cco-written by RatedrKjErIcHo

Holly woke up in the early hours of the morning and went to stand by the window. The reality began to sink in that her parents were gone and they weren't ever coming back. Alex had felt her get up.

"Hey." He said coming up behind her and wrapping his arms around her waist. "How are you feeling?"

"I don't really know." She said turning to face him. "They're gone. How do I deal with that?"

"You just have to take things one day at a time." Alex said hugging her tightly. "I will help you through this."

She pulled back and kissed him. "Thank you for being here for me."

"I wouldn't be anywhere else. You are the most important thing to me." She smiled and pulled back to look at him. He brushed some hair out of her face. "I love you Holly."

"I love you too." She whispered back before kissing him.

"Now, let's head downstairs and you can talk to Randy and Amber and then I will drive you home to change clothes."

"Thanks." She with a sigh

"Holly, I know this is so hard for you but you will be okay. I will make sure you. I'm here for the long haul."

She couldn't help but smile. It felt great knowing he was going to be there for her and he wasn't going to leave her. Alex looked at her and brushed some hair out of her face.

"I meant what I said Holly. I do love you." She smiled again.

"And I love you too." They walked downstairs hand and hand.

Amber woke up and realized that Ted was watching her sleep. She looked up at her and he ran his hand across her face and smiled down at her sadly.

"You been up all night?" he nodded.

"I was just watching you sleep when you finally fell asleep anyway. And I've been thinking. This whole thing has put a lot of things in perspective. Like how lucky we are to have found each other. And how amazing you are." She smiled. "How are you feeling today?"

"I'll be okay. I'm worried about Holly though."

"I think you should focus on yourself. I know you love your sister but she can handle things." Ted tried not to sound like a jerk but he had noticed how their parents and Randy dealt with Holly. They handled her with kid gloves.

"No, she can't." Amber said with a sigh. "Ted, she isn't strong and Randy and I have to help her and protect her. This is going to be so hard for her."

"She's not a child, babe. She has to handle this. You and Randy can't be there to protect her all her life."

"Maybe not but we can right now. We can help her through this." Amber looked at him. "Ted, I know I complain to you about how my parents and Randy are with Holly. But you saw her. I'm worried about what she might do."

He got up and pulled her into a hug. "I want you to focus on yourself and how you are feeling. You have to deal with this too. You lost your parents. That's not something you can get over quickly. Don't put your feelings on the backburner because of Holly and how she's taking this. Everyone grieves in their way."

"So I should be selfish and just worry about myself?" She asked as she got up.

"Hey, don't push me away because I'm telling you the truth. Randy was right yesterday. You don't always have to be so damn strong. You lost your parents and even though you didn't ask them for much, I know somewhere deep down, you're hurting because of it. So if you need to cry, cry. But don't expect to be able to shut me out because I'm not handling Holly like everyone else does. She's an adult. She needs to deal with this like an adult would."

"We should head downstairs. I'm sure Randy is up and waiting to make the arrangements." She said as she walked to the door.

"Amber, I just want you to deal with your feelings on this and not worry about everyone else's. I'm sorry you're upset with me because I'm telling my opinion." He gave her a hug and she melted into his arms. "I love you. And I don't want to see this tear you apart." She closed her eyes and held him close to her. "I can't stand to see you suffer." He pulled back to look at her. "I love you more than anything in this world." She smiled at him and closed her eyes as the tears rolled down her face. He brushed them away with his thumbs and leaned in kissing her.

"I love you too." She pulled away. "We should head downstairs." He nodded and they headed out. They walked into the kitchen and saw Randy and Dena and Holly and Alex. "Are we ready to make the arrangement?"

"Yeah." Randy replied looking from Amber to Holly. "The funeral home will picked up the bodies after the autopsies. And then we will go there and look at caskets. Mom and Dad have five burial plots in Stone Ridge Cemetery." He looked at Holly who he could tell was trying to hold it together. "We have to pick out clothes for them to be buried in."

"Teddy and I can do that if you want." Amber said.

"No. I'll do it." Holly said. "Can you...can you go with Randy to the funeral home?"

Amber nodded. "Alright." She hugged her sister and turned to her brother. "What time did you want to go?"

"Three hours." Randy replied. "I have to call the hospital and make sure the funeral home got there."

"Alright. I will meet you at the funeral home. I'm going home to change."

"Okay." She hugged Randy and headed out.

Randy turned to Holly. "Are you sure about picking out the outfits?"

"Yes, I can do it." Holly said. "Mom always liked that blue dress. The one with the roses. And I'll get Dad's church suit." Randy nodded.

He hugged her. "I will call you later."

"Okay." She said as he headed out. She turned to Alex. "Can you take me home to change and then to my mom and dad's?"

"Of course." He said taking her hand. "I'm here for anything you need."

They headed out and to her place. Alex's phone once again rang. He hit ignore. Whatever John wanted could wait.

Randy arrived at the hospital and down to the morgue. He never thought this was something he would have to do. He breathed a sigh of relief when they told him that the funeral home had already come. He walked out and called Amber told her he was going to pick up Dena and then he'd meet her and Teddy at the funeral home.

Amber and Ted arrived at the funeral home and headed in. Amber looked around the showroom where the caskets were. This was all so unreal. They were burying their parents. Ted held her hand as they stayed there waiting for Randy and Dena.

"Did you see something you liked?" A tall man came out of the other room. He was bald and had two different color eyes.

"We're here to arrange the Orton funeral." Ted said to him.

"Of course. Please look around and if you see something, just let me know."

Amber walked up to a white coffin with silk lining in a soft rose colored hue. She ran her hand along the inside and closed her eyes. Her mother would have loved it. She looked back at Ted as his attention went to the door and Randy and Dena walked in.

"I think Mom would love this one." She said turning to Randy. He nodded.

"Did you find one for dad?" Randy asked walking up to her. She shook her head. He hugged her and then he started looking around. He came upon on a cream colored coffin with light blue silk lining. "This is the one for dad." She nodded in agreement as the owner came back in the room.

"Have you made your decisions?" Glen "Kane" Jacobs asked. He owned the funeral home and his brother was a cop. So, he knew about the Ortons' accident.

"Yes, we would like these two." Randy said to him. "Our sister is picking out the outfits."

"Okay. Then let's plan the rest of the service." He motioned for them to come to his office.

Holly and Alex arrived at her parents house and she sat in the car for a minute. She got out of the car just as Alex's phone rang. He looked at it and saw that it was John. He decided that he'd better take it. Otherwise, he'd keep calling.

"Go on up to the house. I'll be there in a minute. I need to take this." She nodded and headed up to the door. Alex pressed the answer button his phone. "What?"

"It's about time you answered my call."

"Sorry but I was comforting my girlfriend who just lost her parents. Holly needed me."

"Well, good. I'm glad she does and that's perfect."

"What do you mean?" Alex asked curious.

"I want you to ask Holly to marry in the next few days. Now is the perfect time to ask her."

"Have you lost your mind? She just lost her parents. I can't ask her right now."

"Do you love her?"

"Yes."

"Does she love you?"

"Yes."

"Then what's the hold up? Ask her. She'll say yes."

Alex looked up at the house. "Why do you want me to ask her now?"

"Because it's the perfect time. She will say yes and you can get some of your inheritance. Come on, ask her."

"Alright. I will but only because I love her."

"Excellent. Once you marry her, you get a third of your inheritance. Once you have a son, you get the rest. Remember time is of the essence."

"Whatever bye." Alex hit end and placed the phone back in his pocket. He did love Holly and he wanted to marry her. He just thought they would be dating longer when he asked. But as always he would do as John asked. He would get his mother's engagement ring and ask Holly to marry him.

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