after you." I said in a cheery voice as I sat next to her, allowing her to resume her position of her head on my chest."

"My hero." She whispered as she slowly fell into a light sleep. It was only 5 o'clock, so I turned the TV on. Soon Eve and Michael joined us in to living room and we all sat together.

After a couple of hours, Claire still hadn't woken up. I was getting hungry, and I knew I should try and get Claire to eat something too. Genlty I moved her, hearing her mumble to herself as she began to wake up.

"Shane?"

"Sorry sweetheart." I apologized. "But its 7 o'clock. Do you think you could eat something?"

"I'm not sure -"

"For me?" I fluttered my eye lids in a girly manner. She could never resist the charm.

"Alright." She gave in. I kissed her before standing up. Once I had seen that she had done the same I began to make my way to the kitchen where Michael and Eve were, but stopped.

I turned around to see the Claire was stood rooted to the spot in the middle of the room. She looked completely out of it.

"Claire?"

"Shane I . . . " She never got to finish. A she trail of she collapsed to the floor, her body turning limp like a rag doll.

"Claire!" I yelled, running back to her. I fell into the full next to her, shaking her shoulder gently. "Claire answer me!"

"What going on." Eve asked as she rushed in. When she say what was happening she gasped and shouted "Michael call on ambulance!" Eve came and sat next to me putting her hand on my shoulder. It didn't even bother to shrug it off like I normally would. All my concentration was on Claire's unconscious body.

"Come on Claire." I whispered frantically. "Please be okay, please please please please."

A tear fell from my eye and landed on my love's cheek. I prayer for a miracle, but I knew this wasn't a fairy tale. Claire wasn't going to wake up because of a tear drop. She wasn't going to magically get better because I kissed her.

Suddenly everything got a lot more real. . .