The years went by. Hope turned into a beautiful young girl who looked just like her mother but her had father's zest for life. Teddy and Kathleen would eventually have their official wedding when Hope was six months old. Tina received a scholarship for her contribution to SADD. Thanks to Damon she discovered a new passion for Hippotherapy and ended up getting accepted into a prestigious college program in Montana. She had two scholarships and a large chunk of change that Jimmy Pesto was forced to pay after the accident. She was still dating Zeke although at times the distance made it hard. Gene was still back in Seymour's Bay living with Teddy and Kathleen. They were stuck in an everlasting hardship. Their depression stemming from the loss of their sister and parents. Made it hard for them to cope with life. They were just fighting through and praying their grades were good enough to graduate in June. Big Bob now lived with Teddy. He had suffered a stroke on Bob's second birthday after his death. It was a long road, but he did eventually recover and even began working at the diner again. For a couple years things were really good but in recent months his health just hit a massive decline.

Nineteen-year-old Tina tossed and turned in her bed. Trying her best to ignore the couple having loud sex in the next room. Eventually she gave up and popped in the ear plugs Gene had given her.

"We are horse girls! Not regular girls! Not art girls! Not schoolgirls! Not sports girls! Not spice girls! Horse girls!" Tina's phone chanted.

"Tina, I thought we agreed. You can have the world's most annoying song as your ringtone. As long as you answer your phone. And tell lover boy that mountain time is two hours behind." Her roommate Claire cried shaking her awake.

Confused Tina popped out her ear plugs and put on her glasses. Sure, enough her phone was ringing. Zeke had basically taken over Big Bob's diner after graduating from high school. The arrangement was nice knowing at least one restaurant would remain in the family. unfortunately, Zeke often forgot about the time difference when he was doing prep work at six in the morning. Still Zeke had a finally gotten the message and switched to texting in the morning hours. Tina's eyes fell on her screen. Something was very wrong.

"It's not Zeke, it's Gene." Tina gasped.

"Gene it's four in the morning. What is going on?" Tina asked.

"It's Pop Pop." Gene whispered.

Gene paced frantically around the lawn. This couldn't be real. This wasn't happening. Big Bob had been in failing health for years now. Especially in the recent months, but it wasn't like they were expecting him to die immediately or even soon. OK there had been some difficult conversations recently, but Big Bob wasn't supposed to die now. He had promised he would make it at least until Tina and Gene graduated high school. Gene still had a year and four months to go until they graduated. God, Big Bob had just helped out with the bake sale for Hope's preschool. He wasn't supposed to be dying now. It was Gene who had found him. They had agreed to do a closing shift at the LGBTBLT. A small sandwich shop Pete had opened a few years ago. The goal was to reach out to gay and trans youth as well as adults who for whatever reason did not drink. They were open until one on weekends and Gene had covered for Pat. So, they could go see their new partner. It took a while to shut down and then Gene ended up driving down to where Bob's Burgers had once stood. It was now a pack and ship shop. Run by an eccentric woman and her college age son. Of course, they were long since closed but sometimes Gene liked to just look in the window and pretend, they were still a child living and working there. After going by Bob's, they went to where the accident happened. They ended up just sitting there for hours.

It was nearly six in the morning by the time they returned home. They were passing the living room and noticed the light was on in Big Bob's bathroom. Strange because he was rarely up so early anymore, and he always closed the door behind him. Concerned Gene entered the bedroom and discovered the older man curled up in a ball in the doorway. There wasn't a lot of blood but enough, among other things that hurt Gene's heart to see. They didn't know what else to do, they just started screaming. Teddy and Kathleen came running. Teddy called 911 and Kathleen ushered Gene away. Before running upstairs to try and distract Hope. Gene ended up being the one to go outside and wait for the ambulance. Calling Tina while they waited.

"Gene it's four in the morning. What is going on?" Tina asked.

"It's Pop Pop." Gene whispered.

"Is he? I mean did he?" Tina stammered.

"He's alive. At least I think he is. I don't know I am outside waiting for the ambulance. I got home and he was lying outside his bathroom. It's really bad. I'll call you back as soon as I know more but you should plan on getting home." Gene explained.

Tests were still being run, but it was determined that Big Bob had suffered another stroke. He had woken up to use the bathroom and somewhere between his bed and the bathroom door. He suffered a massive stroke. Things were still up in the air, but the doctors were not very optimistic. Tina ended up emailing her professors that she would be out of the classroom for a while but would attempt to do some work online if it were provided. Claire drove her to the airport and waited there until she boarded the flight. She took her miserable aisle seat next to the bathroom. Once passengers were cleared to use devices. She pulled her laptop out of her carryon and began scrolling through the pictures of happier times. This couldn't be real. Of course, she knew it would happen eventually, but she had always hoped he would live to be over a hundred years and see more milestones. Though she knew just how deeply he was mourning for his lost family. As much as she was hurting. She knew just how much this must be killing Gene. She at least would have Zeke, but Gene would have nobody. She knew what she had to do.

