*Dylan's pov *

[I come out of the bathroom Dr.Warren is leaving as I walk into the waiting room everyone has their heads hanging down and their hands on their knees. I notice Dad has tears in his eyes like he's holding back from breaking down ; I ask him]

"Hey Dad. Is Mom okay?"

"Uh Dyl there's something I have to tell you."

"What is it Dad?"

[I stand up we go into the hallway I say]

"I don't know how to say this but your mom didn't make it."

"What? No. We were supposed to go to California. You two were getting remarried."

"Dylan ; she gone."

"No."[I run into Mom's room she's laying on the bed with tubes sticking out of her I try to wake her up I say:{Mom wake up please. I need you. Mom wake up. Mom! Don't go. You're my best friend.} I break down sobbing onto her lap. The doctors come in they try to make me leave ; uncle Will carries me out into the waiting room. I'm screaming for Mom he sets me down. I run back to her room I watch as they unhook Mom's oxygen heart monitor. I'm crying Dad comes next to me he says]

"Dyl it's time for us to go."

"No. I'm not going anywhere Dad."

"Dylan let's go."

"No. I'm not going. No."[Dad tries to pull me away. I'm screaming and crying. I'm hitting his chest he tries to calm me down I yell]"My mother just died don't tell me to calm down."[I grab my bag and storm out. I go to Diego's he answers. I have makeup running down my face. I whisper]" My mo[Diego wraps his arms around me and says]

"You don't have to say it. Does your dad know you're here?"

"No. I just need a friend right now."

"You've got one. Come on let's sit down."[We sit in the couch Dylan spends the next hour crying into my shirt Mom comes home she says]

"Diego! Amelia! Alejandro! Come down here. It's important."[They all come in the kitchen I say]"Have any of you seen Dylan Halstead? Don't lie to me. Her dad is worried."

"She's in the living room. She needs a friend."

"Dylan come in here please."[she comes in her eyes are puffy and red from crying ; she has mascara running down her face I ask]"Does your dad know you're here?"

"No. Did you hear?"

"Yea. I'm so sorry. I lost my mother when I was sixteen. You don't have to go home but you do have to call your dad and tell him you're okay. He's really worried about you."

"Ok."[I go on the porch and call Dad he answers]

"Dylan are you okay? Where are you?"

"I'm okay and I'm at Diego's."

"I'm coming to get you now."

"Dad I just need time to process everything. Is it okay if I stay here?"

"Let me talk to Rosa."

"Ok [I go in the house and say] "My dad wants to talk to you Mrs. Martinez."

"Thanks Dylan."[They go into the living room I say]"What's up Halstead?"

"What's your read on Dylan?"

"She's hurting. She Erin were close. It's like not being able to breathe. How is Alexis taking it?"

"She has questions. I just try to answer them the best way I know how to. Lexi has been in her room since we left the hospital ; she shut me out."

"Well if it's okay with you, Dylan can spend the night here."

"Yea that's fine. How far is Amelia's room from Diego's?"

"Diego has transformed the basement into his room. Amelia's room is on the second floor."

"Good. Thanks Martinez."

"Anytime Halstead."[I hang up I start to make dinner Dylan comes in she says]

"Mrs. Martinez can I talk to you?"

"Sure sweetie. What's up?"

"How did you handle your mom's death?"

"I was devastated. We were talking about going to Paris for my graduation when a truck missed the stop sign, ran the red light hit us head on."

*Dylan's pov*

[I wake up at 5:30am. I stay in bed for two hours. Dad knocks on my door he opens it says]

"Time to get up."

"I'm already awake. I just don't think I can get out of bed. She was my best friend Dad."

"Yea. Mine too. We have to move on though."

"Move on past my mothers death. Why the hell haven't I thought about that?"

"Watch your mouth Dylan."

"When was the last time you kissed Mom?"

"Just before she had surgery. The last thing she said was : {Take Dylan to California if I don't make it. Take the girls to Cabo. They were really looking forward to it. I love you so much Jay Andrew Halstead. I'm so lucky to have you in my life.} Dylan your mom loved you guys more than life. She would die before she let someone hurt you guys."

"Lewis raped me repeatedly. She let him."

"No she didn't. When you went missing she was crying her eyes out because she thought it was her fault. That she should've been there. I was too. I'm supposed to protect my family. She went off when we found Lewis raping you because she hated for someone to hurt you."

"I know. We were planning the trip to California. Why did she have to die?"

"I'm not sure baby girl. I know that we will be okay in time. Thanks Dylan."

"For what?"

"Everything."

[Dad leaves I get up I see a picture of me Mom at my last basketball game we were undefeated all season. We won the state championship. I feel hot tears rolling down my cheeks. I take a long shower when I come out I see : SHMILY written on the mirror that mom wrote. I try wiping it away but it reappears over and over again I break down crying. I'm sitting on my bathroom floor sobbing in my robe when Aunt Nadia knocks on the door she says]

"Dylan can I come in?"

"It's open."[she comes in she sits in front of me says]

"Hey kiddo. How are you holding up?"

"How am I holding up? My mother is dead. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy."