Authors note hey guys so I have decided from now on I will update on Monday Australia time which means that is Sunday American/ European time once again I want to thank all of my usual reviewers especially Patsy you guys are amazing and you definitely keep me motivated to keep writing anyways I hope you guys like this chapter xxx.

As the week progressed Valentina was beginning to feel the effects of her brain tumour over the week she began experiencing seizure's and everyone knew that it had to come out before it got worse and as Tom's pending arrival loomed Valentina became more and more nervous. She knew he was good but still in the back of her mind she couldn't help but worry that she wouldn't make it out alive or if she did make it out alive that she would have permanent brain damage and she knew her whole family had the same feeling, however during the week her mum's family had come to visit her and while neither Valentina nor Amelia were as close to them they did make good progress in repairing the damage that had been created and this made Valentina extremely happy, she wanted her family around more and it seemed she was going to finally get what she wanted.

It was the day before Tom would arrive in Seattle and Amelia couldn't be more impatient for his arrival seeing her daughter suffer the way she had was beginning to take a toll on her and with her added pregnancy she knew that him being here would help ease her stress. Amelia told Ryan about the pregnancy and he was ecstatic that he was going to be a dad however Amelia had yet to tell the rest of the family but she wanted to wait till after Val's surgery and then she would tell the rest of the family for now though she just wanted to lay with her daughter and try to ease her worries.

"Val, princess I know you are worried about how it will go but trust me you'll be ok you know that right?"

"Mum I know that you are trying to be optimistic but you know as well as I do that there is a good chance that it won't be ok, considering the size and the location of the tumour even if he can get to it removing it without damaging anything is going to be a miracle but I want you to know though that no matter what happens I love you and you are the most amazing mum in the world and that baby is going to be so lucky to be loved by everyone."

Amelia couldn't help but hug her daughter even tighter she knew what Valentina was saying was true and that possibility scared her so much that she began to cry a few silent tears she couldn't imagine losing her first born, she was the thing that got her through her days and Amelia knew that had it not been for her daughter she never would have made it in life but Valentina was the sole reason she was where she was.

"Valentina you can't think like that yes those risks are there but Tom is the best and he will get it out safely I promise you that much and you will come out of it alive and well ok so you have to fight Valentina fight like you never have before."

Valentina simply nodded at her mum before drifting off to sleep as Amelia watched her daughter sleep she began to cry silently again, she couldn't understand why life would deal her daughter with the worse hands, it simply wasn't fair to Amelia that her daughter should have to suffer the way she was and there was not a thing she could even do about it. What Amelia really wanted was to switch places with her daughter but she knew that was not a possibility, Amelia had seen her daughter suffer enough and she knew that if Val made it through she would do everything in her power to prevent her from suffering anymore with that Amelia began to drift off to sleep holding her daughter tightly because whatever happens Amelia wanted Valentina to know that she is loved.

The next morning Amelia was awoken by the sound of Derek entering Val's room he came in with coffee for him and Amelia, he placed the coffee on the table and took the chair and sat next to his sister.

"Morning, Derek and thanks for the coffee."

"Did you sleep much Amy?"

"I did sleep a little bit more than I did the other night but I'm just nervous about today and I know she is as well."

"I know you are both scared but you said it yourself Amy he is the best and I know you never would have let him come near her if you didn't think he could take it out."

"I know but still it's my daughter and even though I know he is the best I can't help but worry that he'll say he can't take it out or something like that."

"Amy you and I both looked at her scans and we both said that we could remove it so if we can take it out I have no doubts that he can too and as much as I cannot tolerate the guy or his personality I know for a fact that you made the right choice calling him."

Amelia hugged her brother and the two talked for an hour or so before Valentina woke up and the rest of the family came to the hospital everyone was talking amongst each other until Amelia saw Alex and Tom walk into the room.

"Shepherd it's good to see you."

"You too Tom I'm glad you came."

"Ah and mini Shepherd how's it going."

"It's alright apart from having no energy and these stupid seizures I guess it could be worse but that's why you're here to get this tumour out of my brain."

"Well that's good and you're right Valentina I will get because I'm what?"

"You're the best I see you haven't changed a bit."

"Damm straight."

The rest of the family just stared at Tom most of them not believing how cocky and arrogant he was they also hated the way he eyed most of the women in the room almost like he thought he would have his way with most of them if he could.

"Alright I'm going to check the latest CT scans then we'll get some new ones and then I'll do a biopsy after that I'll come up with a plan to get it out of your head and then you'll kick the cancer and come and work with me so that I can teach you just like I taught your mum you got that mini Shepherd."

"Sounds good Tom."

Tom and Alex left the room to check the scans leaving the family in the room.

"Well you weren't wrong Val when you said he was arrogant I mean I've never seen a doctor who is so cocky or full of himself in my life also he is really creepy did you see the way he was eyeing the women in here."

