Everyone loves a funeral (Aly, Completely Open to Anyone)

[ghost-within.livejournal.com]

Even as it was happening, Peter's funeral seemed so beyond surreal. The chapel at the hospital was full fit to burst with people who had come to mourn the loss of Peter Kemp. Stuart was officiating and despite his years in the clergy, he found that it was impossible to come up with the right words to say. So instead he borrowed Peter's words, opting to read passages from Peter's journals about the importance of love and family, artfully leaving out all mentions of angels or demons or anything else supernatural. People were allowed to say a few words, and those that were able to got up and shared memories or feelings or thoughts. Deirdre went on for nearly 20 minutes because that's what Deirdre did. No one minded. They were focused on Peter, resting in front of them like he was asleep. He was dressed in the suit he'd been married in to cover up his scars, and his hands were folded lightly across his chest. His first journal rested beneath them. It seemed only fitting that he be interred with it.

After the service, everyone relocated to the mausoleum that Aly had purchased. It was a large stone building with ornate iron work and a large chandelier hanging from the ceiling. And it was theirs now, it belonged to the family. Aly had placed some vases in the corners that had belonged to Louise. Flowers were placed in them, and Peter rested in the middle so people could see him one last time before he was lifted up and slid into his place in the top row. It was very informal, because that's how Peter would have liked it. Aly was hanging back, not yet ready to say goodbye. She let other people see him first. She knew how very important her husband was to...well...everyone. Instead of crowding, she leaned against the outside of the mausoleum, holding baby Thomas who was strangely still, and she cried softly as she stared up at the cloudy sky.

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[empress-tasha.livejournal.com]

"You gave to him in life," Tasha said. "You showed him what his purpose could mean to one person. How his kindness could... could take a person who was broken and..." Her speech was interspersed with sobbing, but she battled through, because she felt that this was important to say. "He could take that person and make a you."

[to-be-fated.livejournal.com]

Gavin gave her a fond, sad look and he rubbed her back in an attempt to both make her feel better and thank her for her words. "And I will be forever grateful to him for that. And the family he gave me."

[empress-tasha.livejournal.com]

"When you're ready," Tasha began softly, "will you walk through the cemetary with me? It looks so pretty and peaceful out there. I just want something... nice. But I can go with someone else if you don't want to..."

[to-be-fated.livejournal.com]

"No. I'll go with you. I want to go with you." He held out his hand so she could take it if she wanted.

[empress-tasha.livejournal.com]

Tasha did take Gavin's hand, gratefully, and together they walked into the beauty of the cemetary, a place filled with grief, but also monuments to loving memory.