Welcome back! I do hope you at least enjoy this chapter a little bit. It's not a happy chapter but it's not as sad as it could have been.

All non-canon characters are mine.

Rolin didn't know what to say to his brother. He only watched as his older brother, big strong Montay, was reduced to a husk of himself. Leaving his wife, Alice, had taken a toll on him but nothing compared to what Rolin saw in his brother then.

Montay sat in the uncomfortable hospital chairs, he tried to keep himself from breaking apart. His daughter was still alive, they could still help her. The thought of a world out either of his children, a sob forced its way into his throat.

He wished he had seen it coming. Seen the signs that they warned about.

He wished had protected his daughter from it.

Some part of Montay was glad that Mac hadn't been the one to find her. If he hadn't offered to take Grace up her dinner when he had...he recognized that he would never be able to forget how he had found Grace. And in that recognition, Montay promised himself and Grace that he would never let her feel those feelings again. He would do everything in his power to protect his daughter, even if it killed him.

"Alice," Rolin scolded. "Now isn't a great time."

Montay looked up from his seat to find his ex-wife standing next to his brother. Alice was beautiful, though only skin deep. She had Grace's orange stripes, and her coat was a light cream color and stunning yellow eyes. His sadness turned to anger at Alice. "Where have you been?" Montay got up and scolded her.

Alice shrugged. "Tony and I were busy."

Montay blinked. "Alice, our daughter almost died. I would think as her mother you would have dropped everything to be with her." His breathing quickened as his anger toward her built.

"She almost died on your watch, need I remind you." Alice jabbed her finger into Montay's chest. "Gracie was just fine when we had lunch together this afternoon."

"Grace," Montay corrected. "She prefers Grace." He waved his hand. "I kept her alive by myself for 6 years, I leave her with you for less than 6 hours and she almost dies."

Alice stomped her foot, her heel clicking hard on the floor. "You left me, Montay. Do you know how hard that was for me?" She frowned and crossed her arms.

Rolin stepped in between the two. "We are in a hospital hallway, let's act like adults."

Alice scoffed. "He started it."

Montay stepped around his brother. "I knew marrying you was the worst thing I could have done."

Alice gasped and screeched at Montay. "You no good rat. You take that back!"

Rolin grabbed Alice's shoulder and Montay's shirt and forced the two apart. He found several sets of hospital seats, in the farthest one he forced Alice into the seat and nearly to the end of the hallway he sat down Montay. He looked at them and nearly had to shout for them both to hear him. "I haven't had to put a kid in time out in several years, I didn't think I'd have to do it to my older brother and his ex-wife. You're both going to sit in your seats and behave yourselves." Rolin sat in between them and waited.

Did Montay really regret marrying Alice? In a way. He regretted her being his children's mother, but he could never regret them. Montay remembered that first time he held Grace in his arms, that feeling of euphoria that Rolin had described when he first held Zeon. Her little lavender eyes looking up at him, her tiny hand holding his finger. Grace didn't cry when she was born, she didn't wail, she was the calmest baby Montay had ever heard of.

Mac wailed though, boy he had a strong pair of lungs. Even at 2 years old Grace covered her ears when she first met Mac. The memory of little Grace having her baby brother propped up on her, as she still had her hands over her ears, warmed Montay's heart. When she happily responded to Gracie.

"Mr. Azimuth," A doctor came out with a clipboard. Rolin pointed him Montay's way, Montay jumped up and met the doctor halfway. "Mr. Azimuth, your daughter should be waking up soon. She's currently being given a mild tranquilizer to smooth out her mood, so don't be alarmed if she is tired."

Montay nodded. "Yes, of course."

The doctor put down the clipboard. "We ask for not much excitement, we wouldn't want her stitches to rupture." The doctor gave Montay a sheet of paper with a name and room number on it. "We ask that after you see your daughter, you speak to a mental health professional in this hospital that will help plan out her treatment going forward."

Montay took a deep breath for the first time in what felt like forever. "Absolutely." The doctor showed Montay the way to Grace's room, Rolin held Alice back ('best they not go in together' he said to staff).

Grace looked so small in the hospital bed, blankets up to her chin. Montay fought the urge to rush over and pick her up like he had done when she fell over when she was little. He sat next to the bed and watched his little girl sleep. Remembering all the times he had tucked her into bed, safe and sound for the night.

Gently Grace's eyes fluttered open, they wandered around the room for a while before they settled on her father. "Dad?" She yawned. "Where am I?"

Montay scooted closer and rested his hand on her cheek. "You're in the hospital, Grace."

Grace tried to move but pain prevented her. "My arms hurt."

Montay smiled sadly and combed his daughter's hair with his fingers. "Yeah, they'll hurt for a while. But it'll go away once they heal." Tears ran down Montay's face. "Grace, I was so scared I'd lose you."

Grace frowned and pouted. "I…. scared you?"

Montay stood up and gently touched his forehead to Grace's. "I can't imagine life without you, Grace." He smiled. "You're my little Gracie. You're growing up to be my beautiful Grace."

Grace looked away and sighed. "Mom said…."

"What did your mother say, Grace?" Montay asked gently.

Grace took a deep breath. "Mom said….that you never loved me because I remind you of Grandpa Alister. And that you hated him, so because I…" She sniffled.

Montay frowned and sat back down next to Grace. "That has never been true, sweetheart." He touched Grace's cheek gently. "I loved you before I knew you, I can't tell you how just holding you for the first time made me feel. I always loved you, even when it hurt my heart to see you in pain. I would give everything I can to take your pain away, to let you know how much I love you." Montay kissed the top of her head. "And don't tell your mother but I don't hate my father, and in my opinion, you don't look like him. You look like my daughter Grace, the beautiful young lady that has had to go through much more than she should have to. But I know she'll come out on the other side because she is my daughter, and because no matter what I will always love and care for her."

Grace smiled. "I love you, Daddy."

Montay smiled back. "Love you too, my Grace." He took a breath and rubbed her head. "I'll let you get back to sleep, I hear sleep is good for healing."

As Grace's eyes closed again, Montay kissed her forehead and smoothed out her bangs. "Good night, sleep tight." He whispered.

"Safe with my nightlight," Grace mumbled in her sleep.

Montay smiled, and quietly exited the room, turning down the lights as he left.

Rolin stood in the hallway. "How is she?"

Montay took a deep breath. "Sleeping." He looked at his brother. "I think I should stay here until she's released."

Rolin nodded. "Of course, Mom and Mac can stay at my house until things blow over. Though Claire has already been sleeping on the couch, so most likely Mom will be sleeping in the master, I can bunk with Zeon, and Astrid can bunk with Genie."

Montay smiled at his brother. "Thanks for being here, you know?"

"I'm your brother, Montay." Rolin smiled. "What else am I good for?"

Montay laughed weakly. That's when he noticed. "Where is Alice?"

"Tony took her home." Rolin shrugged. "You were in there so long, she got bored and wanted to go home."

"Perfect." Montay sighed. "I need to keep her as far away from my daughter as possible."

Rolin didn't know what Montay was talking about but he still agreed. "You got it, boss." He looked at Montay. "You go see that professional while I guard Grace's room, then when you get back I have to pick her out something from the gift shop. Something that says Grace."

Montay nodded. "Her favorite color has always been purple, but nothing frilly. If you can find something that glows in the dark, bonus points." He thought for a moment. "Maybe ask Astrid to help you pick out something, I know how good you are at picking out gifts."

Rolin pushed his brother. "Get out of here. I am to protect my beloved niece, you are to find out how to help your only daughter."

Thank you for reading! The next chapter should be soon. Please leave me a review. See you next time!