I woke up strangely more comfortable than I should have been. A tiny figure was wrapped around my arms. I sat up hesitantly, pulling my arms away from him.

                The room cleared as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes. Last night flashed into my mind, reminding me of why I was in the living room. I glanced around noticing how I was on the pull-out couch instead of the chair I had originally fallen asleep on.

                Mason's sleeping body was next to mine, his other side empty. I groaned quietly, swinging my legs off the bed. I pushed myself up, making my way over to the kitchen.

                "Hey" Caden said, watching me as I grabbed a glass of milk. I sat down across from him at the kitchen table, staring off behind him.

                "Why was I on the pull-out?" I asked stiffly, my eyes moving to his.

                He shrugged "Mason wanted you to sleep on the bed with us"

                "Did you sleep on the chair?"

                "Nah,"

                I sighed angrily

                "Mason slept between us. Chill" He rolled his eyes with a smirk. I narrowed my eyes, running a hand through my hair.

                "How did I get there?"

                "I carried you"

                "Oh" I was quiet. It was a little surprising that he had carried me over to the pull-out without me waking up. I must've been tired.

                Caden sighed, leaning back in his chair "You feeling ok?"

                I frowned, confused "Yes, why?"

                "I would've thought you would have flipped shit on me for touching you while you were sleeping" He shrugged.

                "Mason's asleep" I defended "No way am I waking him up"

                Caden laughed "Now I know how to stop the bitching"

                "Shut up!" I crossed my arms, holding back a giggle "You're such an ass"

                "Language, Pumpkin"

                "Hypocrite"

                There was a pause where neither of us spoke. Caden finished the cup in front of him, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. I stared at my nearly full cup.

                "You know who Jackson McGill is?" Caden asked after another moment.

                I frowned thinking "I... don't think so"

                "Doesn't matter. He's having a party at his house Friday" Caden said

                "And I care because...?"

                "He said I could invite anyone I wanted to"

                "You're inviting me?" I asked, surprised. It wasn't like Caden to show me off to his friends. He only ever talked to me when I was around my friends, never his.

                Caden rolled his eyes "Duh, Pumpkin"

                "This Friday? Don't you have to babysit my brother?"

                "I'm going to be 'sick'" He said, making air quotes on the last word.

                "Then I have to babysit him" I said "I can't go"

                "Leave him with your dad or something"

                "Mom doesn't trust Cody enough"

                "Look," Caden said, leaning forward "If you tell me you're going, then I'll find somewhere for Mason to go."

                I hesitated "Why do you want me to come?"

                "Cause you need to get out more. And your little friend Kasey isn't going to get you into any major parties like this"

                I bit my lip "What about Shelley?"

                "Shelley?" He laughed dryly "Her and I have been over for some time now"

                "Didn't you two just get together?"

                "She's not one for commitment. So what do you say?"

                "Caden I..."

                He leaned across the table, grabbing my wrists and tugging me closer. I leaned forward, stretched out so that our faces were close to each other.

                "Go to the party with me Friday"

                I nodded, my eyes flickering down to his lips. Caden grinned deviously, releasing my wrists. He pulled back, watching me as I slid slowly into my seat again.

                "I'm hungry" A new voice entered the room.

                Our heads turned sharply towards the sound. Mason stood in the doorway, clutching his blanket to him. His eyes were barely open as he walked towards the table. I stood up, letting him sit in my chair.

                "What do you want, buddy?" I asked, pulling cereal out "Lucky Charms?"

                He nodded, setting his blanket on the table.

                I poured him a bowl of cereal, setting it in front of him. He reached in, cramming the bits into his mouth. I sighed, taking his hand away.

                "No, Mase" I put a Spiderman spoon in his hand "Like this"

                I guided his hand as he dipped it into the cereal, taking a careful spoonful. I led it into his mouth so that he understood how to use it properly.

                "Now you try" I encouraged, hoping maybe for once he would get it right.

                Mason picked up a spoonful, throwing it at Caden. Caden jumped back in surprise as Mason giggled. I covered my mouth to hide the giggles that threatened to escape.

                As funny as it was, Mason wasn't allowed to throw food.

                I calmed down, trying to help him again.

                Caden sat back, watching as I struggled to get my younger brother to eat his food correctly. Eventually, I managed to get at least half the bowl into his little belly.

~*~

                Mom came home around noon, with a faint hangover clear by her expression. I was lounging on the couch, Caden and Mason on the ground playing. She smiled gently at us, heading for the medicine cabinet.

                I glanced at my brother on the floor before standing up, going to the kitchen to get her a glass of water. I took the bottle of pills from her hand when she entered, opening it for her.

                Mom sat at the table to take her medicine.

                "You must not have had much" I commented, noting at how insensitive she was compared to previous hangovers. Mom shrugged, finishing the rest of her water. I took the glass from her and refilled it.

