I sometimes write stories influenced by what mood I'm in, and this one came after a very emotional time back in September when it seemed like bad news was the only thing I was ever going to hear. Writing this was my way of coping with everything.

It's not all dark or bad or sad. There are light moments, romantic moments, and funny moments. I will put a trigger warning in place for topics that come up (i.e. minor violence, mentions of assault, etc.). I don't get too graphic, but I want to be safe and say they might be triggering.

I do research to help in areas, but I'm no doctor, so blame Google if it's wrong. I was also inspired by Parenthood.

I hope you enjoy this story (when it's not sad or dark). It's dedicated to my uncle, who is battling a very rare, advanced cancer with optimism that is so inspiring to me and is what I hold on to when I feel all hope is lost.

Thanks for reading :)

Prologue

1993

"Briar! Wait up!"

Briar Charlton stopped walking and tilted her head back, sighing hard. Her little sister, Emily, raced to catch her.

"What?" she asked roughly.

"Mum said you had to take me," Emily said, out of breath as she stopped beside her sister.

"No, she didn't."

"She did!"

"You're lying."

"I am not! Muuuuuum!"

Briar turned to see Hannah Charlton stick her head out the main floor window.

"Take your sister!" she hollered at them.

"Told you," Emily smirked. Briar glared at her sister. She did not want to take her stupid younger sister with her to hang out with her friends. Dale was going to be there, and she wanted to sneak off with him and have some alone time.

"Don't talk to my friends," Briar warned. "And don't ask me to come home after thirty minutes because I'm not leaving until I'm ready to leave."

"Okay," Emily agreed. They started walking side by side, arms brushing every now and then. Emily felt thrilled to be included. She idolized her older sister. At 14, Briar was drifting away from her. She wasn't interested in spending time with Emily anymore, and it made Emily feel really sad.

"Hey," a boy said as they approached a gang of other teenagers hanging around the park bench.

"Hi," Briar said back, blushing. Emily frowned. Who was this boy? She didn't like him. He gave her a bad vibe.

"Aw, man. You brought her?" another asked.

"Mum made me," Briar sighed. She abandoned Emily to go mingle, and Emily was left standing there feeling out of place and very self-conscious. She hugged herself.

"What is she, seven?" one asked.

"I'm ten and three quarters," Emily said defiantly, jutting her chin out.

"Oohh, spicy," a different boy laughed. Emily looked for her sister, but Briar was gone. Emily felt scared suddenly. She didn't like the way one of the boys was looking at her.

She went to find her sister. She walked off in the direction she'd last seen Briar and went until she heard voices. She recognized her sister's voice, and she stopped and hid. There was giggling at first followed by sounds Emily wasn't familiar with. Then Briar was protesting.

"No," she was saying. "No, I'm not ready."

"Oh, come on," the boy was saying. "You can't tease me and then take it back."

"I'm not ready," Briar insisted.

"Well, I am, so we're doing this."

"No...Dale!"

Emily went taut and strained to hear, but she couldn't hear anything else except for scuffling. Then there was the sound of a hand hitting skin, the echo of a hearty slap resounding in the air afterwards. Briar appeared suddenly, and she spotted Emily and grabbed her hand.

"Come on," she ordered. "We're leaving." Emily didn't argue. They half walked, half ran away from the group. Emily wanted to ask Briar if she was okay, but she was afraid to. Instead, she got a better idea. It was something their grandfather always did with them when they were feeling sad or scared.

"Orange soda?" Emily asked. Briar looked at her, and a smile went across her lips.

"Sure," she agreed. "I think we could both use one after that."

"What happened?"

"Just a boy who thought he could take what he wanted," Briar replied. "Don't ever let a boy take what they want from you, Em."

"I won't," Emily promised. They walked into the small coffee type shop, and Briar ordered two orange sodas. They went to sit at a booth, and Emily sucked down her drink eagerly. Briar sipped hers. Emily looked around and noticed a young man with light brown hair sitting near the back in a black leather coat, a duffel bag by his feet. He was probably 19, or maybe 20, she guessed. When his eyes met hers and he smiled, she felt herself blush. She looked away, focusing on her sister again instead. Briar was looking out the window when it happened. A man burst through the door with a gun.

"Nobody move!" he shouted. The other patrons shrieked and yelled. "Get on the ground now!"

