The day was much too nice to hold a funeral, Erin thought as David helped her out of their car, taking care not to jostle her bad arm as they went inside the church. It seemed like everyone else was already there, and she clutched at Elise's shoulder as they approached Aaron, trying to ignore the pointed stares from Alpha. The only one who spared a kind look for her was Penelope, and that was quickly blinked away when Mister Lynch whispered something in her ear before leading her away from Aaron's side. "I'm sorry that we're late. It took longer than I thought it would to get ready, as my arm ached today."

"You're fine, Erin. Thank you for coming."

"I pushed my doctor to be allowed out yesterday, so that I could prepare for today. Where's Jack?"

"With Jessica and his grandparents. Sean, will you take Elise in the family room? I know that Jack was asking when she'd get here."

Erin looked over at a handsome younger man, and knew that this was the brother that Aaron thought Elise looked like. Now that she was finally seeing what he looked like, she could see the familial resemblance, and she gave Sean a small smile before allowing Elise to step forward and take hold of his hand, watching them disappear down a long hall at the end of the church. "She'll probably want to sit with Jack for the service."

"That's fine, I'll have Jess sit next to her, just in case they start acting up. The immediate family will be in the front pew, you'll be behind us. I forgot to ask last night if you would mind riding in the limo with us over to the cemetery. Dave's a pallbearer, and I know that you'll need help with Elise and getting in and out of vehicles."

"That would be lovely, Aaron, thank you." She gave him a small smile as she took hold of David's hand and allowed him to guide her over the table of flowers. "Did you think to send something from us? I wanted to honor her memory, but everything was so clouded in my mind yesterday. I know that we wanted to get everything taken care of as quickly as possible, but I still feel left behind," she murmured as she rested her head on her fiancé's chest.

"I did, stellina. However, it won't be here, as it's a tree planted in her memory at Jack's favorite park. Cut flowers, while lovely for a time, still fade away, and so I thought that something that will grow and live beyond our time here. It will make her memory a blessing, and I think that's what she would have wanted."

"I love you," she murmured as she looked at the other bouquets present. So many were effusive, almost over the top, but she found herself drawn to one that was almost hidden amongst the overblown displays of beauty. Leaning in, she was surprised to read that the tag marked it as coming from Penelope. She had expected the woman to send something brash and loud, but the fact that she had gone against the grain made Erin's heart lurch a little. Stepping closer to David, they made their way along the picture displays, and she started to cry a little when she saw that Aaron had included one of the pictures of her and Haley together with their children. Jessica had taken the picture shortly before it had become necessary for Haley to go into WitSec, and the sight of it poked at the wounds on her heart. Turning into David's chest, she tried to draw in a few long breaths in order to keep from sobbing, knowing that she'd be doing enough of that once the service started.

"We're going to be meeting in the family room here, Erin. Jessica requested that you join us." She looked up at Aaron and saw that his eyes were wet with unshed tears, and she nodded as she stepped away from David to get closer to him, allowing him to pull her into a careful hug. "I am so glad that you're still here. Where's Catherine?"

"Helen and her wife are watching her today. I expressed as much milk as I could before we left, which is partly why we were running late." Aaron nodded as he held her close. "You're going to make me cry, and then the others will dislike me even more."

"They're just in shock still, over the truth coming out. It would have been better if we could have done it on our own terms, but Foyet…"

"Was a bastard who reveled in destroying people, and I'm sorry that he chose you to focus on. Let me go so that David can lead me down the hall behind you. We don't want to start any more rumors today." He nodded as he stepped away from her, which allowed David to come up to her side and take hold of her hand. She sighed a little as their fingers entwined, and then they were following him down the hall and into a large room where all the family was gathered. Erin was surprised not to see Aaron's mother there, since she knew that the woman was still alive, but she also knew from what David had said that there was a bit of bad blood there.

"Mommy! Aunt Jessica said I get to sit next to Jack," Elise cried out as she ran over to their sides and hugged her legs tightly. She nodded as she stroked her daughter's hair a bit before drifting over to Jessica's side, since she was the only one that she knew well. A few moments later, the pastor entered the room and caught their attention. Erin gave Jessica a shaky smile when the woman slid her arm around her waist, holding her close as the man explained how the service would go before letting them know that Aaron would be the one to conduct the graveside service, since he had another service to attend to.

"And now, let us gather in a circle for prayer."

David joined her by Jessica's side, resting his hand lightly on her injured shoulder as they bowed their head in prayer. It was a sweet prayer, and because of her hormones being off kilter still, she started crying quietly, accepting the tissue that Jessica handed to her and dabbing at her eyes as the prayer finished. "Are you doing all right?" David whispered, and she nodded a little. "You're missing Catherine, aren't you?"

"Yes, but I know that she shouldn't be here, not when she's so small. It was a miracle that she was allowed to leave the hospital before I was."

Jessica rubbed her back gently before giving her a small smile. "I have to go now, but we'll catch up at the meal following the graveside service."

"Of course, Jessica," she whispered, watching as the family filed out behind the pastor. Elise gave her one last hug before running over to Jessica's side and clutching at her hand, giving Erin and David a brilliant smile before turning around and following Aaron and Jack. "I don't know if I can do that, David."

"You can, and I will be right by your side through it all. We will support Aaron as best we can, and become the family that we perhaps should have been from the beginning." Erin nodded as she leaned heavily on David, allowing him to guide her out of the room and after the others.