Finding a New Life Ch. 05

Lily awoke with a start when she felt someone shaking her. "Grace!" Lily gasped, placing a hand over her heart.

"Are you okay?" Grace asked her friend.

"I'm scared for her," Lily whispered.

"Mia is going to be just fine," Grace murmured, giving her friend a hug.

"How do you know?" Lily sniffled.

"I just do," Grace said.

"Don't you get it that this is Mia's last chance? If she rejects Ty's bone marrow, then that's it; we'll just be waiting for her to die!" Lily exclaimed.

"You can't think that way! I know you're scared, and poor Mia is terrified, but Lily, you have to be strong for her. If you fall apart, Mia will be even more scared than she is now!" Grace said, giving her friend a gentle shake before pulling her in for another hug.

"You're right. I'm sorry," Lily murmured.

"It's okay to fall apart Lil, you've been doing this on your own for so long, but you can't give up," Grace said softly.

"She's right," Tyler said from behind his sister.

"What are you doing here?" Lily wanted to know.

"Waiting for news on our daughter," Tyler answered calmly; his eyes showing no signs of pain.

"How's your hip?" Grace asked.

"Sore," Tyler admitted, walking over to the couch next to the chair that Lily had been sitting in. Grace looked from her brother to her friend. "I'm going to go call mom and dad and let them know they took Mia back for the transplant," she said softly before quickly leaving the waiting room.

"How are you holding up?" Tyler asked.

"By a thread," Lily admitted, not looking at him.

"Lily, look at me," Tyler said. When Lily didn't comply, Tyler tilted her face towards his. "Lily, why did you let me think there had been someone else?" Tyler wanted to know.

"Because you couldn't even stand up to your own mother about where you wanted to go to college, how could I expect you to be ready to be a father?" Lily murmured, rubbing her face. She'd been up for almost twenty four hours, not counting the cat naps she had tried to take on the uncomfortable couch.

"But to not correct me?" Tyler asked.

"You didn't really give me the chance. Thirty seconds isn't a lot of time," Lily reminded him. Tyler opened his mouth to speak, but his cell phone rang.

"Hey Jenni," Tyler said, answering the call. Lily grabbed a magazine to try and give them a measure of privacy.

"Why didn't you call me when you got there, and why haven't you answered any of my calls? I've called you twenty times at least!" Jenni demanded to know.

"They tested me the minute I got to the hospital," Tyler answered.

"And are you the little brat's father?" Jenni asked.

"Her name is Mia, and the simple answer to that is yes," Tyler said, feeling a headache coming on.

"I see. And did you match?" Jenni wanted to know.

"Yes, and I've already donated my bone marrow. They've taken Mia back already," Tyler answered.

"You should have consulted me first; after all, I am your wife," Jenni said with a sigh.

"There wasn't time Jen, Mia is at death's door," Tyler said softly, glancing over at Lily. He could see the tears in her eyes and sighed loudly.

"You still should have called me. The bitch lets you think that she slept with someone else and you still go rushing back to her side when she asks for help?" Jenni was growing angry.

"What was I supposed to do Jenni, just let her die?" Tyler asked.

"Yes!" Jenni's exclamation was so loud that Lily could hear it. "You don't owe the little brat anything," she added.

"You're unbelievable Jenni. We're talking about a two and a half year old little girl. No matter what happened between Lily and I, Mia is innocent in all of this," Tyler said, trying to control his anger.

"Maybe it's God's way of punishing Lily for being a little whore," Jenni suggested.

"Lily has been through more than enough pain in her life, God wouldn't punish her by taking her child away," Tyler growled.

"How much pain could one person really have? Lily's only what, twenty one?" Jenni asked.

"Almost. She's been through a lot. Look, Jen, I need to know, can you accept Mia as being part of my life?" Tyler wanted to know.

"I hate kids Ty, haven't you figured that out by now?" Jenni countered.

"What?" Tyler asked.

"I've been on birth control since I hit puberty. Why do you think we haven't gotten pregnant yet?" Jenni told him. Tyler closed his eyes and counted silently to ten. "Ty?"

