*Tom*
We get downstairs after the shower, just as the doorbell rings. And I go to let my mother and my two sisters in. "Welcome to Canada".

"Oh Tom". My sister Emma throws herself around my neck, hugging me so hard it almost hurt. "We have all been so worried hearing what happened and not being with you".

I hug her back. Trying to keep my emotions in check. But it is so good to see my family. "I am sorry. I am okay for now, but I have a lot of things to tell after lunch".

"My son". Is all my mom says hugging me, and I choke down a sob. I need to keep myself calm, setting of the alarm on my monitor would probably scare everyone. Then I hug my sister Sarah just as tightly.

I turn to take Kitty's hand, making her step up beside me. "And you all remember Kitty right ? She is the one keeping up my spirits".

"Of course we remember her". My mother says, giving her a soft hug. "I always hoped you would realise she was the one you should be with".

"Yeah". Emma says. "Actually you cost me a dinner, I thought you would have come to your senses long before. Sarah said 10 to 15 years and you would catch on".

I shake my head at my weird amazing family. "So you two knuckleheads bet on my happiness and love life.. classy, really classy".

"Of course we did". Sarah says padding my shoulder after having hugged Kitty. "I mean you were so clearly in love with her from the beginning, but you have always been such a stubborn bonehead when it came to admitting it".

I sigh and look at Kitty, giving a small shrug. "Yeah you might be right. But maybe the time just wasn't right before now".

Athena comes sprinting, grabbing my leg and I lift her up on my arm. "And this is my Rapunzel, the very smart and beautiful Athena".

"Oh ain't you just precious". Emma say and muses up her hair, turning to Kitty. "Oh she is so pretty, a real little princess".

"Thank you". Kitty says smiling proudly. And then everyone is fussing over Athena, who hides against my shoulder.

When we walk into the kitchen Sarah pads my shoulder. "Being a father is a really good look for you Tom. But I always knew it would be".

"Thank you sis". I say softly, feeling my chest tighten up. I wish it was true, that I was her father or at least that I would be allow to step in his place. She don't deserve to lose another father.

I have thought that it might be better if I just left them now. Didn't put them through the heartbreak of seeing me sick and frail. Sparing them for being there at the end. But I can't and I am sure Kitty wouldn't let me.

*Persephone*
It is so great seeing Tom's family again. And when Emma sees Zac in the kitchen she squeal and throw herself around his neck. "Zac !? Someone forgot to tell that you were here".

"Well hello there darling. Yes I am here. Who do you think is keeping track of this whole menagerie ?" He says grinning as he hugs her tightly.

She slaps his shoulder, shaking her head. "Definitely not you Levi, you are definitely the one doing the trouble making".

"Amen to that". Laura says, getting a glare from Zac. As everyone turn to look at her, making her blush at the attention.

Zac pulls her to his side, snaking his arm around her. "Everybody this is Laura, my most beautiful and amazing better half".

Everyone comes to say hello and Zac literally beams with pride, making me smile, it is so sweet how much he adores her.

Then everyone sit down to eat lunch. Telling Laura how good it is, ignoring Zac when he claims he did a lot of it. When we are done eating Tom ask Zac and Laura to take Athena to her room, so he can tell his family without her there.

When everyone is sitting down in the living-room Tom stands up. "Okay, so it is time to come completely clean here. I am sorry I haven't been totally honest with you about it all. As I told you and as the news said, Kitty's ex tried to kill Athena when he committed suicide. He tried speeding up the process, and I got in the way, causing my heart to go into failure after he had headbutted my chest shortly before".

"Yeah and we wanted to come, but you forbade us". Emma says. Tom had been called a hero and all the big tv shows had wanted him on but he had said no and asked them to give us peace to work through the trauma.

Tom nods. "I didn't want to worry you. They incident gave me a bad arrhythmia, but I didn't tell anyone. I thought I could push through the filming and then do something. They said I could end up needing my heart restarted or to get a pacemaker. The evening I was done filming my heart went haywire and gave out. Laura saved me".

"You really scared us Tom. You should be looking out for yourself more. I have always said that my boy". His mother says. "So what now ? Are you looking at a pacemaker then ?"

Tom pulls up his shirt. "I already have one. It is external and warns me if my heart rate gets to erratic and it shocks me if necessary. But.. it is only temporarily.. Unfortunately the second incident .. it .. well it was to hard on my heart.. I am so sorry for putting you all through this, but.. I need a heart transplant".

"Shit, oh God I am so sorry". Emma jumps up and comes to hug Tom. "Please tell me that it will happen. We can't lose you".

Tom is clearly fighting tears, and I know he is trying not to get too worked up. So I step in. "We are hoping and praying. At least he has a fairly common blood type, which gives better odds".

"If I could I would give you my own heart". His mother says, coming to hug him with tears in her eyes, making Tom's last defences crumble as he starts sobbing.

I leave them alone. He needs some time with his family alone. So I go up to Athena's room to join Zac and Laura. Finding Laura alone with Athena. "Where is Zac ?"

"He said he needed some fresh air. I think he went down in the garden". She looks at me. "Maybe you could try talking with him. I got a feeling he needs to talk but he is afraid to show me this side of him".

"Sure I go check up on him". I say with a smile, wondering what is wrong with Zac, as I walk out into the garden.

I find him on the bench under the tree. His legs pulled up with his arms around them, his head resting on his knees and I hear soft sobs coming from him. "Zac ?! Is something wrong ?"

"No no. Sorry I was just getting some fresh air". He desperately tries to brush the tears from his face as he lifts it from his legs.

I sit down next to him, softly padding his knee. "It is perfectly okay to cry. It has been a stressful time for you too. So now tell me what is making you sad".

"It's just.. I feel so bad for being happy with Laura, you know when Tom.. with him hanging on by a thread. It feels unfair that I get to be so happy.. and well also the idea that.. that we might lose him, it is so devastating". He says fiddling with his hands.

I hold out my arms, and he drops his legs, melting into me. I just hold him rubbing his back. "It is okay Zac. But you know what, it is okay for you to be happy. I know Tom is very happy for you, don't feel guilty about it".

"You are the strongest person I know Kitty. I admire that so much in you". He says through tears. "I just didn't want Laura to feel bad seeing me like this".

"You really love her don't you ?" I ask him. I don't really have to ask, I can hear it every time he talks about her and see it when he looks at her.

He nods slowly, biting his lip. "I do.. she is everything I have ever wished for in a woman. She makes me feel like a whole new and better person".

"Then be happy Zac.. both me and Tom know you care and we know we can always count on you". I tell him and give him a kiss on his cheek.

He smiles softly and let me pull him up on his feet, it is getting cold out here and I don't want any of us to catch anything, even a cold could be fatal to Tom.