***Hankie Alert***

The little family was reeling after hearing the grim prognosis for Lenora. Tyrone was even more determined to not leave Lenora’s side. By the time Crystal arrived with the children, Lenora was drifting in and out of consciousness and weakening by the minute.

At hearing their arrival, Tyrone quickly stepped into the waiting room where Crystal flung herself into his arms and squeezed him tight. “How is she…really?” she whispered under her breath.

“Not good, sweetheart,” Tyrone said, kissing Crystal’s forehead.

“She’s not going to die, is…is she?” Crystal asked.

“My heart says no, but…I don’t know. She’s worsening quickly now.” Tyrone choked on the last few words and felt himself shudder. “Unless they figure this thing out and turn it around, we…we are g-going to…to lose her.”

At hearing the sorrow in the brave wolf’s voice and feeling him shudder, Crystal broke. She covered her face and uttered a little scream as a torrent of tears wet her face.

Tyrone bit his lip and lowered Crystal into a nearby chair. Her face lost all color, and she looked as though she might faint. Tyrone didn’t want her to hit the floor and hurt herself. He loved Crystal like his own daughter, and seeing her so distraught crushed him. “I know, honey. I know. But Crystal,” he knelt before her and took her by the shoulders, giving her a gentle shake, “we have to try to be strong…for Lenora and for the children. This is going to be hard enough for them, and they’re not going to understand what is happening. Can you try, Crystal? Please try, darling, because I need you, too, and so does Landon. We’ve got to try to hang tough together, all right?”

Crystal took a shaky breath and tried to speak, but only a tiny, mousy squeak emerged. She pressed her lips together and nodded.

“Good.” Tyrone patted her hands and lovingly squeezed her fingers.

“Can…can I see her?” Crystal whispered.

“They’re letting a couple of people in at a time. Do you want to bring the kids in with me? Then, you and Landon should spend some time with her while I talk to the doctor.”

“Okay,” Crystal nodded, then felt tears well up again.

Tyrone pulled her close and kissed her cheek. “Be brave, Gorgeous,” Tyrone whispered in Crystal’s ear, using the endearment reserved for her in times of encouragement and love. “She’ll be able to feel your sadness, and it’ll upset her. You know how Lenora worries more for everyone else than herself.”

“I know…but…oh, Tyrone, this is so hard!” She ran the back of her hand over her eyes. “Does she know how bad it is?”

“Yeah,” Tyrone gently stepped away from their embrace. “She’s been asking to see everyone. She says she has things to say.” Tyrone hugged himself and closed his eyes against the pain searing through him.

Before Crystal could reply, Andrea tugged on her father’s sleeve. “Can we see her now, Da?”

Tyrone hunkered down, opening his arms to beckon them all to him. They came willingly and readily. Feeling their small hands rubbing his back and their trusting arms encircling him gave him the encouragement he needed to try to explain the situation as best he could. “Your Ma…and your Grams,” Tyrone looked from one set of quads to the next, “is really, really sick. It’s very hard for her to breathe, so she won’t be able to talk very well. You can hug her, but be gentle.”

“We made her some cards and brought them to her,” Aurora said. Her hoarse voice and the tear stains on her cheeks made it clear to Tyrone that she’d been crying.

“She’ll love them so much, Princess.” Tyrone tried to smile as he tenderly wiped the tears from his daughter’s cheeks with a tissue.

As Tyrone and Crystal led the children into the room, Lenora’s eyes fluttered open. A smile curved her lips, and she lifted her arms toward them. “Och…look at ye…all of ye! Come here, my darlings.”

“Oh, Ma!” Aurora whispered as she came closer. Very carefully, she crawled onto the bed to lie next to her mother.

“Shhh, darling. It’s…going to be…all right,” Lenora whispered, stroking Aurora’s hair. All of them hugged and kissed Lenora, who offered comforting words and a smile when she could muster it. “I love ye all…so much…always.”

“We love you too, Grams,” Blake said tearfully.

“Don’t…cry. Shhh…don’t…cry. It’ll…be…all right. Now…don’t ye worry.” Lenora soothed them as best she could. “Listen…to me, all…of ye. I want…ye to…study hard…in school…and be happy. Be…good and kind…to each other…and love…and protect…one another.”

“We will, Ma,” Andrea said, her lower lip quivering. “I love you.”

