Title: In Love and Death (4/4)
Pairing: Cake
Disclaimer: Not real.
Summary: Chris has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and Blake has to come to terms with it.

part I
part II
part III

This time there were no miracle treatments. The cancer has consumed every fiber of his being. He was on a respirator all the time. Nothing was going to bring him back, he was beyond medicine's help. Not even fans' millions of prayers were going to save him. God had all but closed the book on Chris Richardson.

But not Blake. Every second he could he was at Chris' side. Gina, Phil, and the rest of the idols would periodically file in and out of his room as if Chris' condition would change if they left for awhile. Watching her son die for a second time was too much for Chris' mother to stomach until she stopped coming all together.

Less than two days of Chris' projected life span existed. Pain killers had him drifting in and out of consciousness. Every time he opened his eyes to Blake's dark ones staring back.

A soft smile slid across his face when he found Blake's hand and laced their fingers together. The smile faded as his vision finally focused on the beatboxer's tear stained face.

"Why are you crying?"


Blackout.


Chris woke up late at night to find Blake asleep. His body bent awkwardly so the mattress could pillow his head.

Chris tried to stretch without waking Blake but it was useless. A soft yawn passed his lips as his eyes wandered around the room. He saw Gina sitting in the corner and furrowed his brow.

"He asked me to watch you. Make sure nothing bad happened to you just in case he fell asleep." She stated.

Chris felt the tears prick the back of his eyes as he looked back down at Blake.

He couldn't even find peace in his dreams. Chris saw the same distress etched into his face as when he was awake. A losing battle with the reality that his best friend, brother from another mother, lover, soul mate, was dying.

Chris dragged his finger across his lover's face. Blake instantly woke up not even phased by sleepiness.

"I love you." He remarked tracing the outline of Blake's cheekbones.

"I love you, too."


Blackout.


A jolt of pain ripped through Chris' chest. It tore his heart to shreds and set his lungs a blaze. A scream of pain woke Blake up.

"Babe..."

Chris had the bed sheets fisted in his hands trying to diffuse the pain somewhere else. Worry flooded Blake's eyes as he watched Chris' frail frame writhe in pain.

Where were those fucking nurses?

The agonizing cries got louder. Blake felt like he was the one in pain, his own chest caving in.

"Babe, where does it hurt?" Blake asked; his eyes were frantically searching Chris' face for an answer.

Chris clutched at the hospital gown across his chest as a nurse finally sauntered into the room.

"Tsk, tsk, Christopher." The middle aged woman said shaking her head.

"Can't you help him?" Blake asked.

"He's already maxed out on drugs."


Blackout.


The rest of his waking hours were consumed by the pain he did his best to hide it as long as Blake was around.

"I-I can't lose you..." Blake mumbled during what he thought were Chris' final hours.

His boyfriend's skin was white, any color drained from it. Blood was being coughed up with much more frequency. His body had already began to deteriorate, open sores appearing around his joints.

It was time for Chris to go. He had lived half a week longer than Dr. Lorentzen said he would. To Blake that was getting better.

Chris' mind just wasn't going to let go. It wasn't going to accept it's own death as long as Blake wouldn't.


Blackout.


Blake watched his boyfriend's short and shallow gasps for air into the respiration mask. To Chris each breath felt like he was sucking in needles.

He reached out covering Chris' upturned palm with his. Chris' soul looked exhausted from hanging on. Blake sighed heavily, willing himself not to cry. With his free hand he cupped the side of his lover's face, stroking the cheek gently with his thumb. "This is so hard for me..." His brain had shut off as he watched Chris take another struggling breath from the mask. "I love you so much, Chris..." His fingertips glided across the rim of the mask. "And I'm going to miss you just as much." His voice was hardly audible as he hooked his index finger under the mask removing it momentarily. He leaned down laying a soft kiss to Chris' lips. He barely felt his lips respond before he fell victim to a coughing fit. Blake nervously put the mask back in place. "Sorry."

Chris shook his head. "It's OK." He said, voice shaky.

"I just..." Blake sucked his lower lip into his mouth as he struggled to find the right words. "I'm not scared anymore though." He watched a smile faintly form on his boyfriend's lips that made him smile in return. "I can let you go now..." His hand brushed against Chris' face again. Tears began to swell in both of their eyes. "You'll always be alive in my heart, and in my memories. I'll miss you like hell sometimes and it will hurt but I can just remember the good times right?"

"You fucking sap." Chris said as a single tear slipped down his cheek. Blake wiped it away.

"Ouch, thanks." Blake said furrowing his brow. "I'm being serious, no name calling, you douche."

"I know, sorry."

"I love you, Chris."

"I love you, too, B."


THE END
i technically didn't kill him. get off my back.

Title: In Love and Death (3/4)
Pairing: Cake
Disclaimer: Not real.
Summary: Chris has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and Blake has to come to terms with it.

part I
part II

To Chris, death had become all too real. Four years had passed since he had survived stage four cancer. Maybe survived wasn't the right word. Outlived. He outlived stage four cancer, he didn't survive it. The doctors warned it may come back.

In those four years he watched Blake slowly return to normalcy. Two years in he even wrote a new album. Chris knew every emotion etched into those songs were about him. Pain he felt watching his boyfriend die. Sadness knowing his boyfriend was dying. Joy knowing his boyfriend sur- outlived cancer.

Year three they both sat down outside on a chilly autumn night. The strength and muscles had returned to Chris' arms, as he held the beatboxer's shivering form still. After they both shared those sweet nothings couples share, and few kisses here in there, Chris turned to Blake. The same thoughts that plagued his mind were back. How many more moments were they going to have like this? When were his cells going mutate again? How long was it going to take? He certainly couldn't have beaten this thing for sure- could he have? That cold November night, they both decided it was time to stop living in the shadows.

In Blake's joking words: "It was time to become Hollywood's new gay-power couple."

The summer of the fourth year rolled around time was slowing up again. Energy had escaped Chris and he could barely keep up with his golden retriever of a boyfriend. Naps were long and frequent. Deep down he knew his time was coming to an end, for the second time. He couldn't cheat fate twice. When he was awake he could see how happy Blake was. There was no point scaring him if he wasn't sure himself. He'd go see Dr. Lorentzen again, and get a second, third, hell a fourth opinion. He needed to be positive. And secretive. Blake couldn't know. And the media sharks definitely couldn't know. Blake finding out from them would be the end.

He snook out after he had begged Gina to come down and distract Blake for a few hours. That was another difference in the past four years, Blake rarely left his side afraid of losing him all over.

The drive over to the clinic was longer than he remembered. Impatiently, he tapped his fingers on the steering wheel. They're just nerves -he told himself- you're just over reacting. Though the naps kept getting longer, and he never felt refreshed after them; and his coughing fits were coming back in full force.

He even coughed up blood on one visit. The fourth lung biopsy. Dr. Lorentzen ended up admitting him in order to drain his lungs.

Phil told Blake Chris fell asleep on his couch.

Phil walked into Chris room just as he was about to be released. "Chris..." Phil started but then stopped once he caught a glimpse of his friend. His sparkle had faded back into the illness. He could tell Chris was sick again even without the stupid results.

"This is so dumb, man, you have to tell him." He managed to finish.

"And what, break him all over again. I'll pass." Chris said. "I mean I'm not even sure it's back-"

"-Dude, you cannot tell me your not sick, again. I mean you were freaking admitted even without the results." Phil interrupted him.

"They can all be wrong." Chris said.

"Highly doubtful." Phil sighed and shook his head. "You need to tell him. He deserves to know, I mean he is your fucking soul mate or whatever."

Chris chuckled at Phil's attempt to be sentimental. "Yeah." He knew Phil was right. But how do you tell your soul mate that you're dying from cancer, again.



"No. No. No. No..." Blake mumbled over and over as he crumbled next to Chris on the couch. His hands were grasping his head as his temples pounded. This wasn't happening to him again. He squeezed his eyes shut. It was all lies...

"Blake..." Chris was at loss for what to say. What could he say? 'Oh suck it up, I'm only dying'?

"You're fucking lying to me!" Blake snapped.

Chris looked down at the four results in his hands. Positive. Every single one. He didn't want to believe it either, but this was science not some fairytale romance. "I wish I was."

Title: In Love and Death (2/4)
Pairing: Cake
Disclaimer: Not real.
Summary: Chris has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and Blake has to come to terms with it.

part I


Humans spend most of their lives wondering about death. How will I go? Will it be quick and painless from a gunshot, or slowly as the disease eats away at your flesh?

Chris wished he would always take the quick and painless route. Not to lessen his own pain, but those around him. He couldn't stand watching his mother cry. He hated watching Blake harden on the outside, building up all the strength he had for the emanate day of his death.

