A/N: I know, I know killed off Josie but please stay with me. You've read this far and I promise there is a means for my cruelty/madness. I'll probably end up having a bit of an updating spree to finish the story so you will understand why I did what I did. I felt so bad posting the last chapter and almost changed it into something sappy but I couldn't change what I had worked so hard on. So please give me the end of my story before you hate too hard lol.

OoO (One week later) OoO

I have fallen into a numb abyss. I've been cooped up in my room ignoring everyone barely managing to eat or drink. My Twitter notifications have escalated to 3000+ mentions and tags. Several reporters had captured pictures of me in front the hotel kneeling at Josie's spot and ever since then social media has been flooded with the image with mostly positive remarks. Even tv news has overexposed the image along with the Twitter pic I shared of Josie from our photo shoot. Days after the incident until now every channel was continuously talking about the story.

I'm currently flipping through channels when I stop on E!News. A picture of Josie and I laughing on stage at one of the Moscow sound checks was in the background. I turned up the volume as the reporter began to speak.

"Afternoon guys I'm Brittany Michael. New details on the tragic loss of R5's photographer Josie McGrath have surfaced today. Sources tell us the identity of Ms. McGrath's killer is now being revealed. Former R5 photographer Micki Collier has officially been identified as the shooter. We have been informed that Ms. Collier's original target at the San Diego hotel was in fact the band's bassist and Ms. McGrath's rumored boyfriend Riker Lynch. Josie McGrath bravely sacrificed herself for Mr. Lynch's and the rest of R5's safety. A true genuine act of selflessness. We have yet to hear a formal statement, or any statement for that matter, from Mr. Lynch or the rest of R5. Not that we're surprised in this obvious time of grieving. On behalf of E! News and the R5 family we ask that all fans and friends keep their beloved band members in their thoughts and prayers during this trying time. During the next update we will look back on Ms. McGrath's life and everything she had accomplished. Until then I'm Brittany Michael with your latest on Celebrity News and Gossip."

The news ended with yet again the picture of me kneeling and my picture of Josie. I groaned as I shut off the tv and rolled onto my stomach. My phone rung for the umpteenth time in the last hour, but this ringtone was different, in fact I swore it was the ringtone I had set for Josie. I quickly answered not bothering to look at the I.D.

"H-Hello?"

"Yes sir is this Mr. Riker Lynch?"

"Uh yes it is."

"Yes Mr. Lynch my name is Rachel Gunter. I'm Ms. McGrath's attorney."

"Ok? And why are you calling me?"

"Well Mr. Lynch-"

"Please call me Riker."

"Very well Riker, Ms. McGrath had recently updated her will. I have notified Mr. Daniels and the San Diego morgue of McGrath's last wishes. I'm calling you Riker to inform you and your band that Ms. McGrath had left several of her assets to you all."

"W-what?!"

"Yes sir. About a month and a half ago Ms. McGrath contacted me for an appraisal of her assets and to rewrite her will. With that said you, your siblings and a man named Ellington have become beneficiaries of McGrath's effects. You Mr...Riker have been listed as the primary."

"O-ok. What does that mean," I asked sitting up.

"Riker I understand you and McGrath had a deeper relationship and I knew Josie for a long time so I know how important you must have been to her. I'm truly sorry for your loss and I understand how difficult this may be, but Josie was very organized and she clearly states in her will and I quote 'If anything should happen to me, I wish for my effects and belongings to be handled in a timely manner. A month after my departure shall serve as an efficient amount of time. I do not wish for my loved ones to prolong the inevitable while mourning my loss. The sooner my estate is handled the better.' Riker I fully understand the situation you're dealing with, but I'm simply trying to obey Josie's last wishes. Friends here in Shannon have already been briefed on McGrath's final wishes and next Friday services will be held in Ms. McGrath's honor. Mr. Daniel has informed me he will have flights booked for everyone. You are scheduled to arrive next Wednesday and I will personally pick everyone up and escort you to Josie's house. My firm and I have begun to put Ms. McGrath's assets in order and everything has been categorized to the named beneficiaries. We have spare keys of everything for you in case Ms. McGrath's keys were lost stolen or obtained as evidence. The final thing I have for you and your band is to escort Ms. McGrath safely back home."

"Y-you mean we're taking her body from California to Ireland on a plane?!"

"Well not exactly sir. You see Ms. McGrath's final request was to be cremated. I've already shipped her urn to Mr. Daniels yesterday."

"Her...urn."

"Yes sir as I said before Josie was very organized and had a custom urn made prior."

"Oh I see so my siblings and I are supposed to fly with Josie's ashes."

"Yes sir, precisely. I will meet with you and everyone else next Wednesday and explain Josie's other requests regarding her remains and her estate. Again I'm truly sorry for you loss. Please contact me with any concerns or questions. Goodbye Mr. Lynch."

"G-goodbye." I hung up and stared at my blank phone.

"What have you gotten me into Josie?"

I shook my head and reluctantly pulled myself from my bed. I willed myself to shower and dress in actual clothes for a change. Mrs. Gunter's voice repeated Josie's words of "prolonging the inevitableb and I knew I had to quit moping around instead celebrate Josie's life and support everyone else not ignore them and being angry. I dressed in black ripped skinny jeans a thin gray long sleeve shirt and my black converse. I didn't bother to shave or put in my contacts. I wore my glasses and dark gray beanie on my head.

I grabbed my phone and glanced at my bedside table one last time. I smiled when I looked at the framed picture of Josie and I curled up on the couch of the tour bus, I had my arm around her and kissing her forehead as she looked up at me smiling, she had her arms wrapped around my waist and her legs flung over my lap. Ross had captured the picture and the day after we came home he had it printed and framed. In front of the picture sat her leather cuff and necklace, still stained with blood. I just can't bring myself to clean it away.

I turned away and trudged down the stairs to the living room where my family sat watching tv. Everyone's eyes darted to me as I stood in the doorway. I was greeted with sad smiles which I replied with one of my own before sitting in a vacant spot on our sectional couch.

*ahem*..."I-I received a call from Josie's lawyer today," I spoke out slowly as my voice came out husky and tired.

My dad quickly turned off the tv while everyone focused their attention to me.

"And it turns out Josie left everything to R5 and Ryland," I continued looking at the shocked expressions.

"I don't know if there has been anything scheduled for next week, but we were asked to fly to Shannontown next Wednesday for Josie's services and all the legal stuff. Sean has already scheduled the flights and...a-and..." I could feel myself beginning to cry again trying to tell my family everything.

*ahem* "And we were asked to escort Josie back h-home," I squeaked out wiping away tears.

My family was deadly quiet for what felt like an eternity before someone finally spoke.

"We...have to fly with a..a casket to Ireland? Will there be professional people there to handle moving it," Ryland asked cautiously, "last thing I want is Josie to haunt us for fucking up taking her casket out of the plane."

Everyone smiled and laughed lightly.

"Well actually Josie had an urn made and she will be cr-cremated," I explained.

"So what do you need us to do," asked Rydel.

"Well San Diego has brought Josie's body here to be cremated this afternoon and I...I want to be there to bring her home. It'd help to have someone there with me," I said quietly looking at my shoes.

"Of course Riker, I'll go with you," Rydel offered smiling a sympathetic smile.

*ahem* "Yeah Rike we'll go with you," Ross added. Rocky and Ryland quickly agreed as well.

I smiled thankfully at my siblings, "Thanks guys, it means a lot to me."

"Of course man. Josie meant a lot to us too. Anything involving her is the least we can do for everything she did for us," Rocky replied.

I could feel my composure crumbling thinking about everything we had been through with her. I glanced at my shoes again blinking back tears and swallowing the seemingly permanent lump in my throat. 'When will my tears stop?!'

My phone buzzed in my pocket, I reached for it and revealed a text from Sean saying the funeral home was ready for final goodbyes and the cremation.

We made our way to meet Sean 20 minutes later. With every passing minute the lump in my throat seemed to multiply, I was sure any second now it would cut off my airway completely. It wasn't until I felt Ross pat my shoulder that my shaky breaths didn't seem so force. 'So thankful for my supportive siblings.' We walked into the foreign uninviting building and were instantly greeted by Sean a slender tall framed man in a dull black suit.

"Afternoon everyone. My condolences to you all," dull suit said formally.

Sean slightly smiled at us, his eyes filled with so much pain and...regret? 'What is he regretful for?' We simply nodded at the the slender man. He had us then file into a conference room and left. We sat in a choking silence, none of us sure what to say or even if it was appropriate to speak.

*ahem* "I-I just wanted to apologize to everyone for what has happened. It's all my fault," Sean confessed, his voice shaking.

"What's your fault," I answered confused.

"I'm the one who hired Josie and...Micki. I should have done more research on her or better yet tried harder to make Josie stay...or at least fought harder to replace her with one of her recommendations," he answered barely audible.

"Sean, it's not your fault. No one could've known this would happen...Besides Josie got to fulfill her promise to us all," answered Ross.

'She didn't fulfill every promise,' I thought bitterly and instantly regretted it. 'Josie saved my life and I'm sitting here being a selfish asshole.'

Sean tried to interject but was cut off by a knock at the door and the entrance of a small plump blonde woman carrying a binder and what looked like an evidence bag. She smiled sympathetically before sitting at the head of the table, placing her items in front of her. My eyes were locked on the clear bag. I could barely make out what looked like keys and possibly a phone.

"Afternoon. My condolences," she spoke in a sickening sweet voice.

'Is that their formal greeting around here?'

"Everyone is here for Josalynn McGrath correct," she asked glancing up from her folder. Nods responded.

"Very well. As you all may know Ms. McGrath named you all next of kin or her beneficiaries. So you'll be responsible for her belongings and remains. As been confirmed by San Diego Morgue Ms. McGrath passed last Friday at 7 p.m. in front of Wilks Hotel. She...uh *ahem* would you like to know exactly how she passed," she asked cautiously.

"Yes," I blurted out still staring at the bag.

I felt Rocky grab my arm, "Rike are you sure," he asked softly.

I glanced at him momentarily, "Yes. She risked her life for me, it's the least I can do to know how," I replied coldly.

The plump lady studied me carefully before continuing.

"Ms. McGrath died on the scene due to a high caliber bullet puncturing through her...heart. McGrath passed instantly. Umm...oh," she said surprised.

"Oh? Oh what," I pressed.

"Uh well it says here Ms. McGrath also lost a 8 week fetus."

"W-what?!"

Seven pairs of eyes gravitated to me.

"T-that's impossible," I protested looking straight at the woman directly across from me, "she wasn't able to have children."

"I-I'm sorry sir I'm just reading the report."

"Well they messed up because my Josie wasn't able to be a mother," I said slightly annoyed.

She remained quiet as she slid a stack of post card sized papers across the table to me. I hesitantly reached for the items sliding them in front of me. I turned over the stack and effectively lost my breath. Staring back at me was none other than an ultrasound of a tiny baby, Josie's baby..m-my baby. Tears spilled down my face as I drew in a shaky breath. I flipped through the other images before slamming the stack back on the table and burying my head in my heads, willing myself not to start sobbing in front of everyone.

Rydel swiftly approached my side wrapping her arms around me, from the wetness of my shoulder I could tell she was crying too. 'How can this be?! Not only do I lose Josie but I lose our baby too?! Did Josie even know?' I shifted in my chair to wrap my arms around Rydel too.

"I'm so so sorry," she whispered through quiet whimpers.

The plump lady spoke, "Again I'm sorry for your loss...I have Ms. McGrath's personals here too."

She grabbed the bag and pushed it across the table too. Rocky grabbed the bag and placed it beside him.

"I...I-I'm suppose to ask if any of you wish to view the body one last time. I know it seems morbid and cruel, but it's policy."

"Would you recommend it," I choked out.

"Honestly sir...no. Ms. McGrath no longer looks the same as you would remember her..."

"W-what do you mean," Ross asked.

"Besides the obvious, one of McGrath's final wishes were for her hair to cut off."

"Why," Ryland asked.

"It seems Ms. McGrath wished to have her hair taken and braided into bracelets for friends and family. The man she had appointed to fill out this request has already been to San Diego before McGrath was transferred to us," the lady explained calmly.

"And who exactly is this bracelet guy," Rocky asked skeptically.

"A Mr. B-"

*knock knock knock*

A knock at the door silenced the room. The door opened softly and in walked him.

"What the fuck?!.."

OoO OoO OoO

..."What are you doing here," I asked in disbelief.

"Hello again Riker. Long time," he replied back calmly, "Josalynn had a final request of me."

He walked fully into the room with a small case in hand.

"Hello, I guess I should introduce myself to the rest of you. I'm Declan Butler," he spoke politely. 'I still hate this guy but I'm not going to cause a scene for Josie's sake.'

Declan gently set the case on the table and carefully popped the locks. He lifted the lid to reveal multiple braided bracelets. The coloration of the bracelets from auburn to honey blonde was a dead give away that they were braided from none other than Josie's soft locks. Declan quietly passed a bracelet to each of us and we all admired the workmanship.

Each bracelet was braided like a paracord band and in the middle was an R5 guitar pick. Everyone else claimed their names were etched on the other side of the pick. I flipped mine over but instead of finding 'Riker' two words were delicately pressed into the thin metal 'Réalta Rac' I couldn't help but smile. 'I love you so much angel.'

"I will also be in Shannon for the memorial service," Declan spoke after a moment of silence, "Josalynn requested a few men at McGinnis' Pub to also receive a bracelet."

"But there's like 10 bands there," Rocky interjected.

"Well there's four for her crew from here and a Mr. Daniels?"

"Uh th-that's me," Sean said uneasy.

"Oh here you go. Also here is a band for your drummer. The remaining bands go to Ireland."

"H-how did you know who got what band if we have never met," Ryland asked skeptically.

"Josalynn was a photographer sir. She provided photos and names for everyone receiving a bracelet," Declan explained simply showing a file of our pictures.

"Guess that explains why my pick has a pair of headphones instead of the band's logo," Ryland added softly.

"Yes sir. If you will please excuse me," Declan retorted shaking everyone's hand, "I must be leaving."

After Declan's farewell we continued the meeting with the plump lady and waited patiently for her to return with Josie's urn. None of us wanted to see Josie laying lifeless on a metal slab, couldn't bare the thought of tarnishing her last image like that.

An hour later the short woman returned carrying a beautiful handcrafted box. The box was made of torched pine. It had a slide top lid. Josie's name was etched and painted a deep turquoise and above her name a Celtic cross was burned into the wood. Two brass swing latches were fastened on each side of the front. Brass handles were placed on each side of the box.

"She sure knew how to catch attention huh," Ross asked admiring the flawless design.

"Yeah that she did," Rocky agreed as the lady sat the urn on the table.

Unknowingly my hands gravitated towards it. I pulled the box to me and ran my fingertips intricately over each letter of her name.

"I need Ms. McGrath's primary to sign these release forms," the woman informed softly.

I looked up from the pine's work of art.

"That's *ahem* that's me," I answered. She nodded and slid the forms with a pen over to me. I skimmed over the documents briefly before signing on the designated lines.

"Thank you all for your time and patience and again our deepest condolences," the plump woman said while switching the forms out for a sealed manila folder, "this is Ms. McGrath's certificates of death and morgue report. Whenever y'all are ready, you're free to leave."

She smiled before leaving for a final time.

"It's beautiful just like she was," Rydel mused looking at the urn.

I nodded in agreement as I stood to leave with the rest. I protectively tucked the box securely in my arms as we walked to the front door. As soon as Ryland and Rocky pushed open the doors we were blinded by the paparazzi.

"Ugh do they have no fucking morals," Ross snapped.

"Not a single one," I mumbled back sliding on my shades and trying my best to ignore the intrusive audience surrounding us.

After struggling through the barricade we finally piled into the car heading back home. I sat in the passenger seat with Josie's box on my lap. We were almost home when all our phones pinged with Twitter notifications.

"Well that didn't take long," Ryland grumbled, "Fans are already retweeting the paparazzi pictures of us earlier."

"Seems like that's all we're good for anymore," retorted Ross, "to entertain everyone else any means necessary."

"I'm sorry guys."

"For what Riker," questioned Rydel.

"For dragging everybody into this. If I wouldn't have became so infatuated with Josie we wouldn't be constantly in the public's eye right now."

"Hey dude don't think like that, alright Rike? You yourself said 'you love who you love, it doesn't matter' we're not blaming you for falling for Josie so you shouldn't either. As for the public. ..fuck 'em. They'll catch wind of some scandal soon. We're use to this, just know you need time to grieve," Rocky defended.

I smiled slightly, "Thanks."

"No problem bro we're here for you," spoke Rocky pulling into the driveway and killing the ignition.

"Now let's go inside and forget about the social media. I'm pretty sure mom's been dying to have family night since our tour ended," said Ross stepping out of the car.

"Speaking of which I'd like to talk to everyone about an idea I have," I informed, "I'm going to put up Josie's urn. Could one of y'all get E'rat over here?"

"On it," Rydel said pulling out her phone.

I placed Josie's box on my nightstand behind our framed picture.

"You really have no idea how much I miss you," I whispered fondly gazing at Josie's smile.

I sat there for awhile before I heard the front door ring. I composed myself before grabbing my latest notebook and trudging down the stairs to join everybody in the dining room.

"How's he doing," Ratliff asked my family.

"He's better than he's been. Obviously still hurting, but I think he's making an effort to celebrate Josie instead of mourn," Rydel replied, "Oh and Josie had this made for you."

"Is...is this her hair?"

"Yeah, it may be a little weird at first but you forget about it after awhile," Rocky interjected.

"H-how did she...ya'know."

"Oh umm her ex Declan made them. Guess Josie requested it in her will," Rydel added.

"Riker will explain the rest," Ross trailed off as I walked in to join them.

"Hey man," Ratliff said trying to be upbeat.

"Hey Ell," I greeted back, "Well I have some things to talk about. Josie appointed all six of us beneficiaries of her estate. I'm not sure exactly what that means since we have to sit down with her lawyer in Shannon next Wednesday. Oh by the way Ratliff, Sean scheduled flights for us Tuesday morning. Josie's lawyer said her firm has already begun to sort out what belongings are granted to whom."

I took a deep breath and opened my notebook before continuing, "unfortunately Josie passed before I could convince her to perform 'Fade into you' on stage and I'd really like to rework it for a tribute to her and possibly set up a benefit concert for her and all proceeds be donated to our charities."

"That's a great idea," Ross agreed enthusiastically, "we could showcase her songs along with her favorite songs of ours."

"I figured this will take a couple months to setup so after we square away everything in Ireland we can start. What do y'all think," I asked looking at my family.

"Sounds like a hell of a plan. I...well I mean Josie and I were working on a another song too," Rocky confessed, "it was about halfway complete. We could finish it and add it to the set list."

"Great," I smiled back.

"This is an awesome idea Riker, but you know Josie would call you a fool for making such a fuss," Rydel giggled.

"Yeah I know, but this is worth the fuss," I chuckled back.

We spent the next hour or so going over everything from the upcoming concert to the meeting at the funeral home. I even sat down my parents and Ratliff to tell them about the ultrasound. I'd never seen my parents so devastated before and I'm pretty sure Ratliff tried to swallow his tongue. The night ended with laughs and tears shed but it was very therapeutic for everybody.