*!My Last Breath!*

***********

"So he knows about everything now Hayley?" Amanda asked cradling the phone to one side. She was on the phone with Mike when Hayley walked in the door slinging her bags everywhere.

"He knows, and I am really sick of hospitals. I'm really wishing I wasn't born right about now!" she yelled before looking and seeing Amanda was on the phone. Whispering a quiet apology she made her way up to her room. Her phone rang and she jumped out of her skin to get it.

"Hello?"

"Hayley, it's Summer, you busy right now?"

"Of course not, I just got home after the flight."

"You want to come over?"

"Sure, right now?"

"Yeah, do you want me to pick you up?"

"No I can manage to drive a few miles. I'll be there soon."

"Okay, and dress nicely."

"Why?"

"You'll see when you get here, just dress nice and bring yourself. We can take care of the rest."

"See you in a few then."

Putting the phone back on the hook, she looked around her room for something nice to wear. She didn't know what was going on, since she hadn't seen Summer and Jeff since the hospital, but if they wanted her to dress nice, then she had better do it.

***********

"Where are you going?" Amanda asked as Hayley made her way down the stairs in her black velvet dress.

"I'm going to Summer's and they asked me to dress up, so don't even go there Manda."

"I wasn't going to go anywhere, you look wonderful. You haven't really dressed up since before your mother died."

"I know, it's awkward, but whatever it takes for these people to like me right?"

"They already like you for who you are you dimwit. But that dress should shock the shit right out of your boyfriend."

"Thank you Manda, and don't wait up. I might stay there overnight."

"I wont, have a good time sweetheart. I'm going over to Mike's."

************

Stepping out of the car, Hayley took a lingering look around the area. She had already noticed how wonderful this place looked by the light of day and the glistening of the night, but she just wanted a few minutes to take it all in again. Walking towards the back woods of the house, she was startled when she heard a noise.

"Sorry, I heard your car pull up and I came out here to make sure you were alright." Jeff said coming out from behind all the trees.

"Yeah, I just wanted a few minutes to check out the land, it's so beautiful here."

"I know that well, that's why I never moved away from it all. I need to be near this life to keep my sanity. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah it does, believe me. I don't think I could ever move away from where I am either. It just wouldn't be the same elements I'm used too."

"So what are you thinking about?"

"Just everything actually. I mean you guys have seen me at my best with my writing and then at my worst in the hospital, I mean I just think you guys would be better off sometimes if I hadn't made an appearance."

"Why would you think like that?"

"I don't know honestly. It's just a feeling Jeff."

"Since you showed up on the scene, you've touched a lot of lives okay? I mean there was Shane, whose last girlfriend had a thing for me. With you he knows it's different and you love him for him. He really takes pride in knowing that you are his girl. He really does love you, even though he doesn't say it."

"He does."

"He does what?"

"He told me he loved me this week Jeff. He tells me whenever he can now since he found out I'm sick."

"Yeah, well that's Shane for you. Not only have you touched his life, you've added an element to Summer's life that wasn't there before. She loves Trish to death and would do anything for her, but it's not the same as having someone you see all the time and can just be yourself around, and that's what she found with you. You really are like family now Hayley. I hope you don't doubt that."

"Wow, you have a lot to say about me then don't you Mr. Hardy?"

"Well I just want to make sure you know how much you mean to all of us."

"Well I do now, so thank you very much."

"Are you scared?"

"Scared?"

"About the cancer, are you scared?"

"You want the honest answer?"

"Always."

"I'm scared out of my wits right now Jeff. I mean this wasn't that serious before, and now it's like I might be living on borrowed time here. They can't find out for sure what the hell I have wrong with me, except that it might be Ovarian Cancer, and I'm sick all the time.. I don't know what to do about anything anymore."

"You aren't living on borrowed time sweetheart, you just have to live."

"What do you mean?"

"I understand that your sick, and you want to not be sick anymore, but you need to live your life for the moment. You need to have the time of your life with your friends and family, and just be. Does that make sense?"

"Yeah, you want me to put this in the back of my mind for tonight and just have fun right?"

