Logan woke up that morning, heart soaring as he found that Addie was cuddled into his chest, snoring a little, his arms tight around her. He loved waking up to someone cuddling him. LOVED it.

He slowly got up, laying Addie peacefully in his big and comfy bed. She was spoiled when she stayed with Uncle Logie. She got pizza and ice cream and could stay up late and didn't have to take a bath and then at the end of it all she got to sleep in Logan's huge, soft, WARM bed with him. In the morning, Logan never woke her up- he let her sleep as long as she wanted.

He honestly LOVED playing Daddy with his niece. He loved making her food and cuddling her and giving her kisses and playing with her.

He made his way to the kitchen- what a mess. It had pizza crusts and splatters of ice cream and dirty dishes everywhere. He decided he should clean that up.

Having his chemo was a relaxing time for Carlos. He got to sit in his room, watch TV, and just let the medicine flow in through a vein in his hand. He was ordered to relax, so he did, but he was SO glad he didn't have to do it so much anymore.

He was excited to be going home today. Kendall was picking him up before he gets Addie- nobody mentioned it to Addie, so it was to be a surprise for her.

He also had a surprise to tell Kendall… Sometime… At the right time.

Carlos was so happy to be sleeping in his own bed that night, warm and cozy in Kendall's arms. Jeez, he missed cuddling. And then the next morning Kendall and Addie would make him Sunday breakfast and they would watch cartoons and eat as a family.

He remembered those days when he and Kendall were but newlyweds and Addie was a baby. Sunday mornings were Carlos' favorite- Kendall never worked on Sundays and it was Carlos' day to take care of him, plus Logan hardly came over on Sunday mornings. Carlos always got up early to make something to eat- pancakes, French toast, or just eggs and bacon. Then they would sit in their kitchen, the warm light pouring in through the window, and eat together. After that, they would wake Addie up and give her a bottle before going out to do something- whether it was going to the grocery or taking Addie on a walk in her stroller, it didn't matter.

Carlos once again took the cardboard box from the table to admire it. He loved how thoughtful the gift was, and his favorite part was the tiny pink handprints beside the huge green ones- he wanted to add his own on the other side of Addie's.

Inside were a few drawings that Addie made, colored with all blacks and greys and reds. Carlos hated that- he wished Addie would use colors again. In the box was also a long note that Kendall wrote- very sappy and cute- with a cute little teddy bear, peanut M&M's, and some other candy.

Gosh, he missed Kendall so much. The note reminded him of that. It made him want Kendall to hug him and kiss him and tell him he loves him.

Wait… He shouldn't feel that way. He should hate Kendall's guts for what he did. But he had been head-over-heels for Kendall since they met, how could he just DROP that? He didn't want to!

He was just excited to go home and let Kendall take care of everything and for them to be a family again.

Addie had asked to go get ice cream at Dairy Queen, so of course Logan couldn't resist. He had a weakness for chocolatey Blizzards with extra M&M's.

They waited at the counter for a long time, hardly anyone in the kitchen. Logan angrily sat Addie on the counter as they waited, ringing the bell a few times.

After five minutes, by the end of it Logan was seething, a young man hurried up to the register.

"Sorry for the wait, sir," the young man apologized, sporting a black DQ apron, which Logan took note of the name "Dak" right away, so he could report him. But when he looked up at the person, he had to note his attraction, like most other guys his age.

Dak had light brown, messy hair, with a big smile and light green eyes. He stood a bit taller than Logan- a good height, but not as tall as Logan liked.

"Um, no problem," he found himself saying.

"Your order's on us," Dak smiled. "What would you like?"

Logan ordered and Dak gave him a number to stand on their table.

"Ad," Logan said as they sat at a booth. "Did you think that boy was pretty?"

Addie twisted her lips thoughtfully.

"Not as pretty as you, Logie," she said.

"Suck-up," Logan giggled.

"Can we get married?"

"I don't think so."

"When I'm older?"

Logan grinned, loving Addie's innocence.

"Maybe when you're older," he said.

"Good. I love you, Logie," Addie beamed.

"I love YOU."

"One extra chocolatey mini Blizzard, with extra M&M's," the waiter, Dak, said as he neared the table, putting the Blizzard in front of Logan before putting the strawberry sundae before Addie. "And one strawberry sundae, even if it IS a Saturday."

"Extra en-im-mems?" Addie beamed, failing to say "M&M's". "Logie LOVES those!"

"Of course he does, who doesn't?" Dak grinned.

Logan smiled a little, biting his lip at the ice cream. He hadn't even mentioned that he wanted extra M&M's. Was this guy hitting on him in the form of candy? It had been a while since he had been hit on last.

