A/N And have another bucket of angst of a chapter. =/ This one made me tear up as well. Things may start looking up a bit next chapter. ...I'm so mean to poor Zoe. Enjoy!

OH, also, the character Luka Daniels appears in this chapter. He's someone Littletonpace and I sort of collaborated on creating. Basically, I came up with his past - as Zoe's ex-boyfriend - and she came up with his future. ;-) Enjoy him as well. He's fun.

Disclaimer: It's probably a good thing I don't own Supernatural. God knows what would happen.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Ryan's funeral was set for three days later, and no one was looking forward to going back to Iowa. Zoe was terrified that George was going to blame her for what had happened – completely irrational, she knew, but she couldn't shake the feeling. Dean was worried that things would be even more tense between himself and Zoe's father. And Sam, well, Sam was sad because Zoe was sad. He and Dean were both worried about her, Zoe could tell. More than once she caught them whispering together and quickly stopping when she walked into the hotel room. She didn't know how much longer she could take Sam's concerned stares and Dean's constant refrain of "You doin' okay?"

Telling George that Ryan was dead had possibly been the most painful thing Zoe had ever had to do. He had answered the phone cheerfully, wishing Zoe a happy birthday. There was no good way to break news like this. There was no easy way for Zoe to tell her father that his son was dead. She could barely remember what they had said to each other. All she knew was that after she hung up the phone she cried for what seemed like hours, and Dean had stayed next to her the entire time.

Now they were in the Impala on their way to Dubuque that evening, the day before the funeral. Sam, in some attempt to cheer Zoe up, had graciously allowed her the passenger's seat this time. Small comfort, Zoe thought bitterly, but had to give Sam props for trying. She leaned her head against the windowpane and listened to the road swoosh by under the tires.

Dean half-glanced at her. "You doin' okay?"

"Ask me that again and I'm gonna punch you in your face," Zoe said flatly. "No, I am not doing okay. I never will be doing okay again." She knew she was making this difficult for Dean and rubbed her eyes. "I'm sorry – I know I'm being horrible – "

"Don't you dare be sorry for being upset," Dean said rather sharply. "You have every right to be." He turned onto Zoe's street.

"I know, I just – I don't want to bum you guys out because of my misfortune," Zoe said.

Dean snorted. "'Misfortune' is putting it lightly." He pulled into the driveway in front of Zoe's father's house and parked.

Sam reached up and put a hand on Zoe's shoulder. "Hey, Zo, listen," he said softly. "Ryan was a great kid. We're both really sorry."

Zoe squeezed Sam's hand lightly. "Thanks." She stared out the window and sighed as she looked up at her house. "My dad's going to kill me. Or possibly all of us."

"C'mon, Zoe. No, he's not," Sam said.

"I was sort of joking." She opened the door and stepped out with another sigh. The sky was gray and cloudy. Zoe wished it would rain, to even better match her mood. They made their way up the driveway and were met at the door by George. Zoe immediately flung her arms around her father.

"Daddy, I'm so sorry," she whispered, tears filling her eyes, "You must blame me – "

"No!" George said quickly, drawing back and cupping Zoe's face in his hands. "Sweetheart, I would never blame you. Ever. Understand that, okay?" Hugging her again, he glanced over Zoe's shoulder and nodded to Sam and Dean. "Hello, boys."

"Hi, George," Dean said.

"We're really sorry about your son," Sam said again.

George gave him a tight-lipped smile. "Thank you. Come on inside." They stepped into the entryway and George turned to his daughter. "You need anything, sweetheart? Something – "

"No," Zoe said briefly. "I really…just want to go to sleep for about ten years."

"All right," George said understandingly. "You go ahead and go upstairs. I'll show Dean and Sam where the guest rooms are."

Zoe hesitated, then leaned over and hugged Dean tightly. "Thanks for putting up with me," she whispered in his ear. "I'm no fun to be around right now."

"Don't even worry about it," Dean said, rubbing her back gently.

She kissed him lightly on the lips. "Good night." Zoe turned and went up the stairs, leaving Dean alone with Sam and George, who had been pointedly looking away from them.

