Thank you all for your reviews!

This is the final chapter. I did it; I've officially finished my first story. I've had such a great time writing this story and I've learned so much. Thank you all who have been there the whole way and reviewed.

Chapter 31 – Life continues

Seth and Summer entered the hotel room around seven am. It was starting to get light outside but the sun hadn't risen yet. Everything in the room was the way they'd left it except the two bodies on the couch; Richard and Monica. They slept heavily close to each other. It was necessary otherwise they could fall off the couch.

"They could have taken the bed, didn't I tell them that?" Seth said out load as he lit the lamp he'd turned on a couple of hours ago.

"I'll go to the kids' room." Summer shortly said and disappeared through the door to where Ava and Casey slept. Seth sighed and went to tap Richard's shoulder. He woke up immediately, sitting straight up and pushing Monica off the couch in the procedure.

"Ow!" she said from the floor and stroked her back. "Why did you do that?" Richard helped her up and placed his arms on her back, where she'd fallen, stroking it.

"Sorry. Seth? Back already? So I guess she's okay then." Seth sat down in an armchair next to the couch the Ward's had occupied.

"Not really. Francesca's dead actually."

"Oh, I'm so sorry Seth. Where's Summer?" Monica asked and gave him a worried look.

"She's in the kids' room." He shortly replied as he sadly glanced at the door she'd entered.

"How's she doing? I bet this must be so hard for her."

"Yeah, and I don't know. She's not had that breakdown yet but I can see that she's suffering."

"Maybe we should get going then, if you don't need us to take the kids." Richard said and rose, bringing his wife with him; she still held her back.

"I think we'll handle it but thanks for helping. I don't know what I would have done otherwise." Seth gave them each a hug, showing them ho thankful he was.

"Tell Summer we're sorry. I hope you'll be okay." Monica said and put the gown over her pyjamas.

"Don't hesitate to call us again if you would need anything, okay?"

"Thanks." Seth fallowed them to the door and as he closed it he knew that he had to go deal with his family.

Summer sat on the end of the bed watching her two children sleep. They were so small, so innocent, so protected. They had no idea of what was going on around them. She hated that something bad had to happen to them; how did you explain death to a three- and a six year old?

She felt the mattress move a little under her but she didn't have to look to see what it was; she knew. She knew exactly who it was. He always did it the same way when he knew that she was sad or that something was bothering her. He would come up to her slowly, sit down next to her and put his arms round her. At that point she was usually having a crying session but today things were different.

Today he sat down next to her and put his arms round her as he used to. She let him and leaned onto him, sighing soundly. She crept up to lay in his lap, wanting him to hold her and take all the bad things away. Seth carefully cradled her and after a few minutes, as none of them had moved, Seth lifted her up and began to walk them to their bedroom.

He gently laid her down and put the sheets over her tiny body. Her shoes were already off; he guessed that she'd slipped them off while inside the kids' room. He'd never seen her like this; she wasn't even crying. Afraid to say the wrong things, he took his own shoes off and lay down next to her. She immediately crept closer to him and cuddled close to him, as close she could. Seth placed both of his arms tightly round her and kissed her forehead.

And that way they lay for the next hours, none of them drifting off to sleep.

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The day was perfect. For a funeral. The funeral of Francesca Roberts.

Everyone important from Newport was there. It wasn't many people; no one from Francesca's life the past twenty years except three women from her work.

The funeral was typical; sad songs, some poems, lilies, a blessing. None of it was worth any complaining. Kirsten Cohen had been the one planning it all with help from Marissa, Julie and Neil. Summer had only been there to give her approval. And Seth had never been the one for planning; he spent most of his time with Summer, trying to give her what she wanted.

The kids were there too, although no one had thought it would be a good idea. But because Summer was the one who wanted them there, they let them come. Ava understood a little more than Casey but they had been told to be very quiet during the whole ceremony and stay close to Kirsten and Sandy.

The ceremony was in a church and it was decorated to every detail even though no one seemed to care. Only the front lines were taken and then there were the minister and Francesca. Otherwise, the church was empty.

