Frida's predictions came true the following day, the level of sickness and pain that Anna was in was in was of epic proportions Bjorn considered and he had never been so proud of anyone or anything as he watched her fight through the day. He learned that on this particular day it wasn't the nausea and vomiting that tested her most, it was the burning and blistering of her skin. Frida was right, today she never let go of his hand.
He had packed accordingly just after dawn this morning and put in food for both him and Anna that they both liked, he packed photo albums and downloaded home videos for them to watch on his lap top. Frida and Benny had insisted firmly that he take a break as dawn broke over the house and Frida had helped Anna put on a loose and floaty dress as she couldn't bear the weight of anything else, Benny had soothed her through several bouts of vomiting while Bjorn was in the shower and Frida was making breakfast. Bjorn and Benny had both marvelled at her courage when Christian and Isabelle arrived with Nike and they'd watched her back straighten and her fight to hide the worst of it from them. She had hugged Nike regardless of the fact it must have caused her immense pain and she hadn't made a sound in the back of the truck on the way to the clinic apart from when she was sick but he knew she was in pain because she was soaking in sweat and her eyes were closed for the whole journey. "Let Christian carry me baby, you've been up all night with me and I need you to carry me later. You're so tired, I need you to be well for me" she had pleaded when they got to the clinic "and I won't want Christian to carry me when we are finished, I'll want you" Christian smiled not at all offended and took the decision out of his stubborn Papa's hands by scooping her up "Fine with me" he said. Bjorn frowned darkly but said nothing as he followed with bags and various other bits and pieces. They settled for the day and Christian told them he was going back to Ekero to sort the beach house out for their stay. Anna was quietly delighted, she was never happier really than when everyone was safely with her at Ekero, she tried to keep it under control and let them all grow and fly for themselves but she couldn't deny her contentment when they were all home.
Bjorn and Anna spent the day much the same as yesterday only this time they looked through Bjorn's photo albums that he had kept for all those years. They had laughed and reminisced together, Anna had not seen many of these for years, hers had been long lost thanks to Tomas. Each photo she remembered like it was yesterday and they were both delighted. He admitted to her that he had kept them locked away in his office and had looked at them nearly every night while they were apart, she couldn't help her tears for him and for her.
They were interrupted far too many times by her being sick and Bjorn could feel the heat of her skin burning through his clothes, he came to a decision. While she was sleeping he text Benny and set out his plans for the evening after they left the clinic. Benny's reply was rapid and they sorted out the best way to do it. By mid afternoon Anna had 2 lots of pain relief and some numbing gel for her mouth ulcers, Bjorn had managed to get her to drink some soup and eat some jelly despite much arguing on her part, he enjoyed her show of temper if he was honest. It told him she was still hanging on in there fighting if she was snapping back at him. It reminded him of their fiery arguments and the inevitable passionate making up that they were so good at, nevertheless he had been endlessly patient with her. By the beginning of the last treatment for that day Anna and Bjorn had come to yet another understanding of how their relationship worked now and Bjorn was confident that Anna would not be so scared of losing her temper and neither would he. They absolutely knew that it was part of them, their bickering and it wouldn't make for a proper long lasting relationship of they had to hold back part of themselves. They knew that they wouldn't repeat the mistakes of the past and they had promised to make sure they worked it out. They knew that they didn't want to be without each other ever again so Anna had reassured Bjorn that she would take no notice of his grumpiness and she would tell him if his old habits resurfaced but that she would take him any way she could. For his part he reassured her that she could lose her temper as much as she liked and he would listen to her but he wouldn't react like he used to and he admitted to her that he quite enjoyed her fire and the after effects which had made her giggle and blush.
By 1800 she was finished, she was dressed and had a pain killing injection through her cannula and while the nausea and vomiting hadn't left her it was bearable, her blistering skin was definitely at the forefront of her mind however, it was temporarily forgotten when Benny and Frida came waltzing through the door "What are you two doing here?" she managed hoarsely "Christian is up to his neck in sorting the beach house out darling" Frida told her "so we decided that we would come and get you and go and do something nice" "I'm not in the mood for anything nice!!"Anna snapped "Does it look like I'm in a fit state to go anywhere???I can't even walk!!" Benny stepped in "Little One, where we will go no one will see any of us. It's a nice change of scene for you" "I don't want a change of scene!!" she grumbled."I want to be in bed relaxing as much as I can!! My skin is so sore. Why can't you understand??" she was shouting by now "How did I ever think this would work??"she sobbed. The other three rightly took no notice of her, knowing that her regret would soon cripple her. Benny picked up the heavier bags and said "Come on then little one. You can rest in the truck and if you don't like it we'll go straight home" Frida picked up what was left and Bjorn carefully swung Anna up into his arms. Anna held onto Bjorn tighter than she ever had he thought and he soothed her gently. "Come on baby, let's go. You'll feel much better when we aren't in here"
Bjorn carried her gently all the way back to the truck and tucked her into the back seat in the middle so that she had Frida on one side and him on the other, it was a squeeze but neither he nor Frida minded at all. Frida didn't want to sit in the front in case she was seen and Benny had rigged up a blanket to screen the back from any curious onlookers or press and he was the only one visible.