"I have to go Jen. I'll call you later," Tyler said, hanging up.

"Is everything okay?" Lily asked.

"No, not really," Tyler answered. "So how long is this going to take?" he wanted to know.

"They're just killing her old bone marrow right now, the actual transplant won't be for a few days," Lily answered. "Did they give you anything for pain?" Lily wanted to know.

"Yeah, but you know me, I hate medication," Tyler said with a grin. Lily smiled back.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lily looked up to Tyler's wife Jenni walking into her office. "What do you want Jenni?" Lily asked with a sigh. Jenni looked perfect with her red hair swept into an elegant up-do, but her green eyes were flashing with anger.

"To thank you for ruining my life," Jenni snarled.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Lily said with a sigh. It was her first day back to work since Mia's transplant and she was mentally and physically exhausted.

"Ty has filled for a divorce and it's all your fault," Jenni snapped.

"Jenni, I don't have time for this, I have a huge meeting soon," Lily said.

"Make time, you husband stealing whore!" Jenni exclaimed. Lily looked at Jenni with disdain.

"Jenni, you've know Ty for two, maybe two and a half years. He told me about the birth control, and I know for a fact he told you that he wanted children. You have no idea how bad he took it when he thought Mia wasn't his," Lily said.

"So what? Why couldn't you just stay out of his life? Out of our lives?" Jenni snarled.

"If it hadn't been for Mia nearly dying, I wouldn't have disrupted your life, now I need you to get out of my office," Lily said.

"No. Not until you tell Ty to leave you and Mia alone," Jenni said, crossing her arms over her chest.

"I'm not going to kick Ty out of Mia's life. That's his choice," Lily replied. "Now get the fuck out of my office before I call security and have you removed," she added, standing up.

Lily looked up to find Tyler standing behind Jenni, his eyes flashing with anger.

"Hello Ty," Lily said with a small smile.

"How dare you take out your anger on an innocent child!" Tyler seethed, as he walked over and turned Jenni to face him.

"But she ..."

"It is not Mia's fault that you are a cold hearted bitch. I just wish I had seen it sooner," Tyler said. "I believe Lily asked you to leave," he added. Jenni gave Lily one last look before storming out.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"So, how did you mange to graduate in two years?" Lily wanted to know.

"Two and a half actually. Remember all of the AP and CP classes I took in high school?" Lily nodded. "I passed all of them. My lowest grade was a B. That knocked out the science, math, english and history classes I needed to take. All I really had to take were a few electives and the core classes for my major and minor," Tyler said.

"But that only knocks out ten classes max," Lily murmured, taking a bite of her sweet and sour chicken.

"Yeah, but I took 21 credits each semester. And I took spring and summer classes too," Tyler said with a grin.

"You're crazy," Lily laughed.

"Probably," Tyler agreed. "Lily, how have you been able to do all of what you're doing?" Tyler wanted to know. Lily sighed and took another bite of her sweet and sour chicken.

"Your parents and Grace have done a lot. Your mom watches Mia during the day while I work and Grace moved in with us to help out after Mia got sick," Lily answered.

"What made you date that douche?" Tyler asked suddenly and Lily choked on her sip of water.

"Honestly, I don't know. He was nice at first, but after a few months, he changed. He never hurt Mia, but he wasn't the most caring towards her either," Lily said, shaking her head.

"But he hurt you," Tyler murmured.

"It's the past Ty," Lily told him. Ty reached over and pushed the bottom of Lily's shirt away to reveal the scar. Lily pushed his hand away and stood up.

"What did he do to you?" Tyler wanted to know.

"I don't want to talk about it," Lily said.

"Lily, we're going to talk to this. What did he do?" Tyler asked.

"Tyler, it's the past, it doesn't matter!" Lily exclaimed.

"It does matter," Tyler argued.

"Why?" Lily wanted to know.

"Because you matter!" Tyler exclaimed. Lily looked surprised. "I've always cared about you Lily," he said more softly. "When I found out you were pregnant, I was terrified," Tyler began.

