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T he next few days in Guatemala were filled with laughter, fun, and joy. Being back in her homeland brought Luna a deep sense of peace, and reuniting with her mother filled a void she'd been ignoring for so long. It felt good to be surrounded by family again, and although she knew she would eventually have to return to America, knowing she was leaving on good terms made the thought of her departure less daunting.

She had not talked to Hunter in a few days, and although she was worried about him, she figured he was simply busy with training for their big game later that week. It was unusual, as they had not gone this long without speaking, but she tried not to give it too much thought. Luna tried to remain positive, as everything else was going well. She was finally starting to feel like herself again, and she planned to go back to the United States with the mindset that only her relationship with Hunter matter. She would figure out how to deal with the paparazzi.

That day, Luna decided to try to call Hunter again, and when she looked down at her phone, she noticed that she had three missed calls from him. Worried that something was wrong, Luna quickly dialed Hunter's number and waited for him to pick up the phone. He never called that many times in a row. When she heard his voice, she knew that something was wrong. The trembling of his voice was palpable, and her heart began to race.

“Hunter?” Luna said, worried. “Hunter, what is it, darling? Are you okay?”

Hunter stayed silent for a moment. She could tell that he was trying to gather his thoughts. He sounded as if he was holding back tears. She hated that she was not there with him.

“It is Adam,” Hunter said sadly. “Adam is in the hospital. He’s not doing well. They are still trying to figure out what is wrong, but he’s in the hospital, Luna.”

“It will be okay,” Luna said, trying to calm Hunter. “It will be okay, honey. The doctors will figure everything out.”

“I can’t lose him,” Hunter said, trying to hold back tears. “I can’t lose him, Luna. I can’t lose him too. I have already lost so much.”

“You aren’t going to lose anyone else,” Luna said calmly. “I promise you that you aren’t going to lose anyone else.”

After they hung up, Luna quickly began packing her belongings. Hearing the noise, Lisa hurried in and asked what was going on. Luna wasn’t scheduled to leave Guatemala for another week, so watching her pack in such a hurry made Lisa aware that something was wrong.

Luna explained the situation to her sister and tried to remain calm while explaining the details. However, she was scared. She loved Adam like a son and did not want anything bad to happen to him. Yet, she also knew that she had to be strong for Hunter right now. Hunter needed her support; he needed her to remain calm and collected. Freaking out would not solve anything. Luna had to be strong for Hunter, and that was exactly what she was going to do.

Lisa told her sister that she understood and that she supported her decision to leave Guatemala early. Overall, the trip back to her native country was a good one. Luna had reconnected with her mother and felt stronger in her relationship with not only her mother but with her sister as well. However, now she had to go back to the United States and face not only the photographers but Adam's sickness as well. It would be a lot to handle, but Luna was determined to face the issues head-on.

“Be strong for him,” Lisa told her sister. “Remember how much you love him and Adam, and don’t forget to call. We are here for you.”

Lisa helped Luna finish packing her belongings, and they managed to book her a flight back to the United States for later that evening. As Lisa watched her sister go through airport security, she knew Luna had only one thing on her mind: getting back to Hunter.

The flight back to America was long and filled with anxiety. She could not stop worrying about Adam, and she wished that she had been able to be there with him at the hospital from the beginning. He was a healthy child. Where was this illness coming from? She hoped and prayed that nothing serious was wrong with him. She knew that this had to be hard for Hunter. It would be hard for any parent to see their child sick, but Hunter had spent so much time in hospitals already. She was sure that the situation with his wife was in his mind.

Hunter had often told Luna about how much he hated hospitals since his wife died. He had spent countless nights in them, waiting for his wife to wake up, feeling better suddenly. That never happened. He had experienced so much loss in hospitals, and he did not view them as places where people went to get better. He viewed hospitals as places where people went to die. She looked down at her watch. She still had two more hours until the plane landed.

