Clarisse and Lilly stood in the embrace for a few minutes until Lilly fealt she could pull away.

"thank you Clarisse"

"dont worry about it honey"

"i always thought you didnt like me"

"iv always liked you"

Lilly beamed and got into the car. Clarisse got in last and closed the door. The church was only a few minutes down the road but the cars went at 10mph. reporters, newsreel people even Elsie Kentworty stood still whilst the cars went passed.

Mia couldnt feel anything, she was numb. Clarisse had a protective arm around her all the way and held Lillys hand with her other. Liilly was the opposite of mia, she was unconsolable. Helen had been a 2nd mother to Lilly even when Mia had moved to Genovia, lilly frequently visited helen and stayed over in mias room. The car pulled up outside the church and the car doors opened. One by one each member got out and stood in line whilst the coffin was taken into the church. Behind it followed Mia, Frank and Rocky then Clarisse, Joe and Lilly and a few close friends gathered behind them. Theyall took their seats on the front 2 rows of the pews and the service began. Lilly and Mia were going to sing at the funeral. Mia had decided this quite a while ago and Lilly fealt honoured to be asked. The service went flying past and before she knew it, it was time for Mia and Lilly to sing.

"you ready Mia?"

"as i'll ever be Lil"

Mia and Lilly stood in front of Helens coffin. Lilly grabbed Mia's hand and they started to sing.

It seems like only yesterday
You were just a child at play
Now you're all grown up inside of me
Oh, how fast those moments flee
Once we watched a lazy world go by
Now the days seem to fly
Life is brief, but when it's gone
Love goes on and on
Love will live
Love will last
Love goes on and on and on
Once we watched a lazy world go by
Now the days seem to fly
Life is brief, but when it's gone
Love goes on and on

The mourners clapped when Mia and Lilly had finished. The priest thanked them and the undertakers came and lifted the coffin. Mia looked over at Clarisse to see her head in her hands sobbing uncontrolably. This broke Mia. She walked over to Clarisse after the undertakers had carried the coffin up the isle and threw her arms around her weeping grandmother.

"grandma shh"

"oh Mia i was so mean to her, she will never forgive me"

"she did forgive you, stop thinking that she didnt"

"i never made any time for her"

"grandma shh its ok, were gonna be ok. we have each other"

"we do, oh Mia im so sorry, lets face it i was a bitch to her"

"grandma you were never a bitch"

"you didnt know me, even that was my fault"

Mia continued to let Clarisse cry into her. Lilly approached Mia sobbing.

"Mia its time to go to the cemetry, come on sweetie"

Mia slowly stood up and Clarisse followed. Lilly returned the favour by taking hold of Clarisses hand as they walked outside. Clarisse walked with her head down feeling extremly guilty about ignoring Helen for 15 years.

"youll be ok Clarisse, Helen did forgive you she told me so"

"she did?"

"yes. she said how she hated the distance you both had but it wasnt your fault"

"she really said that?"

"yes"

"Lilly, when we leave tomorrow I want you to come with us. come and stay in Genovia for a few weeks"

"Id be honoured"

"good, it will be nice having you around you really are a lovely girl"

"thank you, i just love Mia as the sister I never had"

"i know you do"

The undertakers lowered Helens coffin into the ground. Mia and Lilly sang again, quietly but loud enough to hear.

It seems like only yesterday
You were just a child at play
Now you're all grown up inside of me
Oh, how fast those moments flee
Once we watched a lazy world go by
Now the days seem to fly
Life is brief, but when it's gone
Love goes on and on
Love will live
Love will last
Love goes on and on and on
Once we watched a lazy world go by
Now the days seem to fly
Life is brief, but when it's gone
Love goes on and on

A minutes silence was kept. Mia was hugging tightly to Joe crying, even Joe was wiping a tear away. Clarisse held tight onto Lilly whilst Lilly sobbed with her head down, Joe had an arm around Clarisse whilst she sobbed her heart out.

Travelling back to the loft everyone was silent. Mia was drained as was Clarisse, guilty thoughts wouldnt leave her mind. why did she ignore helen? was she afraid of bonding with someone she was supposed to dislike? or was she just plain scared? The words Lilly had said to her had easend her conscience a bit but the guilt was still there.

Once back in the loft Mia raised a toast.

"To Helen, a fantastic mother, sister, daughter in law and friend. We will miss you mommy but all of us here know where you'll be when we need to talk to you, remember you or even think about you, which we will often, you'll be with us all. In our hearts"

"To Helen"

Everyone raised their glasses and looked at the big picture that hung on the wall, a portrait taken at Mias 18th birthday ball. Seated was Mia with Rocky on her knee, Lilly stood to the left and her mom stood to the right, Stood next to Helen was Clarisse and next to Lilly was Joe. Underneath the portrait, embedded in a plaque read the words

Helen Thermopolis 1965-2005

Always In Our Heart's