                "I met this guy last night..." She began, sipping out of the glass again. "He's really nice. We went on a date"

                I raised an eyebrow, feigning interest "Really now"

                "Yeah, our third date"

                "Who's the lucky man?"

                "His name's Darren" She smiled, lost in her own thoughts "You'll meet him eventually"

                "You know Chase is in the hospital right?" I asked, a little annoyed. I had never minded as much that Mom slept with other people even though I was Chase's kid. But now that I've been reunited with my father, I wanted them to get back together. Even if I knew he wouldn't be around much longer, even though I knew it was childish. Inside, I felt anger towards my mother because of that.

                "Of course I knew!" She snapped, a bit irritated. But I didn't care.

                "Have you even visited him?"

                "I haven't yet, but I'm planning on it" She defended.

                I rolled my eyes "Whatever. I'm calling Jason to take me there to visit"

                "No you're not" She growled. I knew I shouldn't have said Jason's name, but I wanted to anger her.

                "Yes I am" I said back.

                She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "Why don't you have Caden take you? He's such a nice boy. Much better than Jason"

                I snorted to myself. Not by much... "Because I like Jason better"

                "Caden?" My mom called, cringing at the loudness of her voice. "Can you come here for a moment?"

                I groaned "Mom, stop. I don't want him knowing."

                "I'd rather have someone I trust knowing than that delinquent friend of yours knowing!" She hissed "But it appears that it's too late for that"

                "Jason is not a delinquent! He's incredibly sweet and kind and-"

                "Trying to get into your pants"

                "Who is?" Caden asked, walking over to us. I crossed my arms, cocking my hip. I shot Caden a dirty look before looking back at my mom.

                "No one you need to worry about" Mom said, leaning back in her chair "Caden, could you be a dear and drive Joanna to the hospital?"

                "Why?" He asked

                "No Mom" I hissed "I don't want him to come. Jason is perfectly fine. He's a hell of a better driver than Caden anyways"

                "Joanna, I said Jason's not driving you and that's final" Mom said sternly

                "Look, I'll take her if you need me too" Caden offered.

                Mom smiled gratefully at Caden "Thank you sweetie, I really need to start paying you more"

                He chuckled "Its fine, really."

                "Alright, Joanna, off you go." Mom shooed me out.

                Caden laughed politely, wrapping an arm around my shoulders as he led me out of the kitchen. I glanced back, shooting my mom a look. She rolled her eyes, rubbing her temples gingerly.

                Caden led me out to his car. "So why are we going to the hospital?"

                "To visit my dad"

                "Which dad?" He asked.

                I had forgotten he knew the basics of my story "My biological"

                Caden raised an eyebrow "He's back? What happened to him?"

                "He's got cancer" I mumbled, staring out the window to my right. Caden let out a whistle as we got onto the highway.

                "Damn, Pumpkin, I'm sorry about that"

                "Don't be" I shrugged "Its kind of shocking to know he's not always going to be there. He may not have been before, but I knew if I ever wanted, he would come visit. I just..."

                "What kind of cancer?"

                "Leukemia" I muttered, my voice cracking slightly. I took a deep breath, steadying myself "Its terminal"

                "Oh wow" Caden breathed out. "I... I don't know what to say"

                I laughed once "Neither do I"

                He looked over at me, a smile playing on his lips. I bit mine down, staring out the window. It was quite the rest of the ride.

                We arrived at the hospital twenty minutes later. I got out of the car as soon as Caden turned it off, not waiting for him. He jogged a little to catch up to me as I quickly walked into the building, signing in at the front desk.

                Caden followed me as we got into the elevator, the only ones.

                "Don't do anything funny" I warned as we traveled up "Chase may seem cool, but he knows I'm dating Jason"

                Caden held up his hands innocently "I wouldn't do a thing"

                I rolled my eyes "Liar"

                He smirked "I won't do anything in front of your dad"

                I sighed "I guess that's the best I can hope for"

                Caden laughed, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I shrugged out of it as the elevator doors opened, walking out quickly.

                "Knock, knock" I said, walking in. Chase looked up, a smile crossing his face. I walked over, giving him a weak hug.

                "Hey, Joey" Chase said "Damn, another guy?"

                I laughed, sitting in the chair next to the bed. Caden took a seat next to me, the spot Jason had sat in the last time I was here.

                "Dad, this is Caden" I introduced "Mason's babysitter"

                Caden reached over to shake Chase's hand "Nice to meet you, sir"

                "So if you're Mason's babysitter, why are you here with my daughter?" Chase asked, raising an eyebrow

                "She needed a ride here"

                "Which I could've gotten from Jason" I tacked on, making sure Chase knew I didn't like him here.

                Chase laughed "Now, now, kids. Please don't argue. I don't want to have the last moments of my life wasted on listening to you two bicker"

                I bit my lip, staying quite. Caden knocked my knee with his playfully.

