A/N: This is the second to the last chapter of the story! I'm so proud!

GeorgeStultsFan, SwimmingKindofGirl and DancerBabe(?), (did I get that right? I apologize if not...) and other reviewers- I know I've been gone for months but it was an odd mix of the lack of reviews, writer's block and.... (ick!) School! Anyway, I'll try to update as soon as I can, but I have a few more exams coming up next week and I have the school paper to worry about so I can't promise anything!

Pookie and all potential reviewers- Make sure you actually read my story before reviewing ok? Aside from that if you must criticize (its ok with me), just make sure it constructive.

Lucy and Kevin both sat anxiously in the waiting room. Their daughter was about to go in for her surgery. Though it wasn't anything potentially life-threatening, they were still nervous. When Lucy spotted the doctor, she nervously gripped Kevin's hand, who gave her a reassuring smile.

"Good Morning," the doctor greeted, consulting his clipboard. "Your daughter, Lalitah Kimberly, will be going in for her surgery very soon."

Sensing that Lucy was in no position to reply, "Dr. O'Neil, are you positive that this is not at all life threatening?" he asked, hoping to that the doctor's answer would finally calm Lucy down.

Dr. O'Neil smiled at them. He had come to know the young couple quite well in the past few weeks leading up to the surgery of their daughter. "Yes, Mr. Kinkirk, the most that can happen is that a slight infection could develop, but the chances for that are quite rare. So I assure you, that there is hardly a need for you or your wife to worry."

Lucy gathered her strength and rose. "Thank you Dr. O'Neil." She whispered

Lucy walked up and down the tiny hallway in the hospital's waiting room. "Kev, how long can this possibly take?" She asked him, the fear shinning in her eyes.

"Luce, I don't know..." Kevin tried to comfort her by tightly gripping her hand. "But it can't take long."

She stopped abruptly and collapsed beside Kevin put his arm around her. "Lucy, calm down! Its not good for your health if you keep on worrying!"

"I know... I know." She agreed. "I just can't help it. And besides you're not exactly Mr. Calm and Collected, yourself."

Kevin looked sadly at her. "But, I did not have to go through the stress of childbirth just a month ago, did I?"

"It's okay." Lucy answered, looking down at her lap. "That was the last time anyway." She added softly, the tears starting to glitter in her eyes. "What really got me was Mary-" she broke off, starting to sob.

Kevin silently pulled her into his arms.

"It was so hard; despite everything, Mary and I always had the special bond sisters have..." Lucy choked out, her voice muffled by her sobs. "You get that if your in such a dysfunctional family like mine.

Kevin looked at her with pity in his eyes. She looked like a frightened child, sobbing in his arms. "Luce, at least your parents and you are now speaking to her... things will get better eventually, you'll see."

Lucy looked up. "You're right; but things will never be the same again... In a few months she'll be giving birth to a baby, with no known father; I'll have Lalitah..."

Kevin sighed, "Life is all about change, Luce, you have to accept that, whether you like it or not; it'll come. It doesn't matter how long you and Mary had the type of relationship you had, its' the quality that counts, how much it has changed you for the better."

"I just miss my childhood. It was a wonderful, surreal one." Lucy mused, "It was a time and place that will never happen, but one I will often relieve in my mind's eye."

An unfamiliar-looking nurse came into the room. "Mr. and Mrs. Kinkirk?"

"That's us!" Lucy jumped up nervously. "How's our daughter?"

"Mrs. Kinkirk, your daughter came through the reconstructive surgery wonderfully." The nurse informed Lucy.

"Oh thank you!" Lucy looked up at the ceiling and silently murmured "Thank you, God!"

A/N: Very Short I know. The next chapter will be the epilogue. I'm sorry if this did not turn out the way some people expected it to. Or if my usual standard of writing hasn't been up to par lately, but you have to understand I have been absolutely swamped with work lately!