"Hello Destiny," Dr. Adams said, walking into the room we were waiting in. I was holding tightly to Paul's hand, his presence calming me some, but not nearly enough.

"Hi," I said softly.

"Have you decided what type of treatment you think will be best?" She asked.

"Amputation," I said.

"Are you sure?" She asked.

"Well, I don't want to put myself through chemo," I said. "Unless it is absolutely necessary."

"Well then, we should probably schedule your surgery. How does Friday sound?" She asked.

I looked at Emily and she nodded. "Sam can have a hospital bed put in the living room before then. We can have everything good to go for you by then."

"Sam already promised me the time off," Paul said.

"Sounds good," I said. Dr. Adams filled out the paperwork and soon enough we were leaving the hospital.

"Come on," Paul said as Emily pulled into the driveway of the house. School would be letting out soon, so everyone else would be getting home soon.

"Why don't you two head upstairs for a little bit? I'll come get you before dinner," Emily said. I nodded, curling into Paul and causing him to pick me up and carry me up the stairs. He laid me down on my bed before laying beside me and pulling me impossibly close. I cuddled into his chest and sobbed.

"Shh, babe. It's okay," he said, rubbing my back soothingly. "It's rough, but I promise it'll get better."

"I don't think it will," I said, sobbing, my body rocking against him gently.

"I love you so, so much babe," he said, burying his face in my hair. He pressed gentle kisses to the top of my head and whispered soothing words to me.

"I can't do this anymore," I said, allowing the fear I'd been suppressing to be felt for the first time.

"Babe, shh, I'm going to be right here protecting you with every fiber of my being," he whispered.

"Paul, what if I die?" I asked, hiccuping slightly from the sobs.

"I won't let that happen," he said.

"Paul, you can't say that. The cancer could kill me," I said.

"Babygirl, as much as I don't want it to happen, you could become a vampire," he seethed at the word. "I hate vampires, but if it keeps you alive." His words trailed off at the end.

"No, I refuse," I said. "I won't become a leech."

"Okay, so then you fight this," he said. "You have to find that strength within you." I nodded, feeling tired from the sobbing and overly emotional day.

"Shh, baby girl, go to sleep. I love you," Paul said. I cuddled into his chest and allowed sleep to take over me.

The next few days dragged on as I tried to get ahead in my school work so I could miss two weeks for the surgery. It was stressful, but Alex and Paul helped me as much as they could.

I was dreading Friday. I didn't want to go through another surgery, but I really didn't want to die. The worst part was Paul had to run patrol on Thursday night so he could go with Sam, Emily, Alex, and I on Friday.

"Dest," Alex said, walking into my room about midnight. "Are you ready?" He sat down on my bed beside me.

"God no," I said, running my hands through my hair anxiously.

"I'm here for you. No matter what," he said.

"Thanks Xander," I said, using his childhood nickname.

"Anything for you, Rosie," he said. I rolled my eyes as he stood up from my bed.

"See ya in the morning," I said.

"See ya Dest," he said. I nodded as he walked out. I laid down, tossing and turning until Paul came running in at two when his patrol was over.

"It's okay, baby girl. I'm here now," he said. He pulled me into his chest and within moments I was asleep.