"Briar?" Emily asked in a whimper. Briar moved quickly, grabbing Emily's hand and pulling her down under the table.

"Just be quiet and still," she instructed. "It'll be all right, Em."

Emily wasn't so sure. She watched the thief demand all the cash from the register. When it was bagged, he turned and spotted her and Briar.

"Well, well," he said with a smile that set Emily on edge. "Aren't you two cute." Briar's hand tightened on Emily's, and Emily wondered what was going to happen next. Then, out of nowhere, the young man from the back attacked from behind. He had the gun out of the thief's hand in seconds. Emily screamed when the thief pulled out a knife and connected the blade to the young man's left arm. This did not seem to affect the young man at all as he twisted the thief's arm right around, making him drop the knife and howl in pain. In moments, he was face first on the floor with his arms getting tied behind him with the towel someone had thrown at the young man. Sirens could be heard in the distance now.

"You're a lifesaver, Taylor," the owner was saying to the young man. "Thank God you were here."

"Anytime, Roy," Taylor replied. Emily was on her feet now, going towards him. His arm was bleeding rather profusely. She noticed he had removed his coat for the fight. She pulled off her sweater and handed it to him.

"You have to stop the bleeding," she said importantly. "Use this to make a tourniquet."

"Thank you," Taylor said, taking it from her. "But are you sure? It's a nice sweater."

"You saved us, so yes. I insist," Emily added. Briar was standing next to her now. They both watched Taylor wrap his arm tightly and expertly.

"You girls all right?" he asked afterwards.

"Yes," Briar whispered.

"Thank you," Emily added. She suddenly realized that Taylor was wearing an army uniform. She tilted her head at him. "Are you going to war?"

"Yes," Taylor nodded. "I am."

Emily felt gratitude for this stranger who had displayed an act of heroism. She wanted to do something to return the favor other than donating her sweater. She got to her feet and reached around to the back of her neck.

"What are you doing?" Briar asked. Emily ignored her and removed her necklace, handing it to Taylor. He gave her a curious look before stretching out his hand and letting her set it in his palm.

"It's the St. Christopher medal," Emily said. "It keeps you safe. I want you to have it, since you kept us safe. Now I can keep you safe when you're at war."

Taylor smiled at her, and Emily felt that young girl type of crush hit her hard again. She blushed. Liking boys was a new concept to her, and she'd only had one other crush on her English teacher in the spring. She was going to be 11 soon anyway, soon to be in the age group where crushes were considered normal.

"Well," he said, "thank you very much. I'll never take it off."

"You're welcome," Emily smiled.

"You two better get out of here," he went on. "And make smart choices in life, okay? Promise me?"

"We will," Briar nodded.

"I will," Emily agreed.

Briar grabbed her hand then, and they left to go home. Emily turned to give one last look at Taylor, and he was still standing there smiling, the medal now around his neck. She gave a final wave, and he waved back. Then they rounded the corner and were gone from sight.

"Please don't tell Mum," Briar begged once they were almost home. "About Dale or how we almost got killed in that cafe. I'll do anything."

"Anything?"

"Yes."

"Play with me," Emily said. Briar stopped walking, causing Emily to bump into her. She looked at her and smiled sadly.

"I guess I have kind of abandoned you, haven't I?" Briar asked.

"Yea," Emily nodded.

Briar put her hands on Emily's shoulders at this point and looked at her square in the eyes.

"I promise to never do that again, okay? I promise that I'll always be there for you when you need me. I will always have your back, okay? I promise. We're sisters, and all we have is each other."

"I promise to come help you anytime you need me," Emily said solemnly. She understood this was a significant moment in their relationship. She wanted to contribute to it.

"Okay," Briar smiled. "Pinky swear?"

"Yes," Emily grinned, and they linked their pinkies together. Laughing, they raced back to the house where their mother greeted them. The scarf on her head was a bit askew, but she didn't notice. It had taken a while for Emily to get used to her mother having no hair, but it wasn't noticeable anymore.

"Your father wants to help you with your spelling," Hannah said to Emily, tousling her hair as she passed. "He's in the den."

"Okay," Emily replied, heading that way.

"Graham!" Hannah called. "Em is coming."

Emily turned to see her mother hugging Briar to her tightly and kissing the top of her head. Briar gave her a secret smile, and Emily felt closer than ever to her sister.

Things were looking up.