"Lila-" Summer said urgently as she ran into the elderly couples apartment and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm so sorry."
"He was so pale and he wasn't moving.."
"It's going to be okay" Summer said reassuringly. "I'm going with you to the hospital Seth's going to stay here with Madison."
"You're going to leave your daughter with him?" Lila asked Summer in a whispered hush.
"Lila, come on. Seth isn't going to hurt Maddie. Stew needs us- let's go!"
"Summer, you've known this man for what- two months? Are you sure you really know him?"
"Yes!" Summer replied desperately. "Please, let's go."
"Okay" the woman answered hesitantly. She gazed at Seth a moment and then whispered in his ear "if you do anything to hurt her-"
"I would never hurt Summer's little girl!" Seth replied adamantly, horrified at the prospect. "Or any little girl, or any person-" he continued as his proclamations turned to ramblings. After all, he was Seth, he couldn't help but ramble when he was nervous.
"Seth is harmless Lila, we can trust him, I swear. Now come on!"
"Okay" Lila says throwing her hands in the air. "Madison's in bed" she adds turning to Seth. "There's lasagna in the fridge, why don't you just watch TV or something?"
"Don't worry about me" Seth replies "Me and Madison will be fine."
With that Summer and Lila left.
"Jeez" Seth thought to himself. "What kind of scumbag does that woman think I am?"
"Seth?" a gentle little voice called out from the hallway.
"Hey Madison" Seth responded sweetly. "What's the matter sweetheart?"
"I'm scared" she said as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Oh" Seth said sympathetically as he walked over to her and put his hand on her shoulder.
"Scared of what?"
"I'm scared Papa's going to die."
"You love your Papa a lot, huh?" Seth asked as he knelt down next to her to meet her at eye level.
"Uh-huh" she sniffled.
"He loves you too" Seth responded. "And no matter what, you'll always have him right here" he added pointing to her heart.
"I don't want to go back to my room" Madison said "I'm all alone in there."
"Why don't you stay up and hang out with me?" Seth asked sweetly. "Would that be okay with you?"
"Uh huh" she replied as she ran over to the couch.
"Okay" Seth said joining her. "Let's see what's on TV. Oh, My Little Pony is on. Do you like that show?"
"Not really," Madison replied. "But mommy does. She even has a toy pony."
"She does?" Seth asked fascinated.
"Yeah, her name is Princess Sparkles."
"Princess Sparkles?" Seth thought to himself. "I wonder if she's Captain Oats type?"
"Well-" he said breaking his thoughts. "What do you like to watch?"
"Batman!" Madison said excitedly.
"Oh so it's not just the Green Lantern you're into?" he asked.
"No, I like Batman too, and the Hulk."
"Well you are a girl of varied taste" Seth laughed to himself. "Any other comic book characters you like?"
"The Ironist" she replied excitedly. "He's really cool."
"You think so?" Seth asked.
"Yeah" she replied looking down. "I wish he was my daddy."
"What?" Seth asked shocked.
"I just think he'd be a good daddy. He always fights the bad guys and he's really nice and funny."
"You think he'd be a good daddy?" Seth asked amazed at how much she was opening up to him.
"My real daddy doesn't love me" she added sadly. "So sometimes I like to pretend I have a different daddy."
"I think your daddy does love you sweetie" he responded. "If he doesn't he is the stupidest daddy ever, because you are a very special little girl."
"Do you love me?" Madison asked wide eyed.
"Yeah" Seth replied honestly. "I do. How could I not you are one of the coolest people I've ever met?"
"I love you too" she answered as she cuddled into his arm. Seth was even more shocked. This little girl loved him, Summer loved him, and they both trusted him completely. It was a dream come true, a dream he didn't even knew he had. Suddenly it seemed like those two girls were all that mattered in the world. "My girls" Seth thought to himself, "I like the sound of that."
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As Summer sat in the waiting room she felt like she was going to pass out. She hated hospitals hated them, but that wasn't all that was making her nervous. She was waiting to hear if she was going to lose a man she loved, a man she had considered family for the past seven years.
"Lila!" she said standing from her chair as the elderly woman made her way out of the door.
"He's talking. He seems okay. He wants to see you."
"Thank God" Summer gasped as she hugged Lila and cried.
"I know sweetie" Lila said stroking her hair. "You hurry along now, he's waiting for you."
Summer sprinted to the room and burst through the door.
"Stew?" she asked urgently.
"Summer?" he replied. "Is this the gorgeous Summer Roberts coming to visit me?"
"I was so worried" she said as she ran to him."You've been like a father to me Stew. When my dad couldn't be there, you were. You'll never know how much that meant to me."
"Summer," he replied mustering all the strength he could as he grabbed her hand. "Biology means spit. You are my daughter. You and that precious little girl have been such a bright light in my life. I would lay down and die any day of the week for either one of you. That's how much I love you, you know that right?"
"I do" Summer replied as tears ran down her face. "Because I love you that same way."
"I want to tell you something" he added. "I know me and Lila haven't given you the easiest time about Seth, but Summer- if you love him and you are sure he's a good guy I want you to go for it. You deserve to be happy, that's what I want for you and Maddie."
"I love him" she said. "I really do, and he is a good guy."
"Then Summer Roberts, jump in with both feet and don't ever look back. I've been with Lila for fifty years and I haven't regretted a moment of my life with her. I want that kind of life for you and Madison, sweetie. My grandson hasn't given that to you and I'm very sorry about that."
"It isn't your fault" Summer replied adamantly.
"But me expecting you to wait for him is. I'm very sorry I ever did that sweetheart."
"Don't you be sorry for anything" Summer chocked through tears. "Don't you ever be sorry for anything you've ever said or done for me Stew. You will always be one of the most important people in my life. You haven't been perfect, you've made mistakes, but everything you've done has been out of love for me and Maddie. I know that, and I love you for it. I love you so much" she said falling on his chest.
"I know sweetheart" he said back softly. "It's okay, it's all going to be okay."
Please Review, I'd really love input for this chapter. What do you guys think of the relationships developing between the characters? What would you like to see in future chapters? Thanks for reading, and thanks for all the support , you guys are awesome! I'm having so much fun writing this!