Riley couldn't understand what was going on but decided to try to figure it out later. " Mom…. Is that really you…"
" In a manner of speaking… I am here.. Riley I came to see you because you need alittle guidance.. especially about your father's condition and where it is."
" He's gotta hang in there Mom…. I need him to be there to see my junior high graduation.."
" Riley baby medicine can only help someone so far. No matter how much it will hurt me to come for him soon, please don't throw away your future. I know that you want him to be there but he doesn't have the strength to get through the rest of the week this time..." Lesley stood by Riley
" Why do I have to let him go.? Why is joining you more important than to see me at graduation."
" Riley honey look at your dad," Lesley waited for a moment. " I don't want to take him from you this way… it breaks my heart to take him this soon. But like your sister had to come for me when
my body had shut down and I wasn't well enough to make it… I have to do the same for your Dad because he just isn't strong enough to make it through the night... Riley I know that you want him to keep fighting… If it were me who was by his side i'd want him to fight too but baby he just isn't strong enough."
" How am I supposed to just let it go…. Sure my sisters are here to support me and they're always gonna be there when I need or want to talk, but Dad is the closest that I have to you… to remember you…. I don't wanna let Dad go… especially because it would be the same way that I had to let you go."
" I know that you don't want to let him go sweetheart and I know how much you love him… I wish I didn't have to come for him now but you have to believe that when I do come for him, he'll be alright and he won't suffer and he'll be in a better place where he won't have any pain to carry." Lesley stood back and faded out, and Riley didn't know what to make of it but he knew that his mother was right, that like it or not he was gonna have to let Rick go.
" I'm alright Riley… tired… but I'm okay. Don't you be sad you hear me. You've grown up to be a good young man and I want you to do whatever you think you want to do…."
" Try to rest Dad.. I love you." Riley gave Rick a kiss and a small hug before leaving.
~~~
After a few friends came by, Genesis and Jesslyn stayed up by Rick's side refusing to leave even though they knew Rick was waiting until everyone was gonna get some sleep to let go but he wasn't about to leave yet when there was something he had to say to Genesis and Jesslyn before Lesley was there to wait for him.
" Girls I don't want you to feel like you could've done anything… Don't make the same mistakes that I made by blaming myself when we lost your mother… Jesslyn you have one foot in the door and you're gonna be a mother soon and you found a good man that has made sure you're treated the way you deserve…. Genesis you've accomplished so much as your sister did since your mother passed. I am proud of both of you girls… the only thing that I will count on from you is that you look after your brother even as he's all grown up… both of you are all he's gonna have left..."
" Daddy, don't you worry about that now… whatever we have to do we will get through it… and when my little one is old enough to understand he/she they'll know all about you and Momma and everything we did together up until everything happened with mom and what she had to go through when she passed…. I just wish that you and Momma were gonna be here for when this baby is born."
" Same goes for when I have kids… Dad, we all love you very much and we're gonna miss you more than we probably can admit… just promise us that you and Mom will be there when it's our turn…"
Later on in the evening Rick made sure to set aside something for Riley and something for the girls before he was ready to pass but he wasn't quite there yet because everyone was still awake but later in the night was a different story as Jesslyn had gone to bed and Riley and Genesis were asleep on the pull out couch. Something in Rick wanted to keep him going until he finally saw Lesley in the distance before she was at his side.
" You can let go Rick… there's nothing that has to hold you back anymore." Lesley reached out her hand with a smile
" We're together now… and nothing could take that away from us." Lesley kissed Rick and Rick didn't let go of Lesley.
" I have waited for so long to be with you again… I don't ever want to let you go darling…." Rick spoke up and kissed Lesley again
" Well this time there won't be any reason that you would have to let me go, we're both together and that's all that matters now."
" I wish I didn't have to leave them." Rick admitted. " I thought that same way about you… Rick, we're gonna always be with them…. Just like I was always with you and Laura was with us." Lesley kissed Rick again as he held her close
Rick and Lesley both watched over their kids for alittle while before they both in their own way gave them a kiss before they moved on. Waking up, Genesis knew right then that Rick had passed in his sleep and he was with Lesley again of course even by knowing that her parents were together again it didn't make it any easier for when she would have to tell Jesslyn and Riley once they were to get up.
