Chp 22

Mel's POV

I awoke to the smell of pancakes drifting through to the bedroom. I checked the time, seeing it was seven am. I managed to pull myself up and out of bed. I brushed my hair, tying it into a bun then went through to the kitchen.

Mark was just in his boxers, making pancakes for our breakfast. He looked up and smiled. "Morning." He said as I walked to him and wrapped my arms around his waist. I kissed his cheek and walked over to the coffee machine.

He put a stack of pancakes on the table when he was finished with the last one. He put our an array of fruit, syrup, cinnamon and sugar - anything you could want on a pancake.

We sat down and started putting our breakfasts together. I took a bite of mine and groaned. "Oh my gosh, these are so good." I said.

He chuckled at my face and carried on eating. We soon finished and put the plates away in the dishwasher. I propped myself on his kitchen counter and swung my legs, watching as he washed his hands. He dried them and came over, resting his hands on my thighs.

My skin felt hot. "You nervous?" He asked.

I smiled softly and said, "Hell yeah." He was taking me to his parents place to meet his family. It was the first time I was ever taken to meet someone's parents - how was I supposed to feel about this?

He chuckled and said, "My mom and dad aren't bad. I'm more worried about my brothers being rude."

I laughed. He smiled and kissed me, cupping my cheek. I could have stayed like that all day, but I had a class to get to. "I'm going to be late." I mumbled against his lips.

He pulled away and I jumped off, getting ready for the class I was going to. I kissed his cheek on my way out and said, "See you later."

The lectures seemed to drag on. With every passing minute, I checked the time. I was slightly thankful it was dragging on as I was nervous to meet his family.

At two, I finished up and went to Annabeth and my place. She looked up as I unlocked the door and came in. "Hey." She said, smiling.

"Sup." I replied.

I went through to my room and found the dress I and put aside and the pretty heels. I slipped on the beige pink knee length dress. It had a scoop neck with lace sleeves till my elbows. I slipped on my sledge heels and grabbed a white jacket.

I put my hair up in a pretty up do and touched up my makeup. I went out to see if Annabeth approved. I blushed as she was with Percy, drinking coffee.

"Hey Ann, I'm meeting Marks parents for the first time. Is this fine?" I asked.

They both looked my way, and Annabeth gaped. "Melody Cross, you look absolutely stunning." I blushed and she smiled.

There was a knock at the door and I grabbed my clutch and said goodbye, going to meet Mark at the door. I opened the door and he opened his mouth to say hi but stopped, looking at me.

He blinked a couple times. "Wow." He said, breathless. I chuckled and closed the door behind me, leaning forward and kissing him. He laced our fingers and said, "You look beautiful."

"You look very handsome yourself." I said, admiring the suit he had on. We started the walk to the elevator and went to ground floor. When we stepped into the lobby, I felt eyes on us as we walked hand in hand out the door and got into his tesla.

I rested my hand on his leg as we started the drive to his parents place. They apparently lived in a big house with a big yard, and pool. The drive was about forty five minutes, and we arrived there just before five.

It was a beautiful house, with emaculate cream walls and well trimmed front lawn. He looked to me. "You ready?" He asked. I nodded and he got out, coming around to open my door for me.

We walked to the front door and gave a knock. A middle aged lady opened it. She had greying blonde hair, a slim figure, smartly dressed with a smile. "Mark, so great to see you." She said, giving her son a hug.

She turned to me. "Hi, I'm Melody." I said, putting out a hand. She shook my hand with a smile. "I'm Laura. Please come in." She said, opening the door wider.

He let me in go first and I walked in. One word to describe the house - amazing. We were shown through to what I guess was an outside lounging area. There was a middle aged man with greying brown hair in a suit, which I guessed is his dad, and three young guys, I'm guessing his brothers.

"Mark." The man said, grinning and shaking his sons hand before giving him a hug.

He turned to me and put on a charming smile. "And who is this beautiful young lady." I chuckled and shook his hand.

"Melody."

"Well, Melody, we're so happy to have you as a guest tonight. I'm Jack." I smiled at him.

Laura came back. "Can I get you anything to drink?" She asked us. We both got wine and she came back, having poured some for us.

"So how are the studies?" Laura asked her son.

"Going well. Long hours I work but I guess I can only get used to it." He said. They smiled at their son and the three younger boys looked between each other.

"And you, Melody, what are you studying?" Jack asked.

"I'm studying to be an oncology social worker." I said. They looked quite surprised.

Here it comes. "Oh, that's quite interesting! I have a friend working in that sphere of the medical sciences. She does amazing work with the older patients." Jack said. What? I was sure they would ask about my choice of professions reason.

