"O-Oh gosh, Lisa ... " My voice trails off in pure surprise, as I stare at the positive pregnancy test continuously. The last time she presented me with one of these was at Billie's Life Party, which involved me trying to convince Becky I wasn't the father, "You're pregnant?"

Her shaky breath is heard in the cold air around us, and I see her nod her head, "Y-Yeah ... "

"And are you going to keep it?" I question, my voice quiet and inviting.

She sighs, in both frustration and sadness, "I don't even know, Michael. I have no idea!" She turns herself to face me, as now I'm standing up behind her, the test in my hands, "Michael ... if I keep it, then it'll just remind me of Alex. That'll break me!"

It's not just hurting her, to be honest; it's killing me too. I've just lost my own biological child so that Becky could have her cancer treatment. That pain is still so new to me. Lisa has to keep this baby – I'll have it if she doesn't want it.

"Lisa ... look." My eyes shift their gaze downwards, as I kneel down to her level, "When we found out Becky had cancer, she was pregnant with our second child. But ... we had to have it aborted because it was too much of a risk to Becky's life. You have no idea how much it hurt me to say goodbye to my own child." My throat starts to tense up at the thought, whilst I feel myself choking up, "So don't—don't repeat that, please ... I'll adopt the child if you really want. Please; I don't want to see another child suffer."

She sits for a moment, taking in everything I've just said. Her eyes move to my hands, where the test is, "I was so excited about finding out I was pregnant. After I aborted the first child, me and Alex started talking, and we decided to try for real. Now we have, and ... now he's gone." A single tear rolls down her cheek during the last sentence.

Tears are threatening to form in my eyes too, but I'm trying so very hard not to show that. Just the idea of losing yet another child makes me feel sick. I've already lost three so far; I don't want to make it a fourth.

"W-Well, I think you should keep it," I decide once and for all, "And if you really want, you can decide where it goes once it's born. I'll adopt it, no problems at all, Lisa, but if you want to keep it for yourself, then that's also fine with me. Just as long as it stays alive ... "

Lisa exhales through her nose, in thought, "I'll decide soon. I need some time to think. My head's all over the place right now." Slowly, she lifts her head to look at the progress in the investigation, "My God, I'm gonna miss him so much ... "

I shrug a little, "It's understandable. I know it's still new to you; it's new to me and Becky too. But ... if you really want, we'll both be here for you." Collapsing to my knees again, I remain opposite her, offering her my hand.

"Lisa ... for everyone's sakes, let's end this feud now."

She gazes at my hand for a moment, looking slightly disorientated, but then she raises her own hand to shake mine, "Okay. No longer enemies."

Ending the three-year-long feud between me and Becky, and Lisa and Alex has put my mind at rest. We all need each other a little more than we did before, so it's rather pointless trying to remain as enemies now. I'm glad it's over.

"So ... what now?" Lisa then asks.

"It would probably be best if you stayed here to see what's going on with the investigation," I answer.

She nods, but then a thought must enter her mind, as she widens her eyes nervously, "Michael! What if they recognise me?"

My eyes furrow deeply in confusion, "Recognise you? Why would they—ohh."

I suddenly realise why; her and Alex are on bail – or at least, were. What's even going to happen to Lisa, now?

Wait! Didn't Alex take all the blame, allowing Lisa to walk free?

"But Alex took all the blame, remember?" I remind her, "You're okay; you're innocent as far as the police are concerned."

A small scowl becomes visible on her face, "Yeah, but ... won't they still put me on trial?"

I shake my head, "They shouldn't do. I mean, you're meant to be innocent; why would they put you on trial?"

"Why do they put anyone on trial?" she sighs, "Some innocent people are put on trial. I, however, am not so innocent."

"But that's not what the police believe," I assure her, "Now, I've got to get back to Becky; she's in the hospital remember? I really need to make sure she's okay."

She nods, watching me as I stand up and hand her the test back, "Thanks for being here, Michael. I'll be here for you and Becky, too, if you ever need it. Don't ever doubt that."

A small smile spreads across my face, "Thanks, Lisa. I'm sorry about Alex, again. I'll see you 'round." The short journey back to the car then begins, but every few seconds, I check behind me at the scene of the crime, to see what's happening. I would get the picnic back, but I can't because it's near to Alex.

Once I've arrived back at the car, I get in, starting the ignition, then I make my way back to the hospital.

--

Becky's POV

It's been a couple of hours since Michael went to get the picnic stuff back. What's taking him so long? Maybe the police are there, and they've been asking him questions! It worries me deeply as to what's happening there.

I've just woken up from a nap, hoping that Michael would be here by the time I woke up – but no, he's still not here. I really hope he isn't much longer.

The hospital room door then opens, which gives me a slight feeling of excitement. Is it Michael?

No. It's a nurse.

"Good afternoon, Miss Summers," she greets me softly, a mellow smile tugging at her lips, "How are we feeling now?"

"I'm fine, thanks," I answer, "But where's Michael—I-I mean, Mr Jackson? You know, the man that's always here with me?"

The nurse knits her eyebrows together in deep thought, looking downwards to try and think who I mean, "Hum, no. I don't know who you're talking about, Miss Summers. I'm sorry."

"Brown eyes? Light skin? Quite ... quite tall – well, taller than me, anyway. Uh ... long, black curls?" I describe Michael's every feature to her.

