Hailey's POV
Liv sounded so upset on the phone when she called me. Apparently, she had broken the news of the baby and her cancer to Lucas, and he was not handling it well. I could hear sobbing, yelling, and things being thrown. It was as if he were angry at the world, and he had every reason to be. We all did.
"Oh, my. I hope everyone is okay." Cat frowned, sincerely looking concerned.
"We'll let you know as soon as we can. I am so sorry to leave before we finished cooking. This was so much fun, and I learned so much. Thank you." I hugged her, realizing she was just as affectionate as I. She kept her hands up, since they were doughy, squeezing me with her wrists instead.
"It was so lovely to meet you, Hailey. I am so happy Ian found such a bright young lady such as yourself. We will see each other soon. As I always say, everything will turn out for the best. Keep that in mind with whatever is going on."
"Thank you," I whispered as I pulled away. "Ian, we need to go. I'll explain in the car."
He nodded, kissing and hugging his mother goodbye. The way he listened to me without asking so much as a question made me smile, knowing he trusted me so much. We headed to the car, but it wasn't until he started it and began driving away that I told him what was happening.
"She sounded so upset, Ian. I don't know the exact details, just that she finally told him about the cancer and the baby. It sounded bad." My stomach knotted as my imagination ran wild with what could be going on. Liv was full-on sobbing on the phone, but it wasn't just sadness in her tone; there was anger too.
"She knew that we knew?" Ian asked, catching a detail I hadn't.
"I guess so. Maybe Lucas told her when she finally told him?" I shrugged, unsure of what was really going on, only knowing it was not good.
**Song Suggestion: When You Were Mine by Hayd. **
We chose a bad day to go so far away. The three and a half hours it took to make it back to New York felt way too long. Ian sped as much as he could, but traffic wasn't exactly our friend. We arrived at their beautiful fairytale of a house only to see a not so happy scene. Lucas and Liv were outside yelling at one another, and not just a little yelling, but full-on scary yelling with body language to match their anger.
"Oh God," Ian said, as he too was not expecting this. The moment his car parked, I jumped out, racing towards the two idiots who deeply love each other but are hurting right now. Hurting so badly, they don't know how to cope, taking their anger at the world out on each other.
"Stop! Stop, stop, stop!" I yelled, cutting between them. With Liv at my back, I turned to Lucas. "What is going on?!"
"She won't get treatment right away. I can't lose her. I won't!" Lucas yelled, clearly on edge.
"I won't kill this baby! Not for my sake. I can wait to be treated," she yelled back, and suddenly everything made sense.
Lucas wants her to treat the cancer immediately, but with her being pregnant, it seems she can't. Then Liv here won't ever abort a baby, especially not for something she would feel would be selfish. She's not going to choose her own life over her child's. Frankly, I am surprised at Lucas. He's letting his fear of losing Liv take him over and make him into a completely different person. I just need to remind him of who he really is. What Liv really needs right now.
Without a word, I marched up to Lucas, stretching my hand out. He almost flinched, thinking I was going to smack him, but I grabbed him by the wrist instead and dragged him closer to Liv. I placed his hand over her stomach, looking him dead in the eyes. He needs to realize what he's asking her to do. He needs to see this unborn child as more than just an obstacle in the way of Liv's treatment.
"Imagine this was Abi right now. Imagine that you knew this baby, that it's your daughter. Now think of what you're asking Liv to do- essentially, asking her to kill your child. Could you do it?" Lucas paled as his expression changed, allowing for the fear he was hiding behind his anger to emerge. His eyes began to glisten in the dim lighting of the porch, tearing up with absolute sorrow. He was finally letting himself accept what was happening.
"I can't lose you, Rose," he whispered, just as a tear streamed down his cheek. He sounded so broken, so hurt, and utterly lost. Liv was his world and his love, and he thinks she's going to die. He's already lost Ivy, the woman he thought he would marry. I am sure the thought of losing the love of his life again is killing him inside, more so than normal.
"You won't lose me, Lucas. When have I ever lost a fight?" she asked him. Her anger faded as she gently placed her hand on his cheek.
Liv has always been a fighter by nature. She wasn't kidding when she asked her question. For as long as I knew her, she had always won her fights, whatever they may have been. I could see the tenderness and love in her eyes as she realized how scared Lucas was. She then looked at me and Ian, seeming concerned for us, too.
"You won't lose me. They caught my cancer early and I've spoken with an oncologist already about my situation. As long as the cancer doesn't progress too quickly, I have a great chance of survival. Okay? So don't freak out on me, guys. I need you to keep me from panicking." She gave us a dry laugh, trying to lighten the mood a bit, but that was practically impossible. "They'll monitor me through the pregnancy as best they can. I was referred to a great OB who has dealt with pregnant mothers with cancer before. We have more options once this baby has grown enough to survive outside of my womb. We just need to hold off for a little bit until our little bud can fight for themselves." She placed her hand over Lucas' on her stomach.
"I am so sorry, Rose. I am so very sorry," Lucas whispered, holding her tight. When he let her go, he kneeled in front of her, kissing her stomach next. "I am so sorry," he apologized to their unborn child with tears in his eyes and clear guilt written in his expression.
"I forgive you, Lucas. We just won't ever tell this child about this moment," she joked.
"I love you, Rose. I promise I will make this up to you. I will make it up to both of you."
"I know you will. I love you, too, my Knight."
"I am sorry," he apologized again and I could see that this would be happening for a while.
"Lucas Porter, you're the love of my life, only you, always you," she reminded him, making him stand before they kissed. The kiss was full of love, passion, sorrow, and regret. "I know you're scared. I am too, but together we will get through this. For our children's sake, for your sake, I will fight this cancer tooth and nail. It won't take me from you. I won't let it," she promised, resting her forehead against his.
"I'll always be here by your side. I'm sorry I was being such a coward. Starting right now, I'll be your strength. Lean on me when you need me. I won't let you fall." He held her face, kissing her once more. My heart soared at the sight of their love. Feeling hopeful once more. Their love has a way of making me believe that it is a possibility for me, too.
I knew this was my moment to leave, but when I turned, Ian was nowhere in sight. When had he left? Quietly, I headed to his car, seeing that he hadn't left. Since Liv and Lucas were blocking the front door, I knew Ian hadn't gone inside. I began to worry until I saw his shoe peeking from the other side of the car. When I rounded the trunk, I saw him sitting on the floor, wiping away his tears.
"Are you okay?" I asked, worried he was freaking out about Liv possibly dying, too. Had he heard what she said about treatment? At what point did he leave?
"No. I can't lose her. She means too much to me."
My heart crushed inside of me, knowing he would never let her go. Is he going to try something with her now as a last-ditch effort? I thought he had moved on, or started to. I don't want to lose Liv either, but I feel like he means it in more than one way. How am I supposed to compete with a fantasy?