Author's Note: Hey-ho! Another long delay. I was tapped for inspiration. Even without finals and pet-sitting a very attention-demanding dog to occupy my attention, I was still super stuck on this chapter until my editor gave me an idea. Whether or not it's a good idea is for you to decide.

Fun Fact of the Day: The fact that this fic was first published on 9/11 was not foreshadowing – just pure coincidence.

I'm Captain Dodge – thank you, and have a nice day!

(…)

Lily looked out the window of the moving van. As she read the street signs, she noticed something wrong. She strained to look up at the front of the car. "Daddy," she said, "this isn't the way home…"

Mr. Loud looked at her through the rear-view mirror. "No, honey, it's not."

"Lynn, where are we going?" Mrs. Loud asked.

Mr. Loud turned his head slightly to talk to everyone in the back. "Alright, kids, you ready to hear the plan for the next few days?"

Everyone sat up and listened attentively.

"First, we're gonna pay a visit to someone who's been waiting to see you for a long time."

That made the girls curious. All at once, they began talking over each other, asking who it was.

Mr. Loud smiled fondly – things were already beginning to feel the way they used to. "Hey, hey, girls, girls, calm down," he said, "I'll get to that in a minute."

Groaning in disappointment, the girls all settled back into their seats and waited impatiently.

"Okay, then we'll go home and just relax, settle in. Lily, you'll have plenty of time to play with your sisters, and Lincoln, you can just… talk, relax, or… you know, whatever…"

Lily bounced in her seat, overjoyed at the idea, but Lincoln sat silent. He knew that he was under some sort of obligation to spend time with his sisters, but he still had no idea how to carry a conversation with them – by himself, at least. He hoped that Terry was still in the mood to socialize when they got back…

"But whatever you do today, make sure you all get enough sleep tonight, because tomorrow, we're having a party!" Mr. Loud continued.

Hearing this surprised Mrs. Loud. "Wha – a party? Lynn, I thought we were going to keep this visit low-key!"

"We are! We're just having a few people over – the McBrides, Bobby Santiago…"

"And Belle?" Lily asked hopefully.

The color drained from Mr. Loud's face. "U-Um…" He looked at his wife nervously. "Ye – Uh… N… We-We'll see, honey," he said to Lily.

"'Belle'? Wait, you mean Belle Yates?" Lynn said.

"H-Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, that's right," Mr. Loud said. "Belle used to babysit Lily before Terry moved in next door."

"Why'd she stop?" Leni asked.

Mr. Loud started sweating. He gripped the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles started turning white. "Um… Uh…" He gulped. "She… She didn't need the money anymore. Yeah, her parents increased her allowance because the job was cutting into her schedule."

Most everyone bought that, but just as Lynn was about to ask what he was so nervous about, Mrs. Loud spoke up. "Well, are these people just going to come at such short notice?" she asked.

"Yes, I've already called – they cancelled any plans they had and agreed to come tomorrow at noon."

"Don't forget to call Belle too, Dad!" Lily reminded him.

Mr. Loud smiled nervously. "I-I won't!"

"So, just Bobby? What about the other Santiagos and the Casagrandes?" Leni asked.

"Well, honey, Bobby's got more personal history with us, and…" Mr. Loud glanced at Lincoln. "Well… I didn't invite Ronnie Anne."

A hush fell over everyone in the van as they remembered what Ronnie Anne did. For a while, no-one said anything. Then, Lynn folded her arms and quietly said, "…Good."

Lincoln fidgeted uncomfortably in his seat. He had hardly heard anything about Ronnie Anne the past six years – mostly because he never asked. He didn't think about Ronnie Anne as often as he did his sisters. His doctors told him that because he didn't know her his entire life, her betrayal didn't cut as deep. Even so, he couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

Leni's questions only made Lincoln feel guiltier. "Dad…" she said, "don't you forgive us?"

"Huh? For –?" Mr. Loud looked at Leni uneasily. "Of… Of course I do!"

"Then why can't you forgive her?"

Mr. Loud cast his gaze downwards. "Be… Because…" He sighed, slumping his shoulders. "…Because she's just not my daughter."

Everyone pondered that for a little while. Then, Mrs. Loud changed the subject. "Well… why are we having this party tomorrow? Why not on Christmas Eve?"

"Well, I thought that our guests should have the chance to spend Christmas Eve together with their families." Mr. Loud looked back at the others. "Just like us."

The Loud kids exchanged glances with each other. Spending Christmas Eve together, as a family… it sounded nice, yet difficult at the same time. They didn't want to believe it was impossible, but there was always room for doubt…

"After that, we'll have Christmas, and then a whole 'nother week until New Year's, then the girls go back to Canada." Mr. Loud looked at Lily and Lincoln. "You hear that, you two? Plenty of time to spend with your sisters!"

"Yay!" Lily cheered.

"W… Woohoo…" Lincoln said hesitantly.

Lynn leaned forward. "Okay, Dad, we've heard the game plan – now where are we going, eh?"

"Well…" Mr. Loud cleared his throat. "You ready, girls? Rita?"

"YES! Tell us, already!" the girls said.

"Come on, Lynn, stop teasing us!" Mrs. Loud said.

Mr. Loud chuckled nervously. "…Okay, then." He adjusted the rearview mirror.

"…We're going to see Pop-Pop."

The entire van fell silent for a few moments as the news sank in. Some of the sisters exchanged glances. Then, all at once, the van erupted with activity.

"What?!"

"Oh my gosh!"

"Pop-Pop… We're going to see Pop-Pop!"

"I don't believe it! After all this time…"

"Dad… He wants to see all of us? Finally?"

As the girls buzzed in the front, Terry wondered in the back. "Wait… who's Pop-Pop, again?" he asked Lincoln.

"My grandfather," Lincoln said.

"Oh, right. Wait… your grandfather…?"

Lincoln folded his arms and stared at the floor, looking melancholic.

The Loud girls (sans Lily) and their mother all continued to chirp excitedly about how they were going to see Pop-Pop again, happy to not only be reunited with him, but to finally be getting some answers from him as well.

Leni turned to Lily, who was sitting beside her, and shook her playfully. "Oh, Lily, we're going to see Pop-Pop! Isn't that exciting?"

Lily adopted a pained look. "Um…"

Leni saw the sadness in Lily's eyes right away, even though they were not looking at her. "Wh… What's the matter?"

The other girls picked up Leni's words and looked at Lily. As they read the look on her face, they looked at Lincoln, Terry, and Mr. Loud, and saw that they too were not happy.

"Uh… guys…?" Leni said.

Mr. Loud sighed. "…We're almost there."

The girls began to worry as they approached their destination (except Luan, who began sniggering with anticipation). What was wrong? Clearly something unfortunate had happened, but what?

Their answer came as Mr. Loud pulled into a parking lot. All the color drained from Mrs. Loud's face. She, Leni, Lynn, and Lana all looked at Mr. Loud almost pleadingly, silently praying that he had just made a mistake – that it was all a mistake.

