Carrying on the Torch

Disclaimer: I don't own Good Luck Charlie

A/N: Finally! The site wasn't letting me upload for a while. Well here you go, this chapter is definitely worth the wait.

Chapter 14 (Acceptance)

Wednesday, Charlotte made her way to the taekwondo facility, same time as always. Skyler wasn't driving her today because Teddy hadn't been feeling well. The babysitter called her up during work, saying the baby was looking pale, so Skyler took the rest of the day off and a substitute nurse showed up. They were currently visiting the doctor to see if it was anything serious. Skyler said it looked like a cold. Charlotte hoped it wasn't anything bad.

She hopped off her bike and rubbed her neck, she didn't have the best balance in the world when it came to riding on those things. The last time she rode a bicycle was when she was ten. If PJ had been home, she would have asked him to take her, but he was at the hospital with Skyler and Teddy. When she spoke to them on the phone, they told her not to get too bruised up today, Skyler often worried about her when that happened. Could she help it if she got too into her sparring matches?

Yesterday, sparring with Sierra had been fantastic. Granted, she ended up losing it, but she kept getting back up whenever she was knocked down. Forcing herself to keep pushing, as Sierra and Miss Keener often advised her to do. She did better than the yellow belt guy had fared, and obviously better than Brittany did against her, but she still didn't last a long time. Endurance was everything, though, and she wanted to build on that. She'd endured Sierra for about ten minutes longer than Brittany had, but she suspected Sierra may have gone easy on her, despite telling her thaht she never went easy on people. Of course, the one time Sierra tried to 'help her up' Charlotte remembered the trick that came with that, and got herself up, countering by sweeping Sierra's legs and knocking her to the ground.

She had a strange feeling that something was amiss today. As she looked to the facility, she noticed there was only one car on the lot. It was a brown Honda SUV, which belonged to Sierra. She envied the girl, being able to drive, but she had some time before she could drive, and Sierra would have been driving for at least four years. Sierra was twenty years old, a college student. She pressed her lips together and walked to the door, opening it slowly. She saw Sierra cleaning up some of the equipment. "Sierra? Where is everyone?" Sierra looked over and stood straight, exhaling gently.

"Well, class isn't being held today. I'm here to let the students know that come up, and to make sure the facility is still clean and prepared for class tomorrow." Her heart dropped and she rubbed the back of her neck. Why was class out? It made absolutely no sense, at least to her. "Sensei usually has classes on Wednesdays, so don't worry, you won't be missing a day of class any other week. I'm actually thinking about maybe hosting class today for anyone that wants to stick around, you're one of the first people to show up." Sierra smiled and moved over to her, studying Charlotte for a second. "What's wrong?"

"Why did she close class down today?"

"She's visiting an old friend…" She raised an eyebrow and tried to figure out what that could possibly mean. Sierra's answer sounded vague to her, there had to be more to it. "I don't know much, but every Wednesday, she spends most of the day down at the Crown Hill Cemetery. Usually finishes up before class and manages to get here, but today's different. Not too sure why." She felt her heart tighten. She opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. She felt terrible for her instructor, her friend must have been pretty close for her to go every Wednesday. Maybe something reminded her a bit more of this friend, and so, she had to close down class. It was still early, maybe she could talk to Miss Keener. She knew Taekwondo was helping her with stress, so maybe it would help Jo if she just focused on the martial arts.

"Crown Hill, you said?" Sierra nodded and Charlotte bolted out of the door. She heard Sierra call for her, but she was in too much of a rush to wait. She hopped on her bike and began pedaling, she knew exactly where the cemetery was. How did she know? She began to pale as it began to dawn on her. Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary & Cemetery, that was where her family was buried. Skyler took her once, and she went on her own a couple times, in all these years, PJ had never gone back there. "Oh my god…"

The Duncans had a beautiful plot, too. There was a statue of an angel woman, her hands together in prayer, gazing down at a baby in a basket. In front of the angel was a marble bench, donated in memory of Bob and Amy. They had two conjoined plaques on the ground that were marble, with black stone and gold letters, designating their names, birthdays, and death. There was an epitaph on each. If she were laying down, looking up at the sky, with her head resting just beneath the grave marker, then Amy's grave would be to her left, and Bob's would be to her right. Teddy's grave was next to Amy's, and Gabe's was next to Bob's. The angel and the graves were also facing the cemetery's wide, beautiful lake, which looked gorgeous in sundown and sunrise.

