We arrived at the hospital to find Wesley sitting on a bench outside, his head hanging between his legs.

"Wes!" I called, getting the kids out and running over to him, "baby?"

He didn't respond, quietly got to his feet, and wrapped me in his arms, resting his forehead on my shoulder.

I held him tightly as the kids took a seat on the bench, watching us confused.

"He's gone," Wesley whispered softly, "he… had a heart attack and they couldn’t…”

"Oh. Oh baby I am so sorry," I squeezed him tightly, the words Arthur had told me earlier, asking me to take care of Wesley and Aurora sinking into my heart as I realized he understood what was coming.

We stood there for a long time, Wesley crying into my shoulder as I rubbed his back, offering my support to the best of my ability.

"Daddy? Rory is confused why her daddy is crying," Arlo called.

"We'll talk about it when we get home okay?" I sniffled, "Wes are you staying for the rest of your shift?"

"No. I have 6 weeks off to attend to… to…" he started to cry again and I grabbed his bag, slinging it over my back before taking his hand in mine.

"Come on kids," I pulled Wesley and made him climb into my car before loading the kids up and tossing his bag into my trunk. Once I was in the driver's seat, I pulled away from the hospital, heading to my house.

"Baby my car," Wesley sniffled.

"Let me take care of things. Let's just go to my house. The kids need their baths and bedtime. You need a shower and to eat something and sleep. Don't worry about things right now. I've got it," reaching over, I softly squeezed his thigh as I drove home, my heart heavy.

After pulling into my driveway, we all got out of the car and I sent the kids to Arlo's room before pushing Wesley down the hallway to mine.

"Get out of your scrubs and shower. All of your clean clothes are in those baskets right there. I'm going to call Jerry and have him come by to get your car keys and drop your car off here. I have to go to work tomorrow, but you can just stay here. I'll have Holly come over and help with Aurora. She should stay home too. I'll give Holly her class and homework. You don't have to go home. Stay with me. We'll figure this all out together."

"Eli… why are you doing all this?"

"Because I care about you. No one should be alone after they lose a parent. Your father seemed like a wonderful man, I wish I had gotten to know him before… he was so sweet to me earlier. Asked me to take care of you and Rory. I promised him I would. So I'm keeping my promise to take care of you. You can depend on me, Wes. I'll be here every step of the way. Please just take a shower. I need to make a few calls then I'll make you whatever food you want and get the kids to bed. We need to tell Aurora. If you can't handle it, I can do it for you," I pulled him close and rest my head on his chest, "I'm here, baby."

Wesley squeezed me tightly, burying his face in my hair and he cried loudly, his entire body shaking.

I'm so sorry baby.

I am so fucking sorry.

"I'm all alone, Eli," he cried softly.

"No, you're not. You have Aurora. Sara. Me, Arlo and my family. You're not alone. You'll never be alone. I swear it. Even if… we can't make it as a couple, I'll always be your friend. You're not alone Wes."

"Th… thank you, baby," he softly kissed the top of my head, "I couldn't do this without you."

"You're welcome. Are you going to be okay alone for a little bit?"

"Yes."

"Call me if you need me to come in here and I will."

"Thank you. I don't deserve you," he kissed me softly.

"You deserve so much more than I can give. But you have me. That's all I can truly offer."

"That's all I want."

"Me too."

I left Wesley in the bedroom, fighting down tears as I walked onto the back deck and called Jeremiah.

"Hey bro!" He answered immediately.

"Jerry. I need a huge favor from you and Holly."

"What happened?"

I explained everything and Jeremiah gasped softly when I was done.

"I'll be right there."

"Thank you. What do I do? I don't know how to help. When we lost papa…"

"I went on a downward alcohol-fueled spiral and you resorted to sleeping pills to avoid thinking about it?"

"Yes."

"Let Wes depend on you. Don't push him. Just let him feel things as he needs. Obviously, keep him safe, but if he seems manic that's normal. He's going to be on an emotional rollercoaster. But he has you. If there's anyone who can help, it's you."

"I'll do my best."

"I know."

We hung up and I headed inside as Wesley left my room in his gray sweatpants and an oversized black sweater, the water from his hair dripping. I gently pulled him into a chair and grabbed a towel, carefully drying it, not speaking a word, just offering my support.

The doorbell rang and I ran over to open it for Jeremiah and Holly.

"Hey," I sighed, hugging both of them.

"Where is he?" Holly sniffled.

"Sitting in the kitchen. Just staring out of the backdoor."

Holly pushed past me and ran to the kitchen and Jeremiah came into the house, following her.

We came into the kitchen to find Holly hugging Wesley, his forehead pressed to her arm as he started to cry again.

"Daddy?" Arlo called from behind us and Aurora was holding his hand, tears in her eyes.