Gene kicked the vending machine out of sheer frustration. Pop-Pop was officially dying. The stroke and subsequent oxygen deprivation had destroyed his brain. It was like with Louise. He was alive but only because of machines. They were hoping to keep him alive long enough for Tina to say goodbye, but he was fading fast. Gene knew they needed to go in and see him, but they could not see their Pop-Pop like this. The first stroke was bad, but Gene could still tell Pop-Pop was in there. This time it was so clear he was gone. Hovering somewhere between life and death. Probably wanting to run to Tina, Bobby, Linda, and Louise, along with all the others he had lost. They kicked the machine again. They couldn't have Pop-Pop or even Tina. They at least wanted their Chunky Blastoff.

"Dammit!" Gene cried slapping the machine.

"Woah! You are going to knock that over and kill yourself!" Damon called.

"Damon?" Gene gasped.

"Tina called me, and Gene I am so sorry." Damon explained.

"But we are broken up." Gene commented.

"I know buddy, but I am still your best friend. With Alex and Courtney graduating and moving away last year." Damon commented.

"Don't you hate me. For everything was Marco?" Gene asked reliving their greatest regret. Making out with Marco Davis at theater camp summer after ninth grade.

"It hurt but I think it was good for us. We both needed to live a little. I mean neither of us dated before. You were barely even out of the closet. We were so young and mainly rushed in because of our shared trauma. We just needed to live." Damon explained.

"Still, I am sorry." Damon apologized.

It was raining when the plane touched down. Talk about overdramatic. Tina grabbed her carryon and almost as small, checked luggage. She still had most of her clothes at Teddy and Kathleen's. She just packed her funeral clothes and a few more casual outfits. Pop-Pop was not expected to live more than a day or two and the funeral would be within a week. Unless grief hit her hard. She was going to be back at college by the following weekend

"T-Bird!" Zeke called.

"Oh Zeke" Tina sniffed.

"I know. I am sorry but we have to go. He's fading fast!" Zeke cried.

Gene and Damon spent the next few hours catching up. Damon was a freshman in the community college but would be transferring to a larger university in the fall. Meanwhile Gene had been held back and was still in high school. They had no real prospects. They guessed they would just keep working at the sandwich shop. Driving by Bob's and mourning for what had once been.

"Gene! He's dying! You need to come now!" Tina called.

"I can't." Gene sniffed.

"Yes, you can. I am coming with you." Tina assured.

After much convincing Gene followed Tina into Big Bob's hospital room. The room was completely silent except for the beep and buzz of the machines. Bug Bob was ashen and gray. He was dying. Teddy and Kathleen had said their goodbyes and Kathleen had gone home to Hope. Out of respect Teddy remained in the waiting room. This moment was meant to be just for Tina and Gene.

"Oh Pop-Pop. I can't believe you are dying. I am going to miss you so much. There has been so much loss the past few years. Louise, mom, dad, Zeke's grandma. Now you. I wish you could have lived a little longer. I wish you could have walked me down the aisle and seen everything that Gene will become. I am glad you are going back to everybody. I love you. Goodbye." Tina said.

"Pop-Pop sorry I was such a disappointment. I wish I could have been more. I love you so much. I am so sick of losing people. I wish I had been home. Maybe I could have saved you. I am sorry. I love you. Goodbye." Gene said.

At seven forty-five in the evening Big Bob Belcher died peacefully surrounded by family. He was reunited with his wife after being apart for forty years. He was reunited with his son, daughter in law, and granddaughter after four years. It was hard for him to leave Tina and Gene. He had really wanted to live until Gene graduated but he was so tired and so missing his family. Gene was struggling now but he knew they would be OK. They had survived this far. They knew Tina and Gene would live full and happy lives. Albeit with some heartache. He was able to confront the bastards who killed his family. Even though Jimmy Pesto was in hell. Al was apologetic for everything. Gloria controlled him so. Al had died of a heart attack not long after Linda. Gloria did not care but Big Bob knew she was hurting too. She died fifteen months ago of natural causes. Jimmy Pesto laughed about everything. He had died three years ago from complications associated with his second hernia surgery. Now he was finally free. He walked along the shore with his family.

"I missed you, Bobby." The first Tina said.

"I missed you too." Big Bob replied.

"I missed your dad, thanks for taking care of Tina and Gene." Bobby replied.

"Same here, Big Bob." Linda said.

"Yeah Pop-Pop." Louise agreed.

"I missed all of you every day." Big Bob replied.