Lexi sat with Ethan in her room. They were sat on the floor. He had his arm around her shoulders and she had hers around his waist.

"I'm gonna miss you, this place is gonna seem so quiet with you gone." he pressed a kiss to her hair.

Her head was lain on his shoulder. "I'm gonna miss you too. I enjoy our alone time, talking before bed. Seeing your eyes and smile before I go to sleep. Makes me have nice dreams."

"You will be fine you know!"

"Maybe." she replied. Doubt in her voice.

"Hey is that negativity I hear? Coz I would hate to have to kick your ass!" he grinned a crooked smile and her heart almost stopped at the sight of it.

"Breathe Lexi!" he reminded.

"Oh yeah!" she said breathlessly. "See what you do to me!"

She smiled at him.

"I can come if you want you know." he offered.

"No it's ok. It'll just be me being poked and prodded. Then I'll have to go and have that IV thingie inserted."

He frowned. "Aw baby I hate that this is happening to you!"

"Like you say Eth I'll be fine. Tell me you'll do one thing though. I need you to promise!"

He looked at her suspiciously. "I dunno."

"Promise first!" she pressed.

"No I refuse!" he said stubbornly. He didn't like the sound of this.

"Please!" she pleaded.

He relented. "I might, that's the closest you'll get!" he had his cute stubborn face on.

"Ethan if I say I don't wanna see you then don't come. I mean this is gonna be hard enough to do without worrying whether I'm gonna be ill all over you."

His first reaction was an instant no. Then he relented. "If that's what your sure you want!"

"Lexi we're leaving in 5 baby." her mum yelled.

Ethan stood up. Pulled her to standing too. "Next time your in here you'll be well, well recovering."

She smiled. Hugged him and kissed him softly.

"I'd better be going." she said softly.

He kissed her softly in reply.

"You'd better be going." he told her softly.

She kissed him this time.

They hugged each other tightly.

"Stay strong Lex."

"I will Ethan."

They walked out of her room. He was carrying her bag. They walked outside and they placed it in the boot of the car. He hugged her tightly again.

"Love you." he murmured in her ear.

"Me too." she whispered back.

He rubbed her back. "I'll see you tomorrow ok. And make sure you give your mum and dad the phone number of the TV and I'll ring you!"

She climbed in her car. Put her hand on the window. He placed his over it. Danny and Alice climbed into the front and started the car. Ethan stepped back and the car pulled away. Lexi watched him out of the back window till the car turned the corner and disappeared. He watched the car fade and then turn. Soon all that was left was dusty tyre marks. Leopards Den was quiet. Eerily quiet. The place felt different without her. Like the life was zapped out of it. He could swear the sun shone dimmer than before. Look at the cheesiness. God he had it bad! He felt sick and depressed. He went and bombarded himself in his room. Picked up an old CD of his. Good Charlotte. Chronicles of Life and Death. He thought it was oddly fitting. He felt like listening to some music like this today. He didn't want happy music nut he didn't wanna sit in silence either. So he sat and depressed himself even more God this month was gonna be the longest of his life!

(X)

Lexi lay in her hospital bed asleep. She had her bone marrow aspirate and her biopsy done. And the surgery to implant the intravenous catheter. The catheter didn't look nice. Her pale skin was already purple with bruising. It was a cone shaped port with a silicone end implanted under her skin near to the collar bone. It had 3 loose wires leading to one large tube. She had been put to sleep to implant it. As they spoke the first chemotherapy drugs were dripping into her body. This would happen for another hour and then they'd stop. Till tomorrow. The drugs they were using were Predinisone, L-asparagines and vincristine. Those names meant nothing to him! They'd been told she'd lose her hair almost immediately and the nausea would almost immediately follow.

The aspirate and biopsy had been awful. She'd been asked to lie on her stomach and given an injection to numb the area. But you could tell it still hurt her. She hidden her face in the bed she lay on. The as the pain intensified she closed her eyes and bit her lip. As they pulled the needle out she'd been breathing audibly. She hadn't cried though. Her eyes glistened but she stayed strong. No doubt for Alice.

He and Alice were sat in her room waiting for her to wake up. Alice was nodding off. They had their blood samples taken. Josh Mrs Elliott and Ethan would be down tomorrow. Mrs Elliott and Ethan had insisted.

Lexi exhaled a big breath and opened her eyes. Smiled at them groggily.

"Hi mum, dad. Did I miss much?"

"Na we just got some blood taken. I didn't even cry!" Danny said proudly.

Lexi smiled.

"How do you feel sweetie?" Alice asked.

"A bit high and giggly to be honest. That needle they gave me has sent me a little bit loopy." she looked at Danny. "I could use a wooden farm about now!"

He laughed with Lexi and Alice. She hadn't lost her sense of humour. "If your good I'll bring you one tomorrow!"

"O I look forward to it daddy!" she winked and looked down at her IV. "God they butchered me! Look at that bruise. I haven't had one like that EVER! That surgeon is gonna feel the back of my sock!" Lexi smiled to herself as she realised what she said. "the back of my sock" she whispered and giggled like it was hilarious.

Danny and Alice looked at each other. "Back of your sock?" he questioned.

"I dunno." Lexi said as more giggles escaped. "It just slipped out!"

"Well preferably yours and not Danny's after a full day of surgery." Alice said smiling. "They walk away themselves after that!"

Danny opened his mouth in shock. "Mine have nothing on yours dear."

