It was now Christmas even and Frank was a lot better than a few days before, but now Denise was really ill, she had been in pretty severe pain all day but was doing her best to hide it. she couldn't hide it from Frank though,he knew when she walked into the living room that morning she was hurting.

He kept sneaking and doing the chores she was doing and handing her boosters for her pain medicine.

"You lay down, where's your husband?"

"He left around four this morning," she said rolling her eyes. "I'm fine."

"You're in pain and weaker than a new born colt," Frank replied. "Just sit here and hold onto the baby. Jacob, you go Grandma?"

The baby cooed and kicked his little chubby legs.

"I think that's a yes," Frank laughed and handed her the baby while he went to work on the tree with Jeremy.

A few minutes later Frank could hear Denise talking to someone "You promised me you'd be here"

"I will be there," Rob defended. "I'll just be late but I'll be there before midnight mass."

"Fine," she sighed, she was upset but just brushed it off.

Jacob cooed and baaed and reached for Denise's necklace.

She hung up the phone just as he grabbed her necklace and pulled.

"No, no," she scolded smiling at him. Then Jordana noticed, the necklace had a ring on it. "Oh that's pretty was it your Mom's?"

"No, mine," she said knowing this would not go over well.

"Your...but your ring is on your hand."

"My other one."

"Your ring from my husband," she said with a definite hint of upset.

"Yeah," she said like it was no big deal. "He was my husband at one point."

"Yes, but he's not your husband anymore," Jordana replied. "Why do you wear it?" Denise just sighed, "To keep me from making the same mistake twice."

"Mistake?"she asked.

"Yes," Denise nodded. "Mistake. I hurt Frank very badly and I don't want to do that again."

"Your right, you did," she said. "And I am here to make damn sure you don't do it again!"

"I'm going to, and I don't know how to break it to him."

"What?"she asked. "Break what to him?"

"That I did what he said and I still don't want treatment."

"He knows?"she asked.

She nodded, "He came in and found me during a pain attack, I tried to lie but Frank knows me too well. He knows when someone he loves isn't well."

"Oh," she said obviously not happy.

"That's why he's chasing you off to bed early," Denise told her. "He can see the fatigue and the dizzy spells that come and go."

"It's my anemia," she replied quickly.

Denise laughed. "Try again; I've seen those signs before."

"Okay, but it's one of his presents so please keep it quiet until morning," Jordana begged.

She smiled. "I won't say a word. Congratulations Jordana, really, you both deserve this and he is going to be thrilled."

Jordana smiled, "Denise, you are whiter than Frank in winter, hon."

"Pain's bad," she sighed.

"Why don't you go lay down, Frank will follow I'm sure and he'll get the nap I want him to take."

Denise nodded, she was too tired to argue.

"Come on baby, let's lie down with Grandma for a nap." She took Jake with her and sure enough Frank followed and they both stayed until just before supper time.

Frank came out then. "I'm going to take Denise a plate when it's done. The pain's really bad and she won't do any more shots."

"What pain Dad?" Jeremy asked having heard his father. "Headache is that bad?"

He acknowledged with a nod, it was a little better than out and out lying.

Tanya nodded, "Let me talk to her." She went in to see Denise. "Please come to the table, it'll mean so much to Jeremy."

"Tanya, honey I can't even move," she said tears spilling from her eyes.

"Take the medicine," she said. "You don't deserve to suffer and Jeremy's doesn't deserve to have his son's first Christmas without his mother! He sat and cried when you said you weren't coming, did you know that?" she asked.

"Tanya I'm not taking that stuff, all it does is dull it enough to knock me out and I'm not living like that!"

"I have something else, let's try it. For Jeremy, for Jacob, you know Frank's going to sit in here..." Just as she said it Frank appeared with two plates.

"Frank, no you go out there with your son," Denise all but ordered.

"Nope," he sat down and started to cut her turkey and all for her, she gave in, this time.

"Fine let's go," she said rolling her eyes at them. "No meds, I'm doing this my way." She got up took a deep breath and put on a fake smile.

He shadowed her the rest of the night, Frank whispered, "Codeine in the stuffing."

"What?"she asked.

"I know you can't crush opiates but I used to grind up Tylenol three and hide it for her when she kicked her back out, I just did it now, she'll never know trust me."

"She's going to kill you!"

"She won't know," Frank replied. "Let's just eat but Tanya, no treatments, what's the clock on this thing. A year, two?"

That felt like a knife in the heart, but facts were facts, he'd have to accept it for Jeremy, for Jacob, and for himself.

They went and ate the supper and the dessert, Denise was smiling and seemed to feel better. Before it was time for the traditional one present each and Frank's reading from the Bible Denise reached for his leg and squeezed to get his attention.

"Yeah," he said

"I'm trying but I can't stand up," she told him a little frightened. "It's like air."

