Laurel relaxed a little when she felt his touch. It was soothing, though a few tears still managed to slip by. She was thankful he was there, otherwise she might be a total mess on her own.

Laurel curled up into him slightly when he pulled her into his lap. She swallowed deeply and nodded, her hand still gently holding her father's. She couldn't hold back the tears any longer and her free hand found Luca's. She squeezed it gently as a silent thank you.

Laurel sat there for a while, whispering to her father and lighting up each time she got a grunt or wiggling fingers. It gave her hope and hope was exactly what she needed. In time nurses came in and informed the two that they needed to take her father away for more tests to see what had caused his decline, so Laurel stood up and kissed her father's forehead as she always did before letting them wheel him away.

Laurel nuzzled into the crook of his neck as she answered. "They'll probably be a while. We don't have to stay since we've already been here a while."

She shook her head a little and looked up at him with a weak smile. "No, that's alright. I fear if I stay much longer I'll cry until I can't anymore."