"Daddy, mommy was super sad last night" Jasmine said to Matt as they walked to the house after spending a fun filled day together. "What was wrong with mommy?" Matt asked, trying to get more information from his daughter. "She was sad because Harriet has gone away and i think she was sad because she still loves you daddy, but she doesnt know how to tell you" Jas replied as they got to the front door, and opened it. Matt saw Willow first, asleep on the sofa. "Hey Jas, quietly ok? Its late and almost time for bed. Lets go on up and get ready for bed. I'll put Rubes down" he said as Jasmine tiptoed past Willow and headed upstairs, followed a few moments later by Matt. "Momma, Momma wake up" Jasmine said to a sleeping Willow ten minutes later, who opened her eyes slowly. "Hey beautiful, when did you get back?" she asked as Jasmine climbed next to her for cuddles. "About ten minutes ago momma. Daddys just putting Ruby to bed. I wanted to come say hi" she said as Matt came down. "Hey come on Jas. Let mom rest." he said as Jasmine gave Willow a kiss on her cheek before heading over to Matt. "Goodnight momma" she said as Matt took her upstairs, leaving Willow alone.
Matt appeared 30 minutes later as Willow lay on the couch, eyes closed. "Hey Wills, girls are both asleep" He said as Willow opened her eyes as he continued "can we please talk?" "Matt im not ready to talk. Just go" she said, quiet and weakly. As she stood up, she almost passed out, collapsing straight into Matts arms. "Wills? Wills? You ok?" he said as he lay her back on the sofa. "I need... cupboard...paracetamol" she said as Matt hurried into the kitchen and found the bottles of medication, reading them Niraparib?Melphalan? Lynparza? Along with paracetamol and Asprins? Are they cancer drugs? What the hell is going on with you Wills? he thought as he grabbed the bottle of paracetamol along with a glass of water and headed back into her. He passed her the paracetamol and water before sitting in front of her and asked "Do you have cancer?"
"Do you have cancer?" The words from Matt echoing in Willows head. "Matt, please dont push me. I will talk to you when im ready, as ive said multiple times. Can you please go, leave me alone" she said quietly, trying to block him out. "Wills, you practically passed out in my arms. Youve got multiple drugs in your cupboard for whatever the hell it is. I dont want you to be alone tonight" Matt said as Willow began to let silent tears roll down her face. "Matt please. Im begging you, leave me in peace. What ive been dealing with, ive been dealing with it for a year" she said as Matt cut her off "A YEAR? You had this when we were together?" he asked as Willow said "do you really want to know Matt? You were never told because i found out that day. You know exactly what day, the day you found out that it was Seth i fucked when we werent together. I spent the full day trying to work out the best way to tell you that my cysts had turned cancerous, and you flipped. So yeah, ive got cancer and ive been battling it for a good year" "Oh my god, im so sorry Wills" Matt said as he went to hold his ex wife, who moved away from him. "Matt i think its time you went. Im just going to go to bed anyways" Willow said as they both stood up, Matt catching Willow once again as she stumbled from dizziness. "Wills, im taking you upto bed. No arguments" he said as he scooped her up in his arms and carried her upstairs to her bedroom. As soon as Matt placed her on the bed, she was out. As he watched her for a few minutes, he thought to himself Dont worry Wills. Im not going anywhere tonight.
"Matt still not back from Willows?" Thom asked Luke as he shook his head. "Think they're finally talking?" Luke asked as Thom replied "Honestly, i dont know. Wills couldnt get out of here fast enough this morning. Both of them are messes right now. I dont know if they're ready to hear each other out yet" as Lukes cell pinged with a text from Matt. "Matts staying over at Willows. Shes almost passed out twice in the space of ten minutes" "I'll go over and check on her in the morning. I hate that shes been going through this for a year alone" Thom said as Luke walked over to his husband. "Shes had us, Harriet and her friends and family back home, so shes not really been alone. But i do get where youre coming from. She needed Matt and he acted like a dick towards her" he said as Thom asked "he still loves her doesnt he?" "Of course he does, he never stopped. Deep down i think she still loves him but shes fallen hard for Harry. She wont admit it though" Luke replied, continuing "Willow needs stability right now. Not only for her whilst she undergoes her treatment, but also for Jasmine and Ruby" "I agree Luke. On the flip side, having Matt here is great for the girls. He can build up a bond and relationship with them while Willow can focus on herself. You know shes at the end of her treatment right?" Thom said as Luke nodded. "Right before her birthday? Speaking of her birthday, has she said anything about what she wants to do to celebrate turning 30?" he asked as Thom shook his head, "Not to me she hasnt. She may just want a quiet night in" he replied. "Maybe talk to Harriet when she gets back or Matt?" Luke said as he put his arms around his husband. "Hey, the guy from The Rose called. He wants us and Willow to perform again next weekend" Luke said as Thom made a mental note to tell Willow. "That should be fine. Im off all next week, i'll tell her in the morning" Thom replied, trying to not sound too worried about his friend.
