Time passed quickly, Christmas was coming soon, so the young couple went to the headmistress of the orphanage to talk to her.

"It's good that you came. " The red-haired director said. "Actually, I was supposed to contact you even earlier. "

"Something happened? " Lily asked.

"Something about Ben? " Jikyo asked.

"You know that Benjamin is sick... " She began sadly to which they nodded. "His condition has deteriorated significantly recently. It's very hard for the doctors to tell how much time he has left, so... I want you to know that. "

Liliana and Jikyo exchanged worried looks. The blonde took her husband's hand.

"How is Ben now? " Park asked.

"Differently. Sometimes better, sometimes worse. " The woman replied. "If you've changed your mind about adoption..."

"No. " Wilkinson interjected immediately. "We haven't changed our minds."

"We came because we wanted to ask if we could take Ben to us for Christmas. " Man added. "We're not going to change our minds. We want him to stay with us... No matter how much time he has left. "

"I see. " The director nodded. "But I just want you to be aware of that. " She said. "We don't know when we might lose Benjamin. "

After talking to the director of the orphanage, the young couple was very depressed. They knew about the boy's illness and were aware of what could come at any moment, but they tried to think about it as little as possible. They both loved him with all their hearts and didn't want to part with him.

"We'll make him happy. " The blonde approached her husband and put her hand on his shoulder, which caught his attention. "No matter how much time he has left... We'll be with him until the end. Bennie won't be alone. " She smiled weakly at her beloved.

Before they knew it, it was Christmas and little Ben was going to spend it in his new home. The headmistress agreed to the foster parents' request. The young couple didn't show their worries to the boy. They both wanted this time and they, and Benjamin, to fulfill it joyfully, without sorrows.

After dinner, the boy could unwrap the presents. Hemsworth didn't expect to get anything. Jikyo and Lily, however, made sure that the boy could remember these holidays as best as possible.

"Santa wouldn't forget about you. " Blonde said with a smile.

"Santa doesn't exist, it's just a fairy tale. " Ben replied, which surprised Lily, and Jikyo only laughed. "It's adults who buy and wrap gifts every year. They hide them under the Christmas tree and tell the children that Santa did it. I know that's not true. "

"E-eh..." Wilkinson was speechless for a moment. "How can you know that? Santa Claus is..."

"Thank you for the gifts. " Benjamin smiled. "You don't have to pretend, Lily, and I'm so glad." He said then hugged her.

"How these children grow up so quickly. " Woman shook her head and returned the gesture.

"May I have another request for you? " He asked, then coughed a moment later.

"Of course. What is it, partner? " Jikyo smiled kindly at boy.

"Can... Can we go to mom's? " He asked uncertainly. "I..." He coughed. "I-I'd like to wish her a Merry Christmas."

Liliana exchanged glances with her husband.

"Yes, Bennie. " Woman said pleasantly. "Let's go. "

The three of them dressed warmly and after a while they were outside and heading towards the cemetery. Little Ben walked between Jikyo and Lily and held their hands. Everyone was talking to each other and looking at the houses decorated with lights. After a few minutes of leisurely walking, they reached their destination.

"Hi, mom..." Ben said and looked at the snow-covered tombstone. Boy wiped the inscription with his hand to reveal his mother's name in the snow. Penny Hemsworth.

Jikyo placed the flowers on the boy's parent's grave and then stood back by the other two.

"I think you were right, mom..." Benjamin said without taking his eyes off the grave. "There is more to the world than these sad moments. If you're watching over me, you know, don't you? Jikyo and Lily will take me in so you won't have to worry anymore. "

At these words, Park took his wife's hand and smiled warmly at her, which she reciprocated.

"You won't be mad? " Boy continued. "You won't be mad if I ever dare to call them... Parents...?" He coughed. "It's better now, I don't feel that lonely so much." Coughed again. "Mom... Merry Christmas. "

"We'll take care of your son, Peny. " Jikyo said and placed his other hand on boy's shoulder. "So dont worry. " Nodded.

"You can be proud of him. " Lily added. "Bennie, is really..." She didn't finish, because the boy began to cough even more and louder. He couldn't stop.

After a while, Ben fell to the ground.

"Ben! "

"Bennie! "

After that, everything happened quickly. The young couple took him to the clinic where Wilkinson worked, where the doctors took care of him.

Jikyo paced the corridor, back and forth. He was restless and very worried. After a while, his wife approached him, who had just left the room, where she helped the doctors.

"And what? " Park asked immediately.

"He fell asleep. " She replied then sighed. "But his condition is not the best. " She added sadly. "He'll have to stay here, and then...We'll see."

Jikyo put his hands behind his head. None of them planned this year's holidays in such a way. The couple hoped that they would spend them happily together, but now it seemed that it would only get worse.

Two days have passed. The boy was still in the clinic. Lily was with him now, changing his drip. She was wearing her nurse uniform and was finishing her task when suddenly Ben woke up.

"Hi. " The blonde smiled kindly at him. "How are you feeling, Bennie?" She asked with concern.

"A bit weird. " He replied in a hoarse voice. He was very pale and during these few days it was obvious that he had become very weak. "Where's Jikyo?" He asked curiously.

"He'll visit you in about an hour. Then he'll finish his shift at work and come right over here. " Woman replied.

Boy coughed.

"C-can you ask him..." He coughed again. Liliana had to help him sit up, and a moment later gave him water and the appropriate medicines. "C-can you ask him..." He repeated weakly. "Can he come a little earlier? I want to see him again before... "

"Bennie. " She interrupted him. "Don't even say that. You'll see Jikyo and..."