Jack and Laura went to dish up and we were left with his brothers. "Are you going to introduce them?" I asked, as he was looking warily to where his three brothers were standing chatting.

He sighed, looking down at me. I chuckled at his face.

He put a hand on the small of my back and we took the few steps to get closer to them. "Oh, Mark, how nice of you to come introduce us." One of the twins said.

"Melody these are the twins, Keith and Warren." He said gesturing to the one who had spoken and then the boy next to him. They both had brown hair like their father but had eyes like Mark's.

"Excuse their hormones, they're sixteen." He said, and I gave a smile as they blushed deep red. "And this is Peter. He's eighteen."

I gave him a smile and he returned it, stepping forward and extending his hand out. "Nice to meet you." He said, politely. He looked like a shorter version of Mark.

"This is Melody." Mark introduced me.

He looked to me and I smiled. "So you'll be graduating soon, right?" I said to Peter.

He seemed taken aback by me asking a question. Did Mark usually not like them chatting to his girlfriends? "Yeah, in two weeks time."

We heard Laura calling Mark and he excused himself, not before saying, "Boys." He said it almost as a warning.

He walked off and they looked between each other. "Does he not like you talking to his girlfriends?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

Warren shrugged. "He's just always seen as immature as we are younger, and partly because he thinks we'll be rude." He said.

I chuckled. "Well don't mind him, you can ask me anything you like." I said, before taking a sip of my wine.

Keith studied me for a second. "Why would you want to date my brother of all people?" It was my turned to be shocked by a question.

"Because he's kind, and sweet, and he's very understanding."

"So you're not dating him for our money?"

"No, of course not."

He raised an eyebrow. "That's a first." He said. He yelped and rubbed his arm as Peter had hit it.

"Sorry, it's just that Marks brought a girl only once before and we found out she only wanted him for his money and then he never brought anyone around after that and became very involved in his schoolwork - the reason why he got good grades and is now studying medicine." Peter explained.

I nodded. "Well I think the question is why he would want to date me - after I've told him about my background." I said, smiling.

"Do tell." Warren said.

"I got leukemia when I was five. I was a sufferer for eleven years. But I've been cancer free for the past two years."

They fell silent. "Was it hard? I mean, I know that's obvious, but I'm asking because my friend found out he has a cancer growing behind his one eye." Peter asked.

I nodded. "Of course. It's hard emotionally and physically. But at least with his cancer it can be removed through an operation, even if he loses his sight."

"Leukemia is cancer in the blood, right?" Keith asked.

"Yeah."

"Was it scary?"

I nodded. "Well coughing up blood on your eighth birthday isn't very fun." I said, shrugging.

They seemed like they wanted to ask more questions but their eyes fell on someone behind me. I turned and saw Mark making his way over to us. He put a hand on the small of my back and said, "You ready to eat."

I nodded and gave the boys a smile, then took his arm and let him lead me to their dining room. He pulled out a chair for me and we took a seat. They had a beautiful, long, wooden dining table with silver cutlery and paintings hanging on the walls.

Laura and Jack came through, giving us a smile as they put down plates for us. Keith, Warren and Peter came through and sat down. Jack and Laura placed their plates down in front of them and took a seat across from us.

We all started to eat the beautiful lamb roast she had prepared. It made my taste buds tingle and my mouth want to water. "So, Melody, did you come from New York?" Jack asked.

I smiled and shook my head. "I've lived in Boston most of my life." I said.

"How are the schools there?" Laura asked.

Mark gave me a sideways glance, afraid I might not want to talk about my life. "Well I've only ever been homeschooled, so I couldn't say." I said, and had a sip of my wine.

"Oh." Jack said, taken aback. "How come?"

"Dad." Mark said, be it overprotective. His dad furrowed his eyebrows.

"It's fine." I said, giving Mark a reassuring smile. "I've had leukemia since I was five."

I gave a smile as his parents seemed to stop chewing. "Oh - I'm so sorry for prying." Jack immediately apologized.

"No, honestly. I'm fine with talking about it. I was chatting to the guys about it." I assured them, not wanting to make them feel bad.

Laura gave a smile. "Are you still fighting?" She asked.

I shook my head. "I've been cancer free the past two and a half years." I said.

"I was wondering why you decided to be an oncology social worker." Jack mused.

I chuckled. "People find it can be depressing, but from personal experience, I've made good friends in people who helped me when I wanted to give up. If I can help at least ten people that'll be enough to keep me happy for the rest of my life."