"Hi kiddos," I sighed softly, going over and squatting in front of them, "Are you okay?"

"Rory is scared and confused because Wes keeps crying and she's scared he's in trouble."

"Wes? Do you need me to tell her?" I looked at him over my shoulder and he nodded, wiping his nose, "right. Right okay," with a soft sigh, I pulled the kids into the living room and had them sit on either side of me, Jeremiah sitting next to Aurora. I handed her one of her small plushies and took a deep breath, "Rory. Daddy isn't in trouble. He's… very sad. Your grandpa Arthur was very sick and no one knew sweetie. Do you remember earlier when he was coughing really hard?"

She nodded, her eyes slowly growing damper and I squeezed her hand softly.

"Grandpa was simply not strong enough to stay with us any more honey. Sometimes adults get really sick and they… they…" I sniffled before looking at Jeremiah who nodded and pushed Aurora's hair behind her ear.

"Grandpa Arthur is gone, sweetie. He passed away. Do you know what that means?" Jeremiah whispered.

She nodded quickly and wrapped her arms around Jeremiah, starting to cry. I rubbed her back softly and Arlo got up, going around me, and pulled Aurora to him, squeezing her as tight as he could.

"I'm sorry Rory. But… daddy told me that he'll still hear you if you talk to him. Even if you do your talks in your head, he'll hear. I talks to my grandpa all the time. Wanna go in my room and we can talks to him? You can say goodbyes," Arlo smiled and Aurora nodded, taking his hand as they walked to his room.

"Well shit. She didn't need us. She just needed Arlo," Jeremiah wiped a tear away, "I knew Art. He was a fucking incredible man. I… I thought he might be sick but I never…"

"No one knew," Wesley sighed, coming into the living room and sitting next to me, laying his head on my shoulder, "not even Sara and they've been together for 15 years. I know why he didn't tell me. He knew I'd leave my job, sell my house and throw everything into caring for him. He always said he didn't want me to give up my life for him. I… I knew he was sick. I just didn't realize he had a heart blockage. He must have… he must have been preparing."

“Sometimes, it’s easier for the person if they hide it. He might have been scared and just wasn’t sure how to tell you,” Holly rubbed Wesley’s arm and I squeezed his hand.

“I just… I was there. They let me sit with him, but he couldn’t… he was already unconscious by the time I got there.”

“I don’t understand. He was… I talked to him less than an hour before you called me to tell me that he was at the hospital. But I could feel it. Sense it. He reminded me of Papa when I saw him,” I sighed, softly kissing Wesley’s shoulder.

“How did you… cope?”

“Sleeping pills. I just slept for weeks. Shut myself off from the world.”

“Jerry?” Wesley sniffled.

“Alcohol. I can never tell Holly sorry enough for the fact I drank a bottle of whiskey a night for months,” Jeremiah sighed, “we lost sight of the fact that our mother needed us and we needed each other. But you’re not alone, Wes. We’ve got you.”

“I… I know,” he nodded, “just… it feels so sudden but at the same time… I knew. I knew it was gonna happen soon. He’s been sick for a while. The wheelchair wasn’t just for his arthritis. He couldn’t walk anymore without feeling as though he was going to pass out. His heart simply couldn’t take it anymore and…” he buried his face into my shoulder and squeezed me tightly, starting to cry again.

“Where’s Sara?” I whispered, rubbing his cheek with my thumb.

“At the hospital. She’s going to handle things there. I have so much to take care of,” he hiccuped.

“Not right now,” Holly cut in, “okay? Not right now. You have time. How long did they give you off?”

“6 weeks.”

“Alright. I’m going to call mama. She can help too. She did everything alone when we lost papa. She’ll know how to help,” Holly got up and kissed the top of his head before heading outside to call Mina.

“Elijah?”

“Yes, sweetie?”

“Why are you all doing this?”

“Oh I can answer that,” Jeremiah sniffled, wiping his nose on his sleeve, “you’ve been my best friend for 4 years now. You’re dating my little brother. Even if you weren’t, we care about you and Aurora. We would always be here. Especially me and Holly. We’ve got you. It’ll all be handled. But for tonight, what do you need from us?”

“I’m hungry. Tired. Just want Eli close…”

“Eli, did you make dinner?”

“I did,” nodding, I started to get up when Wesley pulled me back to him, “alright. Jerry, in the fridge, are two containers with purple tops. You'll know which to heat up. I was going to give them to Wes tomorrow for his lunch but he can just have it now.”

“Got it,” Jeremiah patted Wesley’s leg and headed into the kitchen.

“What did you make?”

“Pozole. I hadn’t considered if you’d like it or not. Rory did.”

“I’ve never had it. What is it?”