While Luna was still on the plane, Hunter was sitting in the hospital. He was waiting for the doctors to give him an update. He needed her there. She was the only one who could comfort him during this great time of need. He feared his son being sick, and he feared being alone. He felt that his greatest fears were coming true, and there was nothing he could do to stop it from happening.

As Hunter sat there, he fought to keep his mind from going to the darkest places, but fear crept into every corner of his thoughts. He pictured his wife alone and unconscious in the hospital, unaware of the love that surrounded her. Hunter hoped his son wasn’t feeling the same way—he wanted him to know he wasn’t alone during this difficult time. Yet, Hunter was helpless, unable to see him while the doctors and nurses performed their urgent tasks. Tests were being run, and all Hunter could do was sit in the waiting room, restless and desperate for any bit of news. He glanced around, the emptiness of the room only amplifying his worry. And one question gnawed at him: where was Luna?

Hunter was confused and distraught. He leaned forward and placed his face in his hands. The stress of the situation was getting to him. He tried not to cry, but he didn’t know if he could help it. Hunter hated being vulnerable, let alone crying in public, but this situation caused dire circumstances to be forgiven. Hunter needed someone to rely on. As he was holding back his tears, he heard the footsteps of someone walking towards him.

He looked up and saw scrubs, the typical professional uniform of a doctor, and saw the serious face of a medical professional. He could tell that the news was not good, and he did not want to face this news alone. However, it seemed that he was left with no choice but to shoulder this burden alone, at least until Luna arrived home from Guatemala. He waited for the doctor to speak first, hoping that he had misinterpreted his emotions. Perhaps it was not as serious as he made it out to be. Just as he was talking himself out of feeling distraught, his mind quickly wandered back to seeing Adam sick in a hospital bed.

However, what the doctor had to say was serious indeed. The doctor told Hunter all of the symptoms that Adam was experiencing. Adam had frequent episodes of pain and anemia, which was causing him fatigue, paleness, and weakness. Hunter tried to digest the words that were coming out of the doctor’s mouth, but the negative results just kept coming at him. The doctor told Hunter that they had just discovered that Adam had jaundice, which was causing the yellowing of his skin and the whites of his eyes. The above symptoms were the reasons for his son’s swollen hands and feet, as well as his fever, which was the reason Hunter brought his son to the hospital.

“All of these issues,” the doctor began to tell Hunter. “All of these symptoms are symptoms of sickle cell disease. This disease is hereditary and extremely rare. Unfortunately, this means you and your former wife have the gene. Both parents need to be carriers for the disease to present itself.”

Hunter felt a tremendous amount of guilt come over him. He had no idea that he was a carrier of the gene, and he knew that his wife didn’t know. He felt responsible for his son’s pain and discomfort. He looked around the waiting room and wished that Luna was there. He hoped that she would arrive soon.

“Can I see my son?” Hunter asked. “I had no idea my wife and I were carriers.”

“Not yet,” the doctor said. “We were finally able to break the fever. He is fast asleep now, and he needs to rest. Also, many people do not know that they are carriers. I know you are going to want to beat yourself up over this, but you can’t. Now is the time to be strong for Adam.”

The doctor took his hand and placed it on Hunter’s shoulder. Hunter thanked the doctor for the update and then returned to his chair in the waiting room to sit down. He was so tired that he did not know what to do with himself. Yet, he knew that he would not be able to fall asleep. The nurse had suggested that he go home to get some rest and return in the morning to see his son, but the thought of leaving Adam alone in the hospital was unbearable. He could not leave him. He was his son, and he needed to be there for him.

Hunter slouched deeply in his chair. He laid his head back. The bright lights of the waiting room were blinding. So, he closed his eyes. His mind started to relax, and he felt himself slowly nodding off. Just as he felt himself slipping away to dreamland, he felt someone place a hand on his knee. He urgently opened his eyes, and when he was finally able to focus his vision away from the blinding lights, he saw her. He saw Luna. The hospital lights illuminated around her. She was an angel who had finally come to rescue him. Her carry-on bag was by her side. He took it from her and placed it under his chair. He stood up and wrapped his arms around her.

