Yay, more writing... I could pull myself away from final fantasy... I swear I'm not addicted to it... I can stop when ever I want.

Chapter 18:

Cinder's groggy eyes opened, once she could get past the almost blinding pain she was in. She could just barely see out of the corner of her eyes, some man she didn't recognise, looking at a clear bag next to her. She didn't even get a grunt out as the man saw her and walked more into view.

"Hey sleepyhead... you've been in a coma for five years..." The blonde haired doctor began as he looked down and shook his head apologetically. Cinder began to panic. Panic that was replaced with anger as the man began to laugh.

"I'm just screwing with you. I promised a girl named Ruby I would screw with you specifically. You've been out a few hours. How are you feeling."

'I'm going to have to give Ruby a talk about what is a funny joke and what isn't.' Cinder thought as she she tried to sit up causing the doctor to frantically say 'no' as the brunette was gently lowered again. That was when Cinder noticed an unfamiliar weight on her. She looked down to see a battered red and black bear resting next to her.

"A lot of pain..." Cinder began as the man smiled, "Well, you've been in a crash. But I can get you something to just curb the pain, or you can partake the morphine pump. Up to you really. You can call me Sun..." The man now identified as Sun spoke as he held a small, hand held pump out which Cinder debated actually grabbing. From what she has heard about morphine, it would make her feel better and even help her sleep.

"First what time is it?" Cinder asked as the man, looked at his watch but was beaten to the punch by Ruby getting wheeled in, "About nine in the morning. Did you do it Sun?" Ruby asked as she turned around to face the nurse and quickly gave her a quick thanks.

Sun smiled as he ruffled Ruby's hair, "You know it Ruby." He joked as Ruby pouted. "I'll get something to curb the pain." He spoke quickly leaving as Ruby moved closer to Cinder and placed her stuffed bear up closer to her.

"How are you Cinder? Despite the joke I asked Sun to play... I was really worried. You just passed out shortly after or close enough to the crash..." Ruby began as the blonde doctor came back in holding two small paper cups and handed them to Cinder who quickly downed both.

Sun quickly left the room to leave the two women to talk and so he could do his own work. "I hurt all over... and my leg feels stiff." Cinder spoke closing her eyes, she knew she should have been angry that Ruby would play a joke on her, but she was just happy Ruby seemed to be fine considering the state she was in.

"That would be because you have a large chunk of metal in your one leg because your motorcycle landed on it. And the pain all over, I'm not in as bad of a state... but I feel crashes will cause such damage. Hell I was in really bad pain last night... couldn't even get anything to stop said pain till about midnight. So consider yourself lucky in that regard at least." Ruby joked as Cinder seemed to close her eyes. Ruby could just assume it was her praying that the pills she took would begin to work.

She looked at her stuffed bear, she loved how adorable the two looked. Cinder meanwhile felt the pair of eyes on her, getting slightly angry at them. She wasn't sure if it was largely down to the pain she was in, or just being irritated. The anger immediately subsided when she heard Ruby speak, "I hope you don't mind... I asked one of the nurses to place Xióng with you... I didn't really need him."

"I have no idea what that means... unless it is the name to the battered stuffed bear." Cinder commented opening up her eyes to look at the bear. "One Xióng means bear, two he was my first stuffed animal ever. Three he was the one I told you about that is always here with me for an extended period of time..." Ruby pouted as she Cinder smiled. The wear and tear on the stuffed animal made sense now.

The clear reattachment of limbs, stains causing a rainbow to form along what was essentially the animal's paws. It showed that it never really left Ruby's side, this must have been the first time really. It warmed Cinder's heart. It made her feel almost euphoric in a way. She clearly meant a lot to her.

Cinder began to laugh causing Ruby to frown. She had no idea what was the cause of Cinder's laughing, all she knew was it made her frown. "What is so funny?" Ruby puffed her cheeks out as Cinder's laughter began to die down to be replaced with slight pain.

'I guess that the stuff that doctor brought in is working... I assumed it would hurt a lot more.'

"It just occurred to me... you named your stuffed bear... bear... It just seems so unimaginative." Cinder managed as Ruby's frown deepened. "I got him when I was two... so the creative names weren't exactly at the top of my list... I was more so curious how my mom spoke two languages." Ruby responded moving her chair closer. She stood up, forcing all her weight onto her good leg and sat next to Cinder.

That was when Cinder noticed the large boot like object on Ruby's foot, and a large number of bruises along her back and arms. It caused Cinder some pain as Ruby gave her a kiss. Followed by hugging her. "It is okay. It did spawn a naming scheme I have. Named all my stuffed animals after the animal they are. But stuffed animal names aside... you seriously had me worried... you didn't wake up... and I started to worry..." Ruby spoke hugging Cinder tighter, burying her face into the crook of Cinder's neck.

