/A.N./ This in the first chapter for my new story. It's essentially Four brothers the movie, with an additional character. I couldn't get it out of my head, and I stayed up till 2:30 this morning typing. I had midterms today so I had to wait until now to post it. I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything affiliated with Four Brothers. I own my original characters, and the original portion of the plot.

Chapter 1: The Funeral

The cold Detroit wind whipped through her dark brown curls as she mournfully fixed her gaze upon the oaken coffin of the only person she cared enough for to call her family. Even though Evelyn Mercer wasn't biologically related to her, she might as well been. A single tear traveled down her tan cheek and dripped off of her chin before anyone even noticed. She could briefly hear the words of Jeremiah pass through one ear and out the other, but she couldn't concentrate. Especially, when she was trying to comprehend the fact that the woman she called a mother, a friend, was right in front of her, but a forever away.

"Even though this woman was years younger than my mother, she had a great impact on my mother's life. I know my mother would like for her to speak. Dahlia, would you please come up here and say a few words?" Jeremiah's voice pleaded to her from the front of the coffin.

She silently cursed him. He knew she wouldn't refuse, not after he had said that little bit about Miss Evelyn. She couldn't turn him down in front of all those people. She didn't have a prepared speech, but she was going to go up there and do the best that she could spontaneously.

She walked up to the front of the service and gazed at all the expecting faces. She took a deep breath before she started," There should be a statute of limitation on grief. A rule book that says it is all right to wake up crying, but only for a month. That after forty-two days I will no longer turn with my heart racing, certain I have heard her call out my name. That there will be no fine imposed if I feel the need to forever shut her bedroom door; take down her reminders from the refrigerator; turn over a portrait as I pass- if only because it cuts me fresh again to see it. That it is okay to measure the time she has been gone, the way we once measured her birthdays, but I know she wouldn't want that.

See, as much as I want to hold on to the bitter sore memory that someone has left this world, I,... we are still in it. And the very act of living is a tide: at first it seems to make no difference at all, and then one day you look down and see how much pain has eroded.

My life revolved around Evelyn Mercer, and I will never forget her. The fact that I will never see her again is still too much for me to wrap my mind around. I can only hope that she is smiling down upon me from a better place, and that she will stay with me forever in my heart and soul. Thank You."

Before she walked away she looked out to the crowd. She could see that Jeremiah was crying, so was a younger white man standing alongside him. There was another man on his right. He wasn't yet crying, but he didn't look like he would last much longer. Dahlia knew that those were Jeremiah's brothers, minus one, Angel. Evelyn had talked about them frequently.

She supposed that they would be coming to stay in the house after the funeral until loose ends were tied up. She made the choice to slip silently away from the service, not being able to consciously bear the sight of Evelyn's coffin descending into the ground. Dahlia knew that Jerry was having a small get together in the memory of his mother after the service, but she felt like isolation. She also knew that the house needed cleaning if the boys were going to stay for any extended length of time.

She walked back to the house having to fiddle with Evelyn's oversized coat only a few times. It even smelled like her for God's sake, and every time she adjusted it a wave of Evelyn's comforting perfume wafted into her nose making her want to burst into tears.

When she reached the house she went through the screened-in porch and unlocked the door to the house. She hadn't touched anything in the house since she had been home from the hospital. That night she had gone straight to her room, Jeremiah's old room, and sat frozen on the bed.

Dahlia gently began moving things back to the places Evelyn had prepared for them fragilely as if they would break if held to tightly. The house was quiet with just her and Evelyn, and consequently it wasn't that messy. The only time things were even disturbed were when Daniella and Amelia came over for a visit. Then, they were sweet kids and Dahlia could usually keep them occupied without much of a mess.

"Jer, who was that woman who got up and spoke at Ma's funeral?" Bobby asked walking with Jerry and Jack into the former brothers house.

"Ghost? Mom took her in a few years after Jackie left. I know you ain't gonna quit asking questions so pull up a chair and grab a beer." Jerry sighed.

The three reunited brothers sat down at Jeremiah's kitchen table and waited for him to begin," She was about eighteen when she first showed up on Momma's doorstep. That night she was real panicky and anxious. She had on heals and underwear, and a small jacket. I was over there making arrangements for the girls to stay the weekend. I thought she was nothing but a whore looking for some easy target so I told her to leave.

When she started to walk away, that's when I saw the bruises man. Kid looked like a fuckin' patchwork quilt Bobby. I knew this would be the first type of person that Mom would take in. I told her to come inside. Momma fixed her up and pretty soon she had a legit job. She was even helping to pay the bills."

"So why do they call her Ghost? She ain't exactly as white as a sheet," Bobby was his usual persistent self.

"Her real name's Dahlia. It's her personality. She just flits around here and shows up out of nowhere. Like sometimes she's there and sometimes she isn't, but you'd never know it. You'd have to look around for her to see her coming."

"Well thanks for the fuckin' fairytale Jer, but we should probably get back to Ma's house. You comin'?" Bobby said getting up from the wooden chair.

"I probably should. Knowing you, Dahl'd have a heart attack with your loud ass. Just to let you guys know, you got to be careful with her," Jeremiah rolled his eyes and started out of his house.

"Yeah, yeah we'll be as gentle as a kitten," Bobby climbed in the car and waited for Jerry to follow suit.

/A.N./ I hope you enjoyed it! Please remember to tell me what you think and REVIEW! Thanks!