" We love you Daddy…" Genesis cried
" Gennie, I'm sorry… is there anything that I can do?."
" No Jaxie thanks for asking…. Um, just the arrangements for his funeral service is all I need to do… everything else he already had done..."
" I'll get that taken care of… you just need to take an easy."
Jesslyn and Riley woke up after a couple hours and was about to stop to say good morning to Rick before heading out like usual but something in Jesslyn told her that something was wrong and the feeling that Rick was gone didn't ease Jesslyn's mind any less..
" Riley could you give me a minute…." Jesslyn asked
" Well I have to head to graduation rehearsal soon." Riley replied
" I know but it won't take me long I promise." Jesslyn said when she walked in hoping to see that everything was okay..
Jesslyn walked in and shut the door to see that Rick had passed and Genesis was by his side holding onto his hand.
" He's gone… He went peacefully.." Genesis sniffled and reached out and gave Jesslyn a hug. " Him and Momma are together." Jesslyn responded
" Where's Riley? He should come in to see Dad before I call for an ambulance to come for him." Genesis asked
" I asked him to wait a moment because I had a feeling something was wrong. I'll get him."
Jesslyn pulled away to go get Riley, and hoped she wasn't showing too much before she went to let Riley in
" Riley um…." Jesslyn started and Riley knew right when he looked up towards her. " No…. He hasn't left us… he wouldn't leave us without at least saying good..." Riley sat back into the corner.
" Genesis thinks that Daddy waited for when we went to bed before he stopped breathing..."
" What are we supposed to do without him..." Riley tried not to cry when Jesslyn hugged him.
" Hey…. Daddy wouldn't want us to be like this… he'd want us to celebrate his life and to hold on to the memories of what we all always did. Why don't you go spend a few minutes with Daddy."
Riley stepped inside to spend a few minutes with Rick as the girls stepped out to give him some time alone but couldn't keep it together and they finally broke down together out in the living room.
" I never grew out of calling him Daddy… Gene what are we supposed to do… He was all we had.."
" I know… but you know something… We have each other…. And I promised I would be there when you need me most.. so I took a sabbatical and I plan to spend time with you and Riley too."
" You don't have to do that Gene… I mean I love you for it but I don't want you to feel like you have set your career aside for me… I have Mike to take care of me and the baby.. but when it comes time that this baby comes.. I would like for you to be there with me even with Mike there because I don't want to be without you when we've always done almost everything together..." Jesslyn responded
" You don't even have to ask Jess… I'm gonna be there all the way with you… because you're not just my sister… you're my siamese twin." Genesis hugged Jesslyn.
Going into the following weekend instead of attending his own graduation, Genesis arranged for Rick's service and later her, Jesslyn and Riley decided to bury him next to Laura and they buried Lesley with him so that they'd be together.
" We love you Daddy…. And we miss you so much… take care of Momma for us."
Feeling that Rick and Lesley were there Jesslyn, Genesis and Riley had their own ways of saying goodbye, and later went home to relax or at least that was the plan before Jesslyn started to have intense cramps and slightly started bleeding. Seeing that Jesslyn was only 30 weeks into her pregnancy, Genesis knew that she had to rush Jesslyn to the hospital right away.
" Jesslyn, we're gonna figure it all out. What I don't want you to do is worry."
" Genesis I cannot lose this baby… it's too soon. We have to stop the labor." Jesslyn gripped onto the side in the car
" Jesslyn you are not gonna lose that baby I won't let that happen…. Just try to breathe."
Genesis rushed Jesslyn to General Hospital to do everything she could to stop Jesslyn's labor.
" Nurse Adams page Dr Meadows stat. And before you ask, no I'm not back on duty or anything…" Genesis requested when Monica had stopped in for an appointment she had with Dr Callium.
" Genesis what are you doing here? I thought you guys were gonna go on home after the service.?"
" That was the plan but Jesslyn started having signs of preterm labor and she started bleeding on the way home so I had to rush her here… Monica my sister can't lose this baby, not when we just lost and buried our parents together."
