"Good morning sleepy head, how are you feeling?"

Clare rubbed her eyes, trying to wake herself up. "I feel really good, actually." She smiled as I sat beside her.

"Well, I'm glad. You're going to need to be as strong as possible, the nurse will be in here in 30 minutes to start the treatment." I kissed her hand, savoring these last few moments before she began chemo.

Clare frowned, rapidly blinking her eyes. "We're supposed to be on our honey moon right now." She whispered.

I caressed her cheek sympathetically. "As long as we're together, I'm happy blue eyes. We can go on our honey moon anytime, but right now you need to focus on getting better."

Clare's eyes slightly widened, "Eli, what are we going to do? You have work, and I'm obviously stuck here for a while, what will we do with Adam?"

I dropped my hand from her cheek, crossing my arms. "I'll take care of him, don't worry. If there's ever a time I can't, Bullfrog will watch him. It's ok, just focus on staying healthy, I'll take care of the rest."

Clare quickly grabbed my hand, "I'm sorry Eli, I don't mean to be a burden. I really don't."

The desperation in her voice pained my heart, and it made me feel like I wasn't doing enough to assure her that she wasn't a burden, that there wasn't anything in the world more important to me than her. I kissed her forehead, letting my lips linger for a few seconds before pulling away. "You're my wife, not a burden, I love you Clare Diana. Nothing comes before you, weather you're sick or not. I vowed to be here through sickness, and all that other stuff, because I know if it was the other way around you'd do the same." Clare slowly nodded, and I could see she wasn't completely convinced, but I decided to drop the subject for the moment. "Would you like to see Adam, before the nurse comes in? He's in the hall with my mother."

Clare nodded, flashing me a quick smile. "Of course. Send him in."

I walked to the door, pausing to look back at Clare before opening it. "Hey Clare."

She smiled so happily at me, and it amazed me how in the wake of such a disease she could still smile. "Yes, Eli?"

"I love you. Ok? I just, I really do."

Clare looked at me sympathetically. "I know you do Elijah. I'm scared too, but it's going to be fine, I'm not going anywhere ok?" I slowly nodded. "Now go get Adam, I really need to see him."

I walked out into the hall, and when Adam caught sight of me he began to run my way, screaming "Daddy, daddy!"

I knelt down as he came running into my arms. "Buddy, shhhh. This is a hospital, we have to be on or best behavior, remember?"

Adam nodded sheepishly. "Where is mom? I want to see her now, please."

I smiled wide, "Well then come on, she wants to see you too."

Adams eyes lit up as I led him into Clare's room. He ran to her hospital bed and I picked him up, so that I could sit him beside her. When I placed him on the bed he began to frantically and spastically spew his words. "Mom where'd you go at the weddin? Why are you in the hospital? Why was Ziggy cryin? Why was dad cryin, and when are-"

Clare put her finger over his lips, and smiled. "Son, can you be a big boy for mom? You're almost 6, and mommy really needs you to be tough for me right now."

Adam's face fell, and he momentarily averted his eyes to the machines in the room, and then back to Clare. He hesitantly nodded. "Ok."

Clare dropped her finger from His lips. "Good. Adam, mommy is sick, very sick." Clare's voice was just a whisper, and I grabbed her hand in support.

Adam pondered over her words for a few seconds before speaking. "So just like when I was sick on that one day, and couldn't do nothin cause I felt so bad, and then I got to stay home from school?"

Clare shook her head, "No baby, this is a different kind of sick. I'm going to be staying here for a little while, and I'm going to get much more sick, until it's time to get better. See the doctors are going to give me medicine that doesn't make me feel good at first, but later it will make me feel better. Do you understand?"

Adam looked up to me in confusion. "Dad?"

I rubbed his back, agonizing over how confused he must be. "Son your mom is going to be sick, and when you see her she may look a bit different, but she's still mom. She's going to get better, and that's all you really need to understand buddy."

Adam looked back at Clare, "Is it your tummy?"

Her eyes became glossy, and her words cracked. "No. It isn't baby, it's mom's lungs honey. I need help to breathe better, they are broken right now."

The nurse came in, coughing to get our attention. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but It's time Mrs. Goldsworthy."

Adam wrapped his arms around Clare's neck, "Time for what, where are you goin mommy. They can't make you sicker, I won't let em!"

I briefly closed my eyes, gathering the strength to speak. "Adam mom needs her medicine, you can come back tomorrow ok? It's going to make her better, and I promise you she'll be right here waiting for you tomorrow, but right now you have to go with grandma CeCe so that mom can rest."