George led them in a rather stony silence to the first guest room and told Sam to settle in. "It'll be a long day tomorrow," he said with a sigh as he took Dean past the room Jeff would occupy when he arrived in the morning, to the next guest room, which doubled as George's home office. "Sorry about the mess," George said, gesturing to the stack of papers piled on the desk. "I was working with a client the other day before Zoe called….didn't have a chance to clean up…." He heaved another gusty sigh. "It's been quite a week." At this point, George almost seemed to be talking to himself, but then he snapped back to reality. "Listen, boy, I want to talk to you," he said, sounding more stern.

Dean sat down on the bed. Part of him had expected this. "'Bout me and Zoe, right?"

George seemed taken aback. Clearly he was used to being impressive and intimidating. "Well, yes. That, and a few other things."

"Let's have it, then." Dean sighed and looked at him expectantly.

George seemed to be trying to decide where to start. "Listen, I do not blame any of you for my son's death. Let's get that straight first. Not you, not Sam, and certainly not Zoe. But…." He paused here. "It does make me worry for her safety. I think Zoe has yet to realize what a dangerous world she's stepped into with you – "

"Hey, I think she's a little more capable than you realize – " Dean cut in sharply.

"Don't!" George snapped, pointing a finger at him. "Don't you dare try to tell me about my daughter. I've known her for twenty-five years, and you've known her for one. You have no idea what she's been through."

"You don't know what she's been through with me," Dean retorted rather childishly.

"Dean." George waved his hand. "My father was a hunter. I grew up much the same way you did, and I've met countless hunters. Countless people like you. Countless people who allowed others to be hurt while they try to kill whatever monster they're after that day!" George shook his head. "This is not the life I wanted for her. And you….you're not the man I imagined her with."

"Look, I understand!" Dean said loudly. "You don't trust me, I get that! You're just being her dad – but Zoe is twenty-five, she's smart, and she's learning. She knows she's in danger, and she knows the risk she's taking, because God knows I've told her enough times. I can't change her mind, though, and neither can you. She's doing what she wants right now. But," Dean sighed and stood up, "I can promise you that if anything wants to hurt her, they're going to have to do it over my cold lifeless body. After I beat the living hell out of them." Dean smirked.

George stared at him for a moment. This conversation had obviously not gone the way he had imagined. "Just – just keep your goddamn hands off Zoe while you're in my house. I don't want to see it." He sighed and left the room, muttering to himself.

xxx

The funeral was supposed to start at four o'clock. However, Zoe and her family were expected to be there early, for the sole purpose of having everyone tell them how terribly sorry they were for their loss. Zoe didn't want to go. She did not need all the old women at her church telling her, in falsely friendly voices, how sorry they were. Those women had never liked her. Zoe did not want to go to the church and see Ryan's friends crying – and his girlfriend Michelle. Had they been together when he died, Zoe wondered? She knew they'd been on and off a lot. Zoe hoped she wouldn't have to face Michelle. She wouldn't know what to say.

Zoe faced herself in the mirror. She looked okay, she supposed. Black dress, black mascara and eyeliner. She'd taken a little more time on her hair that day. It hung in looser curls past her shoulders, instead of the usual ringlet curls held away from her face by a headband.

Necklace. Zoe pushed aside the makeup and perfumes that lay cluttered on her dresser and grabbed her jewelry box. There she found her cross necklace – the one she'd worn through junior high and most of high school before discarding it when she was sixteen… it had belonged to her mother. The necklace and her car were the only things of Tiffany's that Zoe could keep without feeling sad or angry. It was a fairly simple cross – small, pewter, with four tiny rhinestones at each of the four points. She fastened it around her neck. It felt both familiar and unfamiliar, cold against her skin - but it was nice to wear it again.

Zoe turned and left her room without a second glance at the mirror, heading downstairs where she was met by Dean in the entryway. He looked taken aback. "Wow, you – you look really pretty."

Zoe gave him a soft smile, though she hardly felt happy. "Thanks. Glad you think so."

Dean put his hands on her shoulders and rubbed them gently. "It'll be over in a couple hours," he said, as if he knew what she was thinking. Zoe didn't answer, but pressed her hand to her lips, eyes suddenly filled with tears. Dean took a step closer and hugged her tightly, pressing her face into his chest.

Sam came down the hallway, saw Zoe and Dean, and said nothing. Lightly he touched Zoe on the shoulder. George appeared next to them and cleared his throat. Reluctantly Zoe let go of Dean and wiped her eyes.

"We'd better get going," George said. "Jeff said he'd meet us at the church."