Willow awoke the next morning and groaned. She had a pounding headache and still felt sick from her treatment. She looked at the clock and groaned again. It was almost 10:30. Holy fuck i overslept! I must have been so out of it last night. The girls will be starving she thought to herself as she quickly dressed, not remembering she asked Matt to stay. She ran down stairs as she heard Jasmine and Ruby giggling loudly. "Hey your awake. We thought we'd let you sleep in this morning, you were totally out of it last night" Matt said as he entered the living area with drinks for the girls, followed by Thom. "Did you stay the night Matt?" she asked, noticing Matt was wearing the same clothes as the day before. "I was worried about you Wills. You collapsed twice" Matt replied as Willow felt disgusted and embarrassed with herself as he added "Dont worry, i stayed in the spare room" as he saw how upset she was. "I came over to check up on you Wills. Matt told me what happened last night" Thom said as Willow replied "Im fine. I think with it being near the end of treatment the dosage has increased and its more intense, it hit me harder" "I'd still feel better if i gave you a check over, Wills" Thom said as Willow reluctantly agreed and led him upstairs to the bedroom.
"You seem to be in the all clear Wills. Matt seemed to be really worried last night. You really dont remember passing out?" Thom said as Willow shook her head. "I just remember coming home, Matt was reading to Jasmine before putting her to bed and then waking up this morning. He knows somethings not right with me. I need to tell him everything dont i?" she said quietly as Thom said, "He knows. Apparently you told him last night. I still think its worth you telling him everything and maybe have him stay with you, just in case" "I think so too, especially while Harriet is away. Its scared me how long i was out for. I didnt even hear Ruby crying throughout the night" Willow said, trying to hide her tears. "Hey some other news, Luke said the owner of the Rose wants us to perform again next weekend. Are you up for it? Thom asked as Willow nodded "Always up for performing with you guys. Actually, can we take some songs off the set list? Theres a few new ones i'd like to try out" she asked as Thom nodded as the two friends headed back downstairs.
"Daddy do you have to go?" Jasmine asked a few hours later as Matt hugged his eldest. "Matt why dont you stay for dinner?" Willow asked adding "Surely you can eat with us before going" "You really want me to stay for dinner?" he asked as Willow nodded "Why dont you two go watch a movie with Rubes and i'll make a start on dinner?" "Lets go play daddy!" Jasmine squealed, grabbing his hand and dragging him to her dolls house in the living area, as Willow headed into the kitchen her head spinning with memories and what could have beens.
"Hey Wills, girls are down for the night so im going to get going. Thanks for dinner" Matt said as Willow stopped him, "Matt, we need to talk. Can we?" she asked as he nodded. "First of all, go and get your stuff from Thom and Lukes. I want you to stay here Matt" Willow said as Matt replied "Are you sure? I dont want it to be weird for us and Harriet when she gets back" "Im sure Matt. Last night, i dont know what i would have done if you werent here. Plus its been really good for Jas and Rubes having you around. So go get your stuff, you can stay in the spare room and we can have that talk when you get back" Willow said as Matt headed out, returning around fifteen minutes later. "Hey im back" he called out as Willow emerged from the kitchen, carrying two cups of coffee. "Come on through and take a seat" Willow said as she sat opposite him. "Willow, im so sorry for how i acted that day. I should have listened to you and not some stupid recording" Matt began to say as Willow cut him off. "That day was the worst day of my life. Not only did whoever send that break us, they did it deliberatly. It was Victor, by the way. Knowing that day was the day of my cancer diagnosis and i really needed you. I spent the whole of that afternoon trying to figure out how to tell you and as soon as i walked in, you started with what you heard. You never even asked how it was, you just kicked me out. I was a mess. I stayed with Mom and Adam for a bit, eventually going into Adams old place once Elly had moved. I couldnt believe how quickly you moved on, and with Reby of all people. What were you even thinking?" "I wasnt Wills. I was acting out, she was the one person i knew would piss you off and it worked. A bit too well" Matt said as he took a sip of his coffee. "It worked all right. Especially when she poisoned Jasmine and you took her side. She gave her bleach in her milk, Jas had to have her stomach pumped. She thought you hated her, thats why she stopped coming. I never once stopped her, regardless of how hard i was struggling. And i struggled" Willow said, starting to feel emotional as she spoke. "The treatment was, and is intense. It could knock me out for hours. I needed you and i couldnt have you. It killed me seeing you and her together. I spiralled. I got depressed