I do not own Once Upon a Time.

Back to the story and funeral planning. We get to meet Roxanne, but in a future chapter is when we get to meet her better.

There is a short flashback in this chapter.

The next morning Killian finally saw his would have been sister law. What could he possibly say to her? Was he even allowed to talk to her? Did she feel it was his fault she and Liam weren't married? Did Roxanne blame him and hate him for it? But no, they had a quick cup of coffee at the local café, and talked like old times. She was happy he was back, that the family was back together. She gave him a tight hug and threatened to hurt him if he left again.

Then they were all sitting in the office of the funeral director. There was Tara, Killian, Roxanne and Neal along with the family priest, Father Brian. He had done so much for them through the years: weddings, christenings, communions, confirmations, and funerals. But this was one even he was not mentally prepared for. But here they all were.

Liam's obituary was on the table in front of them, one more go over before it went in the paper.

Jones, Liam Patrick of New York City, entered eternal life last Wednesday. He was the son of the late Michael Jones and the late Kathleen Jones (nee McCartney). He attended Our Lady of Divine Mercy, Carnegie Academy and was an alumni of Harvard where he majored in business. He was the CEO of the family owned shipping company Jewel of the World. Liam was a parishioner at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. He enjoyed playing the drums, playing football and working on cars. He is survived by fiancée Roxanne Bennet, sister Tara Cassidy (nee Jones), brother Killian, brother in law Neal Cassidy, niece Sophia Cassidy, and many aunts, uncles and cousins. Visiting hours are from 2-4 and 7-9 at Daniels funeral home on Thursday. Funeral mass at St. Patrick's at 10am Friday with a Christian burial following. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Yellow Ribbon Project.

"Do all of you approve of this final draft?" The director asked.

There was a nod around the table, expect for Tara. "I just don't like the word was." She said. Neal squeezed her hand. "It's fine. What's next?" Honestly she just wanted to get out of there as soon as possible.

"What are you planning on having buried with Liam?"

Tara touched the St. Patrick's medal she was currently wearing around her neck. It was Liam's, he should have it back. She unhooked it and placed it on the table. Next to her, Roxanne did the same thing. She had a large wolf ring, another thing of Liam's. He wore that to remember someone else.

"I brought this…" Killian pulled something out of the bag on the floor next to him. His football. "The winning ball from the state championship game." The ball had all the names of the team.

Tara smiled, she remembered that game clearly. She didn't remember that Killian even had it.

"So you have everything ready at the funeral home: the coffin, flowers, hearse, any prayers that will be said. There is a place for anyone to stand up and say a few words. We do need six pole bearers though…" The director looked up.

Tara looked at Neal and Killian, worry and concern in her eyes.

"We don't usually have immediate family do that." Father Brain said gently.

Thank God, Killian didn't think he had the strength to carry the coffin.

"I was hoping I could do a reading." Neal offered, gripping Tara's hand under the table. He knew she was not going to have a voice.

"Of course you can. There's another reading…"

"Kathleen wants to do it." Roxanne suddenly said, she suddenly had eyes on her. "She texted me last night."

Tara nodded. 'My twenty-one-year cousin is braver than me.'

"Tara, would you and Killian like to bring up the offertory?"

Killian nodded, answering for the both of them. Anything that didn't involve talking.

"We do still need pole bearers…"

Tara's phone rang. She looked at it. "It's the office, I need to take this." She stood up and walked to the corner of the room. "Hello." Noelle's voice was on the other end. "Adam's at the office? Sure put him on." Tara looked back at the table and said quietly. "Adam played football with Liam in high school and college." She turned back. "Hi Adam, thank you… we are dealing the best we can…yes Killian is here." Silence on her end. "Really, you would do that?" She sounded floored. "Six is enough. Seriously, thank you. You have no idea what this means to us. See you on Thursday." Tara hung up the phone and faced the table, tears in her eyes, but a small smile on her face. "Adam is getting some of the guys and they will be pole bearers."

"That's so nice of him." Roxanne remarked.

"Alright, we are all done here. I will see all of you in two days." The director closed his book. Neal thanked him, he was the only one with a voice. He had to be the strong one here. Father Brian walked out with them. He had already been on phone with them every day, just offering words of peace and comfort. They all decided to all go back to St. Patrick, just for a quiet moment. While they had Liam's funeral coming up, they were thinking about another family member's death. This one none of them saw coming.

It might be said that the Jones kids could be referred to as dense. They had been moments when they didn't realize what was going on around them. Then suddenly the clouds would part and they realize something was seriously wrong.

Their father was being pushing about them taking an active role in the company. Actually more than pushy. Ever since he hired that public relations officer, Regina Mills. She forever took his side against the siblings. Who did she think she was?

It dawned on Liam first, that their father was keeping something huge from them. Tara and Killian didn't want to thin that, their father had always been honest and upfront with them. But Liam insisted and they had to sneak into their father's office.

"Why do I have to be the lookout?" Killian almost whined.

"Because you're the little brother." Liam stated, not leaving any room for argument.

"Just flirt with Noelle, I bet she would love that." Tara said, following Liam into their father's office.

The sun shone into the room and siblings quickly began their search. Liam sat down at the computer. Tara grabbed the date book.

"What's Dad's password?" Liam asked.

Tara paused. "The obvious would be someone's name, birthday, anniversary…" Then she had it and tapped her finger on Liam's arm.

He understood instantly. The tattoo their father had on his arm. "The Voyage". It worked.

