Jessica shook her head; she didn't know how to feel. Her father that put her through hell was dying. Did she want to see him? No. Did she want some type of closure? Maybe.

"I know you just got back home and you're tired, but I'm going to go see him now, if you want to come. I want to hear what he has to say. Also, I would like to tell him a few things as well." Jane said.
Jessica looked up at Jane and said. "I'll go with you. But, I don't know if I'll see him. I'll decide when I get there."
"Okay sweet girl." Jane said.
"I'm just going to freshen up." Jessica said as she stood up. "I'll be back."

Jessica left Jane and Danny in the living as she walked to her bedroom to freshen up and change clothes. As she got ready, her stomach began to do flips, which were not caused by the baby. It was her nerves that were causing the discomfort.

After some time, Danny came into the room and saw Jessica sitting on the bed silently crying. She was already dressed and ready to go, but she couldn't find the courage to leave her bedroom.

"Hey..." Danny said as he sat down next to her. "You don't have to go, Jess." He then put his arm around her shoulder and she leaned into him.
"I'm scared." Jessica said. "I used to wish for an opportunity so I could tell my father face to face how much I hated him and that what he did to me left me broken. Now...I don't know if I can face him. Before all this mess...he was a good, loving father. So a part of me doesn't want to regret not seeing him one last time."

Danny rocked her gently back and forth to soothe her. Jessica slowly calmed down.

"I'm not going to tell you what to do. But...what I will say is, follow your heart. Maybe this will give you some closure." Danny said softly.
Jessica nodded then pulled away; she looked into his eyes and said. "I love you."
"I love you too." Danny replied.

He then leaned down a bit to kiss her lips.

Once they left the room, Jessica went to see Jennavive.

"Where you going Mommy?" Jennavive asked when Jessica said she would be back.
"I'm going with aunt Jane to run some errands she needs help with." Jessica said. "In case I'm not back in time, I want you to be good for daddy and listen to him when it's bedtime. Okay?"
"Okay mommy." Jennavive said as she hugged her mother. "I'll be good!"

Jessica smiled and hugged Jennavive tightly. Then a moment later, Jessica and Jane made their way to Jane's car and off they went to the hospital that Philip was in.

Jessica looked out the window as Jane drove. Both hands were on her belly, the baby not being as active as they usually were. It was as if the baby knew something was going on.

Jessica thought long and hard about what she wanted to do. As they pulled into a parking lot, Jessica turned to her aunt and said. "Aunt Jane...I...I want to see him first."
Jane put the car in park then turned towards Jessica. "That's fine, Jessie." She took a deep breath and said. "You ready?"
"No, but, let's go." Jessica replied.

Jane and Jessica walked into the hospital and Jane led the way. She knew what floor and room Phillip was in. Jessica's lawyer had told Jane the information she needed to know over the phone.

As soon as they approached the hospital room that Phillip was in, Jane and Jessica were greeted by a guard. The guard checked their I.D.'s then he cleared them to go in.

Before going in, Jessica took a deep breath. Jane hugged Jessica and held her close for a moment.

"You can do this." Jane said. "You are so strong, Jessica. I'll be right here waiting for you."
Jessica nodded, too emotional to speak.

Again, Jessica took a deep breath then she opened the door to the hospital room. Jessica walked in and closed the door. She looked down for moment, preparing herself to see her father for the first time in six years.

Tears instantly sprang to her eyes; so many emotions ran through her body. There was at first anger, sadness then heartbreak. Jessica stayed glued to her spot as she saw her father lying on the hospital bed.

Phillip looked very ill; he was very skinny, his cheekbones were prominent, he was balding, dark circles were under his eyes. He wore a oxygen mask helping him breathe. Jessica could hear that he was still having trouble breathing even with it on.

He was so weak that the guard didn't even handcuff Phillip to the bed which was protocol for all inmates. The doctor told the guard as well as Jane that he didn't think Phillip would make through the night.

Jessica's tears rolled down her cheeks and she let out a small sob. Phillip opened his eyes when he heard Jessica.

"Jessica..." Phillip said in a weak voice. "I'm...I'm so glad you came."
Jessica took few steps forward and said. "Yes. I wasn't sure if I was going to."

There was a moment of silence; Jessica didn't know what to say. So, she waited for Phillip to begin to speak.

"Jessica...I am...I am so sorry for what I did to you." Phillip said finally, tears rolled down his cheeks. "Once I got sober and all I had to do in my cell was think...I realized how sick I was. I also realized that what I did to you was really, really wrong. I didn't see that before. I was so blinded with grief and alcohol. But now, I can see clearly. I'm so disgusted with myself. I'm not making any excuses, but your mother's death turned me into someone I didn't recognize. I couldn't cope without your mother by my side and I know she is very disappointed in me and heartbroken for what I did. I became a stranger to not only you, but to myself." Phillip took a a few deep breaths as he held the oxygen mask more firmly; he had run out of steam. He caught his breath and continued. "Jessica...please...I know may not deserve it but, please...please forgive me."