Zoe rolled her eyes. "Even at a time like this, Jeff has no time for us….why?"

"I don't know, Zoe, but he's thirty. The time since I had any influence over him has been gone for about thirteen years." He put his arm around Zoe's shoulders and kissed the top of her head. "Hey, we'll make it through this, okay?"

Zoe mumbled a quick response and shot out the door. She didn't want to stay here any longer than she had to. Not with Sam looking at her all worriedly, and George trying to be comforting, and Dean having no idea what to say. She was curled into a corner of the Impala's backseat when Sam and Dean got there. They exchanged a look, but said nothing.

xxx

The only funeral Zoe had ever been to before had been her grandfather's when she was twelve. She had forgotten how much she hated funerals, or maybe it was just this one that she hated. The service was over – there were a few minutes left before they had to move to the cemetery for the burial. That was the part Zoe was dreading the most. She left the church's sanctuary ahead of her family and the Winchesters, because she didn't want them trying to talk to her, or – in Sam and Dean's case – giving her sidelong, furtive looks. She stood in the lobby of the church, staring at nothing.

A pair of arms wrapped around Zoe's waist. With a little jump of surprise, Zoe turned around and found herself engulfed in a tight hug from Brittany Hooper. "Hey, beautiful," Brittany said. "I am so sorry about Ryan."

Zoe gaped at her in surprise. "You're – you're supposed to be in California – I thought you had rehearsal!" It was incredibly unlike Brittany to miss out on any commitments. They had often joked that only her own death could keep her from a rehearsal.

Brittany shrugged. "Told them there was a death in the family and they were more than happy to let me go." Brittany grabbed Zoe's hand and pulled her over to the wall, where she sat down on the floor and patted the spot next to her. Gratefully Zoe slid down next to her and kicked off her shoes. Brittany put her arm around her shoulders. "Let it out, babe. I know you, and I know you've been holding back."

Zoe burst into tears. Remarkably, Brittany didn't flinch. She'd seen Zoe this way before. "He didn't know what he was doing," Zoe sobbed onto Brittany's shoulder. "He didn't know how dangerous it was. I should have told him to stay away."

"You really think that would've stopped him?" Brittany asked, rubbing her back gently. "There's nothing you could've done….not the way I hear it."

"Who'd you hear the story from? And did you hear the real version?" Zoe sniffed. Obviously, they couldn't tell everyone that Ryan had been killed by a demon. The official version was that the woman who shot him was insane.

"I was just talking to Dean inside…he told me what really happened," Brittany said. "I'm sorry."

Zoe wiped her eyes. "I just can't believe this happened. Ryan was my baby brother. I was supposed to take care of him. It wasn't supposed to be this way…" She hid her face against her knees. "You're the only one who gets it, Brittany. I practically brought him up. Dean and Sam wouldn't understand, I can't say that to Dad because, you know, he's Ryan's dad too, and Jeff…you know Jeff."

Brittany's hand kept moving in gentle circles on her back. "I know, Zoe. I know." She slid closer to Zoe and hugged her. She didn't say anything else, and Zoe didn't either, because there was really no way to put what they were feeling into words.

After Zoe seemed to have exhausted her supply of tears, Brittany finally spoke again. "I know this is probably terrible timing, but….Luka's here, and he wants to talk to you."

Zoe jerked her head up. "What?" She pressed her face against her knees again. "Oh God. I haven't seen Luka in years."

"Which, translated, means you've been avoiding him for years because you felt bad for breaking up with him a week before we graduated," Brittany said dryly. "Honey, it's okay. He's over it. That was like seven years ago." When Zoe didn't respond, Brittany continued, "Babe, I wouldn't say anything, but he says it's important. He's also hovering awkwardly around the crowds of people who are starting to fill this lobby."

Zoe looked up. Brittany was right. The rest of the sanctuary had begun filing into the lobby. Zoe saw Michelle, a girl with long blond ponytails, walking down with her parents, and quickly avoided making eye contact. Sam and Dean were standing against the wall opposite Brittany and Zoe, having an argument of some sort while occasionally glancing her way. And Luka, Zoe's ex-boyfriend, was indeed wandering around looking awkward. Zoe groaned and clunked her head back against her knee. "Fine. Tell him to come over here."

Brittany's smile was half amused, half understanding. "You sure?"