                "Joey, are you really that damn lazy that you have to hire a babysitter for your brother cause you won't?" Chase teased

                I rolled my eyes at him "Stop, if you must know, Mom did this against my will. I was perfectly capable of taking care of Mason"

                Chase rolled his eyes "How much are you getting paid Caden?"

                He shrugged "A few bucks an hour"

                "That's just like Carter" Chase sighed "She was always a cheap woman..."

                "That's my mother you're talking about" I frowned

                Chase grinned innocently "I wasn't saying anything"

                "You better not have been" I laughed

                "Let's not tell her mother I said anything" Chase said to Caden

                "Wouldn't dream of it, sir" Caden smirked

                There was a pause where no one spoke for a moment. We sat in silence, listening to the people in the corridor outside move around.

                "So how're you, Dad?" I asked, when the silence became unbearable.

                He sighed "Not good, Joey, not good at all"

                I frowned "Why?"

                "The doctor told me yesterday that they've got an estimation of how long I'll live"

                I bit my lip, not wanting to hear the answer. At the same time, I was dying to know. I glanced at Caden and then Chase.

                "Uh... Caden, why don't you let me talk to my daughter for a moment?" Chase asked.

                Caden glanced at me with worried eyes before nodding. He stood up and walked out. I stared at my hands on my lap, waiting for Chase to continue.

                He sat up a little bit before speaking again "Well, they took me off chemo because I was too weak to continue going through it. Apparently, the chemo basically provoked the cancerous cells to multiply quicker than before because I've got nearly double than before"

                He paused for a moment. I looked up, meeting his eyes. I could feel a little water in mine threatening to spill over.

                "Doc says it's too dangerous to continue with the chemotherapy" He continued "He said that at the rate the cells are multiplying, I've got maybe two months longer."

                "Why?" I whispered, afraid to speak louder for fear of my voice cracking.

                "I don't know, sweetie" He sighed.

                I closed my eyes, sucking in a shaky breath "I...I can't...."

                I stood up abruptly, quickly walking out of the room. I put a hand up to cover my eyes as the tears overflowed, falling down my cheeks. I hurried down the hallway, my vision blurred as water poured out.

                I wasn't ok.

                I felt arms around my waist, pulling me back. I felt my back hit someone, the arms tightening their grip on me. I covered my face with my hands, attempting to hold back the sobs. Caden turned me around, pulling me into a hug.

                I wrapped my arms around his back as tightly as I could. My fingers grabbed at the fabric of his shirt, pulling him closer to me. He held me tightly, letting me cry into his shirt. Caden rubbed my back gently, not pushing me.

                We stayed like that for Lord knows how long. It felt nice to hug Caden again. I waited until I had calmed down enough, until the tears finally stopped flowing.

                I pulled away, rubbing under my eyes in an attempt to fix my smeared make-up

                "Joey, what happened?" He asked cautiously

                "I can't talk about it" I whispered, closing my eyes.

                "Do you want to leave now?" He asked

                I shook my head "Let me at least say goodbye"

                He nodded, wrapping an arm around my waist and leading me back to the room. I could feel my eyes watering again at the sight of Chase.

                No.

                I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath. I was going to be strong.

                Chase smiled at me gently as I walked over. I stood at the edge of his bed, looking down at my feet. I took another breath before looking up at him.

                "I'm sorry, Dad" I apologized "I...this is a lot to take in all at once. I didn't mean to just run out. I'm sorry"

                "It's alright sweetie" He smiled

                I sniffed once, rubbing my eyes of the tears "I think I need to go back to Mom's"

                "Ok, thanks for visiting, Joey" Chase smiled. I leaned down, hugging him again.

                "Anytime" I smiled as I pulled back "Jason and I will be in tomorrow hopefully after school"

                "I'll look forward to it" he smiled "And I'd like to see you again too, Caden"

                "Anytime she wants me to come, I will" Caden said, standing next to me. I felt his hand on my lower back.

                "Bye Daddy" I smiled, waving slightly

                "See you" He waved back.

                We left quietly, signing out in the lobby. Neither of us spoke as we walked out to the car, the cold air whipping at us. I crossed my arms, not having brought a jacket. Caden wrapped an arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.

                We walked like that back to the car, getting in quickly.

                Caden turned the car on, not backing out. "You alright, Pumpkin?"

                I nodded, "I think so"

                "Want to go to McDonald's?" He asked, a slight smirk across his lips.

                I laughed at the randomness, at how after I had just bawled my eyes out in front of him, all he wanted to do was go to McDonald's.

                Amazing.

                "Why not?" I asked, smiling slightly. I pulled down the mirror, rubbing away the majorly smeared make-up.

                Caden rolled his eyes at me, pulling out of the parking lot. He called my mom to let her know we were leaving the hospital and stopping by McDonald's on the way home.

                I leaned my head against the backseat, closing my eyes.

                My dad was going to die in two months.