Cinder hugged her back, being careful to not hurt Ruby any further than she clearly already had. "I'm sorry for having caused you that worry... and the pain you must be in now." Cinder spoke causing Ruby to look up from her spot. "One the crash wasn't your fault. Two... I'm not in pain. I'm on some really strong pain killers. So I'm feeling nothing really. Now shush... I'm trying to hide from my family... they are becoming annoying right now. As in more affectionate than normal."

"What do you mean it progressed!?" Summer yelled grabbing hold of the man's white coat and was about to slam him into the wall when Tai pulled her back. He felt the woman begin to buck. Summer had no idea how he was acting so calm about the news. She was feeling white hot blinding rage.

"Summer, calm down for five seconds and let Jim explain what he means." Tai tried to calm his wife as the other man walked back over to the printed file to show what he meant. "I mean it is very rare, but tumours can adapted and become immune to the treatment. It happens about one in every million cases. But it normally never gets this bad... it is generally caught early. But Ruby already had cancer that was already progressed."

Jim responded to the question neither parent wanted to ask, but was burning in the background of their rude entering of his office. "How long...? How long before I need to say goodbye to my baby for the final time?" Summer broke the silence, she broke the hold Tai had over her and just clenched her fists. Knuckles turning white, she could feel the nails digging into the tender flesh that was her palms.

"Not long... it seems to be pressing down on her hindbrain... and given that how fast it grew... or went undetected... I'd give her three months at most... all I can suggest is making her as comfortable as possible." Jim spoke, just looking down, shaking his head. It was the one thing he could never get used to. Telling anyone that the cancer was terminal.

But these people are his friends, he knew them for a long time, and they trusted him to help their daughter recover from an evil sickness. "If you want... I'll tell Ruby. That way you three can remain happy at least. Make me the villain," Jim spoke resting a hand on Summer's shoulder. A hand that was shrugged off almost as fast as it came to a stop on the shoulder.

"This is something Summer and I need to talk about first Jim... just please don't tell her right now..." Tai spoke, trying to be the voice of reason to his furious wife. How he wanted to join Summer in beating the ever loving crap out of everyone in the Oncology department... but he can't. He hated the fact he had to be the voice of reason, but he knew Summer would not be able to be contained otherwise.

Jim nodded his head as Tai began to drag the irate woman. He could feel a few well placed elbow jabs into his ribs, but just had to ignore it. He knew if he let go, she would go swinging at every single doctor that was meant to handle her daughter's case.

Once he felt they were far enough he let go of his wife and wrapped her in another hug. He felt her cry, something she hadn't wanted to do in a long time. Normally death was something that went hand in hand with their career, but now that it was hitting them close. Both just stood in the hallway crying inside each other's arms.

Neither really wanted to separate, but just stay there. They needed some comforting. Something they have learned from being married for so long they could only ever truly get inside each other's arms.

After what felt like an eternity they pulled back from the embrace. Summer's eyes, still holding tears. "How... how... how are..."

Tai knew what she was trying to get out between sobs. It was an important question... one that there was no real 'correct' answer. If they were dealing with a patient or family of a patient they knew they could do it. They could fake like it tore them up, but go on with their life like it was nothing. But now... now it felt like it was literally tearing them apart.

They knew they were losing the will to remain strong. But had to. Especially now. For their daughters...

"We... we need to tell her the truth... we can't keep this from her or Yang. We just have to come clean." Tai spoke pulling his wife into a tighter hold and began to rub her back. He could feel her burying her head into his chest and continued to cry.

"This is going to destroy them..."

"I know Summer... I know... but keeping this from them will do more harm to us... and them."

"I don't care Jean, we do not do something that stupid" A female doctor spoke walking into the room as Ruby pulled her head up from her comfortable spot on Cinder's chest.

"Hi Grace... what is with yelling at Sun?" Ruby spoke rubbing her eyes. She had forgotten how annoying hospitals had been, just because of how loud some of the doctors could get when it was in the middle of the day.

The brunette doctor crossed her arms as Sun began to mime for Ruby to get off the bed. She could see the slightly panicked look on Sun's face but just ignored it. She spun around so her legs were just off the bed. As Cinder began to wake up.

"Funny thing happened. It seems newbie here decided to listen to some prank of yours thinking it would be funny. Ignoring what proper ethics dictates. So get out of my patient's bed, and I'll let Janet push you back to your room."

"Going with the 'J' names today?" Ruby asked hoping around to sit on the wheelchair. "No I would never insult Jenifer using different names with a slight thematic rule." She sarcastically rebuked as she gestured the blonde man to push Ruby out.

