As I started to make lunch the door flew open and Sean blew into the kitchen.

"Noelle!" He cried, running to hug me.

"ick Sean you're all sweaty and gross! Go get changed then come and eat." He pouted at me before taking off for his room, returning in less than five minutes with wet hair and fresh clothes.

"So why are you still here Noelle?" He asked as he plopped down at the table.

"What do you mean?"

"well I figured you'd have gone back to your apartment by now. Hasn't it been too long away from your boyfriend?" He asked mockingly.

"He's my fiancé and it's none of your business squirt." I heard Noah's soft laugh as I swatted Sean's head affectionately. Suddenly, I heard the apartment door open and I stood up to greet my parents.

I was shocked to find my mom standing in the doorway, arms wrapped around Daddy protectively. They'd both obviously been crying.

"Mama what's going on?" I asked as they slowly walked in. She shook her head silently as she helped Daddy into the living room and onto the couch. I followed them in and st in an armchair as Noah and Sean joined us.

"I…I" Daddy faltered. "The doctors said I…" I stood up and crossed the room to sit by his side, wrapping my arms around his trembling frame. I looked back to my baby brother's frozen, scared face.

"Daddy….What's wrong?" I asked slowly, not sure that I wanted to hear the answer.

He looked at me and Sean sadly.

"I….they said…" He took a deep breath, steadying himself. "I have leukemia." I felt frozen. Of all the things I'd thought of, this was not one of them. "It's progressed too far for them to cure it. They have treatments that might prolong…but…I don't know." He finished, defeated.

While Daddy had been speaking, Mama had pulled away, covering her face to hide her tears. Sean stood up to walk towards Daddy and I saw Mama flee the room from the corner of my eye.

"Go Puck." I heard Dad mutter and Noah nodded curtly before following her slowly. Daddy opened his arms and pulled me and Sean close, holding each of us on one knee like he'd done when we were little.

"It's all going to be okay you two." He said softly, holding us tight. "It'll all be alright." I looked into his tired face and wondered; was he trying to convince us or himself?

A/N: Sorry for the long delay, I promise I'm going to finish this story eventually.

And I may do something I swore from the beginning of MBFG I would never do, but a lot has changed since then.

So? Thoughts? Suggestions? Rotten Tomatoes? Let me know!