Chapter 7: Aurora Pricked Her Finger

Rex stood in front of his mirror frustrated with himself. After the third failed attempt to tie his own tie he let out a frustrating growl. Seconds later he heard a woman giggling behind him. "You think that's funny Morasco?" he said turning to face her. He looked her up and down. "God, she's beautiful," he thought to himself.

"Yes I do," she said, "I can't believe that ten years later and Rex Balsom still doesn't know how to tie his own time." She walked up towards him and started tying it for him.

"Maybe I just enjoy looking down at a beautiful woman as she ties it for me," he said with a flirtatious wink.

"Oh and how many women tie your tie for you?" she said as she tightened too tightly.

"Just you," he choked out, "I'd only want you doing it."

"Good answer," she said loosening the tie a bit, "How's that?"

"You're beautiful," he said looking down on her elegant but simple black dress.

"I'm talking about your tie," she said, smacking him on the chest.

"The tie is boring to talk about," he said, "but you're not." He gave her a sly smile before giving her a chaste kiss on the mouth.

"Gross," Shane complained as he walked out of the bathroom to see that sight, "Dad you told me you weren't going to be doing that anymore!"

"I do believe my son," Rex said, "That I said that if I wasn't under the spell of this vixen…"

"Hey!" Gigi objected.

"I'd gladly stop kissing her," Rex continued, "but at last, I have been hexed for life. I must kiss her for the rest of my life." He leaned in to kiss her again and watched as she pulled away.

"Dream on there buddy," she said pointing her finger at him, "See if I ever kiss her again for that vixen comment you made."

"Hallelujah!" Shane yelled with his hands in the air.

"We'll just see about that," Rex said as he wrapped his arms around Gigi and started kissing her neck as he slowly made his way to her lips.

"My parents are disgusting," Shane mumbled as he walked out of the room.

"Did you hear that?" Gigi said, "Our son thinks were disgusting."

"I heard," he said between his kisses, "but disgusting never felt so good." He started backing her towards the stairs to the bedroom.

"I don't think so buddy," Gigi said pushing him away, "we have to go now!"

"But…"

"Now!" she said more forcefully.

"Rex."

Rex tried to ignore the voice behind him as he continued to focus on Gigi.

"Rex," Bo said as he put his hand on Rex's shoulder, "we need to get going. Are you ready?"

Rex turned and saw Bo, Roxie, and Charlie, all three of them looking grief stricken. Rex turned back to Gigi to tell her a joke about the somber three behind him to find her missing. He could see his reflection in the mirror and wonder where she ran off too, "Gigi?" he yelled.

"Rex…" Bo tried to speak.

"Gigi," Rex said, "Where did you go?"

"I have to get Shane ready," she yelled from the closet, "he thinks I'm going to let him wear jeans and a t-shirt to church today. I'll meet you there." She paused for a second, "I love you Balsom!" she said in a cheerful voice.

"I love you too Morasco," Rex said, "I'll see you at church." He turned back to his three companions and they looked like they wanted to say something to him but couldn't find the words.

"Why do you guys look like someone died?" Rex asked, "Come on we're going to be late."

"Balsom…"

"Bo," Rex said, "We're going to be late and weren't you the one pressuring me to leave just a moment ago?" Rex walked past them and missed the worried look they gave each other.

"Looks like today will be harder than we all thought it was going to be," Charlie said as he put a comforting arm around Roxie.

"My poor boy," she said through her tears.

The drive to the church was quiet, Rex was on his phone talking to Gigi to see how much longer she would be as the three older adult exchanged looks. This was above all of them and they were not sure what to do. When the car stopped Rex saw someone and jumped out of the car. He ran up to her and hugged her, "How did you beat me here?" he asked.

"Bo drives like an old man," Shane said.

"Shane Balsom," Rex scolded, "Don't you dare say that about the man who treats you like his own grandson!" he hesitated for a moment before saying, "No matter how true it might be."

"Balsom!" Gigi scolded him and slapped his shoulder.

"I'm sorry Dad," Shane said.

"Forgiven kid," Rex said as he wrapped his arms around his son. When their hug ended he put one hand on the small of Gigi's back and the other arm around his son and the small family walked into church.

Bo, Roxie, and Charlie walked behind Rex; they were getting worried by the second. Neither one of them knew what to do in the situation. Both Roxie and Charlie looked at Bo to go comfort Rex.

"What do I do?" Bo asked helplessly.

"I wish I knew," Charlie said.

"Don't we all," Roxie said as she watched Bo speed up to catch Rex before he made it to the sanctuary of the church.

Rex escorted his new family into the church. He opened the door to the sanctuary for Gigi and Shane and followed in after them. He looked around for them as they disappeared. He saw them up by the altar as he took tentative steps towards them. He tried to ignore the grief stricken faces around him, pitying him with ever step he took. When he reached the altar he open and closed his eyes three times, not believing the site before him. When it did not change he rubbed his eyes, with a false sense of hope that he was merely sleeping. When he opened his eyes for the fourth time, the picture remained the same. Gigi and Shane Morasco lying dead in their coffins. He turned around and saw the pitied faces of his friends and family. He was at their funeral, but it didn't make any sense. He just walked into the church with them. He turned back to the coffins and suddenly a rush of memories engulfed him of the last seventy-two hours. Brody stabbing Gigi in the heart, she didn't survive the attack from Brody and she died before she could even be brought to surgery. He never had the chance to tell her how much he loved her. Shane dying on the operating table because of the extent of damage was too much for his small and fragile body. Shane dying before Rex could even tell him that he belonged to him, not Brody. They both died before they would know his love for them, before they would know what it would feel like to be cherished by someone the way he still cherishes them. The most horrifying moment of all was the fact that Brody Lovett still lived and breathed a free man. The police never caught him that day in the hospital.

Rex couldn't believe the injustice. Brody deserved death, not his precious family. Rex vowed that he would bring Brody Lovett to justice. His life mission was to hunt down that bastard and kill him with his own two hands. Brody Lovett's days on this earth were numbered. Rex's body was becoming too much of a burden to hold up as he fell to his knees in tears.

Bo hurried to catch up the Rex and stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Rex on his knees crying out at the altar. He ran up to him and wrapped his arms around the broken man and held him. Bo didn't know what to do or how to comfort Rex in his loss. Charlie approached him and helped Bo pick up Rex and sit him down in the pew. The funeral was about to begin.

The priest who had witnessed Rex's breakdown wiped tears from his own eyes as he went to the pulpit. "Dearly beloved," he began, "We are here today to celebrate and mourn the lives of Gigi and Shane Morasco." The priest knew how hard this service would be when he woke up this morning, but now as he was going through it he knew he underestimated how hard this would be…this was beyond unbearable.