Dak turned to Logan, shaking his head.

"Your daughter's adorable," he said.

"Oh- she's not my daughter," Logan laughed. "She's my neice."

"Logie thinks you're pretty," Addie beamed.

"ADDIE!" Logan hissed, covering his face in embarrassment.

"But I telled him that he's prettier."

"Well boys aren't pretty," Dak said matter-of-factly. "Boys are HANDSOME. And I think you're right- he's much more handsome than me."

"Logie!" Addie whispered excitedly. "I think he likes you!"

"Addison Riley, you are SO dead!" Logan groaned through his hands.

"Logie's en-barrassed," Addie giggled up to Dak, little freckly nose scrunched up.

"He's almost as red as your hair," Dak observed.

Logan finally took his hands from his face and dared to look up at Dak.

"Sorry. She doesn't really have a filter," Logan apologized. "Neither do I."

"Enjoy your ice cream, Logie," Dak smirked.

"That's… Not my name," Logan laughed, turning redder. "It's Logan."

"Well since we're talking about REAL names, I'm DAKOTA. Dak for short."

"Why not Kota?"

"Because then my name would be KOTA," Dak smirked. "Okay, I'm being weird, I'm gonna go."

Despite the embarrassment, Logan was sort of glad Addie said what she did, because now he knew that Dak was into him right back. It wasn't often that there was an attractive young man who Logan hit on that was gay, too, and showed interest.

"Sorry, Logie," Addie said sadly, spooning out a little strawberry and eating it.

"That's okay, baby," Logan smirked. "But you have to go get his phone number for me before we leave, okay?"

"Okay."

Carlos was already waiting for me out in the waiting room, big box in his lap, comfortable in his normal clothes instead of hospital clothes.

"Hey, you," he smiled, getting up slowly. Gosh I missed him, and I was determined to stabilize our relationship now that he was home. I kissed his cheek cheerfully and took the box from him.

After signing release forms, I helped Carlos into the front seat of the van.

"You know, I love you," Carlos said thoughtfully, dark eyes on me as I started the vehicle. I had to grin- I loved that even thought I fucked up big time, he still gave me googly eyes.

"I love YOU," I grinned.

"I can't wait to be Daddy again," Carlos said excitedly, turning the radio station, showing me that he was finished being gooey with me.

"I can't, either. Maybe our daughter will stop being psychotic," I smirked, hoping he didn't get mad about that.

"I'm gonna try to see what's up," Carlos said, relieving me. "I noticed that her drawings were in black and grey… I guess she's just stressed out and sad."

"But that's not okay for a five-year-old," I reminded him. "Especially not Addie."

"It'll get better once I'm home."

"Everything'll get better once you're home."

Carlos grinned sweetly at me as I turned into Logan's apartment complex.

Of course, Addie was surprised as all hell when she saw Carlos enter the apartment with me in normal clothes.

"Daddy!" she squealed, slamming into him to hug him. I knew he could easily bruise, but I didn't know HOW easily. He didn't seem too worried about it.

"Ready to go home, baby girl?" Carlos asked. She pulled away and gave him a kiss, rubbing her nose with his like usual.

"Let's go!" she said, practically pulling him away.

"Ad! Do I not get hugs?" Logan asked with a laugh. I knew he understood that it wasn't personal- she was just excited to be taking Daddy home.

"Oh! Hang on," she said up to Carlos cutely before running to hug Logan and kiss him and rub their noses together. "Love you!"

"I love YOU."

I picked Addie up, knowing Carlos was too weak to do it.

"Were you good?" Carlos asked her, smoothing down her tight French braid.

"She was awesome. AND she was my wing-girl. I got a phone number," Logan said proudly.

"Yeah? Is he cute?" Carlos beamed.

"He works at DQ and he's VERY nice and VERY cute."

"At DQ?"

Both men went silent, staring at one another, confusing Addie and me.

"What am I missing?" I finally asked.

"I TOLD you he works at an ice cream place!" Carlos burst excitedly.

"It's just a coincidence," Logan laughed.

"Is NOT! I'm psychic!" Carlos' eyes turned to me. "I told him that his Mr. Right works at an ice cream shop, and I was RIGHT!"

"Nooo, his name is Dak!" Addie said defensively.

"I don't know about Mr. Right," Logan laughed. "But there's definitely chemistry."

I smiled a little, happy to hear that Logan was going for other men, specifically not my HUSBAND. Like I've said before, he deserves someone great who can deal with his shit and give him the attention he needs.

Carlos insisted he wanted to be up and moving- he was tired of lying around. He insisted on making a cake with Addie to celebrate his homecoming, and I stayed close in case he decided to pass out.