“We all do, Ma,” Chris said, doing his best to stand tall and strong.

“And…I…love ye all…forever…and always. Always…remember…that.” Lenora’s words were coming at a greater effort, and her hands fluttered weakly before returning to the bed. Unable to keep her eyes open, they slipped closed as Tyrone and Crystal escorted the children away. None of the adults wanted the kids to see Lenora’s condition worsen.

Lenora’s eyes were still closed when Landon and Crystal went in to her. “Ma, can you hear me?” Landon said, taking his mother’s hand and kissing her cheek.

Lenora opened her eyes and weakly curled her fingers around his hand. Crystal held her other hand, which Lenora squeezed gently. “You’re here…both…of ye.”

“Oh, Lenora! Where else would we be?” Crystal’s wings shone in the dim light and swished as she leaned over to kiss Lenora’s brow.

“Do you know how much I love you, Ma?” Landon said, choking on the words.

“Me, too,” Crystal whispered, lovingly touching Lenora’s golden hair and smoothing down a few stray strands. “Is there anything you need? What can we do for you?”

“Thirsty,” Lenora croaked.

“Here, Ma,” Landon said, bringing a glass of water and guiding the straw to his mother’s parched lips. “Take it slow now, okay?”

Lenora took a sip, swallowed, and closed her eyes momentarily. “Would…have been better…with…a shot of…whiskey…to go…with it.”

Unable to help herself, Crystal let out a gust of laughter that she muffled in the palm of her hand. Landon emitted a great snort and kissed his mother’s fingers. “Ma.”

“I knew…that would make…ye smile. No…more tears now. There…is no time…for that. Ye…must listen to me…both of ye.”

Tendrils of ice ran down Landon’s spine at Lenora’s words. It didn’t take a genius to understand that his beloved mother was saying goodbye. “Ma, please don’t,” he pleaded in desperation.

“Landon…my angel…I must…and ye…must…listen…” Her eyes closed again as she gathered a reserve of strength. “Please…look after…each other…and take…care of Tyrone. He…will…be lost…for a while…but…the wee ones…will need him. He…will feel…like…he will…want…to give up…but don’t…let him. And…don’t ye…give up…either. Both…of ye. Landon…my angel…ye…must help…remind…your brothers…and sisters…and…your wee ones…that…there still…is a mission…to complete. It…must…continue…even…if I…am not here. Promise…me.” Lenora’s breath came in faster, shallower gasps.

“We promise, Ma. I swear that to you on my life.” It shattered his heart to say this because it meant admitting to himself that his mother would leave him soon. He didn’t want to let her down or watch her die knowing there was unfinished business.

“We promise,” Crystal echoed her husband’s words as her own heart shattered.

“I…love…ye both…with…all…my heart. Never…ever…forget.”

“We won’t,” Landon whispered, slipping his arms around his mother for what he knew would be the last time.

After exchanging loving words with her mother-in-law and extracting a similar promise from her, Lenora once again fell unconscious. Although Erica wanted to remain with Tyrone, she thought it best to take the children home with her and do what she could to reach Mathilda, Liam, and Cian. She also phoned Robin and Alina, who were devastated over the news. Robin said they would get packed and teleport himself and Alina to Lenora as quickly as they could. Their granddaughter and Robin’s twin sister, Lauren, was traveling in Asia but promised to come home as soon as she possibly could. Unfortunately, Valerie was unreachable, so Erica had no choice but to leave voicemail after voicemail, urging her daughter to call immediately.

Meanwhile, Deus slipped into Lenora’s room with his guitar. He was a pianist and always would be, but he was also remarkably skilled in guitar, many other instruments, and vocals. Lenora was still unconscious, but Deus believed in the comforting and healing power of music. Music could reach places that other things could not. As sensitive as Lenora was to music, Deus had no doubt that she would know he was beside her and pulling for her. He could say things in music that were harder for him to say in words alone.

Deus leaned over Lenora and tenderly kissed her forehead. “Stay with us, sweet Lenora. Please hold on, darling. I promise you, I will find out what is happening here. I won’t rest until I get to the bottom of it.”

Deus positioned his guitar and strummed a few soft chords to make sure it was tuned to his satisfaction. Then, he began the introductory chords to Sweet Lenora, the song he had written for her so many years before. Although he kept his voice soft, it was still powerful and mesmerizing. His gaze remained on Lenora’s still face the entire time as he sang only to her heart. Before the last chord faded away, Lenora was looking at him and smiling weakly.

