Susan pulled herself out of warm surrealty. Mark had got up. Again. She wanted to go to him. Her body really didn't but she forced her arms and legs out of the warm sheets and walked across their dark room towards the light under the door. She pushed it open silently.

He was on his knees, leaning over the toilet. He took several deep breaths and sat back on the floor, leaning back against the wall. He didn't look up.

She sat beside him and put both arms around him, desperate to give him comfort. He leant into her, finally crying. Exhausted sobs wracking his body as his tears soaked her night shirt.

She rubbed circles on his back and held his head to her chest, letting her silent tears cool his hot head.

"You got it?" Susan watched Rachel juggle three overloaded grocery bags.

"Yeah." Rachel was laughing at Susan who was also juggling too many bags and trying to get her keys out of her pocket. "Wait, I'll get it."

Susan stepped away from the door and Rachel swung her hip to hit the door with a thud.

Now Susan was laughing. "He might be sleeping."

"Not when he finds out you bought boysenberries."

"Shh, he'll hear you." Susan had got the key and was trying to balance the bags on one side of her body to unlock the door. Then she dropped the keys.

Rachel laughed at her and precariously crouched down to pick them up while Susan leant back on the door in defeat.

Then the door swung open and Susan stumbled backwards, into the warm apartment and Mark's unsuspecting embrace.

"Hi." He laughed.

She found her balance put the groceries down. "Hey." She touched his face softly and kissed his cheek, aware Rachel was close by, "Have you eaten?"

"Not really." He followed them to the kitchen lethargically.

"Just wait till you see what Susan got." Rachel headed to her bedroom to escape being roped into helping prepare dinner.

Mark smiled, watching her go then turned back to Susan. "Thank you."

"What for?" She busied herself putting away the groceries.

"For… oh, I don't know. You're so good with her. I wish…"

She stopped and looked at him, waiting for the end of that sentence.

"Nothing." He smiled, "So what did you get?"

She flashed him a wicked grin and hid the bag behind her back.

He cornered her, unable to take his eyes off the smile that seemed to light up the room. He didn't care what was in the bag. He only wanted to kiss her. But he changed his mind (considering he'd spent the greater part of day in frightening vicinity to a toilet) and whispered, "God, you're beautiful."

To that she smiled softly and hugged him.

She loosened her grasp and looked at him, the docter in her trying to assess him with her eyes, "How was your day?"

"Oh, you know, I must be overflowing a sewer somewhere."

She touched his face softly, concern and desperate comfort flooding her eyes. "I guess it means the chemo is working."

"Unless I ate bad seafood."

She smiled and pulled him in for another embrace.

"So, what did you get me?"

"Well, I hope your stomach can handle it."

"As long as you don't mind seeing before and after pictures?"

She laughed deprecatingly and handed him the bag.

He held her eyes while he opened it and pulled out a punnet of fresh boysenberries. "Where… did you find boysenberries?"

"That would be telling." She whispered, grinning and pleased by his reaction.

"It would." He kissed her almost chastely.