A/N: Yay, third update of the night!This chapter isn't really very interesting, but I hope you'll enjoy it. I promise the story will get a lot more fun after this, so stay tuned. 'Jaria' will be getting a lot steamier.. ;)
I should update sometime in this next week - I'm thinking Wednesday/Thursday, but if I don't it's cause I'm on holiday in Portugal for the next two weeks and could have trouble accessing the internet. Anyways, enough rambling - enjoy and review!
Chapter 9 - Bye Bye Billy
ARIA POV
My grandfather died that night, at 4:15am.
He'd gone into cardiac arrest, and the doctors hadn't been able to revive his heart. I could hear the whole process from where I was sat. I could hear the jolts his heart made, unsuccessfully trying to beat. I heard the doctor's frantic attempts at getting him back, the paddles that tried to jolt his heart awake time after time.
At least, I'd got to tell him. I'd got tell him I loved him, and I got to say goodbye. Whilst he slept, I held hands with Allie and Leo and we told him how much he meant to us, using our silent touch. Leo's voice told him to listen, and he did - he recognized each of our voices in the dreams, telling him goodbye. Allie could use her gift to get everyone's thoughts as they said goodbye, even Aunt Rebecca's. I bet no one else could say they ever said goodbye like we did.
Grandpa Billy died fifteen minutes later, alone in the room with the doctors whilst everyone waited outside. I knew when it happened, and so did everyone else.
It was the worst moment of my life, listening to that struggle. The sounds would haunt me forever - because that's how long I'd live right? Forever.
I got forever whilst my granddad got a mere 70 years, however grand they might have been. It wasn't fair. I never wanted to lose him.
As soon as the doctors finished telling us, I just wanted to get away from this place. I didn't need to see my dad cry, or my Aunt Rachel. I just wanted out.
Allie was telling Aunt Rebecca, who I knew must be hurting a lot right now. She was on the phone, looking exhausted after using her gift so much. At least Allie wasn't crying, she was whispering words of comfort and trying to stay strong. Leo and Alec had both disappeared outside as soon as it had happened, trembling slightly.
Now I just wanted to be with Josh.
This time he didn't say sorry. He didn't do anything but hold my hand and I was glad, because I knew that as soon as I heard his voice I'd start crying. For a while I just stood there, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"I'm going home mum," I said to her whilst dad hugged Aunt Rachel. They didn't look like they were going anywhere - and there were still forms they needed to sign. Stupid bureaucracies. "Don't worry, Josh will be with me until you get home. I just - I just can't be here anymore okay?"
My voice was no louder than a whisper, and all she did was nod as she stared at my dad and Rachel, who were hugging each other tightly. She had tears in her eyes.
I didn't even bother to ask Josh if he would stay with me, I just wanted to tell mum so she'd let me go. I wanted to go home and lie in bed and cry. But Josh followed me out, his hand gripping mine as we walked. I tried to not feel anything, or see anything. My tears could wait till I was out of here.
I passed him the keys to my car, and he took them without saying a word.
As soon as we left the hospital parking lot, I started to cry.
Josh didn't say much, just told me he was sorry. I tried to stop crying, but it was like I couldn't stop thinking about every moment I'd had with grandpa, and how I'd never see him again. I'd never get to hear him laugh, or his awkward singing. I'd never be able to hear him tell me the tribe stories again, or even get to see his eyes sparkle with pride whenever I did something right.
It would never happen again.
I cried and cried as the images of Grandpa popped into my head. Josh's hand never left mine, and the fact that he was beside me was the only reason I tried to calm down, to just stop crying for now.
By the time we got home, I had just managed to stop. After he parked the car, Josh simply sat beside me with his eyes closed.
He must've felt me looking, because he turned to meet my eyes not even two seconds later. Josh looked more tired and sad than I'd ever seen him, and it managed to bring me out of my depressing thoughts.
"Thanks for being here Josh, it means a lot," I reached out for him, even if the car wasn't the most comfortable place. And he hugged me tightly whilst I leaned my head on his shoulder, trying to keep the bad thoughts away. It was easier to feel better when I was enveloped in his warmth.
"I'm sorry I can't do anything to make this better. This whole thing just sucks," he was shaking his head, and I realised he must be hurting badly too. Not just because of me - but because he knew Grandpa too. Hell, he was named after him!
"We'll get through it," I said in a tiny whisper, trying to make him feel better too. I didn't like it when he was sad. "C'mon, let's go inside."
I wiped my eyes with the sleeves of my jacket before leaving the car, suddenly feeling self-conscious of how disgusting my face must look. Josh opened my door and grabbed my hand, holding me tightly to him. His warmth made me feel a lot better - it was the most comforting thing I'd felt all day since his hug.
Walking into the house knowing that grandpa never would again made my chest hurt, but I controlled my crying. I'd cry later, at night, when I'd actually be alone. Josh didn't need to see me hurt anymore. I could feel it hurting him too.