Adam began yelling into her shoulder, and his words were muffled, but I could make out one word, the word "no". Clare began to softly cry, "Eli please take him, please!"

I looked at her with scared eyes, how could I pull him away from her like this? I forced myself to pry him off her, quickly exiting the room as he kicked and screamed, only uttering the word "No."

I shut the door behind me, frantically looking for my mom. She was no where to be found, and Adam was beginning to cause a scene. He began to remind me of myself when I would have a bipolar episode, and the thought that I could have passed that down to him scared me. All I wanted was to make him stop, so I began to gently shake his shoulders. "Son calm down, it's ok. I'm right here!" I sat down in front of the door to Clare's room, and pulled him into my arms. "Dad isn't going anywhere. I'm here, I'm here, just breathe!" I felt him slowly relax into my arms, and his sobs quieted. I began to cry happy tears because he was calm again. "I love you Adam, I love you so much. Just stay calm ok. Just stay calm."

He peeked his head up to look at me, and nodded, while little tears fell from his eyes "I love you too, are you going to get sick too."

I sucked in air, "No I'm not, I'm right here ok. You have me."

"Do you two mind if I cut in on the moment?"

I looked up, and my eyes widened at the woman standing in front of me. She had long brown hair to her waist, and she had noticeably tan skin. It was Darcy. Adam tilted his head in awe, wiping his tears. "Who's that?"

I stood up, keeping Adam's hand in mine. "This is your aunt Darcy Adam, she's momma's sister."

Darcy smiled wide, with glossy eyes and put her hand out for Adam to shake. "It's so nice to actually meet you nephew."

Adam blankly stared at her, and then back to me. "Dad, can I go with grandma now?"

As if on cue my mother rounded the corner breathing heavily. "I'm sorry baby boy, I forgot my phone charger in the car! Is everything ok? What can I do? Are you hungry, tired, sad? Why are you crying! Where's Clare!"

I awkwardly chuckled, wiping my tears away, "Mom I'm fine, calm down. Can you take Adam home? He needs a nap, I'll be there tonight to get him, I just want to stay with Clare for a little longer."

CeCe nodded, and took Adam's hand. "Of course baby, I'll leave you and-"

She curiously looked at Darcy, waiting for an answer as to who the strange women was. "This is Clare's sister mother." I informed her.

CeCe dramatically laughed, "Oh of course, I knew that. Well, I'll see you two tomorrow then, let's go Adam."

I gave Adam one last hug bye, and when he and my mom faded out of site, I finally had an opportunity to talk to my sister in-law for the first time, but I came to find I really didn't have much to say. I didn't really know the woman in front of me, and on top of that her presence wasn't expected. "So, Africa?" I awkwardly croaked.

Darcy raised her eye brow. "Africa? That's what you have to say? How about we talk about my sister, that's the important thing. Don't you think?"

I pulled my face back in shock at her harsh tone, "Of course that's the important thing. Why would you question that?"

Darcy smiled sarcastically, and began to speak to me like I was an infant who couldn't comprehend her words. "Listen, this is my sister here, and I'm going to do everything I can to get her better. I don't mean to come off rude I just, I don't know you ok? I think that it's best if she has her family here to take care of her. I'll call my mother and father over, and that will give you plenty of time to take care of the boy. I know you've only recently been back in Clare's life, and this may be a lot to handle, but Darcy Edwards is here to take over. So don't worry."

I angrily crossed my arms. "I'm her husband, and the father of her child. Where have you been all these years? No where in sight, and now you're here to take over? Until now, I've only ever seen pictures of you. I don't think that you have any right to decided what's best for my wife, I'm sorry, but I am her family now, Darcy Edwards."

Darcy's eyes were full of fire, and she was about to argue with me, but the nurse opened the door braking her concentration. "Mr. Goldsworthy your wife would like to see you."

Prisca- Sorry it took a little while to update, but I'm glad you liked the last chapter. I have so many things going through my head for this story, so be prepared. Luv u :)

Anon- I hope speechless is good! Thank you for your compliments, they always make me feel so confident! You're so amazing, you rock. -Rie (:

Guest- I don't know why you corrected that particular word, but thanks. I have plenty of misspellings and I apologize, but my time is so limited I don't have time to go through and make everything perfect. I do my best, but it's either take months to update, or update with a few mistakes. I am sorry though! Your review is appreciated- Rie.