"And I'll be wearing white when I come into your kingdom. I'm as green as the ring on my little cold finger."

🌹🌹🌹

On year ten, the mother sat patiently on top of a blanket in the center of the field of flowers. She'd packed a picnic lunch and even indulged in cupcakes with pink frosting.

Finally, a familiar dark blue car pulled up, stopping at the field's edge. London jumped out in her pretty flowery dress, all smiles as she waved happily.

Waving back at her daughter, her smile faded when the car pulled away.

She'd hoped he would come today too...

She pushed her self-pity aside as she stood and held her arms out for her beautiful ten-year-old girl.

"Hi!" London raced into her arms, smelling like a field of strawberries with a hint of vanilla. If only she could bottle up that scent.

"Happy birthday, London." She kissed the top of her head.

"Thanks, mom!"

She sometimes mourned for the days when her children called her mama and mommy. Mom was just more proof they were growing up.

"How was your night at your dad's?"

"Good. His apartment is tiny, though," London said as she flipped her long and messy braid over her shoulder.

She had likely done that herself. Her father could perform literal medical miracles on people, but a braid? Not so much.

"Your brother didn't want to spend the day with us?"

"No, dad's going to let him do his rounds with him."

"Today? But it's your birthday," the mother frowned.

"We had a little party last night and a birthday breakfast; it's okay!"

Unfazed, London moved on toward the rose bushes, which were finally back in bloom after a few years of being dormant.

"The roses are back this year! They are so pretty!" London plopped down with what looked like a new sketchbook and some colored pencils.

"Did you get that for your birthday?"

"Yeah, from Nancy."

"Who is Nancy?"

"Dad's new friend, she lives next door. She made my cake for my party last night!" London smiled, blissfully unaware that her mother's gut twisted with that news.

Still, she kept an even-tempered smile on her face. "How nice of her."

Moving on, already? The ink was barely even dry. Could she really blame him, though? It was all her fault. Of course, he left, and her son chose to go with him. Everyone, even her sweet London, would leave her someday. It was the poetic justice she deserved.

"Well, I guess it's just us girls today," she tucked an arm around her daughter, and London rested her head on her shoulder. "What should we do?"

"Can we stay here for a while? It's my favorite place in the whole world." London declared that every time they came here, it always made the mother smile.

"Mine too," she cuddled her little girl close. "Promise me something?"

"What?" London asked.

"Promise me that no matter what happens, we'll always come back here on this special day, just the two of us."

"I promise."

🌹🌹🌹

Loni was confused and dizzy when she opened her eyes; the room was so blindingly white it took her a moment to focus.

A dark-haired woman in a white coat stood beside her, "it's okay, Loni." Her voice was calm and soothing. "You're in the hospital. Your parents will be"-

"Loni!" Luca was at her bedside in the next instant.

"Right in," the doctor finished with a soft chuckle.

"Dad? Where's?"

"Loni, oh thank god you're awake," Kit answered her question as she ran into the room with Lissa right behind her.

Kit was rushing to the other side of Loni, resting her hand on her shoulder.

"Wh.. what happened?" Loni tried to sit up, but her chest felt so heavy it was like she was chained to the bed. She realized then there were weird tubes and stuff all over her. Something under her nose blew air up her nostrils; it felt so funny.

"Loni, I'm Dr. Morgan," The doctor spoke up, as she used a remote to raise the bed so Loni could see better. "I know it's scary to wake up in the hospital. But you're in good hands here, okay?"

"Okay," Loni frowned; she had a bad feeling. "The last thing I remember is dancing with Manny."

"Your heart rate got too high, and it caused you to stop breathing and lose consciousness. There are some things going on with your heart, but we'll talk more in detail about it tomorrow. For tonight, I want you resting."

"I think that's a good idea," Luca agreed.

"She hadn't had dinner. I don't think she's eaten a thing today," Kit said, her face full of concern as it washed over Loni's face.