But no-one was listening.

Mr. Loud picked the closest open space that he could find, pulled into it, then slowly turned off the car. "…We're here," he said.

Mrs. Loud shook her head at him, her mouth frozen in a mirthless smile and tears starting to run down her cheeks. "Honey," she said, "no… This… This can't be right…!"

Mr. Loud nodded back at her. "…I'm afraid it is, Rita."

The smile finally fell from Mrs. Loud's face, and she stared at the sign of the building in horror:

St. Christopher's Community Hospice

Mrs. Loud hung her head. "Dad… no…"

"Wait… I don't get it…" Leni looked at Mr. Loud. "Why is Pop-Pop in the hospital?"

Choking back laughter, Luan tapped Leni on the shoulder. "N-N-No, L-Leni, y-you don't underst-stand… hahaha…" She fought to maintain control. "This… This isn't a hospital, it's a… heheheh… it's a hospice. Pe-People don't-don't come here to get… treated…" She nearly doubled over. "Th… They come here… They come here… to DIE!" Luan broke down in a hysterical laughing fit.

Mr. Loud cast a disturbed look at Mrs. Loud, wondering just what was so funny about all this to her. Leni, meanwhile, was naturally distraught. "What?!" she cried. "Pop-Pop's dying?! No!"

"Dad…" Lynn said, "…what happened?"

Mr. Loud shook his head. "…Cancer. It started in his stomach, but then it spread to his liver, lungs, and bones. We don't know why he didn't tell us about it sooner…"

"We… we have to see him like this?" Lana said.

"I'm afraid so, girls." Mr. Loud turned to face his children. "…This may be your last chance."

Leni broke down crying, while Luan was practically giddy with amusement. Lynn shared a concerned look with Lana, then nodded at her father. "…We're ready."

Mr. Loud pulled the keys out of the ignition. "All right… Come on, everyone. Let's go."

The Louds (and Terry) all got out of the van and trudged towards the entrance. As they reached the front door, a thought occurred to Lana.

"Dad…" she said, "…why didn't you tell us about this earlier?"

Mr. Loud froze. "I… uh…"

Luan slapped Lana on the back. "Aw, come on, Lans! Don't you get it?" A wide grin was plastered on her face. "Clearly, he wanted it to be a surprise!" She burst out laughing again.

Mr. Loud shook his head. "N-No, it's just… I… It… slipped my mind."

"'Slipped your mind'? Dad, how could something like this slip your mind?" Lynn asked.

"W-Well, I mean…" Mr. Loud sighed. "…Okay, look, we didn't find out about this until just two months ago, when Pop-Pop was admitted here. And, and I was just so focused on bringing you girls home and getting you settled in that it just… slipped my mind."

Lynn shared a glance with Lana, who shrugged. It sounded as good an explanation as any…

Everyone entered the hospice. Inside, everything was neat and tidy, well-lit and well-decorated.

It reminded Leni, Luan, and Lynn of the abortion clinic.

Mr. Loud walked up to the front desk to check in with the receptionist. The others waited anxiously as he did so.

Terry shivered. "Ugh… This place gives me the creeps…"

"Tell me about it," Lana said. "It's so quiet here…"

"Too quiet…" Luan said, chuckling. No-one else laughed at her cliché line.

"He's… He's dying?" Leni said, her lips quivering. "Pop-Pop's really dying?"

Lily hung her head slightly, closing her eyes. "…Yeah."

Leni began to tear up. "No…" Suddenly, she burst into tears. "No! I can't… I can't do this again!"

Leni ran outside, and Mrs. Loud ran after her. Luan laughed at the sight, while Lynn sighed.

"I'm sorry, guys," Lynn said, "but after the others died…" She looked at Lily, then Lincoln. "Lily, you were too young to remember Lori, Lucy, Lola, and Lisa. And Lincoln, you knew them, but your memory of them is, well… tainted." She shook her head. "You don't really know what it's like… to lose someone you love."

Mr. Loud, who had watched the scene Leni had made and was listening, stepped in. "Oh, it's okay, Lynn, we understand. I mean, after all…" He pulled Lincoln and Lily to his sides by the shoulders. "…we've had our share of death on this side of the family, after all."

Lynn looked at Mr. Loud. "What?"

Lincoln was just as confused, until he realized what his father meant. "Oh, he's, uh… H-He's talking about the pets. Uh, Charles slipped his leash and got hit by a car, and… Walt and Geo died of old age. I-I know what you mean, Lynn, it's… it's not the same. But still…" He folded his arms, sighing. "Still… I miss those guys."

Lynn and Lana fell silent as they remembered their childhood pets, while Luan just kept on chuckling. Lana realized that one pet was left out. "Hey… what about Cliff?" she asked.

"Huh? Oh, uh, Cliff's still around. He's just, well, you know… old, and fat, and lazy…"

"Why didn't we see him when we came back, then?"

"He was probably sleeping in the basement, as usual." Lily folded her arms, frowning. "I don't like Cliff."

Mr. Loud shook Lily gently. "Oh, honey, you didn't know Cliff when he was younger and friendlier! You were just a baby. And besides, I've got a feeling that you'll still miss him when he's gone. Remember how you cried when Charles died?"

Lily shrugged. "Kinda…"

"Well, you were young. Still… Still, it's… it's not really the same as losing a grandfather, I have to say…" He shrugged, sighing. "Well… I guess it's just… something we'll have to deal with…"

After that, everyone fell silent and waited patiently for Leni and Mrs. Loud to return. After a few minutes, they did. Leni's eyes were red and puffy, and she was still sniffling a little.

Mr. Loud looked at his wife. "…We okay?" he asked.

Mrs. Loud nodded. "Mm-hmm."

"…Okay." Mr. Loud beckoned to everyone else. "Come on, kids. Pop-Pop's in room 113."

The group headed through the hospice, passing by the sick and elderly, drained of life, and the caretakers dedicated to keeping them comfortable during their last days on Earth.

Lynn sighed again. "Lucy would have loved it here…"

Lily turned to her. "Lucy?"

"Yeah, you know – being surrounded by the dying. It's really morbid – exactly the way Lucy liked it."

Lily quietly seized the opportunity to find out more about her dead sister. "What… What else did Lucy like?" she asked.

"Oh, you know – the dark, the paranormal, and especially the occult. She'd hold séances, write depressing poetry, sleep in coffins…" Lynn smiled wistfully. "Lucy was really weird, but… that's what made her special." She looked at the floor. "She never was the best at communicating, though…"

"With the living, anyways," Luan chimed in. "She preferred to hang out with the dead – and now she 'hangs' with them all the time! Hahahahaha!"

