Joe and Demi were waiting in the dressing room for Lilly to come through and speak to them both. Nick, Kevin and Wilmer had offered to look after Gracie so she wouldn't know the truth yet of where she came from. The young girl was just amazed that two members from the band she loved would be playing with her. Demi glanced at Joe who had his eyes closed on the verge of falling asleep. She could see what a long day it had been for him, the two of them meeting for the first time in years, having many fits afterwards before the show. They took a lot out of him as it was and it was already getting late. Tomorrow he'd be getting his treatment but that was likely to make him feel worse than what he was now. She was worried about him. She reached over wrapping hold of his hand making his eyes open but he settled when he saw it was Demi.
"Thanks." He mumbled.
"You can go to sleep real soon." She assured him and he took his hand back making himself more comfortable getting his phone out so he could amuse himself and not fall asleep.
"You can come to the hospital if you want tomorrow?" Joe inquired and Demi shrugged her shoulders.
"I don't know, surely you don't want to be too crowded, I don't want to interfere with room or anything." Demi replied.
"They're doing it in my hospital room because obviously who I am. So there will be plenty of room." Joe answered.
"If you want me there then I'll come, your parents and brothers going?" Demi questioned and Joe nodded his head.
"I-I couldn't imagine them not being there." Joe admitted and Demi cracked a small smile. She loved how close they were as a family even though they spent a lot of time together. Demi was about to speak again when Lilly came through the door giving them a warm smile as she came over sitting down in the couch opposite them, the coffee table was in between the three of them.
"Gracie really enjoyed herself tonight." Lilly stated.
"She been a fan for long?" Demi inquired, she thought it was cute she latched onto the band which happened to have her real family involved.
"From the beginning really, it's been really hard not to tell her the truth but she's getting to that age now where we're really thinking about telling her and that involves you both having a relationship with her if you wanted too. Denise reached out to me because you've expressed it before haven't you?" She questioned looking over at Joe who nodded his head.
"I mean, I always wanted to raise her myself and now I have this tumor, I would just like to get to know her in case anything happens." Joe admitted, he knew people would lecture him for not being positive for everything but he couldn't help but plan his life around what could happen. He wanted to do everything he wanted to in case his life was cut short.
"I wouldn't mind it either, it was never in the terms for the adoption so I didn't expect it." Demi admitted.
"I know that but Will and I have decided under the circumstances that we would both like you to have a relationship with her." Lilly confirmed and they both couldn't help but smile.
Gracie had been on their mind all these years and they couldn't wait to get to know her.
_______
They separated after that all heading home. Joe and Demi had given their phone numbers to Lilly so they could arrange something when Joe was a bit stronger. He'd be feeling very unwell for at least a week but he made it home with his brothers feeling exhausted as he made his way up to bed slumping down on his bed not even getting changed as he fell asleep. He completely forgot about the announcement but they went ahead and did it without him with a picture of him sleeping as a caption. Denise wrote out the words holding back her tears as she did.
Joe looking peaceful for maybe the last time in a long while. As you all probably know after tonight's show being mixed up Joe isn't very well, he's not. He's very poorly. He started having seizures nearly two weeks ago now and the tests came back with a brain tumor. The band therefore is temporarily over whilst Joe gets back up to health. He desperately wanted to go on stage tonight as it would be his last show in a while but his health will always come first and that is why we've decided he band will come to an end for now. We will keep you all updated on how he's doing as he goes through this journey and it will allow you to come on the journey with us. Thank you for everything you've done for my boys and what you'll continue to do throughout the upcoming years.
Denise, Paul, Kevin, Joe and Nick.
