Disclaimer: If I owned the sons of Ipswich, I wouldn't be writing. J

R&R my story. Flames Welcome. Tell me what I do wrong and/or what you want to see in the story and I will try to incorporate your thoughts into the text.

Thanks to MagykGurl for the reviews.

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The yellow cab dropped me off at the front doors just as Tyler and Alona were rushing up. My eyes scanned the parking lot and rested on my car. Alona reached my side babbling about text messages. I saw the car.

Noticing the silhouette of a body in the front seat, I deserted my sister and the now yelling cab driver. Tyler stuffed a wad of cash in the man's hand to placate him. Alona's eyes followed me as I ran my eyes so full of tears, I could barely see.

Whispering prayers, I yanked open the drivers side door. The screaming started the second I saw her lifeless eyes staring back at me. It didn't even register that it was me until Caleb and Tyler pulled me up from the ground and away from the car. I didn't know where they had come from, but I turned and buried my face in Tyler's shoulder. Tears streamed down my face freely.

Minutes later, I was vaguely aware of a mass of doctors and police surrounding my car and Alona a few feet away with Tyler talking to one of the officers. Sarah and Caleb watched me carefully as I sat frozen on the curb, watching the people as they went about extracting my mother's body from the car carefully. I bit my lip to try to stop from crying.

It was the second time that I had seen or felt him approach. I barely registered as he sat down next to me. "Hey." My voice was hoarse, cracked, and weak.

Caleb gently pushed a coffee cup into my hands. I couldn't tear my eyes away. "We got you some coffee."

I looked down to my hands and stared at the cup. After a moment, I nodded. "Thanks." I said with unbelievable sincerity. Alona watched the proceedings from a distance. Tyler had disappeared. Likely to see Reid. "Oh my god." I muttered pulling myself up to stand. "Reid."

"He's awake." Caleb was still by my side, I realized. I knew he had concluded that my mother's sudden 'heart attack' had had something to do with that, but he had reserved his comments.

It was a blur as I left towards to building. Reid's awake. I thought to myself. A tear slipped down my cheek.

It didn't even register that with my mother gone, I was officially the matriarch of the family. I didn't realize the new strength pulsing inside me. I didn't notice any of it. All I knew, was I needed to see Reid.

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Over a week later…

The hill now supported two headstones. It was strange. I had gotten so used to only one. My grandmother was buried on an old section up at her place, now my place. I hadn't been able to bring myself to the funerals. Instead, I had laid in bed with Reid and just cried.

Reid knew what had happened with my mother. Tyler and Caleb suspected. Pogue's self esteem had been reaffirmed when he thought Reid was thanking him, so no one said anything to him.

No tears came anymore. Not because I was over it necessarily, but probably because there weren't anymore. I stared down at the graves beneath me. Soon my eyes closed and I could see their faces. I remember when I had seen them laughing and smiling as a young girl. I remembered thinking that they must have been so in love.

I want you to have that chance to live. I want you to be able to protect yourself. I want you to love that boy as much as I loved your daddy, and I did.

A slight smile graced my lips as my eyes opened. "I love you Mom." I turned around and walked back to the waiting car where Alona sat with Colin in the backseat. I'll live…for you.

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A/N: Super short ending! Tell me if you want a sequel. Who knows, I might be up for it….