Crying For

Today had been perfect. TK and Carlos had both had the day off and had taken Enzo and Jonah to the Austin Zoo. The weather was beautiful, and Carlos had enjoyed having more time to get to know his stepfather in law, especially as they bonded over TK and Jonah's love for all animals. Carlos honestly wasn't sure which of the two brothers had had more fun.

They'd returned to the loft after eating dinner out and Jonah had immediately run to Lou 2's tank to tell him about all his relatives he'd seen today.

Not long after, TK had given his brother a bath and they got him down for the night, sleeping peacefully in TK and Carlos' bed, giving the three adults a chance to relax.

"It's been so great having you guys here," TK said, "I wish you didn't have to leave in a couple days."

"Me too kiddo," Enzo said, accepting the drink Carlos handed him.

"Is there anything else you guys wanted to do while you're here?" Carlos asked. "Judd told me there's this mini putt place Charlie really likes."

"Yeah, that would be good," Enzo nodded, "Jonah would love that."

TK studied his stepfather carefully. He'd been fine most of the day, but there were a couple moments, where Enzo seemed to think no one was paying attention, and he just looked… sad.

"Enzo?" TK said softly. "Is… is everything okay?"

Enzo took a deep breath, placed his mug on the table, and turned his body towards the boys on the couch.

"I've been trying to figure out how to tell you since we got here," Enzo said, "But I didn't want to ruin how happy you've been."

"Alright, you're kind of freaking me out," TK said, a tightness starting in his chest at the panic setting in.

Enzo leaned forward, taking TK's hands in his. Carlos rested a hand on his husband's back and shifted closer, their sides pressed tight.

"There's no way to ease not this," Enzo said, "I'm dying son."

The silence resonated through the loft as TK and Carlos tried to process what had just been said.

"You… what?" TK said, voice barely above a whisper. "No… no, you can't be. I mean, how do you know? What…"

"I have brain Cancer, "Enzo told him, tightening his hold on TK's now shaking hands. "Stage 4. It's already spread and there's nothing they can do."

Carlos closed his eyes for a moment, pressing a kiss to TK's shoulder.

"But what about Chemo? Or radiation treatment? There are some great doctors here, maybe you see one? Get a second opinion? We'll help you! We-"

"TK," Enzo interrupted the younger man's rambling, "It's okay lad."

"No, it's not," TK shook his head, unable to stop the tears, "Nothing about this is okay."

"You're right," Enzo conceded, "But I promise you, I'm okay."

"How?" TK begged, "How can you be okay with this?"

"Because I don't have a choice," Enzo said honestly. "There's no fighting this. Chemo or radiation might give me a bit more time, but at what cost? I become so sick that Jonah's last memories of me are in a hospital? Too sick to read him a bedtime story? Your last memories of me involve you taking care of me? That's not what I want kiddo."

TK bowed his head, biting his lip.

Enzo leaned forward more, pulling TK into a tight hug.

"I want the rest of my time to be enjoying you and Jonah," he said honestly, "I want to you mini golfing with you even though I know you're really not good at it. I want to take Jonah to museums and parks and that Chinese food place your mum liked. If I only have a little time left to make memories, I want to make as many as possible."

TK nodded, holding Enzo tightly. He pulled back, taking the older man's hands again.

"How long?" Carlos asked in a low voice.

"A month," Enzo said, "Maybe a little longer, maybe a little less."

A fresh sob escaped TK as it hit him that, in just over a month, he would lose another parent.

"I quit my job," Enzo told them, "I wanted to spend as much time with you and your brother as possible.:

"Wh-what's gonna happen?" TK asked between sobs, "To Jonah? What's gonna happen?"

"That's, um, that's something else I wanted to talk to you about, "Enzo said, "To both of you."

He took a deep breath, not really sure how to start. This was such a massive thing he was about to throw at them.

"Enzo, whatever it is, we'll help you," Carlos said, "You're family."

Enzo smiled at him, thanking whatever force in the universe had brought these two together.

"I met with my lawyer," Enzo started, "I wanted to make sure I had everything in order, and that included naming a guardian for your brother. My sister's health isn't good and none of my family lives in the states anyway… And then I thought about what your mum would want for him and I realize it's a big ask, but-"

"Enzo," TK interrupted, "Just tell us."

"At the time of my death, I've named you and Carlos as Jonah's guardians," Enzo told them, "Like I said, I know this is a big ask, and you can, of course, refuse. Social services would also have to get involved with background checks and such, but if you agree to take him my lawyer said we could actually expedite some of that… But anyway, I know this is huge, but there's no one I can think of who would be better suited to raise him in mine and your mother's place than the two of you."

TK and Carlos looked at each other for a moment.

"Enzo," Carlos started, "We would be honoured to raise him."

"Really?" Enzo said, relief clear in his voice. "Are you sure?"

"Of course," TK assured him, "I hate that we'll have to, but of course we'd raise him. We love him."

"I know you do," Enzo nodded, "And that's all I want for him. That's all I want for both of you. To be with people who love you."

TK leaned forward, hugging his stepfather tightly.

"Wait," he pulled back, looking panicked, "You said background checks. What is they don't let us take him because of… because of me?"

God if his brother ended up going into the system because of the poor choices he'd made in the past Tk would never forgive himself.

"I talked to my lawyer about that," Enzo said placatingly, "You're clean, you've been clean for almost three years now. You have steady jobs, a home, and a great support system. They'll look at your past, but they're also going to look at how you've turned things around. They'll know this is the best place for Jonah."

Later that night, after Enzo and Jonah had headed back to their hotel, and TK and Carlos had settled into bed, TK rolled over to face his husband.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked, "You said you weren't ready for kids, and we haven't talked about it since then… and now we're being named as future guardians of a three year old.

"Not just a three-year-old," Carlos corrected, "Your brother. And you're right, I'm just not sure the kind of father I'd make one day, especially to a little boy who already has such an amazing one. But TK, in the event of Enzo being gone, Jonah belongs here. He needs to be with family who know him and love him, especially with all these changes. He needs to be with people who knew his parents and can tell him about them, who can raise him in their honour so he grows up to be as amazing as his older brother. I'm terrified to screw this up, I won't lie. Because screwing this up would mean screwing him up. But I also think if we're doing this together, we have a good chance of not totally screwing it up? So for Jonah, I'd like us to try?"

TK was smiling through his tears.

"I love you so much," he whispered, leaning forward and burying his face in his husband's neck.

As Carlos wrapped his arms around him, he felt TK's body start shaking with sobs and held on tighter.

TK cried for Enzo, for his mom, for his brother who would grow up without either parent. He cried for himself losing another parent. And he cried for the love he feels for his husband and his husband for him. For the love of their family, whether they were here still or not, and TK knew they'd be okay.

Wrote this prior to the release of the clips or stills for the new episode so I had no idea Enzo was rich rich when I wrote this haha

Thanks for reading!