Daddy Venom.

Chapter 32: Goodbye Marshall

A knock on the door was heard. In a ragged voice I muttered a "come in." In came Bell with a cup of tea for me forcing a smile seeing my in this state.

"Marshall I've told you you don't need to speak. Especially when it hurts, that's why Keith suggested the Bell." I groan at the thought as I hate being in so much pain that talking hurts. "I know you hate it Marshall but we just want you to be comfortable." She runs her hand on my cheek and frowns. The cold from the ring on her finger have an odd inner warmth while I laid there. "The kids got their test scores back. They all passed," her cheeks perk at their success as do mines. "Your mother called."

I take a deep breath at this knowledge and brace myself for what it could be.

"She wants to come see you and the kids together."

"I--" I let out groaning. "I don't want her to see me like this." Admittedly my mother hasn't seen me in pain and suffering like this since I was a child back home. I can't bear to have her see me on my literal death bed. It'll break her.

"I know it will be hard on all of you. You and her mainly. But it's better to do it now before it's to late." I know she is right. If I knew my child was gonna die and they wouldn't let me see them I'd be more broken then actually seeing them. "If you don't want her to then I understand and will tell her you don't think it's a good idea."

"It's fine. There are some things I want to say to her." She nods and after planting a kiss on my forehead she leaves.

I just don't get it. What did I do to deserve this? I was never a bad man. I raised Tink as best I could. I used my business to help millions across the world. What have I done that was so selfish that I deserve to be taken away from my family when we've just been out back together? Maybe it was for never being their for Travis and Keith. Maybe it was for never being there to help Bell through her troubles. It's no surprise that I start to cry at this thought. Perhaps it's a debt that needs to be payed. A lifetime for a lifetime.

Through it all I hear my door open again and in cane my sons. "Are you alright?" My son Keith asks me.

"We heard--well crying. So we came to check on you." Travis says.

I wipe my face and motion them to come to me. I manage to prop myself up on my bed and ask them each to sit on either side of me. "I'm sorry, you two." They were unprepared for that statement from me and question what I mean. "I'm sorry for never being there. For not knowing about you. And most importantly for leaving you now when we just got to know each other."

"You aren't leaving us. And while I did blame you at first I don't blame you anymore-Dad. You didn't have a choice back then, you had a responsibility, Tink, long before we were even born." Travis says leaning on to my side.

"Yea, we may not have had you then but we had you when we could and I'm happy we had that chance to know you. Live with you, be a family with you, and love you as a dad as you loved us." The brining sensation I get in my throat burns to my heart hearing them accept forgive me for never being there when I should have. Both of them hug me from each side and I hug them back.

"I still should've been there. To see you crawl and take your first steps."

"You may not have got to see us crawl but you still got to see us run. And see who we became. And I know you'll still watch over us to see what we become even when you're gone. Because that's what dad's do." I never would've expected it but Travis after saying this starts to cry. "Because your our dad." In seeing his brother cry Keith starts to cry as well and it sets an entire chain reaction between us.

"I am your dad, I always will be. Whether I'm here or not. That I promise you both." Through the tears I pull both of them into tight hugs with nothing but my love. When we all calmed down Bell knocked at the door. "Come in," I say.