After an agonizing month the Belcher family would be saying their final goodbyes to Bob and Linda. The past month had been filled with autopsies and appointments with different therapists and lawyers. Gene was kept in the hospital for thirty days and sent home with new prescriptions for anti-depressants and anti-anxiety pills. Tina was prescribed the same pills outpatient. Big Bob quickly gave up on being strong for Tina and the two spent hours crying together. When Gene was finally released from the hospital. He would join his sister and grandfather in their mourning. Teddy was working on getting custody of Tina and Gene. He had taken a foster care course and was now preparing for a home study. Bob's Burgers had been quietly closed for good. Big Bob wanted to host one last day of business in memory of his son, but his heart could not take such an endeavor. Mr. Fishodor was searching for new tenants to take over the Belcher family business. The apartment remained in the Belcher's name. Though with the exception of Gene's belongings. Everything had been cleared away. Either being taken to Big Bob's house or donated to charity.
Things had not been easy with Linda's parents. Gloria and Al refused to include the remaining Belcher's in Linda's funeral. Bob being dead wasn't good enough for them. They had grown to resent the children and Big Bob too. If it weren't for Gayle demanding half of Linda's ashes. The Belchers would be unable to properly say goodbye to their mother and daughter in law. Gayle had moved home to Seymour's Bay and was now living with Mr. Frond and his mother. Though they were not officially back together. Tina noticed they were close in a way they had not been since the breakup.
The service would be held at Mort's. Just like with Louise the family was invited to come early for a private mourning. Before the actual service would begin. Big Bob wanted some private time just him and his son. Teddy ended up taking Tina and Gene for one last trip to the apartment. They packed the last of Gene's things and moved boxes closer to the door. Teddy and Kathleen would deliver them to Big Bob's place the next day.
Big Bob stepped into the room where his son's ashes were placed. Bob had been taken to the chapel of rest for a day or two after his autopsy was complete. Tina and Teddy had gone to see him, but Big Bob could not bare it. He barely wanted to see the ashes but knew he needed this more than he needed to avoid it. The family had selected a simple urn for Bob and Linda's ashes, but for now they remained in separate boxes. Big Bob lifted the cardboard box that was inscribed with his son's name. He held it close to his chest and broke down. He had not let Bobby see him cry after losing his mother. He had been foolish enough to think it would be better that way. Boy was he wrong and he didn't know until it was nearly forty years too late. At least he hadn't repeated the mistake with Tina and Gene.
"It shouldn't be this way son. I know you couldn't carry on without Louise and Linda, but it still shouldn't be this way." Big Bob whispered.
Tina Belcher walked slowly around the only home she had ever known. She had heard Teddy talking and knew that Mr. Fishodor had found new tenants. Meaning soon somebody else would live in this apartment. Soon a new name would hang above the restaurant. Slowly she stepped into Louise's room and sat on the floor. Her mind was racing a million miles per minute. Between having to say goodbye to both of her parents and having to work to get SADD off the ground. Now the principal had requested she speak at the assembly that would be held about a week before the prom. The big assembly that begged students to make good choices. To not drink and certainly to not drink and drive. Public speaking was hard for her but for Louise she would do it. For Louise and for her parents who were technically victims of drunk driving as well. Especially for her mom who had lost her battle with addiction. Another topic of the assembly.
"Tina! It's time to go!" Teddy called.
Gene shifted nervously in their seat. They had hoped they would do Linda's funeral while he was still in the hospital, but it took a while for the body to be released and because their therapist had thought it would be good for them to be at the funeral. Although they did remind themself that this was not Linda's actual funeral. That had been weeks ago in Florida and half of Linda's ashes were down with their grandparents. The other half sat in front of him a in a silver urn that also held Bob's ashes. Gene really was an orphan now. They were going to be sick.
Bob and Linda's funeral was more somber and formal than Louise's had been. They tried to keep it light for Linda, but everything was just so hard. The fact that both Belchers had died from grieving their daughter. The fact that Gene was just barely out of the hospital. The fact that Tina felt herself coming apart at the seams. She was growing ever tired of being the strong one. If you could call it that.
"And now before the eulogy. I would like to read the obituary." Mort announced.
"Linda Marie Belcher was born June 3rd Nineteen Seventy-Eight to Gloria and Al Gennaro. She was born and raised in Hunkawtaway New Jersey. Before moving to Seymour's Bay in her twenties. It was there she met her husband, Robert Belcher. Whom she was married to for twenty-two years. With him she had three children Tina, Gene, and Louise. Tragically Louise was killed earlier this year in a hit and run. The months after her daughter's death were hard on Linda and she would eventually lose her battle with grief and depression. She is survived by her parents Gloria and Al, her sister Gayle, her father-in-law Robert Belcher Senior and her surviving children Tina and Gene.
