December 31st - New Year's Eve - 1 Hour until New Years

The thing you remember the most about New Year's is not the food, not the sparkly and over the top decorations. It's not even the ridiculous hats one wears for the photo shoot at the beginning and end of the night. Rather it's the people you spend it with. Family, friends, and lovers. All gathered together in one space taking the leap into the new year when the ball drops.

The New Year's is a time for happiness and Joy at least for the ones leaving a crappy year behind ready to start fresh in this coming new year. For others it's simply a change from one year to another. For Lance McClain it's another year on his life lost. The sickness in his brain taking another year from him, leaving him less time with his love, Katie Holt.

Every year he grew weaker and was less motivated to go to his treatments, but every year it was her who got him into his treatments who was there to hold him when the effects of the medicine were too much for him to move from his bed. Yet there she was.

"Another year gone so fast," Katie spoke from her place next to her brother. Her hazel eyes glinting in the orange flames in the fireplace. She was absolutely stunning tonight. She was wearing a white sweater tucked into her blue jeans. Around her neck was a silver necklace. The simple heart design was absolutely adored by Katie, so much so, to the fact that she only took it off to shower. Lance's eyes traveled down to her left hand that held a wine glass hardly touched by her soft lips. Her ring finger was wearing an engagement ring. The golden band was smooth until it arrived at the side stones which rested on individual leaves each connected until it reached the gallery. The gallery was a simple diamond, none of the huge diamonds that most women wanted these days. Yes, Katie was a simple girl, but oh how he loved her.

"And yet it's not quite over," her brother replied. He rose from his spot on the couch, "I'm getting a refill, anyone need one?" He turned slowly in a circle looking at everyone. Each one shook their heads until he got to Lance. Instead of handing his glass to Matt he himself got up as well.

"I'll just come with," he replied, flashing a smile. The two disappeared into the kitchen leaving the group to chat by the fire.

In the kitchen Matt refilled his glass of wine before turning to Lance and offering him the bottle. He returned it to the counter when Lance shook his head.

"I still have to drive home," He replied chuckling.

"That's fair," Matt replied, taking a sip from his glass. He watched as Lance retrieved a glass from the cabinet. He could hardly believe that it was only months ago that Lance had been diagnosed with Astrocytoma. After years of fighting in space a tumor didn't seem to stop him from smiling.

Almost a week after his diagnosis he had proposed to Katie. Matt seemed to be the only one surprised that the proposal had happened; everyone else, including his parents, seemed to think that it would've been only a matter of time.

Emerging from his thoughts he glanced over at Lance standing at the sink. The glass was beyond full, the water now streamed down the side of the glass and over his hand. Matt set his glass down coming up beside Lance and he turned the water off.

"You good?" He asked. He gripped Lance's arm drawing him back from the sink.

Lance dropped his head into his hand as he leaned back against the counter. "I am now."

"You don't look okay," Matt took the glass from Lance setting it on the counter beside him, "Do I need to go get Pidge?" He looked over Lance who suddenly looked pale. His eyes widened in concern.

"No. The nausea will pass in a minute." Lance replied. He ran a hand through his hair swallowing as if that would help his swirling stomach. "I just need a minute." he repeated. He jerked his head toward the living room. "Go on I'll be out soon."

Matt hesitated. His gut telling him to not leave Lance alone.

"Go ahead. I'm right behind you." Lance assured.

Still not quite convinced Matt grabbed his glass anyway and headed towards the living room. Pidge gave him a curious glance when he returned without Lance, but she didn't think anymore of it when he sat down next to her whispering in her ear that he would be in in a minute.

December 31st - New Year's Eve - 45 minutes until New Years

Matt had just risen from his seat. A couple more minutes had passed, more than what was necessary and just enough to raise concern. Trailed by Pidge, Matt made his way to the kitchen. He had just stepped into the kitchen when he noticed Lance slumped against the counter, his head was angled away from them, arms limp by his sides.

"Lance!" Pidge called. She pushed passed her brother and dropped to her fiance's side. She reached a hand towards his face and turned it towards her. "Lance? Can you hear me?"

Footsteps came from the living room and Keith and Shiro entered the room. They stopped short when they saw Lance. Pidge was gripping his hand with one hand while the other brushed against his face.

"Come on Lance." She whispered the words, "We still have four years left."

"Keith-"

"Already on it," Keith replied, cutting Matt off. He had his phone out of his pocket and nine-one-one dialed before he finished his sentence.

December 31st - New Year's eve - 15 minutes until New Years

A pillow? Lance moved his hand up to touch the soft thing behind his head. He opened his eyes. A sheet covered him and iv's were in his arms. A heart monitor beeped to his right and he glanced towards it for a moment but voices just inside the room drew his attention.

Katie stood facing partly away from him. He could still see her profile, her head nodded as she listened to the doctor. Her brows knitted in concern, and he smiled. She was so cute when she made that face. He had received that face the first night they came home after his diagnosis, when they knew what the headaches meant. Pidge's hands fidgeted by her waist, her right hand playing with her engagement ring on her left. The doctor said one more thing before walking away. She stood there for a while her head lowered as she watched her ring spin around her finger. Then all at once she dropped her hands. Tilting her head backwards she blinked, exhaling she lowered her head and brought her hands to her face wiping the tears from under her eyes. She dropped her head once more taking a deep breath as she rubbed her hands on her jeans. Finally she turned and walked fully into the room.

A smile broke onto her face as she saw he was awake. Tears built in her eyes as she came to his bedside. Lance's heart twisted in his chest then even tighter as she leaned to place a kiss on his forehead.

"Katie," he started, His hand was placed on her arm as she pulled away. New tears had formed in her eyes and now it was Lance's turn to look concerned, "Baby, what's wrong?" He drew his other hand to her face tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear.

Pidge turned her head away tucking her quivering lip into her shoulder. Lance took her hand and held it to his chest. "Pidge talk to me."

"The-" she stopped. Cleared her throat and started again. "The doctor told me that he was going to be coming back in a minute. He has some news. Lance, it doesn't seem like good news."

December 31st - New Year's Eve - 5 minutes until New Year's

After what seemed like forever the Doctor finally returned a folder tucked under his arm. He stopped at the end of the bed. "Mr. McClain, we got your MRI scans back and your blood reading from the lab." He flipped through the folder then tucked it back under his arm. His body seemed to sense that something was wrong before he registered the look in the doctor's eyes.

"Your labs and scans show that you have Glioblastoma."

At that moment cheers could be heard from down the hall as the clock struck midnight. They seemed miles away hardly registering in Lance's mind.

Lance's stomach dropped and he just barely managed to voice the single word that came to mind. "What?"