As the days turned into a week, Loni was making a full and speedy recovery from her surgery, and the doctors were happy with her progress. She was getting an hour once each day to be off her machines, and they did a little something different with the time every day.

One day they had lunch in the cafeteria; it was amazing to sit at a table and eat again, even better with other people to talk with, even if it was just her parents. On another day, Carly had brought Loni an armload of cute pajamas to choose from, and she got to 'shop' from the waiting lounge.

Today Loni was with Lissa, who wheeled her into the elevator amid her parents' warnings to be careful.

"We're in a hospital!" Lissa reminded them as the elevator door closed.

"I thought the surgical wing was the top floor; that's twelve," Loni mentioned as Lissa hit a button to go up to level thirteen.

"It is for patients." Lissa grinned. "Wait till you see this."

The elevator beeped, and Lissa wheeled them off it. Loni noticed it was only lit with the emergency lights.

"I don't think we're supposed to be up here."

"I do it all the time." Lissa wheeled her down the long and empty corridor, and Loni noticed this area was all just a bunch of rooms, no lobby or receptionist area as the cardiology wing had.

"Most of the rooms are locked," Lissa explained as they continued. "This used to be a training area because this was a teaching hospital. Well, it still is, but not like it used to be. They used to have a large group of doctors here training and learning. Now they only have a few, so most of these rooms aren't needed."

"How do you know all this?"

"Uncle Gus," Lissa said as she wheeled Loni into an open room. She switched the light on, and the bright fluorescent light quickly highlighted the large classroom-style room with several small lab areas set up.

"Is that a person!" Loni gasped and then felt foolish as she looked closer at the naked man lying on a table in front of the classroom. It sure looked real at first glance.

"This is super cool. It's called a syndaver. It's a replica of the human body for doctors to practice." Lissa looked all excited as she wheeled Loni closer to it. "It has all the organs in it and everything!"

"It's freaking me out!" Loni squealed, turning her face away.

"Such a scaredy cat," Lissa teased. She stood in front of the dummy and started to reach towards it.

"Don't touch it!"

"I already have!" Lissa said gleefully. "It's not liked they're real, but they used to use real cadavers here; know what that is?"

"Does it matter if I want to know?" Loni rolled her eyes. "You're going to tell me anyway."

"Real human bodies!" She said so full of excitement over it that Loni seriously questioned her little sister's sanity.

"What do you mean, real humans?"

"Well, dead, obviously," Lissa scoffed. "They've been doing that for years. They don't do as much teaching now, so they got the fake ones. This one is already opened because they demonstrated open heart surgery last week."

Loni gaped as Lissa pulled apart the 'chest' and stuck her hand in there; she then pulled out a replica of a human heart and held it up.  Loni shuddered as Lissa's eyes lit up further.

"Did Gus tell you all this?"

"Yeah, he showed me too," Lissa nodded. "What they'll do during the surgery, I mean."

"He did?"

"I was a little scared, so he walked me through it. When he did, it didn't seem as scary anymore. It's a procedure with steps to follow, just like when dad cooks something, he follows a recipe."

"That is not even close to the same thing."

"In a way, it is. You follow the directions, one step at a time. The more you do, the better you are, and John is the best. You're going to be okay."

"I hope so," Loni sighed, frowning lightly; she'd been trying to keep her mind off it, but that was easier said than done. John was so impressed with how quickly she was healing from the surgery he'd scheduled for her heart replacement for the end of the week, just four more days. London would be transferred in just two days.

"I know so!" Lissa was still holding the heart replica.

"Will you put that thing back? It's freaking me out?"

"Fine, but I think it's cool. I might even be a doctor like Uncle Gus someday."

"Really?" Loni perked up at that. "You've never talked about what you want to be when you grow up."

"I never really thought about it, but I like walking around here, watching the doctors."

"Really?"

"Yeah, they all have so much purpose and rush."

"They do all have a certain high-energy kind of thing, and that is you for sure," Loni agreed.

"I hung out in the hall and watched them training here. I even shadowed the pediatrician on her rounds yesterday." Lissa looked very excited, and Loni was soon grinning along with her.

"You did what?" Luca's voice interrupted the sister's chat, and they looked up to see him and Kit walking into the room.

"How'd you know we were up here?" Lissa asked.

