* * *

As Dotty and Chris entered the door to their home, Emma came striding out of the kitchen with her hands firmly on her hips, an expression of both anger and relief spread across her face. Behind her, Fionn followed and looked at Dotty in relief as she placed her shoes on the rack.

"Where have you been?!" Emma shrieked and neither one of the two could tell who she was yelling at, whether it was her daughter, her husband or perhaps both, it was hard to tell. "You just upped and left after a phone call! Then you don't answer your phone! First Dotty and then you! You were gone for days Christopher Nolan!" Chris shared a look with his daughter who shrugged with her eyes wide open in shock. "I was worried half to death. Poor Fionn had me stressing down the phone at him and came right over. You have a lot of explaining to do! You both have."

"Come on, love, let us get through the door first. Dot's knackered." Chris said shuffling forward, his hand on his daughter's back leading her through the hall.

"Dotty's knackered? I'm knackered! I had no idea where either of you was!"

Chris shook his head, "Darling, please, calm down. So much has happened."

Emma nodded her head, letting the two pass as she and Fionn followed the two into the living room. Dotty moved away from her father and rushed into Fionn's arms whilst her parents sat down. Fionn held her tightly, his cheek pressed against hers taking in the feeling of her being back in his arms. Yet despite all of this, his heart still pounded one to the dozen as the thought of her being missing still rushed around his mind.

Fionn, unfortunately, had to pull away so that they could get to the bottom of what had happened but as he did so the first words he had uttered in the past few moments were, "you smell like a hospital."

Sheer panic struck Emma who leapt up from her seat and took a sniff of her daughter. "Why do you smell like that? Dorothy Adelaide Nolan, why do you stink of a hospital?"

Dotty's lip quivered and she backed away from the pair as her eyes welled up with tears. her hands began to shake like a leaf and all she could do was turn to her father who pulled her onto the sofa beside him, bringing her into his arms and holding her as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"Dot?" Fionn asked quietly, his voice laced with confusion as he watched his girlfriend cry in her father's arms. "What happened?"

The girl didn't speak. Instead, she burrowed her head into her dad's chest refusing to look up as he explained everything to the two. Emma dropped to her knees in front of her family, her whole world turning upside down at the news of her daughter's heart disease. This happened to other families, not hers. Not her daughter.

Fionn's heart ripped in two. He had already lost his mother, he did not need to lose his girlfriend too. He was so thankful for Jack and Andrew for helping Dotty, for getting her to the hospital because if they hadn't the issue would not have been discovered and anything could have happened. He sat on the sofa beside Dotty as Emma perched on her husband's lap, the family embraced in a hug and he was surprised when Christopher brought him into it as well.

"We're going to get through this," stated Chris, "whatever it takes, however much it takes. You'll be okay, Dotty, you will win against this."

* * *

That evening Dotty went to bed early, the comfort of her own bed never seeming so delightful. She had never appreciated the softness of her mattress, the warmth of her duvet, the plumpness of her pillows and the smell of home. She had taken it for granted oh so many times and despite her hatred for sleeping, she had never wanted it so much until now.

She laid with her head propped up by a pillow as she attempted to concentrate on the tv in front of her but she couldn't. All she could think about was what the doctors had said, their voices echoing throughout her head.

"It's okay to be afraid," Fionn whispered, his fingers running through her freshly washed blonde locks. "I'll be there every step of the way, darling."

Dotty turned her head to Fionn. "I don't want to be afraid. I don't want to have it. Why do I have it?"

Fionn sighed, sliding his arm across Dotty's waist, "It's not a nice thing, Dot, and nobody wants it. It will be hard and I wish I could take it from you and have it myself but I can't, no matter how much I want to. but don't take it as something bad. Take it as a challenge that will show how good you are."

Dotty nodded her head, moving it to rest on Fionn's chest, "I love you so much, Fionn," she sobbed, finding herself crying again. "I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have you and the boys."

Fionn shook his head, cupping her cheeks, "you mean so much to all of us and when the others find out they will support you as well. I love you too."

