DISCLAIMER: I do not own these characters.
Eleven
Brenda stood by the patio doors, cup of coffee in one hand and emptiness in the other. She was pretty sure no one was really ready to say good-bye to Emily. She had missed the sunrise this morning, but she didn't really care. She didn't feel like being happy or feeling any warmth today.
One by one slowly the family filtered into the room. No one spoke. Everyone moved in slow motion. Today they really got to feel helpless and emotional. The real world would stand still for this very day for them to look back on Emily's life and smile at the wonderful person she was.
Reginald came in soon after and informed them that the cars were waiting. Brenda and Ned rode in the town car behind Monica and Edward in the limo. Brenda couldn't be strong forever.
It was bright outside when the cars pulled up. From inside Brenda could see the people starting to file into the church. She put on her sunglasses to hide her pain, even if momentarily. The driver opened the door for them and Ned held out his hand to her to step out.
"No one said you had to hold it all together for the family," Ned whispered to her as they started walking towards the church.
Brenda didn't say anything. She held his hand tight in the cold and focused only on keeping her tears in for as long as possible. Robin would be inside. She had an ally. It wasn't just walking in to say good-bye to Emily, it was seeing all the people she didn't want to, facing the hatred that had built up by so many over the years.
"You're no breathing," Ned whispered.
She hadn't realized she was holding her breath. She smiled softly at him but it faded quickly as they were stopped just short of the church doors by Jax. He shook hands with Edward and hugged Monica like she was his own mother.
"Carly wanted to be here, but we thought it would be too hard on the boys," Jax expressed his condolences.
Behind her glasses Brenda couldn't help but roll her eyes. Monica and Edward passed through and Brenda was hoping that she could skate by.
"I'm really sorry, Brenda," Jax said. "I know Emily was like a sister to you." He reached out to touch her arm or squeeze her hand but she pulled away, stepping in front of Ned.
"Out of respect to Emily, I'm going to pretend you didn't just do that," Brenda hissed to him. "I'm going to find Robin," she said before removing her sunglasses and walking into the church leaving Jax and Ned standing alone on the steps.
"She's still mad at me," Jax stated.
"Can you blame her? I know you're persistent, but maybe for today you should keep your distance," Ned suggested.
Jax nodded and together they entered the church. He couldn't help but watch from afar as Brenda accepted condolences from Quartermaine friends as if she was actually a blood relative. Ned stayed close to her throughout the entire ceremony. From a few rows back he couldn't tell if she was crying but on occasion she reached up and brushed her cheeks. He had secretly hoped she had forgiven him, that maybe they could still be friends. The tone in her voice from that one sentence told him that he should keep dreaming.
When the funeral ended, Edward extended the invitation to all to join them at the Quartermaine house for a reception or celebration of Emily's life. While Brenda wanted nothing to do with him, he wasn't about to let her ruin this for him. He called Carly to let her know he was going to stop by and that maybe she should bring the boys briefly to see Monica. She agreed.
The den filled up quickly with friends and family. He took the flute of champagne from a waiter and entered the room. Ned nodded to him as his eyes scanned the crowd. She wasn't anywhere in the room. By his powers of deduction he found Robin to be missing as well and assumed that they were together somewhere sharing their own stories.