"Baby, how's he doing?" Corny ask comming back from dropping Inez and Alex off at Jamal's.

"After a week you figure that they would find something." Maybelle said getting up to give her husband a hug. She wrapped her arms around his neck tightly, inhaling his scent. He held her as close as he could, being as gentle as possible.

"How's Momma Ellie?" Corny ask pulling back a bit.

"She was thinking about something and had a breakdown. She eventually cried herself to sleep in the family room. I should go check on her. Will you stay here with Daddy?" Maybelle said coming out of his arms.

"Yeah babe. Go. You need a break." Corny said walking towards Lawrence's bed. Maybelle nodded and walked out of the room, carfully shutting the door behind her.

A few moments later Lawrence's eyes weakly flitted open, seeing Corny and searching the room for his daughter.

"She's with Momma Ellie. She needed a break." Corny explained to Lawrence without Lawrence saying a word.

"Son, thank you." Lawrence said, weakly pleacing a hand on Corny's knee.

"For what sir?" Corny ask.

"Oh please call me Dad or Pop. You're family. And because you take care of my baby girl. You love and care for her so deeply and I appreciate that. She needed somebody like you. She loves you more than you could ever imagine. I remember after you all went on your first date, she came home and before Ellie and I left and said 'Daddy I love him' and I told her 'Baby girl it was only the first date" and she looked at me with stars in her eyes that i had never seen before and said 'I love him Daddy'" Lawrence said sitting up in the bed.

"I loved her too. I still do. She means the world to me." Corny said his mind wandering to his wife.

"She'll need you when Ellie and I are gone. I have no doubts that you will take care of my baby girl." Lawrence said looking Corny directly in his eyes.

"Baby," Maybelle said opening the door and walking in, "Daddy! You're awake." She rushed to her father's side, Corny naturally moved out of her way.

"Baby girl, I was just telling Corny how much we were lucky to have him in our lifes." Lawrence said his breathing patterns becoming more irregular as he talked.

"Daddy?"

"I'm fine baby girl. I love you. You are so great. I couldn't have ask for a better one." Lawrence said his breath becoming very shallow.

"Daddy! I love you too. Please don't leave me." Maybelle said her eyes swelling with tears at the realization of what was going on.

"Tell your mother I love her. I love all of you." Lawrence slipped out, his lids becoming heavier.

"Daddy! Please. Don't go. Please. I need you." Maybelle said sobbing.

"Take care of her Corny." He managed to get out.

"I promise... Dad." Corny said.

"I love you baby girl." Lawrence said before breathing his last breath and his lids shutting fully.

"DADDY! DADDY NO!" Maybelle screamed her head coming down on her fathers chest.

"Baby he's gone!" Maybelle sobbed lifting her head to Corny. He came and pulled her to him. She burried her face in his abdomen, clutching his shirt as she sobbed.

"Hey how's he doing?" Ellie said entering the room but upon discovering Maybelle and Corny she broke down. She couldn't believe it. The love of her life was gone and she didn't even get a chance to say goodbye.

"He's gone Mommy." Maybelle chocked thoes words out but they quickly got lost in the fabric of Corny's shirt.

"My love." Ellie said rubbing his chest and kissing his forehead.

"He told us to tell you he loved you." Corny said wiping a tear of his.

"I love you too." Ellie wispered.

Maybelle had never felt so hopeless.