She's not Afraid || JJ Maybank ||

29. Coming to terms

6 months later

Raelyns health declines yet again. A part of them thought they'd get that 1 in a million call again but it never came. JJ and Lee had been informed that Caden's home life was similar to JJs as a kid to say the least.

JJ walks into Raes room where Caden is holding her and stroking her hair. When he sees JJ he quickly goes to move away "it's fine kid" JJ says.

Rae looks up at him with a weak smile. "Hi princess" he says happily with a kiss on the forehead. "hi dad" she weakly says back. Talking had become hard for her, she'd been on an IV. Her one request was that she wanted to pass at home.

A nurse came every day to check up on her and give her a new IV but other than that they just hung around all day. The last day she could really move or go outside they went to John Bs and the beach.

JB and Sarah actually had a little boy of their own and got married. Shocking. Kie and Pope kept to themselves but definitely still has a thing for one an other.

"I need to get going, I'll see you tomorrow" Caden. says before kissing her cheek and walking out the door. JJ hops in bed next to her "you know... your boy toy is growing on me" he shrugs. "keep him around" she says back.

JJ sighs softly and pulls her into him "I will" he reassures. He looks down to see that Rae fell asleep in his arms so he decides to take a nap as well. Lee walks into the bedroom to find them both asleep together.

She pulls out her phone and snaps a picture of them. Everyone wished life could stay like this forever, JJ and Lee would both take their own lives if it meant she could live.

Over the next few days she continued to get sicker and was asleep most of the day and night. Caden came around every day for a few hours before going home still. When Rae was awake she was in pain or throwing up.

Raelyn leans over the edge of the bed and pukes as JJ holds a trash can to her face. "get it all out I'm right here" he says and he rubs her back. Coming to terms with all this had been hard. I don't think they even had come to terms with it yet.

"g-get mom" she asks, having to force the words out of her mouth. JJ mood and goes into the living room where he finds Lee looking at old pictures with teary eyes. He can tell they're from when Rae was little "she wants you" he says.

Lydia looks up and nods before walking to her bedroom. JJ sits on the couch and picks up the old photo album. There was a lot of pictures from way long ago.. He pulls one out of him, Lee and Rae at the hospital when she was born and shoves it in his wallet.

In the other room Lee sits next to Rae. "what's wrong? is everything ok?" she starts to ramble but Raelyn just cuddles into her side. JJ walks in and lays on the other side of her.

"I want to be out at the beach not on a shelf. Keep Caden around, a-and please don't be sad forever"

Everything was real now, tears fill all of their eyes. Lyd hugs her fighter than ever and JJ manages to pull the both of them into his arms. "I love you" JJ repeatedly says.

"I love you, I love you, I love you"

Lydia chokes back her tears and squeezes Raes hand. JJs rough hands rub Lee's back, this was there braking point.... for now at least.