"Okay,I t's okay," he said and got up and helped her to her feet.

Her entire body shook, "Frank I can't do it. My legs won't..." Jordana heard it and jumped in. "Jeremy, can you show me again where you put the gifts Dad brought so I can pick Jacob's out from just me?"

He nodded and that distracted him so Frank could help Denise.

He just carried her and put her on the sofa with a blanket, "How's that. Want a pillow or anything?"

She shook her head, "Don't leave me," she begged. She was frightened.

"I won't, I'm going to sit right here," he told her. "It's all right, let me just tuck you a little bit. How's your pain?"

"It's coming back."

"Let Tanya give you something for it," he pressed.

She shook her head.

He waited a bit then got up and brought her a cup of eggnog, "No alcohol, just to be festive."

She smiled and took it, she sipped it and made a face. "This is terrible."

"Just choke it down and make Jeremy happy, he made it this year,' Frank laughed and Jeremy and Jordana returned with gifts.

Denise put it down and forced herself up and went to mingle with her son, Frank cursed under his breath and Tanya walked over "What did you do?"

"More drugs," he replied. "She's having a hard time walking, her legs are going."

"That's her spine but you can't keep giving her meds like this, she'll eventually get sick and want to know why," she warned.

"That's it, I swear," he replied. "Just so she can have a nice day, I need her to have a nice day today and tomorrow, okay?" he was tearing up.

"I know," she said, then out of nowhere they heard a loud crash and looked over to see Denise on the floor but she wasn't the one hurt, she was trying to help Jordana who had fallen.

"Denise!" It was out of Frank's mouth then he saw, "Jordy, honey what happened?"

"She got dizzy," Denise said. "We need to get her up."

Frank was all over that one, "Honey, are you still dizzy?

She nodded and held her head. "Frank take her and sit on the sofa or in bed, she's pale as a ghost," Denise said with a firm nurse's tone.

"I want to be up for presents," Jordana told Frank.

"Okay, we'll sit on the sofa. Okay?" Gently he helped her up.

She nodded and dense now shadowed her. "Okay, Dad," Jeremy said. 'Who's first?"

"Jake," he said laughing. He was so excited to see his grandson react to his new things.

"All right big guy," Jeremy said to his son. "This one is from Grandpa Frank."

Tanya smiled and opened the present since he was too little to do it himself. It was the rocking horse Frank spent hours working on.

"Frank!"Tanya said shocked. "This is beautiful!"

He shrugged, "Jeremy loved rocking on his, he was six when he broke it and he cried for a month."

"Dad, do you have to tell that to my wife?" Jeremy asked blushing.

Tanya smiled and kissed him, "Makes me love you more."

He smiled and kissed her again, Frank looked at Denise and rolled his eyes.

Jacob started babbling and Tanya held him on the horse and he smiled and cooed as Frank took his picture.

"Okay, Jeremy your turn," Denise said doing her best to look alert even though she was dozing.

Jeremy nodded and took a gift, "From Mom."

Denise smiled as he opened it.

He opened the box to a beautiful cashmere shirt with all his specifications. "No one can pick out shirts like a mom," Jeremy laughed and hugged Denise.

She smiled and hugged him tight. "I love you sweetie."

"Tanya next," Frank ordered with a laugh. "Go on honey."

Tanya smiled "From Frank," she said and opened it.

It was another beautifully crafted gift, a spice rack that had the most common spices first, neatly labeled in paint and sealant. Denise was blown away with it.

"Frank this is great!" she said smiling and hugged him. "Jeremy we're getting a divorce, I'm marrying your father!"

They all laughed, "I'll teach him. Go on Dee."

"No, Jordana, you go next," she said with a smile.

Jordana nodded, "From Denise." She opened it to find a wooden ornament, two turtle doves engraved, "Fifth Christmas Together, Frank and Jordana," with the date.

"Denise," she said plesantly surprised. "This is...thaank you!"

"You're welcome, Frank, you go now," she said hoping Jordana was going to give him the gift tonight so she could start resting.

"Okay. From Jordana." He opened it to see two baby rattles, one blue and one pink.

"I think this is Jake's," he laughed and looked at his wife.

"No, it's yours," she said softly. With a deep breath she told him. "Frank, honey I...I'm...pregnant."

"What?" He was speechless.

She nodded with a huge smile. "Five weeks."

Frank choked up then smile and held her, "Oh this is the best...Wait is that why you fell? Did you hurt it? Did she hurt it Dee?"

"No, she fell on her back," she said. "She'll be sore but the baby should be fine"

He relaxed and leaned back with his wife on his lap. "Okay, Denise, you put it off long enough."

She laughed."Okay. This is from Frank."

She got a beautifully crafted jewelry box, it had spaces for her bracelets and earrings and rings, and even for necklaces so they didn't get tangled. On the top was a cursive D carved into the wood.

