Enjoy folks and have a great weekend :)

The sky was a hard grey, the colour of gun metal which, Evelyn couldn't help but think, seemed appropriate for the day of Edward's funeral. Every so often she was convinced that it was going to start raining but the atmosphere remained only threatening, though the wind was bitter. She hadn't slept much the previous night and had instead tossed and turned, replaying her decisions over and over again. What if people thought the funeral was too much or not enough? What if everyone simply spent the whole service staring at her? Would it make the papers? Should she feign illness and miss the whole thing? Peter's careful observations the previous evening hadn't been lost on her either. Why would you feel the need to say goodbye to someone you hated?

When dawn broke, she awoke from the fog of troubled sleep showered, had breakfast and dressed almost on autopilot. Peter and Pamela left for school at their usual time leaving only her and Ben to rattle around in the apartment until it was time to leave.

"You're sure you want to do this?" he asked for what seemed like the hundredth time. "You really don't have to, you know."

"I know," she replied, trying to keep her irritation in check and reminding herself that it was only because he cared. "I'm sure." He hadn't said anything further, though she knew that he was fighting the urge to.

There were to be no funeral cars, something else that Susan hadn't approved of. Evelyn had told her mother that a cab would be fine and that she would simply meet her at the church, lest she had harboured any ideas of coming to the apartment and them all leaving together. There had been a brief silence at the other end of the phone before she had replied, "Fine dear, whatever you think." In that moment, Evelyn had wanted nothing more than to reach down the line and strangle the older woman. But ending up in a full blown argument at this point just seemed petty. There would be time later. Time to have conversations long overdue.

At ten-fifteen Ben called a cab. It arrived at ten-thirty and they made their way through the traffic downtown to the church. It wasn't a particular church, after all Edward had barely set foot in one since their wedding, but it had been available for the date that she had wanted and it was close enough to the bridge to facilitate his colleagues coming over from Brooklyn. She couldn't help but wonder how many of them she would remember.

"Are you alright?" Ben asked as the cab pulled to a halt outside.

"I'm fine," she snapped, then instantly felt remorseful. "I'm sorry," she squeezed his hand. "I'll just be glad when it's all over."

"If you want to leave at any time just say," he said. "I don't give a damn what anyone thinks if we walk out before the end."

"I love you," she said, grateful that he was there with her.

"I love you too," he kissed her gently. "I wish you didn't have to go through this."

"Well it shouldn't take long," she opened her door. "I can't imagine that are that many people who will be eager to talk to me."

Once inside, she was surprised by how many people had turned up, and how few she did in fact recognise. There were faces from the office, people she hadn't seen in almost a year, people she had lunched with, chatted about cases with, had drinks with...people who hadn't so much as bothered to check in to see if she was alright at any point since her leaving. It was hard when you realised that people you thought were your friends really weren't. There were other faces there too, people she didn't know, most likely Edward's friends from occasions when he didn't find it necessary for her to accompany him. She could feel all their eyes on her as she and Ben made their way down the aisle to the front and she found herself somewhat gratified to see her mother, Patricia, Claire and even Elizabeth sitting in the rows behind.

She felt awkward, painfully awkward and the five or so minutes it took between her arriving and the priest beginning the service seemed like a lifetime. As his words washed over her, she felt her mind drifting away, back to her wedding day when she had practically dragged her father down the aisle in her excitement to get to Edward and start their life together as man and wife. It had been in a church not unlike this one, with a priest not unlike the one standing in front of her. In April, it would be sixteen years since that day. What the hell had happened since?

She had let the priest choose the hymns, not really caring what they sang about or why. He had asked her if she wanted to say a few words or if she knew anyone who might want to do it in her stead. She had answered no to each question, irritated that he had even asked, and simply told him to do the bare minimum. She didn't want anyone giving a flowery eulogy. As far as she was concerned, Edward didn't deserve that.

The service was thankfully over relatively quickly and though she hesitated for a moment when the cab arrived to take them on to the cemetery, she simply took a deep breath and kept on going. Seeing her husband put in the ground would be symbolic if nothing else. Fortunately, it had stayed dry but as the priest began his final words, she felt the wind whip around her, chilling her to the bone and making her glad she had chosen to wear her warmest winter coat.

Then...it was over. The deed was done. She had fulfilled whatever last obligation she had had to Edward. Reaching for Ben's hand, she turned to look at him, feeling utterly drained. "Let's go home."

"Are you sure you don't want to come to the wake?" Susan asked from behind where she was standing with Patricia.

"I'm sure," Evelyn replied. "But you go if you want to."

"Well I'm sure we could use some coffee if nothing else," her mother replied, shifting from foot to foot. "Not to mention a proper seat. Are you just going to go home then?"