“It’s a soup basically with hominy and meat. I used pork. It’s really good. In the other container were the cabbage, onion, avocado, radish, and lime to go on top. Why don’t you go eat with Jerry and I’ll check on the kids.”

“That does sound good,” he sniffled before placing his hand under my chin and lifting my head, kissing me deeply, “thank you. So fucking much. If I was doing this alone… I…”

“I know,” I whispered against his lips, “but you’re not alone silly. You have me.”

“I’m glad.”

I kissed him again before heading into the bedroom with the kids. Aurora was laying down on her little bed, looking at a picture and I squatted down, running my fingers through her hair.

“Hi, sweetie.”

She waved and turned the picture so I could see it. It was of her and her grandfather. She was sitting on his lap in his wheelchair and had a bright smile on his face.

“That’s a really nice picture. I’m sorry this happened sweet girl. But you always have him okay? He’s in your memories and in your heart, always. Just like my papa is for me. It’ll be okay honey. I’ll help take care of you and daddy. I’m here if you need me. Is there anything special I can do for you right now?”

She held her arms open and I hugged her tightly, picking her up to sit on the bed with Arlo who hugged us as well, resting his head on the top of Aurora’s.

I sat there for a long time, simply holding Aurora and she squeezed me with all of her strength before yawning and closing her eyes.

“Do you want to go to bed?” I whispered and she nodded, “okay. You’re going to stay here with your daddy and Holly tomorrow. I have to go to work and Arlo has to go back to school but as soon as we’re done we’ll come right home. You can play with anything in here and ask Holly to take you outside. Whatever you want to do okay?”

She pointed to her whiteboard and I handed it to her.

I want to go to school.

“Let me talk to daddy and see if he thinks it’s a good idea okay? For now, let’s just go to bed.”

She nodded and grabbed her pajamas, heading to the bathroom to change and I helped Arlo get into his pajamas.

“How’s your tummy bug?”

“It hurts but it’s okay.”

“Do you want medicine?”

“No,” he shook his head, “I’m okay.”

“Okay. Let’s go brush your teeth and stuff.”

We made our way down the hallway and Aurora came out of the bathroom in her pajamas, her hair wild.

“Let’s brush our teeth and I’ll comb out both of your hair and braid it okay?” I smiled at the kids and they nodded, going into the bathroom again.

Once they were done brushing their teeth, I braided their hair, Arlo’s barely falling to the top of his shirt when I was done and Aurora’s still hanging around the middle of her back.

“Alright. Go say goodnight to everyone,” I smiled, taking them down the hallway.

They both gave hugs and Aurora wiped Wesley’s tears away before kissing his cheek and whispering something in his ear.

“Daddy is okay with that. If you really want to.”

She nodded a few times and he kissed her forehead before sending her back to me.

“She wants to go to school tomorrow,” Wesley smiled.

“Then she can. I just wanted her to talk to you first. She asked me, but it’s not my decision.”

I led the kids to the room and tucked them both in, turning the TV on with its timer before turning on the nightlight.

“Goodnight you two. Get good sleep okay? I’ll wake you up for school.”

“Goodnight daddy! I love you,” Arlo smiled.

“I love you too.”

Aurora waved and cuddled down, clutching her picture to her chest.

With a sigh, I left the room and went back to the living room where I found Wesley alone, laying on the couch under a blanket, his legs barely fitting on the couch. I climbed onto it next to him, my back to his chest and he wrapped me in the blanket, his arm around my waist, forehead pressed to my shoulder.

We lay there for a long time, Wesley softly crying against my back and I rubbed his arm, offering him my warmth.

“This is a bumpy start to a relationship, isn’t it?” he laughed sadly.

“You can’t decide when things in life will happen. It’s sad, yes, but I don’t think it’s bumpy. It’s me supporting you through a terrible moment. That’s all.”

“How long can we… stay here? I don’t…”

“As long as you want. As long as you need. You’re not in my way at all. Arlo is happier because he has Rory and I feel safer with you being in the house. So stay as long as you need until you feel strong enough to go back to your home. To help with your dad's home. I’ll be there every step of the way. I promise this.”

“I… thank you… When I’m feeling better will you and the kids come with me to Santa Cruz?”

“In California?”

“Mhm. My dad loved it there. I want to spread his ashes at Natural Bridges.”

“You want us… to come to something so private?”

“I don’t think I can do it without you,” he whispered.

“Then yes. We can go. I’ll let the school know tomorrow. I’ll take a week off at the end of September. Will that work?”

“That’s perfect.”

“Do you want to head to bed?”

“It’s barely 8. Can I just… hold you for a while?”

“Absolutely,” I smiled at him over my shoulder and he kissed me softly, rubbing my cheek.

I’m here.

You’re not alone.

I’ve got you and Rory.