A/N: I'm sorry, but I started writing and I couldn't stop. Sad stuff isn't my forte, but I've been trying to challenge myself recently.

Just to clarify: in my head cannon, Nate and Elena have a little girl named Elizabeth (Lizzy) and Nate is a history professor after the events of U3. I don't know where U4 fits in, so don't ask.

"…And the king promised his people he would feed them all by selling his-" The phone interrupts my lecture. "What a cliffhanger, huh?" I ask the class. They laugh and I tell them to discuss while I answer the phone. "Hello?"

"Hey sweetie, how's your day been?" Elena asks airily.

"Pretty good, how 'bout you? Everything okay?" She only calls me sweetie when something's up.

"Yeah, Liz and I are fine, but…"

"But what?"

"It's Sully. He's sick."

"Sick?"

"Yeah, he collapsed in a coughing fit, so I called 911 and they took him to the hospital."

My heart drops to my stomach and I feel the blood drain from my face. "Is he…" I swallow hard. "Is he gonna make it?"

"It's not looking good, Nate."

"O-Okay, I'll… Tell him I'll come by later."

"I think you should come soon, sweetheart. He's been asking for you."

"Well, I've got to finish up my lecture. I'll be there soon." I hang up and turn to face my class. I didn't realize they had gone silent. They're all staring at me with varying levels of concern. "Okay, where was I?" I breathe. Nobody answers. They know something's wrong. "The king promised his…" I take a deep breath and wipe my face. "I'm… I'm sorry, my wife just…" Oh my god, Sully. What'd you do this time?

"Professor? Is everything okay?" asks Alex in the second row.

"Yeah, it's just my wife called to tell me my friend's sick. Like… really sick."

"Then go," says a quiet voice in the back. I hardly recognize Erin; she never speaks. The rest of the class follows, yelling things akin to what Erin said.

"We won't tell anyone," Harper assures me as the last one to speak.

"Well, if you all feel so strongly about it, I guess I could go. Are you all okay with putting this lecture on pause?"

"Yes," they all say (a little too enthusiastically for my taste).

"Alright, I'll see you all soon."

Various wishes of "good luck" and "hope he feels better" float around the room as I push the door open and sprint to my car.

I call Elena on my cell before starting the car. "You on your way?" she asks.

"Yeah, I just got out of the school. Tell him I'll be there in a few."

"Of course, sweetie. Lizzy wants to talk to you."

"Alright." I put the car back in drive. "What's up, girly?"

"The sky!"

I laugh and say, "You're right, baby. You're absolutely right. You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. Uncle Suwy has a cough."

"How's Mommy doing?"

"She's okay. She keeps telling me everything's gonna be okay. She has wet eyes."

"Okay, baby. I'm on my way. No need to worry."

"I'm not worried, Daddy."