Will sat in the rental car staring out the window at the funeral home thinking this was one of the worst ideas he'd had in a long time. Why was he here again? Oh right, the guy he was hopelessly in love with held his hand and batted his eyelashes at him. The same guy who dumped him in an alleyway and was currently his ex-boyfriend. "I'm pathetic."

"What did you say?"

Will turned away from the window to glance over at Kevin sitting in the passenger seat. "Nothing. It's nothing."

Kevin turned in his seat so he was facing Will. "What's running through that head of yours? You barely said two words on the flight from Nashville to Abilene. And you haven't said anything since we got in the car from Abilene to Sweetwater." Kevin smiled at him. "Fortunately for you it was only forty-five minutes, and I didn't have to listen to Gunnar getting laid in the backseat. Otherwise, I would have had to kill you."

Will smiled slightly at the joke. "That was pretty bad wasn't it?"

"Very!" Kevin said with a chuckle. Silence descended around them for a few moments before Kevin said pleadingly, "Talk to me Will."

Will sighed. "Why are we here again? Can't we just go home?"

Kevin looked at him seriously and said softly, "You are home."

Will shook his head in denial. "This hasn't been my home in over ten years. My home is in Nashville with Gunnar and Avery and Cadence and Layla and…" Will stopped himself before saying "you". "Why is this so important to you anyway?" Will said accusatorily.

"I told you…"

"Yeah, yeah, that whole I'll regret it crap. What's the real reason? Have you been through this?" Will asked.

Kevin turned and stared out the windshield for a long moment collecting his thoughts before he turned back to Will. "It's just a matter of time." At Will's questioning look, Kevin continued. "I've known people who have been in your shoes. Some chose not to attend the funeral. Most of them regretted it." Kevin stared down into his lap. "I've watched some good friends get eaten alive by it. Never getting that closure, never saying the things that needed to be said." Kevin looked back up at Will his eyes shiny with tears. "Every time I hear about someone's parent dying I think about picking up the phone and calling him. Just pick up the phone and fix it before it's too late. But I don't. So it's just a matter of time before I'm sitting where you are, staring out the window at a funeral parlor wishing more than anything that I didn't have to be there." Will turned and stared out the window. "Mostly I hope that someone cares enough about me when the time comes to haul my ass out of the car." Will turned back to Kevin and saw the determination in his eyes. He also saw how much Kevin truly cared about him, so with one last look out the window, he reached down and undid his seat belt.


Will stopped abruptly as he entered the funeral parlor. He barely registered Kevin bumping into his side as he gazed down the aisle. A woman was standing next to a casket talking to an older couple. She had a tissue in her hand and wiped her nose periodically with it. She was an attractive woman in her mid-fifties with blonde hair and blue eyes. I look a lot like her Will thought as tears blurred his vision of the mother he hadn't seen or spoken to in over ten years. He blinked back his tears when he heard Kevin speak beside him. "Is that your Mom?" Will didn't trust his voice so he simply nodded. Kevin then voiced Will's inner thoughts when he said, "You look a lot like her." Will sniffed and nodded as Kevin continued, "I don't think you ever told me her name."

Will swallowed hard and cleared his throat before saying, "Betsy…Betsy Lexington."

Will felt Kevin's hand brush up and down his back, "You okay?"

Will sniffed again and nodded, "Yeah, I'm okay."

Will took a few moments to gather his courage before he started to walk down the aisle towards his mother. He had no idea what her reaction would be to his being there so he braced himself for the worst. She was still pre-occupied with the older couple so it wasn't until he was standing in front of her that she finally registered his presence. As soon as she saw him, her eyes flew open in surprise. She gasped loudly stumbling backwards, catching herself on the casket behind her as her hand fluttered to her throat. "Will?" she said in not much more than a whisper.

Will took a steadying breath before saying evenly, "Mom."

