Will, Joan, Kevin, Luke, Grace and Adam were waiting at the hospital. It had been over and hour since they had arrived and hey had heard no news on Helen's condition. Adam had sent the rest of his family home, Heidi was still at the Girardi's, with Judy and Ken, making a few phone calls to people, her own mother included.

Luke was trying to get a doctor to tell the family what was going on, but was so far unsuccessful. Will was simply staring at a sterile white wall, as was Kevin, while Joan was pacing up and down the hospital corridor. Grace and Luke were talking quietly in the corner.

Most were thinking about what had just happened. The ambulance arrived within fifteen minutes, and Will had gone with Helen. The rest had piled into two cars, and followed the emergency vehicle at a super speed.

Finally, a tall young doctor emerged from a door, and called for the Girardi's. Grace and Adam let the other four talk to the doctor in private.

The doctor wearily took off his glasses, and unceremoniously polished them. As he put them back on, he looked up at the family, and began to speak.

"I'm afraid we have some bad news. The stroke that your wife suffered did some major damage. We tried everything we could to save her, but I'm sorry to say that she passed away about five minutes ago. I am deeply sorry for your loss."

Joan, Kevin, Luke and Will stood in stunned silence. This couldn't be happening. Helen couldn't be dead. But the doctor did not burst out laughing and yell "Just Kidding," nor did Helen enter the room, giggling at the joke.

A minute or two later, Will finally broke the silence, "Thank you doctor." Even as he said the words, he knew they sounded stupid. He wasn't thankful for the news.

No one had cried yet. They were all too shocked. Grace and Adam ran over to the family. They didn't have to ask what the news was, as it was written on their faces. They just joined the family in a group hug.

The funeral was a small one, but beautiful, and everyone knew Helen would have loved it. Flowers everywhere in an old Catholic church in the country. Will, Joan, Kevin and Luke all participated in the eulogy.

Just after the service, Will stood with his three children, looking at his wife's headstone. They all had tears of silence running down their cheeks. The bitter wind, which was tickling the fresh purple violets on the grave, made everything seem worse then it already was. Will was taking long shaky breaths. None of the children had seen him like this before.

"How are we going to survive?" he asked seemingly to no one, but Joan suspected he was talking to God.

"We can do it dad. We have each other," said Joan, her voice floating off with the wind.

The four of them turned and headed towards the car.

Once they arrived back to their house, the wake had already begun. People had travelled from all over the country. Aunts, uncles, cousins, relatives they never knew they had. It was a relaxed, but sad, evening for all involved.

So many people came to pay their respects. Friedman, Lily, Beth, Adam's dad Carl, Stevie and Vice-principal Price were among the faces. Stories of Helen's generosity, caring nature and selflessness were shared. Joan remembered the time when she was six, when Helen had personally yelled at a boy who had stolen the streamers from Joan's bike handles. Luke reminisced on the time when Helen had written to NASA on behalf of Luke when he broke his arm when he was twelve. Kevin remembered the time she had gotten a professional baseball player to speak to his school about how to succeed. Will told the story of when he met Helen. By the time his story ended, there was not one dry eye in the room.

But the bad times were also spoken of; Luke's trouble with bullies at school, Kevin's borderline school results and accident, Joan's friendship problems and Lyme disease and Will's ongoing trouble with his career. Everyone realised that all of Helen's problems were related to some one she cared about. Well all but one, but the only people who knew, didn't feel as if it was the right time for it…

It was almost six o'clock when a late arrival knocked at the door. Kevin answered it, and saw a complete stranger standing and smiling down at him.

"Hi," she said. "I'm here to see Joan Girardi,"

Kevin was a little hesitant; he didn't like to make a habit of letting strange women into the house, but led the girl into the lounge room where Joan was lying on the couch, talking to Great Uncle Alistair. When she saw the girl, she sat bolt upright. "Bonnie?"

The two girls stared at each other for awhile, in which time, Kevin had realised who was standing before him. He made a hand gesture to show he was prepared to show her the door, but Joan shook her head, and led Bonnie through the door to the kitchen.

"Hi," said Bonnie awkwardly. "I read about your mother in the newspaper. I'm really sorry," she added.

Joan merely nodded.

"I just wanted to come and say sorry for any trouble I've caused. I didn't think about how you feel about Adam helping me. Brent's dead by the way. Drug overdose. Serves him right,"

Joan could sense the bitterness in her voice, and could also see tears in her eyes.

"Oh Bonnie, it's alright. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions like I did. I'm so sorry, really," she said.

"Oh Joan," cried Bonnie, before catapulting herself into Joan's arms. "Thank you thank you!" she sobbed.

Joan and Bonnie hugged for a few moments, before pulling away, and went to sit and talk about the past couple of years.

"Bonnie, don't worry," said Joan about an hour later, when Bonnie tried to apologise again. "I don't blame you. It was Brent."

"But you only came to my house because Adam was there. If I didn't make him come over, you wouldn't have come over, and Brent wouldn't have done what he did, and then you would stay in Arcadia, and then you and Adam would still be together…oh it's my entire fault!"

"Bonnie, seriously, it's not. I should have trusted Adam. None of this would have happened if I just had a little faith. But it did. So whatever happens, happens for a reason. Okay Bonnie?"

Bonnie nodded sadly, but then she gave a small laugh and added playfully, "I'm sorry anyway,"

Joan smiled back.

It was then that Joan realised that people were made to be forgiven. She had forgiven Bonnie and Adam, and now Joan couldn't be happier. She could be great friend's with them, without any bitterness or anger. Helen had forgiven Joan and Kevin, even though they had fought and been angry. Thinking back many years, Kevin had forgiven Andy for his mistake, and Adam had forgiven Joan for the first time after she ruined his sculpture.

Maybe if everyone had a little forgiveness, the world would be little nicer…

THE END

I think that's better. It isn't so jumpy. I kind of want to do a bit a sequel to it, but is that idea any good. I'm on a bit of a dead end for Point of View at the moment.