The following day, Aiden was already at work in his office. The new nurse, Nattie walks in with a patient's chart in hand.

"Hello Dr. Keaton"

"Nurse Nattie"

She hands him the chart and he looks at it. He frowns.

"A malignant brain tumour?"

"Yes, she came here for first surgery"

He looks at Nattie.

"I think you confused me with my father, he's the neurosurgeon not me"

"Oh! My bad....I'll have that back"

His eyes glance on the patient's name and he froze. Heart beating very fast and blood rushed to his ears.

"Where is this patient's room?"

"322, why?"

"Go tell my father, I'll be with the patient in the meantime"

Once Nattie left, Aiden rushed to room 322. When he opens the door he tensed up seeing Winona on the bed. She looks up and quickly gets to her feet, eyes wide in shock.

"Aiden....what are you doing here?"

"I work here.....you....you have cancer?"

She sighs. Her face turning grim.

"Yes.....that's why I came here.....there's a specialist in this hospital"

He sighs.

"So it wasn't about Cayden after all huh? You came for yourself"

"That's not true....I don't know if I'm surviving this surgery and i thought it'd be nice to see Cayden again"

"After everything you have done to him?"

Winona shook her head, her dull green eyes glistening with tears.

"I deserve this karma....God is punishing me for hurting an innocent child"

Aiden looked at her. How the mighty have fallen, but at the end this was still Cayden's mother, it's up to him to decide.

"I'll talk to Cayden to visit you but iif he refuses then I won't force him"

"Thank you...."

•°• ✾ •°•

There was a knock at the door, Jade opens it and smiles seeing Cayden. Today he was wearing a pair of cuffed jeans, white converses and an oversized white tshirt.

"Hello there"

Cayden hands her a tumbler full of cookies.

"I made this.....let's share"

Jade leads him to the kitchen. They sit down and Cayden sighs, catching Jade's attention.

"What's wrong honey?" She asks, pouring hot water inside the tea filled cups.

"I'm conflicted"

She sits down across from him. The tea cup slides towards Cayden and he takes it.

"Do tell"

"I'm planning on proposing to Aiden"

Jade choked on her tea. She heaves for a moment until she calmed down.

"I see....did you buy a ring?"

"No....I was hoping we could go together"

She smiles. Cayden really does see her as his mother.

"I'd be honoured....when do you plan on proposing?"

"Aiden mentioned a cruise so....i thought during there"

She nods. It was a great plan, however she thought Aiden would be the one to propose but she's happy to know that Cayden really does love Aiden.

"That's a great idea and these cookies are amazing"

•°• ✾ •°•

"Are you okay?"

He looks up from his phone and sees Nattie, he smiles.

"I'm fine"

Nattie nods and hands him a chocolate muffin.

"You haven't eaten all day, atleast have my dessert"

He chuckles and takes the muffin.

"I appreciate it"

She sits down witha a tired sigh. She looks around the office.

"I should have been a doctor"

"Why? The hours are ridiculous"

"Atleast I'd have an office"

He laughs, shaking his head.

"Was that patient related to you?"

He tenses.

"Sort of....anyway we shouldn't talk about her"

"I apologize for prying"

"It's fine" he sighs. Now he has to think of a way to tell Cayden that his mother was in hospital waiting for surgery.

"Can you cover my last shift, i have to go home"

"That depends, can I use your couch for my break"

He nods and picks up his stuff. Nattie watches him rush out of the office. She sighs.

"What is going on?"

•°• ✾ •°•

"How about this one?"

He looks at the gold band and shakes his head.

"Too simple"

Jade chuckles and leads Cayden to the silver bands.

"Take a look at these, ouu i think i might leave with a new ring too" she says looking at a sapphire ring.

Cayden glanced through the endless rows of rings but none caught his attention. His phome vibrates in his pocket.

He opens the notification and his eyes widen. Jade comes back with two rings on her fingers.

"How do you like-" she frowns seeing his expression.

"What happened honey?"

"I....I made an element, my equation was correct and the element has been discovered" he whispers, this was too surreal.

Jade's face beams with happiness.

"Congratulations! What are you going to name it? It should be something cool like Caydenimium or Caydenia"

Cayden smiles, eyes locked on a ring that made him happy.

"We'll choose this one"

•°• ✾ •°•

Aiden was welcomed by silence in the house, he throws his bag and shoes into the closet and heads upstairs.

"Babe?" He calls out. He frowns when he meets no sign of Cayden.

"Maybe he went to the cafe" he shrugs.

He takes his shower and waits in the living room. While he was watching tv, the front door opens and closes. He looks up and sees Cayden carrying shopping bags.

"Hello" Cayden says and kisses him on the forehead. Aiden chuckles and pulls him closee for a real kiss.

"Mmh....sweet" he says once he pulls away. Cayden smiles.

"Your mom bought me a chocolate bar, we are celebrating"

"Oh? What are we celebrating?"

Cayden excitedly sits on his lap and pulls out his phone.

"Look"

Aiden reads the email and gasps.

"Congratulations baby, this is amazing!"

"I know right! That's why i bought these" he says and reaches inside his shopping bag.

Aiden gasps when his boyfriend pulls out a pack of edible lingerie.

"What do you say? You in?" Cayden says wiggling his eyebrows. Aiden sighs.

"Before that.....we have to talk"

"Oh? What's wrong?"

Aiden touches him by the cheek and sighs sadly.

"Cayden I met your mother today"

Cayden frowned.

"Oh....did she say something mean to you?"

"No that's not it....she's sick Cayden.....she.....she has Cancer"

Cayden looks at him, face blank and emotionless.

"Oh....she'll be fine....right?"

"Cayden....it's on her brain, the tumor is the size of a plum"

"Oh...."

Cayden found it hard to swallow....tears sting his eyes and he nods.

"I see..."

"I'm so sorry baby"

He shook his head making tears fall down his face. Aiden hugs him as he cries. Aiden shushes him softly.

"It's okay.....it's okay"