and i began to self harm in order to ease the pain and it worked, for a while. I was diagnosed with clinical depression and extreme anxiety. In the end, it got to much for me. Seeing you and her everyday it was breaking me. I loved you, theres a part of me that still does. I needed to get away from everything and so we ended up moving here when Ruby was 6 months old. I decided to do the naked shoot and thats how i met Harriet" Willow said as Matt asked "What about the drinking? When did that start?" "A while back. Probably not long after i saw you and her together for the first time. It got harder and heavier right before the shoot. I was terrified. No one wants to see a scarred, cancer riddled mom of two. I turned up, i was so nervous. Harriet made me feel at ease as she took all the photos. She actually tracked me down just to ask if i wanted my scars airbrushed out, we had coffee and began to hang out, which led to dinner and eventually us dating" Willow said as she sipped her coffee. "We've been going really strong for almost seven months. I filed for divorce a while back, i got the papers and you turn up. Completely out of the blue and now im so confused. Seeing you sparked up something Matt. I dont know whats going to happen in the future but i'd like us to at least be civil for the sake of the girls. They deserve us to be at least getting along"
"I saw the photos Wills, they are incredible. You looked phenomenal, so beautiful. Even though you were naked, you bared your soul. As for Reby, as soon as she admitted to poisoning Jas i ended it. Must have been just after you left. Ive been looking for you and the girls for almost four months" Matt replied as Willow sighed. "I also reported her to the police for it. Shes not allowed to come anywhere near us or the girls. As for that day. I acted like an absolute asshole towards you. I should have been more worried about you and your diagnosis, I knew something was seriously wrong when i heard you come in and were quiet. But i do need to know, how much of that recording was true? Were you in love with him?" Matt replied as Willow shook her head. "With Seth, it was a release after everything. Did i develop feelings? Yeah i did but it was more lust than love. I ended it with him the second i found out he was in love with me because i didnt want it to get messy. Hes happier now hes with Becky" she replied as Matt inched closer. "And what about Wills? Are you happy?" he asked as Willow nodded. "For the first time in a long time i am. Are you?" "Im happier now i found you and the girls. I know youre with Harriet so im not going to push you for an answer, but do you think there could be a chance for us?" He asked, hopeful she'd say yes. "Honestly Matt, i really dont know. I cant say yes or no" she replied adding "I cant lie to you, i do still care about you Matt but i need to focus on me and getting better." "Thats more than i could have asked for Wills. I never stopped loving you, not for a second. Im not going anywhere this time. Im here for you" Matt said as the former husband and wife hugged as he asked "Friends?" as Willow replied "Friends"
"So we finally talked. It was weird, but it felt so right mom" Willow said a few hours later over facetime to Amy. "Did you sort everything?" Amy asked as Willow shook her head. "Not everything. But its a start. He um, he asked me if there was still a chance for me and him" "WHAT? What did you say to that?" Amy asked as Willow replied "The truth. That i dont know. Im happy with Harriet but i cant deny that the spark, the connection Matt and i have always had is still there. Im just so confused" "Do you love him? And do you love Harriet?" Amy asked as Willow nodded. "I dont know. Harry has been so good for me and i love her too. Its such a complicated mess" "Wills, you need to decide. Its not fair on either of them." "Matt knows and understands that we need to build up our trust again. With Harry it just feels so natural. Can i switch my feelings off for a day? Just be me" "I cant answer that Wills, but what i can do is ask, have you made any decisions about coming home?" Amy asked as Willow shook her head. "I do miss everyone, so does Jas. Im just not sure how i feel about coming back and being so close to him, despite him now staying with me here. Plus i dont know where this thing with Harriet is going to lead" "Hold on, i thought he was staying with Thom and Luke" Amy said as Willow told her the events of the previous night. "Are you feeling alright now? Did you get checked out?" Amy asked, concerned about her daughters health. "Im ok now. I slept all night last night for the first time in a long time. Thom checked me over this morning just to be on the safe side. We're performing again next weekend if you want to get a live stream with everyone" "That would be a really good show Wills. You know everyone loves to see you perform" "I think what i need to do is work out whats best for the girls. The girls always come first. Jas has loved having Matt around. Its also been really nice to see him and Ruby bond" Willow said as Amy replied "I think you already know what youre going to do"