A/N: Sorry for the delay. School has kept me busy, but its spring break now, so I promise more. If anyone can tell me Mrs. McGuire's first name, I would appreciate it. Please read and review.

Chapter 2

"Wh-wh-what do you mean, they found something?" Lizzie stammered out as she looked into her mother's bloodshot eyes. "You don't have, you don't have, you can't have…"

"Lizzie," she managed to squeak out as she looked back up at her tall, beautiful daughter. "I have breast cancer."

"No!" Lizzie cried out. "You can't. You're healthy; you're strong."

Sam quickly scooted over on their three person couch, leaving a gap between himself and his wife. Lizzie quickly occupied this vacant spot and nestled her head on her mom's shoulder, wrapping her arms around her mom.

"Mom, no, no, no…"

"I couldn't believe it at first myself." She explained to her daughter, wiping tears from her eyes. "It was just a routine mammogram. But when the doctor came in, I could tell something was wrong. He looked at me with this pitiful look." Mrs. McGuire relayed all the day's occurrences to her daughter. The whole time, the two women held each other in a tight embrace.

After several moments of silence, Lizzie looked up at her mom. "What are they going to do? They don't have to operate do they? Do you have to go through chemotherapy?" These questions came pouring from her mouth, not knowing where to start.

Sam took this as his queue to exit the room. "I'm just going to go into the kitchen and make some tea. Would you like some, Honey?" he asked compassionately, clearing his throat; his crying had closed his cynuses.

"Yes please, Sweetie." She replied as she looked back at her daughter.

"So…" Lizzie inquired, pulling her mom closer.

"Well," she began slowly, "the doctor said that we're going to start with chemotherapy and/or radiation, and if these are successful, surgery will never have to happen. He said that he thinks we found it pretty early."

"And if that doesn't work…?" Lizzie gulped as she asked this. She couldn't even imagine this. She didn't want to imagine this.

"Then, I will have to have a mastectomy."

Lizzie looked down at her chest. She couldn't even begin to fathom the idea of her mom having a mastectomy. Her mom was an amazing, strong-willed woman. It would be very difficult for her mom to lose a part of her like that.

Noticing her daughter's worries, Mrs. McGuire squeezed her daughter closer. "Don't worry, Sweetheart. I'm going to beet this."

"No," Lizzie interjected, "We're going to beet this together."

"I love you, Lizzie." Her mom said as she kissed her daughter. "I couldn't have a better daughter.

"Are you going to lose your hair?"

"Most likely, but the doctor said that everyone is different."

"Well then, I have to go wig shopping with you. I can help find the coolest, hippest wig." She smiled through the tears.

"It's a deal," she kissed and hugged her daughter.

The two embraced each other for a long period. Lizzie never wanted to leave her mom's arms. She felt that if she never stirred from that spot, nothing would ever change with her mom. She would be healthy; nothing would be different. But if she moved, if she left that couch, if she left her mom's arms and went back into the cruel world, everything would change with her mom. And that change might not be a good one.

Sam re-entered the room with tray in hand. He set the tray down on the coffee table and handed his wife a warm cup of tea.

"Thank you, Honey."

Lizzie silently accepted a third cup of tea that sat on the tray. Taking tiny sips, she found her mind running a mile a minute. What was going to happen to her mom? Would she need the operation? Would she react badly to the treatment? Sam had sat back down on the couch.

He scooted in, and the three sat their holding each other close. They remained silent for several moments. None of them seemed to want to let go, in fear of what was to come. Tears freely poured from all of their eyes. As the three sat their in silence, the front door flew open.

"Mom! Dad! Guess what, I made the JV baseball team!" Matt exclaimed as he rushed inside. Flinging his belongings on the ground, he entered the livingroom where his family resided, a large grin plastered across his face.

"Wh-what's wrong," he said as he viewed the tear stained faces of his family members, the smile quickly draining away.

"Matt, why don't you join us. You're mom has some not so good news." His father explained, attempting to sound strong and paternal, but not being entirely successful.

His whole family shifted, and made room for him on the other side of his mom. "Matt, you know I had to go for a test today. Well, they found something on the x-ray. Matt, I have cancer." She said. The tears were still pouring, but she seemed to be able to control herself a little better. Matt was not like Lizzie. She had to be strong for him.

"C-c-cancer?" he stammered.

"Yeah, Sweetie, but we're going to make it through this. I'm going to be fine."

Lowering his head, he looked down at his hands. "Do, do you promise?"

"I promise," she whispered as she kissed him on the head.

Joining his family, they wrapped each other in each others arms, and sat together for what seemed liked forever; not wanting to let go of their mom; not wanting to let go of their spouse; not wanting to let go of their children.