George's POV

"I feel so bad." I said to Will. "If Valerie dies, it'll be all my fault."

"She won't die." Will said. "The doctors put her in surgery, she's alive and fighting it well." 

"That's what I'm worried about. I know what surgery she was talking about getting earlier. Will, she's getting a heart transplant. The nurse told me." I said. 

"Oh my God." Will said. 

"Why didn't I see the signs earlier? I should've asked her more questions." I said, pacing around the hospital waiting room. 

"I don't think she wanted you to know." Will said. "I think the money was a big factor. She knew Penelope would never pay for it, and I think she knew she wouldn't live a long life if she didn't get the surgery. You did the right thing, George. You practically saved her life." 

"You're right. She'll be healthier after this." I said. 

"George Salazar?" the nurse said. I stepped towards her and said, "Yes, that's me."

"Um, is your foster daughter Valerie Rafferty?" I nodded, and the nurse said, "She's out of surgery. She's in the recovery room now." I looked at Will, Stephanie, and Gerard and we followed the nurse to the recovery room.

I walked in and saw Valerie with her eyes closed, a massive scar down her chest covered with a bandage. I ran towards her and took her hand.

"Hi Val. It's me. I love you." I said.

_______________________________________________________________

Valerie's POV

I woke up and saw bright hospital lights above me. George was stroking my forehead. I rolled over and looked at him. George kissed my forehead and said, "Good morning, sweetheart."

"I did it." I said, looking down at my chest. A new heart was beating strong in there. I looked at my arm.

My pump was gone. Gone for good.

"I did it!" I yelled. "George! It's over!" 

"It's over, Valerie. And I am so proud of you. We all are." George said. I smiled, and said, "I don't have to deal with the pump anymore. I'm not as much of a burden on my foster families anymore."

"Val, you were never a burden on us. We knew you were special, heart condition or no heart condition." Will said. I nodded, sitting up. 

"It took 10 years. 10 years and 11 surgeries to win." I said. George nodded, and said, "I am so, so proud of you, sweet pea. You're so tough." I smiled, and looked down one more time at my chest. 

"I would've never worked up the courage to do that if it wasn't for you guys. If I was with any other home, I would've been too scared to do this. Like, I'm 10 years old and I just got a heart transplant." I said. 

"Can I ask you a question, Via?" Gerard asked. I nodded, and Gerard said, "If you didn't get that transplant, would you have died?" 

"I wouldn't have lived much longer. Maybe to my late teens, at the latest. George saved my life." I said, and I could see a tear fall down George's chin. George kissed my cheek and said, "I love you so much, Valerie. So much." 

"I love you too." I said, being scared that my heart was going to act up again. But it won't. I don't have to worry about that ever again.

I had never really loved any of my foster parents. Mainly because they never loved me. They just fostered me for the government money, and once they realized I was strong enough to survive on my own, they just left me be. I practically raised myself. 

George, Will, Gerard, Stephanie, they were different. They didn't leave me be like my past homes, they weren't abusive like Penelope. With them, I felt like I had a real home, a family. 

"Valerie? You zoning out again?" Will asked, snapping me back to reality. "Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Thanks for being the best family ever." 

"Aww." George said. "We love you, Val."

"I love you guys. Really. You changed my life." I said.

"We love you too, Valerie." Will said. 

"You're perfect in our eyes." George said.

Stephanie smiled, and said, "Did I ever tell you how special you are? You've been through so much and always smile."

"Thanks." I said sheepishly. I awkwardly smiled. 

"So, do you guys just want to have some fun?" Gerard asked. We all whooped and hollered, and George put on the TV. 

I'm so glad I'm done with heart problems. I mean, I've dealt with it all my life. I felt strong because of it, but at the same time, I felt weak. Like I wasn't good enough.

But getting a surgery, facing that fear, was much easier than facing death.

AN: Sorry this chapter is so short. I'm out of ideas for this fic. If you guys have any ideas for this book or any more cast members you want me to include, let me know! I'm having SO much fun writing this! Hope you enjoyed! Catch ya later!