I have worked very hard in this chapter to put my feelings inside. This chapter is dedicated to my dad, who had spent most of his life loving me. He passed away on 3rd November 2004. I love you forever Daddy…

The grim faced doctor looked at them as they stared back at him. His face told them of the unexpected bad news.

"Um… Mr. Smythesson, I'm afraid your child is very ill-" the doctor started.

"How much more time does he have?" Coram sighed, slumped against the wall.

"Not more than a week." He doctor told him, his face impossible to read.

"What's wrong with my brother?" Alanna asked, fighting to keep her despair under control.

"He hascontracted a type of virus. It's draining his energy and killing all his white blood cells. He's dyi-"

"Don't SAY IT! DON'T!" Alanna yelled, her eyes brimming with tears. "You SHOULD GO AND TAKE CARE OF HIM! WHY AREN'T YOU CURING HIM? WHY? WHY?" she screamed, shaking the doctor by his collar.

"ALANNA!" shouted Coram, as he fought to restrain her.

"Let ME GO! He LET TWO PEOPLE DIE! MY BROTHER IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE OF THEM!" Alanna screamed as she tried to hit the doctor.

"Doctor Baird has been working VERY hard with 'is team of experts to fin' a cure for Thom, Alanna! He's Doing ALL THAT HE CAN! YE HAVE TO TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!" Coram yelled as he struggled to keep Alanna from thrashing out at the doctor.

Tears refused to flow down her cheeks. He's gonna die and I can't do anything about it. This can't be happening! This can't be happening! "This can't be happening…" she whispered harshly to herself.

"I suggest you go home and rest. There's nothing you can do for him now." Dr. Baird's voice was gentle and sympathetic as he straightened his coat.

"Come on Alanna." Coram turned to her, but she was gone.

Alanna ran into the restroom, finally breaking into sobs. Tears so strongly held back flowed like the river. She hated not being able to do anything. She hated feeling so helpless. She hated… leaving Thom to die.

"NO!" she slammed her fist into the mirror, shattering the cool metal surface.

Slowly she withdrew her bloodied fist. Looking at her shattered reflection, Alanna dropped to the floor. She hadn't felt like this since… since… Her eyes opened wider in shock. She hadn't felt like this since her father passed on.

Her mother had died giving birth to her. Alienne had been rather weak when Thom appeared between her legs, but the doctors had assured Alan that she wouldn't die. That was until they saw Alanna's bloodied head. With one final push, Alanna had safely been retrieved, and Alienne was still breathing.

Alienne smiled weakly as she saw her children. Weakly she had pointed to the male twin and named him 'Thom, then she pointed to the female twin and named her 'Alanna'. That was the last word Alienne Trebond had ever said. It was supposed to be a happy moment for all, but looking at the dead body of Alienne… Alan's tears were of sadness that day… As he held both his children, he cried as he saw the doctors move away from his wife's lifeless body…

He touched her cold cheek and kissed her lips, almost as if he hoped that she would breathe again. The nurse that had held Alanna and Thom to Alienne whispered to Alan what Alienne had said. Then he smiled, she had loved her children so much that she had spend her last moments of her life to name them.

Coram had been there the whole time. He had watched Alienne die, he had watched her lifeless body, encased in the coffin, being lowered into the grave. "She's gone…" Coram had muttered, looking at Alan's sad face.

Alan tried to smile, "Not entirely Coram." He looked at his two children in the pram. "She lives in them."

Alanna had heard the story about how her mother had died a million times. She had often asked Coram to tell the story to Thom and her when they were young. They hadn't understood much that time. All they could understand was that their mother would never come back. Alanna had never seen her mother face to face either. All that she had seen were pictures of a beautiful redheaded lady with startling violet eyes.

Alanna breathed in the cold wet air of the road, she had stopped crying when she thought about her mother. Knowing that her mother lived in her was comforting, but tears threatened to spill out any moment. As she walked pass a house filled with laughter and bright lights, she remembered the last thanksgiving she ever had with her dad. There was laughter, there was joy, but most importantly of all there was love…

Alanna dropped to the ground and wept bitterly. All her loved ones were leaving her one by one. First her mother, then her father, now Thom is going to leave her as well.

"Hey are you okay?" Alanna looked up into the young thief's worried face. "Come on let's get you dry." he asked as he draped his windbreaker around her.

Wordlessly, Alanna was guided to his home. She was put on a comfortable armchair facing the fireplace while he went to fetch a towel. She shivered slightly as he handed her a warm mug.

"What were you doing out in the rain?" George slid into another armchair opposite her.

"I was… I just wan-" she stopped herself, finding that she just couldn't tell him about everything. "I just wanted to be alone for awhile." She sighed.

"Yeah right, you can't fool me. Just say it out." His voice was warm.

Alanna looked into his hazel eyes and saw a flicker of concern, but most of all she saw trust in his eyes. "My brother… he's…" she took a sip of cocoa to steady herself, "He's dying."

"Oh…"George lowered his gaze. "I'm sorry."

"Are you really?" she suddenly snapped. "Do you really mean it inside? I don't need any false sympathy!" she said, remembering how the people who attended her dad's funeral had whispered about him. Those people who she had thought were really sorry that her dad died had simply come to pretend to show sympathy.

"Look I understand how you feel okay? You don't have to-"

"Understand?" she laughed disheartened. "You have NO IDEA how I feel right now! YOU HAVE NO IDEA!" she broke down again.

George looked at her, half not knowing what to do. Then he stepped towards her chair and knelt down. He handed her a tissue, waited till she wiped away her tears then said, "I understand how you feel… My dad died of lung cancer in hospital. It was tough for my mum and me to handle it. So don't think I don't understand."

Alanna looked at him. How could she put it? She felt strangely warm and safe with him around. And no one had ever shared with her about heir own family. This person was different… "You're so... comforting." She muttered.

"Excuse me?"

"Oh nothing, nothing…" she blushed slightly and put the cup on the table. "I think I haven't thanked you for your hospitality. And thank you for listening…" she smiled.

George was struck by how her smile could seem to light up her whole face. "I believe we haven't introduced ourselves."

He held out his hand "I'm George, George Cooper."

"I'm Alanna, Alanna Trebond." She smiled and took his hand.

Yet again I stress that it will be difficult for George and Alanna to have any romance but for A/G fans I will put some fluff in! And like 'In The Hand Of The Goddess' George will have the first kiss! ; D