"Yes."

"Fine."

"Mrs Burns?" Before Susan could walk away, Evelyn turned to see a pretty, blonde haired woman dressed in black standing behind her, her expression slightly uncertain. "I'm Lily Arthur. I was a junior associate at your husband's firm."

"Hello," Evelyn greeted her politely.

"I don't expect you remember me."

"I'm sorry..."

"That's all right," Lily said. "I wanted to extend my condolences to you. I realise it must be a difficult time." Evelyn raised her eyebrows. "I mean, I understand everything that happened...the court case and all but...still..."

"Thank you," Evelyn said, glancing around in time to see Susan sidle closer to them, clearly eager to hear the exchange. "I appreciate that."

"I wanted to speak to you face to face. I thought it would be better than you simply getting a call from your lawyer."

She frowned and glanced at Ben who looked equally as confused as she felt. "My lawyer?"

"Yes," Lily nodded. "I mean...I want you to know that I'm not trying to get anything that I'm not entitled to...that we're not entitled to...this is difficult I know...it's just...I don't know if Edward left a will...if he would have provided anything..."

"I'm sorry," Evelyn said, "I don't understand what you mean. What would you be entitled to? Who's we?"

"Uh...perhaps this isn't the time or the place..." Ben said hesitantly.

"Well, me and my son..." Lily pressed on. "His name's Jack. He's five. I'm sorry, I presumed that you didn't know and, like I said, I know this is difficult but..."

A cold shiver went through Evelyn's body. "You presumed I didn't know what?"

"Evelyn..." Ben pressed her arm. "Let's go."

"No..." she shook him off gently, her gaze still fixed on the woman in front of her. "You presumed I didn't know what?"

Lily paused. "That Jack is...was...Edward's son."

XXXX

"I don't know what to say," Susan said for the fiftieth time since they had arrived back at the apartment. "I just don't know what to say."

Ben tried to tune her out, focusing instead on the closed bathroom door behind which he knew Evelyn was hiding. After Lily Arthur's revelation she had descended into a kind of silent shock and had merely stood staring at the other woman until he had managed to gently coax her away from all the prying eyes and into a cab home. Susan, all thoughts of attending the wake forgotten, had initially started badgering her daughter as to whether or not she had known, until he had snapped and told her to be quiet. Undeterred, she had accompanied them in the cab back to the apartment and was giving no indication of wanting to leave.

"I just can't believe it," she said again from her position on the couch. "I just...can't believe it...Edward...had a son...?"

"Evelyn?" Ben moved away from her and knocked softly on the bathroom door. "Are you ok?"

"I'm fine."

"I've made coffee."

The door opened suddenly and she stood before him, her face pale, her eyes red. "I think I could use something a bit stronger than coffee." Moving past him into the kitchen, she opened the top cupboard and took out the vodka, pouring herself a generous measure before tossing in a splash of tonic. She took a large mouthful, made a face and then let out a long shaky breath. "You know..." she laughed bitterly, "Of all the things I thought might happen today...finding out my husband had a child with someone else wasn't one of them."

"She must have thrown herself at him," Susan said, rather unhelpfully. "I mean, she's not exactly a looker, is she?"

"She's young, blonde and pretty, Mom."

"But I mean...he was a married man! Five years ago? I mean, what were the two of you doing five years ago?"

Evelyn moved past Ben back into the living room and sank down into the easy chair, drawing her feet up underneath her. "1989...1990? Well Mom, I was being raped and abused, how about you?"

Susan bristled slightly and shifted uncomfortably, "That's not what I meant."

"I know."

"I mean...were things good between you two? Did you suspect that he was having an affair? Was it even an affair? Was it a one night stand?"

"I don't know. I didn't really feel like hanging around to find out," Evelyn snapped, taking another long drink and then laughing mirthlessly. "Jack...she even called him after Eddie's father. How touching." She paused and rubbed her forehead. "No doubt I'll be hearing from my lawyer in due course...I'm guessing the kid must be entitled to something."

"Nonsense!" Susan said. "You were his wife! You get the entire estate."

"From memory, that's not entirely correct," Ben said. "It's been a while since I studied any succession law but if Edward didn't leave a will..."

"Is there no will?" Susan interrupted.

"They haven't been able to locate one," Evelyn replied, draining her glass. "The lawyer said that they're still looking."

"Well that's just preposterous! A lawyer! A man as meticulous in his business as Edward was? Of course there would be a will."

Evelyn closed her eyes briefly and then looked over at him, "So?"

"Well if there's no will, then I'm pretty sure that you would inherit a specific sum plus half of the remaining estate and any children would inherit the rest."

"But even if that were true," Susan said stridently, "the child is illegitimate!"