When Skyler took her, she actually noted that since PJ hadn't been coming, simply because it was still so difficult for him, she was surprised that the graves had been kept so neat and tidy throughout the years. She expected some growth of weeds, or even blemishes on the markers. Hell, dirt framing the letters wouldn't have surprised her, but even then, there was none. The graves would always have some sort of gift resting on each memorial, though Gabe's always had a coronation. One resembling the coronation that had been given out at the elegance balls still held by Mr. and Mrs. Krump.

When she made it to the cemetery, she rode around looking for Miss Keener, but she couldn't seem to find her. The cemetery was big, so she decided to start out from her family's plot, so she wouldn't get lost. As she headed into that direction, she saw someone sitting at her family's plot. It was suspicious, but with the sun glaring down on her, it was hard to see who it was. As she got closer, she was able to tell. She stopped her bike and stared in shock, Miss Keener was facing Gabe's grave, holding a camera, and watching it with tears in her eyes.

She got off her bike and slowly walked towards the family plot. She was coming from the side, behind Jo. She stepped on a twig and saw her instructor flinch, but Jo didn't look up from the camera. When she got closer, she saw the video that Jo was watching, something commonly taken at the elegance balls, videos of their students dancing together or even of the dinners they had. The one she was watching was of Gabe dancing with a young brunette, all dressed up and looking stunningly beautiful. Then it hit her, where she'd heard of Jo Keener before. In the very last video diary, Gabe mentioned going on a date with Jo, and how he'd rather do that than to go to Hawaii.

She couldn't believe it, Miss Keener knew Gabe! Now she understood just why the woman seemed out of it the first day of class, she hadn't expected to see Gabe's sister come walking through the doors. "Your brother was a great person, Charlotte…" She froze and turned her eyes to the ground.

"You knew it was me?"

"Lucky guess." Jo turned off the camera and wiped her eyes. "I come out here every Wednesday…clean up the graves and just think…" Wednesday, June 29th, 2011. That was the day of the crash. She was wondering now, how much like PJ Jo might be, waiting for Gabe to come back. Jo hunched over and started to sob, chilling Charlotte to the bone. She'd never imagined such a strong woman in such a state of mind. She placed a tender hand on her back, and tears started to burn her own cheeks.

"I know it hurts…my brother spent all this time just praying it was a dream." Jo's voice cracked, her body started to quake, and the mountain of a woman had fallen.

"All this time…seeing you, it just….it made me realize…" Jo tried to sit up and wipe her eyes, but she couldn't do a thing. Charlotte sat next to her and put an arm around her shoulders. "The fantasy's over, isn't it. He isn't coming back. No matter how hard I fight, no matter how often I come here, he's…really gone..."

"You loved him? Gabe?" The woman's face softened as she eyed Gabe's grave. Her face was red, swollen, it was as though she were experiencing pain for the very first time in twelve years. Maybe if she talked to her, maybe showed her that she could work through this pain, it wouldn't be so unbearable.

"Yeah, he was amazing, in every way. I spent all these years, just pretending and wishing that crash was a dream…"

"And then I walked in. Fourteen years old…I'm sorry if I caused you any pain."

"You didn't." Jo wiped her eyes and let out a shaky breath. Charlotte's heart was racing a mile a minute, she couldn't imagine the pain that Jo was going through, but she did imagine her own pain. She never had the 'luxury' that PJ and Jo had, for lack of better word, pretending that the whole thing never happened. But at the same time, she knew it had to be depressing, and truly painful, waiting for them to come back, and knowing that they never would. For her to be that much of a wake up call to Jo, she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or not. "You know, we had a date planned when the family threw the vacation on Gabe. I said I'd wait for him to come back. He never did…"

"Is that when you started focusing on martial arts?"

"It gave me something to do…something to take my mind off of all this pain…"

"PJ's the same way, for the last twelve years. I never even knew about my family, what they were like or anything, just because he refused to talk about them. He never accepted or coped with their deaths…Skyler got him to talk about it, but I think he's still coping. And it's hard, I get that, but it's better to accept and try to cope, than to try and resist all that pain. It hurts more when you resist it, than it does, when you accept it."

"I know…"

"So why did you close class today? You've been here all day?"