Lynn clenched her hands into fists, growling furiously. Pulling Luan aside, she hissed into her ear, "For the last time, what is the matter with you?! Lucy is dead! Pop-Pop is dying! How can you laugh at any of this?! And for that matter, why did you tell Mom and Lincoln what you did at the Burpin' Burger?!"

Luan shrugged. "Why wouldn't I? It's funny!"

Lynn couldn't make any more sense of her than she ever could, so she gave up trying again. "…You are fucked up, Luan."

Luan laughed at that. "Are you kidding? I'm one of the precious few that's not!"

Lynn separated from Luan, shaking her head. Everyone else continued watching the two carefully.

"So…" Mr. Loud said, "…mind telling us what that was all about?"

Luan shrugged. "Meh. Nothing important."

Mr. Loud was about to inquire further, but he was interrupted by Lana (who was leading the pack) stopping in front of a room. "This is it," she said.

Everyone gathered around the door. Mrs. Loud and the girls wanted to see Pop-Pop, but at the same time, they feared what he would look like. Their nervousness passed from Mr. Loud down to the others until an air of trepidation hung over the entire group. They stood there for several minutes until Mrs. Loud finally worked up the nerve to knock on the door.

"…Dad?" she called quietly.

Everyone stayed silent, listening for a response. Mrs. Loud leaned in towards the door, pressing her ear against the wood. She heard a series of wet coughs, then a weak but unmistakable voice responding, "…Come in…"

The girls looked at each other nervously. Mrs. Loud shakily grabbed the doorknob, twisted, and opened the door.

What they saw managed to be even worse than what they imagined.

Pop-Pop had lost all the weight that had made him appear full of life. His jaundiced skin hung loosely from his broad frame. His mustache had merged into a beard that looked to have grown more out of negligence than style, and his hair had fallen out, leaving him completely bald. Tubes running from various machines through his airways and veins appeared to be the only thing keeping him alive. But worse than any of that was his demeanor. Pop-Pop looked, above all else, tired. Tired of having to live through his hardships, both physical and emotional; tired of living, in general.

Pop-Pop looked even older than he was, and he was feeling it.

Mrs. Loud entered the room, approaching her father carefully. "D… Dad…?"

Pop-Pop turned his head so slowly, the family could hardly tell that he was moving. "R… Rita…?" he said. "Girls…?"

Lana stepped forward, beginning to tear up along with Leni and Lynn. "P-Pop-Pop, it's us…"

Pop-Pop reached out – with considerable effort – and beckoned to them. "C… Come closer… My eyes aren't what they used to be… Let me… Let me see you…"

Seeing her grandfather in such a sorry state caused Leni's emotions to overwhelm her, and she started crying outright. "Pop-Pop…!"

She rushed forwards and embraced Pop-Pop, and Lynn and Lana quickly followed suit. Luan simply rolled her eyes at the whole scene, chuckling to herself.

Although the girls suddenly falling over him and wrapping their arms around him caused no small amount of pain, Pop-Pop didn't care. He returned the hugs as best he could, weeping happily. "Girls… It's you… It's really you…"

Mrs. Loud came closer, crying tears of joy as well. "Dad…"

Pop-Pop smiled at his daughter. He would have liked to hug her separately, but the girls just wouldn't let go. So, chuckling (and stifling another series of coughs), he reached out to her, inviting her in. "Rita…"

Mrs. Loud joined the group hug, and Terry wrapped his arm around Lincoln, joining him, Lily, and Mr. Loud in enjoying the touching moment.

Pop-Pop and the girls held their embrace for several minutes, holding on tight, as though they were mutually afraid that the other party was not real. Finally, however, the girls and their mother tearfully separated from Pop-Pop.

"Oh… It's so good to finally see you all again…" Pop-Pop said. "I missed you so much…"

"We missed you too, Pop-Pop!" the girls all said together.

Pop-Pop laughed, but his laughter broke down into a coughing fit. Mrs. Loud and the three girls were right by his side.

"Pop-Pop, are you alright?!" Leni asked.

Pop-Pop fought to get his coughing under control, eventually succeeding. He gulped down a wad of bloody sputum and said, "…If I was, I wouldn't be here. Now, let me see…" He pointed to each of his lost granddaughters in order. "Leni… Luan… Lynn… and Lana. Is that right?"

The girls nodded, impressed. "Yes! That's right!" Lana said.

Pop-Pop sighed. "Ah, you've all grown so much…" He looked around the group. "So, where's Luna?"

"Oh, she…" Mrs. Loud folded her arms. "…She decided not to come. Too many painful memories, you know."

"I understand…"

The way he had asked about those absent intrigued Lincoln. "Wait, Pop-Pop," he said, "do… do you know… about the others…?"

Pop-Pop nodded slowly. "Yes, your dad told me about it a couple weeks ago…" He wheezed. "I know how Lola went missing, and how the others took their own lives… Heh… That makes them braver than me, I guess…" he said under his breath.

"What?"

Pop-Pop coughed. "…Nothing. I've had time to come to terms with it, don't you worry." He looked down at his wizened, diseased body. "Just like I've come to terms with this…"

Mrs. Loud spoke up. "Dad… how did this happen?"

Pop-Pop sighed, sinking into the bed. "…It started about four years ago. Started as just a bit of stomach pain here and there, didn't think much of it… Then I started losing my strength, feeling nauseous. I thought it was just the flu…" He started coughing again. "…Except the sickness didn't go away. By the time I found out it was cancer, months later, it was too late… it had spread all across my body…"

As the Loud sisters listened quietly and attentively, Mrs. Loud remembered something Mr. Loud had mentioned earlier. "Dad…" she said, "…Lynn said that you didn't tell him or the others about this until you were admitted here two months ago. Why not?"

Pop-Pop looked slightly guilty. "I…" He sighed. "…I just didn't want them worrying about me… And… And, at first, if I had told him… he would have insisted on getting me treatment…"

Mrs. Loud looked confused. "Wh… What do you mean…?"

Pop-Pop sighed again. "Rita…" He looked directly into his daughter's eyes.

"…I wanted the cancer to kill me."

Luan laughed out loud, while Mrs. Loud and the girls all gasped. "Pop-Pop!" the girls said.

"I did… My daughter and most of my granddaughters were gone – gone into hiding because they had done something terrible to my grandson… something society couldn't forgive them for. I had no way of contacting them. For all I knew, I would never see them again. And Lincoln, poor little Lincoln, was so torn apart by the whole thing that he lost his dang mind…"

Everyone shifted uncomfortably as they recalled that, Mr. Loud especially so.

"I just couldn't take it… I genuinely, honestly wanted to die… and if the cancer was going to be the death of me, then I decided to let what had to happen, happen."

"S-So what changed, Pop-Pop? What changed?" Lynn asked.

