The week after his mum had died seem d to drag. Suddenly, everything was wrong.

But, it was the day of the funeral things were worse.

"Gary...?!" Miranda entered the restaurant wearing her best black dress and shoes, her black leather jacket sat on her shoulders.

Gary was sat at the bar his head in his hands, he was drinking a glass of whiskey. He was wearing his best suit, his jacket over the next bar stool, his top button open on his jacket with his tie wrapped over his shoulders. He didn't look up at her.

Miranda put her hand on his shoulder, "Gary..." she whispered kissing his head.

"I can't do this..." he started to cry again.

"Shh" Miranda wrapped her arms around him, rocking him side to side as he cried into her. "You've just got to be brave... it'll get easier..." she kissed his head and wipped at his tears.

"We better get going.." Gary stood up, he started to fasten his top button before attempting to tie his tie.

"Come here"Miranda smiled fastening the tie around his neck.

"Thanks"

Miranda smiled and grabbed his jacket while he put the bottle and glass away.

"Ready?"

Gary shrugged before walking out of the resteraunt quickly followed by Miranda.

*at the church*

"Now, Gary would like to say a few words..." the vicar spoke.

Miranda squeezed his hand before he stood up and went up to the stand next to his mums coffin

Gary was nervous, he wasn't too sure what to say. "Mum..." he started to cry again. "We've had some good times..." he smiled. "The times you picked me up when I fell down... the plasters on my knees when I fell off my bike..." he cried harder. "I miss you..." he stopped speaking, covering his face. "I love you..." he sobbed.

The rest of the church was scilent. Gary's cries echoed.

Miranda stood up and walked over to him.

Gary looked at her desperately, crying hysterically.

Miranda wrapped her arms around him protectivley. "Come on, sit down"

Gary carried on crying as Miranda took him to sit down.

She wrapped her arms around him, as he cry into her.

*after the ceremony*

Gary sat on the bench in the gardens alone. He'd asked Miranda to leave him be for a while.

"Gary, I'm sorry"

Gary span around. He gave him a small smile. "I've seen you before..."

The man sat next to him.

"This is going to sound rude, but who are you!? Your at all family funerals, weddings..." Gary asked. He studied the man carefully, brown, short slightly curly hair, brown eyes and tall.

The man sighed, "I'm your brother..."

Gary starred at him. "Are you sick!? Its my mums funeral and you start insisting your my brother. Last I checked, I was an only child. Mum didn't want more kids. My dad used to beat the shit out of me. I have no family, there all dead!" Gary shouted tears strolling down his cheeks. He was now stood and furious.

"I grew up in care, your dad, our dad... hit me too, mum wasn't ready for kids... so the social services took me. I grew up in a kids home. Four years later mum turns up, she's pregnant. another ten years go by, I'm sixteen, leave the care home... I have a ten year old little brother. I go find my mum. I want go meet him. She wants me to be part of the family again. But Dosent want to confuse you, so I'm just her mates kid, we meet once. Then we occasionally see each other at weddings. Never speak."

"How long did it take you to come up with this, its genius, almost believeable. i had a brother, sort of, but mum had a miscarriage. The closest I've ever been.." Gary wipped his eyes.

"Garoth Jakob Preston. 23rd August 1973. Graduated fromuni September 1998 spend the next six years in Malaysia..."

"Only two people know my middle name, mum.."

"And Miranda..." the man butted in.

"You really are aren't you..."

"Thomas Archie Preston..." he looked right into Gary's eyes. "Mum wanted you to know the truth..."

Gary started crying.

Thomas wrapped his arms around him. "I'm your big brother Gary..."