“Hey, Beautiful. Welcome back,” Deus said, putting down his guitar and reaching for her hand.

“I…heard the music…and…it brought…me back,” Lenora whispered.

Deus kissed her fingers and leaned his cheek on the back of her hand. “That’s what I was hoping for. I wanted to play your song for you.”

“So…beautiful. I’m…so glad…I got to…hear it…one…more time.” A tear rolled down Lenora’s cheek, and a mournful sob escaped her.

“Here now,” Deus whispered, wiping it away and stroking her cheek in a fatherly manner. “No more of that now, you hear?”

Lenora squeezed Deus’ hand as hard as she could, as if holding tightly to it could keep her from floating away. “I…I just…don’t want…to leave ye…any of ye. More…than anything…I want to stay here…but…” She looked at him with such sorrow and anguish that Deus felt his heart tremble.

“I know, sweetheart. I know,” Deus said, tightening his own hand on Lenora’s. He had to check himself so as not to hurt her, as a wolf, even in human form, possessed superhuman strength.

“Dad…” Ever since Lenora and Tyrone were married, Deus and Erica had insisted she call them Mom and Dad. “Ye…must…promise me…something.”

“Anything, Lenora. You just name it.”

“Ye…and Mom…must…take care of…Tyrone. The…wee ones…will need…ye, too…but…this is…going…to be…hardest on…Tyrone…especially…in the…beginning.” Lenora momentarily closed her eyes to gather strength. “He…will feel…as though…he is…being ripped…asunder…and…The Wolf…will emerge. They both…will need…ye to help…them…keep safe. He…will…need to be…reminded…of…what…our family…means…to him. He…will want…to…give up…but…please…please…don’t let him.”

Deus leaned closer to gently embrace Lenora and whisper in her ear. “You have my solemn vow that I will look after Tyrone and help him keep grounded. I will do everything in my power to keep the family…the pack…safe.”

“There…are…others. Aliina…Robin…Carson…everyone. And…I…so wanted…to…help Valerie. She’s…so lost…and…can’t feel…our love.” At Deus’ raised eyebrow, Lenora continued. “She’s…in some…kind of trouble…but she…wouldn’t tell me…and…I…can’t discern…it through…a vision. For…some reason…I am…not allowed…to…see it. But…I could…feel her pain…even though…she…tried to…block it. She…feels…worthless…and alone. She…believes…herself…a failure. We…had tea…earlier…this week…and I…tried to…help her. We…just drank tea…and talked. I…learned…a lot…but…couldn’t…find out…what…trouble…she’s in…and she…is in trouble. Ye…must…believe me.” Lenora’s breathing grew more ragged as her worry increased. Plus, the amount of talking she’d just done drained her. The pressure of Lenora’s hand in Deus’ eased because she was too weak to sustain it.

Deus did his best to gather her close and hold her like the daughter she was to him. “Lenora…shhh. Hush now. It’s going to be all right,” he crooned. “Easy does it, now. Just try to relax. I’ll make sure everyone knows how much you love them. Valerie will come around. Now, just relax and don’t worry. Just rest.”

“Ye…will always…be my…idol…but…I was so…blessed…to have…become…your daughter,” Lenora gasped out. “I do…love…ye so.”

Deus kissed her, then swallowed hard. “It was us, all of us, who were blessed to have you in our lives, sweet Lenora. I love you, too…so, so much, sweetheart.” He held her a moment longer before easing her back. Taking her hand, he brought it to his lips once more, then placed it back onto the bed to rest beside her. “Rest easy now, Lenora, and don’t you worry about anything.”

“Will…will…ye send…Tyrone to me? I…need…to…be with him…one…last…time.”

Author’s Note: Poses used for this chapter came from Poses by Bee. Her poses are amazing, and I’d highly recommend checking them out. Please be aware that they are for Sims 3. They can be found here.

I apologize for not including a screenshot of the kids with Lenora when they came to visit her. I have a lot of Sims in this particular save. Trying to add in the kids and get them positioned made the game start acting wonky. I was afraid it would crash on me (yep, that’s happened a number of times while getting screenshots), so I figured it was best to quit fiddling with it and just go with what I have. Don’t worry. We will be seeing a lot of the kids as the story continues.