I know, it's been awhile, but here it is! Enjoy!

Chapter XIV

In loving memory of Claire Emily Baldwin
Born 1957 - Died 2013
'Sweet Dreams Sunshine'

That's what the headstone read. John had read it over and over again in the last hour. Not so much out of choice, but because he tried to still his mind amongst the emotional chaos that was the funeral.

Harry had been balling her eyes out since they left the flat and was somehow still crying. John had been relieved when Skye showed up. If for no other reason, it was nice to have someone to lean on after dealing with his sisters emotional state.

However, to his utter amazement, there was about a dozen people who came to the funeral, aside from himself, Harry and Skye. All these other people wept as the funeral director said a few words. His aunt hadn't been religious or believed that dying was anything that required a special ceremony for, so there was little time spent congregated around the grave.

John, Harry and Skye had been among the first to leave, John noticing his sister's worsening emotional state. The three of them went back to the flat. Inside, Skye comforted Harry as John dug around in the kitchen and brought back a bag of crisps, three glasses and a bottle of whiskey.

Skye gave him a questioning look but John just shook his head and sat down on the opposite side of Harry. He cracked the brand new bottle and poured a small amount into each of the three glasses before recapping the bottle and handing a glass to Harry and one to Skye. Harry accepted hers but stared at her brother, a look of confusion on her tearstained face.

"It was Aunt Claire's favourite. Plus, I think we could all use a drink right now." John explained with a small shrug. Harry nodded her thanks and took a mouthful of the alcohol.

Skye looked at John, silently asking if this was a good idea. While she couldn't dismiss the fact that her own nerves had become a bit frayed that afternoon, she certainly didn't think alcohol was going to help the situation. John just gave her a slight nod, telling her it would be ok. Resigning to Johns wishes, Skye drank from her glass. The three of them sat there, drinking the whiskey in sorrowful silence.

After John had poured them each their third glass, Harry began to speak.

"She was amazing. Truly amazing. The world lost a good woman." She said, her voice low and raw, but not choked up by tears.

"Tell me more about her." Skye asked, slipping on her whiskey. Harry nodded.

"She was... She was my best friend. In uni. She pulled me through some hard times. It's not easy being gay." She said with a sad chuckle. Skye just smiled, encouraging her.

"She used to tell me jokes, make me laugh at the stupidest things. I remember, one time, I came home from a particularly hard day, and to cheer me up, she made us wear bunny ears for the whole evening." Harry recalled, laughing at the memory as she took a sip from her glass.

"And god, she was an awful cook. She tried to make roast chicken one time and nearly burnt the house down." Harry related. Skye and John laughed along.

John watched as Skye comforted his sister. The Watson's were not overly affectionate people, but John could see that his sister needed someone right now and that, unfortunately, he wasn't that one.

Harry continued to recount stories of their dead aunt, bringing about round after round of laughter. Soon, it was well past supper time. Harry insisted on ordering in something, and Skye suggested some local cuisine. John let her order, as the ma and pa type place Skye was ordering from had staff that barely spoke English and, unlike John or Harry, Skye spoke perfect Mandarin Chinese. With the food on the way, the three settled back into easy conversation.

"If you don't mind my asking," Skye began, "why did your aunt move here? I mean, it's so far from home and family. Why did she move halfway across the world?"

"She loved to travel, whenever she could. Singapore was one of her favourite places to visit. When she finally had the funds, she found a place and a job here and moved. She never liked England. It was to dull for her. Even London. But she found her pace of life here." Harry explained, a fond smile on her face. John was content just to relax and listen to the conversation.

"What side of the family was she from?" Skye asked politely.

"She was our mum sister." Harry said. Long ago, her tears had dried, but John could still see them threatening to fall in her eyes.

"Nice. What did she do?" Skye asked. Harry chuckled.

"All sorts of things. She was a gardener, a maid, a waitress, a barmaid... the list was really endless. I remember, when I was having a rough time in uni, she told me "Don't you dare give up on your education, or you'll end up like me. Hopping from job to job, not knowing where your next pay check will come from." And then, she looked me straight in the eye and said "You make me so proud." It really kept me going." Harry related, the memory of that occasion dampening her eyes for the briefest of moments.

About a half hour later, the doorbell rang. Skye insisted on getting it, despite Johns protests. Skye carried the frankly delicious smelling food into the kitchen.

"Let me come help." John offered, joining Skye in the kitchen. As soon as he was working beside her and out of earshot from Harry, he whispered,

"Thank you." Skye looked at him, confused as they set about preparing for dinner.

"What for?" She asked in a hushed voice as she pulled dishes from the cupboard.

"For comforting Harry. She needs it and I... I don't have the strength right now to help her properly." John admitted. Skye gave him a warm smile.

"Well, I'm glad I can help." She replied. John smiled back at her, and pulled her in for a quick kiss before they headed out to the small table with the food.

Harry got up and joined them there, and they enjoyed their delicious meal. They kept the conversation light, turning to funny stories or celebrity gossip or fashion trends or what have you. John spent most of the evening silent, alone with his thoughts as he listened to his sister and his lover talk and laugh and enjoy themselves.

There was a bottle of wine that was brought out at some point, and that was finished off befor the end of the evening. At half ten, Skye bid the Watson siblings goodnight and, with a kiss from John, headed to her hotel. Lying down on his sofa, John honestly couldn't think of when he had felt this many emotions of other people in one day. It was exhausting.

Well, what did you think? Love it? Hate it? Help me out and tell me what you thought!