Disclaimer – Nothing familiar is owned by me snif

AN – Chapter 3 yey I'm bored and have nothing to do so I decided I'd start typing this up to pass the time. So enjoy :D

Lizzie sat in the car between her brother and her cousin. They'd taken the Friday flight out and arrived in England early Saturday. Ideally they'd have left Thursday but Jo couldn't get off work. So here they were after only a few hours sleep making their way to Anne Maries funeral.

Lizzie smiled at her cousin but Heather was to busy staring out the window. She hadn't really spoken since they'd arrived in fact the most she'd said was "would anyone like a drink?" Lizzie couldn't seem to get a conversation out of her. She figured it was due to the fact they were burying her mother today but she didn't seem overly upset. Lizzie was near tears already but Heathers expression never changed.

She watched as her mother stroked her cousins' arm and smiled reassuringly at her. Heather smiled back. It was then that Lizzie was able to look in to her eyes and see that Heather wasn't upset at all. She was heartbroken.

They arrived at the church in silence and took their seats. Heather made her way to the front and sat with a lady her mom told her was Helen and her family. She watched as Helen hugged her and whispered something in her ear.

Heather then stood beside the open coffin. Her head bowed. Her shoulders shaking from the effort to not break down and cry. Why wouldn't she cry? Why was she keeping it inside?

A teenage boy went and stood beside her wrapping his arm around her shoulder he held her close as she finally began to cry. Lizzies heart was breaking she couldn't stand to see her cousin so upset. Her mom nodded at her and she made her way over to Heather.

"Hey Heather" she whispered behind her not wanting to intrude

Heather turned round tears streaking down her cheeks she gave her a watery smile and wiped her face clearing her throat she introduced Lizzie to her companion.

"Hey Lizzie this is Rory. Rory this is Lizzie"

"Hey" he said smiling at her

"Hi" she replied

"American?"

She nodded

"This is my cousin who I'm gonna be living with" Heather informed him

Rorys' face darkened slightly but in a second it was gone. Lizzie got the feeling he didn't want her to leave.

"Rory is Helens' oldest son" Heather said

"We better take our seats" Rory said using the arm that was wrapped around her waist now he steered her towards the seats. Heather let him support her and threw a smile to Lizzie over her shoulder.

Lizzie took her seat and the service began.

The service passed in a blur. People stood to speak and offer their respects. Anne Marie's favorite songs were played and people sang along. Lizzie just wanted it all to end. She wanted to go home and be with her friends, with her cousin. She'd never been to a funeral before and she hated it.

Finally Heather stood by her mothers coffin. Her words would signal the end of the service.

Lizzie watched as she straightened her black dress, her heart went out to her, this was the second time she'd had to stand and talk about a beloved dead parent.

"My mum was my best friend" Heather began "She was the one who I sat up and shared all the gossip with. She was the one I told all my problems to and she was the one I shared all my smiles and tears with. She knew how to make me feel better and got me to smile when I really didn't want to. She was there to be my friend and my mum. Her smile made my day seem so much brighter. When I was sick she was there stroking my hair and whispering how things were gonna be ok. My mum was amazing at my dads funeral she told me that he would never really be gone. That the people we've lost are most alive in out hearts and in our memories. Well my mum was right. I never felt alone after my dad died and I don't feel alone now. I feel a little lost but not alone. Because I know she's looking out for me I know she's watching over me and I know she loves me. Mum told me that no matter what happened I'd always have someone who loved me and I do. Tomorrow I leave to live with my Aunt and Uncle and I'm ok with that. My mum thought the world of her sister and I know she has all the faith in the world to take care of me. So I do to. I'm gonna miss everything and everyone but you'll all be in my heart just like my mum said. I'm supposed to be saying goodbye but I cant. My mum used to say there's no good in goodbye. So instead I'll say see you soon mum, I love you more than anything and I wish you hadn't had to go but I'll be thinking of you always. I'm gonna be ok mum"

Lizzie lent against her own mom as Heather said her eulogy the tears flowing down her pale cheeks and splashing on to her own black dress. Her mom wrapped a comforting arm around her shoulders and kissed her forehead. Lizzie didn't no what she'd do if she ever lost her mother. She watched as her cousin leant down and kissed her mother's head placing a single white rose against her chest. She whispered something then made her way back to the arms of the awaiting Rory.