Dotty snuggled into his chest, "I don't how to tell them. They have so much going on that I don't want to be a burden."

"Shut up. You can never be a burden to any of us. They will be more annoyed if they didn't know. If you don't want to be the one to tell them I can for you if that will be easier."

Dotty nodded, "yes, please."

Fionn kissed her head and rubbed her side, "get some sleep, Dotty, you have had a tough few days."

Dotty closed her eyes and for the first time ever she fell asleep right away. Fionn grasped his hone and prepared himself for what he was about to type which he would copy into a text to Harry who still does not have a WhatsApp account.

Funkirk:

[8 members]

Fionn:
Hi, guys, as you know
Dotty was missing after
a night out with some
friends. She is safely back
at home and I am with her
right now and to say she
had a tough time would be
an understatement. If it
wasn't for Jack and his friend
Andrew we would more
than likely still not have a
clue where she is.

Fionn:
Anyway, due to a mishap
caused by Anna, the girl
Dotty has had problems
with previously, her drink
got spiked and somehow
Dotty ended up in Scotland
where Jack and Andrew
found her. Due to her state,
she passed out and had been
beaten up, presumably by
Anna and co, Jack took her to
the hospital

Fionn:
During tests and
check-ups to see if she
was okay, doctors came
across something which
is not what anyone of us
has wanted to hear. I am
telling you this because
Dotty doesn't know how to
and is scared witless. She has
been diagnosed with heart
disease and has so far got
medication to take until her
next checkup at her local
hospital.

Fionn:
I will keep you all updated
as we find out more
but I thought it was best
that you guys know straight
away and Dotty agreed despite
not wanting to 'burden you'
< her words, not mine. I told
her she was being ridiculous
but she still thinks she is a
burden to us all. Currently,
she is asleep but I don't think
she will sleep the whole night
through and if any of you want
to talk to her, I'll let you know
when she is awake x

Tom GC:
WTF?! OH MY GOOD
GOD! I WILL KILL
THAT BITCH (ANNA
NOT DOT). DOT I KNOW
YOU ARE IN THIS GROUP
AND WILL READ THESE
MESSAGES LATER, JUST
KNOW I LOVE YOU SO
MUCH AND I WILL COME
AND SEE YOU ASAP XXXXX

Aneurin:
Oh no, Dot if you need
anything give me or Lucy a
call, will talk when you wake
up. Thanks, Fionn for letting
us know, have you texted
Harry? xx

Fionn:
Yeah, I have x

Barry:
ANNA CAN DIE IN A
HOLE! DOT, MY WEE
MISSUS YOU'LL BE
OKAY XXX

Tom H:
That's awful, Dotty you'll
get through this and anything
you need, you can let me
know and I'll get it, honey x
Fionn, bro, if you need anything
also, do the same, it'll be hard
on you too x

Fionn:
cheers mate x

Jack:
Glad to know she is
home alright, I hated
seeing her so scared and
upset, I will be down in a
couple of weeks and am
bringing Andrew too x

Cillian:
That's awful to hear but
Dot is a brave, strong girly
and I know she will get
through it like a trooper.
Sending all my love xx

<<<Text Message>>>

[2 People]

Harry:
Omfg, not Dotty! Jesus,
send her all my love, give
her a big cuddle and kiss
from me. I will come and
see her soon, we'll all have
to meet up together. If you
or Dot need anything, I'm
always here and if you need
to talk, text or ring anytime
and I'll be here to listen.
Keep yourself well too, Fionnly,
it will take a toll on your health
if you're not careful. x H

Fionn:
Thanks, Hazza, will do
mate. I hate seeing her so
upset, she couldn't even tell
me and Emma, Chris had to.
I'm just so glad Jack and his
mate found her. x

Harry:
I bet you are. You and
Dotty just need to rest
and keep your minds off
of it, it'll be hard but you
can do it, you both are
strong and capable of it.
Love you both x

Fionn:
Thanks, Harry, love you
too man x