I hope no one is confused with this story. I found the part of the story I thought WordPerfect messed up. So, chapter 23, Dry Your Eyes Mate, has it's original ending. Yay! Sorry, I haven't updated. Forgive me. I have no idea where this story is going. I'm bored with it. :( Well, on with the story

Lilly, My One and Only

September 27, 2007

10pm

It had been one month since Lilly Em Hogart was born. Three weeks since she had surgery to remove her tumor. Two weeks since Emma finally held her daughter. One week since Lilly was able to go home. Now, here they were again, back at the hospital. Emma and Jay sat alone in the waiting room. Manny and Ellie were at the Hogart house watching Elizabeth and Alex. Sean and Craig were at the shop. They felt like they were sitting there for days.

Emma had memorized the waiting of the ICU. She knew exactly how many chairs, and how many were against each wall. She could probably even tell you how many tiles covered the floor. She knew every name of the magazines there were piled on the corner table. Jay, however, didn't notice hardly anything. He didn't know what he would do if he lost his daughter.

Jay looked at Emma, who was staring at the floor. Jay wanted, no needed to know what she was thinking, "Em, what...What do you think will happen? Do you think she'll be OK?"

Emma could hardly hear him. She was busy counting the tiles on the floor for the 20th time since they had arrived at 4 p.m. She lost her count, and looked towards her husband. She looked at him a few minutes, taking in his appearance. She hadn't really looked at him in months. Everything had changed since he got shot. Things became about Alex, and then baby Alex. Now, everything was about Lilly and occasionally baby Alex. 'He's starting to get wrinkles around his eyes. Probably from worrying so much. Hmm...worry lines. Why am I thinking about his wrinkles? My daughter, is...she's dying.' Emma shook her thoughts from her head and then looked back at Jay, "I'm sorry, what?"

"Do you think Lilly will be OK?"

"I think so. I mean, I hope. She has to be."

"Yeah. I just, have this feeling. Like everything isn't going to be OK."

Emma put her arm around Jay's neck and pulled him closer. She kissed the top of his forehead. She was about to pull away when a doctor walked out. Jay jumped up.

"Mr. and Mrs. Hogart?"

They both nodded.

"I'm Dr. Holbrook. I was the surgeon who performed the operation on your daughter."

Jay stepped closed, "Is she alright?"

Emma looked from Jay to Dr. Holbrook. Why did it seem like everything was moving so slow?

"You both may want to sit down." Dr. Holbrook made a gesture with his hand for them to sit back in their seats, "I'm afraid Lilly...didn't make it. There appeared to be a tumor growing on the back of her right lung. It must have grown after the first surgery. Even if we had noticed, there would have been nothing we could have done. I am very sorry."

Tears instant filled Jay's eyes. Emma just sat there, not moving. They didn't notice that Dr. Holbrook had that and that a man from the morgue had appeared in front of them.

"Excuse. Mr. Hogart?"

Jay's head snapped up. He though to himself, 'Was there a mistake? Was Lilly alive?'

"One of you must follow me to the..uh...the morgue and identify the body. For legal purposes."

Jay couldn't move. Emma looked at Jay, "I'll go. Do you want to meet me at the car?"

"Yeah. I guess."

They both got up. Emma followed the man, and Jay walked towards the parking lot.

XXXX

"Right this way, Mrs. Hogart."

Emma followed. Her feet were moving on their own. She was still in shock.

'This will make it real. Seeing your baby lying there. Helpless. Cold. Breathless.' Emma brushed a tear from her eye. Her thought were too cruel.

The man pushed open a door, and was walking towards a table that was covered with a large white blanket. There looked as if nothing was underneath it.

"I'm sorry you have to do this. I can't even fathom what you are going through right now."

Emma merely smiled at him.

He pulled back the sheet. There she was. Laying there. Her head covered in her light blond hair. She looked like she was sleeping.

Emma sniffled. "It's her. I don't see why they would have to have someone check. They should know."

"I know. It's legal purposes though. In case there's a screw up."

XXXX

11pm

Emma walked to the car. She saw Jay was on the passenger side. So, she walked to the driver's side and got in.

Jay looked at her, "So, it was her? It wasn't a mistake?"

Emma just stared at the wall in front of her,"She looked so peaceful. As if she was sleeping. I thought for sure that her big hazel eyes would open up and she would look at me and smile."

They sat there, in silence. For about 20 minutes. The silence was broken by Emma's cell phone.

Emma looked at it, "It's Manny...Didn't you call?"

"No. I didn't even think. I'm sorry."

"It's OK." Emma hit the talk button and put the phone to her ear, "Hello? – She...Manny, she didn't make it – I know – We'll be home soon. Bye." Then Emma started the car and left the parking lot.

XXXX

Hogart House

Manny and Ellie had just put Alex and Elizabeth down for bed. Alex was sleeping in his room and Elizabeth was sleeping on her Dora the Explorer pull out couch (My daughter has this, it's like little kid furniture. She loves it and it is pretty comfortable.) in the living room.

"El, we should call Emma's phone. It's been 7 hours."

"You're right. Call. Find out what's going on."

Manny reached for the phone. While she was dialing, Sean and Craig walked in.

"Shh...Manny's calling Emma and Elizabeth is sleeping right there" Ellie pointed to the spot where Elizabeth had placed her couch.

"Hey, Emma. It's Manny. How's Lilly – Oh my god! I'm sorry! – When will you be home? – OK. Bye."

Manny turned to face Sean, Ellie and Craig, "She...She died."

XXXX

3 days later

Emma and Jay were standing out front of the church. It was day two of the wake. (Every wake I've been to, has 2 days to view the deceased. The first, starts at night, the second is early in the morning, and then everyone drives to the the church. After the church is the burial at the cemetery. I don't know any other way.) They were excepting people's condolences. Jay had Alex in his arms. Emma just stood. Whispering thank you at everyone who stopped in front of them.

There was quite a lot of people there for a person who was only alive one month. Emma's mother, father and brother were staying with them for a few weeks, in the basement/guest room. Jay's mother even showed up.

Manny, Ellie, Sean and Craig just stood by as they watched their two friends stood there. Motionless, except for of course Emma's lips moving repeating the words 'thank you'.

The time came for everyone to take the small ride to the cemetery. Once everyone was sitting the chairs there surrounded the freshly dug hole. Lilly's casket was placed on top of the hole. The green rug over the hole and the metal bars holding it up and that would eventually lower the casket in to it's grave.

The priest spoke. Emma and Jay sat there staring at the tiny casket. Jay would not let go of Alex. Once the priest was done, Ellie and Manny walked up to the casket as it was being lowered and threw lilies on top of the casket. Emma's mom, Spike, Emma's father, (well it's her step-father) Snake, and brother, Jack walked up next and did they same thing. Sean and Craig followed after them. Surprisingly, Jay's mother clutched a few lilies and did as the 7 people ahead of her did.

Finally, Jay and Emma got up. Manny had taken Alex from Jay. Jay had his arm around Emma. They looked down at the casket and threw 2 dozen lilies on to the casket. Then, they just walked away.

I'm thinking of ending it here. If anything else comes to me I'll post more.