Losing Big Bob was a devastating blow for Tina and Gene, but they also knew it was his time. Tina finally broke down after losing her grandfather. After so many years of being strong. She simply could not anymore. She started binge drinking and stopped going to classes. She passed sophomore year by the skin of her teeth and only because her professors knew what she had endured midway through the year. Junior year however they were far less forgiving. She ended up dropping after the first semester. She moved back to Seymour's Bay and back in with Teddy and Kathleen. Her drinking got even worse once she realized she had destroyed her dream. Teddy and Kathleen were supportive at first, but quickly saw that she was out of control. When she was fall down drunk, when she was supposed to be picking Hope up from school. That was the last straw. Thankfully one of Gene's coworkers at the sandwich shop had called in sick and they ended up getting sent home for a few hours. So, they could cover the sick person's closing shift. Gene was home and saw Tina's condition. They refused to let her drive and ended up getting Hope themselves. Tina sobered up a little by that evening and begged Gene not to tell Teddy and Kathleen. They refused. Teddy and Kathleen kicked Tina out after that. She moved in with Zeke who tried for over a year to get her to get help. Zeke's dad and Sheryl both struggled with alcoholism and told their son. The best thing he could do to Tina was stop supporting her. Sometimes people had to hit rock bottom. He finally broke up with her and kicked her out. Though it pained him to do so. Especially when he learned she was semi homeless staying with random friends. Finally, she ended up dating Logan Bush. He acted all sweet at first. Talking about how he missed Louise and felt terrible for how he treated her when they were kids. Unlike Zeke and her family, he wasn't put off by her drinking. He actually encouraged it. Saying she needed to grieve somehow. Things went to hell pretty quickly, however. Logan started beating her and forcing himself on her. She had wanted to wait until things were serious. Logan claimed she was living with him for free. Things were plenty serious. One day he took things too far. She passed out at his mom's retirement party. Cynthia told him to get her out of here and his dad told him to take her home and let her sleep it off. He dumped her in the alley partially naked and went off to meet one of the girls he was dating on the side. By a pure miracle Damon happened to be working in the café behind Cynthia's office. He was taking out the trash and discovered Tina on the ground. He moved her out of site and ran for help. one of his coworkers was around her size and had extra clothes in their locker. Another was a medical student who realized she was suffering from alcohol poisoning. The manager on duty immediately called 911. While Damon called Gene. Gene was working but ran out without even thinking. Their co-workers heard part of the conversation and realized it was an emergency and covered for them. They sped to the hospital and demanded they see their sister. Tina remained in a coma for three days. Gene, Damon, and Zeke never left her side. Zeke was still listed as her emergency contact and as furious as he was. He still rushed to her side. Teddy and Kathleen were there every day but between work and Hope. They could not be over as much as the others. It was Gene who was with her when she woke up.
"Gene? What happened?" Tina asked weakly.
"You passed out at Cynthia Bush's retirement party. You had alcohol poisoning and nearly died. That prick left you in the alley." Gene explained.
"Oh God, it finally caught up with me. God, Gene I am so sorry." Tina apologized.
"No Tina, I am sorry. I saw how hard losing Pop-Pop hit you. I know you were always the strong one after losing Louise and mom and dad. I should have spoken up sooner. I should have made you take more time off school. I should have been the strong one for a while. Well, I am going to now. We are going to get you help. I am not leaving your side this time." Gene assured.
True to their word Gene stayed by Tina's side through everything. They got her going to AA and back in therapy. They drove her to every meeting and session. If they couldn't make it. They got Zeke or Damon to take her. It took six months for her to fully gain control. She back slid a few times but seven months to the day from her hospitalization. She finally earned her thirty-day chip. After three months she went back to school. She lost had lost her scholarships but thankfully there was some money from Big Bob. He had left in a trust that Teddy and Kathleen had kept until Tina proved she was clean. Zeke helped her out as well and she did save with in state tuition. The loans she took out were minimal and just so she could complete her last year and a half quickly. She went completed her junior year in the summer and graduated the following spring.
After graduating from college. She began to work on a memoir about the accident and her experiences after. Both her therapist and her lit professor felt it would aid in her healing. Much to her surprise it became a best seller. She rejoined working with MADD and now shared about her own experience with addiction and depression. She used the money she earned from her book. To pay off her loans and to turn Damon's family farm into a HIPPO therapy center. One that not only aided children and adults with disabilities but also those with mental health issues and addiction.
She was twenty-nine years old when she married Zeke. It was a small wedding. Just their families and a few close friends. The wedding wasn't even the part she focused on. For their honeymoon. They went to Japan. They would scatter Louise's ashes from Mount Fuji. She had always wanted to go to Japan, and she had always wanted to throw something off of Mount Fuji. At least in a way she would be achieving her dreams.
"Thanks for letting Gene and Damon join us." Tina whispered as they surveyed the countryside.
"No problem. They needed to be a part of this. Plus, since they got engaged, they have been so busy. They aren't a bother." Zeke assured.
"Oh Boo" Gene teased.
"Yeah, you are just jealous because we are the hot new engaged couple, and you are just boring married couple." Damon laughed.
"Still newlyweds. We won't be boring for another five years at least." Zeke retorted.
"Guys I love banter, but this is about Louise." Tina reminded.
"Oh right, sorry." Gene apologized
"Yeah sorry" Damon agreed.
"My bad" Zeke sighed.
"Should somebody say something?" Zeke asked.