She pauses a moment after I've spoken about the curls, "Ah! Yes! He is very good-looking." She winks, and despite her obvious attraction to my fiancé, I can't help but laugh, "Yes, I saw him coming down the corridor about two minutes ago. He should be here any second now."

Just then, the door opens, revealing Michael. As soon as he sets eyes upon me, they light up. "Hey, sweetheart," he greets me, "How have you been?"

He approaches the bed I'm lying in, and as he does so, the nurse raises her hand to her mouth and smiles uncontrollably like a little school girl. She obviously finds Michael cute because he's being so sweet towards me.

"How are you feeling?" he repeats, sitting on the bed next to me. His lips capture mine in a brief kiss, before pulling away, "Did you miss me?"

"So many questions," I chuckle, leaning my head against his chest, "I'm fine, Michael. Absolutely fine. B-But did you get rid of the picnic stuff?" I ask impatiently.

He shakes his head, causing me to worry a little, "No ... but I'll explain everything later, okay? When the nurse has gone."

The nurse hears this, and gives an awkward smile, "I'm sorry, is there something you wish to talk privately about?"

Michael flashes his killer smile at her, but only out of humbleness, "Yes, there is. We'll only be a few minutes. Did you want to check up on Becky first, or—?"

"No, no, I just wanted to tell you something ... it's rather important. But have your little conversation. I'll come back in ten minutes, alright?" She exits the room swiftly, leaving me and Michael alone.

"So, why didn't you get rid of it?" My tone becomes slightly desperate.

"Well, when I got there, there was a load of police cars and police officers there; they'd found Alex—"

"What!" I gasp.

"Let me finish, sweetheart, okay?" He takes a deep breath, "Anyway ... they asked me if I knew anything, so I told them that I recognised Alex, but didn't know how he got there. The officer took our phone numbers just in case the fingerprints on the gun don't match Alex's, but it won't happen, so we're safe—"

"I told you about the fingerprints!" I cry, "I told you about them!"

"Becky ... I'm still not done, honey."

"Sorry."

"Okay, so then Lisa came, and I had to tell her that Alex is gone. She didn't take it so well, so I had to comfort her. I also told her about your cancer, and we both decided it would be wise to end our feud. And another thing ... she's pregnant," Michael explains.

My eyes widen, "My God ... and is she keeping it?"

"She's still deciding," he answers, kissing my knuckles gently, "But if she keeps it, and then doesn't want it when it's born, then I've said we'll adopt it ... if that's okay?"

My eyes move downwards, "Yeah, that's fine. I mean, in a few years, you'll be able to decide on everything without my say ... " It's then that tears form thickly in my eyes, and a couple fall down each cheek.

Michael's lips move to my cheeks, kissing the tears away, quite literally. So many emotions are messing with me now, just from hearing Lisa's pregnant. I've lost two out of three of my children, both pretty much without choice, whereas she can make any decision she wants. This really isn't fair at all. And it's not like I can just create another child – I'll be dead before it can fully grow up.

"Baby, please don't think so negatively. Who knows; maybe a miracle will happen? I don't know ... just ... just think positively," Michael advises me calmly, clearly sympathetic towards me.

Anger and sadness fill my heart, "No miracles will happen to me now, Michael. Life hates me."

He sighs sadly, cuddling me close, but being careful not to touch my operation scar, "Life doesn't hate you. Bad things happen to everyone, just some worse than others."

"Then why do I get the worst!" I scream, "It's an absolute piss-take! As soon as something good happens, something comes along to ruin it!" Tears fall uncontrollably down my cheeks as I speak, "Now the best news in my life is that I still have four full years of life! And that's nothing, Michael, nothing! Four years is nothing!"

"Sweetheart, calm down ... please," he pleads, "I'm always gonna be here for you ... always. Four years is longer than some people get, you know. Some people only get a few months, at the very most. We gotta make it count now, okay?"

Wheezing from my outburst, I nod, tears still running down my cheeks, "I'll have to ... I need to make it count ... " I answer weakly.

He kisses the top of my forehead, "Atta girl."

Moments later, the door opens again, and the same nurse as before enters the room. She gives me a look of concern, "Miss Summers, are you alright?"

Through my tears, I nod, "I'm fine ... thanks."

Michael brings the conversation to its main focus point, "What did you want to tell us, though?" He keeps his eyes on the nurse as she pulls up a chair next to the bed.

"Listen, Miss Summers. We've been tracking your progress on your cancer journey, and based on what's just happened, we've been able to come to a more clear conclusion ... in terms of life expectancy."

My stomach suddenly fills with fear, worry and nerves. What if the life expectancy is shorter than four years? I wouldn't be able to cope with that.

"A-And how long is it now?" Michael questions on our behalf.

"Mr Jackson, Miss Summers' life expectancy will be around twelve to eighteen months, now."

Michael's eyes instantly widen in shock, whereas I just lose all feeling in my body. Numbness has taken over, now. Eighteen months. A year and a half is the most I'll be alive for.

You can hardly make anything count with a year-and-a-half life expectancy.

Oh damn! Becky's life expectancy has gone down! :(
What a roller coaster this story is becoming! Man, it's getting so eventful! :o
Only six chapters now, guys. I'm going to miss this story so much when it's over. :'(
Hope you enjoyed it, anyhow. :)