Pop-Pop coughed and hacked so hard, he sat up and bent forwards. Taking a fresh tissue from the box on his bed, he spat his bloody mucus into it and disposed of it in the wastebasket next to the bed. He lay back down with a pained groan. "W… Well… I heard from your dad that he was planning on bringing you back home, just for a little while, after Lincoln had recovered. That meant… That meant that I could see you again. So… I started getting treatment. Surgery, chemo, radiotherapy – anything that could buy me time. Thank God for healthcare…" he added as an aside.

"But… the years went by, and the treatments only slowed the cancer down – and it had already spread pretty dang far to begin with. I had almost given up…" He thought about it, then shook his head. "…Ah, who am I kidding? I had given up. That's why I let them move me here, let them inform Lynn and Lincoln and Lily… All they could do was keep me comfortable as I died."

"And a bang-up job they're doing of it, too! Hahahahaha!" Luan said.

Mrs. Loud and the other sisters all glared at Luan, but Pop-Pop wasn't perturbed. "…Well, actually, Luan, I'm off my morphine right now. Got to keep my head clear for this talk. And speaking of…" He took as deep a breath as he could. "…we really need to talk."

The entire room fell silent. For a time, no-one wanted to be the first to speak. No-one really knew where to start.

Eventually, Lynn sighed, louder than she had meant to. Everyone looked at her. Realizing that she had broken the silence, Lynn knew that she was now expected to speak. Sighing again, she forced herself to make eye contact with her grandfather.

"Pop-Pop…" she said, "…we're so sorry –"

Pop-Pop held up one hand, silencing her.

"…No. I'm sorry."

Everyone else was greatly surprised by this, not least of all the girls. Resting his head on his pillow, Pop-Pop continued. "Girls… I've read up on all the facts of that incident all those years ago. And… And I know now that you weren't in control of your actions. But… But when I heard about what happened… when I saw it all over the news… I just…" He shook his head, tears in his eyes. "…I just couldn't believe it…"

The girls nodded understandingly. It was easy not to believe something as outrageous as the incident – when one was not a part of it…

"I… I didn't want to believe it… And so… And so I shut myself in. Cut off all contact with the outside world. Wouldn't let anyone else in – not Seymour, not Bernie, not Myrtle, no-one. Girls… Lincoln…" Pop-Pop looked at them, full of remorse. "…I'm sorry. I should have been there for you, when you needed me, and… and, I wasn't…" He started choking up. "I… I wasn't…"

As Pop-Pop sobbed, Mrs. Loud and her children (with the exception of Luan) started sobbing right alongside him. Pop-Pop offered his hand, and the girls laid theirs on it.

Lana, being the closest to Pop-Pop, took his hand and held it to her chest. "I… It's okay, Pop-Pop…" she said in-between sobs, "…it's okay…!"

Pop-Pop shook his head. "No… No, it's not… M-More than anything else, you all needed love and support, and I wasn't there to give it to you. Maybe…" He uttered a rasping cough. "Maybe if I was… the others would still be here…"

"Don't say that, Pop-Pop…!" Leni said.

"…Maybe…" Pop-Pop looked at Lincoln. "…Maybe Lincoln wouldn't have had to –"

"S-See all those therapists?" Mr. Loud said. "Yes, Al, maybe – but let's not dwell on what could have been, okay?"

Pop-Pop looked at Mr. Loud, who silently communicated to him that he didn't want to talk about it. Pop-Pop understood. "Well, I just can't help it… If I had reached out to you sooner, we wouldn't have had to see each other again like this…" He coughed. "…Look at me. I'm a shell of my former self…"

"Aren't we all?" Luan said, laughing.

Lynn squeezed Pop-Pop's hand. "Ignore her, Pop-Pop. It's… It's okay. We… We're just so happy to finally see you again, and-and to hear that you don't blame us for what happened…" She bowed her head, letting the tears fall from her eyes. "We forgive you…"

Pop-Pop sniffled and choked. "I… I love you girls…"

Mrs. Loud and her daughters all surrounded Pop-Pop, piling on him again. "We love you too, Pop-Pop…"

Mr. Loud and his family started crying too, infected with the heart-wrenching emotions of the scene in front of them. Even Luan couldn't help but shed a tear, though she didn't stop laughing. And for several minutes, everyone simply cried their hearts out.

But all things had to come to an end. A nurse knocked on the door, then poked her head in. Although she hated to interrupt the moment, she said, "Um, excuse me? I'm sorry, but visiting hours are almost over."

Pop-Pop composed himself, drying his tears before nodding at the nurse. "…Okay. That's alright. I've said what I wanted to say… well, almost. Everyone, I'd like a moment alone with each of you before you leave… starting with you, Rita."

Everyone else acquiesced, leaving the room and waiting outside.

Once they were alone, Pop-Pop grazed his fingers past the back of Mrs. Loud's hand.

"…Hey, honeybee," he said.

Mrs. Loud's heart twinged as she heard the pet name her father called her by as a child. "…Hi, Daddy."

Pop-Pop grunted, shifting his position. "…I haven't got that much time, Rita – for visiting hours, and… and at all. So, I'll try to make this brief." He looked into her eyes. "…I'm proud of you, sweetie."

Mrs. Loud gasped. "Y-You are?"

Pop-Pop smiled. "You stuck by the girls when no-one else would or could. Through all the bad times… they had you. You loved and supported them when everyone else shunned and hated them. That took strength. And I… I'm proud of you for that."

Mrs. Loud was honored by his words, but she couldn't shake her self-doubt. "But… But the others… Lori and Lucy… Lola and Lisa… I… I couldn't stop them from –"

"Stop." Pop-Pop grabbed her shoulder with what little strength he had. "Stop right there." He paused, thinking carefully about his next words. "…Maybe some things are inevitable. And the only thing we can do… is what we can. I could have done something, but I didn't… while you did everything you could. You helped keep your family together, even when it was apart. And I know you'll keep at it, no matter what." He forced Mrs. Loud to look at him.

"…I couldn't have asked for a more perfect daughter."

Mrs. Loud looked at her father, heaving, trying to keep herself together. She ultimately failed, collapsing into Pop-Pop's frail arms. She lay on top of him, crying into his chest. Pop-Pop held her there, stroking her hair.

"…I love you, honeybee…"

"I… I love you too, Daddy…"

(…)

Mr. Loud came in next. He knew what they needed to talk about, and so did Pop-Pop.

"Lynn…" Pop-Pop said.

Mr. Loud held up one hand. "I know what you're going to ask. And… no. No, I haven't told them."

"Why not?"

Mr. Loud looked ashamed. "I…"

Pop-Pop shook his head. "Lynn, you only did what you thought was best for Lincoln. You were only helping your boy. There's nothing shameful about that…"

"But there is something shameful about how I helped him," Mr. Loud retorted. "What will the girls think when I tell them?"

"I can't say. But you still have to tell them. You owe them that much…"

Mr. Loud sighed. "…I know. And-And I will, don't worry. After they've settled in, I'll tell them. I just hope they'll understand…"

"…I hope so, too."