" Don't you for a minute lose your faith… Now I know that for you that's hard because you first lost Lesley then Jessie and then Gail and now you're father… but I can't allow myself to believe that Jesslyn would have to lose her first without reason."
" I should've had him cremated and waited until a later time… you would think as a doctor myself, I would've known better that the stress and all that came with this situation was too much for Jesslyn to take."
" Don't be so hard on yourself…. She could've started having signs of preterm labor at any time and anywhere… it happened to me and I was home and off my feet like I was ordered to… and I got lucky that night. Because of someone who granted I once hated and I was jealous of, she saved me and my Son's life that night and I have always felt that I owed it to your mother because if it wasn't for her and her skills as a doctor at that time, my son and I wouldn't have survived."
Going to change the subject Genesis tried to think of anything else. " Monica, how are you doing given your situation…"
" I've been a fighter with things my whole life… I'll get through it. I'm actually gonna be heading soon for a progress report to see where I stand with treatment and all of that."
Unable to stop Jesslyn's labor she was rushed to the O.R when her vital signs dropped slightly but moreso as the baby would've been in danger as signs of placental abruption had started to show when Jesslyn started hemorrhaging.
" Monica, I have to be with her. She can't be left alone. I promised I would be there."
" Genesis, get a grip on yourself right now….. there is nothing that you will be able to do right now… you have to trust that Jesslyn and her child will be okay.. I know Dr Meadows and DeNiro, they will see your sister through this and that baby will live."
" Monica I promised her…. I have to get in there." Genesis insisted
" Genesis get a grip here…. We all have made promises throughout our lives to someone. I know I have…. We can't always keep them no matter how hard we try. Your sister couldn't be in better hands and she and the baby will be alright." Monica stated adamantly.
~~~
" clamp….. suction.." Dr. DeNiro called out
" Anyone notify the NICU… for a 10wk early premiee?" Dr Meadows asked
" For what point?... That baby isn't gonna make it beyond becoming dependant on a respirator" Nurse Adams commented
" Jane I'm gonna have to ask you to scrub out and leave my O.R and wait in my office. Now!" Dr. DeNiro demanded
Dr Meadows and DeNiro finished and managed to correct the bleeding though not without removing Jesslyn's spleen and one of her ovaries before she was to move Jesslyn to the ICU before talking to Genesis but first Dr. DeNiro went to discipline the one nurse who made an inappropriate comment concerning the patient which ethically couldn't go ignored
" I don't know why you think I needed to wait here.. I didn't do anything wrong!" the nurse argued while trying to justify her behavior
" How can you be a Nurse Jane and look me in the eye when saying that. You were out of line." DeNiro barked
" Why because I said the truth? This woman is lucky she's even alive."
" I am filing a report to the chief of staff and I am gonna be recommending that you be stripped of your nurse's lisence."
~~~
Sitting in the ICU, Genesis refused to leave Jesslyn's side while she was recovering from surgery but she did step out for a brief period to check on the baby's status in the NICU.
" Your niece is gonna have a battle ahead of her… she's gonna be on oxygen for a while but I am hopeful that I had gotten to her in time as there were a few complications from delivery."
" I pray to god that you were able to… Melissa I don't know how I would handle it if I were to have to tell Jess that she would have to lose her child too…."
" We got to her just in time when Jesslyn's pressure started to drop.. But only time will tell if she'll recover. I will keep you updated as much as I can."
" And Jesslyn? Everything is okay with her?"
" She lost alot of blood…. I had to remove her spleen and one of her ovaries after delivery.. Other than that complication, I don't think there's any reason why she won't make a full recovery."
Genesis sat at Jesslyn's side hoping she'd soon wake up as she wasn't about to leave her alone unless there was a real reason to. Genesis was just about to doze off when Jesslyn woke up.
" Hey…. Everything is okay Jess. I'm right here and I will be right by your side as I've always promised."
" Something happened…. Gene, what happened, why are we in the hospital…. Is my baby okay.. you're not answering me Genesis what happened."
" Jesslyn I need you to calm down, everything is okay and your daughter is perfect… you had to be rushed into surgery but you and my niece are gonna fine…" Genesis replied hoping to ease Jesslyn's fears.
