The next weeks past easily. While Liz attended school Lucky would spend time with Nik or his parents. They had been avoiding the subject of Lucky's illness but since he was feeling nearly fine, Liz for one didn't want to jinx the situation.
One evening, about 5 weeks since that fateful day when they found out Lucky had cancer, Lucky and Liz were playing Gin Rummy when the phone rang. It was Laura.
"Hey Lucky, would you and Liz come over for the evening. I know we were going to have the family over for Lulu's birthday but she's having a little party for all her friends tonight. Your father had to stay at Kelly's adn I need help."
"Sure mom," Lucky said into the phone, "Liz and I would be happy to help out. We'll be over in about half and hour okay?"
Laura thanked him and hung up the phone.
Liz grabbed their coats from the closet and tossed Lucky his. He went out the door first. Liz followed, but not before she ahd grabbed his meds from the table. No sense in taking chances.
************************************************
Lulu was the star of the evening. She looked absolutley adorable in her little dress. Lucky adn Liz watched as she blew out her candles, all her friends crowded around.
The presents had been opened, the kids parents were coming in 20 minutes.
"we only have a little while left kids," Liz said cutting the first peice of cake,"so who wants cake?"
"me me!" all the kids shouted. Liz laughed and cut the first piece, which of course went to the birthday girl.
Lucky stood off to the side, smiling at the spectacle. Liz is so great with kids, he thought. That happy thought was followed by a more disturbing one, but she'll never get to raise our children. He wished he could live, it was all that mattered to him. To see his little sister graduate, to make a home with Liz, to watch his own children grow.
He forced the thoughts from his mind, just live in the moment Lucky, he told himself firmly. He forced a smile adn went to go clean up the wrapping paper from the living room.
He heard Laura adn Lulu saying goodbye to her friends. Liz came into the room soon after.
"Great party Lucky huh?" Liz said, "All those energetic kids in one room."
Lucky sobered, realizing this would probably be hte last time he would ever attend one of his little sisters parties.
Liz, realizing he was upset, asked, "You are thinking about your cancer aren't you Lucky?"
His eyes watered, "Sorry to become a basket case again, but I was just realizing I won't be around for Lulu's next birhtday."
She walked over and hugged him close, "Lucky you have nothing to apologize for. If I were in you situation I would be in a permanent state of melancholy. Don't give up hope, I'm not. A donor will be found Lucky."
"THanks Elizabeth, I don't know how I could have lasted this long without you. You're my stength. I would sing that song by Celine Dion but it would be a little too corny." he let out a dry sob.
All of a sudden he released her. He doubled over in pain, his hands crossed over his stomach. As Liz ran to her pruse to get the meds, Lulu and Laura entered the room.
"Lucky?" Lulu asked uncertainly,"What's wrong? you haev a tummy ache?"
"Please get her out of here Mom. SHe shouldn't see me like this," Lucky rasped.
Laura tried to pull Lulu from the room, but she twisted from Laura's grasp and went to Lucky.
"Lucky?" Lulu stared at her older who ahd collapsed to the ground in pain.
"Just leave," he shouted, crying form the intense pain.
Lulu ran crying form the room. Laura, torn between them, hesitated. Once she saw Liz coming with his apinkillers he ran after Lulu.
"Here's one pill Lucky," she said, handing him the pill and a glass fo water.
He gulped it down. The pill was supposed to provide an almost insant relief from pain, but it wasn't working. Not this time.
"Give me another one Liz, it's not working," she quickly handed him a second dosage.
The drugs coursed through his system, he felt light-headed but the majority of the pain was gone.
"Listen Lucky, you should probably get checked out at the hospital. I'll go get your mother, she can drive you."
He nodded wordlessly and Liz ran up the stairs.
HSe found Laura crouched in front of the bed, "Lulu honey please come out. Lucky didn't mean to yell at you."
SHe noticed Liz standing in the doorway. In answer to the unasked question Liz said, "He's fine now, but he needs to go to the hospital."
Luara glanced at the bed, Liz said, "You go ahead, I'll come after with Lulu."
Laura nodded and rushed down the stairs. Liz went and sat down in front of the bed. "So Princess, wanna talk?"
Lulu crawled out, but didn't say anything.
Liz decided to talk first, "You haev to understand honey, Lucky's goign through a lot right now."
"I know Lizzie, mommy told me that Lucky is goign to die. But why was he so mad at me?"
"He wasn't mad at you Lulu. He was just hurting so much and didn't want you to see him like that."
"Why does he have to die Lizzie? I'll miss him sooo much!"
"I don't know sweetheart, it's just the way God wants it to be. We'll all miss him if he dies. But you won't forget him, he'll be a part of us always." Liz's heart ached for the lillte girl. SHe knew Lulu couldn't really grasp the concept of Death at ehr age, but she'll notice her big brother won't be there for ehr anymore.
"Don't cry Lizzie," Lulu said, that was when Liz realized tears had slipped down her cheeks, "Lucky's not going to die anyway, I have been praying for him. I promised God I won't ask for anything for CHristmas if he'll just let Lucky live."
Liz stroked the little girls face, knowing how futile praying could be, "How bout we go to the hospital and see Lucky, Lulu? I'm sure he'll be thrilled to see you."
"Okay Lizzie," Lulu said, hugging her, "I'll go get my jacket!"
As Lulu bounded from the room Liz just sat there. God this was hard. She had to deal not only with her losing her best friend and greatest love, she had to help everyone else too.
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