That appeared to be all Pop-Pop had to say. Somewhat deflated, Mr. Loud started slinking out of the room… but as he reached the door, he heard Pop-Pop call out to him. "…And Lynn?"

Mr. Loud turned back around. "Y-Yes?"

"In any case… thank you for bringing the girls back home, even if it's just for a little while. Thank you… for letting me make my peace."

"Ah –! S… Sure, Al… m-my pleasure…"

(…)

After Mr. Loud came Lily. She had been content to see her Pop-Pop from afar, but now he was beckoning her closer. She felt apprehensive – she loved Pop-Pop, but there was an air of death about him. But it was this same pall that reminded her that this may be the last time she may ever see him, and so she willed herself to approach him.

Pop-Pop cupped her cheek in one hand. "Lily… My little Lily…"

Lily leaned into Pop-Pop's caress, holding his hand to her cheek. "Hi, Pop-Pop…"

"You've grown up big and strong these past few years, haven't you…?"

Lily nodded, smiling. "Mm-hmm…"

"Bet you're excited to finally meet your sisters after all this time, aren't you?"

Lily's smile widened. "Uh-huh!"

He took Lily's hand. "Can you make them feel welcome here…? Make them part of the family… just like you made Terry part of the family?"

Lily nodded emphatically. "Yes, Pop-Pop! Yes! Of course!"

Pop-Pop coughed, but disguised it as a chuckle. "That's my girl…"

Lily wasn't fooled by the disguised cough. "Pop-Pop… isn't there anything the doctors can do for you to make you better?"

Pop-Pop sighed, slowly shaking his head. "…I'm afraid not, sweetie. This… This is it for me."

Lily hung her head. Inching forwards, she came to rest her head on Pop-Pop's chest. "I'll miss you, Pop-Pop…" she whispered.

Pop-Pop held her gently. "I'll miss you too, sweetie…"

(…)

Leni was called into the room next. Seeing her in any condition always brought a smile to Pop-Pop's face. "Oh, Leni," he said, "my sweet little Leni…"

Leni was still distraught. "Pop-Pop…"

Pop-Pop offered her a hug, and she gratefully accepted it. She stayed there for a few minutes, crying into his chest.

"I… I don't…!" Leni looked up at him. "I don't want you to die…!"

"I know you don't, sweetie," Pop-Pop responded. "I don't want to die either. But this time… at least you have a chance to say goodbye."

Leni looked at him quizzically. "Wh… What…?"

"No-one lives forever, Leni. That's just a fact. But if you know that it's coming… then you can be ready for it. You can accept it. And that way… it can be made easier for you. Leni…" He made Leni look at him. "Accept this. Let me go. Say goodbye."

Leni looked hesitant. "I-I… I… I… I…" She gulped. "I… I'll try…"

"You can do it. I know you can." Pop-Pop hugged Leni as tightly as he could. "Go on. Try it."

Leni clutched the bedsheets. "G… G… G…" She hiccupped, fighting to get it out. "G… G…" She gathered her resolve with one last shuddering breath… then looked Pop-Pop in the eyes.

"Goodbye… Pop-Pop…"

Pop-Pop nodded at her, smiling. Leni blinked. It was as if a weight had been lifted off of her chest. She rested her head on Pop-Pop's chest again. "Goodbye, Pop-Pop…" she repeated, finding the words easier to say this time. "Goodbye…"

Pop-Pop stroked his granddaughter's long golden hair. "…Goodbye, Leni."

For a few minutes more, Leni let her head lay on Pop-Pop's chest, letting the tears come to a stop. Finally, she stood up, bade her grandfather goodbye one last time, then prepared to leave.

Just as she was about to do so, however, a thought occurred to her. She turned back around, looking at the ceiling. "…Do you want to say goodbye too, Lori?" she asked.

Pop-Pop looked concerned. "Lori…?"

After a few moments of silence, Leni looked at Pop-Pop. "…Lori says goodbye, too."

Pop-Pop frowned. "Leni…" he said, "…sooner or later, you'll have to say goodbye to Lori, too."

Leni looked at the floor. "I know…"

"Promise me, Leni… Promise me you will…"

Leni hesitated, then slowly nodded. "…Okay…"

Seeing how sad she was, Pop-Pop shrugged. "…Well, for right now, though, tell Lori this isn't 'goodbye' – it's 'see you later'."

Leni perked up. She smiled. "…Okay."

(…)

Lynn was next. She came into the room with a dour look on her face. Pop-Pop initially thought that she was just upset over him, and she was… but he soon realized that that was not the only thing amiss.

"Lynn…" he said, "…come here."

Lynn reluctantly did so. When she got close enough, Pop-Pop looked straight into her eyes. This made Lynn uncomfortable, and she looked askance, but she did so too late – Pop-Pop realized the problem.

"I know that look," he said. "You've got something to say…"

Lynn sighed. "I do, but I can't."

"What's the matter…?"

"It…" Lynn shook her head. "I-I just can't, okay?! I can't…"

Pop-Pop grunted. "Lynn, I'm dying. Anything you tell me… goes with me to the grave."

Lynn faced away, but then looked in his direction. "…You promise?"

Pop-Pop crossed his heart. "Cross my heart and hope to die… Heheh…"

Lynn agonized over her decision for several minutes, then finally gave in. "Okay, fine… I've been thinking about this since we started planning on coming back here, and… oh, I don't know where else to turn… I can't tell Mom or the others, I just can't…"

Pop-Pop shrugged. "That's what I'm here for…"

Lynn came to the very edge of Pop-Pop's bed. "…Promise you won't tell?"

Pop-Pop nodded.

Lynn hesitated once again… then leaned in close and whispered her secret in Pop-Pop's ear.

Pop-Pop listened to her, then watched her pull away and await his response. He wouldn't judge her for it – that wasn't what she needed right now. Instead, he simply said, "Is that so…"

Lynn nodded, ashamed. "I don't know what to do…"

In truth, Pop-Pop didn't know, either. He took Lynn's hand, and Lynn squeezed his in turn…

(…)

Terry waited in the hallway with the others while Lynn visited Pop-Pop. A nurse came up to the Loud family.

"Excuse me," the nurse said, "but I'm afraid visiting hours are over. If you would all please follow me…?"

Mr. Loud confronted the nurse. "Look," he said, "this is the first time my wife and daughters have seen their grandfather in years. For all we know, this might be the last time any of us see him ever again. So, please…!"

The nurse looked around at the Louds' pleading faces, and relented. "…I can give you ten more minutes."

"That should be enough. Thank you."

Just as the nurse left, Lynn came out of the room. "…Terry?" she said. "Pop-Pop wants to see you next."

Terry stopped leaning against the wall, surprised. "Me?"

Lynn shrugged. "That's what he said."

Terry looked at Lincoln, who also shrugged. Still feeling unsure, Terry entered the room.

