Funeral

Six days later they were getting ready to attend his funeral. Emily had changed into a black dress with a black hat and veil. Jack had changed into a new suit Rossi had bought for him. He went up to Emily after putting his suit on.

"Emmy, can you do my tie?" he asked looking down. "Dad used to do it for me."

She bit back her tears and answered smiling at him sadly, "Sure buddy."

He smiled sadly up at her as she helped him tie his tie for him. After she kissed her finger and tapped his nose while he smiled. They missed him a lot and were trying to move on but it was so hard. She was trying to do her best as a single parent but sometimes felt like she was failing him as she couldn't do things exactly like he used to. She tried but sometimes felt like she was failing him as she couldn't give him his dad.

The cars arrived outside the front door and Emily got Jack into the funeral car then herself. They followed the hearse to the funeral venue while Emily tried to be strong for her stepson when all she wanted to do was cry. Jack looked up and saw she was trying hard not to cry so held her hand.

"Emmy, it's going to be ok," he soothed. "You can cry if you want to. You loved dad very much."

"I will always love your father, Jack," she answered on the verge of tears.

"I know," he answered. "We'll be ok."

"Yes we will," she smiled sadly stroking his hair. "Just don't grow up too quickly, little man. Dad wouldn't want that."

He nodded and added, "I'll try."

"That's all we can ask for."

He snuggled up to her and she held him close letting the tears fall down her cheeks. She just missed him so much. They were meant to have been coming home from their honeymoon tomorrow and here she was attending his funeral. This just couldn't be happening. There in front of her was the evidence as she looked at the hearse that held her Aaron's coffin. She felt the most pain she'd ever felt and felt Jack tightening his grasp on her hand. She stroked his hair and kissed it.

"Sweetie, it's ok to cry. Men cry too especially when they're grieving. No-one would blame you if you cried," she soothed.

He nodded and cuddled closer to her while she held him tight close to her just feeling the comfort from him hoping she was providing him some too. They'd always be there for each other. It would just be the two of them now.

When the cars reached the cemetery Rossi opened their door and she got out her stepson then herself. He hugged them both then turned to the coffin. Spencer, Derek, Will, Dave and two pallbearers carried the coffin to his last resting place. Jessica followed supporting his wife and son. She'd always be there for them along with the team.

The ceremony started and Emily stepped forward to make a eulogy as Rossi placed his hand on her shoulder.

"Aaron was the best man I ever knew and we would have been married for almost a week if he hadn't saved my life but that was the kind of man he was. He never put anyone's life above others apart from maybe his family's. No life was too insignificant for him to save. Though he went off to fight bad guys he did it for us and always made time for his son and me. He was surrounded by friends and family and we will miss him dearly but know he's looking over us from above. I love you Aaron always have always will," she said biting back tears.

She then lay the American flag over his coffin and lay her hand on it crying. Here lay all her dreams of a happy marriage with the man she loved. Now she was facing life as a single parent to her stepson. She'd never even have her own children and she had always wanted to be a mother. Now that had been taken from her by one deluded man seeking revenge and a bullet meant for her. The team had discovered the killer, Matt Meyers, had been jilted three weeks ago at the same chapel. Ever since he'd tried to shoot brides believing he was sparing the grooms the pain he'd gone through.

She stood back and placed a hand on her stepson's shoulder while Jessica had one on his other shoulder. He'd never be alone; they'd make sure of that. They covered his ears as the gun salute rang out as they wouldn't let it hurt his ears but he still started shaking. It felt like a bullet had ripped through her heart but he came first so she crouched down and took him in her arms as she cried.

"He was shot," he sobbed.

"I know, buddy, I know. If I could go back in time you wouldn't have seen it," she wept.

"You were shot too."

"I'm here, Jack, I'm here and I'm not going anywhere," she answered stroking his hair.

"I want dad back."

"I know...I do too but he's still here in our heart and thoughts. He'll never truly leave us."

He nodded trying to recover his tears and she held him close to her. He was all she had left of him now. She'd never let him go. She'd always be there for him. They were all they had left.