There were no more tears from Blake since the day he learned his boyfriend was dying. Hell, there was barely anything coming from him at all. The last few weeks of Chris' existence Blake worked up all his defenses, walking around, a body with no soul.

Gina sat down next to Phil at the breakfast table, pouring herself a cup of coffee. "You'd think Blake is the one dying from the way he's been acting lately." She commented.

Phil nodded. He couldn't begin to fathom what Blake was going through. The news had hit him hard enough, but he could not show it; he had to be strong for Blake's sake. "Can't blame him though, really."

Gina sighed as she stirred the sugar into her coffee. "I know, it's just making it all worse. Chris doesn't want him moping around like this."

"I know." Phil said softly. He wanted to say more but Blake entered the kitchen and the subject was instantly dropped as an uneasy silence fell in the air.

"I know you're talking about me." Blake said, tonelessly.

Their eyes looked up and down their friend. Blake had not eaten much in nearly two weeks and acted like personal hygiene didn't even exist. He looked just as sick as his boyfriend.

"Blake, you really need to eat something." Gina said, sweetly.

But Blake just shook his head. "I'm not hungry." He said moving to get his car keys. "I gotta go see him, now."

Chris went back into the hospital two days ago. The doctors last valiant effort to cure him with another dose of chemo.

"We're going to come with you, okay?" Sligh decided for them all, he knew there would be no objections.

"Okay..."


The car ride to the hospital was, well, deadly silent. No one knew what to say. What was there to say? 'Look, Blake, I'm so sorry this is happening to the two of you, but remember we're here for you.'? Those words were already worn to the bone.

The silence followed them through the lobby, into the elevator, and up to Chris' third floor room. His door was closed, and his doctor, Dr. Lorentzen was standing outside of it, telephone in hand.

"I tried calling you, Blake..." Dr. Lorentzen began.

Gina swears to this day she saw Blake's eye bulge right out of their sockets in pure fear.

"W-wh-why." Blake stuttered.

"Oh, God, sorry." Dr. Lorentzen said in one quick breath. "I didn't mean to scare you." Five feet away he could feel the breath be exhaled from deep inside Blake’s chest. “I’ve never seen or heard of anything like this before…” The doctor stated. Blake felt his knees weaken as he put his hand on Phil’s broad shoulders for support. “Your friend-”

“Boyfriend.” All the idols, except Blake who was returning to that alternate universe again, corrected.

“Your boyfriend has stage four cancer, by all means he should be dead already…” Dr. Lorentzen had a horrible habit of rambling. It was sending Blake to the edge as his body began to tremble. “He’s beating all the odds…”

“You mean…” Gina tried to say what Blake could not, but even she failed.

“Yes, by some twist of fate, the chemo is working.”

Everyone watched Blake for a response. Slowly, the life returned his eyes warming his whole face. Even the corners of his lips curled up into a grin.

Blake let go of Phil’s shoulder as he found the strength began to rush back into his body. Dr. Lorentzen stepped aside, letting Blake into the room.

Chris was sitting up with the aid of half a dozen pillows behind him. His body was still brittle, just paper thin skin stretched over bones, but there was a new light in his eye.

“Hey, you.” Chris said weakly.

Blake’s brain was flooded with emotions as he stared at his boyfriend. The tears streamed down his cheeks. He fell onto the bed becoming tangled in all the wires and tubes leaving Chris’ body.

Chris winced at the pain the tugging of the IV caused and hoped Blake did not notice. All Blake’s carefully built walls were falling down around them both.

“You didn’t leave me.” Blake managed between sobs.

This brought the tears to Chris’ eyes. He never wanted Blake to worry about losing him. He saw how much he meant to the beatboxer now. Just how Blake meant it when he said their love was infinite… Blake was nothing without him. “I love you too much, to do that.” Chris said softly running his fingers down the side of Blake’s tear stained cheek.

“I love you, too.” Blake said kissing him gently. “Please don’t do this to me again.”

Chris faltered to respond. The doctors warned him this probably was only temporary. His illness had progressed too far to be forever cured. It wasn’t his place to say… he did not want to lie to his boyfriend but betrayal and false hope seemed so far worse.

“I wont.”

Title: In Love and Death (1/4)
Pairing: Cake
Disclaimer: Not real.
Summary: Chris has been diagnosed with terminal cancer and Blake has to come to terms with it.

