"Are you guys smoking again?" Owen asked his kids weakly as he lay in the hospital with his children surrounding him. All three of them enveloped Owen with hugs and kisses on his head and hands after they rushed into the room. All three of them cried as she held onto their father's hand. Owen couldn't help but shed a few tears as well. He didn't plan to meet his children like this. He thought maybe – just maybe – he will get better and will see his children after he beats cancer, but no matter what – this stubborn disease refuses to let him go.

When his kids entered the room, he instantly smelt smoke and coffee. He is well aware of how his children process – they always smoke when they are stressed. Silas sniffled and wiped his cheek before he chuckled, "Yeah, sorry about that, dad." He mumbled. "We didn't get the time to go and shower or change," He added.

Owen's eyes were droopy. He wasn't sleepy, he was just very weak and tired. His skin has turned darker, probably because of the chemotherapies and other medications. He doesn't have hair on his head, his eyebrows faded as well and his finger and toes nails have turned blue and black. He looks much thinner than before – and his skin has wrinkled more and now it hangs off his flesh. Marcus pressed his lips together as he take his father's appearance into account – he couldn't believe his eyes. This is not how Owen was supposed to be.

Owen softly sighed, "I am sure, you all haven't gotten any time to rest either?" He asks – looking at all three kids of his. They all slowly shook their heads. "How could we? I couldn't rest without seeing you first," Elizabeth replied while holding on to Owen's hand.

Back in New York, Maria sat on the couch with her phone pressed to her ear. She had just finished talking to Silas, who was about to go see Owen's doctor before he rang her brother. Maria learned about Sharon's death. She needed to reach her brother and make sure he and mainly Liam is doing okay.

"Yes, we will be preparing for the funeral now. Well, there is no we – I will have to prepare for it." Leo's voice held gravity. He was not only upset by Sharon's passing but worried about Liam – who has gone completely silent in the past few hours. Maria smashed her lips together and nodded her head, "How is Liam doing, and what about Mia? Is someone going to inform her?" Maria asked.

Leo heaved a sigh, "Liam is," He paused and turned around to look at him – silently sitting on the beach of the hospital. He refuses to leave Leo's side. He must be feeling extremely insecure and scared. But Leo meant it when he said that Liam is not alone. He never will be – not until Leo is alive. "He has been very quiet. Of course, he is upset. I am with him. And Mia, well – Sharon didn't want Mia to know if something happened to her, but I don't think that would be fair. I will notify her, but that's all. It is not like she can attend the funeral." Leo replied.

Maria rubbed her temple and exhaled loudly, "You are right," She mumbled. "And what about Elizabeth? Did you get in contact with her? Does she know about Sharon?" She asked. Leo shook his head and look out the big window with his phone pressed to his ear, "No, she doesn't know anything yet. I want to keep it that way. If she knows about Sharon – she will be worried for Liam and I don't want to add to her troubles. She is already worried for her own father," Leo replied.

Maria shook her head, "Don't do that. Don't keep this from her as well. Leo, you saw how she reacted when she came to know that you knew about Owen's health. Don't make a bigger mess and just tell her," She suggested.

Leo pinched the bridge of his nose, "And how do you think I should do that? She is not talking to me anyway," He tried to reason.

"Let dad tell her. I know she will reach back to you as soon as she knows," Maria replied. When Leo didn't answer her back immediately, she heaved a sigh. "Look, Leo, if you will keep this from her now. She will be the one that will feel guilty about it. She should know about it – even if she is not around, she can always stay in touch by phone. Liam needs Elizabeth around her as well," Maria tried to advise. Leo nodded, "Yeah," he whispered.

How was he going to explain to his sister that he was afraid Elizabeth doesn't see Liam the way Liam might expect her to? How could he explain that he wants Liam to have a family, but he also doesn't want to force the idea of adopting Liam on Elizabeth? How can he explain that he is scared that Elizabeth might not want to adopt a child – what if she is not ready to bear the responsibility for a young boy? Leo doesn't want to lose Liam or Elizabeth and he is scared he might have to let one go.

Elizabeth was sitting outside Owen's room. She couldn't bring herself to go in after she, Marcus, and Silas had a chat with the doctor. She wasn't expecting any good news, but she was also not expecting to hear that cancer has spread. She wasn't ready to know that it was now in his right lung and the bones as well. She was not ready to know that her father doesn't have a long time to live. She wasn't ready for the doctor to allow Owen to get back home so he can be surrounded by his loved ones. Elizabeth snuffled as she wiped the tears off her face. She wasn't strong enough to go through this.

