Chapter Twelve

We held each other for what seemed like hours, and when I looked at the time it was nearing nine o'clock. "Do you want to leave," I said.
"No," said Dylan. "Can we stay a little longer,"
"We can stay as long as you like," I said. They nodded and we sat like that for a little while longer, they'd put sunglasses and hats on so that as the general public came in they would hopefully not recognise them, I hoped that even if people did realise who they were that they would leave them alone. As eleven approached, it became much more crowded and so we left, we would visit the church tomorrow when the memorial service took place.

We spent the day walking around the city, in a rather subdued way, we stopped by a restaurant on the way back to the hotel, the food was wonderful and I did manage to get a few smiles out of them. They went to bed a little earlier than usual I left them alone and sat in the living area listening to my I-pod quietly reflecting on the day myself. My phone rang and I spoke to Noah for a while, he was sympathetic and told me he was going to the memorial in Lima where screens would show the services in New York. After saying goodbye and goodnight I decided to make my way to bed myself. I smiled at the sight, the three of them were asleep on the double bed I went to sleep with a small smile on my face.

The next morning we got ready for the memorial service, and walked the short distance to the site. The President, the First Lady and The former President and First Lady arrived and soon there was the first silence at 8:46 am, when the North Tower was hit. It was emotional already and we hadn't even gotten to when they would read out their father's name, something they hadn't done before, and I hoped people would understand why. The second silence at 9:03 was when they got upset. I simply held onto their hands, my own tears falling. I watched as they read out their father's name, and hugged them when they came back to me. The President and his wife were meeting the victim's families. "I had no idea you boys were affected by this tragedy," he said, as he actually hugged each of us, I felt honoured to meet him.

"We were so young when it happened," said Dylan. "We've not been to the site before this weekend let alone for this day,"
"I see," he said. "My sincere condolences to you,"
"Thank you sir," I answered for them and he continued on his meeting with other families and loved ones.
"I am so sorry boys," said Michelle Obama. "And who is this with you,"
"She's our best friend," said Dylan. "We wouldn't have been able to come without her,"
"She's the closest thing we have to a sister," said Jack.
"Again I express my condolences," she said and she followed in her husband's footsteps. Once the official memorial service was over we made our way into the church to light a candle and to reflect.

Our last night in New York and we looked out of the window at the blue beams that stood tall as the towers once did. We spent the time talking about their dad, and their mom. Dylan and Jack told us several stories from their childhood, since I had only known them since I was five, and Cam could only remember a little. It was a much happier moment, and I could see how much they were grateful I'd persuaded them to come here, and the next morning they told me so. "Rach," said Dylan, "I can't thank you enough,"
"You don't have to thank me," I said.
"Yes we do," said Jack. "You don't know how much this has helped us,"
"Yeah Rach," said Cam. "You're the best sister in the world you know that, we love you so much," I nodded overcome with emotion and they hugged me, I knew I loved them, but to know that they loved me was the best feeling ever.