Hunter held her close as Luna leaned up to gently kiss him. Being there with him felt right. Maybe the time away had done her some good after all. Surrounded by family who loved her unconditionally, she had found herself again.

“How is he?” she asked Hunter. “How is Adam?”

Hunter explained everything to Luna. His voice cracked in between words. She could see how much of a toll this situation was taking on him, and she wished she had made it to the hospital sooner. They both sat down in the waiting room, holding hands, as Hunter explained the disease Adam had, how it was hereditary, and the immense guilt Hunter felt for not knowing that both he and his former wife were carriers of the gene causing the disease. At the mention of his guilt, Hunter placed his head in his hand. He started crying. He had been trying to hold back tears all day, and he could no longer do it. Everything came pouring out of him.

Luna continued to hold Hunter’s hand. She thought it was best not to say anything. She wanted Hunter to get his emotions out. She knew him well and knew that this was probably the first time he had really cried since Adam got sick. She leaned over her armchair and kissed Hunter on the forehead.

“You must be exhausted,” she said to him. “I can stay here if you want. Do you want to go home and get some rest?”

Hunter shook his head. He told her that he needed to stay in case anything else happened to Adam.

“You won’t be any good to him if you’re exhausted,” she told him lovingly. “I slept on the plane, so I’m fine. But look at how bright it is in here; you won’t get any rest in the waiting room. Go get a few hours of sleep, darling, and come back in the morning.”

Perhaps Luna was right. Hunter was exhausted and some rest would do him good. The doctor said that they would not be able to see him tonight, anyway. He nodded.

“Thank you,” he said to Luna genuinely. “I am so glad you are back home, baby.”

Hunter slowly got up from his chair and retrieved Luna’s luggage.

“You won’t be needing this, will you?” he asked her with a slight smile. “You aren’t planning on leaving again anytime soon, are you?”

Luna looked at Hunter with love in her eyes. She had never been so sure of their relationship as she was in that moment.

“I am not going anywhere, my love,” she said to him reassuringly.

As Hunter walked out of the waiting room, Luna sank back into her chair and finally let her own anxiety take hold. Adam was truly sick. She hadn’t wanted Hunter to see her worry—she needed to be strong for him. But now, alone in the hospital waiting room, she allowed herself to cry. She was concerned for Adam, and it hurt to see how much his illness weighed on Hunter. Letting her emotions out now would give her the strength to put on a brave face when Hunter returned. At least they would face this together, as a family.

Luna had fallen asleep in the waiting room, and when she woke, it was early the next morning. She rubbed her eyes and scanned the room for a clock, finally spotting one on the wall. It was five a.m. She sighed, realizing she’d managed only about five hours of sleep in the uncomfortable chair. Eager for an update, she began looking for a doctor. As soon as she spotted one, she flagged him down.

“Excuse me, sir,” she said in a hurry. “Can you give me an update on Adam? He is the young boy in room twelve.”

The doctor looked down at his sheet.

“I just got on shift, ma’am,” he replied politely. “Let me get with a nurse who can give me more information. Just hold tight for a moment, please. I will be right back.”

Luna turned around, as the doctor left and saw Hunter rushing to her.

“Did he say anything?” he asked eagerly. “Did he have an update on Adam?”

Luna shook her head back and forth, then reached down and grabbed his hand.

“Not yet, but they will be back soon,” Luna told him. “He just got on shift. Did you get any rest?”

Hunter told her that he did get some sleep. However, he frequently woke up due to his worries over his son. But he was grateful for the time he got to spend resting in his bed. He thanked Luna for being there for him.

“I need to call Frank,” Hunter said seriously. “I won’t be able to make it to practice today, and depending on how serious this situation is, I might have to quit for the rest of the season. I just hope he won’t be too upset.”

