EMMA'S ENDING
AN: As you may have noticed, the format's changed. Welcome to THE END. (don't worry, it's not over yet.)
The church was a small one, tucked in the tiny village near to Sanctuary. It was packed fuller than it had ever been before as the people started arriving for the service. Sandra was tired, perhaps more tired than she had ever been before. When her husband had died she had been able to distance herself from the proceedings in her mourning. Kelly had been old enough to watch out for her younger sister and brother, and her mother had still been around to organise everything that needed organising. She touched the tiny pendant that hung at her throat, a silver angel that her mother had given her when she had lost her husband. Its cool presence was reassuring. A sign of the things that would never change.
Adrian pulled her down into a seat beside him from where she had been standing guard at the door.
"Sand. Everything's going to be OK, OK? You're not doing her any justice by worrying. This is something we use as an ending, and a new beginning."
"I hate this Ade. I don't want to be here." Tears were already threatening and Sandra bit her lip to try and stem them. Spotting another car draw up into the car park, Sandra stood and swallowed back her emotions. She smiled as she saw who it was and was quickly enveloped in a hug.
"Hey Auntie Em." She greeted.
"Bad excuse for a reunion Sandra. You have to think up some better ones else we're never going to get to see you." The elderly woman's tone was jovial, but there was a sadness in her eyes that spoke of acknowledgement of the occasion.
"I'll get on it right away." Sandra agreed. Emily pulled her back into a hug.
"Chin-up. Come on, let's give her a good send off."
They stepped into the quiet peace that filled the church to the eaves and breathed in the scent of the wood polish and flowers. Adrian had taken his seat beside his father - who had refused the Mentoline as expected - and turned to offer her a soft smile. The church was filled with muffled murmurs and Sandra took her seat silently between Kelly and David. Kelly was looking tired, Sandra noted, but then she probably looked tired herself. The backlash of Megan's telepathic power had left her with dreams of people speaking to her in the middle of the night in voices she didn't recognise. Disturbing words had left her wishing she did not have to sleep. Last night had seemed like it would never end. But it had, and now it had left her here, with this new challenge to overcome.
Thinking about the people that she had seen arrive today - those that she had spoken to on the phone and those who had turned up from the hotel - she realised there were only three that she were completely sure were human. Sarah, Daniel and Emily. Though she knew Emily knew of her family's situation, Sarah and Daniel knew nothing if Jesse were to decide to come out with everything now. She shuddered and Kelly placed a gentle hand on her arm. Not knowing that she was part of her mother's concern.
They both looked up as the Vicar appeared.
"We are gathered here today to celebrate the life of Emma Anne DeLauro. Beloved Sister, Mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend to the assembled. She was everything to some and something to everyone."