Their kids, Kiera and Cooper, didn't take the news very well and Cooper was pissed. He ran off for a couple of days to Jake's, house. Carol, Jake's mom, offered to help in any way they needed. That included letting Cooper stay with Jake.

Jake Benson was his best friend. Cooper was sixteen and Ivy was trying to let him make more of his own choices. It was tough to let go.

Kiera was Ivy's step daughter but she always felt like a daughter. Kiera told her mom, who lived in another state, and she was coming to the funeral and then taking Kiera home. She didn't have much compassion for anyone and Ivy secretly wished bad things for her. She was pissed. Kiera was her daughter too.

It didn't take long and Ivy didn't have a lot of time to grieve before he died. She was his nurse when the nurses weren't there. It was fast. Eight weeks from diagnosis to the funeral.

It was a blur at that point. Damien and Ivy said everything they needed to before the end. Ivy cried over his body and made the calls that were on the list by his bed.

His mother, Greta, who Ivy adored, just moved to Florida with husband number five. She was coming with him. His name was Bert. She liked him from what she heard on the phone.

He had a lot of money but so did Greta. They were both set for their life and a couple other people's lives. Greta had accounts set up for the grandkids when they were older.

Keira was seventeen. She had a birthday coming up. She was Damien's child from a previous marriage and had primary custody. Her mom had her on holidays.

Everything was changing now. Keira's mother came to the funeral and just took Kiera back home with her. Damien had custody but he was gone. Ivy was losing her daughter too.

Damien had one brother and they were close. Sebastian Shaw. He was a big movie star now so they didn't talk like they should. He even directed his last film that he was also the lead.

She only met him once at their wedding and he came when Cooper was born. He kept busy but Damien and Sebastian talked a lot. They were very close.

Ivy would just say hi in passing while Damien was talking. She didn't know Sebastian. She knew he was a big part of Damien's life but he was never part of her's.

Ivy bought his movies in secret because she was a huge fan, even before she met Damien. The last one was a good movie but didn't want anyone to know that she was a huge fan of her brother-in-law. That was the one secret that she kept from Damien. Ivy was surprised that Sebastian made it to the funeral.

Sebastian paused filming for his brother. They were close and he loved his brother and his niece and nephew. He didn't know his sister-in-law very well but she seemed nice and took care of Damien. He was crushed that his brother was gone. He loved him and didn't know what he would do now. Who would he talk to now?

He watched Ivy. Damien talked about her all the time but Sebastian stayed away. Damien understood. He watched his sister-in-law close all week. She loved Damien and that was good enough for Sebastian.

He wanted to be closer to his brother's family but he just didn't always have the time he wanted. That was the lie that he told himself every day. He wanted to be closer but he just couldn't. There was so much to tell and no one to talk to now.

Damien always said that his family would understand but Sebastian never had the nerve so he stayed distant. He wasn't sure what to do now. Losing his brother was a great loss and he felt it.

They stayed in touch on the phone over the years and Damien kept him informed when a big event happened for the family. They texted a lot more when that became popular.

Damien was the only person that knew Sebastian's secret. The only one he could talk to. He was not going to deal with his brother's death very well but he had to hold himself together until he got home. He ached to talk to Damien and now there was a void and no way to fill it.

Ivy sat with her in-laws at the funeral and was surprised that Sebastian didn't have cameras and followers at the funeral. It was just him sitting there all tall and hot. He looked like a movie star, Ivy thought so.

He flew in and rented a normal car. He wasn't flashy and showing. She was sure no one realized that he was famous at the funeral. She tried to remain calm and not ask for his autograph. It would be tacky at a funeral. Her husband's funeral.

It was a week of insanity. Everyone was at her house and she just wanted peace and quiet. They would leave just to come back with more food. People brought flowers and cards of condolence. She hated those cards now.

She would never send one to anyone that lost a loved one. She was so sick of hearing how sorry everyone was. Blah blah blah. She was sorry to hear it. She was the one that had to live after everyone was gone. When everything got quiet again.

Kiera left with her mom right after the funeral was over. Dee, Keira's mother, pulled her to the car and they drove off.