"Um… sir?" he said. "You… wanted to see me?"

Pop-Pop smiled at him. "Terry…" he said. "Come closer…"

Terry came to Pop-Pop's bedside, and Pop-Pop put a hand on his shoulder. "Terry…" Pop-Pop said, "I just wanted to say thank you."

Terry blinked, somewhat taken aback. "F-For what?"

"Why, you've taken care of Lily, Lynn, Sr., and especially Lincoln all these years, haven't you…?"

Terry chuckled. "What, that? Come on, it's nothing, really…"

"Oh, don't be so modest. You've been an invaluable pillar of support for all three of them after what happened. Without you, they might just have fallen apart as a family…"

Terry shook his head. "Oh, no, come on, really…"

"I mean it." Pop-Pop put his hand on the back of Terry's neck. "…Can I trust you to keep taking care of them after I'm gone…?"

"I –!" Terry started. "I… O-Of course, sir…"

"Call me 'Pop-Pop'." He patted Terry on the shoulder. "So, kiddo? This family's gonna be tripling in size soon – will you be a part of it…?"

Terry paused, then nodded solemnly. "…I will, Pop-Pop."

"…Good." He looked out the window which the bed was just under, watching the snow fall. "…Terry?"

"Yes, si – uh, Pop-Pop?"

"I don't know if you still believe in that stuff, but…" Pop-Pop coughed, then looked at Terry. "…will you say a prayer for me? For…For all of us…?"

Terry closed his eyes. He didn't believe in "that stuff" anymore – at least, not in the way he used to – but if that was what Pop-Pop needed, then there was nothing else to be done.

"…Sure, Pop-Pop. Sure."

Terry knelt by Pop-Pop's bedside, taking his hand, and bowed his head. Drawing on the memories of every prayer his father had ever recited, he asked God to bless and watch over Pop-Pop, to accept him into His kingdom, and to watch over the rest of his family on Earth…

(…)

Luan came in after Terry. Before Pop-Pop could utter a single word, she spoke up. "Hey, Pop-Pop, can I ask you something?"

Pop-Pop shrugged. "Well, you just did…"

Luan burst out laughing. "Hahahahaha! Good one, Pop-Pop! Hahahahaha… Ah… So, tell me, Pop-Pop – will you love me until your dying breath…?"

Pop-Pop nodded. "Of course I will, Luan…"

Luan snapped her fingers. "Dang it! That means I've only got a few more days, haven't I? Hahahahaha!"

Although Luan was laughing, Pop-Pop was completely serious. "Luan…" he said, "…I know what you're doing…"

That surprised Luan. "You do?"

"…And I also know that it's not healthy."

"Don't try to give me advice like you know me!" Luan snapped. "Do you know who I am?! I'm Luan Loud! I bring the funny – all day, EVERY day!"

Despite Luan's outburst, Pop-Pop had nothing but sympathy in his eyes. "Luan –"

"No, you listen to me, you old fart! You can lie to yourself all you want – it's your life! Your miserable, soon-to-be-ended life! Me? I know the truth – and now that I do, there's no going back!" She stretched her arms out in revelation. "I have seen the light – and it is hilarious."

Pop-Pop listened to her rant patiently. "…Is that really what you think?" he said when she was finished.

"It's not what I think – it's what I know," she answered.

Pop-Pop shook his head sadly. "I can't imagine that attitude has won you many friends…"

Luan shook her head proudly. "Nope! Hasn't won me much family, either! Hahahahaha! Ah… They just don't get the joke…"

"Then explain it to them, if you're so convinced of this 'truth'…"

Luan looked at her grandfather incredulously. "What, are you kidding? Then there'd be no joke at all! Hahahahaha!"

(…)

Lana was called in after Luan. With a somber expression, she came to Pop-Pop's side and held his hand. "…Hey, Pop-Pop," she said.

"Hey, kiddo." He stroked her long blonde hair, admiring her. "…You've gotten a lot prettier since I saw you last, haven't you…?"

Lana brushed her hair over her ear. "You think so…?"

"If I didn't know that she was gone, I might have confused you for Lola…"

Lana frowned. "That's… nice, I guess…"

After a few moments of silence, Lana realized that Pop-Pop was staring at her in wonder. "…What?"

Pop-Pop coughed, spitting out and disposing of some bloody phlegm before answering. "Well, how about that…? The Lana I used to know would've been insulted if she'd been mistaken for her twin sister. Could it be… that you're growing up?"

Lana chuckled nervously. "Heh… w-well, maybe –"

"Or maybe… there's something bothering you…?"

Lana's head jerked up to meet Pop-Pop's gaze. "Wh-What? N-No, I…"

Pop-Pop pulled her in for a hug. "It's okay, kiddo… You can be honest with me… Nothing you say will ever leave this room…"

Lana allowed Pop-Pop to hug her, and when the hug broke, she saw his reassuring look. She hung her head and sighed. "…How did you know?" she asked.

"When you've lived as long as I have… met as many people… you learn a few things." He patted the side of the bed, and Lana sat on it. "So… the Lana I knew would have been insulted. But that, back there… I don't know what that was. What's the matter, sweetie?"

Lana cast her gaze to the floor. "I…" She shook her head. "…I just don't know, okay?! On the one hand, I'm happy to hear that you think I'm pretty. But on the other hand… I…" She hesitated. "I…"

"What?"

Lana growled, then spat it out. "I-I don't like being compared to Lola, okay?! Y-You tell me that you almost mistook me for her, and… and…!" She pounded her fists on the bed. "Ugh!"

Pop-Pop arched an eyebrow. "Well, it sounds to me like you wanted to be mistaken for her…"

Lana looked at him out of the corner of her eye, then huffed angrily – she hated the way he knew her better than she knew herself. "S-So what if I did, huh?! Would that be so wrong? We're twins, for crying out loud!"

"Yes, but Lana Loud is an entirely different girl than Lola Loud…"

"Well, if I'm Lana, then who's going to be Lola?!"

Lana burst into tears, and Pop-Pop rubbed her back consolingly as she cried. After a few minutes, she cried herself out. Once she had calmed down, Pop-Pop said, "…Listen, Lana, I understand that you want to keep Lola's memory alive. But you don't have to do it like this. Lola will always live on – in here… and in here…" He pointed to her heart, then her brain.

Lana sighed. "I'd rather have her be right here…" She patted the side of the bed next to her.

"So do I, sweetie. But there's nothing we can do about that. And besides, you weren't the only one to know Lola. There's your mom and dad, Lincoln and your sisters…"

"But I'm her twin – I knew her the best!"

"So you did. But that doesn't mean you have to emulate her… You've got pictures, videos… Heck, your memories would be enough…"

Lana sulked. "Maybe I don't want the memories…"

"…Now why would you say something like that?"

Lana finally looked straight at Pop-Pop. "You know I used to argue and fight with Lola a lot, don't you?"