Jessica tears streamed down her cheeks; as she listened to her father speak, she could see in his eyes that he was truly sorry and sincere.

In that moment, Jessica saw her father from when she was a small child. She saw the father who scared away all monsters at night that were inside her closet and under the bed. The father who was there to bandage her scraped knees. The father who would pick her up when she would fall. The father who protected her from the world as best he could. She no longer saw the monster he had become and the monster that took so much from her. Jessica just saw her loving father again.

Jessica stepped closer to the hospital bed and took hold of her father's hand. She looked into his eyes and said. "I was going to come in here and tell you how much you hurt me and tell you so many things have kept inside. But now...now I realize that, I am past all of the anger and the heartbreak. I've worked so hard to get to where I am today and I don't want to go back to that dark place I once was." She stopped for a second then went on. "I...I forgive you daddy. I forgive you."

Jessica bent down and hugged Phillip. She knew she had done the right thing in coming to see her father. This was the last piece in the puzzle to her recovery. Phillip closed his eyes and managed to hug Jessica back.

Phillip wasn't sure of what the after life had in store for him, but, now that Jessica forgave him, he could now die in peace.

Jessica pulled away and smiled a little. She then pulled up a chair close to his bed. She was still exhausted from traveling and she had just gone through so many emotions a while ago that she became emotionally exhausted.

She sat down and said. "I'm sorry. I have to sit. We had a pretty long day. We just got back from California."
"We?" Phillip asked.
Jessica smiled more and said. "My husband and I. We went to visit his parents."
"Who...who is he?" Phillip asked.
"Daniel Huston." Jessica replied.
"Wow, little Daniel Huston." Phillip chuckled. "How long have you been married?"

Phillip wanted to know all about his daughter's life. He missed out on so much due to his alcoholism and the sickness that took over his mind.

"We've been married for seven months." Jessica said. "We got married on New Year's Eve."
"Well, congratulations...to...you both." Phillip said, weakly, his voice was giving out but he wanted to spend this time with Jessica that he pushed through. "And now, you're having a baby." He smiled and continued. "I'm going to be a grandpa. You're going to be a wonderful mother, I just know it. You and Daniel must be over the moon expecting your first child. How far along are you? Is it a boy or a girl?"

Jessica wasn't sure if she wanted to tell him about Jennavive. It wasn't that she wanted to hide Jennavive from him, but, she wasn't sure how he would react to the news. They seemed to be in such a good place right now, and she didn't want Philip to take steps back because of her.

Jessica bit her bottom lip then decided to say. "Actually, Daniel and I have a daughter. She's excited to meet her baby brother. Her name is Jennavive and, I'm now five months." She said as she put a hand on her belly.
"Oh! Wow, I have a granddaughter and now I'll have a grandson." Phillip's smile grew. "Please, tell me more about your family." He said.

Jessica told him about her life with Danny and Jennavive. She however, never mentioned Jennavive's age nor did Phillip ask. Jessica thought it was better this way.

She then told him about school and how she was going to become a therapist to help children in situations like the ones she had been through. She also told him about Jane, Brad and Andrew. She told him about her trip to California and her week with her in laws.

Phillip listened intently and stayed quiet as he listened to Jessica speak. He was so happy that his daughter got through the hell he put her through and came out on the other side. He was so happy that Jessica was happy and he was so proud of his daughter.

After catching him up on her life, Jessica said. "Dad, Aunt Jane wants to see you too. Should I call her in?"
Phillip nodded. "Yes...send her in."

Jessica stood up and went to the door; she opened it and stepped out.

Jane stood up from the seat she has been sitting on as she waited for Jessica.

"Jessica, is everything okay?" She asked as she walked closer to Jessica.
"Yes." Jessica said as she nodded. "Everything is okay. Aunt Jane, you can go in now. I'll leave you two alone for a while then I'll come back in. I'm going to go get some air."
"Jessie, are you sure you're okay?" Jane asked worriedly.
Jessica managed to smile a little. "I'm sure. Oh...aunt Jane, I know that you wanted to say some things to Dad and, I won't stop you. I know you need to speak your mind but, I will say this..." She looked into Jane's eyes and said. "I forgave daddy. So, I think it would be best if you can forgive him too. If you do, we can finally move on."

Jane nodded and hugged her niece tightly. Jane pulled away then walked towards the door.

Jane went inside to speak to her brother and Jessica went downstairs to get some fresh air.

As soon as she was outside of the hospital, she found a bench and sat down. Her tears rolled down her cheeks that she had been holding in. Now, she had let them free.

The cool air of the night blew through Jessica's hair and caressed her skin soothingly. Jessica sobbed, but it wasn't a sob of sadness, it was of happiness.

No, she wasn't happy that her father was dying but she was happy that she got a chance to see her father and forgave him face to face. Jessica finally got that closure she had been wanting for so long and in that moment, she felt truly, truly free.

I struggled a bit with this chapter and I hope I got the emotions just right.

Thank you JessicaLangeLove for the help!

I hope you all liked this chapter.