"Ssst, be very quiet. I think mummy is still asleep." Robert said while notching Ava towards their bedroom.

Today they would get the results from her blood work. Robert didn't sleep much, he felt Cora being restless next to him, but she was asleep for most of the night. That was the only good thing about, her feeling like she did. She slept away most of the day and night. Cora tried to be strong and pick up Ava from school. Robert had to fight her, but she had given in, that he would bring her to school, so she would not have to wake up early in the morning.

Ava was sensing something was wrong with Cora. She was very well behaved and quiet when she was at home. Robert took her outside a lot, so she could be active and let her energy out. They decided not to tell her what was wrong, not before they would know for sure.

"I am awake." Cora's voice was groggy. "Did you make breakfast, darling?" Cora laid her hand on Ava's back, who was holding a plate with toast and orange juice.

Ava nodded proudly, "I did mama" Daddy only helped to pick up the bread from the toaster." Ava was turning 7 soon, and she was getting so grown up. Cora thought back at the time Victoria, Tayler and Olivia were her age. It felt like ages ago, and now she had the privilege to experience it all over again. With her first three girls, there wasn't much time to enjoy this stage. There was always another child needing attention. But now with Ava she had time to observe everything. She felt tears stinging in her eyes.

"Ava? We forgot to bring the butter, can you get that?" Robert said, trying to get Ava out of the bedroom, so she would not see Cora crying. Ava ran towards the kitchen.

Robert said down next to Cora, and stroke her hair. "What's wrong darling, are you in pain?"

"No, not more than usual. It is just..." Her voice trailed off, she tried to fight against the tears, Ava would be back soon.

"Papa?" Ava's voice came from the doorway. "I can't reach the butter, it is too high."

"I think mama will also like jam instead of butter. Can you reach that?" Robert answered. Without answering Ava ran away.

"Cora, you will see Ava grow up. Today we will know what is wrong with you. And even if it is bad news, we will get the best doctor's we can. You are going to beat this."

Cora took Robert's hand in hers. "If I am not, know that I don't regret anything except not realising I needed you when I first met you.."

Now Robert's eyes started to water. Ava came back into the room and stopped at the sight of her parents crying.

Ava slowly stepped closer. Cora pulled her firm against her. "Don't you worry darling. Daddy and I were just remembering grandmamma. That made us sad."

Robert gave Cora a thankful look. He didn't like lying to Ava, but for now this was the best solution.


"I will start with the good news."

Cora was putting on her clothes again, after the examination of the doctor, while Robert sat at the doctor's desk. Cora sat down next to Robert, her hands resting in her lap. She looked up with hope in her eyes.

"There are no cancer cells in your blood. What we found was an extremely low level of vitamin B12. All of your symptoms relate to a low B12 level. We will start treatment right away. You will need a shot of hydroxocobalamin every 2/3 months, depending how your body is reacting. You didn't have any numbing in your fingers right?"

"No, just the extreme tiredness and pain in my abdomen." Cora answered.

"Those are totally normal symptoms, and both will go away once the treatment is working. You also need to watch your diet. Make sure you eat enough meat, salmon, broccoli, brown rice and so on. I will give you a list with foods which contain enough B12. The shots are something you will need to keep getting the rest of your life. You can also take pills, but the shots work better."

"You said, you would start with the good news, what is the bad news?" Robert asked.

The doctor smiled. "I don't really have bad news, only that your wife will need this treatment for the rest of her life, but that is all."

"Thank you doctor." Cora said while standing up and shaking his hand.

Outside the doctor's office, Robert pulled Cora close and gave her a passionate kiss. This embarrassed Cora, they were watched by the people in the waiting room. She pulled back a little and whispered. "We are being watched."

Robert looked directly into the waiting room and said out loud. "I don't care. I have my wife back and I will have you for a very, very long time next to me and that makes me happy." He kissed her again.


After school, Robert and Cora picked up Ava and went to a cafe for a treat.

"Ava, darling. You have noticed it I think, but Mama has been very tired lately." Robert said

Ava chuckled. "All you do is sleep, Mama."

Cora brushed her slightly curly hair. "I will be awake a lot more soon. We went to the doctor, and I will get some medicine, to make me better."

Ava took a sip of her lemonade and stared at Cora. It was something she did often, you could see all the thoughts going through her head. "Will you start painting again?"

Robert and Cora laughed. "I will, darling. I will do a lot more things again. For example, teaching you to paint again.

During the final treatments of Ava, Cora had started to teach her how to paint. She was getting bored sitting at home, and Cora had seen she had talent. Ava's face lit up, when Cora mentioned painting.

Robert looked at his two girls and felt like a king in heaven. His wife wasn't seriously ill, and his daughter had fought leukaemia successfully. Life was good. Cora saw his eyes and smiled. Her lips mimed: 'I love you so much.'

I want to thank everybody for reading this fanfiction. I had fun writing it. This was the last chapter. There is a third story in the making, which I will start uploading soon. Again, that will be a totally different story. There is also an idea for a fourth story in my head. When you want something in a story please let me know, I can always try and work it in my story.