Tara flipped through the planned. Nothing out of the ordinary, just meetings and birthdays.

"No weird emails. If he's hiding anything, Dad is doing a good job…"

Suddenly the phone on the desk rang. Tara and Liam stared at each other. Now what? Do they answer it?

Tara bit the bullet and picked it up. "Good morning, Jewel of the World, Michael Jones' office… no he's not in at the moment, can I take a message?" Tara used to work front desk once upon a time. "He has a what next week? A MRI? Why? Sorry, I understand you can't discuss personal information over the phone. I will remind him and he will see you next week. What's the doctor's name? Alright, thank you. Enjoy your day." Tara hung up the phone and headed to the door. "Dad has an appointment with Dr. Carter next week. I need my computer to do research."

Liam followed Tara to her office, grabbing Killian along the way, much to the dismay of Noelle.

"So what did you find out?" Killian asked.

"Not completely sure, but Dad has an MRI next week."

The three go into Tara's office and gather around her computer screen. "Alright, Dr. Carter is a specialist in brain tumors, most of his work revolves around the rarest type called… Yeah I can't pronounce that." Liam wasn't even going to try.

Killian leaned forward. "Pleomorphic xanthroastrocytoma." Tara and Liam stared at him, clearly impressed. "What, I listened in science class."

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. They looked up to see their father standing there. "Guys, board meeting now. I need you there." He told them.

They followed him into the board room and took their seats. They didn't have the answers they needed and that was all that was on their minds. None of them were actually listening to anything their father said.

Until Liam noticed that Michael kept touching his forehead, as if pushing through a migraine. Being the oldest child, he stood up and took over the meeting. Michael sat down, grateful for the break.

The meeting ended and the when they were sure the board members were gone, Liam, Tara and Killian were able to ask about their father's upcoming doctor's appointment.

"So why do you have a MRI next week?" Tara asked point blank.

Michael froze, he was not ready for this conversation. But he was caught red handed. He couldn't lie to them, not anymore. So he took a deep breath. "I have nine months."

"Nine months for what?" Liam asked, he already knew the answer but wanted to make sure.

"The doctor found a brain tumor. There's no way around it." Michael said, finally meeting his children's eyes.

"Daddy, why didn't you tell us?" Tara choked by tears.

Killian went numb, he had already lost his mother when he was so young, he was far from ready to lose the only parent he ever knew.

"I need the three of you to be ready to run the company. Regina will help in any way she can…"

"Regina? Is this why you hired her? She knew that you were… dying before we did?" Liam found it difficult to say that word.

"Yes."

There was a little bit of anger in the room, but mostly sadness. Michael had accepted his fate but knew his kids would not let him go without a fight.

"There has to be something. Some kind of treatment. Some doctor… something…." Killian finally opened his mouth.

Michael had to smile. His youngest child, possibly his most reckless one but the one who had the most hope.

"No lad, there's nothing to do. The MRIs just watch the size of the tumor."

"We are coming with you to the doctor. I want to know what is going on." Liam stood up.

Liam, his first born, the natural leader and protector. Michael nodded. They did not want to be left in the dark anymore.

Tara had been uncommonly quiet, she refused to meet his eyes. Her hand was touching the tattoo on her arm. She was not ready to lose someone she was close to.

"Lass, come here." Michael went to sit next to her and pulled her into a tight hug. She didn't fight back.

The doctor's appointment was not helpful at all. Doctor Carter just told them to make their father comfortable as the time got closer. Michael did everything he could to get his children ready to take his place. Nine months passed too quickly and the Jones kids found themselves orphaned and now running a company. The funeral was simple and full of family. A week later found Liam, Tara and Killian alone in their father's office, well now it was Liam's office. It was just the three of them at the head of Jewel of the World now. Three parentless children and a few bottles of Captain Morgan, what could go wrong?

"Regina, do I look hungover?"

Regina quickly turned to stare at Tara. The press conference was going to start in ten minutes, Tara was supposed to be at the office an hour ago but instead she decided to grace them with her presence five minutes ago and that was her opening line?

Regina's brown eyes narrowed. "Are you?"

"Maybe." Was the response.

Regina shook her head in disappointment. This family brought so much stress. She did not get paid enough to deal with their problems. Why did she even take the job? "Mrs. Cassidy, you are very good at hiding things, you will be fine."

The press conference went well with Liam doing all the talking. Tara and Killian were still reeling from the loss and didn't trust themselves to say anything without breaking down.

Then the important question was finally asked. Who was the new CEO? Traditionally it was one person but the Jones kids were a team.

Liam looked at his siblings before answered. "We have decided, after a long conversation that myself, Tara, and Killian will do it jointly. No more questions. Thank you for attending."

The press jumped up with more questions, they were going to have a field day now. But Liam led Tara and Killian away to the back room.

Regina was there waiting for them and she was livid. "You just think you can make decisions without talking to anymore?"

"We discussed it with Captain Morgan. He has really good ideas. Maybe you should give him a chance Regina." Killian asked, there was finally some humor coming back into his voice.

Tara kept the details of the previous night to herself. There had a lot of drinking and suddenly legal documents on the desk. The next morning, the siblings discovered they had joint control of the company. Captain Morgan could have made them do worse things, like hand over control to the board.

So that's how Regina got involved. And unlike the show, Killian's dad is good, always looking out for his family. He is running a multi billion dollar company and raising three kids alone.

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