They all smiled, and Mark rested a hand on my leg. "I see why you have started dating such a beautiful young lady." Laura said, and Mark chuckled, me blushing slightly from the praise.

"You know Peters friend, Kyle, recently found out he has a cancerous growth on his eye. The doctors say he's going to be blind in his right eye. He seems pretty depressed lately, and he doesn't come around anymore. Would you mind chatting with him sometime? If you're free of course." Jack said.

I nodded enthusiastically. "Of course! I'd love to." I said.

We finished the divine meal and Mark said he was going to walk a little with me. He had ditched his tie and suit jacket. He laced our fingers as we walked down the garden and toward an old treehouse that was only high enough for us to just dangle our legs off the ground.

"How do you do it?" Mark asked, looking at me. He smiled at my confused look. "You're so strong, Mel. Honestly, if it was me I would be getting defensive and would refuse to talk about my life. But you're so open about everything."

I gave a smile. "I have nothing to hide." I said. He smiled and leaned forward, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

He told me about his memories from his childhood revolving around his home. He told me about the water balloon fights, the pool parties, one time when him and a friend drank too many beers in this very treehouse.

I wished I could exchange the same stories. I guess we did have pillow fights in the cancer ward. We used to have pizza parties in the lounge area. We once all ate too much ice cream and got brain freeze.

We soon found our way lurking back to the patio where I had met Jack. Laura and Jack were chatting there. Him, his dad, and his brothers all got into a chat about guy things and I was left to chat to with Laura.

We stood apart from the guys. "Can I tell you something?" She asked, turning to me. I nodded.

"I know this is usually something you don't talk to your sons girlfriend about, I know, but it's regarding some advice I need."

"Of course."

She took a deep breath. "I recently found out I have breast cancer." I felt my throat pain. I hardly knew her but I felt her pain for her.

"Have you told anyone?" I asked.

She shook her head. "I don't know how to tell Jack and the boys. I just can't bring myself to every time I try." She said.

"Well is it spreading? Is the tumor large?" I asked.

"It's not spreading currently. But it is a bit large." She wiped at her face. "It's a gene I've gotten from my mother."

I swallowed hard. "I once decided to go for a check up on my own. I was trying to prove my independence. And I regretted it." I said, and she looked at me.

"The doctor told me the leukemia had come back. I wanted to have my moms shoulder to cry on, my brother to tell me I was okay, and that he'll stand by me like he had for his whole life." I looked out at the garden. "I nearly didn't make the walk home that day. I really didn't want to. I didn't want to have to break my moms heart all over again - for the third time. I broke down crying every few meters."

"Laura," I said, turning to face her. "Holding it in doesn't make it easier. Going for check ups is even worse. You have to tell them. It's not good for you to be holding so much pressure on your shoulders. Distributing it makes it much easier."

She smiled. "Thank you." She said.

Soon the night was over and we were saying goodbye. I got some details on Peter's friend and Laura's number.

We walked to the car and got in. I saw the time was 11pm. And it was still a through minute drive back to his place. I got comfortable in the seat, and found the peaceful music playing drift me to sleep.

I was awoken shortly after. I blinked my eyes open and saw Mark, smiling down at me. "Hey, we're back." I gave a smile and unbuckled my seat belt, grabbing my clutch and getting out, him closing the door for me. He laced our fingers and we walked into the lobby. The doorman gave a nod, him sipping on his coffee.

We went up the elevator, and I felt as though I was drifting down the corridor to his place. He opened the door and switched on the kitchen lights. We went to his room and I got out my pajama pants.

I put my hair into a ponytail before slipping off my shoes. Mark helped me unzip my dress and he pulled it down over my shoulders, then wrapped his arms around my waist, resting his face in the crook of my neck.

He pressed a soft kiss to my neck, making me close my eyes from the pleasure of his warmth. "Did you have a good night?" He asked, and I nodded.

I felt upset when he moved away, leaving my skin cold without his warmth. I was going to continue getting undressed when he handed me one of his tops. I smiled and pulled it on, then took my dress off. I pulled on my shorts and went to the bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face.

I drifted back into the room, and got in the bed, hearing him brush his teeth. I closed my eyes and soon felt the bed dip and him move over. I turned around and he gave me one last smile before turning off the lights and enveloping us in the darkness.

He cupped my cheek and kissed me sweetly. I rested my head on his chest and he held me close to him, his arm slung around my waist. I fell asleep to the monotonous sound of his beating heart.

Please Review - want to know feedback on what you guys think I should do better or if you have an idea for me to add in :)