Ivy didn't want to think about that but Kiera promised to video chat with her as she hugged Ivy tight. Ivy felt that she lost her family and all of these people would have lives to go back to and her's was destroyed. She could never go back.

She thought about what they should have been doing right now. Keira would be complaining about going out with friends on a school night, Cooper would be rushing to Jake's house to play video games and Ivy would make dinner for Damien when he walked in from work. They would have a nice meal and talk about their day. Ivy would go back to her shop for inventory and fall asleep in Damien's arms. Instead, the house was full of people and sorrow. Her daughter was four states away and Cooper was...probably at Jake's house playing video games. She smiled. He was her one constant.

Greta hugged Ivy tight. "If you need to talk, call. Day or night." She looked Ivy in the eyes. "I mean it. I love you and you are my daughter, Ivy." Greta wiped a tear. "I love you. We are leaving to let you be alone. I can come back anytime that being alone isn't working for you." Greta lost two husbands and knew it was tough. Greta and Bert finally took off back to Florida after a couple of days and she was waiting for Sebastian to leave. He was still there.

He was staying in the guest room and Ivy was sleeping on the couch. She couldn't sleep in their bed. She tried to stay out of Sebastian's way. They would eat in silence. He wasn't very talkative and that was fine with her. Cooper stayed at Jake's and she let him.

Ivy was grateful that Sebastian never said he was sorry or hugged her. She appreciated that. She was sick of the I'm sorry comments and the pity hugs.

She would sit at the table and just focus on one breath at a time. One more breath without Damien here. If she could just do one more, one breath then she could do another and she would not die.

Sebastian would sit at the table and watch Ivy as people talked around them. He wondered what she was thinking. She would stare at the table and just take a breath. It would be intentional.

People would be talking or eating or bringing in food and she would just sit and take a breath. He was curious. He tried it just to see what it was about. He took a breath.

One. Two...he breathed with her. He got it. She was just breathing. One more breath without Damien that was what she was doing so he was trying it. Just breathe. He could just breathe.

Ivy noticed that Sebastian inhaled when she did. She looked up. He smiled a weak smile and took a breath with her. Ivy appreciated this more than anything. She was shocked to see a tear fall from his eye.

Ivy took a breath with him again. She had a strong urge to climb into his lap and hold him. Console him. She was in tears too and no one else seemed to notice. He looked back at the table and took one more breath.

Finally, people went back to their lives. Their lives resumed. Ivy was glad they were gone but now what? The kitchen was full of food and it spilled into the dining room.

Flowers were everywhere. Cooper was sitting at the table eating still. He ate the whole week when he was home.

"Looks like it's just me and you." Ivy smiled. He had just gotten up. Ivy didn't even know what time it was. She wasn't sleeping very well.

Cooper looked at his mom. "I hate to do this but Jake has that new video game ...can I go?" He just got back that morning. Three hours ago.

Ivy laughed. "Go! Back by dark." She yelled after him. He was out the door. "Now, what to do with all of these fucking flowers!" She was cursing to herself.

"Need help with that?" Sebastian was in the doorway.

Ivy turned. "Oh! I didn't realize you were here! Yes, please! I don't know why we had to have this many flowers! I mean I like flowers but..." She sighed a heavy sigh.

Sebastian didn't know what to say. He watched Ivy all week. She was just gorgeous and graceful. Sweet. He was worried about her and wanted some extra time but he didn't have it.

She had pretty blondish brown hair and blue eyes that he wanted to stare into. Her smile lit up any room. She was just delightful and it was clear that a lot of people in this town loved her. He saw that at the funeral. She was different than other women. He cleared his throat that was dry.

"Let's load them up and take them to the hospital and donate them," Sebastian stated.

Ivy stared at him. "Oh! That is... a good idea." Sebastian looked nothing like Damien. He was tall and built. He clearly worked out. He had dark hair that was a little unruly.

Damien was shorter and worked outside in the weather. His skin was always rough. He had blue eyes and light brown hair that he always kept short, shaved in the summer.

Sebastian had pretty green eyes and Damien had blue eyes. They were dark blue. Sebastian's were a pretty green. His smile was even different than Damien's. She had to stop this. She just buried her husband.

Thanks for reading and smack that cute star right in the face.