Chris felt like he was sitting on needles as he listened to Blake's choked sobs come through the closed bathroom door. He fidgeted and bit his bottom lip as he kept looking at the door, as if he kept staring long enough he could see through it. Phil and Sligh were the only things between him and his lover.

The bathroom door squeaked open, and all heads turned to it; but Gina was the only one to exit.

"Will you guys please let me in there." Chris pleaded.

"No." Phil said beginning to sound like a broken record.

Gina sat down next to Chris on the sofa sinking down into it. "He's got to deal with this himself, first."

"I'm his fucking boyfriend and the one that di-" But before he could finish his sentence he was sent into a violent coughing fit causing his whole frame to shake.

Sligh got up to hand Chris a bottle of water. "Doctors said no stress, relax would you."

"Then stop stressing me out and let me see him!" Chris yelled horsely before falling victim to his own coughs again.

Phil sighed and went to protest but Gina stopped him. "We just don't think he's ready to accept it-"

"-I'm dying, Gina. For fucks sake let me help him let go!" Chris' voice fell to barely over a whisper. "To tell him it's going to be okay..."

Gina nodded. Phil sighed, again, but opened the door this time. A few moments later he reemerged and motioned for Sligh and Gina to follow him out of the room.

Blake slowly stepped out of the bathroom, his eyes focused on the wood floors beneath him. He couldn't bring himself to look at his boyfriend. Sure he had seen Chris sick for the past six months, but now he was dying... rotting flesh and bone... this was too much and the tears began to flow.

"Blake, babe..." Chris struggled to stand up but fell back down to the couch.

Blake's eyes shot up to Chris when he heard Chris kick the coffee table after his feet gave out underneath him. All he saw was a hairless body from the chemotherapy he learned exactly sixty-four minutes ago hasn't helped. No more facial hair tickling his face as they kissed. Soon no more kisses at all. He saw a frail frame lacking any real muscle mass. No strong embraces after seeing each other for the first time after touring. Soon no more embraces at all.

The tears fell faster.

Chris wasn't even going to attempt to stand up again. "Blake, please come here."

Blake felt like he was worlds away. Some alternate universe where his boyfriend was dying. He could faintly hear Chris but his feet were nailed to the wood floors and wasn't able to move. The tears were blinding him and all this crying was giving him a migraine. He heard his name again, this time a little louder, and felt the tears be wiped away.

Chris had managed to walk over to Blake his thumb lingering on his lover's face. "Don't cry."

"Don't leave me."

Title: The Queen of Hearts [Chapter One]
Author: Me, Peachy
Fandom: Cake
Summary: Their surrogate mother, Chelsea, has complications with her pregnancy and ends up going into labor 12 weeks early. Blake becomes overprotective of his daughter, Grace.
Disclaimer: Not real.

prologue


---

A crisp autumn breeze blew through the trees causing the leaves to cascade down in a golden rain around a family of three. Their toddler daughter twirled in front of her parents loving the sound of the leaves crunching and crackling beneath her saddle shoes. As she increasingly got dizzier her tiny legs became tangled and she tumbled to the pavement, scrapping her knees.

"Gracie!" Her "Daddy Blake" called out to her. He began to rush to her side only to be stopped by his partner of the last six years.

"She's fine." Chris said calmly as he watched their daughter pop back to her feet, unphased. "See."

Blake sighed. "Just be careful, honey."

Careful, right. The only three years of the toddler's life had been more than cautious. Three years ago he almost didn't have a daughter and now he was petrified of losing her all over again. Born almost twelve weeks too early because the surrogate (and still really close friend) had complications.

The little girl stood in the middle of the sidewalk waiting for her fathers to catch up. Her smaller-than-normal hands were swallowed up by their massive hands. Subconsciously, Blake had a tighter grip.

The trio was on the way to the house of the woman that Grace affectionately called Auntie Chelsea fully equipped with the southern drawl of the younger father. Auntie Chelsea was in fact her mother. Chelsea had three other kids - all from different marriages- of her own: 2 daughters, twelve and six, and a son that was born only months before she agreed to fulfill the boys wishes of having their own child.

When they finally reached Chelsea's driveway the toddler took off stumbling awkwardly as she ran. Unfortunately she had to wait because she was still too short to reach the doorbell. But that doesn't mean she didn't try.

Chris laughed as he scooped up his daughter in his arms. She was kicking, trying to reach the doorbell.

