Chapter 8: The Next Morning.

Liz woke up the next morning due to the sun shining in her eyes she sighed when she felt a warm hard body behind her and snuggled into it before opening her eyes and looking at her clock, she cursed. She was late to visit her grandmother.

She slowly slid out of bed, taking care not to wake Max up from his sleep before pulling on clean clothes; she turned around to face him and smiled softly at how young and cure he looked. She bent down and kissed him gently on the lips before grabbing a piece of paper and writing something on it then folding it before resting it on her pillow next to him. She kissed him once before leaving the bedroom to get to her Grandmother.

Max stretched his body before letting one hand reach out onto Liz's side of the bed, his brow furrowed in confusion when he met with an empty cool sheet then a piece of paper. He opened his eyes as he picked up the paper and unfolded it

'Max, I'm at the hospital. I know you had a hard sleep due to the tossing and turning you did so I thought I let you sleep in a little longer. Help yourself to the food and I'll see you later when I get the chance. Come by the Hospital if you want.

I love you, Liz xxx'

Max smiled when he read the 'I love you' part and sighed as he folded the note before turning on his side, burrowing his face into Liz's pillow, it still smelt of her, strawberry and Liz.

He had been tossing and turning all night because he was worried about Claudia and he was worried about how Liz was going to cope. He sighed as he pulled himself out of bed and yanked on his clothes before grabbing his jeep keys. He headed over to his house to grab a change of clothes and to let his mother know the progress on Claudia's health.

Liz was sitting on the chair next to Claudia's bed, holding her hand.

"Liz, what are you doing here?" Claudia asked and Liz looked at her.

"Where else would I be?" Liz asked and Claudia turned to face her.

"Liz, you should be out there having fun." Claudia informed and Liz looked at her, incredulous.

"Grandma, you are in hospital and you expect me to go out and have fun?" Liz demanded and shook her head. "No, I'm saying right here till you get better."

"Honeybear, I'm dying." Claudia reminded and Liz felt the tears well up in her eyes.

"Don't say that." Liz whispered and Claudia sighed.

"This is the reason why I didn't tell you, I wanted you to have a summer without worries." Claudia explained and Liz wiped away her tears.

"You can't die, I need you." Liz whispered and Claudia's eyes soften.

"Honeybear, you are not going to lose me. I'm a part of your heart, no matter where I am, I will always be in your heart." Claudia explained.

"How long do you have?" Liz asked and, fearing the answer.

"Not long." Was the reply.

Liz nodded as she stood up.

"I'm gonna get something to drink." Liz whispered and Claudia nodded as Liz exited the room.

Max was walking along the hallway when he saw Liz leaning against the. He felt his heart clench painfully at the sight of her tear-streaked face and hurried over.

"Liz?" Max asked, Liz looked up, caught Max's eyes and threw herself into his arms, crying into his chest.

"I can't lose her Max!" she cried out, Max wrapped his arms around her body, holding her close to his chest, wondering how he was going to take away her pain.

"Sh." Max whispered as he stroked back her hair, he wished he could tell her that everything would be alright but he knew that it wasn't going to be, he knew it deep in his gut that Claudia was going to die and there was nothing any of them could do to stop it as much as he wanted to for Liz's sake. "What's happening?" Max asked and Liz sighed.

"Can we go and sit down somewhere?" she asked and Max nodded, he led her outside of the hospital toward the bench.

They both sat on it and Max turned to face Liz.

"I left this morning to come and see Grandma, I stopped by the marine first to see the dolphins and they were so happy, playing and everything. When I got here, Grandma asked my why I was doing in the hospital. Apparently I was supposed to be out here, having fun. Not worrying about her." Liz exclaimed; Max kept silent, knowing that she needed to get this out. "I told her that I was going to stay by her side till she got better but she's never going to get better is she?" Liz asked as she looked up at Max.

Max felt his heart break when he saw the pain and heartbreak showing clearly in her doe eyes.

"No, the doctor told me that the cancer is extremely rare and way to advance for them to do anything about it." Max whispered and Liz nodded then felt the tears well up in her eyes once more.