" Frank, this is beautiful," she said smiling. "Thank you."

"Welcome," he replied. "Now does anyone need the bathroom or anything before we light the tree and read the Christmas story?"

Everyone shook their head.

Tanya picked up the wrappings and turned off the lights then Jeremy plugged in the tree. "Oh that's gorgeous," Denise said and inhaled sharply reaching from Frank or Jordana on instinct.

Jordana took her hand and Frank placed his hand on her shoulder. "You okay?"Jordana asked quietly

"It's back strong," she replied. "Just read the Bible and I'll go to bed."

Frank nodded and got up.

He got the Bible and read from Luke as he did every year he was home, he just about finished it when Denise was seized with such a vicious pain she moaned so loudly it frightened everyone including Tanya.

"Denise, are you okay?" Tanya asked going to her side, she couldn't talk, her whole body was tensed up and she couldn't breathe.

Frank was there next, "Dee, I've got you, okay. I'm right here, I'm not leaving you. Tanya do it."

"No," Denise whimpered.

"Yes, Tanya, consider it an order!" Frank barked at her and she got her bag. "Dee, just listen, you need it sweetheart. You do. Jordy, come hold her arm please."

Denise fought him, she was crying.

Tanya had the syringe, "Denise why don't you want it?"

"It'll pass," she said.

"It won't pass," Tanya told her. "Listen to your grandson, he's frightened. Just a little bit."

"Frank, get them out of here," Denise begged focusing on him.

"Jordy, let her go," Frank told her. "Jeremy take the baby to your room please." Jeremy was just shell shocked watching, he knew something was wrong.

He only nodded and took his son and went to his room.

While Denise was distracted Tanya went for it and hit her with the syringe.

"Damn it!"she screamed making everyone jump

"That's it, just rest, honey. Close eyes." Frank cooed to her. "Close eyes, I'm here."

"No," she whimpered, she was still trying to fight him and the pain.

"Yes, close eyes," he soothed. Then he picked her up, sat her on his lap and rocked her slowly.

"That was bad," Jordana said in shock.

He nodded, "And it'll get worse until it slowly robs her of her ability to walk, talk, feed herself, use the bathroom unless she...Let me put her down, then I think I need to have a talk with my son."

"I'll do it, you stay with her," Tanya offered knowing this was hard on her father-in-law even if they were divorced.

"No," Frank said. "This is a father to son kind of thing."

"Oh, okay," she said.

Frank put Denise down then went to talk to his son, he was sitting on his bed playing with Jake who had finally calmed down.

"Put him in his bed, and we'll take a walk, it's just starting to snow," Frank told him. "That's not a request."

He nodded and took the baby and put him in his bed and got his shoes on.

Tanya cried her heart out as she watched them go, "I don't want to do that kind of stuff."

"Me either," Jordana sighed putting her hand on her belly.

"I supposed you have questions for me," Frank said as they began their walk.

"What's wrong with her?"he asked pointedly.

"I didn't know until just this week, Jeremy, Mom..." Frank's voice caught. "Son, Mommy's got..." It did it again.

"Cancer?" he supplied.

He nodded, "Yes. Stage 3 bone cancer and Tanya thinks now it's in her spine. It's painful, it's very painful and she's not taking any treatment right now. That was her worse attack, she fights me on the meds...This is probably her last Christmas and we need to do all we can to help her enjoy it."

He nodded. "Why does she fight the meds?"

"She wants to be lucid and to...hide it from you," Frank replied. "You're still her baby, and no parent wants to look at their baby and tell them they're dying. No matter how old he is, no matter if he's a parent too."

"Let's go home," Jeremy said quickly. He wanted to be with his mother now every second he could.

"You have to have some feelings, son, and I..." Frank was battling tears again. "You bring them here, please, I won't fault you any of them."

"I want to spend time with mom while I can," he said stoically.

"Okay, I love you Jeremy. And I'm not going anywhere okay so you need me you find me." He opened his arms to his son.

Jeremy hugged him tight then they went home, Denise was still asleep and Jordana looked like hell.

Tanya was still sobbing in the older woman's arms.

Both men saw this and went to be with their wives.

Tanya didn't want Jeremy she wanted Frank.

Frank was holding Jordana when he noticed Tanya needed him too.

He opened his other arm, "Okay, okay, listen here, " he commanded. "She deserves more than this. How many Christmases did she make? We are going to put this in a box and have this holiday. Got it?"

They all nodded in agreement, it would take teamwork but they'd do it.

Jeremy went right to his mother's room; Frank took Jordana to their room. "A baby?" he beamed. "Really? Can i feel?"

"It's not moving just yet but go ahead," she said smiling.

"I know it's not moving," he replied but touched the space where the baby was. "It's Daddy."

She smiled and put her hand on his

"Let's get you in bed, I have work to do."

She nodded and he helped her into bed and she was asleep before he even left the room.