Only stopping when Cinder spoke up and held out the stuffed bear. "Take your bear back Ruby... I don't feel right keeping him." Cinder spoke as the elder doctor gestured for Sun to hand it back to the short haired girl in the wheelchair.

"Faster Jessica! Or I'm going to start ignoring you." The doctor known as Grace began to gesture Sun to speed up causing Ruby to laugh, and almost instantly wince. "Awww, are the painkillers starting to wear off?"

"Jenny! What did we talk about? Especially when that girl's parents can have your job on a silver platter." The woman continued as Sun rolled his eyes and quickly pushed Ruby out of the room. Sun had to make sure he was gone before he knew the real berating would start.

He really hoped that any further berating would be fast considering how long his day was looking. Ruby spun the bear around once more to look at his eyes. She could hear the blonde man behind her speaking as Ruby just stared at the plastic gems.

She looked up as Sun wheeled her into her room to see her family and Weiss sitting down talking. She smiled at the sight, it looked peaceful to her. "Want me to just lock it or do you want to go into the bed?"

"Lock it... those beds suck." Ruby spoke as the man reached down and pulled a small metal bar up locking the wheels in place. "Right... Dr Coy is already mad enough at me. I should get back fast." Sun got out as he heard a distinct whistling as he quickly vacated.

Ruby reached over and unlocked the chair and began to move to a more central location in the room. "Weiss... can you leave the room for a bit and close the door?" Summer asked the white haired girl as Ruby's grandmother placed a small wooden box onto the small table next to the bed.

"Mom... why does Weiss need to lea-"

"Don't worry Yang... I need some coffee anyways." Weiss spoke patting Yang's lap and walked towards the door. Only stopping when Ruby's nose picked up a distinct scent. Something was off.

"Weiss... wait..." Ruby started as she rolled the chair back to block the door. "What is wrong... Nǎinai never makes her special dumplings and her condensed milk cookies unless something is wrong." Ruby spoke grip tightening on the wheels. She could feel her knuckles wanting to give from the pressure she was placing them under.

She looked between her parents and Nǎinai. There was one common look on their faces. Something dark was strewn across them. Something Yang and Weiss clearly had noticed as well. The smell wafting made them even more suspicious.

What Ruby had said made sense. Something seemed off. Almost as if they had terrible news. "Ruby... please... this needs to be a family talk first." Tai spoke looking at the ground as Ruby's glare harshened. "Weiss is family. She is my oldest friend and has been in a long term relationship with Yang. And unlike either of you, they have stayed true to each other. Now tell me what is wrong."

Ruby's demand as she began to wheel back a bit further. She did not like how this had started to feel suffocating.

"Ruby... please... just come into the room..." Summer spoke causing Ruby to look into her eyes. Were she noticed a few things, primarily, the sadness in her eyes getting misted over with tears wanting to shed, wanting to be free. But stayed in cased inside her silver orbs.

Ruby attempted to piece things together, but only one thing seemed to make sense. Which caused Ruby to panic in itself. She felt the air get stolen from her lungs, and heart tighten. The silence of the room was broken by Ruby's frail voice. "No... it can't be... check again..."

Yang looked at her sister to see her boring holes into their parents. That was when she managed to processes some of the hints littered around the conversations. Tears threatening to break free, she could not even humour them.

"Mom... Dad... this... this is a really bad joke... right? It has to be..."

"We already checked... we even got multiple opinions..." Tai spoke, knowing both his mother and wife may not be able to speak without crying. Something he wanted to do as well, but couldn't. "It... it progressed Ruby... apparently it is rare to happen... but it progressed..."

Ruby slammed the side of her fist into the wall next to her. She ignored the pain. She had to ignore the pain. She could see the shocked look some of them had. She ignored it and quickly began to leave the room. She had no idea where she was going, but knew she just couldn't stand there.

There was nothing but anger and sadness filling her. How was she meant to tell her friends... how was she meant to tell Cinder... She stopped midway down some hallway. She recognised she had subconsciously began to go down to Cinder's room.

She had to go somewhere to think. Something she couldn't do with Cinder around. She wheeled passed the rooms and wheeled to the elevator. Pressed a button knowing exactly where she could go. She would just need to ditch the wheelchair before she got there.

Summer knew once she left the room exactly where her daughter was. The same place she ran to once she got news that she had Cancer. Tai had stayed back because Yang had begun to cry and Weiss quickly left. Summer had told her mother-in-law to search the lower levels knowing that Ruby wouldn't be there.

Once she reached the open door at the top of the stairwell she walked out into the midday sun, enjoying the warmth a little, but the mood was almost instantly destroyed when she heard some soft sobbing.

