"Please change into these and take off your bra and underwear. Once you're done, you can come out and we will get you back right away for the IV. The lockers have a key that pops out, the nurse will keep it for you while you are being scanned."

The nurse was a nice older woman. She gave me the prepping instructions, though I knew what the process was already. I was an old hand at MRI's. And CT's, and ultrasound's. Whatever looks for cancer, I'd been acquainted.

"She's so young. ." Another nurse said, on the other side of the door.

I frowned. They always said that. It didn't help when I'd catch them saying it. I was cursed and I'd forever be reminded.

No matter. . . I've just gotta get it done.

Self pep talking aside, I breathed and changed. Maybe I would get an answer quickly instead of having to wait. That would be best case scenario. After the MRI I had to sit with the doctor. I left the room and was ushered back to a seat, as promised, to get stuck for the IV. The contrast would be let out to fill my body once I was settled in the tunnel of the machine.

"You here alone today?" The nurse asked, wiping my arm with a swab of alcohol.

"Yeah."

"No boyfriend or husband?"

"He's working." I replied. "No need, this will go quick."

It would've been nice if Luca were here with me. But he didn't even know I'd made this appointment. I missed his hugs though, and the way he wrapped his arms around me. If I could, I'd turn back time and never have spoken a word to his commander in my check out line.

"The images will take about 25 minutes. We will tell you when the next set is up. The first iteration is 5 minutes."

"Yep. Sounds about right. I've had so many of these."

"I saw that. You haven't been seen for a long time though, and technology has changed some. Hopefully you'll notice, for the better!"

If they could make this process take as long as walking through the x-ray machines at the TSA checkpoints in the airport, then I'd be impressed. My tiny veins made it difficult to get a good poke but the nurse managed to find a good one after a few tries. Once the port was in, they wheeled out the IV cart and hooked me in. Then I was ushered to the MRI machine and helped onto the table.

A heated blanket was draped over me and it felt divine. A cylinder was placed under my ankles and knees, to stabilize my lower half. They secured a 'cage' of sorts over me and slipped on thick headphones. A voice came over the speaker system being piped in, telling me to hold still, I'd hear clicking then banging as it began. I had 5 minutes to endure without moving then they'd begin the rest of the iterations.

All I could focus on was Luca. His hazel eyes, and sexy dimples.

Maybe I should have told him I was here.

It was too late for that now.

💋💋

Nervousness.

I hated that feeling, and waiting only compounded it. The doctor was taking forever to come in. I liked that she seemed to care for her patients though. Nothing was worse than an oncologist that rushed you through. It's vital to be thorough.

I stared at my phone screen, in a haze. I'd texted Terry but he must have been sleeping because I didn't get a reply. Mrs. Mahaka told me she was going to visit him at the hospital though.

You aren't home. Are you at the hospital?

A text from Luca came in.

Yes.

I wasn't lying. Technically , the Cancer Center was a hospital of sorts. They did surgeries here.

How's Terry doing?

Not sure yet. . .

What do you mean? Do you need me to come there?

Ugh. I couldn't hide this any longer.

I'm at the oncologist's, for myself.

"Ms. Tanaka? I'm doctor Redding. Very nice to finally meet you."

The oncologist came into the room so I tucked my phone into my purse. Luca would have to wait.

"Nice to meet you too."

"Let's talk about your scans."

She was kind and had an even keel about her. My anxiety vanished slowly as we talked. She detailed every aspect of my body's current state, and let me know there wasn't anything big they saw except for a benign cyst in one of my breasts. Apparently they looked at my entire torso. I'd need to get an MRI yearly and a mammogram yearly. Which would be new to me, my breasts were never an issue before. But she assured me it was to be proactive. Nothing more.

Time ticked by so quickly that an hour had passed before I knew it. I stopped at the front desk to schedule my next appointments in six months. Suddenly I felt a hand on my hip. Someone came from behind me in line and decided to get too close. I turned sharply to tell them to stop touching me, only to see the one person I'd been longing for.

Luca.

He gave me a grin and pressed his body into mine, leaving his hand planted. He smelled like home. I felt a growing warmth spread throughout my torso and shoot straight to my heart.

"You're here." I softly said.

"Yes, because you're here." He replied by my ear.

"You can pay today or we can email a statement to settle within the next 30 days." The receptionist said, blushing slightly as she tried to not focus on Luca.

I totally understood her conundrum. He was quite a man to look at. And he had his hand planted right over my ass precariously low on my hip. Quite a few women in the waiting area were most likely staring.

"I'll pay today."

I inserted my card into the machine, and struggled to remember my PIN number. Darn Luca. He was here.

"Thank you ma'am! We will see you in six months!"

"I parked next to you, can we talk before we leave?" Luca asked as we walked out.

"Of course."

I took his hand in mine and rested my head on his arm as we walked. This felt good. After all my scans and all the scars, I could finally breathe.

💋💋

"I've missed you."

Luca lifted me onto the passenger seat of his Jeep, angling my legs out so he could nestle between them. He dipped his head to mine and captured my lips softly. Passion poured between us in a slow burn, like lava from the island volcanos. I softly moaned when his hands intertwined in my hair. I'd missed him too.

"Are we ok?" I breathed, breaking our kiss.

I needed to know.

"Babe, yes." He said, thumbing my hair from my face softly, "Have you been thinking we weren't?"

He was really clueless!

"Luca you wouldn't answer me when I asked if we were ok, a few times. I know I screwed things up for you at work but. ."

"You didn't screw anything up. I did. I shouldn't have told you about Leer's pending actions. That was all on me. Plus this command has always been challenging. It just all came to a head."

His hazel irises probed my darker ones. He was trying to explain.

"What's going to happen now?"

He tugged me tightly to him, our faces so close.

"I've got to make a decision on my next assignment. It'll be my last, then I can retire."

"What are your choices?"

"Become an instructor again at Marine Corp Recruit Depot. . . or. . . go join a unit at Camp Legeune."

I tightened my grip on his arms.

"San Diego or North Carolina?"

"That's pretty much it. Two years then I'll retire."

I leaned up to give him another kiss. I knew what was going to happen. And how. This time he pulled back.

"Are you willing to move?" He asked.

I answered with another kiss. We both grasped for dominance until one of us gave up. I let him in, fully. It was time. His tongue searched my mouth expertly. Then we both felt his phone vibrating in his pocket. He moaned, fumbling to free it without relinquishing his hold on my lips. When he couldn't, I moaned as we came apart.

"Shit. It's my commander. Hang on."

"Ajello." He answered.

His eye brows furrowed as he listened to what was being said on the line. I suddenly had a pit in my stomach. Whatever was going on, it didn't sound good.

"I understand sir. I'll be right there."

He hung up and leaned forward, our foreheads touching.

"Stephanie is being confined to the barracks. She's done some other stuff. I need to go pick her daughter up, take care of her for the night until tomorrow and then. ."

"Let me help." I offered. "I can stay over."

"I'm never going to let you go." He said, helping me out of the passenger seat.

I hugged him and unlocked my Jeep.

"Babe. . " He said. "I'm not adopting her by the way."

I gave him a questioning look, not understanding.

"Emily. Grey's daughters name is Emily. I'm not adopting her. Only getting temporary guardianship. Grey's parents didn't know he had a daughter, they lost it after he was killed, cut off all contact. They know now but want to meet her first. Ease into it. Eventually, they will want custody, I just know it." He said. "She looks just like him."

**This story is only found on Wattpad. If found on another site, it was stolen. Thank you for reading.💋**