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Love Rhyleigh xoxox

It wasn't meant to happen to him. It wasn't meant to happen to anyone- not your great aunt you haven't seen in donkey's years, your neighbour's grandson or the eighty three year old mailman.

But it especially wasn't meant to happen to him.

He had three year old daughter. It was his wedding anniversary.

The cancer was perfectly treatable, he was told. But, resting his head on the steering wheel, he began to wish he had never stepped outside.

He hadn't been feeling well for a few days. Julie was convinced it was the flu, but had insisted he drag his illness-infected body to the doctor. It was then he was referred to a specialist, to check out what the doctor thought.

And he had had his worst nightmare confirmed.

Even though it was treatable, and hundreds- if not thousands- lived through it every year, he wasn't sure.

He didn't want to die. There was still so much he hadn't done.

He and Julie had vowed, before Ruby was born, that they were going to visit Rome. Not Roma, Queensland, Rome, Italy. The Eternal City. He was going to throw coins in the Trevi Fountain, and eat gelato with the love of his life- even though he wasn't particularly fond of gelato. He was going to get one of her siblings to babysit little Ruby for the night, and take Julie out to the fanciest restaurant he could find. He was going to travel around Australia with his wife...

And all his plans were put on hold with one little word.

"Hi darling, happy anniversary!"

Julie's lips met his own before he could muster up the words.

"Hey..." his arms snaked around her waist, grinning. "Is Rachel coming over for Rubes?"

"yeah, she and Jake'll be here-"

"Daddy!" Ruby came tumbling down the hallway at break-neck speed, screaming the house down and cutting off her mother. "Sing our song, Daddy!"

"If I do", he said, kneeling down to her level, "Will you be good for Rachel and Jake when they get here?"

She nodded enthusiastically, making herself comfortable in his arms.

"Alright, my little butterfly". He scooped her up, ignoring Julie's protests. "Her father says she has to have a name, not the same as her mum's, but a name just the same. A little ray of sunshine has come into the world. a little ray of sunshine in the shape of a girl..." his voice trailed off, as a thought dawned on him.

If the worse happened, who would be there to tuck his little girl into bed at night?

So he didn't say anything. There was no point in ruining their anniversary.