After spending half an hour going through treatment options and filling out various paperwork Mason and I finally fell into our car seats. Mason hadn't spoken much in the consultation room and didn't speak at all when he pulled out of the hospital underground parking. It wasn't until the first set of traffic lights that his wall came down.

"Quinn, was this what you were trying to keep from me? Is this why you think we can't be together?" His voice cracked at the end, showing some vulnerability. I carefully placed my hand on his which was resting on the gear stick.

"Yeah... I didn't want you to lose anyone else you cared about. Once I found out about your parents, I tried to stay away from you especially because of my past with cancer. I thought it would be a sore spot for you and you looked so happy I didn't want to do anything to jeopardise that... But that night you carried me into the emergency room was when the doctors ran some tests and found abnormalities which indicated I had cancer. It was then that I had to choose to shut you out." The tears stung my eyes and clung to my eyelashes.

"I'd already fallen for you by then, I just couldn't admit it to myself because I was a self-righteous prick." He said matter of factly then let out an exasperated laugh. I laughed with him and tried to yawn sneakily, hiding it with my hand but he noticed from his peripherals.

"You sleep. We've got all weekend together." I nodded trying to calm all the thoughts that were threatening to break to the surface.

He's right. We have all weekend to figure out what our next move is. The ball is in his court now.

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My eyes fluttered open and I looked towards the window which was still dark, then to my alarm clock next to my bed which read 3:33am. I didn't remember waking up after the car ride home or even going to bed. Mason must have carried me.

I quickly sat up, scanning the dark room for Mason. There was no sight of him or anyone else in my room so I pivoted in my bed and placed my feet on the floor beside my bed, only it wasn't floor but Mason's chest.

Holy hell, he was sleeping on my floor?!

I felt so bad that he felt the need to sleep on the floor but also grateful that he was respectful enough to stick to the boundaries we had been clear about since we first became friends. Only, I sort of did want him in my bed, even if it was just to sleep.

I bent down and carefully brushed a few strands of hair from his forehead which caused him to stir.

"Hey you, get off the floor dummy. Come lay in bed. I won't bite...much." I gave a faint hint of a laugh as he sat up groggily.

"I didn't wanna leave you and I didn't want you to think I was trying to get in your pants." He said, stretching. I pulled his arm upwards and pulled him towards the bed.

"It's okay. I know. Come and sleep." He slowly slid under the covers and positioned himself so we were facing one another. My insides were starting to twist and my cheeks began feeling warm at the thought of being this close to him.

"Thank you for today... technically yesterday now but... I guess what I'm trying to say is... I'm sorry I didn't tell you." I looked away from him now that my eyes were adjusted to the darkness and I could make out his facial features. He placed his finger on my chin and turned me to face him.

"It's okay. I get it and you have absolutely nothing to be sorry for. I don't want you to ever apologise to me about that, okay?" His hand fell from my face as his eyes fell to my lips and then back up to my eyes. My heart beat against my ribs which I'm sure was pulsating through the mattress at a steady rate. Slow the hell down, please heart. All I could do was nod.

"Quinn, it doesn't matter what's in front of you right now because I'm right behind you. I will be with you every step of the way. I want to be what you need me to be. I'll do anything, be anything for you." His voice was quiet. I reached up and stroked the fresh stubble that lined his chiselled jaw. Seeing this strong man so vulnerable nearly broke me. I had to at least show him I trusted him enough for me to be vulnerable for him too.

"I'm so sorry if I hurt you. I pushed you away when it was the last thing I really wanted to do. I..." He put his finger to my lips and shooshed me, then his finger trailed the outline of my lips and down my jaw to my neck.

"Will you let me hold you tonight? We can talk later." He said in a barely audible voice. The coil which was tightly wound in my stomach loosed and I melted as he kissed each of my fingers adoringly. I was grateful that I had a little more time to figure out exactly what I wanted to say to him. At the moment, I was just blurting out whatever came to mind first which was probably not the best idea.

"Okay." I whispered. He buried his face into the crook of my neck and let out an audible sigh at the same time as I did. Laying there, wrapped in his taught arms I was grateful for everything in my life that had led me to this exact moment.