"It doesn't matter," Ben said, "not if paternity can be established and I'm guessing Ms Arthur wouldn't be pushing her case if she didn't have a positive test in her back pocket."

Evelyn let out a long sigh and put her head back against the rest. "I don't care about the money. If there even is any after all the financial entanglements have been sorted out. The kid can have it all. There has to be some compensation for being the son of a rapist."

"Don't be ridiculous," Susan said leaning forwards, "You were his wife and, from what you've said it sounds like you deserve the money. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth, Evelyn. You can't expect Ben to keep you. Or me for that matter."

Evelyn raised her head slowly and met her mother's gaze and Ben felt himself freeze as he watched wondering, just for a moment, if Evelyn was going to leap out of the chair and hit her mother. "Get out Mom," she said finally.

"I'm sorry?" Susan said.

"I said, get out...please."

"But I'm only..."

"Please!" Evelyn put her head in her hands.

"I think it might be for the best if you go," Ben said diplomatically. "Obviously she's upset and she needs some time to process what's happened."

"I don't need you to speak for me!" Evelyn's head snapped up again. "I want you to get out Mom. I want you to get out and leave me alone!"

"Well..." Susan got her feet. "Fine I'll...I'll just go then." Snatching her bag from the couch she stalked towards the apartment door. "I'm sorry this has happened, Evelyn, I really am. Maybe once you're over the shock you'll realise that I'm only trying to support you."

"Support me..." Evelyn echoed as the apartment door closed behind Susan. "She doesn't know the meaning of the word." Getting up from the couch she walked purposefully back into the kitchen and poured herself another vodka. Ben followed, hovering in the doorway. "I suppose you're going to tell me I shouldn't be drinking."

"I'm not going to tell you anything," he replied. "I think you just need to...go with how you feel right now."

"How would you feel?" she asked. "How would you feel if you found out Laura had had a child with someone else while you were married?"

He elected to stay away from the logistical impossibility of her suggestion and merely shook his head. "I'd feel...angry, hurt, betrayed...but Evelyn..."

She drained another half glass and then turned to look at him again, her expression one of sheer devastation. "What was so wrong with me?" she asked. "What was so wrong with me that he could treat me the way he did, revel in every miscarriage I ever had and...and throw me down the fucking stairs? What did I do to make him do all those things and yet...yet he had a child with her..."

"You didn't do anything," Ben said, pulling her into his arms. "It was him...it was all him..."

"But why...?" she sobbed into his shoulder.

"I don't know," he stroked her hair gently. "I wish I did, but I don't. Maybe he didn't know about the child or maybe he didn't believe he was his." He fought for rational explanation. "Did you ever see any evidence of money going out of your account that you didn't know what it was for?"

She shook her head, "He controlled all the accounts. I never saw any statements or anything. Why do you think I didn't know anything about what he was paying the Luccheses'? He could have been paying child support to a hundred women and I would never have known." She pulled back, her face stained with tears. "I don't even know why I'm crying. I hated him. Why do I care that he fathered a child with someone else? I don't. I don't care." She moved out of his arms and emptied the remaining contents of her glass down her throat.

"You should eat something," he said sensibly. "I'll make you a sandwich."

"I'm not hungry," she replied. "But...I think I could do with a lie down. Do you mind?"

"Of course not." He watched as she dragged her feet across the living room and disappeared into the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Despite what she had said, he made her a sandwich and brewed a fresh pot of coffee, carrying it through to the bedroom only to find her, lying atop the bed in her underwear, snoring softly, sleep having rapidly claimed her. Placing the cup and plate on the nightstand, he reached for the blanket at the bottom of the bed and laid it gently over her causing her to turn onto her side and pull it up around her chin.

For what seemed like an age, he stood and watched her sleep, studying the contours of her face and the tears that still streaked her cheeks. Just when he thought he had the measure of Edward Burns, just when he thought he couldn't dislike him anymore than he already did, something came along to blow his previous perceptions right out of the water. She had had a point in her quest for answers. How could he had been so adamantly against having a child with her and yet procreate with someone else?

Shaking his head, he stole out of the room and quietly closed the door behind him, hoping that she would at least sleep soundly for a few hours. He had brought some work home with him the previous evening but as he spread it out on the table and tried to concentrate, he found that he couldn't. He might have been shocked at first when she had told him that she was pregnant, but he had wanted their baby. Wanted it so badly and had had no choice in its demise. How could any man treat impending fatherhood with such disdain?

Though, for many reasons, the idea frightened him, Ben suddenly felt a burning desire to give Evelyn another child. Another chance. An attempt to show her how it was really meant to be. If she wanted it, he would gladly oblige and then he would wrap her up in cotton wool for nine months and nurture and protect her.

The way a husband and father was meant to.