Is Rory Heathers beau? Lizzie wondered to herself. Heather was losing so much more than a mother. It hurt Lizzie deeply just thinking about it.

Heather led the procession out to the churchyard. Her mothers coffin carried behind her by Rory and his 3 brothers. They gently laid it in its final resting-place. The priest said a few words and Heather dropped 16 roses of different colors in to her mother's grave, one for every year of her life. She then dropped the first hand full of soil and turned away as her mother was buried.

Lizzie opened her arms and Heather let herself be held by her cousin. It was over.

After the ceremony the guests made their way back to Helens house where the after gathering would be held. Due to the fact that Heathers house was completely empty. All her things had been shipped off to the McGuire's and the rest sold.

Lizzie stood with Heather as she stared down at her mother's headstone.

In Loving Memory of Anne Marie Taylor

Beloved mother, friend, daughter and sister

May you be in our hearts forever and always

She lay her last rose against the freshly turned earth and kissed the headstone. "See you soon mum" she whispered.

Together they left.

"I'm gonna miss you kid"

Heather smiled "I'm gonna miss you too"

Lizzie and her family stood back as Heather said her good-byes. The Simmons family had come to see her off. Rory seemed to be the one taking her departure the hardest.

Heather wrapped her arms around his waist and he rested his chin on her head. His hand stroking her Auburn curls. After a few minutes she stepped back and smiled wearily at him. He kissed her cheek and she pressed a folded piece of paper in to his hand.

Lizzie already knew what was on it. Heathers knew address. She'd made Lizzie copy it out for her after the gathering so that Rory could keep in touch.

They smiled at each other and she reluctantly moved on to the next Simmons.

Alex – he was the same age as Matt, 14, and the image of his older brother, with the same dark hair and shining blue eyes boyish good looks and cheeky smile. This was a good-looking family. Gods gift to the girls of their schools. They were easily as good looking as American Heartthrob Ethan Craft. If not more so.

Heather hugged him and handed him a similar piece of paper. He held her close and kissed her also. Lizzie noted it was more the kind of kiss Matt would giver her. He clearly saw her as his older sister unlike Rory.

She then hugged the twins Brady and Tom, 12, handing them both a piece of paper. She stood back and smiled at them all.

"I'm really gonna miss you guys"

Tom looked at Brady a wicked glint in his eye. Before Heather knew what was going on, Brady had called "HEATHER SANDWHICH" and she was enveloped in a Simmons boy's hug. She laughed.

"Guys I can't breathe" they reluctantly let her go.

Straightening out her green skirt and white fitted shirt she smiled as Helen hugged her. "You call anytime ok Hun, day or night if you ever want to talk to one of us ok?" Heather nodded against her shoulder "We'll keep in touch we love you sweetie"

It was clear they were all very close

She said goodbye one last time and assured them she'd stay in touch and be back to visit them as soon as she could. Then the Simmons said goodbye to the McGuire's. Rory whispered for Lizzie to take care of Heather when he said goodbye. She promised she would.

All too soon they were waving goodbye and boarding the plane. Heather looked back one more time just before she entered the plane she yelled back

"I"LL SEE YOU SOON" her mothers favorite words.

The plane closed and started to take off.

Lizzie turned to face her cousin who was sitting beside her at the window.

"You ok Thea?" she asked using her abbreviated name

She faced her smiling warmly. "You know what Lizzie I am" she lent her head against Lizzies shoulder and they talked for hours, about anything and everything.

Lizzie happy her cousin was ok and Heather knowing she was going to be ok.

They eventually fell asleep and when they awoke they were home.

AN – Chapter 3 all done. I've never been allowed to a funeral so I don't actually know how they go I'm kinda guessing and using what I've seen on TV so I'm sorry if it was totally inaccurate I'm hoping it wasn't though. Well tell me what y'all thought this chapter was basically saying goodbye and getting Heather to America.