The days that followed the birth of were a whirlwind of joy, love, and exhaustion. For a while, everything felt like it could be perfect. The sight of Ethan in their arms, the sound of his laughter filling the room, and the warmth of family surrounding them—it was everything they had dreamed of. But as the days passed, something began to change. Gemini's strength, once so unwavering, started to fade.
It started slowly at first—just a slight increase in fatigue, a little more difficulty catching his breath, but by the end of the week, it was clear to Fourth that something was terribly wrong. The doctors had been monitoring Gemini's cancer closely, but despite their best efforts, it had spread faster than anyone had expected. The treatments hadn't worked the way they'd hoped, and now, the reality they had feared was closing in on them faster than they were prepared for.
Fourth tried to keep things normal for as long as he could. He kept Ethan busy with his favorite toys, joked with their friends, and smiled when he needed to, all while quietly watching the love of his life slip further and further away.
Gemini, for his part, remained strong—at least, he tried to. He didn't want to show how much pain he was in, didn't want to burden Fourth any more than he already had. But the strain was evident in the hollowed-out look in his eyes, the way his voice cracked when he tried to speak, and the way he became winded after just a few minutes of talking.
Finally, one evening, as the sun dipped low in the sky, casting a soft golden glow over their home, Gemini turned to Fourth with a weak but loving smile.
"Fourth," he said softly, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Can we talk?"
Fourth's heart skipped a beat. He had been dreading this moment, the one where Gemini would finally admit what they both knew in their hearts—that there wasn't much time left. He set aside the toy he had been playing with Ethan and walked over to Gemini's side, sitting beside him on the couch. He took Gemini's hand, holding it gently, as if afraid to let go.
"I'm here, love," Fourth whispered, his eyes filled with unshed tears.
Gemini smiled, the smallest of smiles, but it was enough to make Fourth's chest ache. He looked over at their son, Ethan, who was happily playing with Ford and Winny in the other room.
"Promise me something," Gemini said, his voice shaking slightly.
"Anything," Fourth answered immediately, his grip on Gemini's hand tightening.
"Promise me you'll be okay," Gemini said, his eyes searching Fourth's face, his voice cracking with emotion. "Promise me you'll take care of Ethan. That you'll love him the way I would have. I know you will, but I need to hear it. I need to know you'll be okay."
Tears welled in Fourth's eyes as he tried to swallow the lump in his throat. "I will," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I promise. I'll love him, Gemini. I'll give him everything I have. I'll make sure he knows how much you love him."
Gemini's eyes softened, and he let out a soft sigh, resting his head back against the couch cushions. "I don't want to leave you," he whispered, his voice full of pain. "I don't want to leave Ethan. But I know it's... it's time."
Fourth's heart shattered at the words. "No, Gemini," he said, his voice frantic, the tears now falling freely down his face. "You're not going anywhere. We can fight this together. We'll find another way. We have to."
But Gemini shook his head slowly, his breath shallow as he looked at his husband, his eyes filled with the love they had shared over the years, a love that would transcend everything. "I've fought for as long as I could, Fourth. I'm tired. But I need you to be strong for Ethan. You're his everything now. You have to be everything to him."
Fourth leaned down, pressing his forehead to Gemini's. His tears fell onto Gemini's skin, mingling with the sweat that clung to his husband's face. "I don't know how to live without you, Gemini," he whispered, his voice breaking. "How am I supposed to do this without you?"
Gemini's hand reached up weakly, brushing away a stray tear from Fourth's cheek. "You already have everything you need to keep going," he whispered softly. "You have my heart. You have my love. And you have Ethan. He'll grow up knowing exactly who his father is—he'll never forget you. He'll never forget me."
Fourth's chest was tight with the weight of everything Gemini had just said. He didn't want to let go. He didn't want to say goodbye. But he knew in his heart that Gemini was at peace with this. It was the hardest thing he had ever had to accept, but deep down, he knew this was the only way.
"Will you... will you hold him one more time?" Fourth asked, his voice barely audible as he looked toward their son.
Gemini nodded weakly, his hand trembling as he reached out toward Ethan, who was now resting in Winny's arms. Fourth stood up, lifting their baby carefully and placing him in Gemini's arms. He watched as Gemini's tired, frail arms cradled their child, and for a moment, it felt like everything had come full circle. It felt like the world had stopped spinning, and all that mattered was the love that connected them.
"I'm so proud of you," Gemini whispered to their son, tears rolling down his cheeks as he gazed at Ethan. "You've made me the happiest person in the world."
Ethan, unaware of the gravity of the moment, cooed softly in Gemini's arms, his tiny hand reaching up to grasp his father's finger. Gemini smiled at the gesture, his eyes closing for a moment as he held onto his son.
"I'll be with you always," Gemini whispered, his voice so soft it was almost a breath. "I'll be in your heart. And I'll be in your dreams."
Fourth kneeled beside the couch, his hands resting on Gemini's, his chest heavy with grief and love. He could hardly breathe, but he stayed by Gemini's side, holding onto him for as long as he could.
"I love you, Gemini. Always," Fourth whispered, his voice breaking as he kissed Gemini's forehead. "I love you so much."
"I love you too, until my last breath" Gemini whispered back, his voice barely a murmur. "Don't forget that."
And then, as Fourth held their son in his arms, Gemini's hand slipped from his, his breathing slowing, until it was no more. The silence in the room was overwhelming, the absence of Gemini's warmth like a cold weight pressing down on Fourth's heart.
For a long while, Fourth stayed there, holding Ethan against his chest, staring at the man who had been his world, who had loved him with all his heart. And though Gemini was gone, the love they had shared remained—a love that would never fade.
It was the end of one chapter. But for Fourth, and for their son, it was only the beginning.
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Until My Last Breath | GeminiFourth AU
FanfictionGemini and Fourth have been married for two years, they are eagerly awaiting the birth of their first child when tragedy strikes-Gemini is diagnosed with terminal cancer. Faced with the cruel reality of time slipping away, Gemini and Fourth hold ont...
