I remember every detail about the minute I found out. I was sitting in Biology lab, beside my partner Thomas, and he'd just finished his latte. I remember because I could still smell the espresso. It was 2:34 pm and my ringtone was one of Beca's latest mixes. When I answered it and ran from the classroom I turned left.

"Chloe? I need you to come home. Now. It's emergent that we talk about this." Beca sounded like she had been crying.

"Baby, I can't. I'm about to start a biology lab. If I duck now I lose the mark." I reasoned.

"It's an emergency. Fuck the biology lab. Please, come home." she was begging me now. It had to be serious.

"What's going on? Just tell me what this is about and I'll come right away."

"Our son... Is very sick. Please baby, I need you to come home and talk about this."

"I'm on my way." I hung up and went back into the classroom.

"Ah, Mrs. Mitchell, thank you for returning. Now, please take your seat so we can start." the professor stated evenly.

"I'm not staying sir. My son is sick, very sick and I have to go home." I started bagging my books.

"You realize that if you leave, you are taking a zero for today's assignment? You're sure about this?" he asked.

"Sir, with all due respect, my son is sick. If I don't leave now, I take a zero as a mother. That's worse in my book." I walked out and closed the door behind me.

I sped the whole way home. As soon as I walked in the door I sat down with Beca, who was watching Caellum with a sad look.

"He has Medulloblastoma." she said emotionless.

"Which is?"

"A tumor. A brain tumor. Doctor said the vomiting every morning, and the grabbing at his head. He's got headaches is what that meant. Sent him for an MRI and he found it. It's big. Doc says he'll remove it next week, but there's so much of it that he knows there's going to be radiation and chemo. His chances aren't super great, since we waited so long to go to the doctors, but we're looking at 60% the doctor thinks. If we tackle this and go for it now." she was already in fight mode. I could see it in her eyes. Beca Mitchell was not going to let her light go out. If it meant putting everything on hold she would.

"I'm dropping out. I need to be home, taking care of him. I never should have gone back. I could've taken him in sooner. Or something. Jesus Christ." I broke down.

"I called your folks. They're on their way. Also, I need a favor from you." she looked nervous.

"Anything baby, name it."

"I need you to go tell Trinity and Luke. I just can't go. I promised her that I'd give it time and space if she wanted."

"I'm on my way now. I need a few to wrap my own head around this. Do you have a joint I can take?" she reached into her hoodie and passed me one. "I'll be home as soon as I can." I promised leaning over and kissing her temple. "I love you Beca. Forever."

"Yeah, take a minute. Think things through. I'll be here when you get back. Love you too."

I knelt on the floor beside my son. "Mommy loves you Caellum David. She always will. I will be back soon." I kissed his cheek.

"Wuv you" he said back to me.

I got up and left. When I got to Luke's he invited me in.

"Is Trinity here? I need to tell her something. It's important." I explained to him.

"Yeah, just a second. I'll get her. Is Beca okay?" he asked.

"Of course she is. It's about Caellum." I said, choking back tears.

"I'll get her." he ran up the stairs. A minute later he appeared with Trinity and once again I had to double take.

"Chloe, right? The wife?" she asked. I nodded. "What's going on?"

"Caellum is sick. Very sick. He's got medulloblastoma. It's a brain tumor. He's going for surgery next week, and then further treatment after his initial recovery. Beca wanted you to know, but she promised you space and so I came. Beca knows more than I do, so if you have anything you need answered I'd talk to her. I gotta go back to my boy though, so please feel free to call or stop by before the surgery if you want to." I got up and excused myself from the kitchen.

"Hey, Chloe!" I turned and saw Trinity running towards me. "Can I come with you? I need to see my so- I mean nephew. And my sister, she needs me now."

"Yeah, come on then. I want to see him too."

We drove back to the apartment and shared the joint Beca had given me. When I walked in the door, Beca was feeding Caellum and Jesse was staring out the window, his jaw locked in an aggressive position.

"Babe, someone came to see Caellum." I said.

"Hey Beca, look I'm so sorry for being selfish and avoiding you. I'm sorry I haven't been here for you and Caellum. I'm sorry that he's got to go through this. I'm sorry. I've been a shitty sister and an even worse aunt. I'm here now, and I promise I'm not going anywhere." Beca put Caellum's fork down and got up. She walked over to Trinity and enveloped her in a crushing hug. There were tears flowing down her cheeks and she could barely form words around the sobs coming out of her body.

"It's okay. I love you. I love you so much Trin." she sobbed into her sister's shoulder.

When the two had finally collected themselves they broke their embrace. Jesse put his hand on my shoulder and signaled toward the terrace. I nodded and followed him, leaving Beca and Trinity alone for a bit.

"You okay Chloe? This is pretty rough shit." He lit a cigarette and looked at me.

"I don't know. I feel like... Maybe I haven't realized it yet, or I'm not sure what it means or something. I don't feel anything."

"Shock babygirl. You shut down after something traumatic. It's like your body's way of protecting you or something. When the initial realization of it all hits you, it'll hurt. Beca's just realizing it now and she had all day to come to terms with it. I am here for you all the way Chloe. You need an ear, I've got you. You need a punching bag, I've got you. You need a movie and cuddle, I've got you. I promise that. For that little trooper in there too. He's going to come out the other side of this. He's a Mitchell. Mitchells don't give in. They fight until the last breath is stolen from them. At least, Beca does. He's going to make it Chloe."

"I just wish he didn't have to fight yet. He's two for fuck's sake. I'm fucking 14 times his age and I've never been forced to fight for my life. It's not fair Jesse." he wrapped me in his strong arms as I began to cry.

"I know, I know. I'm right here. Just let it out Chlo. Let it out."