Work Text:
Danny's POV:
Cancer. Cancer? Really, after everything I have been through, cancer is what's going to take me out? Not as badass as I thought it would be. I don't want it to be a slow death. Come on. Who wants a slow, agonizing death? Fucking nobody. I guess I'm going to have to go through with one now though because I have fucking cancer. Just my god damn luck.
Steve hasn't left me alone since we found out two days ago. As much as I love this big lug, it can be a little suffocating. We decided to wait to tell Grace until after school today. Fuck me. How am I going to tell her? This is going to break her. No child should have to deal with this. They should be able to be a kid and enjoy life before they enter adulthood. They should have no worries. No stress. No fear. No death. They shouldn't, Grace shouldn't, have to deal with this. She's too young. I fucked up and got sick. This is my fault. Now my husband and I have to tell our six-year-old daughter that her Dad is sick. Fuck me, I'd rather be shot in the foot or the balls or something then be the one to wreck her life like this.
"Danno," Steve said gently as he put his hand on my shoulder to bring me out of my thoughts, "It's time baby."
"Oh fuck," I whispered as I tried to keep the tears away as we watched Grace enter the house.
Steve's POV:
We tried to keep our emotions at bay long enough for Grace to get settled and tell us about how her day went at school but she's too damn perceptive. She knew the minute she walked into the house that something was wrong. She felt it. Right away she sat down on the couch next to Danny and asked him what was wrong.
"Baby," he started as he looked at me over Grace's shoulder before looking back, "You're right, something is wrong."
"What is it? Are you and Papa getting a divorce?" she asked as she frantically looked between the two of us.
"No honey," he answered with a shaky breath, "I'm - I'm sick."
"Sick? Can't we take you to the hospital?" she asked as her eyes started to well with tears.
"No baby. I'm too sick for the doctors to help me," he answered as some tears rolled down his cheeks.
"Too sick!" she shouted as she shook her head, "No Dad! You can't die! You have to get better!"
Grace pounded on Danny's chest yelling and screaming at him not to go. Danny broke down and tried to console her but failed because of the blows he was receiving. I sat down next to Grace and gathered the two of them up in my arms, pressing Grace safely between us so she'd stop hitting and get the comfort she needs.
"It's not fair!" she cried as she clung to Danny, "I don't want you to go!"
"I know baby," Danny choked out as he looked up at me, "I don't want to go either."
We sat like that, holding one another for god knows how long. Quietly sniffling and tightening our grips on one another. Not knowing if this is one of the last moments we will get to do this. Grace broke away long enough to ask a question that no parent wants to answer. What happens when we die? I felt Danny tense in my arms and whimper at the question. I had Danny stay where he was and had Grace sit a chair, across the room, with her back to Danny.
"Okay," I sighed as I crouched down in front of her, "This is what happens. Dad won't be able to see you and you won't be able to see him."
"Dad?" Grace asked as she swung around to face him, worried he'd disappear if she wasn't looking.
"Listen baby," Danny said softly with a smile as he gestured to face me again.
"You won't be able to see him, but he will always be there. You will always be thinking of each other. You will always be talking to one another," I added as I glanced over at Danny who is trying his hardest not to sob, "He will just be on a different side of the room."
"Dad? Can you hear me?" she asked.
"Yes baby," he answered as more silent tears fell down his face.
"See," I told her.
"He will still be here?" she asked as Danny got up and walked around to face her.
"Grace, I will always be here, even if you can't see me," he answered, "But this won't happen for a long time. Got it?"
"Okay," she said as she hugged him tight, "I love you."
"Love you more monkey," he responded as he returned the hug, "Now, why don't you go change into your pajamas and we will have a pizza and movie sleepover in the living room!"
"Really?" she asked as the sparkle returned in her eyes.
"Yes baby," I told her before she ran off to change.
"Steve," he said as his voice shook and his chin wobbled, "That broke me."
"I know baby," I cooed as I brought him into a tight hug and held him until Grace came back, demanding we watch both Frozen one and two.