The day of the funeral, Rachel wore a simple but pretty black dress with a gold ribbon that Zack loved and Damon attended with his bracelet on. He saw, the whole time, his daughter in tears and glaring daggers at Stefan.
As pastor Young kept on talking with the habitual ceremonial prayers, Damon looked around and saw that most people were crying too.
So was he. He felt like he had lost a brother and it hurt him a lot.
He took comfort in the feel of his daughter in his arms.
After a while, the good pastor said:
"We all know that Zack never had children. I remember talking about it with him one day and he told me that he didn't feel the need to have children because his niece was all he needed. That his brother and niece were all the family he needed… Zack talked a lot about Rachel, she was his pride and he once told me that if anything was to happen to him, he would like her to sing a couple of songs for him… Rachel, the mike is yours." He walked back to his seat and let Rachel take his place in front of the mike.
"Hello everyone… Zack was the best uncle there could be…He always came to see every single one of my singing competitions… We were really close and I miss him a lot already… I know I'm not the only one… He told me one day that whenever I sung he felt like everything was better, like the sun was shinning brighter… I chose two songs for today… Two songs I know he would want me to sing here today… The first one is 'I want to hold your hand', by The Beatles. It's for you uncle Zack, I know it's one of your favourites!"
Rachel took the mike and as the music started, everyone watched her started singing, amazed by her sweet voice.
Oh yeah, I´ll tell you something
I think you´ll understand
When I say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
Rachel had tears in her eyes but it didn't stop her from seeing the audience. Stefan was there of course and she hated it. She hated him. He had killed her uncle and she promised herself not to fall for his nice behaviour until he paid for it.
Oh, please, say to me
You´ll let me be your man
and please, say to me
Everyone in the church had their eyes on Rachel. She was amazing and several people were already planning on asking her to sing for them during special occasion…Except now wasn't really the time to think about this… She would be more receptive in a few days…
You´ll let me hold your hand
Now let me hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
Stefan was wondering if this girl singing on stage was really a Salvatore… He could see some family trait in her but he couldn't help but think that something wasn't right… There was a secret to be uncovered about this girl…Something he didn't know... Something that Zack had been hiding from him...
And when I touch you I feel happy, inside
It´s such a feeling
That my love
I can't hide
I can't hide
I can't hide
Damon was proud of his daughter. She was amazing and she managed to put all her feelings in this song…
Yeah you, got that something
I think you´ll understand
When I say that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
"Man that girl is hot and she can sing like a goddess!" Tyler whispered to his friend Matt who nodded his agreement.
"Yeah, she's great!" Matt agreed, not seeing Elena's frown from her seat behind them.
And when I touch you I feel happy, inside
It´s such a feeling
That my love
I can't hide
I can't hide
I can't hide
Liz Forbes was seated next to Damon and couldn't hold her tears any longer… Zack and her had been playing a slow game of flirting for the past few months and she was sure they would have ended up together if he had lived… She was grateful when Damon took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. She wasn't alone. She had an understanding friend.
Yeah you, got that something
I think you´ll understand
When I feel that something
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand
I wanna hold your hand.
Rachel finished the song and everyone stood to clap, some of them crying harder than they were before.
"Thank you… For the next song… Well, the first time I heard it I was with Uncle Zack and I mentioned that it would be a perfect song for a funeral. He agreed and told me he could picture it… It's called 'Say goodnight, not goodbye' by Beth Nielson Chapman."
Everyone was silent as the soft music started and Rachel started to sing.
Say goodnight not good-bye
You will never leave my heart behind
Like the path of a star
I'll be anywhere you are
Rachel took in her hand Zack's last gift to her: a golden necklace with a small gold star pendent with her name engraved on it. She loved it…
In the spark that lies beneath the coals
In the secret place inside your soul
Keep my light in your eyes
Say goodnight not good-bye
Elena was pissed off. How come Zack Salvatore's funeral turned out to be better than her parents? They were more important than he was… Did that girl had to go up and sing? Did she really need to show off in front of everyone? She, too, could have sung if someone had told her it was a good idea to get people's attention… She was sure she could have done something better than this Rachel girl… Jealousy was all over the Katherine look alike and her brother, Jeremy, felt bad for the new girl… Her life wasn't going to be easy here…
Elena sighted and held Stefan's hand tighter in hers. He was her boyfriend now and she wanted him to know that she was here for him.
Don't you fear when you dream
Waking up is never what it seems
Like a jewel buried deep
Like a promise meant to keep
Damon still had Liz's hand in his own… He didn't know why he took it but he felt her sadness and knew that Zack and her were getting closer… Zack had been exited and happy about it… He wanted to be there for the woman who had been one of his first friend when he came back in town with Rachel as a baby.
You are everything you want to be
So just let your heart reach out to me
I'll be right by your side
Say goodnight not good-bye
Rachel knew that she was crying in front of all these people and if she didn't like other people to see her in a moment of weakness, she held on and managed to finish the song with the strengths her father's eyes on her gave her.
You are everything you want to be
So just let your heart reach out to me
Keep my light in your eyes
Say goodnight not good-bye
Once again, Rachel was welcomed by applause all over the church.
"Thank you Rachel, that was great!" Pastor Young said as he joined her and let her go back to her seat next to her father.
The rest of the ceremony went by calmly and, at the end, Stefan went to talk to the Salvatore who, technically, now owned the Boarding house.
"Hello, I'm Stefan, I'm…" Stefan started but was interrupted by Damon.
"We know who and what you are. What do you want?" Damon asked as he pushed Rachel behind him.
"I'm not going to hurt her you know… I'm the nice brother!" Stefan chuckled.
Damon maintained his hard look.
"If you're the nice brother explain to me how Zack died?" Damon asked harshly, keeping Rachel behind him.
He was amazed that Stefan still couldn't recognize him. Even when looking older, his eyes were the exact same.
"It was an accident… Zack shouldn't have come in front of my brother… Damon probably compelled him or something…" Stefan said.
"Zack was on vervain and Uncle Damon would have never done this. Don't forget who has an habit of killing family members! Don't even think of coming close to my daughter if you don't want a stake through your heart! Now what do you want?" Damon spat at his brother.
"You're the new owner of the Boarding house… I need you to invite me in." Stefan said, sighting.
"Like hell we are! You killed my uncle and want us to let you live with us? You can go to hell!" Rachel replied.
"You need to teach your daughter some manners!" Stefan said with a soft growl.
"My daughter has every right since Zack left HER the house. She is the heir to everything! If she doesn't want you in her house it's her right! We're signing the papers tomorrow, you have until then to go and pack your things!" Damon snapped back, hugging his brave daughter close to him.
"You have no right! I'm your elder!" Stefan exclaimed.
"You should have thought about it before you killed Zack!" Rachel replied before she took her father's hand and dragged him further away to receive condolences from people.
What did you think of the song selection? Of the chapter?
Next chapter we have the reception and they decide if they want to move in the Boarding house or not... Will they really force Stefan to live somewhere else?
Please review and tell me what you think of this!
Thank you for all the nice comments, I love you all!
Lorelei Candice Black