"I don't feel hungry," Loni said; food was the last thing on her mind. She was mainly confused, her body felt weird, kind of like after a long run, when you just wanted to collapse. She also felt so weak and tired.

"We have her on an IV, no solid food for right now," the doctor said. "Loni, I'm going to leave you to chat with your parents, but I'll be in to check on you again before lights out."

"Okay, Dr. Morgan."

Dr. Morgan directed her attention to Kit and Luca. "The visiting hours are over at nine. You three can stay. The others will need to leave, but if they want to pop in and see Loni before they leave, that's fine."

"Okay, I'll grab them in a moment," Kit agreed.

"Lights are out at ten and if you're staying here we ask not to be out and about too much after that time. As long as Loni is in critical condition, we let the parents stay overnights here. I'll be setting up an on-call room for you. For tonight you three can stay in here. I'll have a nurse bring a few beds in."

Critical condition? Loni felt a chill go down her spine at those words.

"Thank you," Luca said, "we wouldn't have left, so I'm glad you're letting us stay."

"I know," Dr. Morgan smiled lightly. "But you do need to take care of yourselves. I do not want you two here twenty.-four-seven. I'll lecture you more about that tomorrow, though."

"What about Lissa? I know she can stay tonight- but?" Kit asked.

"I'll make an exception and it's up to you two, but she shouldn't be here every night," Dr. Morgan said and her mom nodded. "We'll talk more tomorrow, and set up those tests we talked about too."

"Thank you," Kit agreed.

Dr. Morgan left the room, and Loni looked at Kit first, whose eyes were all puffy and red.

"Mom, you look awful. Don't cry anymore, okay? I'll be alright." She didn't know if that was true, but she had such a strong urge to make her mom to feel better.

"You scared us so much, baby," Kit stroked her cheek.

"I'm sorry," Loni whispered.

"Oh sweet Loni, it's okay, you just got to be strong and get better for us."

"I will, mom."

"How are you feeling?" Luca asked, and she turned to look at him. He looked so tired and his eyes were puffy too.

"I'm just exhausted mostly."

"You have to be honest with the doctors and us. Even if something seems minor, you need to tell us, Loni."

"I will," she gulped. "I passed out last night."

"We know, Ruthie told us."

"Oh gosh, she must feel awful!"

"She'll be okay," Kit said in an assuring tone.

Loni spied Lissa then in the corner, so quiet and pale, and quiet and Lissa did not usually go hand in hand.

"Lissa, come over here," Loni urged her little sister, and she took a few steps forward, sitting gingerly on the edge of the bed.

"You okay?"

"I was so scared, Loni. I thought.. " Tears started to spill down Lissa's cheeks. "You can't die, okay? Please! Don't die!"

Loni felt tears burn his eyes as a lump formed in her throat. "I'm not - oh Lissa."

Her little sister broke into sobs then and Loni bet she'd been holding it in all night.

"Shorty, come here," Luca was up in moments, wrapping her little sister in a big hug. "It's okay, baby. I know it was a scary day. I'm here, okay, let it all out."

He whispered soothing words to Lissa as her sobs slowly subsided.

Kit started crying, and Loni quickly took her hand, holding it to her cheek.

"It's okay, mom, everything will be okay," Loni promised again.

"Lissa, you hear me too, " Loni demanded. "I'm not going to die."

"You better not!" Lissa sniffled. "I need my big sister."

"Oh Lissa," Kit choked out. We all need her."

"I will be fine," Loni assured them again, but somehow Lissa saying she could die made that knot in her stomach so much bigger.

"You have to be who else am I going to annoy everyday?" Lissa said as she wiped a hand over her wet face.

"I'm not going to die. I can't. That would leave you in charge of Leo's."

"That would be a disaster," Luca joked, "everyone dancing on tables, she'd probably bedazzle the entire bar."

"It would make it pretty!" Lissa giggled through her tears, she looked to be calming down.