"Gus told us this is your new favorite spot," Kit explained. "Lissa, you can't be getting in the way of the doctors here."

"I wasn't!" Lissa protested. "I was having breakfast with Uncle Gus and her in the cafeteria, and he told her I was thinking about being a doctor and she offered. The kids loved me." 

"A doctor, huh?" Luca smirked as a flash of pride flickered in his eyes.

"Our little doctor, I could see her in the scrubs now," Kit gushed as she played with Lissa's hair, who made a face and shooed her away.

"But," Luca said in a firmer tone. "You got to be better in school. Doctors need to have good grades, to get into a good college."

"I know they all warned me of that," Lissa said. "I'm going to work harder in school next year."

"They all?" Kit questioned.

"I'm getting pretty popular among the staff here," Lissa said. "If you need any gossip, I'm your girl."

"Don't tell your aunt Carly that she'll have you talking for hours," Kit advised. 

Luca just shook his head and sighed.

"What's wrong, Dad?" Lissa asked curiously.

"Dating, college, careers. I'm not ready for all this; you're just kids."

"We're teens, sorry, Dad," Loni smiled as Kit comforted his arm.

"They had to start growing up at some point, babe," Kit said, smiling sadly as she curled into his side.

"But why?" Luca whined.

"To torture you, Dad, obviously," Lissa scoffed.

"Well, it's working," he shot back." No boys, yet Shorty, please. I can't take anymore."

"Oh, uh... yeah." Lissa looked uncomfortable as she shifted from foot to foot, her eyes dropping to the ground.

"Lissa?" Loni asked worriedly. "You, okay?"

"Uh yeah, forget it," Lissa's face could never hide when she was embarrassed or upset, though, and it was very red. Loni frowned, wondering what made her suddenly flustered, and then it dawned on her as she took in what her dad had said. She'd been suspecting something like this for a while and wanted to have a heart-to-heart with Lissa before she ended up in the hospital.

"Lissa, it's okay," Loni said quickly.

"What's wrong, Hon?" Kit asked, and as she stepped closer, Lissa took a step back, reaching behind her for Loni s hand. Loni grabbed it and squeezed it tight to give her little sister courage.

"Shorty? What's up?" Luca sounded concerned.

"Um, just the guy thing..."

"Your dad was kidding. We know you don't like boys yet," Kit assured her, but a shadow of worry crossed her face. "Do you?"

"Of course, she doesn't. She's too young for—"

"Stop!" Loni spoke up for Lissa. "She's trying to tell you something, so let her talk."

Lissa squeezed her hand tighter and took a breath.

"So," Lissa said slowly. "First off, there isn't anyone I like in that way yet, probably not for a while. But. When- "

She stopped again, and her dad's worried gaze intensified; it wasn't like Lissa to be tongue-tied. Loni squeezed her hand tighter.  "Go ahead, you got this," Loni encouraged her.

"When I am ready to date, I don't think I will be dating boys, so I don't think you'll have to worry about that, Daddio," Lissa said hurriedly; she then attempted a laugh, but it turned into a sob.

A flash of surprise passed over Luca's face as Kit's eyes softened in a loving but worried gaze, she quickly pulled Lissa from Loni into her embrace and Lissa buried her face against Kit s shoulder.

"It's okay, don't cry, please don't cry," Kit soothed and held her tightly to her. "We love you so much. I know it's hard being your age and going through this, but learning these things about yourself is what makes you, you. You will always be our adorable little spitfire, and we'll always love you, no matter who you date. You don't have to cry or be sad to tell us."

"Hey, listen to your mom, Shorty. All that matters to us is whoever you girls date treat you right." Luca started to rub her back as he chimed in. "We are so proud of you for telling us you don't need to be upset."

"Lissa, I'm so proud of you for saying it," Loni offered as a teary Lissa pulled away from Kit, wiping her eyes as her reddened cheeks slowly faded to normal. 

"You knew?" Lissa asked Loni. "How? I didn't even know until recently; I'm still kind of confused."

"Sisters have a way of knowing things." Loni smiled reassuringly, "And it's okay to be confused. I'm here anytime you need to talk."

"Shorty, you didn't think we'd be upset about this did you?" Luca asked. 

