I'll Be

Hey people, I'm back! I've had writer's block all summer…it's like I can't write unless I'm depressed or seriously stressed..hey, that rhymed…but newayz, I've been too happy to write all summer…does that make any sense whatsoever? Well, whatever. So here's my fic…um, I don't have much to say and this part might be kinda confusing, but, once again, just have faith in me, kay? Kay. So I don't own the characters, I just screw with 'em (not like that, jeez, get ur heads outta the gutter) and put them in situations they'd never actually be in and make absolutely no money in doing so. And that's it…so read and review, please : )

"Bryce, Ashleigh, come on, we're gonna be late!" Monica yelled and a few seconds later, her three-year-old son came running down the hallway.

"Ashleigh won't come," he said and Monica just sighed. She couldn't handle all of this right now.

"Well can you put your shoes on while I go talk to your sister?" Monica asked and Bryce grinned and nodded in response, so Monica forced a smile back.

'God, he looks just like his father,' she thought as she walked up the stairs to Ashleigh's room.

His father…

Monica shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. "Ashleigh," she said softly as she knocked on her door.

"Go away," came the muffled yell through the door.

Go away…

"Ash, honey, we have to go," she opened the door and walked in. Ashleigh was lying on her bed, her face buried in her pillow.

"I'm not going," she said, her voice muffled by the pillow.

"Ash-"

"I'm not going," she repeated, sitting up. Monica looked at her tear-stained face, wondering if the little girl in front of her was really only seven years old.

Monica sat down next to her on the bed, gently reaching to wipe away the tears. "It's your father's funeral," she whispered.

"I'm. Not. Going," she repeated calmly.

"Honey, I know you hurt, but if you don't go you're going to regret it," she said, though she knew those words probably meant nothing to a seven-year-old. "Please, baby? For me?"

Ashleigh looked back at her mother, seeing that there were tears in her eyes, also, threatening at any moment.

Threats…

"Fine," she finally said, barely whispering it, and Monica leaned in to hug her.

Monica stood up, holding her hand out for Ashleigh to take, but instead she walked past her. Sighing, Monica once again realized that she couldn't take all of this right now.

"Momma, look!" Bryce came running up the hallway. "I did it all by myself!" he showed her his shoes and how he'd tied them. Monica almost laughed, seeing the knots that he'd somehow managed to tie in his shoelaces.

"Wow, good job," she smiled at him. "C'mon, buddy," she said and he held his arms out to be picked up, so she picked him up. "Where's your sister?"

"In the car," he replied, so Monica grabbed her purse and keys before heading out the door.

She put Bryce in his car seat and then looked at Ashleigh, who was sitting in the front seat with her arms crossed. After a couple of seconds, Monica brushed it off, deciding that anger must just be her way of dealing with grief, and started the car.

After a silent 20-minute car ride, they pulled up. Monica got out of the car and then got Bryce out. When Ashleigh didn't move, Monica opened her door.

"Ashleigh…"

Ashleigh just turned her head in the opposite direction.

"So you're not talking to me now?" she asked, to which she got no response. "Ya know what? Fine. Don't come. Have everyone wonder where you are," Monica gave up, walking away with Bryce. Ashleigh got out of the car a few seconds later, running to catch up with them.

It was actually a beautiful day out, weather-wise, at least, and the funeral service was to take place at the gravesite. Monica sighed, wasn't it supposed to be rainy and dreary at funerals? As she continued to look around at all the people dressed in black that had already gathered, she started to feel everything that she'd been trying to repress over the past few days.

Every emotion she hadn't allowed herself to feel, wanting to stay strong for her kids, came in a sudden rush, and she let it, giving in to the tears.

Collapsing down onto the chair next to the one Ashleigh had sat down on, she still held Bryce, who didn't understand. He just looked up at her with innocent big blue eyes, not understanding. He didn't understand why she was crying. He didn't understand that he'd never see his daddy again.

And thinking of that, Monica cried even harder. He wouldn't remember his father. Or not much, anyway. And Ashleigh would have some memories, but not nearly enough.

Monica continued to cry, not even aware of the fact that almost everyone there was practically staring at her.

"Mon?" a soft voice broke into her thoughts, and she looked up. She hadn't seen him, heard from him in years. But as she set Bryce down and stood up, she welcomed his arms around her as he hugged her.

Monica just buried her head in his chest, continuing to sob.

"Oh, Chandler…"

to

be

continued…

Yeah, I know that was really short, sorry bout that, but please review so I can know if it was worth continuing or not : )