"I'm not stupid, Lily. " He nodded and looked at her sadly. "I saw how this disease was killing my mother. I know what that means, and I know I don't have much time, so please... Will you ask him? "

The woman was silent for a moment. She wanted to say something, but her voice failed her. This situation was difficult for her, it was for all of them. They had seen Ben suffer, and knowing that there was nothing more they could do to help him was terrible. They were even supposed to sign adoption papers in a few days and Benjamin could finally live with them permanently, and now everything has been put on hold for the time being. The young couple didn't leave the boy alone, they wanted to be with him until the very end. They wanted the boy to feel their support and presence.

"I'll call him. " She said after a while, trying to sound normal. Her voice trembled, and tears appeared in her eyes, which she didn't let flow.

A moment later Liliana moved towards the exit of the boy's room but stopped when Ben spoke again.

"Lily. " The blonde looked over her shoulder at him. "You really are and will be a great mom. " He said, which surprised her a bit. Ben smiled broadly at her. "I'd like to hear you play the violin again."

The woman swallowed her saliva and felt the first tears roll down her cheek.

"You will. " She said and left the room after a while

Liliana stopped around the corner, then one hand leaned against the wall and the other covered her mouth. Now she couldn't hold back her tears. She started crying and couldn't control herself. The blonde crouched down and hid her face in her hands. She didn't want to show weakness in front of the boy, but now she couldn't and didn't have to restrain herself. She let her emotions out. No one was around, no one saw or heard her. Therefore, woman sat on the floor, leaned her back against the wall and let herself cry, at least for this one short moment.

When, after a long time, she calmed down, she informed her husband about Ben's request and Jikyo immediately appeared on the spot.

"How is he feeling? " He asked, approaching his pale wife.

"He's ... " She stopped, not really knowing what to say. The blonde avoided her husband's gaze, because she knew that he would soon notice her emotions. "Bennie is... "

"Lily? " The dark haired man took her face in his hands. "Look at me. "

"No... Not now, don't look at me now... " She didn't want Jikyo to see her in such a state, but he managed to see her tears anyway. "I'm fine. " She whispered brokenly as he lifted her chin.

"Come here. " He hugged his beloved to himself, Wilkinson immediately snuggled more into him.

"It's not fair, Jikyo. " She said hugging her husband. "It's never fair... "

"I know, darling. " He said soothingly stroking her back and resting his chin on her head.

After a moment, blonde pulled away from the man and wiped her face with her hands.

"Go to him. " She said. "I'll wait. " Added and looked him in the eyes uncertainly. "I'm fine. " She kept reassuring him.

Park smiled wanly at her, then soothingly stroked her cheek with his hand, kissed her forehead and went to Benjamin, while Liliana sighed heavily, trying not to cry again.

Man peeked into the room, knocked and smiled as he approached Ben, who looked at him.

"Hi there, partner. " He said kindly and sat on the chair next to his bed. "How are you? "

"Better, I suppose. " He replied uncertainly, then looked at his companion. "How's Lily? She looked pale when she was with me. "

Jikyo smiled warmly at Ben's concern.

"It's overwork. " He lied. "She just needs to rest."

"Will you take care of her? "

"Mm, of course. " Park replied. "As always. " Added confidently.

"Good. " Ben nodded, coughed, and lay back down on the bed. "I asked her to bring you here earlier. I'm sorry I interrupted your work. "

"It's okay, Ben. " Jikyo interjected immediately. "It's okay. Andre wanted to let me go early today anyway. "

"Did you cook that good soup of yours in the bistro that you once made for me too? "

"Yes, and the clients liked it very much. "

"That's good. It's really good. " He coughed again. "I wanted to thank you..." He said weakly. "You and Lily... You took care of me, thanks to you... I felt loved again. I felt like I had a family again..." He coughed. "Thank you, Jikyo..." He smiled faintly at him.

"You don't have to thank us. Your presence made us happy. " Park said sincerely, trying to control his own emotions. Seeing him in such a state broke his heart. "We still have a rematch on those water cards, partner. " He smiled at him. "So hold on, okay?" He had tears in his eyes.

"Mm..." Ben nodded. "Jikyo..." He whispered weakly. "You were right to get so puffed up when your wife played so nicely..." He said with a slight smile. "Lily played really nice..." He looked the man in the eyes. "Jikyo... Tell Lily she's as cool as you are. " He smiled at the old memory. " And that I thank her... And you too... Thank you... Dad... " He whispered with a faint smile on his lips, and after a short while his eyes closed and the apparatus began to beep loudly.

"Ben?! " Jikyo exclaimed. "Ben! "

The doctors rushed into the room and ordered the man to go out into the corridor. Liliana rushed in with the other nurses and fetched the necessary equipment. The doctors used the defibrillator several times, but it didn't help.

"I'm sorry, Lily. " The doctor looked at the crying woman. "Time of death..." He looked at the clock. "It's six to five..."

The blonde covered her mouth with her hands, and streams of tears ran down her face. It was too late, there was nothing they could do. Benjamin was gone.

The woman wiped her tears and walked down the hall to her husband.

"What about Ben? " He asked worriedly. "Lily, what about him?"

Wilkinson looked at him with tears in her eyes and shook her head.

"No..." Jikyo couldn't believe it. "No, no, no... " He ran his hand through his hair and then hit the bench for patients, which was located in the corridor.

Lily didn't stop him, and she couldn't accept it either. Even if she wanted to hide her tears now, she couldn't, it was too much.

Jikyo looked at his crying wife and then approached her and hugged her tightly. The woman didn't protest, returned the gesture and snuggled even more into her beloved.