"Yeah." Zoe paused for a moment. "You guys kept in touch?"

Brittany shrugged. "A little. He's my friend too, you know."

"I know." Another pause. Then she asked, "Did you and Luka ever have a thing?"

Brittany laughed and covered her mouth, eyes sparkling with mirth. "Honey," she said, looking at Zoe and shaking her head, "Luka's not my type. At all. You know this."

"Well, I was just asking," Zoe grumbled, crossing her arms. Brittany patted her knee and stood up. Zoe heard her high heels clacking away, and a few moments later someone else slid down next to Zoe.

"Hey," said Luka Daniels. Zoe hadn't seen him since the summer after they had graduated high school. All of those encounters had been brief and awkward, considering the fact that Zoe had very abruptly broken up with him two weeks after prom, one week before graduation. Then, in some odd twist of fate, Zoe had gone to college, Luka had stayed home, and they hadn't seen each other since. He looked pretty much the same as he ever had, just a little older – same wavy brown hair, same gentle face, tanned by the summer sun.

"Hi," Zoe said shakily.

"I'm sorry about Ryan," Luka said.

"Thank you," Zoe said, staring straight ahead and trying to keep her voice from trembling.

Luka appeared uncomfortable. "Are you all right? Otherwise?"

"Ugh, why does everyone keep asking me that?" Zoe moaned, putting her head down on her knees again. "Luka…."

"Sorry. Okay. I understand, you're not all right." He nodded.

"Look, I'm sorry, I just – this isn't the best time for us to meet again…" Zoe trailed off.

"I know, it's really bad timing, but I wanted to tell you something," Luka said quickly, looking at her in his earnest way.

Zoe eyed him sideways. "What?" she asked warily.

Luka tapped his fingers on his legs. "I drove past your house a few weeks ago," he blurted out. "Saw Ryan shooting baskets in the driveway and I stopped to say hi. It'd been awhile since I'd seen him…"

"Bet he was glad to see you," Zoe said. "He always liked you."

Luka smiled slightly. "Yeah, well, we got to talking – he asked me how come I'd never left Iowa like you and Brittany had, so I told him about how my mom got sick – don't worry, she's doing fine now – and I'd stayed to take care of her."

"You're a good guy," Zoe said. Which, ultimately, had been why they'd broken up.

Luka gave her another grin and continued his story. "Anyway, talking about my mom got us talking about your mom…" Zoe flinched a little and Luka put his hand on hers. "I asked him if he missed his mom at all. He said no."

"Of course not, he hardly even remembered her," Zoe said. She knew she kept interrupting him, but she felt like she had to say something. She honestly had no idea where this story was going.

Luka gave her a look, the kind he'd always used to give her when he was exasperated about something or other. "He said no, Zoe, because he hadn't had to miss his mom. He had you." Luka gave her hand a squeeze. "Direct quote."

Zoe turned her head to look at him. "Ryan said that?"

Luka nodded. "Absolutely. I – look, he told me not to tell you he said that, but that was him being his usual self – I figured you'd need to hear that right about now."

Zoe nodded, feeling a lump come to her throat. So she'd done okay by Ryan after all. "Thanks. Thank you for telling me that, Luka."

"He was a good kid," Luka said, patting her shoulder lightly. "He grew up well, despite everything."

Despite his dysfunctional siblings, you mean. Zoe shook her head. "He didn't grow up at all." Her voice cracked and she began to cry again.

xxx

After the funeral, Zoe rode back to her house with Sam and Dean, and arrived back home before Jeff and her father did. Once inside, Sam headed to his room to change out of the suit he'd worn to the funeral, and Dean made to do the same, but Zoe grabbed his hand. "I want to talk to you," she mumbled, eyes downcast. Grasping his hand, she led him upstairs and into her room, where she closed the door and then turned to Dean, arms folded across her chest. "What are you and Sam not telling me?"

Dean looked a little bewildered. "What?"

"Dean, don't. Really." She covered her eyes. "I'm not in the mood to pretend. I know you guys know something you haven't told me, because I keep seeing you arguing and looking at me all nervous. Please…don't fight me on this, just tell me."

Dean swallowed, looking trapped. He paced back and forth a little and licked his lips. Finally he said, "Zoe, we…we didn't want you to worry, and we – okay, I didn't think there was anything to worry about, so we didn't tell you, but….we knew Meg was back."