"Tell me a story, Ad," Carlos suggested as he expertly cracked an egg into the cake mix in the bowl.

"Okay. About what?"

"About… A turtle."

I could tell he was trying to analyze her. Trying to see if she said anything disturbing or morbid.

"Okay. Once there was a turtle named… Mr. T," Addie began.

"I pity the fool," I mocked in a deep voice, making Carlos smirk and Addie burst into giggles, not knowing who Mr. T was.

"And he had a husband named Mr. T, too!" she said happily. A lot of the time her characters had wives, but sometimes she made them have husbands or if it was a female they had wives, and it wasn't a big deal to her. "And everyone always got them mixed up, cause they had the same name."

"Kinda like us," Carlos laughed. "How we're both 'Daddy' to you and we never know who you want."

"Yeah! And so the turtles leaved their pond because they didn't liked how nobody knowed their names, and they moved to the desert," Addie said as Carlos handed her the big spoon to stir the contents of the bowl. "And in the desert they made a sand house, but it was too small, so they had to sleep on each otherses backs. And Mr. T always made his husband turtle soup, and his husband always said 'I can't eat this! This is made of my brother!'"

This made Carlos and I laugh- she was so imaginative.

"And so Mr. T had to go to the store so he could make other stuff for his husband, and he meeted a kitty cat that weared purple boots and had green stripes, and the kitty cat said 'MEOW!' and Mr. T said 'I don't understand kitty language!' And then he buyed candy to eat for dinner, and him and his husband got fat and couldn't get out of their house. The end."

"You know, Ad, you tell the best stories," I smiled, glad she didn't come up with anything about Mr. T having a baby that was deformed or Mr. T eating his husband because he was a cannibal.

"She's so cute," Carlos beamed, taking the spoon from our daughter to stir faster. Maybe he was right- once he was home and everything started to normalize, Addie would get back to her old self. She wasn't crazy. Well, she WAS, but not too badly.

I timidly came out of the bathroom and turned out the light, entering our bedroom where Carlos was sitting up against the headboard, curiously looking through my phone.

I knew he was looking for texts between James and I, and he would find some, but nothing bad. I deleted the past ones and recently the only ones were me checking on him, seeing if he was okay, and him asking how Carlos was.

Carlos' eyes rose to me, but he didn't put my phone down.

"Whatcha digging for?" I asked, sitting on his side of the bed. I didn't know if he wanted me sleeping in the bed with him, so I was looking for any signs that told me what he preferred. Of course, I would love to sleep here and cuddle him and maybe get a goodnight kiss, but I wasn't sure if he was ready for that.

"Sexy texts," Carlos smirked. "Not finding any. You're boring."

"Well, if you look under the texts that say 'Los' with a little heart, you might find some."

"Doubtful."

"Yeah," I laughed. He locked my phone and put it on the night stand, knowing I wasn't mad that he was snooping. The fact that I didn't snatch it away angrily told him that there was nothing in the phone to hide. He wasn't a jealous person- he knew how I felt about him and trusted me. However, I knew that that trust was broken now.

Carlos suddenly turned solemn, hugging his knees.

"I don't wanna do chemo anymore."

Wow. What a subject changer.

"I know it's hard," I said, running a finger over the pale tan skin on the top of his foot. "But it's almost over."

"This is the hardest time of my life."

"And I didn't help anything," I mumbled. "But you're doing great."

"I look horrible, I FEEL horrible."

"I think you're gorgeous," I said sweetly, making him smile. "On the bright side, I think if ALL your hair was gonna fall out, it would have by now," I said. "It's just thinning out, but I think it still looks normal."

Carlos looked up at me hopefully and I smiled a little. His hair had been falling out in little bits for a few days now, and his short black hair was getting thin, but I honestly believed that it wouldn't ALL go.

"You could be like some chemo patients and have their eyelashes and eyebrows and arm hair and leg hair fall out, too," I offered. "At least that didn't happen."

"That IS really lucky."

"And at least you have a support team."

"A small one," Carlos mumbled.

"It's not just me and Logan and Addie, though," I insisted. "It's your parents and brothers and family and James and-"

"Don't even."

I paused, meaning for James' name to make a POSITIVE impact- James DID support Carlos and DID worry about his condition. I considered him part of the support team.

"He's a great guy," I said softly. "I promise."

"Great guys don't sleep with married men."

"We didn't SLEEP together."

Carlos' eyes dropped from mine.

"How long did you see James romantically?" he asked.

"Not long. Like a week or two."

"Did his mouth feel good?"

I hesitated, knowing I couldn't lie to him. The first step to me gaining his trust back was telling him the absolute truth.

