(A/N on with the story thanks to those who have been reviewing my story.)

"Riley, honey I'm going to go to the store and get a turkey for Thanksgiving." Mom said, I looked up from my homework. I was studying to become a pediatrician at the local community college. " You want to come sweetheart?" I wanted to but I couldn't.

"Sorry ma, I have to finish this paper." I answered.

"Oh it's alright." she said with a smile, "Do you need anything?" I thought about it for a moment.

"Chocolate ice cream." I didn't really need it but I wanted it.

"Of course." she smiled, grabbed her purse and left. I was the only one to stay at home. Bobby never came back to visit like he promised. Jerry and Camille lived a few streets away with my two beautiful nieces. Angel was still in service but he was coming home Thanksgiving evening officially done.

As for Jack, his band is famous in New York. I realized when he left that I felt something towards Jack that was beyond brother and sister. I had yet to tell him, I was afraid, I would hate to lose my best friend.

'I wonder what's taking mom so long?' I thought, it was going on eleven thirty. I headed up to my room and put on my Full Metal Panic! shirt and black flannel pants. I was getting ready to get in bed when the phone started to ring.

"Hello."

"Riley." I was unnerved by the sound of which Jerry's voice was carried across the phone.

"What's up Jer? What's wrong?" I asked scared something had happened to one of the girls or something. I gripped my monkey pendant, a nervous habit I had.

"Riley, mom's dead, she was shot in a robbery a few hours ago." I didn't, no I couldn't believe it. How could something like this have happened? "Riley are you alright? I'll be over in a minute you can stay with us for awhile." I couldn't answer tears had started to slide down my face. I heard the line go dead on his end and hung up the phone.

True to his word Jerry was at home helping me to his car. I left the house thinking it was all just a dream that when I got home mom would be there with open arms. The next day Jerry took care of all the funeral plans and called our brothers. I stayed in Jerry's guest room encasing myself in my school work. Closing myself up.

Days later I sat listening to the some preacher talking about mom, I was sitting between Bobby and Jack. I held Jack's hand through the entire funeral as he cried, I had cried so much that I couldn't even cry at the moment. I watched as first Jerry then Jack said some speeches about mom. Bobby had to make Jack sit down he was so broken up, as soon as he was in my reach I wrapped my arms around him as my eyes stung with tears that were barely there to begin with fell from my eyes.

I rode back to Jerry's house in silence, when we reached the house I took my niece's to the backyard. Jack was in the front smoking which I strongly disapproved of, I hated that he was shortening his life with what mom called death sticks. I watched Daniela and Amelia play with the small dog when Bobby and Jack came from the house.

"Hey there Daniela." Jack said while taking her hand and smiling. Bobby was petting the dog.

"And you must be Amelia. What a pretty dress Amelia." Bobby said joking around.

"No I'm Amelia." she said pointing to herself both she and her sister were laughing.

"I know." Bobby said smiling. "You might not remember us but I'm your Uncle Bobby and this is Cracker Jack." I was shaking my head and trying to hold back a fit of laughter. Why in the world did he have to teach them that.

"Man don't teach them that." Jack sighed.

"He's not a Cracker Jack he's and an Apple Jack." I said kneeling down to their level. I knew it was their favorite cereal.

"Why am I a cereal?" Jack asked. Daniela and Amelia answered for me though.

"We love Apple Jacks." they said happily then they pointed over to the gate as officer Green and a new officer walked through. "You're a policeman."

"That's right don't any of ya'll move, your all under arrest." he said playing with the girls. They ran away giggling. "Hey where ya'll going?"

"What about me Green you gonna arrest me too?" Bobby asked I just shook my head, classic Bobby acting out for ya.

"Depends, you keeping straight?"

It looked as if Bobby was actually thinking about it, "Straight-ish."

"Hey Jack how you holding up?" Green said shaking hands with Jack.

"Green."

"How about you Riley." I just smiled and grabbed Jack's hand and walked inside there was something about his new partner that I just didn't like. I had no problem with Green I mean we grew up with him, he played hockey with Bobby for awhile. But with Fowler I don't know I felt unsafe.

Outside we left Bobby to talk with Green I just didn't want to deal with what he was going to say. "So Jack how's the band coming along?" I asked. I knew the answer I had seen one of his concerts on TV. Mom and I were shocked at the kind of music he sang. I thought it was awesome, while mom thought it was demonic.

"Pretty good. We've had a few concerts in New York. Depending on what happens while I'm here I might not go back." I was shocked.

"WHAT!"

"My family is here, you're here. I don't want to leave you hanging alone after something like this." he answered. I was still shocked I could have sworn he said I was one of the reasons. I couldn't help but wonder if maybe he felt the same as I did.

Bobby came in a few minutes later followed by Green and Fowler. I tried to ignore him but I swear he was staring daggers at me and Jack, but why? Jack caught on as I scowled back at him wanting him to just leave.

"Hey its getting late so we're gonna head home." Jack told Bobby and went to leave with me following. Bobby realized something was wrong and offered us a ride while Jerry told Camille he was going go back to ma's house.

"So shit Bobby what have you been up to?" Jack asked as we pulled up in front of mom's house. It was going to be hard staying here without mom. I knew I was going to cry.

"I'm a fucking college professor Jack, what hell you think I've been doing? What about you still sucking a little cock left and right?" that was overboard.

"Bobby will you give it a rest. Jack is not gay." I sighed as I walked into the screened in porch.

"Ya'll aint right leaving your brotha our here in the cold." I jumped and latched on to Jack's arm. Basically because he was standing beside me. He looked down at me and laughed when Jeremiah turned on the light to reveal Angel sitting the corner.

"Yo you Ass hole." Bobby yelled walking over and giving him a hug.

"I missed my plane."

"Yeah you missed ma's funeral too ya jarhead." Bobby finished laughing we all step inside and froze nothing was going to be the same again.

"I'm hungry ya'll want something to eat?"

"Nah I'm just gonna go to bed. Jack, Riley you take your old room. Angel yours. I'll be in ma's room." Bobby answered giving out room assignments. We all went our separate ways trying to sort through some things.