"Yeah, uh well Louise. You finally made it to Japan. Sorry you aren't actually here to see it and even in death it was fourteen years too late. God, you, mom, dad, Pop-Pop. Mort died last year. Heart attack. Grandma died ten years ago and grandpa just over a year after you. I just found out last year. God. I miss you so much. Losing you destroyed our family. I still have Gene and Zeke. But. I miss you, Louise!" Tina sobbed.
"I know I miss her too. I hate that I can't say anything right now. I am so sorry Tina." Zeke cried.
"Yeah, she was the best little sister. It's just not fair. She didn't deserve this. She really didn't" Gene sniffed.
"I never knew her, but I am sure she was amazing." Damon whispered.
Little did Tina know she was already four weeks pregnant when she married Zeke. She learned that when they returned from Japan. She started feeling poorly near the end of the trip and after a week. Zeke insisted that she see a doctor. Who confirmed that she was one month pregnant. The pregnancy itself was relatively easy but there were complications from the delivery. Tina was told it would be best that she only gets pregnant one more time and even that would be risky. For seven years little Robert Theodore was the only child of Tina and Zeke. When Robby was seven. They decided to adopt. Adoption was easier for them than some. Because they agreed to adopt older children. Robby had just turned eight. When they were matched with a sibling set. Four boys ranging from twelve years to thirteen months; James Michael 12, Thomas Monroe 9, Keegan Mathias 4, and Brendan Miller 13mos. As much as they adored their boys. They knew something was missing. They knew they wanted another baby. Another baby that was half Tina and half Zeke. It took another eighteen months and two rounds of a procedure called IUI, but they eventually got pregnant again. This pregnancy was much harder on Tina. Zeke went out a got a vasectomy almost immediately after being told a third pregnancy would prove fatal. It was a long eight months of bed rest ending with Tina being hospitalized at twenty-nine weeks. Thankfully the baby was able to cook long enough. Tina ended up having an emergency C-Section at thirty-six weeks. They were hoping to give her another week, but the baby was found to be in distress during a routine test. Baby girl was healthy but still taken straight to the NICU. Tina was losing a lot of blood and the doctors ended up opting to give her a hysterectomy. Zeke was a little sad his wife had to miss most of their last baby's first day, but ultimately relieved both were healthy. Selfishly he also enjoyed the extra time he got with just him and his baby girl. Hope was away at college, and Teddy and Kathleen were visiting her that weekend. While Damon and Gene were on some mysterious trip. It was just Zeke and his baby for nearly twelve hours.
"Zeke?" Tina called.
"T-Bird you're awake!" Zeke cried.
"The baby? Where's the baby?" Tina demanded.
"She's in the NICU. She needs a little help breathing and she has some trouble feeding, but nothing too serious. We should be out by the end of the week." Zeke assured.
"She?" Tina gasped.
"It's a girl and she is perfect. Just like you." Zeke explained.
"Can we name her Louise?" Tina asked.
"I already told the nurse that was the lead contender." Zeke replied.
"Louise Linda" Tina whispered.
True to their word. Gene did become the strong one when Tina was at her weakest. They stopped living in the past and finally joined the local drag circuit. After dreaming of it since they first met Marshmallow in the sixth grade. They started writing music again. Some serious songs but mostly funny. They ended up auditioning for a national drag talent competition. Which they would win with their song about Louise. They started seeing Damon again almost immediately after he saved Tina. They took it slow but ended up accidentally getting engaged at Tina and Zeke's wedding. Not at the actual wedding of course, but in the hotel the night before the ceremony. The couple was living in California. Where Gene had a record deal and was on a reality show called "Drag Me to Hell" featuring drag performers. Damon had just meant to ask for Teddy and Hope's blessing. Before proposing to Gene at the next holiday. Somehow Gene's favorite dinner top ended up in Damon's bag. Gene found the ring while searching for the shirt. After Damon mistakenly told them just to look for it. Forgetting about the ring. Until Gene flew into the room. Crying that they absolutely would marry him. They would marry the following year on Linda's birthday. It always had been Gene's favorite day of the year and he wanted to make it special again after losing Linda so young. They didn't have a big honeymoon. They just went home to Seymour's Bay and spent time with their families. They longed for a family of their own but after numerous failed attempts at IVF. The last round ending with the surrogate suffering a heartbreaking miscarriage at twenty weeks. They decided it was best if it were just them. Until they saw a news report about a transgender girl being kicked out of her foster home and separated from her sister. All because of her identity. The story was so close to Gene's own. With the girls' younger sister and parents dying in an accident. At least Teddy and Kathleen were always accepting of Gene. They knew what they needed to do. They went through the process of becoming foster parents and soon welcomed the sisters Claire and Dana into their home. They fostered dozens of LGBTQIA+ youth over the coming years. Adopting two more Josie and Parker. Still, something was missing. They had two more embryos left. Unbeknownst to them. They transferred what would be their own twins. On the day Tina gave birth to Louise Linda. This time the pregnancy stuck. They had a scare at twenty-two weeks. That nearly broke them but ultimately the babies were OK and would be born at exactly forty weeks. A boy and a girl Delilah Louise Linda and Ezekiel Theodore Robert.
"They are perfect" Gene whispered holding their newborns in their arms.
"They sure are." Damon agreed.
"So many cousins and siblings. It is amazing." Zeke commented.
"It is but there will always be more missing." Tina said wondering if Louise would have ever married or had children. Regardless she was always missing.
"I know but these babies. They make me feel almost like when I did when Louise was alive." Gene observed.
"Me too. I finally feel almost whole again." Tina agreed.