Robert Belcher was born April 29th Nineteen Seventy-Six to Robert and Tina Belcher. He was raised in Cameron, New Jersey and lived their until he was twenty-four. He moved to Seymour's Bay and worked in several local restaurants before opening Bob's Burgers in Two Thousand and Seven. He was father to Tina, Gene, and Louise. After losing Louise. Bob suffered with severe depression. He had attempted to take his life twice but was ultimately saved. Only so suffer a grief included heart attack the night of his wife's death. He is survived by his father Big Bob, Sister-in-Law Gayle, Surviving Children Tina, and Gene. He is Preceded into death by Mother Tina, daughter Louise. and wife Linda." Mort read.
Teddy had been chosen to give the eulogy. It was not an easy task, but he knew he was the one who could handle it. His heart broke all over again. As he stood in front of the chapel. His eyes rested on the urn that held his best friend and his best friend's wife. Hell Linda was his other best friend. He wanted to run but knew he owed it to Bob and Linda to do a good job.
Bob and Linda were amazing people. They were devoted parents and wonderful business owners. They did not deserve to die the way they did and certainly not so young. Though I take great comfort in knowing that Bobby is reunited with his mother, and both are reunited with Louise. it is going to be hard for me to carry on without them. I will however for Tina and for Gene. Bob and Linda wanted so badly to survive for their surviving children but the grief. I cannot imagine. They are free now and they were so very loved." Teddy spoke.
After the funeral and the reception. Big Bob brought Tina and Gene to the restaurant one final time. The two Belcher children wordlessly took a seat in one of the booths. Pretty much all the food in the restaurant had to be thrown out but Kathleen had brought things to make burgers. Big Bob studied the now permanently empty chalkboard. He wanted to do a pun burger, but nothing came to mind. Just the "Baby You Can Chive My Car" burger. His heart shattered all over again. Thinking about how different the past many years could have been. If instead of lashing out at Bobby. He had simply told his son that Henry's tuna melt was the last thing that his mother had made and serving it every day was a comfort. He still never said that and now it was too late. Silently he made the children and Teddy their lunch.
Getting married at the courthouse to speed up the adoption process of his now deceased best friends' children, was not how Teddy had envisioned his wedding day, but here he was. He had asked Kathleen to marry him about a week after Bob and Linda's deaths. Even the proposal wasn't the one he had dreamed about. Firstly, it did not happen at Bob's and secondly it was not the big romantic gesture he had planned. Hell Kathleen was technically the one to propose. They were driving home from one of their adoption classes. When Kathleen pointed out they were more likely to be approved for adoption if they were married. Teddy had simply asked if that meant she had wanted to get married. At least she said yes. They had tried to plan a small wedding in the presence of a justice of the peace but neither of their hearts were in it. So, they ended up rushing to the courthouse the day of the funeral. With only Big Bob and Mort present as witnesses and Tina and Gene as formality.
"OK sign here. It will take about three days to process but technically you are now married." The clerk informed the couple.
"So, this is it." Teddy whispered.
"Are you having second thoughts?" Kathleen asked.
"Yes, but not about you. This was supposed to be a magical day. I had all these plans and Bobby, Linda, and Louise were there. It was a date we picked out to be special. Not the day we buried my best friends. it was for us. Not so we could adopt orphans easier. It was not supposed to be like this." Teddy explained.
"Teddy we will have the wedding that we plan and dream about later on. Maybe even this summer. Bob, Linda, and Louise may not be present physically, but they will always be a part of us. For right now let's sign this last form and make sure Tina and Gene are safe." Kathleen assured.
"OK" Teddy replied through tears.
When everything was said and done the family returned to Big Bob's place. Tina and Gene went to the room they were temporarily sharing. While Big Bob went to his son's room. After a while Tina and Gene joined their grandfather in Bob's room. There was a knock on the door. It was Gayle and Mr. Frond. Gayle had rushed out as soon as the funeral had ended, and nobody was expecting to see her for at least a couple of days.
"Tina, Gene I am so sorry. So sorry you lost your parents too and that my parents are so awful." Gayle apologized.
"Gayle none of this is your fault." Tina assured.
"Mom and dad sent me a letter. They said because I didn't sever ties with you. They no longer want to associate with me. Basically, I am dead to them." Gayle explained.
"That is terrible! They would rather have two dead children than just let everything go?" Big Bob cried. Even on the worst days in his relationship with Bobby. He never told anybody he was dead to him.
"Tina, Gene you are the only family I have left." Gayle sated.
"Not true you have me." Big Bob assured.
"And me" Teddy added.
"Me three" Kathleen replied.
"And I wouldn't mind trying our relationship again." Mr. Frond declared.
The family then returned to the house for dinner. Big Bob was at the head of the table. Tina and Gene sat on one side. Gayle and Mr. Frond were on the other. Teddy sat across from Big Bob. The one person absent was Kathleen. Who stood alone in Big Bob's bathroom. Hands shaking as she grabbed the baggie out of her purse. This certainly was far from sanitary, but they were already running late. She had already planned on staying at Teddy's that night and wanted to show him that evening, but then Big Bob invited her to lunch. Then there was the wedding. Then Gayle broke down over the loss of her family and they spent time getting her calmed down. Then it was dinner time. hands still shaking Kathleen opened the bag and held the contents in her hand. She would still need to go to her gynecologist for more tests, but it was really happening. The small pink wand showed two bright pink lines. She was going to have a baby.