It's been a few weeks since Chuck's been discharged and Riley and Lottie have been home.

Lottie's been in a weird mood ever since. She's been angry and emotional and it's pissing her off. Riley's been trying to write new songs and he's been running them past Lottie- or trying to at least. She's usually sleeping or hunched over in front of the toilet, vomiting.

She just keeps brushing it off as stress. After all, she is busy writing a new album with the talk of another tour in the future.

Currently, Lottie is curled up in bed. She's been in bed since she woke up. Riley knows somethings up but he doesn't want to pry.

Riley sighs as he pokes his head into the bedroom. He sets his notebook down on the dresser then slides in under the sheets behind her, wrapping an arm around her middle.

She stirs and pulls a face, scooting away. "No." She mumbles, her stomach twisting.

He pulls back. "No what?"

"I'm gonna throw up." She scurries to the bathroom where she promptly gags harshly then throws up.

Riley sits against the closed bathroom door while she vomits, his own stomach hurting for her. "Need me to get you anythin'?"

"No." She breathes, screwing her eyes shut. "Just some tea." He grunts as he stands and heads to the kitchen, putting the cutesy red tea kettle Lottie found at a flea market on the back burner.

Lottie groans, leaning back against the tub. Something in her head is telling her to dig through the bottom drawer. The contents in that drawer is all feminine related; tampons, pads, Pamprin, liners, some condoms, and pregnancy tests.

She crouches down and snags a pregnancy test from the back of the drawer and hesitantly takes it.

"Hey Lot, your tea's ready." Riley says in a soft voice along with a soft knock on the bathroom door. "Babe?"

"Just- Just a sec." She splashes cold water on her face to help hide her tear streaked face.

Riley gets her comfy on the couch and hands her a cup of tea. "Got Phone Booth on." He tells her, sitting next to her on the couch. "You need anythin' else?"

Lottie sighs shakily and cuddles against his side, forcing tears back. "Thank you." Riley presses a loving kiss to the side of her head and tears swell in her eyes. "You're somethin' else."

"I'm kinda the best."

+++

The shock of three positive pregnancy tests has subsided slightly over the next two weeks. Lottie still hasn't decided what she wants to do about it and she hasn't told Riley yet.

Right now, she's sitting on a chair in the booth with her headphones on and her notebook on the music stand. She's recording a song she recently unearthed from the back of her folder. She's in the middle of singing when her phone starts ringing, startling everyone.

She sighs heavily as she answers it. "Hello?"

"Hey, it's me." Her older brother says around a hefty dip pinch. "You busy?"

"What's up?"

"It's Chuck." He shakes his head. "He's in the hospital." Lottie feels a wave of déjà-vu slam into her like a ton of bricks.

"The fuck happened this time?" She huffs, totally forgetting that she's hooked up to the mic and everyone in the studio can hear her.

"It was another heart attack." Calvin responds and Lottie rubs her face. "He's in critical condition."

"Uh, yeah. Heard that before."

"You comin' down or not?"

"Yeah, whatever. We'll be down." She hangs up and pockets her phone then exits the booth. "Ri, we gotta get goin'. Chuck's back in the hospital."

+++

Riley wraps an arm around Lottie's shoulders. "What do you mean I can't see him?" She asks quietly. "He's my- he's my dad."

"I know, Miss, but Mrs. Cross said-"

"My mother is bannin' me from seeing my dad?"

"I'm sorry." The nurse says sincerely. "You can wait out in the waiting room."

"Yeah, thanks." She turns on her heel and makes her way to the small lounge, her jaw clenched so tightly her teeth might crack.

Lottie throws her purse down on a chair and starts to pace. "This is bullshit." She says.

"I know."

"He could be actually dyin' and Cathy won't let me see him? What the fuck, Ri!?" She feels her bottom lip tremble. Lottie stops pacing and looks at him and when they make eye contact, that's when the tears start pouring down her face.

"Hey- hey, come here." He wraps her in his arms, holding her close to his chest. She sobs against him, gripping the back of his shirt in tight fistfuls. She cries, doesn't hold anything back, and Riley feels tears of his own form in his eyes.

Lottie doesn't cry often.

It's been said before but when she does cry, it's like the world stopped. She's usually a pretty laid back girl but when she's upset or angry, you better watch out.

Riley sits down on the bench behind him with her still wrapped up in his arms, trying to calm her down or comfort her with a hand running over her hair and down her back.

Honestly, Riley is shocked.

Never in a million years did he think Lottie would act like this with her father in this condition.

He could be dead and they wouldn't know.

A nurse comes up to them. "Chuck is askin' for you." She says in a soft voice. Riley helps his girlfriend to her feet, his heart incredibly heavy as she walks away.

Lottie sits next to her father and sighs heavily. "Lottie," Chuck starts. "I know I ain't been the best father." Tears swell in both of their eyes. "And I'm sorry."

Lottie swallows hard. "Thanks."

"I'm sorry for never supportin' you and your music. Seein' you perform that one night made me cry. I- I had no idea you sounded like that. Guess I would've known if I went to anythin' at school for you. I'm so proud of you." She nods. "Don't stop doin' what you're doin', baby. I know you's gon' do big things one day."

She takes his clammy hand in hers, her thumb brushing across the rough skin. "Thank you." She sniffles. "That means a lot that you's apologizin' to me."

"I was a shitty father." He states. "And I know it. My old man, your Papaw, was an ass to me and my brothers. I always thought I was different that him but I guess not. I'm really- really, I'm real sorry."

"Daddy..."

He lets out a choked laugh. "It feels so good to be called that by my little girl." Tears slip down his face. "You'll always be my little girl, Charlotte. I love you."

That's probably the first time he's ever said that to her.

It's the last time too.

"I love you too, daddy."

"I hope you and Riley get hitched. Y'all are a match made in Heaven." He wheezes out a nasty cough. "He looks at you like the world stops turnin'." His chest starts heaving and the heart monitor hooked up to his finger starts beeping rapidly.

Chuck's face contorts in pain and his eyes squeeze shut. "Take care of yourself for once, Lottie. You and Riley is all that matters." His breathing is shallow and his grip tightens around Lottie's hand.

"Daddy-" The machine flatlines and his grip loosens. She slowly gets up and grabs the nurse.

She tries to resuscitate him but it's too late.

Charles Cross has died. He finally got to apologize to Lottie, finally told her he loved her and that he's proud of her.

Lottie is ushered out of the room. She finds Riley with the same tearful expression she had earlier. "He's gone."

"Lot... Come here." He holds her again. "You okay?"

She nods but the tears leaking down her face contradict it. "He told me he loved me, Ri." She whimpers. "Said he was sorry for- for bein' such a shitty father." Riley is speechless. "I gotta get outta here."

He nods and picks up her jacket, his other hand around her smaller one as they head down to her SUV.