Poppy's PoV

"You really need to tell him, Poppy." Sam demanded, arms crossed over his chest as he looked at me like a parent who wasn't happy with their child. I really wanted to, hell I knew I had to, but I couldn't bring myself to. "He deserves to know." I sighed heavily, causing me to wince and clutch my throat. This was all turning bad very quickly. I don't even know how I was holding myself together right now.

"It's not going to change anything Sam. He can't fly home in the middle of the European tour and let the band down. Regardless, I'm doing this alone and I'd rather he didn't worry about me every day." I thought I was helping. Surely I was? Would you like to know something bad whilst you're away and can't do anything to help?

"It doesn't matter." Sam wasn't having any of my excuses. "Call him, or I will." His eyebrows raised to show just how serious he was. That simple gesture was enough for me to pull my phone from my back pocket and dial Calum, putting him on loudspeaker.

"Hey baby!" Calum answered the phone cheerily, I could hear the guys in the background laughing and joking. "You're calling early, we normally speak at like six, or eleven. Is everything okay?" Suddenly his voice was laced with worry. I looked over to Sam with fear in my eyes. How could I tell him this? How could I give him rubbish news yet again?

"I-I can't do this. Not any more. I'm sorry." I croaked out as the emotion took over. That same want to shut everyone out was back, I wanted to put up my walls and retreat away where I couldn't upset or hurt anyone. I knew none of this was my fault, I hadn't directly made any of this happen but I knew it'd make Calum sad and that was something I couldn't handle.

"Do what? Poppy what are you saying?" Suddenly Calum was near on speechless. I couldn't imagine what he was thinking or going through being on the receiving end of this phone call but I didn't care anymore. I couldn't say what I was meant to.

"I'm sorry. Bye." I hung up and turned my phone off, sobs escaping as I collapsed onto my sofa and put my head in my arms. Sam's parental stance suddenly faltered as he rushed to me and enveloped me in a hug.

***
Calum's PoV

We'd just finished soundcheck in Helsinki and were buzzing. The tour had gone without a hitch and everyone had gotten used to Leanne being around for any mishaps - which were luckily few and far between. I made sure Poppy and I spoke every single night, dependent on when we were both free it was normally before or after an evening gig. Everything seemed to be going smoothly, life giving us the best of a bad situation as we cruised Europe. Management had kindly given us a break between Europe and Asia tours to enable me to look after the baby whilst Poppy went for treatment and for my family to settle in with us as they supported us both. It also gave Michael time to spend with Crystal and India, whilst the others just enjoyed time with their families and loved ones. It all felt good.

"This sounds so much more epic live." Ashton said as he banged his cymbal.

"We knew they'd sound good but wow that song really hits differently." Michael agreed.

"You guys are idiots, we wouldn't have made a song that sounded awful live." Luke laughed, making us all giggle. Suddenly though, my phone began to vibrate in my pocket and with the laugh still going, I quickly answered.

"Hey baby." I started, seeing Poppy's name light up as I answered. The guys continued to laugh in the background, throwing dumb insults at each other like kids. Noting the time, I quickly asked if everything was okay as normally our calls were as regular as clockwork at the times set out. Suddenly she was apologising, saying she couldn't do it anymore.

"Do what? Poppy what are you saying?" I tried but she was no clearer, she apologised again and hung up on me. Desperate to get an answer, I tried to call back but the phone was switched off. I was so confused. What did she mean she couldn't do it anymore? Do what? Be without me? Wait for her due date? Put up with heartburn? Or worse... Long distance relationships? Being with me?

"What was that about?" I suddenly realised the arena was deadly silent other than Ash asking a question. I breathed out shakily.

"I don't know?" I answered quickly. "It was Poppy, she just said she can't do it anymore and apologised. Then she hung up and turned her phone off." I explained, the three of them giving each other looks.

"That's weird..." Luke voiced, pulling a face. "Should we get one of the girls to check on her?" I shrugged, the guys shrugging along with me. This wasn't like Poppy, as we all knew, which meant something serious was coming.

"Wouldn't that be too obvious?" Ashton asked, looking back towards me for assurance. I bit my lips together.

"Honestly I have no idea what's-" I stopped as soon as my phone began vibrating again. This time when I looked at the screen it was Sam's name. A sick feeling rose from my stomach as I sat with my legs dangling off the end of the stage, my brothers crowding me for support. I put the call on loudspeaker. "Hey Sam." I gulped down heavily as Michael placed his hand on my shoulder and squeezed it comfortingly.

"Sorry Calum, Poppy was supposed to call you with news but..." he trailed off and sighed. "I need to tell you too."

"Please don't Sam. He'll hate me forever." I could hear Poppy in the background pleading, as could everyone else by their sudden change in body language.

"Is it bad?" Was all I could muster. Everyone held their breath.

"Poppy's symptoms are back with vengeance. We need to start treatment as soon as we can." Sam didn't waste a second getting to the point. I put a hand to my mouth as my body seemed to go numb. "We're going to try and bring the labour on tomorrow. Then she'll start the medication and chemo within the week." My chin quivered.

"But I'm on tour for the next two weeks." I responded monotonously. There was absolutely no way management would let me cut the tour a week early to be with her. They'd already given me time to be with her between Europe and Asia.

"We know. That's why she didn't want to tell you." Sam said bluntly. "Do you have anyone who can be with Poppy? Anyone who lives local?" My mind went to mush. We had this all planned. She was going to give birth in a week or twos time, my family were flying over to help, we were all going to support each other. It was so set in stone. "Calum?"

"His sister Mali-Koa just moved to London." Luke answered on my behalf. "Sorry, you're on loudspeaker."

"Oh great." Poppy said in the background, a wail escaping her lips as the word finished.

"She's the only person. My parents aren't due to fly out until next week from Australia, there's no way they could push it forwards." I rushed, my body finally realising the extent of what was about to happen. Someone else was going to have to care for my wife on my behalf.

"Poppy tells me her family are a no go. Do we have no one else? More than one option is always good." Sam's voice seemed to get more annoyed as the moments went on. He really needed the information quickly.

"I could probably get Bex over? They all know what's going on. Sierra too? I'd say Crystal but she has the baby, I wouldn't want to pressure her." Ashton responded.

"Yeah that sounds good. Contact them all please. Someone needs to be with her at every stage." Sam sighed. "And Calum I'm sorry it's come to you like this. It's all happened really quickly and we just need to fix it."

"See you when I look sick." Poppy added flatly and With that he hung up the phone. It took a moment before the sigh escaped my lips and I realised the weight of what was about to happen. Despite our plans, Poppy was going to go through it all without me again. The storm was just beginning and I wasn't there to help her out of it. Our worst nightmares were about to come true.