Gracie ran straight over to them all but she hugged Joe first Joe slowly wrapping his arms around her as he bent down to her level so it could be a proper hug and not an awkward one. He just couldn't believe it's her, he had thought about her a lot over the years. Wondering whether they did the right thing not being in her life at all. He loved the updates he got but it wasn't enough for him.
"You're my favorite!" She boasted and Joe chuckled pulling away from her forcing him to look at her face. He could mostly see Demi in her but there were definitely some of his own features in there too. Family and friends had always said she was the perfect mixture of them both but he always saw that little bit more of Demi in her. "Joe okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine." He assured her and she gave Nick and Kevin a hug too but it wasn't like any other meet and greets they have had.
"Your mom reached out to me," Lilly whispered to him and Joe nodded his head gently. "I'm sorry about what you're going through."
"It's okay." Joe answered.
"Can we talk later?" She questioned and Joe nodded his head again.
"Sure, I'll see if I can before the show if not, it will be afterwards." Joe answered softly but their conversation ended when they were forced to take a photo with Gracie so they could move on but they also signed a couple of photos for her too.
"Enjoy the show okay?" Joe questioned and Gracie nodded her head gently. It was clear that she knew nothing about him being her real father and that Lilly and Gracie weren't her real parents. But she would be eight by now, starting to get to the age where she was able to know the truth.
"I will!" She replied.
"What do you say Gracie?" Lilly questioned.
"Thank you!" She chimed before they were politely led away so the meet and greets could continue.
But Joe couldn't help but watch Gracie with a smile on his face.
_________________
Joe didn't have chance to see either Demi or Lilly again before the show. He felt well enough to go on, it being the last show was getting him through it. He hoped he could just get through the same show. The cheers of the crowd was enough to get him pumped as they all headed onto stage, the crowd erupting to see them all. But they went straight into their first song, their first song leading onto their second song. They then introduced themselves even though it was clear they would know who they were.
"Thanks." Joe breathed as a backstage man brought on a stool for him to sit on two more bring ones for Nick and Kevin. It was more for the fact that they didn't want to make it noticeable that Joe needed to sit down as he sipped on his water.
"How are you doing tonight?!" Nick called out but Joe found himself trying to focus on the crowd, trying to find Gracie. She was right there on front row trying to get his attention. She grinned when he waved to her. Suddenly she begun to get a bit more blurry as Joe tried to focus on the show but he begun to feel that familiar taste in his mouth. He heard the crowd aw he rushed off his stool towards backstage. He was just out of sight of the crowd when he fell to the floor beginning to fit Nick and Kevin running off stage after him.
