"A surprise party? I'm not sure Skylar is up for that" Ryder said, he was out walking Hope in the stroller and Charlie was tagging along. They were side by side, just pacing slowly, Ryder was rocking the stroller gently, trying to get her to sleep, it was time for her nap.

"How bad is she, really?" Charlie asked, with some cautiousness to his question.

"Honestly? It's not good, she's getting worse, some days I think this is it, I stare at her at night, watching her breathe, it seems like a struggle sometimes. I am afraid to go to sleep, scared once I finally wake up, she won't...it scares the s... out of me!" Ryder was rocking the stroller gently as he pushed it along. The sun was out, it was a beautiful day, but he hardly noticed.

"I feel for you man, it sounds tough...we all love Skylar, but for you...this must be torture...how is her dad doing?" Charlie wanted to know.

"He is with her now. I think they are making a video for Hope or something, but I'm guessing it will be a short clip, she gets so tired...some days she can hardly handle cuddling with Hope, she just sleeps most of the day. It's crazy" Ryder sighed.

"Honestly I don't know what we would do without your mom, and Hannah, they are such a big help, for real!" Ryder looked at Charlie with graditude.

"They both love Hope, they enjoy taking care of her...don't worry. We'll all be there" Charlie said, meaning after Skylar was gone, Ryder knew that, but it still struck a cord with him.

Charlie quickly corrected his words.

"I didn't mean to sound insensitive...you know what I mean, we'll be there for you guys, the 3 of you" he said, and put his arm around Ryder for a short second.

"I know...I just don't know how to cope without her man...I thought, I knew pain...and loss. But apparently I don't! Nothing I ever felt, comes close to the pain I feel now. I know - I am going to loose her, I am going to raise Hope on my own, finish school...provide for us...can I do that? I have to, right? The responsibility is weighing me down" he felt devastated.

"We are going to help you carry the load, you are not alone, okay? Never" Charlie said, and of course Ryder believed him. Charlie never failed him. And he wasn't about to fail Hope!

"We should do something though, right? To mark the day, she'll be 20 in 4 days...a cake? Decorations, presents...stuff like that? I'm sure Hannah is up for the challenge" Charlie said, smiling lightly.

Ryder nodded.

Of course they were going to celebrate her twentieth birthday, but it felt so bittersweet.

"Let's go back...Hope is sleeping" Ryder said, and they turned to walk back, as they approached the house, that's when they saw the sirens flashing.

Without any words Ryder let go of the stroller, and ran towards the house.

Dave was standing by the ambulance with his back to him, as the paramedics wheeled her by on a stretcher and into the vehicle.

"What happened!...Skylar!" Ryder was yelling, and as Dave heard his voice he turned around to face him.

"She stopped breathing...we were doing the video for Hope, but she collapsed!" Dave's voice broke into a million pieces, and he couldn't finish the sentence properly.

Ryder jumped in the back of the ambulance, sitting next to her, he was holding her hand, no one told him to move, not that he would have...her hand was ice cold! Her face was pale white...he had trouble gathering his thoughts, it felt like he was in the middle of a bad dream. Unable to speak he just looked at the paramedic next to him.

"Sir...she's alive, she has a pulse, but it's weak, we are doing everything we can for her, and the hospital is ready for us" the guy told him, calmly...making sure Ryder got it. He did, but through a blur.

He squeezed her hand, but she did not react, she did not contract a single muscle.

The ride seemed endless, but once they reached the hospital entrance, they were met by several nurses and staff - running next to the stretcher, wheeling her inside - like you see in the movies, he felt like he was in a movie...he felt like he was on the outside looking in, like it wasn't really him - but it was.

They took her away. Ryder was left outside the double doors, only able to look in through the small square window, but as he lost sight of her, he just fell to the floor.

He must have passed out, when he came to, Dave was there...they instantly hugged each other. So tight. When they finally let go, none of them doubted the severity of the situation.

But all they could do now was wait.

They were sitting in the waiting room, playing the waiting game, but they both felt incredibly restless. Both tapping their feet on the floor, both looking around for a nurse or a doctor, both worried sick, but refusing to speak.

That's when Lily came through the door, she ran to hug Ryder.

She went on to hug Dave, making it apparent they had grown quite close during these past months.

"Any news?" She asked, looking from one to the other, they both shook their head. Still unable to speak. She knew them both well enough to leave it at that, and so they just sat there.

They sat in silence for a couple of hours, when Dr Taylor suddenly appeared.

She had to know how anxious they were, because all she said was this:

"She's stable...I don't know how long we'll get to keep her, but she's still here".

It sounded like good news, but listening closer, they all understood, that it wasn't.