"It is with great sorrow, that we say goodbye to our dear Evelyn Mercer."

Rachel couldn't hold the rush of tears back as the final farewells were said to the sweetest woman who'd ever lived.

And that's what made Rachel feel so insignificant. What had she done with her life so far? She never got out of Detroit, like she said she would. Evelyn helped hundreds of foster kids in her life…and even took in four herself: the infamous Bobby, Jeremiah, Angel, and little Jackie.

"Mommy…" Ian tugged on his mother's jacket. "Won't she wake up in there?" he asked her with his big green eyes gazing up at her. Rachel gave a sorrowful chuckle and wiped some of the frozen tears from under her eyes. "No, Ian…we talked about this…" she touched his curly brown hair, "Geema's not coming back…" she kissed the top of her son's head.

Looking up as the group started to disperse, she caught a glimpse at good ol' Bobby Mercer. She hadn't seen him in five years. She did not know where he headed to or what kind of trouble he got in when he got there…. She stood up and Ian followed suit, but she saw Bobby turn and catch her eye. "Go talk to Uncle Jerry for a minute, okay?" she kissed his forehead and he bounded off through the snow.

She wiped the last of her tears away by the time he reached her, "Rach," he spoke slowly with the nod of his head.

"Bobby…"she replied, "Haven't seen you around these parts in a long time…" she said, hugging her coat closer to her.

Bobby nodded. He looked at her with a look that Rachel knew she was the only human being that saw into Bobby Mercer's soul. It still gave her butterflies. "So what have you been up to?" Bobby asked nonchalantly.

Rachel paused, "Uh…my time has been devoted to the man of my life…" she said with a small smile.

"Oh…" Bobby looked shocked and gave a little laugh and an uncomfortable shift of his weight. "A man? Who's the lucky guy?" he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

Rachel looked over and nodded towards Ian who stood in a group with Jack, Jerry, and Jerry's wife. Bobby looked over, then back to Rachel, his eyebrows raised in question, "Jackie?" he asked incredulously.

Rachel burst out into laughter, "No! Gosh no! Not little Jackie… god…" she said, "A little shorter…"

The look of realization crossed Bobby's face, "Ah, shit…the kid?" he looked back at her. "Oh, man…what's his name?" he asked.

"That's Ian…" she looked back at her son with her maternal adoration, "He's my favorite…"

Bobby nodded, "He looks just like you…" he said.

"I think he looks like his dad…" Rachel replied. When she was looking over to the group, Jack caught her eye and smiled, giving a wave. She waved back.

"Oh yeah? And where is daddy dearest?" Bobby asked. He glanced around as if he could find him.

Rachel chuckled to herself. When she and Bobby had been together…it hadn't been the most healthy of relationships. There was a strong connection that held them together, but things got rough.

Don't misquote her- he never laid a hand on her…but the drywall or furniture on the other hand…weren't so lucky. But their relationship had gotten her close to Evelyn and his brothers as well. Angel wasn't around much but none the less; she had been accepted by the Mercer group. They always teased him on how he'd 'settled down' but Rachel was afraid that was the straw that broke the camel's back for Bobby to take off.

"He hasn't been around in a long time…" Rachel replied. Bobby looked back over at the kid, and if Rachel wasn't mistaken, she was sure that he was doing some math in his head, but –saved by the bell- Jack walked over, "Looks like we're done here…we're all heading back to ma's…"

"Great. I want to get Ian out of the cold," Rachel stepped away to find her son. Jack looked at Bobby with a furrowed brow, "You alright, man?" he asked.

"Yeah…" Bobby was shaken from his thoughts, "Yeah…let's get outta here."