Time

Chapter One

"Hey honey, don't forget your passport" Stacey called out to Ryan as he rushed back through the house.

"Got it?" He held it up in the air before stuffing it inside his rucksack.

They were running late for the airport "You go and put the bags in the car, I'll lock the door" Stacey pointed at the cab that had pulled up outside the house. She did one more quick check over before rushing out of the front door. As her hand reaches up with the key, she found slipping it into the keyhole barely possible "Stupid key" she groaned as her hand desperately tried to fit the key in the lock "Come on you asshole" she cursed.

As Ryan closed the lid of the trunk he could see her struggling with the lock "You okay baby" he called out as he jogged back to the door "Here let me" he took the key from Stacey's hand and in one quick movement locked the door, his eyes filled with concern as Stacey got in the cab. This hadn't been the first time Stacey had struggled with a simple task and if he was honest he didn't think it would he the last time either "Maybe you should think about seeing Dr Kahl when we get back, that's the third time something like that's happened this week"

"Ry, I don't need someone to state the obvious" Stacey laughed as she slid into the back seat of the cab and waited for Ryan to walk round and get I  the other side, as soon as he closed the car door she finished her sentence "I'm over tired, all this flying and rushing around isn't good for either of us, how many days off did you say we get in Europe?"

"Four" Ryan replied as he watched Stacey again, this time his gaze was fixed on her left hand. It was shaking in her lap. Ryan didn't comment though. The last thing he wanted to do was upset Stacey.

...............

As Stacey neared the check - in desk Ryan's concern for his wife was growing. The tremor in her hand hadn't stopped, she had struggled to open her purse and tie her laces "Stacey you need to see a doctor" Ryan finally voiced his concerns "Somethings wrong, this isn't normal and it's definately not down to sleep deprivation"

"Ryan please" Stacey snapped a little "Can we talk about this later?" As Stacey went to hand the woman behind the desk her passport,she felt it slip through her fingers. Ryan's instincts kicked in and he caught.it before it hit the ground. He frowned at her and she looked disappointed "Alright fine, we'll go and see a doctor when we get back from Europe. Okay?"

Ryan nodded, he was relieved Stacey had seen things from his prospective.

.............

Unfortunately things weren't meant to happen that way, Stacey took poorly while we were in Europe and we ended up rushing her to a hospital in England after she collapsed at one of our shows. Nothing had ever scared me so much in my life, for a brief while Stacey lost the abitlity to speak and the tremor in her left hand hadn't stopped at all. In fact it was worse now.

So here we were in the hospital waiting for a doctor to come and speak with us. I had, had to cancel two shows, which didn't go down to well with our fans. But the guys were incredibly supportive, I mean they were just as concerned about Stacey as I was. No-one had seen her like this...anyway back to the hospital...

.................

Ryan and Stacey were happy when Dr Ridley arrived in Stacey's room. He was extremely tall and looked to be near retirement age. He introduced himself and told them he was a neurologist "Okay well as you know we have done a few tests on you Mrs Tedder, and I am very sorry but I am afraid we believe you have Parkinson's Disease..."

"But I thought that was an old persons disease?" Stacey interupted.

"Yes it usually affects people over 50. However this particular stage is known as Young onset Parkinson's..."the doctor explained to a stunned Ryan and Stacey "Now I have referred you to an american specialist closer to your hometown, and I have advised that you go for further tests to determine exactly what stage you are at..."

Ryan looked at his wife in disbelief as she too struggled to take in the news "Okay, thank you doctor" Stacey said shakily before turning to Ryan.

Ryan couldn't speak, he just pulled Stacey quickly towards him and held her tightly. Inhaling and exhaling deeply as he listened to her sniff away the tear's.

.......................

"Parkinson's" Eddie blurted out, in the hope he had misheard Ryan.

"Yeah, young onset Parkinson's" Ryan repeated with a little more explanation "Apparently it's very rare, Stacey has to got back to see a specialist in Colorado to have some more tests done..."

"So it's not definate then?" Brent hoped and Ryan nodded.

"Yeah it it is definate, but they want to see what stage it's at" He replied grimly.

"Yeah well if there's anything you need Dude, you or Stacey" Zah finally spoke "You only need to ask, and don't worry about tonight's show. We have already spoken to Clint about cancelling"

"Thanks man, I appreciate it" Ryan hugged Zach "I'd better get back to Stacey, she will probably be awake by now..."

"Hey what about Stacey's parents? Have you told them?" Drew asked and Ryan shook his head.

"Not yet, Stace wanted me to tell you guys first" Ryan half smiled and the guys looked touched that they were the first to know about Stacey's condition "So if you could keep it..."

"Hey dude you don't need to worry about that, our lips are sealed. We won't say anything until you do" Eddie spoke on behalf of everyone when he said this.

Ryan nodded and dissappeared out of the room and down the hall back to his hotel room. Using the key card he unlocked the door and opened it. Sitting right where he left her was Stacey, she was looking out of the window "Stace?" Ryan whispered cautiously as he got closer, it wasn't until she turned that Ryan saw the tear's that had stained her face "Oh baby" he rushed across the room and sat on the arm of the chair and wrapped his arms around her tightly.

"What kind of wife will I be to you now Ry?" Stacey sniffed "I'm useless"

"NO" Ryan snapped a little more out of horror than annoyance "No, don't you ever say that" He held her tighter...

"And what about the baby Ryan, what are we going to do about the baby now?" Stacey had asked the question Ryan was dreading.

The couple had been over the moon to find out Stacey was pregnant, just a few days before travelling to Europe. It was still early days so they had decided not to say anything until after the first scan...

"Will I even be able to keep the baby?" Stacey sniffed "Ryan I don't want to..."

"Hey it's okay" Ryan soothed "I know it's early days but I promise no matter what happens...We got this, we're in it together" he sat back and wiped away Stacey's tears with his thumb "We've got this Baby, and I've got you okay. I won't let anything happen. We'll be fine"

Stacey nodded at her husbands reassuring words "I love you" she whispered gently and Ryan smiled.

"I love you too baby, all of you...both of you" He kissed Stacey's forehead and pulled her close to him again...