"Hey, I can support myself and walk steadily," he grumbled as we all flanked him, trying to support him back to the waiting car.

"Phoebe, you of all people should know how much I need the freedom. How can you think of treating me with unnecessary care?". I suppressed a smile as I packed him into the car.

"Mrs Wellesley, if you don't mind, could I borrow your Phoebe for a while? I think Daniel had hardly any time to spend with her all these days. I'd like her to stay with him while he adjusts again."

My mother nodded.
I was waiting for this.

I planted a big, sloppy kiss on her and hopped into the car, almost landing on Daniel's lap.

"Easy girl," he whispered, drawing me closer.

"I rested my head on his chest and we stayed together like that for a moment. The closeness and the heat burned through his dress and I had to control the desire to rip it open and caress his bare chest and all the muscles rippling with energy beneath the flimsy shirt. He kissed the top of my head.

"Ummm, everything is visible from here," his mother said from the front seat.

I immediately scooted away, suddenly self-conscious.

"Mom, you'd better close your eyes," he teased, taking my hand as he ran his fingers over the new crisp bandages.
"You went to Doctor Phillips?"

I nodded, "The surgery was done and he had taken tissues out of other sites for biopsy."

"Did it hurt?"

I buried my face in his chest again.

"Oh, I get it," he replied to his own question, "Nothing more than it usually does. By the way Phoebe, a huge problem has cropped up."

"What is it?"

"The doctor has advised me to not drive for a month at least as the dizziness could set in again. That leaves you to take the bus again or a taxi maybe."

"That doesn't mean you can sit at home all day and interfere in the household work," interrupted Mrs Wellesley, "Let this week go and I'll personally drive both of you to the college."

"Mom we aren't kids..."
But he drowned the protest when he caught sight of his mother's face in the rearview mirror.
"Mom, you coddle me too much."

"Your dad is coming home within a week and he was quite worried, so I think you should concentrate on getting better rather than bother over stupid things," she warned.

He shrugged and involuntarily touched the bandages on his head and sighed, "Who knew this would happen?"

"It's destiny. I told you the wheels of fate are merciless. But everything's okay now."

"When are yiur biopsy reports coming?" he asked to change the subject.

"In a week I guess. They will be more meticulously checked this time."

"Great!" he stared out of the window at nothing in particular.

"What's the matter?"

"They sent my tumour samples for biopsy too. The reports come in a few days."

"It's a normal protocol to send any excised tissue sample to check for malignancy. No big deal and don't think too much about it," I assured.

His only response was silence.

We came back to his house and I went straight to his room. I had never seen it before, so I was naturally curious about what kind of a life he led.

The house was big and spacious and the heavy carpets, chandeliers and wall hangings with display of costly china actually proved that they had some wealth to boast of, not that such things mattered to any of us.

My parents could have easily led such a life had it not been for my treatment.
His room was the stark opposite of the beautifully decorated mansion.

Things were thrown here and there. The books on his study table were precariously hanging on the edges. I doubted a push would send them all rolling in a domino effect. Clothes peeped out of the cupboard and some were even heaped on his chair. The bed was all wrinkled and the pillow wrapped up in tangles of bedsheets.

"Whoa! This is one mess of a room," I exclaimed.

"See if you can beat some sense into him one of these days, Phoebe. He needs to be at bit more organized to be actually deserving someone like you and yeah, I'm telling you today. If he doesn't improve his manners, don't accept any of his proposal. That would be the correct punishment for my spoiled son," his mother chirped.

"Daniel is the farthest thing from spoiled, Aunty!" I remarked. "I believe if I say to him, he'll do it every day from now on. Won't you?"

I winked at him.

"Oh God! One mom wasn't enough that I brought another on my shoulders!"
I lightly slapped his shoulders and he promptly folded his hands in a show of submission.

I smiled and settled myself on the bed while his mom got busy arranging the room.