"Are you hungry?" I asked, realising it must've been ages since we both ate. I didn't want food, but I was pretty sure I should eat something - my head hurt from overusing my gift.
"I could eat yeah, but you need to too. It's been a long night," Josh said, standing up before I could.
"I'll just have an apple," he nodded, coming back with two apples whilst I was already sat down in the big couch. I could still smell Grandpa Billy all around me, not to mention all the photos in which he was present.
My eyes glazed over, but I just leaned on Josh's chest and cried silently. His arms were both around me in no time, and his fingers were tracing soothing patterns on my back. His heartbeat calmed me, as well as his warmth - there was something so comforting about being in his arms…
And soon, I was fast asleep, dreaming of my grandfather's wrinkly, eternal smile.
JOSH POV
I had never felt so useless in my life as the night I watched Aria cry her heart out for her grandfather Billy. I didn't know what to say or what to do to make her feel better - I wanted her to feel better so badly.
The night of his death I held her tightly to me until she was so tired she finally gave in to sleep. I had just sat there watching her sleep peacefully in my arms for hours, hoping that she could at least be having peaceful, happy dreams.
When Leo got home, looking just as rough as Aria did, he sat down beside us. He looked really sad, his eyes red and slightly puffy from crying. He looked totally worn out.
"I'm sorry for your loss, man. Billy was - Billy was amazing and I'm going to miss him."
Leo just sighed in return, nodding his head.
"He really was. I - I just can't believe I'll never see him again," his voice started trembling and he took one big breath to steady it. After that, we were both just sat in the silence, listening to Aria's peaceful, even breathing.
"If you want to go home you can, you look beat. Just come back later, I think she'll probably need you around for a while," Leo said, standing up. "I'm going to bed and try to sleep. Tomorrow's bound to be just as shit as today."
"I'll hang until your parents get here, I don't want to go home. You should definitely try and get some sleep though."
Aria chose that moment to wake up, looking around in confusion. She looked agonizingly sad for a just a second, but then her eyes met mine. Even with puffy red eyes she was still the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.
"You're here?" she asked me, confused.
"It's still… well, early, I guess. C'mon, I'll put you to bed."
"Are you leaving?" the way she said it made me think she didn't want me to, but I wasn't sure.
"Not if you don't want me to." I said, and she sighed with relief, grabbing my hand as we made our way to her newly furnished room. It still looked pretty much the same, just a different desk.
She went into the toilet quickly, so I just sat in her bed and looked around. When she came back she was wearing her pyjama bottoms and a tank top, and she came straight to me, hugging me close.
It made me feel like a million bucks.
I told her to get under the covers, whilst I stayed on top of them - Jacob probably would already get mad I was here, I didn't need to make it any worse for him. Aria didn't protest, but she did lay her head on the crook of my neck.
She smelled really good.
"Thank you for staying with me."
I kissed her forehead and then sighed, still feeling honoured that she actually wanted me to stay with her.
"Anytime."
We both fell asleep quickly after that.
ARIA POV
My grandfather's funeral was to be held in Port Angeles, so that my vampire family could come without triggering any phasing in the reservation. And of course, Aunt Ali had planned it all, and the place looked beautiful.
It had been just over a week since grandpa had died, and I found I finally understood what people meant when they said that the pain of losing someone never went away - you simply had to learn to live with it. I'd always thought the line sounded depressive, but it was true.
The pain of losing Billy was always with me - the fact that I would never see or hear him again still hurt me. But it was getting easier not to cry when I thought about it - easier to focus on the good memories I had of him, and have faith that he was in a better place and had the people he loved surrounding him.
It made his death bearable to think that way.
Right now, I was just sat here listening to my Aunt Rachel speak of him and everything he'd ever done, and I tried to focus on the fact that he'd lived long enough to see all of his children happily married and had met so many of his grandchildren. I also hoped he was finally reunited with his Sarah, a woman of whom he spoke of regularly even though she'd been gone for thirty years. His love for her had never withered... talk about true love!
My parents were both sat at the front, since my dad would also be making a speech after aunt Rach. He looked more formally dressed than ever, with his hair combed back neatly and his shiny black suit. My mother was wearing a simple black dress, but she managed to look more beautiful than anyone here. Uncle Paul sat next to Alec whilst he held Sarah tightly in his arms. She was watching her mum speak, probably not used to watching her cry - I'd never once seen Aunt Rachel sad, let alone crying.
My aunt Rebecca sat next to them, though her husband hadn't been able to make it. Sammi and Kai, my two cousins who were 20 and 14 respectively, were both sitting behind her whilst Allie, Leo and I sat in the front row on the other side beside Sam and Emily Uley, as Sam was going to make a speech.
I knew pretty much everyone in attendance, and was surprised to find so many people cared for Billy this much. I knew he'd be so proud of the turnout.
