Linus barely heard Peppermint Patty as she retold the story of rudely inviting herself, Franklin and Marcie to Charlie Brown's for Thanksgiving, her voice drowned out by grief as rain fall form the dark, angry sky.
"I should've asked him about himself…. made sure he was ok…" The brash tomboy hiccupped through her tears, "I should've…" She squeaked out, before breaking of in a wet, dry sob. Linus choked out a sob, throat tight and eyes red and puffy, the skin around his eyes throbbing. He felt…nothing. Clutching his blanket closer, he heard footsteps on the damp grass as he fell to his knees. Closer to the casket Snoopy and Woodstock hugged eachother tightly as they sobbed, the Beagle sometimes howling his grief.
"No, my sweet big brother!" A familiar voice wailed and the brown-haired boy caught a glimpse of something pink.
"Sally, no." His hazel eyes widened as he darted forward to grab his girlfriend of two and a half years.
He can't go down there!" The blonde turned her splotchy face toward him, "He's afraid of the dark."
Linus' heart cracked, next to Snoopy and himself, she took his death the hardest.
Together, with Schroeder and few others, they managed to get Sally off the casket. She sobbed into his shoulder deeply as they pressed around her, even Lucy, who's tough façade has finally crumbled.
The boy lifted his head as heard something hit the casket with a soft clack atop the small pile of flowers. He sent his older sister a grateful smile as he recognized the football she'd always use to trick his friend with, pulling it away and sending him flat on his back when he tried to kick it.
Peppermint Patty was dragged away by Marcie as Lucy spoke next. After everyone was done, the casket was lowered with a cold, distracting, mechanic hiss, only stopping briefly as Snoopy stepped to the edge.
"Snoopy, no!" Someone cried and Linus' eyes once again widened as the Beagle held a pair of scissors to his neck.
Everyone sighed in relief as the dog snipped off a small wedge of his collar, sighing before throwing it in.
The next day, to no one's surprise, Linus and Sally left town with their beloved friend's dog, shortly followed by the others.
Three months later, he and Sally married. Shortly afterwards, welcoming their son, who they named Charlie. In the hospital, Linus took Sally's hand, squeezing it and watching her smile as he confessed he'd put a nightlight in Charlie Brown's casket.
The gang didn't know what the future held…. but whatever it was, they'd face it as they always had….
together!