"Yes." She knew Jo needed the class right now, it was the best thing that she could do. She needed to center all that pain and put it to use, she couldn't just let it stew inside her. If she closed down the doors for one day, what was to say she wouldn't let the pain make her do it again, until she just closed the doors permanently? "It's just not as easy as it seems…How can I possibly…"

"Miss Keener…" Charlotte stood up and took Jo's hands in her, pulling the woman to her. Jo raised an eyebrow and let her lead her to a small space in between the family plot and the lake. "Focus. Focus on me…" Jo sniffed and mimicked Charlotte as she spread her legs and brought her hands into fists at her side. The two bowed at each other. She took note of Jo's form, it was weaker than usual, but the woman was still not very open. "Follow me…"

She stepped forward and threw her left arm over her leg in a block, Jo followed her movements with mild hesitation. She lifted her arm and delivered a punch, then a high frontal kick that she learned from watching Sierra. Jo followed suit, letting out a tearful shout. Charlotte spun to the right and threw a fierce punch, she looked over and saw Jo do the same. They continued in a form of punches, kicks, and blocks for a few minutes, then she decided to spar.

She threw a punch, that Jo quickly deflected with her arm. Smirking, Charlotte curled her other arm, holding her palm face up, and shot her hand forward towards Jo's abdomen. Jo pushed her wrist away and brought her knee up, striking Charlotte in the chest. She jumped back and delivered a side kick towards Jo. Jo's face became serious and she quickly grabbed Charlotte's ankle, pulling the girl to the ground.

Thinking fast, Jo moved above her and let out a shout, throwing a fist down and hovering it above Charlotte's back. Charlotte glanced back over her shoulder and smiled. Her instructor was breathing heavily, her hair was sticky with sweat, and her eyes were fierce and determined. "You still have a few openings, Charlotte…"

"Yeah, but I'm still learning. Same as everyone at class, even Sierra." She pushed herself to her feet and bowed to Jo. "We need you to teach us. How do you feel?" Jo's lips thinned and she breathed in with her nose. A tear fell down her cheek and her eyes closed.

"Maybe I should go back and start class today…we still have some time before five…" Charlotte nodded her head and slowly looked to the family plot.

"Sitting here, it isn't going to bring them back either. Nothing we do will ever bring them back. Not wishing, not hoping, not pretending they're around. Look at me, I'm a terrible daydreamer, I always dream they're with me, and then I come out of it. But you know what?"

"What?"

"They are with me. They're with us all, they're even here right now…" Jo's eyebrows scrunched together and she looked over to Gabe's grave. "I'm sure if you just close your eyes, you might feel them." She smiled and closed her eyes, holding her arms out while Jo continued to stare out. The woman closed her eyes and breathed out. "They may not physically be here, but it's something Skyler always tells me, you can feel them gazing down at you. She says sometimes, when it hurts so much, she just takes a break from her daily routine, closes her eyes and let's their memory come to her. When she does that, she says she can almost feel them hugging her, she can almost hear Teddy's laughter. When I do it, I feel like they're all hugging me, letting me know they're with me."

Jo slowly closed her eyes and relaxed her body. The wind blew against their faces, warming them. Charlotte opened her eyes and watched Jo choke out a sob. She watched a tear fall down the woman's chin and drip down to the ground. After a second, she heard her gasp softly and saw her slowly put her fingers to her cheek. Jo opened her eyes and put her hand to her mouth, sobbing quietly. Maybe she felt them too, just then.

"They're always going to be with us, in our hearts. They are alive, at least in our memories of them, right? It's why I watch my older sister's video diaries all the time, because…through those, they are alive. I feel closer to them than ever when I remember them, or when I watch those videos of them. Those videos you have of the elegance classes, they're a great thing to have, because as long as you have them, and as long as you're alive, Gabe's memory will forever be alive." Jo looked over at her and met her eyes, gazing silently as Charlotte walked to her. Charlotte took her hands and smiled softly. She thought back to what Skyler once told her about her family, the advice she gave to her, she wanted to give Jo that same advice. "I don't think Gabe would want you to be depressed over him, do you? I think he would want you to be happy, to do what you love, and to remember him best that way. Don't use Taekwondo to forget the pain, don't teach to forget, use it to remember him. Just being you, just being that person that he surely loved…just doing the things that make you, you, honor his memory that way. Keep him alive in your heart, don't ever forget him. One day, you'll see him again…one day you'll be together again, to dance on the clouds, holding each other in your arms." Jo put her hand to her chest and closed her eyes. "Until then. Live. Live for him, live for yourself, enjoy the life you have, and make the best of it. Right? That's what Skyler told me once…as long as you do that, he'll always be there. Don't forget the love he had for you, or the love you had for him…stay strong, keep your heart strong. You are a strong person, and I've really started to look up to you. I think, now that I've seen this side of you, I respect you more…Maybe…I think the students of the class look up to you too."

