Two days had passed, but very little had changed on Wisteria Lane. Most were still recovering from the sudden death of Rex Van de Kamp, but very few actually approached Bree. Her only allies were Lynette, Susan, and Gabrielle. Everyone else who would casually say "hello", or be a part of her weekly book club meetings seemed to disappear during this time of anguish. Even Lynette, Gabrielle, and Susan had lessened their visits to the Van De Kamp residence. They had all run out of things to say, and had expressed more sympathy in just a few days than many do in a lifetime. They too, had become emotionally exhausted, and looked to one another for a sense of comfort and escape. The three women congregated in Gabrielle's home. Both Susan and Lynette felt a pang of guilt whenever they saw their friend. She looked tired and distraught. The young woman had so much on her mind, and could not even express it because of Bree's situation.

The three sat in silence at one of the round tables in Gabrielle's home- simply finding comfort in each other's company.

Gabrielle let out a deep sigh, looking down at the table. Lynette and Susan shot worried glances. "Gabby…"

"Can I just say something?" Gabrielle began.

"Of course..." Susan responded.

Gabrielle lifted her head, and began tracing designs on the table with her fingertip. "Okay, but honestly, I'm going to sound like an insensitive bitch."

"Nothing we haven't heard before." Lynette smirked.

Gabrielle felt herself smile from Lynette's remark. "Funny." she responded. "Anyway, I just need to know…when can we start moving on with our lives?" the brunette questioned.

Susan and Lynette didn't even reply, they just looked back at their friend, complete with perplexed expressions.

"I mean…I loved Rex. Well, I guess I did. I never got to know him that well. None of us did. Now I feel awful about Bree's loss- I really do. But at the same time, I've got so many of my own problems and I need to know when I can start dealing with them." she didn't mean to sound so self-absorbed, and regretted her words immediately after they escaped her lips.

"You know, you can start to get on with your life, Gabrielle. Everyone heals at different rates. I don't think I'm ready to get over Rex just yet." Lynette replied sadly. She had never shared the details of Bree's breakdown with the other two girls, but it definitely had an effect on her.

"I don't mean getting over as in forgetting him. I just mean…" Gabrielle shook her head. "I have no idea."

"Honey, you've got your own problems." Susan added.

"But Bree's one of my best friends. I feel like you and Lynette have been there for her so much more, and that I've just been sitting here waiting to somehow equal up. I always liked to think that maybe I wasn't as conceited as everyone makes me out to be…but obviously I am."

"Gabby, listen to me. You're life…to be completely honest…is a bit of a mess right now. How you've held up so well is beyond me. Bree understands why you haven't been at her house every five minutes to comfort her. In fact, I think she respects you for it."

Gabrielle was relieved to hear the words of her friend Susan. However, she also felt a bit of anger. Susan just blatantly exposed the fact that her life was in shambles, but didn't even think to ask how she was doing. The conversation would automatically jump back to Bree and how she felt. Of course Gabrielle was sorry about Rex, but in a sense, she lost her husband as well. Not only that, but she had a child on the way and didn't even know who the father was. Her life was spiraling out of control and she couldn't even lean on her friends, because they were too busy supporting Bree. Death, being the most permanent of traumas, has a way of getting a hold of people. It makes everyone re-examine their lives. As much as Gabrielle hated herself, she couldn't help but think 'Wow, Rex's death couldn't have come at a worse time for me'. She couldn't admit how she felt, but had a hard time keeping it inside as well.

Without knowing any other way to respond to her friends, Gabrielle simply flashed the encouraging smile that Bree had mastered. "I'm glad you understand me so well. Thank you." She then got up to get herself a drink of water.

Nothing much had changed down the block. Bree had yet to turn up her photographs of Rex. She still had not cleaned out his clothing, nor had she dealt with her son. She was grateful for Danielle's acceptance, but rarely showed it. She had reached the point where she would sleep as much as possible. Her children assumed she was escaping reality, when in fact, Bree slept to face it. Every time she fell asleep, she would see Rex in her dreams. He would talk to her, console her…but he never held her. She would sleep as much as possible with hopes that maybe this time she would feel his touch once more. She didn't care if it wasn't real, she just wanted to feel it. Bree had feared sleeping at first, because she didn't want to see her husband; she was afraid of how he would be. Now, however, he was all that she wanted to see. Essentially the only thing she wanted to see. Every night, and now, during the day as well, Bree would lay down and wonder why it took death to allow her to finally understand love.

Bree had started pushing her friends out of her life. If Lynette or Susan stopped by, she would talk to them for a few minutes, then explain how she was tired, and retreat to her bedroom. She knew that her friends were concerned, but she had already worn them out, and knew they probably didn't have the energy to question her. She was beginning to view herself as a waste of time and energy.

"I'm worried about Mom." Danielle walked into her brother's room. He usually provided little to no sense of comfort, yet she confided in him nonetheless.

"You're always worried about her." Andrew rolled his eyes. He was sick and tired of everyone worrying and feeling sorry for his mother. People lose loved ones everyday. Of course he missed his dad, but he at least he didn't expect a sympathy vote from everyone within a 2-mile radius.

"All she does is sleep, Andrew. I've tried talking to her, but she treats me like I'm five-years-old. She'll never tell me what's really going on."

"…and you honestly think it would be any different with me?" Andrew got up off of his bed, turning on the television.

"Maybe."

"Danielle, she thinks I hate her-"

"Well do you?" Danielle cut in.

Andrew didn't know how to respond. "I don't know anymore. I did, then I didn't. I do right now because of how she's acting."

"Then use your anger to get something out of her." Danielle stated, turning around and slowly walking out of the room. "For me."

."