Marcus saw Elizabeth crying. He glanced at Silas, who was wordlessly sitting on the other bench with his head lowered. He decided to go with his sister before he consoles his brother. Marcus was prepared for such news – he knew things were getting complicated. He had to be strong for his siblings who seems to require Marcus's support. He heaved a sigh and sat beside Elizabeth. He wrapped his arm around his sister's shoulder and it didn't take her long to just break down in his arm. Elizabeth rested her head on Marcus's shoulder and wept. "I can't do this. I can't watch him go, Marcus." She cried.

Marcus pressed his lips together, trying to hold in his tears, but one dripped off his eye anyway, "I know," He whispered. "But we must," He added softly before he kissed over her head and glanced at Silas who didn't lift his head. Silas wasn't crying, but he was still. He didn't expect things to go downhill so fast. Just like his sister, he is not ready to let Owen go either, but what can he do to make him stop? Nothing.

"Silas, it is time to bring everyone here. We need to keep everyone close to dad as much as possible. He misses home," Marcus gently asked his brother, who heard him but didn't respond. Elizabeth broke into a silent sob when she heard Marcus and hugged him tighter.

"Silas," Marcus called out to his brother again. Silas blinked. He slowly turned to look at Marcus. "Silas, we got to be strong for dad, okay?" He asked his rother who didn't answer back. He then looked down at his sister, "Elizabeth, you are hearing me, right? Dad needs us. We have to be there for him," His voice broke as he held himself from adding "even for the last time".

Maria was feeding Ezra a bottle when her phone rang. She quickly wiped Ezra's mouth and picked up her phone. She was waiting to hear back from Silas, "Hello?" She pressed her phone to her ear. Where she was stressing out, Ezra was smiling at her with his stomach full and freshly up from a nap. At that moment, she envied her son – he is living a perfect life. She wished she could live in such unawareness – where nothing and everything matters, but it doesn't make a difference.

The silence from the other end answered all her concerns. She closed her eyes tightly as they burned. She let out a shaky breath and opened her eyes again, "How long does he have?" She whispered. This might be the hardest question she could ask, but she needed to know – she needed to prepare herself for yet another farewell.

"Hardly a couple of weeks," Silas whispered back, and for the first time since the three siblings had a chat with the doctor, he broke into sobs. "Come here as quickly as you can. I can't do this alone," Sils sobbed. Maria snuffled and let her tears flow, "You don't have to," She whispered, "Silas, you don't have to," She added as she listen to her husband cry from the other end.

Charlie received a similar call from Marcus. He told her what they were told hardly an hour ago. Unlike Silas, Marcus was trying to keep it together. Charlie could hear the struggle in his voice. He was fighting with his own emotions. "I – um –" He paused to cover up the wobbliness of his voice, "I am booking a ticket for the three of you. I will let you know what time your flight is. It will be as same as Maria and Ezra – oh, and we are trying to get Bear in as well. We can't leave him behind. Anyway, I guess you should start packing –" Marcus was rambling. He always does when he wants to cover something up.

Charlie couldn't help herself and softly sobbed, "Marcus, stop it." She cried as she snuffled and pressed the phone to her ear. She couldn't believe Owen was – she couldn't even bring herself to complete her thoughts. "Marcus, stop being like this. You are allowed to cry – to grieve." Charlie wept. "Don't worry about us, we will be there in no time – to Owen and you." She told him. Marcus nodded his head but couldn't speak as a fat tear escaped his eye.

Elizabeth dialed Leo's number as she lay on the bed of the room she will be staying in. Silas and Marcus are bringing Owen home while she came early – she needed to talk to Leo before they arrive. She was reading all the texts that she got from Leo. The last two were the ones that made her worried.

You need to know something, Elizabeth. Can you please answer my calls?

I feel helpless. I didn't what else to do so I am writing to you, again. I know you will ignore this too, but I want to say that I am sorry for keeping this from you. I wanted to tell you the minute I knew, but it was not my secret to tell. I am sorry. I am going to give you some time. Please, just call me back when you feel like it. I need you. I love you.