"Daddy, let me push it!" She begged limbs flailing.

Chelsea's eldest daughter, Mindy, was already standing behind the heavy French doors waiting to let them in. Mindy got to experience the boys' fame more first hand than her sister, Ava, who was still an infant at the time of American Idol. Getting to visit Blake on tour was her favorite part. Everyone was always so nice to the child with the crazy curls -that her father had cursed her with before he left Chelsea right after she was born. Jordin had taught her a thing or two about taming the unruly locks that she still uses to this day.

The doorbell chimed bouncing off all the walls through the house. The dogs barked as Max, Chelsea's son, bounded down the hall to the door. Mindy pulled the thick wooden door open. Grace was calm again, her head resting on Chris's shoulder. "My mom is in the kitchen making lunch."

Blake kicked off his shoes almost entranced by the smell of food. Chelsea learned how to become an amazing cook from her grandmother. She had never cooked a thing from a box in her life.

He took a spoon off the counter top trying to sneak a bite of her still-cooling macaroni and cheese. Just as soon as he got the spoon in the casserole the back of his hand got slapped with a chocolate chip coated wooden spoon. She had already moved on to dessert.

"Blake Lewis, you’re going to have to wait like everyone else!" She mock scorned, wagging the spoon in his face. He stuck his tongue out at her. The sight of it alone was making him drool; there was no way he was going to wait much longer.

He joined her at the other side of the island. "I've missed you." He stated pulling her into a strong hug.

"I'm glad to see you, too." She agreed. Her latest five-star restaurant was opening tomorrow and honestly Blake was surprised to see her so calm. She felt his hand slip from her back and she knew exactly where it was headed- straight for the cookie dough. "Get your grubby little hands out of there!" She snapped pushing him away.

He quickly stuck his finger into his mouth in a desperate attempt to hid evidence. "What?" He mumbled with his finger still in his mouth.

She just shook her head. "Thanks for coming to the opening tomorrow." She said.

"Of course." Blake said taking another gob of cookie dough but instead of eating it he started to help her roll them into balls. "But I didn't have much of a choice; you are the one who booked Chris to perform."

Surprisingly enough Chris's career was more extensive than Blake's. It was all by choice though. For awhile if one put out a new song or record the other was right there with an even better one. It was a healthy rivalry. Now Chris was on the verge of his fourth album but Blake had chose to stop.

"Well if you would put out a new record." Chelsea started. She hated to see talent go to waste. "Your first two are amazing, and then nothing."

Blake groaned, throwing the dough back in the bowl. "Chels, please don't. I'm not going to. I have a family now."

"You need to get out, live the rock star life again, while you're still young enough."

"Chris and Gracie are all I need. Now drop it."

They finished the cookies with an awkward silence hanging heavy in the air.

Title: The Queen of Hearts [Prologue]
Author: Me, Peachy
Fandom: Cake
Summary: Their surrogate mother, Chelsea, has complications with her pregnancy and ends up going into labor 12 weeks early. Blake becomes overprotective of his daughter, Grace.
Disclaimer: Not real.

Blake stood in the hallway of the maturity ward staring into the room full of newborns. Beautiful babies dressed in powder blue and pink sound asleep. Beautiful, healthy, babies. Envy was filling every in every cubic inch of his body. He didn't even get to look at the face of his baby girl before she was rushed out of the room. Her mother had become very ill and the doctors had to induce labor prematurely or both of them would have died.

Lost in his own thoughts he barely felt a pair of strong arms slip around him from behind. "Stop torturing yourself."

Blake turned around, pitching forward against Chris's body. "I can't help it."

Chris sighed, massaging his lover's ever tightening muscles. "Doctor's said they're both improving..." He tried.

"Still." Blake pulled away looking Chris in the eyes. "I begged Chelsea for so long to do this for us and it almost killed them both." The guilt had began to settle in.

"Don't say that, she was more than happy to."

"Twenty-five weeks, Chris, she can't possibly live much longer..." His words were etched in distress. Tears glossed over his eyes, his head hanging in disappointment.

"They can keep anyone alive these days, babe." Chris said brushing a escaped tear from the older man's face. "You gotta keep the faith."

