A/N: Yay! This story has had over 2700 hits! Thank you guys for reading it, I hope you enjoy it!

And I'd just like to say to the person who left me the anonymous review calling Crystal a Mary-Sue at the first chapter clearly did not read on as she does not personify the other Mary-Sues that frequent enough of the rant, I hope you enjoy the chapter and drop me a line to let me know what you thought!

Warning: Some scenes unsuitable for those who are easily distressed.

Cautiously he pushed open the door. Every part of him was on high alert, the adrenaline rushing through him gave him a tingling feeling and the hairs on the back on his neck were standing on end. He was jumpy, ready to incinerate anything that moved.

He checked that the floor was safe to walk on and hesitantly proceeded through his hallway. He couldn't hear anything and it was dark. Shadows flickered as car headlamps passed his house. He checked the front room, dining room, the den and the study. They all seemed to be fine. That left upstairs and the kitchen. He crept up to the door of his kitchen when suddenly he froze at the sound of rustling. He held his hand ready in case what he thought was behind the door was actually there. Slowly he pushed open the door.

'Oh good Warren, I'm glad you're home. Listen, would you go and fetch the other two bags of groceries in from the car and shut the front door when you come back in, there's a terrible draught blowing through.'

Warren visibly relaxed and let out the breath he realised he'd been holding. It was only his mom bringing in the groceries. He smiled and fetched the bags and emptied out the contents onto the breakfast bar.

'Where's Crystal?' he asked as he stacked bread into the cupboard.

'Upstairs, I haven't seen much of her today. I tried talking to her earlier but there wasn't a response. I thought she'd prefer to be alone but maybe you could try having a word. And if you can, mention that the coroner is releasing her mother tomorrow so the funeral will need to be arranged. But we'll have to see the solicitor first because he rang as well saying he needed to speak to Crystal about the funeral arrangements and her mom's will. I'm sorry to have to pile all this onto you Warren but you two communicate better than she and I do.'

He nodded and ambled upstairs pausing only to swing his school bag into his room. He tentatively knocked and, when he heard no response, opened the door quietly.

Warren saw her sat on the floor next to the bed, encircled in the duvet and clutching a razor in her hand. He moved cautiously round to face her and sat down on the floor opposite. The remaining light coming through the trees dappled on her face making her appear more vulnerable than she already was.

'Crystal?' he said softly.

She started, as if she hadn't noticed his presence until that moment. Her eyes slid back into focus as they stared at the person who had helped her so much already. Now she needed him to help her again.

'Warren?' she asked, her voice high and trembling.

'What are you doing Crystal?' he questioned in the same gentle tone.

'I-I don't know,' she stuttered. 'I'd run out of tissues so I went to your mom's bathroom to fetch some more and I saw the razor sitting there beside the sink and suddenly I felt so tired and thought it would be so nice not to feel all of this anymore. So I took it and came back here. But then I couldn't do it. I was too afraid.'

Her chin trembled and a few tears rolled down her cheeks. Warren's mind was working in overtime. She'd tried to die? He knew he shouldn't have gone to school. And why hadn't his mom tried harder to talk to Crystal? But he pushed these thoughts to the back of his mind.

'Crystal, give me the razor,' he said.

Her hand shook as she tried to move it towards him.

'Come on now, you can do it,' he coerced as she slowly held it out to him.

He took it and laid it to one side. He took her by the hands and made her look straight at him.

'Come with me, you can't stay in here any longer. You've not left the room for hours and you need a change of scenery. We'll get this changed. Come and sit with me and we'll get through this.'

Stiffly she got up and, with Warren's help, stumbled out of her room and into his. He sat in his chair and tucked a red blanket around her shoulders. He sat opposite her on his bed but wheeled the chair towards him so they were face to face.

'Crystal, you need to talk to me. I am always here for you. Seriously, day or night, I will stop and talk to you, about anything. And I know I don't know what you're feeling but I understand loss. I've lived without my dad for thirteen years and I probably won't see him again except on TV. Ok, so whenever you want to talk, I'm listening.'

The two sat silently for almost 30 minutes before Crystal spoke.

'I feel…I feel so stuck. Like someone has paused my life and I can't find the play button. Nothing happens. I just stay in that room, wishing I could find a way to move on. I don't want to forget this pain, I don't think I ever can but I know I can't stay wrapped in eternal grief. It's too much and I'm so tired,' she finally said.

'I think I have a way for you to do that. Now, it may not be what you want to deal with and it will be just one really difficult thing that you have to do in a list of tricky tasks but I think it will help you maybe find some peace.'

He waited for a response and continued after Crystal nodded slowly.

'My mom told me that the coroner is releasing your mom's body to you now and also the solicitor called about the will and funeral arrangements. Now you can probably go tomorrow to get this all sorted and maybe start to move on. What do you think?'

Her chin trembled but she held the tears back.

'I think I'd like to do that,' she choked out.