" I have a daughter… it was a girl…. I have to see her.." Jesslyn started to get up but Genesis blocked and stopped her from getting up
" Jess, you had a complication and Dr. Meadows and DeNiro had to operate further and they had to remove your spleen and one of your ovaries… I almost lost you too.. but you're gonna be okay and Monday I'm taking you home"
" You mean Mike's gonna be taking us home…" Jesslyn pulled slightly away
" Jess, there were a few complications with delivery… you had a placental abruption. But so far you and the baby are okay… it's just gonna take some time"
" Genesis I can't lose the baby she's got to live…" Jesslyn pleaded
6 weeks after Jesslyn brought home the baby, she made sure that Genesis didn't know about the surprise she had as a way to show just how much she was grateful as well as how much the family meant to her.
" Mike, did you check on LesleyLyn?"
" Yes dear she's fast asleep in the nursery… you better take it easy and relax. We have plenty of time to get things set for the weekend…"
" No Mike we don't…. Tomorrow marks 11 years and 4 months that our Mother passed away. It's important to us that we do what we always did with our father only this time it's to remember them both."
" Look Jesslyn I understand that it's everything to you… but I don't want you to end up back in the hospital because you push yourself too hard." Mike pleaded with Jesslyn to relax but Jesslyn started to get upset.
" No Mike you don't understand… 14 years ago my mom was happy, she was in good health, we were all happy until a year later. Our mother was in and out of the hospital more times than I would like to count. Until after the 2nd week of March. Everything we loved to do or go changed. You don't know the hell that it was to see or sit there where we couldn't do anything to help my mom. I couldn't even be there when she died. So don't give me the I understand routine please."
Jesslyn walked away and went upstairs when the baby started crying but Jesslyn didn't seem to be happy herself course nobody would blame or discount why when she just lost her father on top of Gail and Jessie and of course Lesley..
Alittle while later, Genesis saw that Jesslyn was asleep and made sure she was comfortable with the same throw blanket that she kept that had been Lesley's and later went to bed herself.
Not wanting to leave, Rick stayed back watching over the kids as they had to try to get through the next couple days since he passed away just a month earlier but felt he wasn't ready to cross over as Lesley was waiting for him along with Jessie, Gail, Laura, Steve, and his own parents
" We can be together Rick… nothing will ever change that now… Come with me." Lesley reached out a hand to him.
" Lesley I waited for so long to hold you again…." Rick felt like he was repeating himself like he always used to but kissed Lesley anyway and later looked back as he continued to watch the kids
" They'll be okay Rick…. It's time that we rest at peace and we reunite with those we love who are waiting for us." Lesley said hoping Rick would go with her.
Something in Rick told him to go but the other side of him was telling him that there was something holding him back where he wasn't quite ready to go yet and hoping Lesley would understand he turned to her " Lesley I just can't yet…. I don't know how to explain it but I feel like there is something that's holding me back and I don't know what it is."
" I do know what that feels like Rick your guilt and thoughts of being at fault is what kept me like this… well that and I needed you to admit that I did what I never wanted to do which was hurt you again and I did… but we got passed that because you forgave me and you had let your guilt go… I know you don't wanna let go, but you have to and let yourself rest.."
Rick finally agreed to let go and rest where he crossed over and was finally at peace where he and Lesley were finally really together after 11 years that he had without her from the moment she passed away just 11 years earlier.
Seeing that the party was starting to break apart and friends started to head out and home, Jesslyn went upstairs to check on the baby as Mike, Genesis, and Riley started cleaning things up but Riley slipped outside to take some time to think for himself as he had to think about going to pick up his diploma from his school after he had to miss graduation after Rick finally passed just 1 week earlier in the middle of the night.
" I miss you Dad… I miss you both… and I wish that you had stayed to be with me for graduation…. Now I don't know where and what I will plan to do for my life."
" You will know one day son… and when that day comes up, your mother and I will be right by your side cheering you on." Rick stood by Riley for alittle while before Lesley reached for his hand. " We love you Riley and We are always gonna be proud of the young man that you have become."
Rick and Lesley finally crossed over and we're at real peace as Riley, Jesslyn and Genesis came together to eventually see where their lives were gonna go. Especially as now Jesslyn had a daughter of her own.