She playfully hit him on the arm.

Lexi smiled dreamily. "Where's Ethan?"

"He's at home baby." Alice replied.

She frowned. "Oh really? I miss him! I wish he was here. He's so handsome and lovely and I love him!" she murmured. Her voice growing fainter after every word.

Danny and Alice shared a knowing look.

Lexi blinked a little and let her eyes close. Her breathing was slow and deep.

"We're never gonna be able to keep them apart you know Danny." Alice said softly.

"I know." he replied.

"They're just like we used to be!" she said.

"I sincerely hope not. I'd hate to have to kill him!" he quipped.

Alice smiled. "We'll talk about this when she's better. We're gonna have to set some ground rules. Especially since they are speeding towards their sixteenth birthday."

He nodded in agreement.

(X)

Ethan was going out of his mind. At home without Lexi. He had to find something to do! His room was tidy and so was Lexi's. He supposed he could change his sheets but when he'd went to do that her scent had filled his nose and decided against it. He could write a poem or letter for her, or even a rap she liked that! No - too obvious. She'd probably be lonely in her hospital bed. He had an idea and smiled. He went into Lexi's room and looked to see if she had a phonebook. She didn't. Damn! She had left her mobile though. Score! He took her phone into his room and took the numbers he needed. Rang each one.

(X)

Alice was asleep in the chair. "Honey it's 9 oclock. Go home. Come back tomorrow. I'll wait with her tonight."

Alice yawned. "No Danny you…"

"Alice don't argue with me on this. I'm asking you to go home. For Daniel. She's not likely to wake anyway. Your mums on her way."

She nodded. "How has she been?"

Danny exhaled. "She moans in her sleep every now and then. She frowns too. I hate this already and we're barely a day in! She still has her sense of humour, It'll only get worse from here on in!"

"Our little girl is a fighter Danny. She can beat anything. She's braver than me. Stronger than you."

He nodded in agreement. They were both stood watching the young girl in the bed. Hands clasped tightly.

Mrs Elliott walked in. Saw Lexi in the hospital bed.

"Aw look at the poor wee lassie! Don't worry though. She's keelies of the toon like her mum!"

Alice smiled widely.

Danny frowned. "Alice?"

"It's Scottish slang for a tough city girl!"

"Silly me!" he joked.

"Hey me and mum could have a conversation which would go completely over your head listen. How about some peices when we get home mum?"

"Yeah I think we will." Mrs Elliott replied.

"Pieces of what?" Danny asked.

"Peice is Scottish for sandwich."

"Huh?"

"It's ok honey." Alice patted his hand.

"Goodnight honey." he kissed her and then patted her stomach softly.

"Can I say one more?" Mrs Elliott asked.

"Go on." Danny rolled his eyes.

"Well that Dupe. The eejjit wiz blootered ootae his coupon!" Mrs Elliott smiled.

Alice burst out laughing. "That's about right!"

"Man stood here completely puzzled!" Danny said.

"Mum said Dupe was drunk out of his face!"

Danny smiled. "Go on then ladies. It's passed your bedtime I think!"

"Hey any mair ay yer cheek an ye'll get a cuddy lug ye wee bugger!" Mrs Elliott exclaimed.

"Or maybe a Glasgow kiss." Alice added in a sweet tone.

"No translation needed!" Danny said and smiled. "Go on get home. And ladies no talking to strange men!" he said in mock seriousness.

"And we're talking to you why?" Alice said grinning.

"Ha ha honey!" he kissed her lovingly again. "Get some sleep for junior and Lexi."

He kissed Mrs Elliott's cheek. "Take care of her please." he whispered.

"You know I will. And the wee laddie too!"

"Why are you piling on the Scottish?" Danny asked.

"I have no idea!" she smiled.

"Bye." he said and waved. Then settled on his chair. Started doing a criss cross puzzle

(X)

3 cups of coffee and 5 puzzles later Lexi stirred. She frowned, groaned and clutched her stomach.

"Hey baby. It's ok. Daddies here."

"Dad?" she murmured groggily.

"How do you feel?" Danny asked.

"Sick. Really sick!"

He stroked her cheek. "It just means the drugs are working.

She nodded. "Will you pour me a drink please. My right arm feels really heavy and achy after they put the stupid IV in my chest!"

"Sure sweetie."

He poured her some water and she sipped it. She lay back down. Quietly. A few minutes later she shot up and was violently sick. The nurses came in and helped Lexi. She was very distressed.

"Dad I'm…."

A nurse started murmuring to her softly. Lexi nodded.

"Dad can we have 5 minutes. Why don't you get a coffee yeah?" she wrinkled her nose.

"Ok baby."

He left came back after 10 minutes. Lexi was in clean pyjamas. Her bedding clean. She was again lain down. Her eyes were shiny like she wanted to cry. He walked in and smiled at her.

"Sorted?" he asked.

She exhaled. "I'm so sorry daddy. You didn't wanna see that!" she said pained.

He looked at her still smiling. "It's ok Lexi baby. Trust me I had worse as you were growing up!"

"Yeah we'll I was a kid then. Now I'm grown up. I'm still sorry!" the guilt in her tone pained him.

"Well don't be Lexi bear. I love you. I only care about the fact that it distressed you! Not coz I seen it! Now why don't you try to get more sleep? I will be right here!"

A/N and it has begun, poor lexi already! will she be strong enough and will she survive? keep reading to find out!