Pop-Pop nodded. "Yes… and I also know that despite it all, you two loved each other very much. Lana, think about it. For every bad memory of Lola… there are at least two good ones, aren't there?"

Lana folded her arms and grumped, not answering. Pop-Pop sighed. "Look, Lana, you know what I'm trying to say. I know you miss Lola… and I know you're terrified of forgetting about her. But you won't, ever. You don't need to change who you are to remember her." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Remember – you're Lana Loud, and you're one of a kind."

Not really, Lana thought. Despite her last stubborn attempts to cling to her old methods, Pop-Pop's words rang true, giving her strength. She placed her hand over his. "…Thanks, Pop-Pop."

(…)

Finally, it was Lincoln's turn. The touching reunion moment now since passed, he looked at his grandfather's pitiful state and wept.

"What's the matter, Lincoln…?" Pop-Pop asked as Lincoln approached.

Lincoln sniffled, drying his eyes. "I… I just…" He gulped. "I just hate seeing you like this…"

"We've all gotta go sometime, kiddo – and if you ask me, I'm long overdue…" Pop-Pop coughed and hacked. "So, that aside… how're you feeling?"

Lincoln shook his head and sighed. "I… I don't know…"

Pop-Pop chuckled. "Still getting used to having them back…?"

Lincoln nodded. "Uh-huh…"

"Hey…" Pop-Pop put his hand on Lincoln's shoulder. "…it's alright, Lincoln. I know how you feel."

Lincoln was starting to become annoyed by everyone telling that to him. He glared at Pop-Pop. "Do you? Do you really?"

Pop-Pop looked downcast. "…I do."

"How? How do you know?"

Pop-Pop hesitated. He wondered if he should tell him the truth. He wondered if telling the truth would truly make things better. He wondered if Mrs. Loud and the girls would understand – understand why he really cut himself off from the rest of the world; just how the incident touched a nerve, unearthing inner demons he thought he had conquered long ago…

(…)

The year was 1959. It was a rainy Saturday in April, and that meant ten-year-old Albert was stuck inside the house. His father was at work, but as long as his mother was looking after the house, he was safe.

But it was not to last. As Albert lay on his stomach, watching TV, he heard the words that filled him with dread:

"Kids! I'm heading out!"

Albert immediately got up and rushed to the front door, where his mother was putting on a raincoat and galoshes. He grabbed her hand. "Wh-Wh-Where are you going, Mom?" he asked.

"Over to the Averys'," his mother replied. "Mr. Avery invited me over for a… chat."

"W-Well, can't you have a chat with him some other time?"

Albert's mother stooped down to his level. "No, sweetie, it has to be today. Mrs. Avery is out of the house, and she doesn't like having me over. Besides, I don't want to be rude to Mr. Avery…"

"Please, Mom, I want you to stay… I-I get lonely…"

Albert's mother kissed him on the cheek. "I know you do, sweetie, but Mommy has a life of her own, you know?" She stood up. "And don't worry, you won't be home alone."

That's what Albert was afraid of.

Albert's mother came to the foot of the stairs. "Ruthie!" she called. "Come down here!"

"Coming!" Ruth called back.

In a few moments, Albert's twelve-year-old older sister was downstairs. "Yes, Mommy?"

"I'm going over to the Averys' house, so you're in charge until I get back." She cupped Ruth's face in her hands. "Can I trust you to take care of Albie while I'm gone, sweetie?"

Ruth smiled sweetly. "Of course, Mommy! Don't you worry!" She looked at Albert. "I'll take good care of him…"

Despite his best attempts to control himself, Albert shuddered upon hearing those words.

"Oh…" Ruth's mother kissed her forehead. "I love you, pumpkin."

"Love you too, Mommy!" Ruth replied.

Albert and Ruth's mother took out an umbrella from the umbrella stand and hugged Albert goodbye. "Love you, Albie!"

"L-Love you too, Mom…"

The kids' mother opened the front door and unfolded the umbrella. "I'll be back in an hour or so, kids!" she said as she left.

Albert watched his mother go, hiding his despair, then turned back to Ruth full of dread. It was Saturday; there was no school. It was raining; he couldn't go outside. And he had failed to arrange a playdate with any of his friends; there was no hiding at their houses.

He was stuck inside, with Ruth. And that only meant one thing.

Albert laughed nervously, hoping beyond hope that today would be different. "S-So…" he said, "I-I'm just, uh… gonna go watch TV… a-and –"

"TV? Boring." Ruth grinned at him. "Come on, Albie – let's play together!"

Albert's fragile hope was shattered. He should have seen this coming – and in a way, he had. Ruth had the face of an angel, and she acted like one around their parents. But alone together, on days like this… Albert saw her true face.

"P-Play?" Albert tugged at his collar. "Uh… W-What do you wanna play?"

Ruth held her hands behind her back, giving him a half-lidded look. "Oh, you know what I wanna play, Albie…"

All of a sudden, she took his hand and tugged him up the stairs to her room. After drawing her curtains shut and locking the door (just to be safe), she leaned against the door, looking at Albert and biting her lip.

"Let's play 'grownup'."

Albert watched with apprehension as Ruth undid her pigtails and pulled her dress over her head. This had been going on for months, now. It all started one night, when Ruth woke up from a nightmare. She went to her parents' room to seek comfort from her mother (as her father was working late again), and found her mother and Mr. Gunnison from next door wrestling naked with each other. She watched them through a crack in the door, then told her older friend, Mary-Beth, about it the next day. Mary-Beth told her that that was a game that only grownups played, and Ruth's curiosity being what it was, she simply had to know what it was about. Finding out that it required a boy and a girl, she picked the closest boy she had access to – her little brother, Albert – and repeated what she saw that night with him.

Ruth thought it was great fun, but Albert didn't enjoy it as much – for whatever reason, it just felt wrong. But playing 'grownup' for the first time awakened something in Ruth. Disregarding Albert's distaste for the game, she started demanding that they play it whenever they got the chance (in secret, as Mary-Beth had warned Ruth that she would be in "big trouble" if an adult caught her playing it). And the more demanding Ruth became, the less Albert enjoyed the game.

And now, playing 'grownup' filled Albert with revulsion and horror, and he hated it – not that Ruth cared. "Come on," she said, pulling off his suspenders, "you get naked, too!"

Feeling her touch sent a chill up Albert's spine. He had to resist this somehow. "R-R-Ruth," he said, "w-w-why do we have to play 'grownup'? Wh-Why can't we play a different game, l-like checkers, o-or Go Fish, or-or Chutes and Ladders…?"

"'Cause I don't wanna." She tugged down his pants. "And now's our chance to play 'grownup'. So c'mon!"

Albert shook his head, starting to cry. "I-I don't wanna play this game…"

Ruth's smile disappeared. "Well I do," she said, anger starting to creep into her voice. "So take your clothes off already!"

