Burke loved family dinners that happened at least once a month, they would all get to together and catch up on what was happening in each others lives. Tamara was in town on her break from college and James and his wife were coming with Samantha. It had been far too long since they had all been together for a family dinner and Burke was more than happy that he was cooking a dinner for his family again.

"You want to help me cook dinner?" Burke asked Cristina who was coming out of the bedroom.

"What do you think?" Cristina said rolling her eyes. He only actually got her to cook with him once and she set a pan on fire and decided that she would never cook again.

"What time are they going to be here?" Cristina asked taking a taste of what Burke was making.

"At seven but James might be a late." Playfully moving her hand away from the food he ushered her out of the kitchen. "If your not going to help me then you can't be in the kitchen!"

"Where's the ballerina tutu you bought for Sam?" Cristina asked ignoring the fact she was just kicked out of her own kitchen.

"In the guest room. I figured we'd give it to her after dinner. Are you taking her to ballet practice tomorrow."

"Yeah, James is going to meet us there later." She watched Burke cover the pans and checked the oven.

"It's almost done." Burke said walking towards her. "Did you get the wine out?" Cristina asked as Burke grasped her hand and pulled her to the living room to sit on the couch. "What are you doing?" she asked.

"Having a moment alone with my wife." He said wrapping his arms around her and kissing her.

"Eww! Can you guys not do that in front of your innocent daughter!" Burke and Cristina broke apart and there was Tamara at the door. Burke reluctantly let go of his wife and greeted their daughter. "Hi sweetie."

"Hi daddy!" she said hugging her father.

"What?" Burke asked noticing his daughter worried look.

"I brought a friend."

"What kind of friend?" Burke asked afraid to know the answer.

"He goes to my school and he's really nice." Tamara said trying to reassure her father that her boyfriend was a good guy. Cristina made her way to the door and noticed the young man lingering near the car unsure of whether he was welcome or not.

"Be nice!" Cristina said to Burke after Tamara introduced them to her boyfriend. Burke agreed, knowing that James would help him make sure this young man didn't have any bad intentions with his daughter.

Dinner went while despite the new boyfriend who after sometime was finally able to breathe easily. They all said their goodbyes not realizing it would be their last family dinner together.

……………………………………………………………………………….

Placing the flowers on the gravestone Burke did his best to remember her laugh and the way her soft curls felt. He missed her. The little girl stood motionless beside him holding a single red rose. Burke noticed the fear in her eyes, "its okay!" Burke said encouraging her to put the flower on the gravestone.

It had been a little more than a year since Cristina had died. She was driving Samantha to ballet practice when a drunk driver smashed into her side of the vehicle. She died on the way to the hospital. Burke's heart was shattered seeing her lifeless body on the gurney. He stayed with her through the night and replayed that last time her saw her and the conversation they had, the last time he kissed her, made love to her, and the last time he told her he loved her. It was the last time he ever let himself think about those memories.

He visited her grave at least once a week and he made a special visit today because it was her birthday and surprisingly Samantha wanted to go with him. It was the first time she had gone. She had watched the paramedics take Cristina's body out of the car and the image of Cristina's curls stained with blood never left her memory.

The reassured her that it wasn't her fault and that there was nothing she could have done but the image haunted her. "Come on sweetheart." Burke said "let's go." Wiping a single tear from her eyes the young girl placed the rose on the grave stone and grasped her grandfather's hand as they walked away form the cemetery.

A/N: Last chapter because if I continue something might happen to Burke. Thanks to those who read and reviewed!