A/N: I don't know how close you are build to the water, maybe have a tissue handy just in case!
Chapter 12
A week later it was Danielle's funeral.
Claire was still on crutches and she tried to balance them to slip her jacket on. Seth grabbed them for her.
He slept on her couch while she slept in her bedroom. He wouldn't leave her side. The distance between them was still there but there were little moments that gave Seth hope. When their bodies brushed in passing, when she let his hand rest on her shoulder for a moment. Or right now, when he leaned down to press a kiss on her forehead.
"I love you Claire." Seth said and rested his forehead on hers for a moment.
"I know Colby. And I love you, too." She put her small hands on his cheeks and kissed his lips, a promise that they would make it work.
"We have to go." Claire breathed a little later and Seth nodded.
He closed his black suit jacket and helped Claire out to the car.
Dean wore a much hated monkey suit and he felt really uncomfortable but as Lilly had pointed out to him, this wasn't about him feeling good, this was about paying respect to Danielle Bishop and her family.
The graveyard was full of people, colleagues, police, Shield Inc. employees. Security made sure that the press stayed out.
Dean spotted Roman and Josh at the sidelines. Josh looked much too old in his black suit and he was almost the spitting image of Roman.
The Rock stood beside them and the rest of Roman's family was nearby, shielding their son and grandson from the people around.
Dean grabbed Lilly's hand a little harder as they neared the group.
Roman's father who lived off his retiree in Florida with his wife stopped him.
Sika Anoa'i looked Dean up and down. He was the closest thing to a role model Dean ever had. He never judged the foster care kid when his son brought him home.
Now he looked at the man the troubled kid had turned into. He saw that the cracks began to heal, thanks to the woman beside him. He liked Lilly, she was exactly what Dean needed.
Sika offered his hand to Dean and he took it and in the next moment he was in a fierce hug. He received a clap on the shoulder and Sika nodded at him and Dean now faced Roman's mother.
She as well pulled him into a big hug and whispered: "Ever since my son brought you home the first time I wanted to do this. I thank you girlfriend that she made this possible. I have waited 17 years for this hug Jon."
"Ummm, thanks Mrs Anoa'i." Dean said his voice close to breaking.
He pulled Lilly closer beside him and she just smiled at that action.
"I am here." She told him and Roman's mother smiled thankfully at her. They let Dean and Lilly pass through to Roman and Josh.
"Hey guys." Lilly said and hugged first the kid and then the father.
Dean just hugged them. Wow, today he hugged more people than in his entire life before. But the reason was a sad one.
"Dean?" Josh piped up and Dean looked at the kid with the sad eyes.
"Can I stay with you and Lilly tonight?"
Roman's heart broke at this question but he had feared something like this would happen. His son couldn't even look him in the eyes anymore.
Dean checked silently with Roman and the Samoan just nodded. He rather had his son among friends than alone tonight.
"Sure. We can order pizza, safe Lilly the cooking, and watch some crappy movies." Dean told the young man and he nodded.
"Not that I don't like your cooking Lilly, but pizza sounds good tonight." Josh apologized.
"No worries. I am all up for pizza as well." She ruffled his hair.
Seth and Claire walked up to the group and again father and son received hugs.
Now the ceremony could start and everyone gathered around the entrance to the morgue and Roman, Seth, The Rock, The Chief and the District Attorney, Danielle's boss, walked up to the coffin to carry it.
One place was left empty. "That is your place Dean." Josh told Dean and the dishwater blonde man looked at Josh and then at Roman who nodded as well.
"Go." Lilly kissed him on the cheek and pushed him forward.
That was really almost a little too much for the man they called the lunatic fringe.
"You were Daniel's friend. He would want you to take his place." Roman explained and he took the empty handle and helped carry the coffin to the graveside.
Claire and Lilly flanked Josh, followed by Roman's family and the other guests.
The priest spoke a couple of words. The DA and the Chief as well and Roman couldn't really. He tried but he had to step back.
Josh stepped forward to the surprise of everyone and he brushed a hand over his damp eyes and looked around the crowd.
"My mother was a wonderful person. She taught me right from wrong before I could even walk. That she is dead is wrong. That she can't see me graduate in a couple of years is wrong. That she can't prosecute the men and women the police and the Shield bring to justice is wrong. That some mad man and his girlfriend robbed my mother from me is wrong. But everyone of you being here today. Everyone." His eyes were locked on Dean for a moment.
"That is right. That you support me and my dad. That is right. And that we will keep her memory alive. That is right. Thanks."
People were looking at each other. More than one had the urge to applaud but no one was sure if it was appropriate to applaud at a funeral.
Well, thank God for Dean Ambrose who gave a damn about social customs. He started to clap his hands together. Lilly joined him, probably out of loyalty. Seth and Claire, and soon everyone else clapped for this strong boy who took in the praise for his wise words and stepped back crying into his father's side.
The coffin was lowered into the ground and everyone could say their farewell alone now.
Dean and Lilly told Roman goodbye, they would not go to the gathering after talking to Josh about it.
They took the boy and left.
"Okay. I take it Josh you want to keep your mind off of this. I am down with that. But…if you feel like talking, today, tomorrow, any other time. Don't hesitate. Lilly and I, we are there for you, alright boy?"
"Thank you Dean. That's why I wanted to come back with you. You tell things as they are but you don't probe. And you don't look at me with pity in your eyes. Yet I can talk when I need to. Thank you. And no, I would like to think of something else for a while."
"Fair enough. We can do that, right Lilly?"
Lilly was probably the one who struggled most with the unique behavior of these two men but she nodded. "Sure. There are dishes to clean last time I checked. And I would really like to see my pictures on the wall, you could hang them."
"We will do that." Josh promised and was relived to keep his mind off of his dead mother for a little while. He would cope, just not tonight. And if he would ever be able to talk to his father again he simply didn't know at this point…
Roman left the gathering early. He really didn't want to bring home any casserole or what else his friends and family brought. He drove home to his apartment to sit in the dark with a bottle of beer in his hand, staring out the window.
He had still loved Danielle in a special way. Sure, they were this parents with benefits thing. Not really an item anymore but well, every once in a while they would spend the night. They had agreed to finish this if one of them found someone else. They never did.
Now she was gone, and this huge part of his life, the only constant apart from his Shield brothers was ripped out of his life forever. And he was afraid that he would lose his son in the process as well.
"Well Dani, I will fight for him. That is the only thing I know. But it will be an uphill battle, he has both our hard heads. But I will not give up. To you." He said aloud and raised his beer bottle in a silent salute.
A/N: One last chapter then this story is over! But fear not, part 3 is almost finished. It will feature Roman (of course). And even more good news. The Shield Universe will continue after part 3! So stay tuned!