Title: Don't You Cry Tonight [Chapter One]
Author: Peachy
Pairing: Cake
Summary: Yeah, it's rockstar week. Blake can't accept what Chris already has about going home- afraid of how he'll react to the news.
Author's notes: Yeah it's my first Cake fic don't kill me. This was originally written as part of a Jovi fic I'm writing called Wildflower as closer for Jon to help someone through a similar situation he had to endure though most of the story. That being Jon's own love affair with Richie being exposed. I just am going to continue the end chapter of that story as sort of a sequel but not really lol.

( you're bringing on the heartache )

It sure feels good to be back in the states. Jon thought as the plane landed in New York. It didn't even phase him that he was still bound to a hotel due to gas leeks in his swanky Manhattan apartment. He and Richie had an acoustic benefit concert to do and then he was home free. David and Tico were the lucky ones, they got to go home last night. It was just him and Richie now. Oh and their families, minor set back.

Back on the jet Richie was driving him insane; teasing him with kisses and touches whenever their flight attendant turned her back. It was her presence that forced Jon to ignore his urges. It would still have to wait because the moment they stepped off the plane they'd be ushered to separate limos and their waiting families.

Jon missed his family, of course, but Richie had him too distracted to show it. He sighed and closed his eyes, tilting his head back against the head rest.

Dorothea watched her husband carefully. In the past it didn't matter how exhausted touring made him, he would at least act awake for his children.

"Daddy?" Jacob spoke softly crawling across the isle of seats. Dorothea misread Jon's distraction as being too tightly wound. Even his three year old son could set him off when he's like this. She pulled her child away to sit on her lap before he even laid a finger on his father.

"Jon, you okay?" Dorothea asked fighting with a squirming Jacob - he wanted to sit on Daddy's lap.

Jon nodded. "I'm fine." It came out harsher than he intended. He opened his eyes and looked at his family. They all looked frightened and worried. Each of them had experienced Jon letting go of all of his emotions on them at least once; something they were desperately trying to protect Jacob from. "Really I'm fine." Jon said taking Jacob from Dorothea. She watched Jon cautiously the rest of the way to the hotel.

Richie's limo had gotten to the hotel first. Jon only knew that because he caught the back of Heather's bottled blonde head as the back elevator's closed.

Jon wasn't dumb he knew Dorothea had a close eye on him. He was so antsy, he needed Richie. Then the light clicked and he put the two together. God, Bongiovi, you're a genius. He told himself. "Dot, why don't you take the kids to the pool?" Jon offered knowing full well that Dorothea's maternal instinct kicked in to keep her children away from the moody rock star.

Their kids all agreed in unison before the suggestion could even register with her. "Okay, yeah. I'll ask Heather if she wants to bring Ava along."

Jon could barely contain the thought of getting exactly what he wanted. Richie alone. He wasn't going to let on though. "I'm sure Ava would like that." Was all he could get out. His mind was already off day dreaming about what Richie would do to him.

-rich

its been awhile hasn't it? two years is a long time. i'm sorry i'll stop. i just miss you thats all. i can see you reading this and almost wanting to throw it away but don't. not yet. ive got a lot to say.

i'm sorry i ruined everything you had going for you. i'm sorry i took you away from heather and your beautiful daughter ava. i'm sorry i forced you into sex with me. i'm sorry i said those 3 words. i could sit here and write a thousand more apologies but i know they have little affect on you now. but i still mean it when i say i love you.

-jon

Jon reads over the letter once more, satisfied with it he places it in an unmarked envelope and jams it into the pocket of his jacket before heading outside. It's raining outside but it doesn't seem to bother him. It's how Richie left his house, out into the rain.

Jon made his way down the side of the road. A white cross rests a few feet from the curb. He can never stomache looking at them. He knows what they mean, a fatal car crash took place here. He picks some of the wet wildflowers before continuing on his way. The flowers are for Richie. He also picks some roses from Ms. Stevens' garden. She used to yell at him for doing so a few years back, now that she knows the purpose she yells no more. The roses are also for Richie.

Jon pushes the gates to Richie's new house open. He makes his way down the path to Richie's doorstep as damp autumn leaves stick to his shoes. Jon is ready to apologize. He drops the wildflowers and roses at his feet and takes out the envelope. He can't give this letter to Richie, it's out of date. Jon removes the letter, setting it back in his pocket. On the envelope he writes:

Love you. Miss you.

He lays the envelope onto the flowers before walking away.

Ten years ago today was the death of Richie S. Sambora. He died in a car crash on his way home from his bandmate's house on a rainy night just like this. The two were said to be feuding.