them to fish.

The day remained happy and light. Jake and Josh resumed their fighting like they always did, this time over how many ice chips Phil was allowed to have, which made Ria and Phil laugh the whole time.

Phil was so worn out by the time they left he drifted into a happy slumber.

Back at the hotel they all collapsed into bed, tired and happy that Phil had pulled through,

Jake needed to go to Rehab. Ria didnt want him to leave, but it was time. She had known Jake was an addict since she came back. The dark circles gave him away.

The morning Jake left was the hardest of Ria's life. She bawled her eyes out as he packed his things. She didnt want him to leave her...and the baby. Especially not after she had just gotten him back.

The drive the airport was silent, except for Ria's sniffling in the backseat.

Ria held onto jake, almost not letting him go. He kissed her forhead, and then put a hand gently on her stomach.

"I love you. Both of you"

And so Jake boarded the plane back to Washington.

He left Ria standing at the airport.

Alone.

Ria was lying on her stomach on the bed she and jake shared when Josh came in grinning. He was holding a manilla envelope in his hand.

"Whats that?" She said curiously sitting up cross legged

His grin grew bigger and he threw it in her lap. She gingerly picked it up and pulled the contents out her eyes widening.

Baby Pictures.

Tons of them of her Jake and Josh.

halloween, the year Jake was a pumpkin Josh a cowboy and Ria the Devil. She wore a red t-shirt and red tights.

The first day of school, the three of them stood Ria in the middle Jake and Josh on either side of her smiling grimly into the camera. Sveral shots from birthdays, and christmas.

And then they hit highschool. Ria smiled ruefully as she sorted through the pictures with Josh. There she was. Tall and skinny in skin tight black clothes, and heavy makeup her long blonde hair streaked with black.

"I can't believe this."

"Yeah I know." Josh said "I was just as suprised as you are that dad even had these!"

"No I mean how could you guys lets me walk around like this?"

Josh laughed. "It seems like so long ago."

"It was long ago Josh. I mean it's crazy to think about the fact that my parents have been dead for 10 years. Jagger's been gone for almost 2."

Josh shook his head."it seems like yesterday we were in highschool and now you and Jake are having a baby."

Ria smiled fondly and patted her stomach.

She and Jake were having a baby.

The phrase hit her like a ton of bricks everytime she heard it.

"So have you thought of names yet?"

Ria shrugged "Not really. Well worry about that in a few months."

"Ria. I'm really glad your here, and that you worked things out with Jake. He needs you right now more than ever. Jake is following right in the old mans footsteps, and to be honest it scares the shit out of me."

"I know that Josh. Jake's always been that way. That's why you and I are her to keep him gounded."

Josh nodded.

'We love you Ria. More than you really could ever know. Your special, and were lucky to have you here."

"I love you guys too Josh."

she paused

"And I always will

Josh got the call while he and Ria were going to get food that afternoon.

They were sitting in the hospital waiting room, nervously looking for Phil's Doctor.

He finally appeared.

"I'm sorry. We did all we could. it just wasn't enough."

Cold dread seeped through their stomachs, and their minds went numb.

Phil, the toughest, strongest, bravest man Ria ever knew was gone. He would no longer be there to make her laugh, give her an ecnouraging smile, or make her feel better.

She had lost her father.

Again.

In that moment she dint care whether she stayed frozen to the spot, all she knew was her anf Josh gripping eachother tightly, and the hot tears sliding down her face.