Over the next couple of weeks, Lizzie danced on air. Being with Gordo just made her feel good. Her family experienced many ups and downs with her mom. The treatment was becoming more and more intense for her as they went along, but being with Gordo just seemed to make everything okay. Every time Lizzie needed to cry he was there, offering his shoulder to cry on. He coached her through her homework every evening to ensure that she kept up with her studies. Her mom would not let Lizzie fall behind because of her, and Gordo would never allow Lizzie to give up her dreams. Lizzie's dreams were part of Gordo's dreams. He helped Matt out through it as well. Matt needed a positive male role model; a role Lizzie could not fill, and her father was too preoccupied to play.

"Oh mom, I just can't get over how awesome these past two weeks have been. He's been amazing. I can't believe we waited so long to hook up. Everyone laughed when we told them we were together. They all said they'd been waiting for it to happen since seventh grade. They all said it was so obvious that we both felt something for each other. A few people even said they'd had bets going for awhile, on when we would hook up…" Lizzie rambled on and on to her mother about her new relationship. Her mother loved listening to her daughter speak of Gordo. Gordo made her so happy, and she loved to see that her daughter was happy. And she loved Gordo, and felt just like all the others, that the two would one day realize their feelings for each other. But at that moment, Mrs. McGuire paid little attention to her daughter's words. Her mind was preoccupied on something else.

When Lizzie realized her mother's focus was on something else, she focused her glance on where her mother was sitting. Mrs. McGuire was playing with her hair. Lizzie viewed her mother running her fingers through her golden hair, and just as she did so, a large clump of it detached from her scalp, leaving a ball of hair in her hand. Mrs. McGuire looked down at the ball of hair, separate from her head.

"Oh, Mom!" Lizzie cried out as she realized what her mom had been preoccupied with.

"I knew it was going to come out but…" Mrs McGuire said more to herself than anyone else. "I guess I should just shave off the rest. Why wait for it all to fall out?"

"Are you sure, mom?

"Yeah, I'm sure. I can't deny the fact that it's going to all fall out eventually."

"I'm so sorry, Mom."

"Thanks Sweetie, but you can't do anything about it. Do you know anyone who could shave it for me? I don't exactly want to go to the barber for such a thing."

"Um, Gordo can do it. He shaves his head every summer when it gets hot."

"Ok, can you call him over to do it?" she said with no enthusiasm.

"Yeah, I'll call him right now."

Lizzie grabbed the cordless phone from its cradle and walked upstairs to her room to make the call.

"Hey, Gordo, yeah it's Lizzie. Hey, do you think you could come over this evening. My mom has a favor to ask. She was wondering if you could shave her head for her. Yeah, her hair is finally starting to fall out, and she doesn't want to wait for it all to come out. Yeah, she's really bummed out about it. I wish there was something we could do for her. What, that's a great idea! Would you really do that? I'll ask Matt if he'll do the same. We'll be over in ten minutes. Thanks Gordo, you're awesome."

Lizzie hit the off button and rushed to her brother's room.

"Matt, I need your help. You need to come to Gordo's with me. We want to know if you'll do something for mom."

"Yeah, sure, what is it?"

"It's a surprise for Mom. I'll explain on the way, you just need to come to Gordo's with me first."

Sure okay," the young boy followed his sister downstairs.

"Mom, Gordo said he would love to help. Matt and I are going to pick him up. We'll be back shortly."

"Wait, why are both of you going?"

"No reason, I promise we'll be back soon." Lizzie replied as she sprinted out the front door with her younger brother close behind.

"Ok," Mrs. McGuire offered confused.

As the two jumped in the car and sped off, Matt looked at his sister, searching for an explanation to Lizzie's excited urgency.

"So, what is it? What am I doing for Mom, and why are you so jumpy?"

"Matt, Mom is starting to lose her hair from the treatment. She's really down about it."

"Oh gosh, I knew that chemo made your hair fall out, but I guess I never put two and two together."

"Yeah, I know, same here. Well, here's the plan. Gordo is going to shave Mom's head tonight, but before he shaves hers, he's shaving his, and we were hoping you'd shave yours too. I'd shave mine, but well…"

"Haha, that'd be interesting. Do us a favor, and keep yours, Liz. But of course I'll shave mine for Mom."

"Awesome Matt, you're a great brother, and a great son." Lizzie leaned over and kissed the top of her brother's head just as they pulled up onto Gordo's driveway. The two jumped out of the car and ran up to Gordo's front door. He was already there and let the two in.

He had already set the razor up on the kitchen table.

"So Matt, would you like to go first, or shall I?"

"I'll go first!"

Matt draped an old towel around his shoulders that Gordo had provided, and sat down on one of Mrs. Gordon's beautifully decorated dining room chairs. Gordo turned the razor on and before Lizzie knew it, her brother's head was completely bald.

"Matt McGuire! I must say, very attractive." She giggled as she embraced her younger brother. "Ok, your turn sir." She said as she turned toward her boyfriend.

Snatching the old towel from Matt, Gordo draped it around his own shoulders.

"Oh, oh, can I do it!" Lizzie pleaded as she snatched the razor from his hands.

"I guess so. It's not like you can go wrong. Just don't hurt me, ok?"

"Yes sir," she turned the razor on and quickly shaved away all of his dark curls. "All done. I must say, even more handsome than Matt." She offered as she kissed her boyfriend.

"Ok, let's go help your mom," Gordo said as he swept up the two boy's hair.

The three jumped in Lizzie's car and returned home to assist their mom. When they pulled up in front of the house, Lizzie braced the two boys. "Ok you guys, she's definitely going to be surprised. Thanks again for doing this you guys."

"No problem, it'll grow back." Matt responded to his sister sincerely.

"Yeah, anything for Mrs. M." Gordo replied.

The three teenagers exited the car and entered their home. They all entered the kitchen where she was waiting.

"Mom, we have a surprise for you!" Lizzie entered first, with the two bald headed men close behind. Glancing up, Mrs. McGuire focused her glance on the two young men who no longer had a full head of hair.

"Matt? Gordo? Your hair? Did… did you do this for me?" a tear began to form in her eye. "You didn't have to do this…"

"We know Mom. We did it because we wanted to. We knew you were a little bummed out, and we wanted to make you feel better. Its just hair."

"Oh Matt, since when have you been so sweet?" she said as she wrapped her arms around her son. "You look very handsome." She kissed the top of his bald head. "And you too." She embraced Gordo and kissed the top of his head as well.

"Ok, Mrs. McGuire, are you ready to shave the rest of that stuff off?" Gordo inquired as compassionately as he could.

"Now that I've seen the two of you, yes, more than ever."

"Gordo prepared the razor and the job was done in a few minutes. Mrs. McGuire rubbed her head cautiously. "I can't believe it's gone." She said with obvious sadness.

"It's ok Mom. It'll grow back soon." Lizzie offered, trying to comfort her mom.

"And I promise I'll keep shaving mine until it does." Gordo chimed in.

"Yeah me too!"

"Thanks, you guys are too sweet."

"Honey, I'm home! I'm sorry I'm so late…" Mr. McGuire called from the living room. As he entered the kitchen, his glance fell upon the two bald headed boys, and then his wife. The four in the room looked at each other and all began to laugh.

A/N:

As always, everyone give a shout out to my wonderful beta. She's amazing and awesome. I'm sorry for the late update. I was out of town in Dc then camp, and major computer problems, but here is the next installment, so no worries. Please R and R.