A/N: I am not Catholic, nor do I know much about Catholicism in 1814, so I apologize if parts of this chapter are inaccurate.

Chapter 13

Winter – 1814

As the days get shorter and the nights longer, the winter winds blow cold drafts through the manor. A chill has settled over the estate and a fire is always roaring heartily in the hearth, warming and strengthening the occupants.

This is where Carlos Torres spends most of his days now as his body needs all of the warmth it can get. Lucia, Callie, and even Arianna have made it their jobs to see that he is always comfortable and that he always has food. The children keep him company, often playing the piano or performing little skits, made up or otherwise.

Despite the family's best efforts, however, Carlos's health deteriorates, so much so that after the first snowfall of the winter, he is barely able to walk or eat. They make a permanent bed for him in front of the fire and take turns feeding him soup. The children, mature beyond their years, know that their grandfather won't be alive for much longer, but they all put on brave faces, even little Henry, who has learned not to clamber up onto his Carlos's lap. They regularly make designs in the snow just outside the parlor and knock on the window. Carlos lifts his head weakly and smiles at them encouragingly. Callie hardly has the heart to make them come inside when they are getting too cold.

It is Callie who finds Carlos gasping for breath one bitter morning in mid-December. He is pale and emaciated and it is abundantly clear to Callie that he will not make it much longer. He has three requests: some hot soup, for someone to call for both a doctor and a priest, and to speak to Arianna. Callie nods her head obediently at the first two demands, but her eyes widen at the third.

"Arianna?" she asks.

"Yes, mi hija. I want to speak to Miss Robbins," Carlos rasps. "Please."

"I'll send her in while I call for Dr. Cooper and the priest. You're going to be alright," Callie reassures hollowly.

She slips into the hallway and to the kitchen where she finds her mother and Arianna preparing breakfast for the family. She grabs both of their elbows and pulls them out of earshot of the children.

"I have to go to town today to call for Dr. Cooper and Father Brooks. Could you two look after the children?"

Lucia's eyes cloud over immediately but she nods. "Of course, darling."

"And Arianna, my father wants to speak to you. Before you ask, no, I do not know why."

o0o0o

Arianna knocks on the doorframe of the parlor to alert Carlos to her presence. The older man rolls his head to the side and nods weakly. She glides quickly over to his makeshift bed and sits on the edge of the chair next to him.

"Miss Robbins," Carlos croaks. "Thank you for coming."

"Of course, sir."

"As I'm sure you've gathered, I won't last much longer."

"Mr. Torres, don't say that…" Arianna pleads with a shake of her head.

"I am a realistic man, Arianna. I know that my body is weakening and that God and I are powerless to stop it."

"I'm sorry," Arianna whispers, unsure what to say to take away his pain.

"I don't approve of you and my daughter," Carlos begins.

"I know, sir," Arianna whispers.

"But nothing I will say will change the fact that you love her and that she returns your love."

"No, sir. I – "

"I want you to protect her," he interrupts. "You told me that you protect the things you love, so I'm asking you to protect her, because despite all rationality, you love her. She has no husband and soon she will have no father, so I want you to promise me that you will protect her."

"I promise." Arianna gently takes Carlos's bony hand in hers and squeezes lightly. "I promise that I will do everything in my power not to let her hurt ever again."

"Thank you," Carlos breathes. "As a father, I just want the best for her." His tone almost sounds apologetic.

"I know you do. I want the best for her, too."

"I'm glad we agree on that," Carlos says with a small chuckle, which immediately turns into a cough.

"I'll go see to your soup," Arianna says quietly, before removing her hand and slipping out of the room.

o0o0o

Callie returns several hours later with both Dr. Cooper and Father Brooks. Dr. Cooper confirms that Carlos is unlikely to last until Christmas. The doctor decided that Carlos most likely had something like a cancer of the stomach and that it is spreading through his weakening body.

With tears in her eyes, Callie pays the doctor and thanks him for coming. When she returns to the room, the children are huddled around Lucia and Arianna as Father Brooks takes the Holy Oil from his bag. He stands over Carlos's body and crosses him, anointing him with oil.

"O Holy Hosts above, I call upon Thee as a servant of Jesus Christ, to sanctify our actions this day in preparation for the fulfillment of the will of God," Father Brooks starts in a low, even tone.

Sofia softly weeps into her grandmother's neck, while Lucia calmly strokes her long, raven hair. Charlotte looks on with tearful eyes, and Henry watches with curiosity, too young to really understand what is happening, but mature enough to recognize the gravity of the situation. Callie joins her family in the corner and takes Arianna's hand as Father Brooks continues to perform the Last Rites.

He ends with the Benediction, saying, "We give Him glory as we give you unto His arms in everlasting peace, to be prepared to return into the denser reality of God the Father, creator of all. Amen."

"Amen," everyone choruses solemnly.

"Amen," Carlos whispers as Father Brooks crosses him one last time.

o0o0o

Three days later, Callie sits next to her father, gently stroking the protruding veins on the hand she has cradled between hers. His forgotten and now cold soup sits on the table next to his head.

"Calliope," he rasps, his throat dry and sore.

"Don't speak, Father. It's okay," Callie soothes.

"No, I have to say this. I want to see you in Heaven, Calliope."

"Father…" Callie whispers, the tears she has been holding back finally flowing over her eyelids.

"I have to see you in Heaven, Calliope."

"You will, Father. You will."

"I hope so."

Callie doesn't know what to say, so she squeezes his hand harder as her tears drip over their entwined fingers.

"She loves you. That's all a father could wish for, I suppose. So, I hope I see you in Heaven," he says pointedly.

"You will," she repeats.

"I'm so tired, m'ija," Carlos murmurs.

"Go to sleep, Father. I'll be right here when you wake up," Callie promises with another squeeze of his hand.

"I love you, Calliope. Tell your mother and your children that I love them, too."

"You can tell them yourself when you wake up," Callie assures him with a watery smile.

Carlos nods and closes his eyes. Not five minutes later, his hand goes limp in hers. She gently lays his lifeless hand over his chest. Leaning over his body, Callie kisses her father's forehead as he takes his last breath.

o0o0o

1 month later

Winter – 1815

"It's been a year since I came here," Arianna mentions. She and Callie are up later than the rest of the family, relaxing after a long day and enjoying each other's company, just as they used to many months ago.

"It has, hasn't it? And what a year it has been," Callie whispers.

"So much loss," Arianna says softly, respectfully.

"And so much joy," Callie says with an adoring smile. She squeezes Ari's knee and pulls the smaller woman closer to her.

"You mean that?"

"Despite everything that happened this year, losing Mark Jr. and my father, I wouldn't change anything if it meant I never met you."

Overcome with a barrage of emotions, Arianna shakes her head to ward off her tears. She tilts her head up to Callie's and kisses her soundly.

"I never thought I'd be truly happy, Calliope. I thought I would live a lonely life and never understand true love. I have never been so thrilled to be wrong in my whole life."

Callie kisses her again, tracing her bottom lip with her tongue. She pulls back abruptly, despite Ari's moans of protest.

"And thank you for showing me that there is more to life than comfort," Callie says, recalling one of their first real conversations.

"Always."

A/N: So there you have it: the last chapter. Thank you all so much for your awesome reviews and support. This is obviously a very different story from what is usually posted here, so it was awesome to hear your feedback! There might be an epilogue (I'm still toying with the idea), but this seems quite final and definitive to me, but we shall see.