SUMMARY: Sam, Bill and Harry talk after Donna´s funeral

DSCWin, Loveispatientloveiskind and QueenSheridan, thanks for the help and support.

THE THREE MUSKETEERS

The funeral was over, as Donna was now placed in her eternal rest, and once they had got back to the hotel, Sky had escort his wife back to their room to sleep.

Meanwhile, Sam Bill and Harry made their way back to Sam´s cottage, after Rosie and Tanya insisted that they could handle the hotel by themselves, for a few hours. It was an excellent excuse to think about something else, other than their late friend.

As the three men arrived back at the cottage however, Bill forced Sam to sit in the first chair he found; something was bothering him and he couldn´t rest, til he found the truth. ''Did you really love Donna?'' he asked bluntly.

In response, Sam give him a furious look ''What in the hell!? Why would you ask something like that, Bill?'' Sam growled ''Of course I loved her. I still do, and I always will''

''Well, you haven´t shed a tear since we got here last week, mate'' Harry added. He was equally worried about his friend and was only concerned.

Sam lowered his eyes, feeling even worse, because his friends were telling the truth. Sophie had been a mess since a few days before her mother death. But Sam hadn´t shed a tear, he took care of everything by himself. Sam had called Bill, Harry and the Dynamos a few days before and took care of the funeral stuff. Then that morning, at the funeral, he was just walking around, greeting people and ensuring that everything was in place and order.

''I…'' the widower opened his mouth and closed it a few times ''I really love Donna with all my heart, but…'' he paused, unsure of what to say, ''but I think I'm in shock after what happened''

When Sam stood up, he started to feel a bit dizzy, the room spinning a little in his vision.

''Whoa, Sam. You might want to sit down, mate'' Harry and Bill were supporting their friend, who was trying to stand. ''no more emotions for today''

''I just had found the love of my life…'' the old man paused, just now feeling the tears form in his eyes ''I- I just never thought that- that I would only have just four years with her, the best four years of my entire life.'' He said and the other two men agree.

''yeah, was indeed a shock'' Harry passes his hand over his hair ''it´s somewhat hard to believe that all of a sudden, our Donna isn´t here anymore. I should not never let her go''

''so I am, I'm feeling a bit guilty, I was always around the island, I should have got back and help her raised Sophie'' Bill said slowly ''Sophie once said Donna wasn´t a healthy person… and if something had happened, before we got here!'' Bill exclaimed

''whhhy are you think about it now?'' Harry frowned ''we should be happy our daughter grow up raised by her mother''

''and there´s another reason why I couldn´t cry today'' Sam said suddenly and his friends looked at him ''my… our daughter, we need to stay strong for her, she needs us, guys, more than anything now'' he said and Bill and Harry agreed.

During that whole morning and even since they got the news that Donna had passed, Bill and Harry, never left their daughter side neither, giving her all support she needed. Sure, they were sad for losing a dear friend, but their daughter´s well been was more important, so they stick with her, as well as Sky, Tanya and Rosie, trying to be her rock, in that horrid time.

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For the next hours, Bill and Harry tried to cheer Sam up a bit, telling stories of how they met Donna and how happy they were for finding out about Sophie, who is now the light of Sam´s life.

Just passing 5PM, Bill and Harry decided that was time for them to go back to the hotel and let Sam alone for a bit, when they heard someone approaching; it was Sophie, still wearing her mourning clothes and her eyes were puffy from crying.

''Soph? What happened my darling?'' Sam got up quickly and rushed to his daughter side.

''Sky was… I was looking for… Auntie Rosie said that I…'' she couldn´t complete a single sentence, all of a sudden, she wasn´t a strong 24-year old woman anymore, but a frightened 4-year old girl, totally lost in the world and that broke the three men´s heart.

''Soph, came here my darling'' Harry open his arms and without a single word, Sophie rush to him and hide her face in his shirt, crying again ''it´s okay sweetheart, daddy is here, don´t cry'' he tried to calm her down as both Sam and Bill approach wrapping their arms around both Sophie and Harry.

They are the three musketeers, protecting their little princess, from all the horrible things in the world.

END