My aunt Rosalie was sat in one of the middle rows holding my sleepy baby cousin Vera, though she already looked seven years old. Vera and David had been 'given' to the Cullens by this weird nomad vampire who'd got a woman accidently pregnant and she'd wanted to give birth to the babies and for him to turn her. I never really understood the whole story, but in the end the woman hadn't survived and he didn't want the kid, so he took it to the Cullens. Rosalie had kept Vera, whilst Alice took David. Though to be fair, I think the kids both liked Grandma Esme the best.
Aunt Rachel finished the speech, and everyone clapped before my dad came on. He kept it short and simple, but it was heart-warming, particularly when he spoke about grandma Sarah and how happy he probably was now that he was back with her.
When it was Sam's turn he spoke of Billy as the chief - he made it sound like he was the greatest man ever. I knew Sam liked Billy a lot, but I wasn't expecting him to start crying half-way through.
Grandpa Charlie spoke too, and his was the funniest speech - he talked about him and Billy when they were younger and then when they went on fishing trips. It seemed like a lifetime away… it also made me realise there was so much about grandpa Billy that I probably didn't know.
Then it was Sammi's turn, and he was going to speak for all of us.
"In behalf of all his grandchildren," Sammi had said, his brown eyes teary as he looked down at where me and my cousins sat, "I'd like to start this off by saying we couldn't have asked for better grandfather. He was - well, Grandpa Billy was always so honest and brave, and there was no doubt in me that he loved every single one of us with everything he had. He did so many things for us that we will always cherish… such as when he told me the story of the birds and the bees for the first time ever, or when he taught my sister how to swim even though he couldn't swim himself anymore. I know my cousin Alec is forever thankful for all those Summer evenings he spent with grandpa trying to teach him maths - you wouldn't believe how long that took!" Sammi added with an eye roll, and everyone gave a slightly teary chuckle. I was smiling. "And there were also the triplets… Leo claims his best memory was telling Grandpa about his first girlfriend, and they'd ended up laughing and joking the whole time. Or the numerous amount of times he sat with Allie and Aria and told them stories for hours… they never did get bored of listening to him," he sighed longingly, but then gulped and grinned.
"Recently, William Black showed us what a great grandfather he was by teaching baby Sarah her first ever swear word."
This actually caused everyone to laugh, and I was glad. I didn't want to be sad when I remembered Grandpa Billy - he wouldn't want us to be.
"So overall, I really do hope he's in a happy place. We love you Grandpa, forever." Sammi concluded the short speech, and everyone clapped.
People started filing out after that, leaving the church empty apart from the immediate family and the bigger guys. My dad, Sam, Leo, Alec, Kai, Paul and Josh were all there to carry the coffin outside for the burial.
I knew it was probably inappropriate to be thinking about how hot Josh looked in a tux, considering this was my grandfather's funeral and all, but I couldn't help thinking how handsome he looked.
I was the luckiest girl alive.
The burial was fast, as everything had already been said, but it was also the hardest part. When the first handful of sand was dropped in the ground by my grandpa's younger sister Nora, it suddenly made his death a lot more real. I started crying without meaning to, and I was glad I had Leo's comforting arm around me. He came with me to place my handful of dirt in the hole, since I could barely see straight.
That was it. My grandfather was under the ground, and he was never coming back.
It took me a while to calm down after that, and I didn't fully until we arrived at the restaurant where there would be a dinner for the closest family and friends. I immediately went to Josh and sat down beside him, knowing that nobody else would be able to comfort me as well as he could.
He held me close to him all night.
The night started getting eventful when my cousin Sammi laid eyes on Leya Cameron, Jared and Kim's daughter. Leya was seven, and she didn't know much about the werewolves - the pack tried to hide it during their pre-teen years, since you never know who they might accidentally tell, so she was confused as to why he kept looking at her. I had no idea what was going to happen now, because Sammi lived in Hawaii and went to college there.
After that, everyone went on and shared stories about Grandpa Billy until late hours, since no one was in the mood to go home. Aunt Rachel got super drunk, and even Grandpa Charlie wasn't making any sense at the end of the night. It was a nice way to honour Billy, and I found myself even enjoying it a lot more than I had the ceremony and the burial - those had been to say goodbye, this time, we were celebrating his life.
I had to put my foot down when people started asking me to dance though - I was not a good dancer. Not at all. Even when Josh used his pretty eyes on me, I - well, okay I gave in, but I didn't really dance. I just casually stood there.
I did dance when dad came to get me though; as he always let me put my feet on his so I could actually pretend that I knew what I was doing. It was a fun moment, since it was obviously very hard to stay on someone's feet when you're dancing and even harder when that dancer is a 6ft tall clumsy wolf.
Allie started getting jealous, as she always does, and stole my place shortly after. I sat with mum and Rose instead, watching everyone be slightly crazy and happy.
Overall, I'd say the night was the perfect way to honour my grandfather William. May he rest in peace.
