Authors Note:

Wow. It's been a long time! I have a feeling that this story is reaching it's end, and I'm at peace with that! Of course I know what's going to happen, I just don't know how many chapter it will take, but I can assure you, this is coming to a close! Let me know what you all think and thank you for being patient with me! :)

Chapter Fifty Seven

Time Jump – One Month Later

Jace POV:

Everyone was keeping themselves busy today because we were all anxious to hear how Rosa was doing. There was nothing more heartbreaking than seeing your child go through this, and seeing your granddaughter battling a terrible disease. It was gut wrenching, and something I wouldn't wish upon anyone. Clary was so stressed that I had to have Pat take out onto the ice to clear her mind, which meant I was in charge of the house today, but I didn't mind. I was cleaning the living room when I heard the door open. Not thinking much of it, I kept cleaning but when I looked up there stood Jack with tears streaking down her face.

"What happened?" I immediately asked. "Is she getting worse?" I asked and Jack shook her head. "So are these happy tears?" I asked and she shook her head again. "So what happened?"

"The cancer hasn't gotten worse, but she still has it. They are starting her on a new batch of chemo tomorrow." Jack said and I nodded. "Daddy I'm scared." She said and I opened my arms and she ran towards me. She clung to me for dear life as I felt her body wracking with sobs. This was something that made me want to cry but I had to be strong for her, because she didn't need to be strong all the time.

"Everything is going to be sweetheart." I said.

"How do you know?" She asked. I made my way to the couch and Jack curled up on my lap.

"Because she is a Herondale deep down." I said and I felt her laugh. "She has our fight. She isn't going to let this take her away from us."

"She's so little dad. And Nora knows something is wrong. Something terrible. I can see it affecting her." Jack said. "I can't imagine what she's going through. Even I can feel when Pat is sick, and that's not even close to how sick Rosa is."

"I know baby, but we have to keep believing and helping her fight." I said and she nodded. "Is Tucker at the hospital?"

"Yea. Rosa was pretty upset." Jack explained. "She wanted some daddy daughter time, and I figured it was the person time to come and tell everyone."

"Go get Nora." I said. "Spend a few hours with her, and forget about all this stress. You need it." I said and she nodded. I kissed her cheek and she got off my lap and left the room. I sat back on the couch and sighed. I couldn't picture something happening to Rosa, and I don't know how this family would function if something did happen.

Time Jump – Olympics

Karina POV:

Gallagher was leaving the facility today to go back to Australia to leave for the Olympics, and I thought it was a waste of time considering Dublin was hosting, and we were closer than Australia was, but the team wanted to travel together and I understood that. They wanted to be unified. The facility van was taking a bunch of the athletes to the airport and I was walking him there.

"I'm going to miss you." I said when we reached the van but we both lingered.

"I'm going to miss you too." Gallagher said. "But you'll be in Dublin soon enough."

"Doesn't feel soon enough." I said and he laughed.

"We've spent time apart before." He said.

"But we weren't together back than." I said and he simply smiled.

"We can do this babe." He said as he pressed his lips to mine. When we pulled away I couldn't help but smile and figured it was now or never.

"I love you." I said and I saw his eyes widen and his smile reach from ear to ear.

"I love you too." He said and I smiled and wrapped my arms around his torso. He hugged me back before someone started speaking.

"Let's go Gallagher. We have to be at the airport." The driver said and I laughed.

"Coming." Gallagher said. "I'll call you when I land."

"Safe trip." I said and he kissed me one more time before getting in the van. I watched it drive away, with the biggest smile on my face. I felt lighter, and I couldn't believe he loved me back.

I got back to the house and mom was in the kitchen cooking something. I walked over and sat at the breakfast bar just replaying what just happened in my head. When she turned around she looked at me confused, but I probably looked like a loon to her.

"Why are you so happy?" She asked and I laughed.

"I told Gallagher that I loved him." I said and she smiled.

"And?" She asked.

"He said it back." I said and she walked over and hugged me.

"That's wonderful baby." She said and I smiled.

"I felt so much lighter after saying it." I said.

"That happens, especially when they say it back." She said.

"Has Jack come around?" I asked and I saw her mood shift. "What happened?"

"The scan showed that the cancer isn't gone, but it also hasn't gotten any worse." My mom said. "She starting a new batch of chemo tomorrow. It'll be a higher dose, so she will be feeling things more intensely than before."

"It's so unfair." I said and my mom sighed.

"I know it is, but life isn't fair." My mom said.

"She's just so young." I said. "She should be running around in the snow, not laying in a hospital bed."

"I agree, but for now we just have to be here, and support her." Mom said and I nodded. I hated seeing Rosa go through this, it wasn't fair.

Time Jump – Two Days Later

Patrick POV:

When we walked into the house PJ threw his bag on the ground.

"Whoa, no need to take your anger out on the skates." I said and he looked at me with so much frustration in his eyes.

"We lost dad." He said and I sighed.

"You can't win them all PJ." I said.

"We came in 9th dad. 9th. That's pathetic." PJ said.

"PJ, you and Shelby are still relatively new at being partners." I explained. "Those kids have been training together for years. They had the upper hand."

"We will never get to the Olympics with how we performed today." PJ said.

"Just do your best. The rest is up to the judges." I said and then there was a knock on the door. I went to open in and there stood Shelby. "Hey Shelby."

"Hey Mr. Herondale." She said. "Is PJ here?" She asked.

"Yea. He's in the living room. Come on in." I said.

"Are you sure?" She asked and for a second I forgot the houses were normally forbidden for athletes.

"I'm sure." I said and she walked in. "PJ, you have a visitor."

"I don't want to see anyone right now." PJ said.

"Gee thanks. You did drop me on my ass today. The least you can do is talk to me." Shelby said and I laughed and PJ's head shot up.

"Shelby." PJ said. "Why are you in my house?" He asked.

"Your dad let me in." She said.

"Really?" He asked and I laughed.

"Really. Come on Henry, let's go watch mommy on the half pipe." I said as I grabbed Henry and stood up. "We'll leave you two alone to talk things out." I said and I left. If anyone was going to get through to PJ it was her.

PJ POV:

"Are you here to yell at me?" I asked and she laughed.

"Why would I yell at you?" She laughed.

"Cause as you so nicely pointed out, I dropped you on your ass today." I said and she smiled.

"Shit happens PJ." She said.

"We got 9th Shelby." I said.

"Yea, and we beat out 6 other couples were have been working together longer than we have. That's a good thing." She said.

"I feel like I failed you. You picked me to be your partner, and we couldn't even break top 5." I admitted. "I mean, you want to go to the Olympics, and so do I and 9th place isn't going to get us there."

"First off, we're 15. We have 4 more years to improve before attempting to make out first Olympic appearance." She said. "And people mess up PJ. Even the couple that got first had a few mistakes."

"I hate messing up." I said.

"I know. It's that Herondale gene." She said and I laughed. "You're an amazing partner, and there isn't anyone else at this facility that I would want to be paired with. Which is why I asked you. Our next competition we'll be more prepared, but you can't sulk like this. Take a few moments to grieve the missed move, and I'll take a few minutes to ice my ass, but that's all we get." She said and I laughed again.

"I am sorry about that." I said.

"I know you are. My skate slipped. It happens." She said. She stood from the couch and smiled. "Practice, tonight, 9. Be there."

"What are you? Nanna?" I said and she laughed.

"Clary has a gold medal in figure skating. I trust her methods." Shelby said and I smiled.

"9 pm. Got it." I said and she smiled and left. I took a deep breath and leaned back into the couch. I wasn't going to let her down again.