"Maybe."

"I know Sierra does, she's the one that told me you were here…I bet the class is there right now, waiting. Even though you closed the doors today, Sierra said she was thinking of hosting the class…" Jo wiped her eyes once more and looked up to the sky.

"Thank you…" Jo hugged herself and looked back to her car, which was on the street near the family plot. "For being here, and your words…I'll never forget Gabe, I don't think I could." Charlotte smiled and let her own tears continue to move along her cheeks.

"Good. So…do you want to go back? Teach the class today?"

"I've never missed a day…"

"Why start now? Would Gabe want you to close the doors because of him?" Jo chuckled through her tears and shook her head.

"No."

"I happen to know, martial arts is a great way to honor someone and their memory…so, don't use it to conceal the pain, use it to honor Gabe's memory. Let's go back to the dojo?"

"Yeah, let's do that…and thank you again…for teaching me." Charlotte's face turned red and she gave Jo a hug, which the woman didn't seem to mind. After a minute, the two women bowed at the graves. Wind blew against them once more and they lifted their gazes up to the sky with tearful smiles.

After a few minutes, they made it to the facility. Charlotte's bike was on the bike rack that Jo had in her trunk, which was now attached to the back of the car. They moved towards the building and bowed their respect, then continued inside. They were astonished by what they saw, Sierra was up front instructing the class, and the entire class was there, practicing and sparring. Some were solo, doing their own thing, but everyone, even Brittany, was there.

Sierra saw them and smiled. She clapped her hands and shouted out to the class. "Attention!" The class stopped what they were doing and faced her. "Sensei has arrived." The class then turned and faced her, all smiling with pride. Jo was practically brought to tears, impressed that everyone actually showed up. Charlotte pat her on the back and walked to her spot in the line-up, she was ready to begin class. "Whenever you're ready Sensei." Everyone bowed to her and held their positions. Jo brought a finger to her eye and whisked a tear away while clearing her throat.

"Okay. Let's begin. We're going to practice a group formation. I want everyone to follow along. I don't expect you all to memorize this, as this is a black belt form called Ko Ryo. An old friend of mine used to love watching this form done, he always wanted to perform it one day, but sadly…he never got the chance." The students rose as she walked to her place in the front. Sierra walked back to her proper place in the line. There were no questions to why the teacher was late, just people preparing for yet another day of class. Charlotte was grateful for the talk she had with Jo, in a way, it helped her to clear out some of the trouble she was dealing with, and she hoped that it did help Jo just as much. "For him, we're going to perform this move, in his honor." Charlotte's heart lifted and the students followed Jo as she spread her legs out on the ground and positioned her hands flat in front of her waist. "Begin."

Her hands floated up to her face and she turned them parallel in vertical position in front of her, pushing them outwards. The class followed. She pushed her hands to the side and turned the opposite direction, bending her leg forward in that direction and shooting her hands forward. She then kicked high in the air, about half of the class was able to follow her swift movements. Charlotte couldn't follow them all that well, but that wasn't important. What was important, at least to her, and most likely to Jo, was this was a great way to remember Gabe. She could see on Jo's face, the woman felt him right there, watching his favorite martial arts form performed. For the first time, she saw a real and genuine smile on her instructor's face. She was proud of her. As she closed her eyes, she imagined Gabe performing the form beside Jo, while the rest of the family performed it with her. They were all smiling at her, Gabe was beaming with pride and happiness. They were indeed alive in their hearts, and never forgotten. If only PJ, Emmett, and the Heglin family could see that, to understand it. Maybe they too, could be filled with the same acceptance that was in Jo and Charlotte's hearts.

I hope you enjoyed this very emotional chapter, do let me know your thoughts ^_^