Zoe took a step back. "What?" she whispered.

"It was when you were with Cassidy – Meg – she - God dammit…" Dean was pacing again. "She called me. She was looking for you, and, you know, I told her to piss off, and me and Sam had been trying to find her, but there were no signs, no demonic activity at all…we – I – kind of thought it had been an empty threat…" He trailed off. "I was going to tell you, Zoe, I was!"

Zoe stared at him in shock for a moment, then stepped forward and slapped him. Hard enough that her own palm stung, but she didn't care. Dean instinctively put his hand to his cheek and looked at her in surprise. "What the hell is wrong with you?" she hissed. "Why would you not tell me something like this?"

"Zoe, I didn't want you to worry, you have a tendency to freak out a little – "

"Do not turn this around and make it about me, Dean!" Zoe snapped. She put her hands on her forehead. "I can't believe – I really can't believe you would keep this from me! First you don't tell me about your deal with the Crossroads Demon, and now this?" She looked at him in disgust. "Put yourself in my shoes, okay? Imagine if Sam was in danger and I didn't tell you – "

"I know, I know, I was completely out of line, and I'm sorry!" Dean said loudly, stepping forward and grasping her by the arms.

"Sorry doesn't begin to cover it!" Zoe wrenched herself away from him. "Ryan is dead because of this! And unlike some people, he's not going to come back from the dead!"

"Hey, look, don't be all mad at me because my brother's alive – " Dean started angrily.

"I'm not!" Zoe said furiously. "I'm angry because if you had told me – I could have prevented this!"

"I doubt you could have done anything, Zoe, she would have killed you too," Dean started angrily.

"Well, better me than him!" Zoe snapped. She raised her fist and punched him in the chest. Dean took a step backward, wincing slightly. "You have got to start trusting me, Dean!"

"I never said I didn't!" Dean protested.

"Yeah, well, you still treat me like I'm someone you've got to protect – "

"You are!" Dean interjected furiously.

"Okay, fine, I get it, you want to protect me, but look at me now. Do I look okay to you?" Zoe spread her arms out and shrugged. "Maybe you should think a little once in awhile. I would never think of keeping something that important from you. This – this really hurts, Dean. Ryan is dead and I could have saved him."

"I didn't know it was Ryan Meg was after," Dean muttered.

"I would have," Zoe said just as quietly. "I would have known."

"Well, sorry," Dean said, turning away.

"Would you look at me?" Zoe shouted. "I'm not done!"

"What else do you need to say?" Dean demanded, turning back. "I am really, really sorry, Zoe! I was trying to do the right thing – "

"Yeah, well, you failed!" Zoe yelled.

"I – "

The door to Zoe's room suddenly opened with a bang. George stood in the doorway, taking in the scene. "Everything okay?"

"Peachy," Zoe snapped at her father over her shoulder, before going back to glaring at Dean.

George looked at Dean. "You should leave."

Zoe lifted her head and looked back at George. "But I'm not done yelling at him."

Dean rolled his eyes. "I'll leave." He walked past Zoe, deliberately avoiding touching her, and toward the door.

Suddenly Zoe felt guilty. It wasn't really Dean's fault…."Dean," she said, but he was already out the door and heading for the stairs.

George watched Dean go and then turned to Zoe. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Zoe said. "You should go away too."

George stared at her for a moment, then obliged, closing the door behind him. Zoe collapsed onto her bed.

xxx

Dean slammed the door of the guest room when he got there and pulled off his jacket, tossing it over the desk chair. He sat down on the bed with a frustrated sigh. He couldn't blame Zoe for the way she was acting. He knew he should have told her about Meg sooner, but when was he going to do that? He ran his hand through his hair. She would've been pissed whenever he told her, no matter the situation.

The door suddenly opened a crack and Zoe slipped inside, barefoot but still wearing the black dress she'd worn to the funeral. Her eyes were red and puffy. Dean stood up, but before he could say anything Zoe crossed over to him and kissed him. "I'm sorry," she said abruptly, and kissed his cheek, the place she'd slapped him. "I'm sorry."

"Hey." Dean slid his arms around her. "Don't be sorry. It's okay."

"No, it's not!" Zoe's voice cracked. "I shouldn't have hit you – Dean – "

"It's okay," Dean repeated. "Maybe I deserve a slap in the face now and then," he added, trying to lighten her mood.