Will watched as his mother's face suddenly contorted as she burst into tears. "Oh Will!" Will was stunned when she launched herself at him wrapping her arms tightly around his neck as she sobbed. "Thank you Lord…thank you…my boy…my precious boy…Will…." It took Will several moments to register what was happening before finally wrapping his arms around his mother and hugging her back just as tightly. Tears streamed down his face as relief washed over him. Unlike his father, his mother hadn't stopped loving him. He could feel it in the arms wrapped around him like a healing balm spread across a deep wound.

Will had no idea how long they stood there before his mother pulled back and rested her palms against his cheeks looking up into his face lovingly. "Let me look at you. It's been so long…too long. Still so handsome." Will was too emotional to speak so he just smiled down at her as he took one of her hands into his own and kissed it gently. His mother must have caught something out of the corner of her eye because she turned slowly to her right. "Oh my, where are my manners?"

Will turned as well and saw Kevin standing beside them waiting patiently with his hands clasped behind his back. "Oh right…Mom…this is…" Will suddenly stopped as he realized that he had no idea how to introduce Kevin.

Fortunately, Kevin noticed Will's panicked look and stepped forward. He grasped Betsy's outstretched hand and said smoothly, "Hello Mrs. Lexington. I'm Kevin…Kevin Bicks. I'm a friend and co-worker of your son's." Will breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Kevin place his other hand on top of Betsy's as he said with heartfelt compassion and sympathy. "I am so sorry for your loss."

"Thank you." Betsy said demurely.

Will noticed that more people were starting to enter the funeral parlor so he turned to his mother and said, "Mom, there are more guests starting to arrive now. Are you okay? Do you want me to leave? We can talk more later."

Betsy grabbed Will's arm frantically as she pleaded, "No, please don't leave. I want you here with me."

"Okay," Will said soothingly. "If you're sure?"

Betsy nodded as she turned to the new guests that had arrived and welcomed them. As the evening progressed, Will stood by his mother's side and greeted people he hadn't seen in years. His mother openly acknowledged his presence to all that came by saying over and over how grateful she was that her boy had finally come home. It raised more than a few questions in Will's mind but it wasn't the time or place to discuss it. Occasionally, he would catch Kevin's eye from across the room. Kevin would grace Will with an encouraging smile as he milled around the room chatting with the other guests.

After the last guest left, the funeral director came by to speak with his mother. Will took the opportunity to walk across the room and check in with Kevin. Kevin smiled at him as he reached out and gripped Will's arm reassuringly. "How are you holding up?"

Will glanced back at his mother. "Honestly, I don't have any idea at this point."

"Why? What's up?" Kevin asked.

"I just…I didn't expect…" Will started but didn't know exactly what he was trying to say.

Kevin nodded knowingly. "Your Mom surprised you. You weren't expecting the reaction you got."

Will let out a breath, "No, not even close." Will rubbed his forehead as he spoke. "I'm so confused right now. I have so many questions but this isn't the place or…" Will stopped when he saw Kevin's eyes shift past him. He turned to see his Mom approaching them.

Betsy smiled at Will as she wrapped her arms around his upper arm squeezing tightly. "I hope you're not planning on spending the night in a hotel. I won't hear of it. You'll be sleeping in your own room tonight."

Will looked at his mother in shock. "Oh…uhm…I don't…" Will stammered as he glanced at Kevin helplessly.

Kevin tried to put Will's mind at ease. "It's okay Will. You should spend time with your Mom."

Betsy turned to Kevin and said, "You'll stay there too of course."

Kevin glanced at Will uneasily as he said, "I don't think that would be…"

"Nonsense." Betsy cut in. "What kind of hostess would I be if I let Will's friend sleep in a hotel when we have plenty of room. You can have the spare bedroom." When Kevin opened his mouth to protest, Betsy quickly continued, "Not another word. You'll be doing me a favor. I don't want to be in the house alone. It will make me feel better to have two strapping young men there to protect me." Betsy smiled as she looked up at Will again squeezing his arm.

Kevin shared a look with Will before replying, "I guess I can't refuse then."