ONE WEEK LATER.

Emma wore a long quarter sleeve top with a black long tight skirt and highheels. Her hair was pinned straight and she sat on a plastic chair just like everyone in the crowd did.

Manny was really gone.

She was at the vuneral, yet still, it didn't seem real to her. Her eyes showed barely any emotion but just a numb look as she stared at the coffin with roses over it, Manny's picture on one side and Jay's on the other.

The kids didn't come, they stayed back at the house where later there would be an after service to pay respects to them... but Manny's parents thought it'd be too horrible for the kids to watch them get burried.

It was grey day, cloudy as everyone sat in the graveyard, listening to the priest say the last goodbyes.

It made Emma recall her last good bye with Manny. 'See you later aligator, in a while crocadile' .. ofcourse that would be the last damn words she said to Manny.

This wasn't right, this wasn't fair. Everyone kept getting ripped away from Emma and she had no control of it.

Her eyes burned, trying to stop her tears and she swallowed the lump in her throat down harshly, trying so hard not to cry. She looked up, trying to focus and took a deep long breath.

"Kleenex?" whispered Liberty beside her, taking one out of her purse and passed Emma a sad longing look.

Emma shook her head no, and blinked at Liberty before looking back to the coffins which were now being laid into the ground.

Was she and Liberty both in shock? Liberty was always best at hidding her emotions. . Emma would be more worried about her but... it seemed right now that nothing really mattered anymore to her.

Why did the best people leave?

J.t.. Jay.. now Manny. Emma looked over her shoulder at the crowd, seeing everyone in black raising from their seats but her eyes laid on one person who didn't stand when everyone began to leave. Sean.

Sean stared down at his hands sitting in his seat still, and if Emma knew Sean as well as she thought she did, the stoned face of his right now, with furrowed eyebrows and concentrating too hard on his hands, was trying to hold in the hurt and pain so he didn't lash out.

Emma wouldn't blame him though.

"Let's go Em, Manny's parents probably need help with setting up the service before everyone gets there." Liberty told her, standing up and Emma noticed she was the only one sitting now too.

The cloudy sky gave a far away echo of thunder and Emma clenched her jaw, standing up, and nodded.

After she helped Mannys mother put food on the table, Emma had locked herself in the bathroom when everybody started to come by.

She sucked in a deep shakey breath and wondered how anyone could have an appetite right now. . . Manny would honestly kill her if she was watching Emma right now, not eating right for the passed week but Emma just couldn't bring herself to do it.

Emma gasped and jumped, leaning on the sink as the bathroom knocked, "Just a minute!" she exclaimed and went to the toilet, pretending to flush. She turned to the sink and leaned down as she threw water onto her face and tried to focus.

Darla, Dakota, Jake... they needed her to be strong right now.

Where were they anyways?

Emma got up, passing a fake small smile to the person waiting outside the door and let them go in as she went to go back downstairs but she stopped, eyeing Manny's bedroom.

She got choked up and she slowly went into the room, looking around and taking a deep, deep breath.

The walls were covered in baby pictures, family pictures and even some of her and Manny as kids and grown ups. She stopped at one, noticing Manny even got a picture of her, Emma, Sean and Jay playing with Jake's present on his birthday and Darla in it too, giggling. It looked like a fun time.. she smiled sadly and then pierced her lips together tightly, letting tears fall down her cheeks and covered her mouth as she tried to breath and choked on a cry a little-

There was a sound in the closet.

Emma whipped her tears quickly and turned toward it, tilting her head and saw 4 little feet peeking out from the closet..

Meanwhile downstairs..

"I am so sorry... she was your dear friend right?" Sean heard a women ask Liberty as he passed, and Liberty kindly hugged the woman.

Sean didn't know how she could stand it, he'd probably snap if anyone tried to touch him right now.

He couldn't believe his best friend was gone. Jay didn't deserve this, he was a good guy, he changed his life and completely turned it around and Manny was the start of something great and then...THIS had to happen?

Sean couldn't stand it. . he wished it had been him to be honest. The kids didn't deserve this. Manny and Jay, didn't deserve this.

Sean glanced around, not wanting to talk to any of these people. He didn't know why he came.. well, he did want to see the kids but he bet they didn't want to see anybody either.

He looked around, not seeing them, and had already noticed Emma wasn't around either.

He glanced upstairs and back at the crowd around him, before sneaking off and going up them.

He looked around the upstairs, which seemed quiet, and like nobody was up here. He peeked into the rooms and still nothing, so was convinced no one was up there.

As he passed the old bedroom of Jay and Manny's though, he heard slight sniffling and snuffles.