"Don't. Don't say that." Zoe hid her face against his chest as if she were listening to his heartbeat.

Dean moved his hands up and down her back, leaning his cheek against the top of her head. "What can I do?" he blurted out helplessly.

Zoe lifted her head, looked up at him for a moment, then kissed him hard on the lips. Dean jerked back in surprise, but Zoe put her hand on the back of his head and brought her lips back to his.

Dean's hands moved gently to her waist. "Zoe…"

"What?" she asked, her eyes avoiding his.

"Is this – really what you want right now?" he asked carefully.

"I need – " Zoe stopped and closed her eyes for a moment. When she spoke again, she seemed to be fighting off tears. "I need to feel something other than misery right now. Please. I need to know it's possible for me to…to…keep living."

This was understandable. Dean kissed her again lightly. "Okay," he said quietly. As they kissed, Dean moved his hands to her cheeks. They were wet with tears.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you, too," Zoe answered, pulling herself more tightly against him. "Please…please don't leave me."

God dammit. Dean didn't want to remind her of his deal.

"We'll break your deal," Zoe said, as if reading his mind. "You'll be okay."

Dean was pretty sure there was no way to break his deal, but he'd let her keep on believing. "Okay," he said, kissing her on the forehead. "In that case, no, I'm never gonna leave you."

xxx

Zoe couldn't sleep. She peered over at the red numbers on the digital clock next to Dean's bed. 12:23. She flopped onto her back with a quiet sigh, feeling as awake as she had all day, though she knew her body was exhausted. Sleep was not going to come. Not wanting to wake Dean, she carefully slid out of bed and pulled on one of his t-shirts over her underwear before creeping quietly into the hallway.

Almost instantly she walked straight into her brother Jeff, who swore under his breath as she stepped on his foot. "Would you watch where you're going?" he hissed. His eyes took in her appearance. "And put on pants or something. You look like a slut."

"Thanks, Jeff," Zoe snapped. "Thanks a lot."

"Well, sorry, but you do. Your hair is a mess, your eye makeup is all smudged, you're not wearing pants, and I had to leave my room once the two of you started going at it next door. Okay? That's disgusting." Jeff glared at her.

"No one asked you!" Zoe growled at him. "And since when do you give a damn who bangs your sister? You never did before!"

"I don't care, that's your business, but I wish you wouldn't do it right next to my room!" Jeff snapped back.

"You make me feel so good about myself, Jeff, I just love it. Why in God's name do we not see each other more often?" Zoe asked, her voice at the height of sarcasm.

"Yeah, yeah, real funny. What are you doing up at twelve-thirty in the morning?" Jeff asked.

Zoe snorted. "I can't sleep. See, I had this little brother who I completely loved with every inch of my heart and he died three days ago."

"Jesus, Zoe, would you shut up?" Jeff snarled. "Ryan was my brother too, you're not the only one who misses him!"

"Whatever," Zoe mumbled. "What are you doing up so late?"

"I was talking to Dad," Jeff said. "Try it sometime."

"Bet I talk to him more than you do," Zoe challenged.

"All right, let's make everything into a competition, that sounds great. Go to bed, would you?"

"Same to you!" Zoe snapped, and stormed past him on her way upstairs.

Zoe didn't want to go into her bedroom, having a feeling that she'd end up staring at the ceiling there all night as well. Instead, she pushed open the door to Ryan's bedroom. Nostalgia and grief hit her in a wave and she actually let out a gasp as she stood in the doorway, hand over her mouth.

Ryan's room looked exactly the same as the last time Zoe had been in it. It was still a cluttered mess of all the things Ryan had squirreled away, things he didn't need but for some reason would never throw away. Slowly she wandered into the room, picking her way through and looking at all the things Ryan had kept. She flicked on a desk lamp and the light fell onto a photo Ryan had tucked against it. It was one of herself and Ryan, taken a little over a year ago. Both of them were grinning, and Zoe honestly looked happy.

This was before life got complicated again, Zoe reflected. She settled into Ryan's bean bag chair. If she thought about it hard enough, she almost thought it still smelled like him. Still felt like he was here with her.

You were always on my side, weren't you, buddy?

Zoe curled up on the bean bag. With the light still trained on the picture of her and Ryan, her eyes finally felt heavy and she dozed off.