"Dad, are you OK?" Michelle asked knocking on the bathroom door hearing Roger throwing up.
"Yeah Babygirl, I'm fine. I must have ate something funky. I'll be out in a minute." he told her trying to cover.
"Mom, is dad OK? He's throwing up in the bathroom again." she asked coming down the stairs as Charlie stood in the kitchen drinking coffee.
"I'm fine, really. Are you ready to go?" he told her from the top of the stairs before Charlie could answer.
"OK, you guys have been acting weird for a while now. Would someone tell me what's going on please? You're freaking me out." Michelle said putting her hands on her hips.
"Everything with me and your mom are fine, really. We have to go to the studio." Roger said as Michelle looked at Charlie, who was looking down at the counter.
"No it's not. I can tell. Guys, just tell me what's up. Is it dad? Are you sick?" she asked looking up at him as Charlie tried hard to hold back her tears.
"Michelle sit down." Roger said quietly looking at her.
"No, whatever you can tell me sitting down, you can tell me standing up. Now some one tell me what's going on. Mom?" she said beginning to cry.
"Michelle, my t-cells are low." Roger told her as Charlie turned away from them because she was crying.
"How low?" she asked looking up at him.
"Michelle..." he started before she cut him off.
"How low dad? Tell me. I'm not a little girl anymore." she yelled upset and frustrated.
"Really low." he told her trying to hold back his own tears.
"How long?" she asked quietly.
"6 months. Maybe a year." he told her as she sat on the couch and began to cry into her hands.
"Oh Michelle." Charlie said quietly as she went to her.
"How long have you guys known?" she asked not looking up.
"About a month and a half. Your dad wanted to finish the demo with you first." Charlie told her crying with her.
"So you guys have been keeping this from me for a month and a half?" she asked looking up at them.
"It was me Michelle. Don't blame your mom. She wanted to tell you as soon as we found out. I just wanted you to have the demo before I told you. I'm sorry." Roger said wiping his eyes.
"What good is having the demo if I'm gonna lose you?" she asked before running up the stairs.
"Michelle, wait." Roger called out as she slammed her door.
"Give her time Roger. She just found out she's losing her father sooner than she's ready to. We've had time to deal with it, she hasn't." Charlie said crying on the couch.
"I screwed up, didn't I?" he asked looking down at her.
"She'll be OK Roger." Charlie said looking up at him.
"Are you?" he asked sitting next to her.
"Eventually." she said crying into her hands again.
"I'm sorry Baby. I never wanted to hurt you." he whispered putting his arms around her.
"This is not your fault Roger. This is beyond our control." she said looking up at him.
"I don't want to leave you and Michelle." he told her crying with her.
"I know." she said as Michelle's door opened.
"Daddy." she called out quietly as Roger looked up at her.
"Come here my Babygirl." he said getting up and going to her.
"Daddy, I'm sorry I yelled at you." she cried as he held her in his arms.
"I know Baby." he said crying with her.
"Daddy, I just don't want to lose you. I'm gonna miss you so much." she cried as Charlie went to them.
"I know Babygirl. I don't want to leave you either. You and your mom are my life." he said kissing her head.
"And your ours Roger." Charlie said as he put his arm out for her.
"Dad, what do you need us to do?" Michelle asked looking up at him.
"I just want my girls. That's it." he said caressing her hair.
"Daddy, I want to finish the demo. If you're up to it." she asked looking up at him.
"Yeah, I'm up to it." he said kissing her head.
"Good. I want to have this demo of you and me." she said looking up at him.
"I know my girl and I want you to have it." he said wiping the tears from her face.
"Why don't you guys take today off and we can spend the day together here?" Charlie suggested looking up at them.
"Are you OK mom?" Michelle asked looking over at her.
"Yeah sweetie. I'm OK. How about I make us a big breakfast and we can watch some videos." she suggested wiping her eyes.
"OK mom. I'll help you. Let me just wash my face, OK?" Michelle offered wiping her face with her hands.
"OK sweetie. Take your time." Charlie said kissing her head as she went back upstairs to her bathroom.
"Are you OK Baby?" Roger asked looking down at her.
"No." Charlie said crying into his chest.
"I haven't been fair to you, have I?" he asked kissing her head.
"Roger, it's not about that. I'm just not ready to lose you just yet, you know? I need more time." she cried holding on to him tightly.
"I know Charlie, I'm sorry you have to do this." he whispered kissing her head.
"Roger, I'm not sorry I have you. You are the best thing that's ever happened to me, aside from getting Michelle back. I just wish I didn't have to lose you." she said looking up at him.
"Charlie, you and Michelle have made my life so much better then I ever thought it could be. I would give anything to have more time with you and our little girl." he said holding her face in his hands.
"I'm just not ready Roger." she cried looking into his eyes.
"Me neither Charlie." he said bringing her to him again.