Kit was stroking Loni's hair softly, she'd also stopped crying, but Loni could see she was on the verge of it again. Her dad moved from Lissa over to Kit, sitting on the edge of the bed with her and placing a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey...can we come in?" Carly stepped in and Andre and her grandpa were behind her.

"Of course," Loni agreed.

"I know we can't stay long, but we wanted to stay goodnight," Andre offered her a soft smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Kind of weird, really tired," Loni offered.

"Some birthday, huh?" Stone stepped over to her bedside and ruffled her hair. "Soon as you leave, I'll take you anywhere you want. We can even go get you your first tattoo."

"Dad, she's sixteen, not eighteen," Kit scolded as Luca laughed.

"Sixteen, with permission, I looked it up!"

"She's not getting a tattoo!" Kit protested.

"A rose might be pretty, though," Loni mused. "I could design it myself."

"Luca. Tell her no."

"I mean...if it was small, maybe.."

"Luca!" She whispered harshly.

"Why not?" Luca asked, surprising her; she never knew what he'd be cool with. "I have a few, and you have one."

"You do?" Loni and Lissa both asked Kit once.

Carly giggled, "oops."

"What is it?" Loni asked excitedly.

"Where is it?" Lissa asked, "we've never seen it."

"Look what you did, " Kit said to Luca.

"Is it dads name?" Loni guessed. "I bet it is."

Her dad had her mom's full name, Cricket, tattooed into a heart on his chest. Later he added both Leondra and then Elisabeth under it in creative-looking banners.

"I bet so too!" Lissa agreed.

"It is," Kit confirmed. "It's the words Ti Amo, Luciano, Sempre. Which means I love you, Luciano, always."

"That's so sweet," Loni sighed dreamily as her parents locked gazes.

"Is it on your boob?" Lissa asked bluntly.

Carly and Andre laughed, and Stone cringed.

"I'll show you someday," Kit said in an amused tone. "And no tattoos for you two until you're eighteen."'

"Your dad and I will talk her into it." Stone winked at Loni and then kissed her forehead.

"You're both lucky I'm too drained to kill you," Kit muttered.

"Oh my gosh, Lucky! He's been alone all night!" Loni suddenly realized, filling with panic. "He's probably so worried."

"He's fine," Carly assured her. "Ruthie said she's been taking good care of him for you."

"We got him until you're out," Andre added. "Don't you worry about anything but getting better, Loni."

"Thanks, uncle Andre."

Poor Lucky! he was a family dog, but he and Loni had a special bond. He slept with Loni every night since they had him. He was probably so upset without her. She just hoped he could sleep.

"We should get going; the nurses keep walking by and looking in." Carly stepped over and squeezed her hand. "We'll be back to see you tomorrow; you sleep well and heal up, okay?"

"I will," Loni promised.

"We love you, " Andre added as he patted his hand.

"Love you guys too; I'll be fine, don't worry." Loni once again felt an urge to assure despite feeling so totally unsure.

"I'll walk you out," Kit offered. "I need to use the restroom anyway."

"Me too," Lissa got off the bed to follow.

As everyone left, the room fell silent, and Luca sat on the edge of her bed. "You don't have to keep up all that tough stuff. How are you really doing?"

"I'm scared," she admitted and it did feel good to say it out loud.

A storm of emotions passed through his eyes. "I am too."

"Daddy," she whimpered.

He put an arm around her and she nestled her head into the crook of his arm, just like she used to do when she was little.

"It's okay to be scared. It's also okay to feel angry or sad or whatever you feel, whenever you feel it. You don't have to pretend for me, or mom either. Okay?"

"Okay," she sniffled.

"I am scared as hell. But I won't for one second lose hope. I will fight to the ends of the earth for you, pumpkin. We will get through this."

His words felt soothing and that terrible uneasy pit in her stomach eased up some. She curled up closer, and he stroked her hair.

"No matter what, Loni, you got to keep fighting. You can't give up hope. Will you promise me that?"

"I promise."