Alice and Danny had lay together on the small hospital bed for some time. Alice knew she'd have to go home and break the news. "I better go, I'll need to sit everyone down...and tell them." she whispered.

"If you want you could bring them here. I'll tell them, you don't have to." he replied rubbing her shoulder.

"No, I'll do it." She kissed his cheek. "You just rest, I'll come back later on tonight with whoever wants to come."

"Ok." She stood up and leant down to kiss him goodbye properly.

"I love you."

"Love you too, bring Robbie up later please." Danny said clinging to her hand.

"I'll see if he's feeling better."

"Aww yeah of course"

"See you soon." She squeezed hand, gave him one last kiss then left the room.

Danny squeezed his eyes shut. With his immune system being the way it was they'd need to be extra careful. Robbie's chicken pox could cause even more problems for him. Danny squeezed his eyes even tighter. The cancer was already affecting his family. He didn't know if he'd be able to see his son. He turned in the bed to face out the window away from the door so that no one would see his tears.

Alice pulled up outside the house. She exhaled as Rosie came running out to meet her. "Alice! Where's dad? What happened?"

"Rosie, can you please get everyone in the living room."

"What is it?" Asked Rosie terrified by the look in her step mother's eye.

"Please, Rosie just do it. I only want to have say this once." Still looking terrified, Rosie nodded and ran into the house passing Dupe in the door.

"Alice?"

"Living room, now Dupe."

"That bad?" He asked as they made their way into the living room. Alice looked him in the eye and he nodded in understanding.

Caroline and Nomsa were sat on the sofa, Rosie was too riled up to sit and Dupe stood at the window. Alice was drawn to Charlotte, she didn't want to have to tell her but she was old enough to deserve to know and to understand. Liv was there too holding Charlotte's hand.

"Where's Robbie?"

"Asleep, he's definitely feeling much better." answered Caroline.

Alice nodded but was unable to form the smallest of smiles, she swallowed hard to dislodge the lump that had formed. "Tell us Alice, what's wrong with dad?"

"Danny...your dad...he's got cancer."

"No!" Rosie shouted.

"I'm sorry, Rosie." Alice crossed the room and pulled her oldest daughter in to her arms. Rosie cried into Alice's shoulder. Liv had wrapped an arm round Charlotte as Nomsa comforted the pair of them. Caroline stood up to hold Dupe's hand, all colour seemed to have drained from his face.

"What did the doctor's say?" Liv eventually asked.

"It's a form of Leukaemia, they've done some tests and he's on the list for a bone marrow donor. We'll all probably be tested too. His treatment is starting straight away."

"Can we see him?" asked Rosie, wiping her eyes.

"I'll take you up tonight, promise." Alice turned, directing what she said next to the whole room. "This isn't going to be easy for Danny, for all of us. But we all need to be there for and support each other."

Each person nodded. "I better head home. Tell Dylan." said Rosie silent tears replacing the previous ones. "I'll come back later." With a final hug from Alice she left hurriedly.

"You two ok?" Alice crossed the room to her two other daughters. Liv nodded bravely but Charlotte jumped to her feet and ran from the room. They heard her bedroom door slam. Liv turned to Alice.

"She'll be fine."

"She's
a bit like me, needs time to herself." Alice said sadly, "What about you Liv?"

"What about me?"

"Are you fine?" The pair sank down onto the sofa. Alice took Liv's hands.

"I don't know. Cancer ….. I can't lose Danny, Alice." Alice squeezed her step daughters hands. She didn't tell her it was all going to be fine. Liv was an adult and so deserved not be lied to or patronised.

"I know, but Liv you know Danny..."

"He's a fighter."

"Exactly."

Rosie had made it home and had managed to break the news to Dylan. She'd sobbed uncontrollably all the way home and then all over again when she had to say it all aloud. She was now sat on her bed with her headphones on, she felt it was impossible for her to cry any more. It was something she'd always done, a habit she'd kept from her teenage years. It didn't matter what music was playing as long as it turned up loud enough to drown out all the thoughts in her head. It usually worked. Not this time.

She stared blankly at the wall ahead of her. She felt the bed move as if someone had sat down on it. Dylan placed a hand on her shoulder. Rosie stopped the noise in her ears and turned to look at him. "Sweetheart, why don't you go to the hospital?"

"We're all going tonight with Alice." said Rosie sitting up and wrapping up her headphones.

"Rosie. Go see your dad." He looked at her seriously. She nodded. Kissing her softly, Dylan handed her the keys.

i know this has been ages! Seriously lost my muse and had like no time. who knows when I'll update again :/