He quietly entered the room, looking around and saw nobody, but a coat in the walk in closet moved slightly and the door was half shut.

He walked over silently and his heart broke to pieces when he slid the closet door open.

Emma sat on the ground, leaning against the wall and holding Dakota who not crying anymore but had puffy eyes from the baby girl probably crying all week and wondering where her parents were. And to each side of Emma was Jake and Darla.

Darla hung her head on Emma's shoulder. Tears still working their way around her eyes and she played with the end of her dress, looking miserable

Jake heard him come in, and looked up, those bright blue eyes, just icy looking today. But he didn't object when Sean also came in, and then Emma noticed him, snapping out of it and opened her mouth to explain.. but it's like he understood, and took the spot next to Jake, who gave him more room to sit and then Sean put an arm around him and also had his moment of silence before turning his head and catching Emmas eye.

They looked at another for a moment, no words needed, and Emma nodded slightly, looking back down and trying to still fight her tears.

Sean leaned his head back on the wall, closing his eyes.

The people downstairs didn't even notice none of them not there..

(Avril- slipped away)

I miss you, miss you so bad
I don't forget you, oh it's so sad
I hope you can hear me
I remember it clearly

The day you slipped away
Was the day I found it won't be the same
Oh

Darla's voice cracked up, as she leaned forward from her spot beside Emma to look at Jake on the other side, "It smells like mommy and daddy in here."

Emma shut her eyes tight, trying not to break down right there as her heart snapped in half and Sean noticed her struggle so leaned forward, grabbing Darla easily and brought her onto his lap

"their gone, Darla. You can't say things like that anymore." Jake seemed to snap at her. It seemed as though someone, like possibly Manny's father, was telling them not to speak of it.

Sean held Darla in his arms and looked at Jake, shaking his head no, "You can talk about them whenever you want to." he assured sternly and Jake blinked up at him, and Sean nodded to then look down at Darla, who laid her head on his chest and nodded too

He ran his hands through her dark hair and let his eyes wonder back to Emma who numbly stared down at ground again, and Jake had too, and the boy put his head on Emma's shoulder now instead of Darla.

Emma heard Dakota begin to snuffle again in her arms and she held her tighter to her.

Sean looked down and snuck one more concerned look at Emma before closing his eyes again.

The door opened and all their mouths dropped, looking up to the intruder.

Liberty.

"You can't be in here!" Darla yelled at her.

Liberty was a bit shocked and picked her mouth back up, "Darla, you're parents' friends are here, trying to pay their respects.."

"Get out!" Jake shouted, sitting up and Sean looked between them.

"Liberty." he protested.

"I'm sure they'll appreciate it if you go down to say you're alright.. they're all concerned." Liberty tried to explain.

Emma looked up at her through the silence as the kids looked down sadly and she clenched her jaw. Liberty just didn't deal with deaths well..

The kids just wanted to be alone... yet, seemed it was fine for her and Sean to be here too.

"come on" Sean told Jake, helping Darla up, "I'll go with you." they nodded, and went out as he slowly followed but gazed back watching Liberty not follow.

She looked to Emma and sighed, bending down, "Emma you look absolutely train wrecked." she took Dakota from her arms and Emma snapped out of it, and almost had a flash of anger that someone took Dakota from her but backed off when Liberty spoke again, "You look like you don't even know where you are right now."

Emma's eyes watched Liberty turn and go, and she walked passed Sean who watched the kids follow her so he took the time to walk back to Emma. He glanced once more out the door to make sure they were alone and he bent down on his ankles at the entrance of the closet where she still sat.

She did numb, broken hearted... he hadn't seen her this way since J.t. Their fights and break ups use to be pretty bad too, but this Emma? This Emma scared him, worried him..

"Hey." he whispered and she slowly looked over at him, blinking softly, but it looked like he had her attention and he glanced the way Liberty left and passed Emma a small smile, "Shes a bitch but shes half right." he frowned deeply, "You can't numb it out this time. It's going to suck to feel it, but, those guys.." he drifts, about Jake and the girls, "need you at your best to make them okay. You need to be okay for them."

Emma snuffled and nodded, looking down and taking a deep breath as he nodded slowly and watched her to go get out and he put his hand out, helping her up and when they stood face to face, Sean stared hopelessly at her.

She was really trying. This must be so fucking hard for her, and she didn't deserve it. Emma had a life time of horrible things that just kept happening to her and now the person who went through everything with her is gone now, he understood how lonely and sufferable that could be. Manny and Emma were like sisters.. attached to the hip.

Emma stared back at him, thinking he was staring at her just to make sure she was okay and so she nodded at him and sighed, "Ok, lets go." she said, leading him out and he snapped out of it.

He turned and followed her out.