It wasn't a lie to say that everyone alive in the church was crying, except the minister. It wasn't like they'd all known Francesca; it was more the fact that they hadn't. And they would never get the chance to.

Summer was definitely the one to cry most. She had a long time ago decided to skip the glasses since everyone in that church had seen her crying a lot the past days. And now, as she sat on her mother's funeral; she couldn't hold anything back. She'd passed all the hysterical crying sessions. This was just a sad crying, quite silent too. Seth sat next to her and held her hand. The one hand that wasn't holding hers he had on her leg for support.

At the end of the funeral she had her head resting on Seth's shoulder, wiping her eyes.

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"I'm so sorry Summer. It shouldn't have ended this way." Neil embraced his daughter, wishing that he could fix this. But he had never been so happy to have her like today. Today it felt like they were a family again. For so many years it had only been the two of them but lately Francesca had been included.

It had been tough for him and Summer the time after she left, twenty years ago, but they'd been fine. Sure, Neil had always felt that there were some things that he couldn't give Summer. He'd always wanted to give her whatever she wanted, so that she could be happy. But a mother was a thing he couldn't give her.

"I'm sorry too dad." Summer mumbled into her father's chest. He still had the smell she'd always loved and would always do. She'd always been daddy's little girl.

"She loved you, baby."

"I know; she loved you too. Do you think that I could get some time alone with her?" They pulled away and both wiped a few tears, smiling slightly at each other. Neil nodded and left church, to join the other ones. He and Summer had been left alone in there to say goodbye to Francesca.

As the door closed, Summer moved closer to the altar. Her mother lied in a mahogany coffin. Next to the coffin there were a few candles that glittered in her eyes. As Summer looked up to the big painting of Jesus she felt so much. The church was filled with paintings of Jesus, Mary and other biblical people and stories.

Summer had always had a thing for churches. They were so big, grand and powerful. They made her feel so small, yet so strong. The way you could walk in a church and get goose pimples and feel tears prick your eyes; it was just special.

She knew that she would be okay without her mother; she'd been without her for twenty years. She'd always wondered though what had happened to Francesca, how she was doing, why she left. Now she had the answers and she was happy with them. She knew that for her whole life she'd been loved by her mother. And even though Francesca hadn't been there for so many times, Summer could never ask for another mother.

Summer picked a flower from the red and white arrangements; a red rose. She placed it in her mother's hand, laying it on top of it.

"I'm glad that I got to see you; that I found out the truth I've always wondered over. I know that you never left me because you wanted to; I understand your reasons, I really do. I've had a great life so far and I know that it will only get better." No tears were falling; they were replaced by a smile.

"I know that you would want me to be happy and not cry. I can't promise I won't because I love you, but I will try not to. I'm going to always remember you and be proud to be your daughter. You'll always be in my heart."

With those words Summer turned away, after giving Francesca one final look, and headed out of the church. Outside she was met by Seth, her father and all the others. They all gave her sad look out of worry for her. But what she gave them back was not what they'd expected. She smiled, for the first time in days.

"You okay?" Seth asked and looked at her anxiously. Summer just took his hand and kept her smile on her face.

"I'm okay. And you?"

Seth, taken by surprise, gave her an unsure smile back. The children must have noticed the change in Summer's mood because they both walked up to their parents, no longer wanting to stay away.

"We love you mommy." Casey said and tugged on Summer's dress. She bent down to lift him up.

"Yeah, we love you mommy and we loved Grandma too." Seth was the one to pick Ava up. They made their way out of the church yard; Seth, Summer, Ava and Casey.

Summer knew that her mother was fine, and she was fine herself; happy even. It wasn't the end of the world. Life would continue.

The End

I had a hard time writing the end actually. Because it is the end but don't forget about my sequel, Life Continues. It will be up soon; check it out. It will be different from this one. I won't say what it's about but just one clue; it's a huge jump in time and it won't build on this story except the characters.

I hope you give me one final review and tell me what you thought!

June.Louise