"I told you Sam he is a show boat but that's what makes him good at what he does right mum."

"Yes, that's right but he also works best under pressure so whoever is the resident I need to talk to them and make sure they ask him a lot of questions and keep him on his toes."

The family nodded at Amelia's statement and soon those who were working were paged to the ER while the rest of Amelia's family headed down to the cafeteria with Amelia and Ryan to eat before Tom and Alex came back.

"Val I totally get why you don't like the guy I mean he is so creepy did you see the way he was staring at me I mean did he ever do that with you?"

"Yeah he has when he came out to L.A to help mum out with a case he kept flirting with me but he didn't sleep with me because I wasn't of age he did sleep with mum though."

"Gross Val why would she do that I mean that's just disgusting."

"I think my mum did it because it was almost like rite of passage or something and besides it's Amelia Shepherd my mum used to sleep with anyone who walks."

Cafeteria

"Amelia the guy is so creepy and rude I mean I've seen arrogant men but Koracick is a whole other level."

"I know Kate he is rude and makes disgusting comments about women but I never would have brought him here if I didn't think Valentina's best chance wasn't with him look his personality is a small price if it means Val is allowed to live."

"I know but Amelia how are you really doing and be honest here I know we are slowing mending our relationship but still you must be scared out of your mind?"

"Scared is only half of what I am feeling Kate I'm angry that she even has to suffer like this she's been through enough she doesn't deserve this but I'm also sad and in pain because seeing my daughter suffer the way she is shatters my heart into a thousand pieces and am I scared that she'll go under and not come back as my beautiful teenage daughter, but I can't think like this because right now I have to be strong for her because she needs all the strength and fight to get through this."

Amelia talked to her family for a little while longer before her and Ryan headed back to Valentina's room to wait for her daughter's next CT scan before they would decide how the tumour was coming out as she and Ryan entered the room Tom and Alex had come back to her room obviously waiting for Amelia to come back.

"Are you going to take Val down to CT?"

"No, Amelia I've changed my mind we'll do the scans inside the O.R it's better that way I can get the scans as I need them."

"Ok that's fine but what's your plan on removing it?"

"Well I'll go in with a craniotomy and then clip the vessels surrounding the tumour after that I should be able to scoop the tumour out and then we'll send it off to pathology and that should be it."

"Ok that sounds good when will you schedule the surgery?"

"This afternoon mini Shepherd hasn't eaten so we'll do the surgery this afternoon."

As they finished talking about the plan the rest of the Shepherd family came back to the room but to Amelia and Valentina's pleasant surprise they saw Addison stepping into the room."

"Addie what are you doing here?"

"Well Sam called me and told me everything and as soon as I could I booked a flight out here did you really think that I wouldn't come Amelia I mean Val is like my second daughter."

Addison embraced Amelia in a tight hug before making her way to Valentina where she embraced her niece just as tightly, soon everyone's attention turned to Tom and Alex."

"Well since everyone is here we'll go over the plan for this afternoon, I'll perform a craniotomy then clip all of the necessary vessels after that I should be able to scoop the tumour I don't like the swelling around the tumour but I have to dance with the girl who brought me here, I assume you all have questions."

After this Derek spoke up with all of the questions he wanted answered.

"How many of these have you done?"

"So, so many"

"Also, what is the recovery time?"

"I took a tumour out of cop in roughly the same place he was talking day one and walking day one and out within a week."

Seeing as though no one had any more questions Tom left the room to prep for surgery.

"Alright I will see you in the after party and mini Shepherd don't pull any tricks on me in there."

"You can count on it Tom."

"He's seems pretty arrogant and confident about the surgery."

"Well he is a show boat mum but as long as he gets it out of her that's all I care about."

Carolyn nodded at Amelia's statement and soon everyone in the room started talking catching up on each other lives until the came nurse to take Valentina around to theatre the family walked to the gallery and Amelia walked with her daughter until she got to the point where she was no longer allowed the nurse left the mother and daughter for a few minutes.

"Val this is where I leave you but just know that whatever happens I love you princess you are the most amazing daughter and never in million years could I have asked for a better daughter you are a blessing Valentina Addison Shepherd."

As she talked to her daughter she began shedding a few tears, Valentina looked at her mum and couldn't help shedding a few of her own.

"Mum I love you and trust me when I say I could not have been luckier to have you as my mum I love you with all my heart and trust me when I say that I will be back and as good as new."

Amelia kissed Valentina on the forehead before leaving and heading to the gallery to watch her daughter's surgery, the nurse wheeled Valentina to the operating room where they transferred her to the table she could see her whole family smiling down at her and standing in her mum's infamous superhero pose.

"Alright are you ready mini Shepherd."

"Yes I am."

After this the mask was placed over her face and before long everything went dark.

Authors note: I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter let me know what you think as every review helps me out tremendously xxx.