"It's not fair! She doesn't deserve this!" Liz sobbed out and Max took her into his arms, holding her close to his body.

"I know baby, I know but this is the way how life is." Max whispered as he stroked her hair.

"She's a strong woman, how could something like this happen to her!" Liz demanded and Max kissed her forehead.

"We'll never know." Max admitted and Liz rested her head on his shoulder.

"You know, I've always thought Grandma would live forever, to be there to see my wedding, to be there for me when I had my children and hold them, now she's dying." Liz stated and sighed. "I can say it but I can't believe it at all."

"It's hard when it's someone you care and love that's dying." Max whispered and Liz nodded before looking up at Max.

"Did something like this happen to you?" Liz asked, curiously. He seemed to be an expert on it and Max nodded.

"I had a little sister, she had cancer, brain cancer. My parents loved her and I adored her. I was devastated when I found out. She was five at the time; I was eight." Max whispered.

"What happened?" Liz asked.

"We were playing when all of a sudden she got ill, her nose started bleeding so my parents took her to the hospital. The doctor told my parents, I was confused at the time but when my mum started crying, it hit me. She was dying and there was nothing I could do about it." Max stated and felt his voice crack.

Liz got up on her knees and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close to her.

"I'm sorry." She whispered and Max nodded.

"You know what she said to me before she died?" Max asked and Liz looked at him.

"That she loved me but it was her time to go." He whispered and Liz shook her head.

"God." She whispered and Max nodded. "What was her name?" Liz asked and Max smiled as he lifted a hand to her cheek and wiped away a tear.

"Elizabeth." Max whispered and Liz felt her heart break for the man she loved in front of her. They wrapped their arms around the other once more and held them close, wanting to drive away all the pain.

A nurse came out and saw Max and Liz cuddled up on the bench, she walked over to them, both of them looked up when she arrived and she sighed.

"Mrs. Parker would like to see you now." The nurse stated, they both nodded as they got up and linked hands as they followed the nurse into the hospital.

Liz and Max stepped into the room and walked over to Claudia.

"Grandma?" Liz asked and Claudia opened her eyes and looked at her granddaughter.

"I want you to promise me something Liz." Claudia stated and Liz nodded, puzzled.

"I want you to promise me that you'll always follow your heart, no matter where it leads you." Claudia breathed out and locked eyes with Liz. "Promise me Liz, you will always follow your heart." Claudia whispered.

"I promise Grandma." Liz whispered back, she kissed Claudia's forehead and the machine went flat, signalling that Claudia had passed away.

Max took Liz into her arms and held her as the doctors came in, confirming what they already knew. Liz turned in Max's arms and buried her face into his chest as the doctor pulled up the sheet over Claudia's face before announcing the time of death.

"Come on, I'll take you home." Max whispered and Liz nodded as he led her out of the hospital, toward his jeep. Max looked up into the sky and saw the stars twinkling above him.

Max arrived at the cabin; he looked over at Liz who was staring out the window with a blank look on her face. He reached over and stroked back her hair behind her ear. She turned to look at him. "We're here now." Max whispered and Liz nodded but made no move to get out of the transport.

Max got out of the jeep and rounded the side; he opened Liz's side of the door and lifted her up into his arms before shutting the door and locking it then making his way over to the Cabin.

Max stepped into the Cabin but Liz stopped him.

"Can we please sit outside? I want to see the stars tonight." She whispered and Max nodded as he headed back outside and moved over to the porch swing, he sat her on it before hurrying back into the house to grab the blankets and headed back outside. He sat down next to her; Liz moved over and snuggled into him as he wrapped the blankets around them, keeping them warm.

"You okay?" Max asked and Liz sighed as she moved her head up so she could look at him.

"Yeah, I think I will be. Saying goodbye really seemed to help." Liz stated and Max nodded, he kissed her forehead before she let her head settle on his shoulder and they both stared at the stars, twinkling above them.

TBC – Sorry for taking so long to post and sorry that it was short, I kinda had mind block on this story but the next one should be up soon, hopefully.

Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter.