Title: Time to say goodbye

Author: MysticDragon

Genre: angst

Disclaimer: They belong to Tribune

A/N: a doxymom challenge to start a story with My mother alone stood…

My mother alone stood before the newly covered grave. Daddy was ushering my little brothers and me toward the waiting vehicle.

"Where's mommy?" Jamison cried.

"Hush, now." Daddy said, picking him up and rubbing his small back. "She will be right back. She just needs a few minutes alone to say goodbye."

I realized Daddy was busy with the boys so I took the opportunity to sneak back to Mommy. When I reached the grave next to the one she was standing by, I crouched down. It wasn't that I didn't want her to see me, but like Daddy said, she needed time alone. And I just wanted to hear what she said. She hadn't said anything since IT happened and she hadn't cried either. It made me angry. If she had loved him, like I did, why didn't she cry? I hadn't been able to stop crying. No one had; except her.

Looking up at her now, all the anger in me vanished. In all of my twelve years of life, I had never seen such grief on my mother's face. I swore right then and there, I would do everything in my power to make sure I never had to see it again. After what seemed an eternity, she finally spoke.

"Well, kiddo. Looks like you really went and did it this time." She said, a small sob escaping her throat. "I should be angry you know. I was at first. What made you think the ambassador's life was more important than your own? What in heaven's name made you take the blast from the assassin's gun? Why didn't you come find Tyr or me? But then you always were one to act first, think later, weren't you?" she said all in a rush.

Taking a deep breath, she continued talking as if he were right in front of her. "The Indolsians insisted that we allow them to let you stay here since we couldn't take you back to Earth. They gave you this entire garden to yourself. You are a hero to them." She paused before continuing. "You're a hero to us to, I hope you know that. You not only saved the Ambassador's life but everyone else's as well. The assassin was carrying a bomb. You stopped him before he could detonate it."

She knelt down beside the tombstone. Placing her fingers on the cold stone, she traced the words inscribed upon it.

SEAMUS ZELAZNY HARPER

FRIEND

HERO

GENIUS

AND

LOVE GOD

"I don't know how to do it, Seamus. I don't know how to say goodbye to you." She said before she broke down and cried.

Creeping forward, I snuggled myself into her lap. She held me tightly and continued to cry for a long time.