It was ten o'clock the next morning when the three of them walked into the solicitor's building. Mrs. Peace had had to fetch some more clothes for Crystal's from her house so she at least appeared to be doing better.

'Crystal,' the solicitor greeted her, 'I'm Mr. Davidson, won't you come in?' indicating his office. All three of them went to enter but Mr. Davidson stopped them short. 'I'm afraid I can only talk to the immediate family of Ms. Lucere.'

'Please,' she asked him, 'I want them to be with me.'

Reluctantly he nodded and ushered the three of them into his office. They sat on white leather armchairs facing the solicitor's imposing mahogany desk. Warren shuffled his chair a little closer to Crystal's to offer her support if she needed it.

'Now,' he started. 'We have rather unusual circumstances here in that everything is left to you Crystal. The house was in your mother's name and she passes it on to you including all her money, paintings and jewellery. She does ask that you donate $5000 to the disabled heroes' fund and also for you to sell the house. She specifically stated here that when she died she didn't want you to continue living in the house and instead she requested you sell it. She wrote this letter to give to you.'

He handed the letter to Crystal who took it wordlessly and nodded at the solicitor to continue.

'She also said that if, at the time of her death your father had joined with, and I quote, "some villainous people", you were to take the necklace with the bronze sun pendant and wear it constantly because it will enable you to use the sun to your advantage. Does that make sense to you?'

Again Crystal nodded, not quite able to believe she was going to wear the power-enhancing necklace worn by her mother in her superhero days that had been given to her by her grandmother. It was pretty old and very powerful, being able to draw on the energy and power of the sun in times of need.

When she took it in her hand it almost seemed to be vibrating and as she fastened the clasp around her neck a warmth spread through her and she felt calmer and more peaceful, as though a part of her mom was with her right at that moment.

'Did she say anything about where I should live?' she asked tentatively. She wasn't sure she could cope with leaving Warren's house yet and she really didn't want to move far from her school and friends.

Mr. Davidson read through his notes. 'No, she doesn't specify a place. She wrote here that she trusted you to make a wise decision about your living arrangements and as long as it's with people you know and trust she gives you her blessing.'

Crystal smiled thankfully but then stiffened at a sudden thought. What if Mrs. Peace didn't want her there on a permanent basis? What if she had just been nice to her because of her mom dying and she was going to be leaving in a few days. Hesitantly she turned her head towards Mrs. Peace.

'As long as you want to stay, our house is your house Crystal. If you were to stay on a permanent basis, which you are welcome to do, I would probably have to become your guardian, especially given the current situation with your father.'

'That's fine with me,' Crystal smiled, the first smile in a number of days. It felt strange but she was glad she could smile again. But her face darkened again when she heard the solicitor mention funeral arrangements.

'Your mother requested a simple service outdoors and to be buried next to your grandmother. She says that you'll know where she means.'

Crystal nodded. Her grandmother was buried in the hero's cemetery owned by Maxville City Hall. It was where all heroes could be buried if they so chose and she guessed her mom wanted to be remembered as Solar instead of Jane Lucere, former wife of Michael Duresco and mother of Crystal Lucere. She'd been a great hero in her time and so it was fitting that that was how the world would remember her.

'Um,' the solicitor said as he read down the list, 'she also requested no lilies and no depressing music. She wants roses and something upbeat to be played. She wrote that she didn't want you to be even more upset than you already would be. And that's it,' he concluded.

'Thank you,' Crystal said formally before rising and leaving the office followed by Warren and his mother.

'Are you ok?' asked Warren on their way back to the car.

'I guess,' she sighed, 'it's just quite overwhelming, having to deal with all of this now as opposed to in about 40 years' time.'

'I can only imagine,' said Warren's mother as they all piled into the car and drove to City Hall to report that Solar had requested to be buried in the hero cemetery.

The clerk there was very sympathetic and guided Crystal through all the choices she had to make such as how many people would be attending, flowers, music and what sort of service she'd like. They arranged for the date of the funeral to be in two days' time, Friday.

'Crystal, we're going to have to go back to your house pretty soon. You're running out of clothes and I don't think I should be the one to pick what your mother wears to be buried in either and the funeral director said he'd need the clothes tomorrow. Do you think you can manage to go today?' asked Mrs. Peace as they drove away from the City Hall.

Crystal glanced at Warren who gave her an encouraging look and squeezed her hand. 'We'll be with you always,' he said.

Slowly she nodded, 'I'm going to have to do it sometime, why not today?'

But as they pulled up at the house Crystal suddenly didn't feel so brave.

'I don't think I can go in,' she said trembling.

Oh God, can I really do this? I should have prepared for this somehow. I mean, I knew I would have to come back here some time but so soon?

'Crystal?' Warren's voice intruded into my thoughts.

He's done so much for me already and I've only known him a few days. He looks so worried, holding out his hand to me.

'Come on, I know you can do this,' his voice, back again, seemed echoing. 'We don't have to go anywhere or do anything you don't want to. Ok?' It was clearer this time.

