Dan returns home from a long day of work, smiling when he sees Natalie snuggled in her mother's arm as she makes dinner. He could tell that it was hot dogs and macaroni and cheese. She hadn't made that since before their son had passed away. He nods, glad that she was starting to get over it. He looks at the set table, "Are we having a guest?"
"No why?" Diana smiles, glancing through the other doorway to her son playing with his usual blocks.
"Three placements. Natalie isn't eating what we are so-" He shrugs, smiling a little.
She glances to him, making a face, "I know that. I'm not crazy."
"Then who is it for?" He looks over, trying to see what she kept looking to in the other room. Dan notices the blocks spread around the floor, yet most in a pile.
"It's Gabriel's silly." She pats his chest as she walks by him, putting the bowl of macaroni and cheese on the table, "You know this is his favorite." She ruffles the hair of the boy who isn't there as he runs to his seat.
He shakes his head a little, "Diana." He says softly, "Are you feeling okay?"
She nods, "Of course. I feel amazing actually. Haven't felt so good in a while." Diana puts her daughter in her seat before putting a small amount on the boy's plate, "Make sure you eat that all now." She smiles to him, "My big boy."
Dan shakes his head, "Love, there's no one there."
"What?" She shakes her head, still smiling, "He promised that he's going to eat all of his supper. Aren't you glad he came back home?"
"No, Di, there's no one there. Gabriel is gone. He's dead."
Diana shakes her head again, looking at her baby boy, "I'm telling you that he isn't. I'm looking right at him and he's eating noodles." She looks back at her husband, "Dan, they were wrong. They were wrong and he's here and healthy and safe." She rambles a little, "Aren't you happy?"
He watches her a moment, shaking his head, "I'm going to call the doctor and we're going to get this fixed."
"But I don't need anything fixed. Our family is whole again and I am so happy." She shakes her head, "Just sit down and eat. Be happy for once."
"I am happy, with you and our daughter. Our daughter, Diana. We don't have a son."
"I told you he wouldn't like me." Gabe shakes his head, eating his cut hot dog.
"Don't say that." She shakes her head, "He loves you hon." Diana glances back toward her husband, "He thinks you hate him."
"How can I hate something that isn't even real?" He nods, moving to the seat where the setting was and waving his hand in the seat .
Diana snaps to almost when his hand slaps the cushion., "He…Where is he?"
"He's not here. Love, everything will be okay. Let me call the doctor." He moves back to his wife, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close a moment before moving from the room.
She stands there, just staring at the seat as her infant daughter begins to cry. She can't hear it though. Almost in a daze. She couldn't understand how he was so real to her and not to her husband. "Gabriel?" She whispers to no one in particular, not even the son who wasn't there.