"Good thing Frida remembered how to get here" he chuckled "I wouldn't have had a clue, especially this underground bit" "Thank you Benny, and you Frida. It's good for the kids not to worry for a few hours" Bjorn said. Anna had been silent through all of this and all of a sudden she burst into tears and said "I'm so sorry I shouted at you all. You don't deserve this, none of you do" "Little One, this is a horrific thing you're going through, you're entitled to a good rant now and again and who better to rant to than us?" Benny said chuckling. "It's not funny Benny" she grumbled "I'm just a total liability and I can't imagine why you bother with me" she broke off to be sick in the bucket "Anna, you've always been high maintenance" Frida giggled "nothing has changed. You always kept Bjorn interested and on his toes. It's no different now, just the reason is changed" Bjorn snorted with amusement "That's very true baby, nothing you could ever say or do during this week would ever make any of us leave you, especially not me" he gave her a baby wipe and she used it to wipe her face "Ok, but I AM sorry" "I know" he soothed and took her hand gently and kissed it.
It wasn't a long journey and Anna was too busy throwing up to notice much. When she finally focused on her surroundings she was surprised to find herself in an underground car park not dissimilar to what she had just left. "Here we are" Benny said "Where is here?" enquired Anna "You'll see!! It's a wonderful surprise!!" Frida enthused. "Have I got to walk?" "No baby, I'll carry you, it isn't far" Bjorn reassured her.
Frida hopped out of the truck and got a different bag out of the boot "I don't mean to be rude" Anna commented but I'm not sure if you all realise how much my skin hurts me. It's falling off. I'm not in any shape for public company you know" "Yes we know Anna darling and that's why we are here" Benny said gently. "No more questions" Bjorn ordered calmly. "I'm taking charge baby, wait and see" she smiled gently and acquiesced, she was too tired.
They made it into one of the lifts and Benny pushed the correct button, Anna closed her eyes safe in Bjorn's arms and only opened them when the lift doors slid apart. She looked around her curiously and was confused to see that it looked like some sort of posh spa but it was absolutely deserted. She kept quiet even though she was bursting with questions and Bjorn carried her into very nice changing room. Frida followed with the bag and put it down "See you in a little while" she said and left the room. Bjorn set her gently on the sideboard and said "I know you have a million questions and I know you're exasperated with me, probably cross but tell me baby do you still have faith in me?" She heaved a big sigh and fidgeted trying to find a comfy spot "Yes I do Bjorn. I really do, if I didn't I can promise you that I wouldn't be here" she met his eyes and smiled tremulously. She read relief in his eyes and he said "Ok then let's get us sorted" Her eyes widened as he started to strip off "What are...." she trailed off as he raised an eyebrow "I'll help you in just a second" he promised as he rummaged in the bag pulling out trunks and a silk camisole He pulled the trunks on then set about divesting her of her clothes, everything except her panties. He popped a waterproof stop onto her cannula and put one of her dressings on it then put the camisole over her head, she had never seen it before. It was a very light material, loose and came to just above her panties.
Bjorn did not delay for he knew that she was tired and he scooped her up gently and walked her through to what she realised was a poolside. Her eyes got big as she saw the pool was lit with twinkling lights set in the floor, the water changed colour with a different set of lights and the ceiling was lit with the constellations "I need you to hold onto me for a moment my darling, I need one hand to hold the rail" he shifted her gently and even though it hurt her tremendously she tried to help and wrapped her legs round his waist and her arms round his neck. He supported her weight with one arm and walked down the steps into the water. She could hear Benny and Frida coming closer but she was totally distracted by the feel of the water around her. It felt amazing, it was so soft and silky and it made her weirdly weightless. Bjorn did not ask that she let go of him, he walked with her gently through the water until he got to the deeper part, he dipped down and allowed the water to cover her up to her neck and told her not to worry he wouldn't let her go. "We thought this might help your skin baby" he whispered " It's saltwater with ions in it, you won't have to weight bear anywhere for a while, no sore bottom" he chuckled gently. "Where are we? Are we safe?" she asked "Yes baby, we are so safe. We're at Rival, Benny's hotel. He's closed the whole pool complex for us and he has security on all the entrances and exits. No one is allowed in" Anna looked around her in wonder "it's so beautiful, it's like a dream. All the lights it's like a galaxy." He untangled her fingers from his neck and helped her to float, he towed her slowly round the pool and the effect of the saltwater and the ions on her skin was miraculous, the burning sensation eased bit by bit. She heard someone getting in the pool and she jumped "Hush baby" Bjorn whispered, it's just Benny and Frida. Her relaxation then was total and she couldn't help the grateful tears "Oh god Bjorn this is some sort of miracle. The pain is better and I don't feel like I'm boiling alive. How long can we stay?" Benny had swum near "I've closed it for the whole week little one, you have it for as long as you need it and we have 24/7 security as well. Is it helping at all?" "Benny, it's truly a miracle. The water takes away the burning and I don't weigh anything, I have no pressure. Thank you, thank you for this. I had no idea" "It's saltwater darling, it has more buoyancy and the ions help. The saltwater will help your skin." "Benny you truly are a miracle worker" Bjorn interjected delighted at Anna's response. Benny shrugged "I hate chlorine, it makes me itch" Frida was happily swimming around them "Benny, what you've created here is truly beautiful darling, it's an amazing vision. You really are talented my darling" she turned over on her back and floated "I love the night sky ceiling, I love it all and I can't believe this is the first time I've been" she grabbed Anna's hand gently "let's float Anna darling" Anna smiled as they floated and counted the stars in the ceiling and identified thea constellations. Bjorn towed her round the pool endlessly and then Benny took her round while Bjorn had a rest. She felt that she never wanted to get out, these beautiful people had given her precious respite when all else had failed. They stayed with her for as long as she had wanted to stay in the water and when she finally called a halt because she had fallen asleep in Bjorn's arms in the water she had no pain or heat in her skin or bones at all. Not even a twinge. "I'm so sorry I shouted at you all" she was devastated."You have no idea the miracle you three have wrought. It should be impossible. Can we come back?" Bjorn was absolutely ecstatic "Yes baby, every single night of your chemo if you want it" She looked at Benny and he nodded firmly "He's right little one, it's all yours" 'Will you all come again?"she asked apprehensively "if you want us to we wouldn't miss it" Frida said reassuringly "Oh I do want you to" Anna replied feelingly "I'm tired but a good tired" she added "One last ride around then" Bjorn said as he towed her round the pool gently. He looked up and could see Frida was wrapped around Benny and they were nose to nose chatting contentedly. He had to admit that he couldn't be more content himself, he was unaware that Anna had also noticed them so he was surprised when Anna flipped herself over and proceeded to wrap herself right around him, her legs were round his waist and her arms looped round his neck. She proceeded to kiss him fiercely and she told him she loved him in no uncertain terms. He closed his arms around her and accepted her kiss gently mindful of her mouth ulcers "I love you too baby, you're going to beat this you know" he whispered. She met his eyes and the twinkles of the pool lights were reflected in them "I believe you" was all she said.
She swam under her own steam to the steps of the pool and turned and waited for him there. "When we come tomorrow I'd like to try the hot tub I can see over there" she told him. "I haven't been in one since I last went to Switzerland with you" she said mischievously" Bjorn's eyes shot to hers "Anna baby that's not fair" he chuckled and he sat on the steps to compose himself. She grinned and sat on his lap "When I'm looking more myself watch out baby. I'll be coming for you" she whispered in his ear "You look fucking beautiful right now "he whispered back fiercely "and I love you but you're still not helping. Sit still" he hissed.
Frida and Benny noticed them at the steps and made their way over in a leisurely fashion. "Ok?" Frida enquired "More than ok" Anna confirmed "I should come here every day. It's amazing. I have no pain anywhere at all right at this moment and I don't have enough words to thank you all for making this happen" She hugged Benny tightly and kissed his cheek and she wrapped herself around Frida and hugged her. "Wet dream central Anna darling" she joked as the hug ended. The three of them burst out laughing leaving Benny looking confused. Bjorn took the time to explain it all to him once he'd finished chuckling and Benny roared with laughter "All true though" he admitted "We were and are lucky old men"
"I shall enjoy swimming here every night Anna darling, I feel a difference in my hip already. It'll be great to have a whole week here and see what happens so it's doing me good as well" Benny looked at her delighted "Really?" "Yes really darling. I'm very happy" "Tomorrow I'll bring my swimsuit" Anna said "but it was such a lovely surprise" "I did think of it" Frida said "but we weren't sure how much weight you'd be able to take on your skin so you have my camisole swim suits are very tight" "Thank you, it's perfect. You might have a point there. I'll find my bikini" Bjorn rolled his eyes and Benny laughed out loud at him "I feel your pain mate" and gestured at Frida who was rocking a bright red bikini "just accept your fate Bjorn, we don't stand a chance" Bjorn chuckled and said "You're right, it's a fight I'm happy to lose forever" Anna and Frida soaked up the indirect praise and revelled in it.
Leaving Rival in the early hours of the morning Anna hugged Bjorn tightly and thought that suddenly the impossible didn't seem quite so impossible anymore.