"B-But Ruthie –!"

Ruth snarled. "Mom put me in charge while she's gone, so you have to do what I say! And I say, we're playing 'grownup'!"

She started undoing the buttons on his shirt, but Albert grabbed her wrists. "NO!" he cried.

Ruth pulled her hands out of his grasp, and Albert cringed, expecting her to retaliate. But when no attack came, he carefully opened his eyes to see her… smiling at him. That smile frightened him even more than a glare would have.

Chuckling softly, Ruth slowly flounced around to Albert's side, laying a hand on his shoulder. "Albieee…" she cooed into his ear. "If you don't play 'grownup' with me…" She grasped his private parts, making him wince. "…then I'll tell Mom and Dad about alllll the places you've touched me."

Albert's eyes darted open and towards Ruth, who was giving him a sinister look. "B-B-B-But…" he stuttered, "…B-B-But what about all the places you've touched me?"

Ruth's expression didn't change. "Who's Mom and Dad going to believe? I'm the oldest, and the nicest, and the most reliable. If I tell them that you forced me to play 'grownup' with you, they'll believe me. And then you'll be in trouble." Her grip on his manhood tightened as she leaned in close to his ear. "So. Much. Trouble." She backed away, folding her arms. "Now… you know what to do."

Albert shivered. He knew she was right. And if his father found out about this from Ruth… he'd beat him. Not just on his butt, and maybe not even with the belt.

Albert sagged, defeated. There was no way out. Slowly, he started undoing his shirt, crying all the time.

"Oh, Albie, stop crying!" Ruth said, pulling down her underwear. "All I want to do is play with my little brother – is there anything wrong with that?"

(…)

Back in the present, Pop-Pop opened his eyes. No doubt his childhood experience had scarred him – he had stayed with his mother after his parents divorced, and later joined the Army, just to get away from Ruth. But then he thought about how both their lives had progressed past that point, and he shook his head. Ruth had been punished for her actions – every man she had ever been with saw her for who she truly was, her good looks abandoned her, and in the end, she was left old and alone with no-one but cats for company. And he had gone on to have a family and a long, fulfilling life. He didn't want his daughter or grandkids to despise Ruth, either – for all her faults, she was still family, and they were all she had in the world, even if she didn't appreciate them as much as he did. And besides, the incident was different – the girls had no control over their actions and deeply regretted them, unlike Ruth.

Pop-Pop ultimately decided against telling Lincoln the truth. Some secrets had to be taken to the grave.

"Well, Pop-Pop?" Lincoln demanded.

Pop-Pop sighed. "Lincoln…" he said, "…you know I was in 'Nam, don't you?"

Lincoln looked at him, puzzled at this change of topic. "Y-Yes…?"

"When people in America hear 'Vietnam', what do they think of…?"

Lincoln thought about it. "…Death? Pointless death and destruction?"

Pop-Pop nodded. "But most of them were lucky enough to not have seen that death and destruction firsthand…" He coughed heavily. "Lincoln… I know it's not the same. But it's close enough, isn't it…? Experiencing things that no man should ever experience… it changes you. There's no doubt about that." He gave Lincoln's shoulder a squeeze.

"…But it doesn't have to break you."

Lincoln looked at Pop-Pop, surprised. Pop-Pop continued, "Lincoln… we're similar in more ways than just our hair." Both of them chuckled at that. "I saw things in 'Nam that changed me for life… and I still went on to have a happy life – had a wife that I loved, a daughter that I love… and eleven grandchildren that I all love. I moved on from the bad times… because I'm strong like that. And so are you." Pop-Pop smiled at Lincoln. "I know you can get over that incident, Lincoln. I know it. All you have to do… is let them back in. Can you do that, Lincoln…? Can you do that… for me…?"

Lincoln's teeth started chattering. "I-I… I…" He sighed. "…I'll try…"

"No. Try not. Do. Or do not. There is no 'try'."

Lincoln's head jerked up, and he and Pop-Pop both laughed at the reference to a movie they both loved. After they had had a good laugh, Pop-Pop said, "Really, though…"

Lincoln closed his eyes, then nodded. "…Okay, Pop-Pop. I will."

Pop-Pop beamed at Lincoln. "Thank you, Lincoln…" He pulled his grandson in for a hug.

Lincoln began to sob on Pop-Pop's shoulder. "I… I love you, Pop-Pop…"

Pop-Pop began to cry, too. "I love you too, kiddo…"

"I… I'll miss you…"

"…I'll miss you, too…"

Grandfather and grandson stayed there, holding each other and crying softly, for several minutes, then finally, reluctantly separated. Pop-Pop groaned, leaning back onto the bed.

"Oof…" he grunted, "…that was quite a bone-cruncher. Boy, you sure have grown up big and strong, Lincoln…! Hardly seems like yesterday that you were just a scrawny eleven-year-old boy…"

Lincoln rubbed the back of his neck. "Heh… Heh, heh, heh…"

(…)

It was over. Pop-Pop had said everything he needed to say, and now it was time to go. The entire family was called in.

"Is… Is that it, then…?" Mrs. Loud asked tearfully.

Pop-Pop nodded sadly. "…That's it…"

Mr. Loud chuckled awkwardly. "Heh… Just in time… the staff was just about ready to throw us out…"

Everyone shared a good-natured chuckle, then Mrs. Loud urged her children onwards. "Okay then, kids," she said, "say goodbye to Pop-Pop…"

The kids all surrounded Pop-Pop, kissing and hugging him goodbye one last time, and he bade them farewell in turn. Terry hugged Pop-Pop goodbye himself, then it was the parents' turn.

Mrs. Loud hugged and kissed her father. "Goodbye, Dad…" she whispered.

Pop-Pop hugged her back. "Goodbye, honeybee…"

Mr. Loud hugged Pop-Pop. "Goodbye, Al…"

"Goodbye, Lynn. Take care of Rita for me, huh…?"

Mr. Loud chuckled, as those were the same words Pop-Pop had said to him when he asked for his blessing to marry Mrs. Loud. "I will."

The family stood there, hesitating, for another minute more. Then, Mrs. Loud sighed. "Well… all right, everyone… time to go."

The Louds turned to leave, waving and bidding Pop-Pop goodbye yet again.

"Goodbye, everyone," Pop-Pop said. "And hey…"

Everyone stopped.

"…Merry Christmas."

As the words sank in, smiles spread across everyone's faces. "…Merry Christmas, Pop-Pop," they all said together.

Luan opened the door. Everyone said goodbye one last time… then left.

Pop-Pop lay quietly in bed, all alone. He stared at the ceiling, smiling. Finally, at long last, after years of regret and worry that he would not live to see his daughter and granddaughters again…

Finally, he was at peace with himself.

Pop-Pop closed his eyes, breathing slowly.

Lori… Lucy… Lisa… maybe Lola… he thought. Girls… don't worry… I'll be with you soon…