"So was I," Lily admitted.

"And when you didn't deny that there was someone else, I lost my mind. I was so angry with you, so hurt that you would do something like that," Tyler told Lily.

"Then why didn't you come back when I called you to tell you that there wasn't anyone else?" Lily wanted to know.

"I was still angry with you for not setting me straight," Tyler admitted.

-Hours later-

"Lily?" Grace called from the doorway. When Lily didn't answer, she walked deeper into the house and smiled when she found Tyler and Lily asleep on the over-sized love seat, Lily's head resting in Tyler's lap. Grace turned to leave when Lily woke up and sat up, rubbing her eyes groggily.

"Grace, what are you doing here?" Lily asked. The sound of Lily's voice jarred Tyler awake and he blinked, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the sudden flood of light as Lily turned on the lamp.

"Mom wanted me to come check on Mia," Grace answered.

"Mia's still in the hospital, but doctor Anderson says she's doing a lot better," Lily told her friend.

"Good. I was also supposed to tell you both to come for dinner, but I see you've already eaten," Grace said with a grin.

"Chinese," Tyler told Grace. She rolled her eyes.

"I'm not blind Ty," she teased him.

"Anything else?" Tyler asked with a grin.

"Yeah, Mom wants to see you both," Grace answered. Tyler and Lily exchanged looks before they followed Grace out the door.

"Uh-oh, she must not want us to be able to storm out, she sent the car," Lily teased.

"Probably," Tyler agreed, rubbing his eyes as he held the door open for Lily.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'm glad you could both make it," Caroline said as Tyler and Lily walked into the study. Tyler and Lily exchanged worried glances when they noticed the grim expression on Greg's face. Greg pushed himself away from the book shelf he had been leaning against and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"What's up dad?" Tyler asked.

"Have a seat, both of you," Greg said. Lily and Tyler sat down and Greg finally smiled.

"Ty, I heard from Grace that you filed for divorce," Greg began. Tyler nodded.

"Good. From what I've seen of that girl, she isn't right for you," Caroline interjected. Tyler looked at his mother and shook his head slightly.

"What is this about?" Lily asked. Greg sighed slightly. "Please tell me that nobody else is sick," Lily said.

"We're fine Lily. We wanted to show you this," Greg answered, sliding a piece of paper towards her.

"You're writing Mia into your will?" Lily asked in surprise.

"She's our granddaughter, why shouldn't we?" Caroline asked.

"I'm just surprised," Lily murmured. "I know I'm not your favorite person," Lily added.

"How I feel about you has no effect on how I feel about my granddaughter," Caroline snapped.

"Back to the matter at hand. Tyler, I need to speak with you alone," Greg said, leading his son from the study.

"Lily, I want for you and Ty to try to get together. He loves you and you've always loved him," Caroline said. Lily looked stunned.

"But you can't stand me," Lily whispered.

"That isn't true. When I first met you Lily, you were just a little girl who had been through hell. When Ty became interested in you, I was worried, but only because I care about both of you," Caroline said.

"Why were you worried? Did you think I was like my mother?" Lily wanted to know.

"Your mother was a good woman Lily who made some mistakes. Greg and I went to school with David and Eve. In fact, Greg and Eve dated all through high school," Caroline said.

"Were you worried that Greg was my father?" Lily asked softly.

"For a little while, yes. But Greg said he hadn't seen your mother since ..." Caroline's voice trailed off as the door opened and Greg and Tyler walked back into the study.

"Since what?" Lily wanted to know.

"Since graduation," Greg said. "Caro, could you give us a few minutes?" Greg asked. Caroline nodded and left the study.

"Dad, what was mom trying to tell Lily?" Tyler wanted to know.

Greg sighed. "Eve was pregnant when we graduated," Greg said. Lily's eyes widened and she gasped.

"By you?" she whispered. Greg nodded.

"Lily and I share a sibling?" Tyler asked.

"A brother," Greg confirmed.