Summer didn't even say anything, she just walked around the small doorway and stopped at the sight. She saw her normally confident daughter, clutching the her stuffed bear like her life depended on it. Crying into the fabric. Summer walked over and took a seat next to Ruby and wrapped her in a hug.

Ruby tensed at the sudden contact but knew from the soft contact it was her mother. Ruby let a hand go and grabbed onto her mom. Summer said nothing. How could she even if she wanted to?

She just let her daughter's tears soak into her clothes. She could feel the tell tale signs of herself wanting to cry, but she couldn't. Now was not her time to cry. She had to be strong for her Little Rose.

She could hear the crying subside a little to hear but the tears did not stop. She heard a faint sound. Almost a whisper.

"Zhè shì bù gōngpíng de māmā"

"I know Little Rose... I know..." Summer spoke, the slight tremor that was her trying to remain as strong as she could... but how could she remain strong. Ruby was right... it wasn't fair.

Ruby may have done some things that were questionable, but she always did what was good. She has put herself in harm's way multiple times just because she knew it was right.

Once she heard the news it may have torn her apart, but this... the fact her daughter who would just laugh in the face of most things that would terrify people... this destroyed her. She let the tears slip past.

Ruby pulled back once she felt a few stray water droplets hit her. She looked up and saw her mom's normally beautiful face covered in tears. Which caused Ruby even more hurt. Just because she knew she was the cause. She was the person that broke her normally strong mother... and she just knew she also broke her dad... even if he didn't want to show it. She knew it.

"I-I-I'm... s-s-sorry... m-mom." Ruby got out rubbing her eyes as Summer pulled her tighter into the embrace. "Don't be sorry Little Rose... this isn't your fault..." Summer got out rubbing Ruby's back. She didn't want Ruby to feel any unneeded discomfort.

Ruby began to rub her eyes on Summer's shoulder, "H-h-h-h-how... l-l-long..." Ruby asked, burying her face into her mom's shoulder.

This is the part that had caused her even more pain. How do you tell your youngest that they only have a few months left? How do you tell her, that she'll never achieve her dreams? Tai had always said the key was being honest. But honesty seemed so hard right now. She knew she would need to push through that, but that didn't make it any easier.

"Jim... says three months... at most..." Summer felt her daughter tense once more. Summer would just give to stay in this moment. Knowing in a couple of months, she wouldn't have one of her daughters... she wouldn't be able to hold her Little Rose in her arms.

"Why... so... short?" Ruby asked as she tried to stop crying. She wanted to cry... she knew she could... but she had to find out why. She needed to now. Almost like it was a morbid curiosity.

Summer again, felt her chest tighten. She couldn't think of a worse way to go for her daughter really. "The cancer spread to your brain... and another tumour has started to grow, and is practically crushing the part of the brain that controls your heart to beat, and what causes you to breath... it is essentially all the actions you do without thinking."

Ruby could feel some more tears spilling. She couldn't stay strong. She began to cry again, Summer just accepted the fact she was going to be cried on. She would rather that then Ruby just bottle up her emotions and attempt to do something drastic again.

They just stayed there, Ruby seeking her mom's comfort, and Summer just wanted to be with her daughter. Even if it was going to be short lived when someone inevitably would come up the stairs and find them.

They stayed like that for what felt like an eternity to them, both rather happy that they weren't alone. "How am I meant to tell Cinder? She is going to be destroyed by it... and I'm scared how she might react to it."

"I don't know Ruby... I don't think there is a right or a wrong way... but bad news has always been what your dad has been good with... and his advice has always been the same... be honest." Summer spoke not stopping, rubbing Ruby's back.

"But you can keep your Xióng with you... I know he can calm you down... and even help you think... him and being alone is what help you the most. If you don't think you can tell her... Your father or I can..."

Summer didn't want Ruby to feel pain, or heartbreak... she just wanted Ruby to be comfortable... she wanted Ruby to be happy. Even if it was in ignorance. She wanted her daughter to smile again. She didn't some scowl or anger to be her last memories of Ruby. She wanted happy ones.

"No... I should tell her... but it isn't easy trying to figure out how I'm meant to tell her. I mean... her mom's cancer went terminal... and mine did... that is going to mess with her... I just hope that she will be fine."

"Let's go back downstairs. You must be cold... and your Nǎinai made her special cookies because she knows you love them." Summer spoke as Ruby pulled back. "Can you carry me down? Crutches are stupid and suck..."

"Okay Little Rose."

Author's Note:

Okay, another chapter down... and I swear this story seems to get longer and longer... original count said there was only going to be 10 chapter... then that turned into 15... then that turned to 19... now I'm just going to play by ear... it really feels like two chapters for now... then an epilogue.