Jessica sat in the room waiting for the blood test results to come back, when the boys rushed in, bruised and bloody.

"What the hell happened to you two?!"

"We're fine, mom.  Are you okay?  How's the baby?  Is he-"

"He's fine."

"Oh thank God!" Sam grabs his chest and sighs with relief.

"What happened?"

"I have an ovarian cyst."

"I heard those things are painful."

"They're very painful."

"So what are they gonna do?  You can remove it, can't you?"

"I could.. I don't know, I'm just gonna wait and see what the doctor says."

"Hopefully they can fix you without surgery." Sam places his hand on her shoulder.

She smiles and asks, "Now tell me what the hell happened to you two."

"They got in a fight." Michael says.

"With each other?"

"Mhm!"

"What is the matter with you guys?!"

"James started it!"

"I only hit him because he did this to you!"

"I didn't give mom an ovarian cyst, James!"

"Quiet, you two!  Violence doesn't solve anything!  You shouldn't have done it at all!"

The boys go back and forth, and Jessica lays her head back and sighs.

"Alright boys, out!" George stands up and guides them to the door.

"What?" Sam looks at him.

"You heard me; out!" He points.

"Your mom doesn't need to hear this right now, so get out!  Go sit in the waiting room and calm down!

And if I hear you guys fighting, then I'm coming out.. and you Will regret it." George gives him a look.

"Yes sir..." The twins hang their heads.

"Thank you.  Mike, I'm putting you in charge, keep these two apart."

"Will do, uncle George!" Michael smiles, then give the twins a smart look.

The boys leave and Jessica says, "Well look at you!  Thanks, George." She smiles.

"No problem.  What's with them?"

"Oh... James is super protective over me, and Sam is... Well, he's just a handful."

"Really?  He's acting out again?"

"Yeah...

He had sex, George!"

"Sam?!" His eyes widen.

"Yeah!"

"Little Sammy?!"

"Yes!"

"My boy's a man!" He smiles.

"George, stop it!"

"Sorry."

"I just don't know what to do with that boy."

"Jess, if you need help with them, I'm always here."

"Thank you...

Sam's death has affected us all, but.. Samuel is taking his grief and turning it into this boy I don't recognise."

"Wow... poor kid.. he's probably just lost."

"Yeah..."

***

The doctor walks in to tell them the results.

"Mrs. Shepard... the results of your blood test are showing something I had assumed, but hoped wasn't true."

"What do you mean?"

"The cells are coming back cancerous."

"Oh my God.." Jessica's heart drops.

"No!  You have the wrong person, my sister doesn't have cancer!"

"I'm so sorry."

"This can't happen, my husband just passed away of cancer, we can't go through this again!"

"Will she be okay?"

"If we get it out as soon as possible, she will be fine."

"And if we don't?"

"Ovarian cancer spreads very fast, and it could spread easily within the abdominal cavity, bowels and bladder, or the abdominal lining."

"So what happens now?  Will the baby be affected by it?"

"The cancer itself rarely affects the baby directly, but having cancer while pregnant is very very complicated."

"What are my options?"

"Removing the entire ovary is one option and what I strongly advise."

"Could my baby die?"

"There is a very very small chance that could happen, but it is extremely unlikely."

"What if I don't have the surgery?"

"Then we will closely monitor you and induce you as soon as your baby is able to survive on his own outside of the womb, then immediately start treatment. 

That is something I would not recommend doing, because if the cancer spreads quickly, there will be nothing for us to do for you."

"So I'd die?"

"I don't want to be that harsh but-"

"But that's what you're saying?"

"... Yes."

Jessica takes a deep breath and looks down.

"Well shit.. shit, shit, shit."

"What are the chances of it coming back?" George asks.

"Since the entire right ovary will be removed, the chances of it back in the other ovary are very slim.

I do have to let you know that after we remove the ovary, it will be harder for you to conceive a child.

I'll give you some time to think about it."

"When do I need to give you an answer?"

"As soon as possible."

The doctor leaves and Jessica looks at George.

"What do I do?"

"What do you mean, what do you do?!  You have the surgery and get that thing out of you as quickly as possible!"

"But there's a chance the baby could die."

"She said it was highly unlikely!  You heard the other options, it's just a death sentence, Jessica!"

"But.."

"Jessica no!  You have to have the surgery!

You have to!"

George looks into her eyes, and pauses for a moment.

A tear rolls down his cheek, and Jessica places her palm on his face, and wipes his tear with her thumb.

"Don't cry."

"I can't lose you... you're my big sister."

Jessica's bottom lip quivers and she holds her arms out to hug him.

"Oh George!

I'm scared, George." She blinks, making two tears fall down her face, as she holds him tight.

"It's gonna be okay." He says in a whisper.

"I'm worried about how the boys will react to this."

"I'm here for you... I'm not gonna leave you."

"Thank you."

***

"Boys.  Your mother wants to talk to you." George comes out to get them.

"Is everything okay?" Michael asks.

"Well... I... this isn't easy to say boys.. especially after everything we've been through."

"What is it?"

"I have cancer."

The look on the boys faces was a look she hoped she'd never see again.

"No!  Mom No!" James' eyes immediately fill with tears.

"This can't be happening again!" Sam grabs his head in his hands.

"Mom, what are you gonna do?  Ar-- how bad is it?" Michael swallows hard.

"Well.." Jessica goes on and explains what her options are and the boys sit in silence.

"I don't know what to do."

Samuel looks at her with tears in his eyes and says, "You have to have the surgery!  I'd rather you save both of your lives instead of just one.  Besides.. if something happens to you.... how is this baby gonna live without you? 

... how are we gonna live without you?" His voice shakes.