It still amazes me that a boy who looks like he sealed his heart off long ago can be so caring and sympathetic.

I'm trembling as I take his hand. He envelops my small cold hand with his large warm one. I look up at him gratefully and he shoots me a look of encouragement.

She seems so afraid of the memories that lie in this house and honestly, I'm a little afraid for her too, though I have no idea why.

As we enter the house she shrinks back slightly but I edge her forwards. She has to confront her fears…I should know that better than anybody.

Mrs. Peace turned to Crystal, 'What would you like us to do? I guess you'd like to get your own clothes and something…' she hesitated.

'Something to bury my mom in? I know, I'll find something. Would you empty the fridge please? And collect the photos and albums – they were important to my mom.'

'Sure,' Mrs. Peace replied, confidant once more. 'Then we won't have to come back to empty the house until after the funeral.'

She nodded silently and trod quietly upstairs.

When I get upstairs it feels so strange. I haven't been here in…four days but it may as well be four years. It smells musty and unlived in.

Crystal looked around her room and opened the window slightly. She pulled her holdall off the top of the wardrobe and opened the doors.

Can I really do this? So many memories are held in these clothes…but they're happy ones. And I can't buy a whole new wardrobe. So remember the happy things and honour the sad ones but don't get trapped in them.

She stuffed shoes, underwear, jeans and tops into the bag followed by her only dress. She and her mother had bought it in Paris two years ago. It was a royal red, so deep yet shimmered as she walked. She had never worn it but instinctively knew she would do so at the funeral.

She could hear noises downstairs and wondered if they were doing ok. Her mom had an awful lot of photo albums, hers and those of her family.

Downstairs Mrs. Peace was working her way through the kitchen clearing out all the food while her son was in the front room stacking all the photo albums into some boxes he'd found in the kitchen.

He picked up a particularly heavy one but the shiny cover slipped through his fingers and it landed awkwardly on the carpet. He groaned thinking he'd have to put all the photos back into their slots but was relieved to see only one photo had fallen to the floor.

He picked it up and saw two men standing outside the gym of Sky High with their arms around each other's shoulders grinning broadly at the camera. They were in their graduation hero costumes clutching diplomas in their free hands. One was tall, dark and had a head of hair not unlike Warren's own. Unconsciously he touched his own dark head streaked with red by his power. The other man was shorter and thinner and appeared to have completely white hair.

He turned the photo over and on the back was scrawled 'Me and Baron, graduation, 1978'. He got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach and picked up the first photo of Crystal's father he'd seen, bringing the two photos together for a comparison. There was no doubt that the man next to his father was Crystal's father. He was stunned.

'They'd been friends? Does Crystal know about this?' he wondered.

He heard his mom's footsteps coming towards him and quickly stuffed the old photo in with the newer one and bundled it into a box.

'Are you done yet?' she asked.

'Um,' he said, slightly caught off guard at almost being caught, 'nearly. I've just got to put the rest of these photo frames into the boxes and then put them all in the car.'

'I'll pack and you carry. Knowing you you'd probably pack them all haphazardly and break the glass!' she joked.

He gave her a wry smile but dutifully picked up the first box and carried it out to the car. As he passed the stairs he thought about how Crystal was getting on. He hadn't heard many signs of movement but didn't want to intrude. This had to be hard for her.

Crystal hovered in the doorway of her mother's room trying to summon up the will to go in. She knew that this was the beginning of saying goodbye and maybe if she put it off then she wouldn't have to or, by some miracle, all this would be over.

But then cold hard logic prevailed. Her mother was dead and no amount of hesitation could change that. She swallowed and took the first step over the threshold and towards the wardrobe.

It was a giant wardrobe and took up almost an entire wall. She pulled back the sliding doors and was met with an overwhelming scent of her mother. Tears pricked at her eyes and her throat tightened up but she forced them back. At one end of the rail was her mom's eveningwear; dresses, coats, stoles in so many colours. Her mother had loved to dress up for special occasions and even after the accident and she couldn't wear them anymore she kept them to remind her of the good times. Crystal knew she would do the same.

At the other end of the rail was one outfit of bright yellow and white. It was her mother's superhero outfit; white tights under a yellow long-sleeved leotard with a blazing sun sewn onto the front in orange. The yellow boots sat underneath the outfit with the yellow and orange mask sat on top. Crystal had only seen her mother wear that outfit on TV; she'd always tried to keep her work away from home and would change after she'd defeated the villain of the day. It was only right if she was going to be buried in a heroes cemetery that she should wear the outfit she was given in which to save the world. Carefully, she took the costume out of the wardrobe and folded it gently into another bag with the boots and mask.

Warren and his mother were sat in the front room waiting for Crystal when she came downstairs. He got up as she came in carrying her two bags.

'Hey,' he said, 'you ok?'

'I think I will be,' she said with a small smile.

A/N: Wow, that turned out to be a much bigger chapter than I expected! Well if you stuck with it this long I thank you and ask you please to review to let me know what you thought!