By some grace of God, Ford was able to find enough peace to fall asleep in the chair next to Mabel. But like many other peaceful moments in his life, it was short-lived.

He woke up to a cry of pain from Mabel. He was horrified to see his daughter not safe in her bed, but on the floor in pain. "Mabel!"

She recoiled back, as if apprehensive to his touch. Ford wanted to be frustrated, but reminded himself how much Mabel was going through. Anyone who had been through what she had today would be apprehensive.

Ford kneeled beside his daughter, who was curled into herself crying. "Mabel, what's wrong? Are you hurt?"

Mabel couldn't talk. She just kept crying. Ford tried to look over her, but she slapped his hand away. Ford was dumbfounded. He didn't know what was wrong with Mabel and it worried him. "I'll call a nurse, honey."

"NO!"

Ford was confused. Mabel was coherent, so why was she so resistant? "Mabel, tell me what's wrong."

Mabel still wouldn't answer. Ford was getting really scared now, and his fear manifested into a mixture of other emotions. "Mabel, if you don't tell me what's wrong, I'm calling a nurse," he said more harshly than he intended.

When Mabel whimpered in fear, Ford forced himself to soften.

"Sweetie, everyone here just wants to help you. The best way we can do that is for you to tell us what's wrong. Please honey, help me help you."

With great reluctance, Mabel allowed Ford to inspect her, hanging her head in shame. She had some bruises on her arms from falling off the bed. It wasn't a high fall, but people undergoing treatment for cancer bruise far more easily. The bruises weren't what were making her cry.

There was a damp patch in between her legs.

Ford put a hand on her shoulder. "Mabel, honey, it's alright. The nurse told us this might happen, remember?"

Mabel bit her lip and nodded. The nurse did indeed list loss of bladder control as a common symptom of chemotherapy. But knowing that didn't erase the shame of wetting herself. That's why she tried to sneak into the bathroom without waking Ford. But her weak body couldn't carry her there, and she ended up falling over. "But I feel like such a baby," she whimpered.

Ford cupped her face. "Mabel Pines, you listen to me. You are not a baby. You're my baby. You're the strongest, bravest, best human being I have ever or will ever know. This journey we are on is the toughest journey anyone could ever take, and you are taking it on with more grace and strength then I ever could. I'm nowhere near as strong as you, but I'm going to be here through all of this. You don't have to be embarrassed or ashamed. You mentor me in strength and character daily. If cancer thinks it can break you, it's got another thing coming."

Mabel gave a sad smile as Ford wiped the tears from her eyes. Once she had calmed down, he called a nurse.

Ford set Mabel on his lap as the nurse changed the sheets. Ford didn't care about his lap getting wet; he just wanted to be near his daughter.

"I'm really sorry," Mabel told the nurse as she worked.

"It's not your fault, honey." the kind nurse said. "I do this all the time. I'm used to it. I think it's time you start wearing diapers. Then, you'll at the very least be able to sleep in a warm, dry bed every night."

Mabel was trying to be brave like Ford thought she was, but the idea of wearing a diaper sickened her. She already knew that she was going to lose her hair and didn't look forward to that at all, but she had accepted it. Now, she was being told she had to wear a diaper. This disease was going to take her from a blossoming and beautiful fourteen-year-old girl to a bald, diaper-wearing child.

"Please…there must be another way…any other way!" She pleaded as tears filled her eyes.

The nurse looked sympathetically at the girl. She had worked in the cancer ward for years and knew far too well how much it hurt her patients to have to lose their dignity. "I'm afraid it's the most sanitary option."

Mabel was about to break down when Ford thought of something that might make her feel a little better.

"It's really nothing to be ashamed of Mabel. Most people in this hospital are wearing them. Besides, Stan and I are old men, so it won't be long before you and Dipper will have to change our diapers."

Mabel couldn't help but give a small laugh. "I guess now I'll owe you."

"You don't owe me anything, baby. Being your father is a gift."

"Even now?" she said, thinking about her urine soaking Ford's lap right now.

Ford smiled. "Always."

Mabel wept even harder. "I hate this stupid disease."

There was nothing Ford could say. He simply held her tight and rubbed her back. The best thing he could do now was there for his little girl.

At the worst possible moment, his cell phone rang. He looked and saw the caller I.D. said Stanley. He thought about letting it ring, but Stan might assume something bad happened if Ford didn't answer.

"Stanley, everything's, fine but now's not a good time," Ford explained.

"Please don't tell Grunkle Stan, please…" Mabel pleaded through her tears.

It was a tall order but he wrapped his pinky and extra finger around Mabel's as a pinky promise.

"Is that Mabel? Why is she crying?"

"Stanley, please, let me explain later-"

"No! Stanford, tell me what's wrong with my daughter!"

"Stanley, I'm sorry I have to go."

"Ford, don't you dare-"

Ford hung up. The phone immediately rang again. Ford knew he would have a lot to answer for in the morning, but right now, he had to help Mabel.

"Shh…shh…I know this is hard baby…I know…" Ford continued rubbing her back and holding her near him. He suddenly remembered something he had read in a journal about childhood cancer he had absorbed the night of her diagnosis. "I have an idea! You and I both hate cancer, so let's name it after something else we hate! Then instead of fighting cancer, you can fight whatever we name it!"

Mabel looked up at him confused.

"Now let's see…we could name it after a sports team, or a vegetable, or…oh! What about that jerk unicorn?"

"Celestabelleabethabelle?" Mabel would never forget the wicked unicorn's name.

"Hmm…perhaps it's a bit too long a name…"

Mabel got an idea. "What about Bill?"

It was perfect. Bill Cipher was practically the living embodiment of cancer as far as Ford was concerned. "That's perfect! You beat Bill before and you'll do it again!"

Mabel smiled as she took his hand. "We beat him before."

Ford smiled back at her and kissed her forehead, "And we'll beat him again."

Once the nurse was finished changing the sheets, she left and came back with a box of diapers. Mabel requested she be at least be allowed to put it on herself in privacy. Ford and the nurse helped her to the bathroom.

While Mabel was in the bathroom, the nurse revealed she had brought a new pair of pants for Ford, as his were soaked with Mabel's urine.

He smiled and took the pants. "Thank you."

The nurse smiled back. "You're a good father, you know."

Ford was shocked for a moment. He often felt like a failure as a father. To hear someone call him a good father meant the world to him. "Thank you so much."

Mabel knocked on the door to indicate she was done. Ford picked her up and laid her in bed. He laid down right next to her. He wanted to hold her tonight.

The nurse smiled at the sweet sight. Another nurse entered the room to relieve her from her shift.

"Fair warning: there was a maniac who came in tonight and caused quite a stir."

Ford didn't need to be a genius to know whom they were referring to. He smiled fondly and shook his head. "Stanley…"

He couldn't fault his brother though. He was a bonehead, but he was a bonehead who loved his family.

Ford only hoped he could be as big of a bonehead too.