"In a nutshell yes, but you do what you need to do to survive. I don't really know you, but every time we talk, you understand me, just like Summer does. You two are the only ones that do. I don't want you to pull into yourself and then lose out on a good friendship. Making sense still?"

"You want to be my friend is that what you mean?"

"What I mean Hayley is you're a wonderful person, and one that gets me on a certain level that Shane hasn't mastered yet. We can actually sit down and talk to each other, and its wonderful, so before you revert back into yourself, give us all a chance to see the real you, and have a good time doing it."

"I think I can do that. Are you ready to head in?"

"Yeah, let's go before Summer wonders where I went." Jeff laughed and pulled her into a hug. It seemed like the right thing to do in this situation. This girl needed to know that everyone stood behind her.

"Jeff?"

"Yeah Hayley?"

"Can you not tell Summer and Shane about me being scared? I don't want to worry them both anymore then I already have."

"You have my word, it's our secret. I'm glad you could open up to me though."

"It's easy, you being so weird and all." Hayley said while running towards the house laughing.

"I am not weird; you're going to pay for that little girl!" Jeff said trying to catch up with her before she hit the house again.

*********************

"Okay so me and Jeff are going to get out of your way now alright Shane?" Summer said pulling Shane aside.

"Thanks guys, I know I owe you big for this."

"Yeah you do, but don't worry about payback, just show her a good time tonight and we can call it even."

"I will, and Summer, thank you for being the best friend in the whole world."

"Your welcome."

*************

"Shane what is all this?" Hayley asked while looking at the flowers set up everywhere in the house and the table with the candles lit just glowing in the darkness.

"Don't be mad with me or Amanda alright?"

"What do you mean? What did she do?"

"I called her last week and asked her things about you, because she's known you for years and she told me that you never went to your prom, and since I didn't either, I just assumed it would be great for us to do it together, complete with the music from that time and everything."

"You did what??" Hayley smiled. This had to be the most romantic thing that someone had ever done for her.

"Welcome to your prom, the whole reason you are dressed like this tonight. I also want to add that you look like an angel with that dress."

"Thank you, and you look nice too, very nice in fact." She looked at his tuxedo and smiled lightly. He even had a corsage pinned to his lapel and as she watched him he brought out her corsage, and placed it on her hand.

"I just wanted to make sure we got the full affect here tonight."

"Shane this is too much, you didn't have to do this." she could feel the tears welling up in her eyes.

"Do you want to dance with me?"

"I'd like nothing more then to dance with you Shane."

Shane walked over to the stereo and played the CD he had made the night before of the music he was listening too on the road, and some songs from the time they were in high school. Hitting play he went back and took Hayley by the hand, leading her to the living room, which was made into a dance hall.

"I hope you don't mind this song, Summer let me hear it the other day, and it made me think of you."

Hayley didn't want to let Shane know it, but she knew the song too, and it was something that was in constant play in her CD player at her house. She couldn't think of a better song for the moment. Pulling herself closer to Shane she let the words fill her inside and snuggled closer to him. She couldn't picture being anywhere else at that moment.

~~~~~

hold on to me love

you know I can't stay long

all I wanted to say was I love you and I'm not afraid

can you hear me?

can you feel me in your arms?

~~~~~

Looking down into her eyes, Shane saw the tears lingering there. He wanted to give her this night, and make her feel special. He knew there was so much going on inside her head and worries were clouding everything, but he wanted to make sure she knew she was loved by him and he wasn't going anywhere.

~~~~~~

holding my last breath

safe inside myself

are all my thoughts of you

sweet raptured light it ends here tonight

~~~~~~~

Hayley looked up into Shane's eyes and kissed him gently at first, and when the explosion hit, and their feelings came together, she deepened it. She wanted to be with this man more then anything right now, and she knew he felt the same.

"You want to go outside and look at the stars? I made dinner, but it can wait, this seems right for the moment."

"Shane I will go anywhere with you."

Shane took her by the hand and led her outside to the deck. Making their way down the stairs she saw the blanket laying under the stars with a bottle of wine beside it. She smiled and realized he really had thought of everything. This was the right time. They were going to make love, and she couldn't think of anything but Shane at that moment.

**************