"Keira, no." Roger called out as he slept in the bed he and Keira once shared. Keira had succumbed to AIDS 3 years earlier, not long after Riley was born. The pregnancy had shut down her immune system. She fought many infections to no avail for a year. A week after Riley's first birthday, she died. Just after they found out that Riley was negative. Roger had been raising Kylie and Riley by himself with the help of his friends ever since.

"Dad. Dad, wake up. It's just a dream. Daddy." Kylie said quietly as she shook Roger out of his sleep. She was 9 years old and had taken to taking care of Roger and Riley. It wasn't the first time she was woken up in the middle of the night by Roger calling out Keira's name.

"Where is she? She was right here and then she disappeared." he asked looking around bolting up in the bed.

"Daddy, she's not here. She's been gone for 3 years. You have to let her go. She wouldn't want you to be like this." she said looking up at him.

"I'm sorry princess. I'm sorry I keep waking you up like this. I know it's hard for you having to take care of me." he said reaching out for her.

"It's OK dad. I understand. You miss her. I miss her too." she told him hugging him tight.

"I miss her so much." he whispered kissing her head.

"I know daddy. Do you want me to stay in here with you?" she asked looking up at him.

"I should be asking you that question. I haven't been a very good dad to you and Riley, have I?" he asked looking down at her.

"Dad, you're the best dad me and Riley could have. You're just going through a rough time without mom. Especially this time of year." she said looking up at him.

"Yeah, I just can't believe it's been 3 years already. It seems like only yesterday she was here, you know? Dancing with you, playing with Riley, making fun of my hair." he told her as tears filled up his eyes.

"I know dad. Uncle Collins is gonna be by early to take me to school. Do you want me to call Aunt Mimi to sit with you and Riley?" she asked looking up at him.

"No princess. I'm fine. You should go back to bed. You have school. I love you Kylie." he smiled kissing her head again.

"I love you too daddy. Good night." she smiled looking over at him before she left the room. He felt bad that at 9 years old, Kylie had to take care of him and Riley. She was strong like her mother. She promised Keira that she would take care of them before she died and she didn't want to let her mother down. As Roger laid back down, Riley called out for him.

"Daddy." Riley called out from her room.

"What's the matter little one?" he asked quietly as he entered her room.

"Daddy, I want a drink." she said looking up at him.

"OK sweetie. Come on. But you have to be quiet. We don't want to wake your sister up, OK?" he smiled picking the 4 year old up from her bed.

"Daddy, why were you yelling at mommy?" she asked looking over at him.

"I had a dream about mommy, but I'm OK now. Why don't I get you a drink of water and you can come lay down in my room with me, OK? I don't want you to wake your sister up." he smiled looking up at her before kissing her head.

"OK daddy. Can we go to the park when Kylie goes to school?" she asked as he sat he on the kitchen counter next to the sink.

"Yeah little one. We can go to the park. You know, I love you, right?" he asked looking over at her.

"I know daddy." she smiled kicking her feet as he reached over to hug her.

"Why don't I get you a drink and we can go lay down. I'll tell you about mommy, OK?" he asked looking over at her.

"OK daddy. I like hearing about mommy. You can tell me how you got married for christmas and you bought mommy a pretty dress." she smiled as he handed her a cup filled with water.

"OK little one." he smiled at her as he picked her up and carried her into his room.

"Daddy, did mommy like water?" she asked holding the up in her hand as they sat on the bed.

"Yes Riley, she loved water." he laughed looking over at her.

"Me too. I love water like mommy did." she smiled as Roger looked over at the pictures of Keira that adourned the bedroom.

"You look just like mommy little one." he smiled looking over at her.

"I'm pretty like mommy?" she asked handing him the cup to put on his night stand.

"You're beautiful like mommy. Like mommy and Kylie." he smiled leaning back against the headboard of the bed.

"Daddy, you miss mommy, don't you?" she asked looking upat him.

"Yeah, I do little one. But she gave me the most amazing presents ever." he smiled looking down at her.

"Me and Kylie, right daddy?" she smiled leaning up onto his chest.

"That's right. You and Kylie are the greatest gifts your mom ever gave me." he smiled kissing her and they fell asleep.

"Daddy, Uncle Collins is here. You gotta take your meds?" Kylie said quietly waking Roger up as she could give him his pills.

"OK princess, thank you. Did you eat breakfast?" he asked before taking his meds. He gently moved Riley to the other side of the bed so he could get up.

"Yeah dad. I had cereal. I'm cool, really. I gotta go. I'll see you later." she said leaning up to kiss him goodbye.

"OK. Me and Riley are going to the park today, so we'll pick you up, OK?" he said looking down at her.

"Dad, it's OK. Aunt Mimi usually picks me up. I'm OK." she said looking up at him.

"I'll see you later princess." he said smiling down at her.

"OK dad. I'll see you later." she smiled before leaving the apartment with Collins. He stood by the bedroom door looking around. How did his little girl become so independent?

"I fucked up Keira. I wasn't there for her. She's been taking care of me for so long, I forgot she was just a little girl." he said quietly as he layed back down in the bed. Before long he was asleep again.

"Roger, it's OK. It's not too late." a voice said as Roger looked around.

"Who was that?" he asked looking around.

"Roger, it's me. Don't you recognize your own wife's voice? Geez, I have been gone too long." she laughed as Roger continued to look around.

"Keira?" he asked catching a glimpse of Keira dressed all in white.

"Yeah Baby, it's me. You know you haven't fucked up yet. There's still time for you fix it." she said as Roger walked to her. "I can't believe Riley's 4 already." she said as Roger continued to stare at the her.

"Yeah, she looks just like you Baby." he smiled looking at her.

"Roger, it's not too late for Kylie. You can still make sure she gets to be a kid. She's just trying to do what she thinks I want her to do and that's take care of you and Riley. But ultimately she's your daughter Roger. Taking the weight of the world on her shoulders." she said as he looked into her blue eyes.

"Keira, I don't know how I let it get this far. I mean, One day you were gone and I was taking care of Riley and the next Kylie was doing everything. Getting herself ready for school and checking up on me." he said looking down at her.

"She'll be OK Roger. She just needs you to tell her it's OK for her to be the kid. You can handle it. You can handle this without me. You just need to move on." she said as Roger ran his fingers through his hair.

"I really miss you Keira. I can't do this without you. Me and the girls need you so much." he said as she slowly began to disappear. "Keira, don't leave me again, please. I need you." he pleaded as Riley woke up.

"Daddy, are you OK?" Riley asked shaking him from his sleep.

"Um, yeah. I'm OK little one." he said over at her.

"Who were you talking to?" Riley asked looking up at him.

"Um, no one little one. Do you want breakfast?" he asked looking over at the picture of Keira on his nightstand.

"Yeah I do. Can you make me pancakes?" she asked looking up at him.

"Sure, I'll make you pancakes." he smiled picking her up and bringing her towards the kitchen.

"Morning mommy." she smiled looking up at the picture.

"Come on little one. Breakfast time." he smiled looking at the picture before directing his attention back to Riley and bringing her to the kitchen for breakfast.