"It felt great," I said simply. "He was an expert."

Carlos brows knitted and he hugged his knees tighter.

"You know… I wasn't going to do it," I said softly. "He told me that he gets tested for STD's a lot, because he has a lot of sex. That turned me off a whole lot, and if he wasn't so hypnotizing, I would have backed out. I guess there's something about a man who only has sex with people he feels for that gets me going. But to him, sex is a sport."

"Whore."

"Carlos!"

"He ruined my life."

"Do you know how bad it hurt him when you called him a whore? He told me that he got called that in high school and he hates that word."

Although Carlos' eyes weren't on mine, I could see that the news of him hurting someone so badly affected him.

"He came over the other day," I said.

Carlos' head snapped up, eyes ablaze, ready to divorce me on the spot.

"He came to apologize to me for hurting me so bad," I said quickly. "He looked horrible. Well, I mean he was scruffy and stuff. I invited him to have dinner with me and Addie, and he told me that he was depressed and felt beyond guilty for everything. He knows he made a mistake. And know what? He told me he didn't want to be 'friends with benefits' from the beginning."

"You're not helping yourself."

"I'm telling you the absolute truth because I owe that to you."

"I don't want to hear it."

I took a deep breath and lay down across the bed, hands over my face.

"Everything's a mess," I said.

"Kenny… I have news…"

"Please no more."

Carlos said nothing and I sat up to look at him. He looked timid and sad, but not crying. I had no idea what he could be trying to tell me, but something said that I didn't want to hear it.

"I'll be dead within a month."

I thought that he was joking- like that was something to laugh about.

"The doctors said that my liver is shutting down," Carlos explained. "And I'm on the waiting list for a new one… But like it was with the kidneys, kids are above me."

"Well… There're other options."

"Yeah, if we could find someone with my blood type who could donate a piece of their liver, but I'm type A and I don't know anyone with that type."

"You're not accepting this."

"Kenny… It's obvious that I'm just meant to be dead."

"NO."

"We don't even have the money for all this treatment. Only someone with blood types O or A can donate to me."

"I'll do it," I insisted.

"You're type B and Logie's AB."

"MAYBE."

"It's highly possible."

"So what, then?"

"Then I'm here to live life and die peacefully."

"What? NO!"

"Kendall, you're gonna wake Addie up."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Carlos was NEVER one to give up! He had me and Addie and Logan to live for and he KNEW that! How could he say that he was here to die? How could he give up?

I sprung up, gripping my hair, crying now. I was panicking.

"Kenny, there's no reason to get upset. It's meant to be."

"You can't DIE, Los! You CAN'T DIE because I love you too much and Addie and Logan love you too much. What happens to ADDIE if you die? You're her Superman!"

"You and Logie can take care of her. You've proven that."

I was gasping for air like a fish out of water, blind through my tears.

"No! No, no, no, no NO!"

Suddenly Carlos stopped me from pacing and I was in his arms.

"You can't die because I love you too much," I whined as he shushed me.

"A miracle could happen and a donor could come along," he said softly. "But what happens when everything else quits working?"

"I'll donate all of my organs for you."

Carlos shushed me, rubbing my back as I sobbed.

"Why is everything so bad for you?" I sobbed. "You're the best person I know! You don't deserve this!"

"The worst things happen to the best people," he said softly. "It's a rule."

My chest was so tight- I couldn't breathe. I was shaking hard, tears spilling uncontrollably.

"The sooner you accept this," Carlos whispered. "The sooner you can make my last month the best it can possibly be."

I couldn't even talk at this point.

Carlos pulled away a little and his hands appearing in my hair, smoothing it down. Then his fingers started to wipe away my tears and snot. Finally his lips pressed to that familiar spot he always kissed, where my dimple was when I smiled.

"I need you to be strong for me," Carlos said softly, but my eyes were closed.

"Are you scared?" I got out.

"No."

I looked down at him, seeing wise eyes. I just wished I could see him as he was before, with his skin tan and glowing and his lips plump and pink. I missed his glowing eyes and his big smile.

I then vowed that he couldn't spend this precious time worrying about ME and comforting ME. He was right- if this was his last month, I had to make it the best. But it wouldn't be his last month- I had to try with everything I had to make sure of that.

"You're the only person that knows and will ever know," he said softly, taking my hands.

"Why would you tell me?"

"I had to tell SOMEONE… And Logie couldn't be it."

I nodded miserably.

I wished he hadn't told me. I wished he had kept it a secret.

Then again, if he hadn't shared the news, I wouldn't be on a mission to save him and he really would die.

EVERYBODY JUST CHILL.

I have a plan.