Hunter worried about Frank’s approval. He was like a father to him, and although he had already been there for him through other serious situations, he did not want to let him or his team down, especially with this big mid-season game coming up soon. Luna saw the look of worry spread across his face.

“Don’t worry about the team,” she told him softly. “This is more important. Besides, Frank took time off to care for his sick father. If anyone understands, it is him.”

As they continued to speak to one another, a nurse approached them. She had a serious look on her face, and Hunter felt like this world was crashing down again. He hoped that nothing bad was happening. The last thing that he heard was that Adam was fine. The fever had finally broken. Everything should be downhill from there, right?

“His fever is back,” the nurse told both of them seriously. “He is conscious. So, you can see him. Follow me.”

Hunter and Luna held hands tightly as the nurse led them back to room twelve. They were both excited to see Adam but afraid of how he would look. Neither of them wanted to see him in pain. Regardless of it all, they knew that they needed to show a united front for him. If Adam saw that they were okay, then perhaps he would feel better, as well. The nurse walked into the hospital room first. When Hunter saw Adam, he immediately went to his side. Luna followed him. Adam looked tired, pale, and weak. He was conscious but barely. His body was sweating, as it was trying to break the fever.

“How high is his fever?” Hunter asked the nurse. “When can he come home.”

“His fever is our main concern right now, especially because it broke once and returned. Once his fever has stayed down for twelve hours, he can go home. A doctor will be in later today to explain how to treat sickle cell disease. The good news is that with proper lifestyle changes, Adam will be able to live a normal life. I will give you all some time alone, together.”

The rest of that day was filled with spending time with Adam. Hunter and Luna tried to lift his spirits, but it was obvious that he did not feel well. Hours passed, and the fever did not break. The doctors had told them that they were worried about potential brain damage due to the severity of Adam’s fever. The best thing that they could do was allow Adam to rest.

The doctor recommended that Hunter and Luna go home to get some rest, explaining that Adam would likely be asleep for the rest of the day due to his condition. The medical staff emphasized the importance of not disturbing him. Adam needed uninterrupted rest to recover from the flare-up. Although the thought of leaving Adam pained Hunter, he knew he had responsibilities to fulfill. He needed to update his head coach, Frank, and the rest of the team about the situation. It was crucial for them to understand what was happening, especially since Hunter's absence would affect their preparations. With a heavy heart, he realized that taking care of himself was also a part of supporting Adam.

It did not look like Adam was going to be out of the hospital anytime soon, and once he did get out of the hospital, they would have to make lifestyle changes to accommodate Adam's sickle cell disease. Having this conversation with the team and with Frank was something that Hunter dreaded doing, but he knew it had to be done. He knew how important this next game was to everyone. So far, the team was number one in the National Hockey League, and Hunter was one of their best players, if not the best. Leaving now, mid-season, would hurt the team, but Adam was more important than any of that. He just hoped that everyone understood the severity of the situation.

Luna and Hunter returned to his apartment, exhausted and needing some rest. Ella had kindly agreed to stay with Adam, understanding that Luna and Hunter needed to recharge. She promised to keep them updated if anything significant happened while they were away, and her presence ensured that an adult was there during Adam's medical care. As Luna stepped into the apartment, she felt a wave of safety and relief wash over her, overwhelmed by a strong sense of belonging.

“I think I am even too tired to take a shower,” Luna said to Hunter. “Are you going to call Frank now or after our nap?”

“After our nap,” Hunter coolly stated.

He was putting that phone call off for as long as possible. Plus, he would be more articulate with his words after more sleep. He knew that he would sleep better now that Luna was back home. They walked to the bedroom together and immediately lay down. It felt good to be side by side once again. Their breath was in unison as each of their eyes closed. Hunter drifted off to sleep, thinking they could conquer anything as long as they were together. He did not know it at the time, but Luna was reaching her slumber, feeling the exact same thing.