Were we ready to commit to each other? Were we prepared? Did we know what we were in for? Hell no! We definitely didn't know. All we knew is that we wanted to try and that's all we could do. Nick now knowing about Dylan and his complete trust and faith gave me hope. We still held things close to our chest but we were together...finally after all this time. But there were still a few surprises in stall for us but if we weren't ready then bad luck...

" Hey how's he holding up? " I looked up from the bedside of Dylan and saw Nick standing there, in the doorway, with a dozen roses all a different colour.

" Not doing too bad actually....he's still sick but he's improved a little from last night...he wakes up and then goes to sleep again...he's so tired, thankyou Nick, Dylan loves colours..." Nick kissed my head on the way through as he put the roses in a separate vase and sat them by his bedside.

" Your welcome...so this is what you did when you weren't by my side....you were protecting him too huh? " I gave him a weak smile as he pulled a chair around to my side and sat next to me.

" Yeah most of the time...I mean sharing equal time with both of you was difficult. I'd sit here and watched him constantly...he's my baby boy Nick..before you it was the two of us taking on the world , fighting this battle that he has so bravely fought. He's only a little boy and I'm so proud of him you know? Did you want a coffee? I need to get out? Could you watch him for me? " Nick nodded and squeezed my hand.

" Yeah sure course I will....I'd love a coffee...take your time..." Nick kissed my lips gently before I stood and made my way to the coffee machine. Nick moved to my chair and stroked Dylan's head.

" It's just you and me now kiddo...."

You never realise how much you get used to hospitals until you have a relative who's lived his/her life in hospital. I didn't want Nick thinking this would be happy families. This was the way our life was. Dylan and mine. We lived like this. He needed the hospital to survive and I needed him, not necessarily keep alive but give me that motivation to get up in the mornings.

This particular day was different. I turned my head to see Nick's mother Jane, talking or more like arguing with a guy about Nick's age. He looked very familiar to me but I couldn't pinpoint where I knew him from. How convenient Jane, just argue right in the middle of the hospital hallway. No one would give a damn. Jane saw me looking at her and the familiar stranger, finishing the conversation abruptly before walking over to me.

" Do you know where Nick is? I've been looking for him all day? " I turned to her and smiled. Curiosity killed the cat as they say and I began my probing of what I saw.

" Who was that guy you were arguing with? Sorry I wasn't eavesdropping it just seemed like he was giving you a hard time..." Trying to look concerned as I could be so Jane would buy my story, sure enough she did.

" Oh just one of Nick's old friends...they're not on speaking terms, god knows why considering they've been friends since birth., I can't understand it Skye, one thing ruins a perfect friendship that's lasted their whole lives, they would of been closer....but god knows why they just can't settle this dispute.." In Jane's babbling I managed to piece together who the mystery person was and it wasn't surprising who was in the middle of why he and Nick weren't speaking....

To Nick's surprise, the little boy happened to wake up while I wasn't there. Dylan scanning the room for the one familiar face he knew...but came across another face, one he had been curious to meet when his momma talked about him.

" You Nick? " He barely was able to speak but Nick heard every word.

" Yeah...how did you know? " Dylan smiled and yawned showing how tired he was. His eyes matched a pair of blue parallel to him.

" Momma talks about a Nick...he looks after her...I'm sick she says...but I want to go home..." Nick placed his hand in the little boy's hand, so tiny and yeah so vulnerable. Boy and man, Nick the boy inside the man...Dylan learning to accept his illness at a very young age.

" Buddy I know you want go home...I wish you could too, but the nice people at the hospital want see you get better so you can go home..." He searched for his momma...he liked Nick but momma, he couldn't see anywhere.

" Where's momma? " Barely able to speak, Dylan saw Nick's caring smile and it helped him a little, gave him a little strength to hold on, he was so tired.

" She had to go out for a minute, she told me to stay here in case you woke up...." Nick saw Dylan's hand squeeze in his and reminded him of Grace. The strength this little boy had to hold on was amazing.

" I'm Dy--lan, I like colours..." He pointed to the roses that Nick had brought in earlier. He reached over to the vase and picked one out.

" Do you know colours yet? I thought they'd brighten up the room a little..." Dylan reached for the petals to feel the soft material between his fingertips.

" This one is blue...I like blue and green..." Nick's eyes lit up and smiled.

" You know what? green's my favourite colour..." He saw Dylan's eye's droop a little, man that little boy wanted to stay awake to talk to him!

" Momma isn't gone this long, why is she not here?" That question again...Nick began to question it too. What was keeping Skye away for so long?

" You know what Dylan? Why don't you get some rest huh? and I'll stay here with you? Is that okay? Mommy won't be too long now..." A smile appeared at the mention of his mother and through sleepy eyes he responded.

" Okay Nick...sleepy time..." Nick stroked his forehead gently.

" Night Kiddo...."

I figured Dylan would of woken up by now and fingers crossed that Nick handled it okay. This was so monotonous. Dylan should be getting better not worse, Nick shouldn't have to deal with this so soon after Grace's death, he should have his friends around him, someone to lean on that he could count on to be there, that person wasn't there anymore. All he had was me and even at times that wasn't enough...

" Penny for your thoughts? " I looked up towards the sky and saw the same guy that Jane was arguing with earlier.

" Yeah I guess....it's a bit tough right now..." I saw him nod and he sat beside me.

" Jane told me you helped Nick out. I want to thankyou personally, something I could never do, I couldn't be there to help Nick like I always have. He needs to understand that. I take it you saw Jane and I arguing? That's because they don't understand how hard the past year has been for me. Nick has had it rough and I wanted to help him but...nevermind..." I mean he has you and your son...let me just tell you I've been there, it's hard watching someone you love go through something so devastating, being so young and all..." I was completely clueless, I mean I knew who he was but I needed to prove my theory.

" Let me get this straight...you've been there? How do you know about my son? You don't even know me? Most importantly...who are you? " He smiled and extended his hand.

" I'm Brent, Grace's brother and Nick's Ex--Best Friend..."

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