"I don't know," she mumbled nervously. "No one in our family has ever been gay before . At least, I don't think, and Aunt Mary got so mad that one day when the two guys were kissing on TV."

"Your great Aunt Mary is very extreme in her beliefs," Luca explained. "That's on her, but I don't agree. As far as I see it, only God can judge someone's choices. I might be cocky, but I'm not God."

"Sweetie, I see it the same way as your dad. I don't believe God would be against any love because our ability to give and receive love is our greatest gift. Why would He limit it?"

"Yeah! Why would He?" Lissa was cheering up quickly.

"He wouldn't," Loni agreed with her mom and dad.

"Please know that we will never be upset with you for being honest with us," Kit said. "Not ever; that goes for both of you. Please never be afraid to come to us and tell us anything, okay? Please. I need you girls to know Dad, and I will always be a safe space for you both."

"I do. I know that now, Mom," Lissa said as Kit pulled her in for another hug.

"Good," Kit kissed the top of her head. "I'm so proud of you for telling us."

"Thanks, Mom." She pulled away from Kit and walked over to Luca, who embraced her next.

"Listen to your mom, Shorty, we're pals; you can always come to me," Luca said as he ruffled her hair. 

"Thanks, Daddio." She was nearly glowing with relief and Loni was so happy for Lissa at that moment she forgot all about her problems.

"We better get Loni back to the room before the docs come looking for her," Luca said, reminding her just like thar, and she sighed.

"Hours up just like Cinderella," Loni whined. "Expect I have to return the wheels instead of the glass slippers."

"For now, Pumpkin," Luca offered. "You won't need those wheels much longer."

**

Later that afternoon, Kit was with Luca and Lissa in Loni's room. Loni had fallen asleep some time ago. Luca was watching Wheel of Fortune with the volume off, Lissa was playing with her phone, and Kit was attempting to read the same book she'd been reading since Loni was admitted. She was only on page three.

Kit looked over at Lissa, who was typing something into her phone, probably texting a friend; she was still surprised by Lissa's admission but so proud of her for telling them. She hadn't suspected it herself, but Lissa had just started acting more mature over the last year or so.

"Mom?" Lissa looked up.

"Sorry, Hon, didn't mean to stare; who are you texting? Your little fingers are working overtime."

"Betsy, I had to fill her in on so much, we haven't talked in forever."

Betsy was Lissa's best friend since they met in first grade during roll call when they realized they were both named Elisabeth.

"I sent her that selfie we took with Loni and Uncle Gus, and she said Gus is cute." Lissa pulled a face at that, and Kit laughed softly.

"Nice to see you are bonding with your uncle so much," Kit commented.

"Yeah, I like him," Lissa agreed. "Mom, speaking of Uncle Gus, I better tell you something."

'What?" Kit furrowed her eyebrows.

"He told me he's worried about his mom, like super worried," Lissa said with a face full of concern. "He doesn't know what will happen to her after all this."

"I... see," Kit bit at her lip as her gut tightened into a knot.

"I mean, I know... things are weird, but she is your mom and my grandma, so I told him we'd help her," Lissa confessed. "I hope that's okay?"

"Lissa, I don't know about that," Kit said quietly. "I'm grateful to her, beyond grateful, but I still have a lot of feelings I haven't resolved and- "

"Then maybe it's time to do that, baby," Luca said.

"How?" Kit asked. "Where do I even begin?"

"Why not start with why and see where it takes you."

"I asked her why once and didn't believe her answer."

"Well, you're older now, and so is she," Luca said. "Look, people suck. They make crappy choices and hurt us, sometimes badly, and it's unfair.  But no one should be defined by their biggest mistake. Because that's not fair either."

Of course, her mind went right to Leo, Luca's father, who was an extraordinary man in his final days. Had he been defined by his greatest mistake, it would have been a travesty. Luca was right, but that didn't make it any easier.

"Don't forgive her for her, do it for you," he added after a silent moment.

That brought a smile to her lips.  "That sounds like good advice."

"It is. The smartest, sweetest, strongest, and most beautiful woman in the world gave me that advice once." He walked over towards her and pulled her up and into his embrace.

"Oh gag. You guys are so gross," Lissa groaned.

"Just wait, you'll be all gross and mushy someday, too," Kit teased, and she cringed.

"No way, never."

"Famous last words," Luca chuckled.