Miranda unfolded the worn piece of paper in her hand for what felt like the millionth time. She scanned the words making sure everything sounded right. She sat quietly in the back seat of her Aunt Kendall and Uncle's Zach's car.

This was the first time that she was going to a funeral. At just 9 years old she was already beginning to hate them. It didn't make sense that AJ was gone. She didn't understand how one minute they could be dressed up as Wizard of Oz characters and the next she was being forced to say goodbye to…well to her brother.

Kendall looked back at the small child in her back seat. She was amazed at how grown up Miranda looked sitting in the back seat. Her brown hair was pulled back into a soft ponytail. She wore a simple black dress with a soft blue cardigan. Right now looking back at her niece nervously thumb that piece of paper Kendall marveled at how much like Bianca Miranda was turning out to be. Her niece was the spitting image of her mother right down to the button nose and soft brown eyes. She acted just like her mother to. A sweet innocence was about this child and she was one of the most empathic children you could meet. Both qualities she inherited from Bianca.

"MImo are you ok back there?" Kendall asked the brunette who looked up at her.

"Yeah I'm ok Aunt Kendall. How come I had to ride with you and Uncle Zach?" the child wondered.

"What you don't want to ride with your good ol' Uncle Zach?" Zach joked from the driver's seat doing his best to act like he was offended.

"Oh no Uncle Zach of course not!" When she saw Zach's devilish smile in the rear view mirror the little girl giggled at her Uncle playing mean tricks on her. "I was just wondering why I couldn't ride with Mommy and Marissa?"

Zach took his eyes of the road for a second letting his eyes meet with his wife's. They knew the little girl knew about AJ's death and understood about the funeral. Would she understand the pain that Marissa was going though and how difficult it was for Marissa to be around children right now while she mourned her own child?

Kendall finally turned her body around so that she was facing Miranda, "Well honey you know Marissa is really sad right now. She wanted to spend some time alone with just AJ. So your Mommy took Marissa to the funeral before everybody else."

"Does she not want anyone to see her cry?" she asked with the innocence only a child could possess.

"Maybe so…" Kendall's voice faded. "Miranda you know when we're saying good bye to AJ if you feel sad it's ok to cry right? Even in front of everybody."

"I know Aunt Kendall. When Mommy and Marissa told me about AJ I was really mad and I said mean things to Mommy and Gabby." The little girls head hung lower in shame. Even though her Mommy had told her she wasn't upset about Miranda saying she hated her the little girl never regretted anything more. "Marissa came and talked to me and told me it was ok to be mad or sad and it was ok to yell and cry but she said we couldn't let our anger or our sadness hurt the people we love. You know what else Aunt Kendall?"

"What's that sweetie?"

"Marissa says it's even ok if when we remember AJ and all the fun times we had we can laugh. I think AJ would like that us being happy and laughing." With that Miranda folded the paper back up and put it in the pocket of her sweater.

Kendall and Zach turned to one another again amazed by how mature their niece was. Zach took one hand off the steering wheel and placed it in Kendall's waiting hand. She squeezed it tight telling him without words how grateful she was for him and their little family.

Bianca stood in the parlor of the funeral home. The funeral director had just left after going over what would take place during the service. Bianca wanted desperately to be in the other room with the woman she loved. But as she peeked in on the woman she knew Marissa needed this time alone.

Marissa instantly recognized the song being played overhead. Bianca had shown her a list of songs that the Funeral Director suggested using for a service such as this. Marissa remembered hearing this particular song and knew it was perfect for her little boy.

She knelt in front of the casket and looked down at the still boy lying before her. She choked back tears as she saw him there. He was wearing the dark blue suit that mirrored one of JR's favorite suits. AJ was always proud to wear this suit. No matter what his father did AJ always loved him and hoped to be the good parts of his father that he saw.

As Marissa ran her hand through the boys thick blond hair the soft voice began singing in the background.

I came by today to see you, Oh I had to let you know If I knew the last time that I held you was the last time, I'd have held you and never let go Oh it's kept me awake night wonderin' Lie in the dark, just asking "why?" I've always been told you won't be called home until it's your time

Marissa felt the tears move slowly down her face as she heard the words. Every word matched how she was feeling. She thought back to the last time she saw the precious boy before her. She held him close as he slept safely in her arms. He waved at her bravely as the doctors took him into surgery. She had known the risks but never once believed he wouldn't make it back to her.

Every night she lay next to Bianca hearing the soft breathing of the woman next to her but all she could think about, hope for, pray for was for him to run into the room telling her about the bad dream he had. She imagined him crawling up in bed with her cuddling with her. She imagined his soft whisper telling her "I love you Mommy"

I guess Heaven was needing a hero Somebody just like you Brave enough to stand up for what you believe and follow it through When I try to make it make sense in my mind The only conclusion I come to Is that Heaven was needing a hero like you

Hero…hero…hero that word stuck her mind. Who would have thought that a young boy could be your hero but that's what AJ was. At a tender age he should strength and courage beyond his years. He had watched as his mother gave up her life for him. He saw the pain and anguish his father felt when they buried his mother. Sadly he had seen the worst of his father the drunken rages, the yelling and shouting, the hugs that were so tight it hurt. But through it all he was growing into a young man that would do anything for those he loved. Marissa always imagined the great things this little boy would have done. He had been destined for greatness but now, now he was an angel up in heaven.

I remember the last time I saw you Oh you held your head up proud I laughed inside when I saw how you were, standing out in the crowd You're such a part of who I am Now that part will just be void No matter how much I need you now Heaven needed you more

"How can you be gone AJ?" she sobbed burying her head on the little boys chest. "I didn't carry you. You didn't grow next to me our hearts beating as one. I wasn't the one to give birth to you or feed you or come soothe you when you cried at night. But you were my son my little boy. How could you leave me AJ? How?"

Marissa turned her head up to the heaven's "WHY God why?" She prayed silently. "What did I do wrong? Why wasn't I enough for him? I loved him more than I could ever have imagined loving someone but you still took him from me"

As the final chorus echoed around her Marissa felt a body wrap themselves around her. Holding her while she sobbed.

'Cause Heaven was needing a hero Somebody just like you Brave enough to stand up for what you believe and follow it though When I try to make it make sense in my mind The only conclusion I come to is that Heaven was needing a Hero like you. Yes heaven was needing a hero…that's you

"Baby I don't know why God chose to take AJ from us but it wasn't because you didn't love him enough or care for him enough. AJ loved you with everything he had and you him. God just needed another hero up there." Bianca held Marissa tightly letting the woman let out the hurt and anger alone without an audience watching.