Leo didn't take long to answer her call. Elizabeth was staring up at the ceiling. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, "He is leaving us, Leo. He is dying. My father is dying." She whispered as tears rolled down the side of her face and into her hair. She blinked. "I am sorry I gave you hard time. I shouldn't have. It was not your mistake. I was just upset, I –" she paused. "You know what? I don't care if you kept it away from me. I just want you here with me." She wept.

Leo closed his eyes tightly and rested his head against the cold wall. He turned around to look at Liam, who finally fell asleep after spending the whole day with him at the hospital. Leo walked out of Liam's room as he sighed, "Elizabeth, I want you to know something." He whispered as he walked into his room.

Elizabeth blinked as she slowly sat up. She could sense it in his voice. Something was wrong. "What happened, Leo? Is Liam okay?" She asked – putting her hand over her chest. She brought her eyebrows together. She didn't even think twice before asking about Liam – she didn't even ask Leo after himself – the first person that came to her mind was the little boy. This was a first for her. She didn't think she could ever feel so close to him.

Leo gulped, "Liam's okay. He is sleeping, but Sharon – God, Elizabeth – she passed earlier this morning in her sleep. It was another stroke. It was massive," Leo replied. Elizabeth closed her eyes tightly. Her heart crushed in her chest. While she not talking to Leo out of her pettiness – Leo and Liam were all alone there – going through a tragedy alone. She felt the guilt building upon her.

She sobbed, "Why is this happening to us, Leo?" She asked. She just couldn't contain her emotions. "This is so hard. I can't do this," She shook her head as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "God, Liam." She paused and had a hiccup, "God, ho-how is he? God, I should have been with him. He must be feeling so – Leo, how are you holding up? I – I feel like I am losing my mind," She fists her hair.

"Hey, baby. Relax. Take deep breaths, Elizabeth. Everyone is okay here. Liam is sleeping. He has been with me at the hospital. I will make sure you get to talk to him as soon as he wakes up," Leo replied.

Elizabeth wept and nodded her head, "Did you and Liam eat?" She asked – she couldn't stop crying so she asked will bawling her eyes out.

A soft smile curled on Leo's lips but it couldn't reach his eyes, "No, we just returned. Liam left on the way back home. I will make him something to eat now. He did have a sandwich at the hospital." He replied.

"Leo, please eat something." She snuffled – forcing herself to stop crying. Leo smiled and nodded, "I will. I promise. Did you eat anything?" He asked. "Just some hospital food," She mumbled back. Leo couldn't reply as Elizabeth quickly added, "I wish I was there with you both, but I can't," She felt selfish saying that. Her father was alive – not well, not he is alive while Sharon – that poor woman is gone, and Liam – he must be feeling so lonely.

Leo nodded, "I know, and it is fine. I have already arranged the funeral tomorrow." He told her as he opened his cupboard.

Elizabeth gulped. She didn't answer him back immediately, but after a brief pause as she smashed her lips together, "Leo, can I ask you for something?" She asked.

"Of course, you can." He replied.

Elizabeth licked her dried lips, "After the funeral, can you and Liam please come here. Even if just for a couple of days – can you please be here? I want – I want dad to meet Liam properly." She told him.

Leo's eyes widened. He didn't think Elizabeth would suggest that. He didn't have time to get into details but her words were affirming to him. "Are you sure about that, Lizzy?" He asked.

Elizabeth nodded, "Yes, I want everyone to meet him. I want Liam to feel at home with my family," She whispered.

Leo let out a shaky chuckle. He has been so worried about this for so long – only for Elizabeth to just make his concerns disappear in a second. "I – I will. I promise. I will," He replied and nodded his head while he stood in front of the opened cupboard. He opened the drawer and looked down at a small ox hiding under some documents.

"Also, please ring me as soon as he wakes up. I want to talk to him." Elizabeth said with a soft sigh.

Leo just hummed and stared down at the ring box that he took out of the drawer. He bought this ring before he even knew about Owen's condition. He was supposed to ask for Owen's blessing before he could pop the most important question to Elizabeth, but since Owen got sick – Leo didn't get the appropriate time to ask her father – but maybe the right time has come. Before anything happens, Leo wants Owen to know that his daughter will always be loved and protected – no matter what.

Leo wants to ask Elizabeth to marry him, but he wants Owen's blessing first.