Becky's POV

July 30, 1993

My hands reach up to gently push Ollie's black tie up, and the warmest smile I can muster forms on my face for him, because I know he's dying inside.

"You're going to be okay," I assure him. "You've got your speech planned, and everyone will love it, sweetie."

A single tear rolls down his little cheek, before a sigh escapes my lips. He must really be hurting.

Today is the day of Virginia's funeral, so he and Jason are naturally on a low. Me and Michael are trying to smile for them, but we're upset about it, too.

Perhaps, to lighten the mood, I should mention that Jasper and Charlie had their wedding earlier this month, and now they're married. It was a beautiful event, and it's only made me even more excited for my own wedding ... whenever it may be.

I should also say that we've now officially adopted Jason and Ollie. Someone from the adoption place came to have a thorough check through our house to see how suitable the environment is ... and they said it was perfect.

So now ... Jason and Ollie are our adoptive sons. We don't expect them to call us mommy and daddy; we don't even expect them to think of us as parents. Just carers.

"Becky?" I hear Michael's voice from the hallway.

"Michael?" I imitate his tone of voice.

"I-I think you better come here."

I quickly dry the tear from Ollie's little eyes, before heading out the living room, into the hallway.

It's there that I see Michael, in his black suit and black tie, his hair tied back into its normal pony tail.

But then, I turn my attention towards the staircase, finding Jason sat on the step. Well, I say sat – he's more sprawled across a few steps, lying on his front – so I can't see his face.

"Jason ... what's wrong?" I ask softly.

Walking up the first couple steps, I reach him, and pat his arm gently to catch his attention.

"Jason?" I repeat.

"He's nervous about today ... and he's hurting inside," Michael explains. "We were having a pep talk about his speech, and we somehow came onto the subject of his father. Now, well ... yeah, you can see."

I knit my eyebrows together sadly, sitting on the steps with Jason.

"Sweetie ... why are you worried about your father?" I question.

He finally lifts his head, and I immediately notice that his eyes are red and his cheeks are wet from his crying.

No teenage boy ... or anyone ... should have to go through this.

"I-I'm not stupid Becky," he answers shakily, "I know how mom died."

"You do?" I whisper, a sense of worry taking over me, let alone him.

"Dad killed her ... didn't he?"

A sigh escapes my lips once again, as I give a small smile to comfort him.

"Well ... I-I ... we just aren't letting you near your father, Jason. He said it would be best if you didn't see him again."

"But why? Why doesn't he want to see us? Did we do something wrong? Did we—?"

"Hey, hey, hey," Michael interrupts, "Of course you didn't do anything wrong. Your father is just ... stubborn. You don't want to see him again, I tell you."

"But he killed her ... didn't he?" Jason repeats.

My eyes close, and I sigh. "Well ... I can't lie to you Jason. So ... yes. But don't tell Ollie that. He's too young sweetie."

"I knew it," he mutters. Then, his voice becomes a shout, "I knew it!"

In an angry rage, he stands up, kicking the side of the staircase harshly, causing me and Michael to jump in surprise. Then, he runs down the remainder of the stairs, into the garden, so me and Michael follow him.

When we arrive, we see Jason collapse to his knees, before starting to rip the grass from its roots.

"Hey, Jason!" I call desperately.

Once I've reached him, I pull his hands away from the grass so he can't kill any more, and I simply hug him from behind, so tightly that he can't move.

All I can hear is our heartbeats, and his hysterical crying.

Michael walks over to us, and kneels in front of Jason, before averting his eyes to me.

"We couldn't lie to you Jason," Michael says, shifting his gaze back down to him.

Michael's POV

Jason's lip quivers, and I see fresh tears forming in his eyes. As much as I wish he didn't have to know the truth, we couldn't lie to him because that would be worse.

"I never want to see Stuart again," Jason hisses. "He doesn't even deserve the name "Father", now."

I exhale through my nose, helping him and Becky to their feet, before joining their hug.

"What's the matter with Jason?" a small voice asks in the distance.

We turn our heads to see Ollie standing there, in his little suit and tie, his hair slicked back neatly. Just seeing how smart he looks for his mother is heartbreaking; she'll never get to see it.

"He's just nervous about the speech," I partly lie. "That's all."

"Oh ... " Ollie frowns. He walks over to us, and strokes his brother's arm comfortingly, "I'm nervous too Jason, but it's gonna be okay."

Jason forces a smile for his little brother, and embraces him in a tight hug, "I know bro. It'll be ... just fine."

--

Becky's POV

"Now ... we're going to hear a few eulogies from the family members and friends of Virginia ... starting with her sons, Jason and Ollie."

The priest backs away from the microphone stand, and Jason and Ollie look at me and Michael nervously.

"You can do it," I assure them.

They stand up together, and walk slowly over to the microphone stand. Because of how short Ollie is, it has to be lowered, which adds a touch of cuteness to it. Jason goes first with his speech.

He clears his throat loudly before beginning:

"Um ... I-I was mom's first born, and ... life with her was great. We had our ups and downs, of course, but we loved one another, and that's what counts.

"Our family was a great family; we all loved one another, which is all we really needed. I'll never, ever take that love for granted ever again, now mom has gone from our lives.

"I remember a time when I would come home from school, and ... mom would tell me to do my homework, but because I hated it, I would say no. It's just the little things that I'm gonna miss now.

"Would I change any of the time I shared with mom? Maybe just the bad times. I wish I could go back in time, just to see her again. I hope she would be proud of me and Ollie today, for where we're at.

"She had a lot of love in her heart, and despite the tough times we faced, she got through it the best ... and that's what I'll always remember about her.

"From the minute I was born, she's loved me. And now ... I want to show her I love her too. Becoming a teenager didn't ever stop that love ... not ever.

"And as I read this speech now, I know that she's looking down on me, with a smile on her face. I'd like to say she's pleased with how I'm doing without her; how we're all doing without her.

"Mom, I miss you so much, and ... I would do anything for you to come back. Goodbye ... I love you."

With a quiet sniffle, Jason steps back, and Ollie steps forward. Jason watches over his younger brother like a father, as Ollie begins his speech.

"Mommy ... I-I hope you're okay with the Angels and God. I hope he's being nice to you because you deserve it.

"I just wanna say that ... ever since I was born, mommy has been the best ... mother ... you could ever imagine. And ... I'm going to miss her ... so much ..."

He pauses momentarily, as his voice gives out. Me and Michael exchange looks, before Michael gets out of his seat and walks over to the microphone stand to help Ollie with his speech.

"Would you like me to read it for you Ollie?" Michael asks him, close to a whisper.

Ollie sniffles and nods his head, and Michael takes the flash card from his grasp.

"Okay ... I'm gonna finish reading Ollie's eulogy," Michael announces, before clearing his throat.

"I remember a time, when we went to the park, and we saw the ducks in the pond. Mommy let us feed them with bread, and it was very fun. Mommy walked over to one of the ducks, and it splashed water all over her and soaked her."

Michael chuckles lightly at Ollie's wording, before continuing.

"Um ... " he finds where he was up to and carries on.

"Being with mommy made me happy. She was a great person and—"

Michael begins to tear up, so Ollie clings to his waist and hugs it tightly. Michael places one arm around Ollie's body, sniffling before continuing the speech.

"She was a great person, and I'll never forget the times I had with her. I'll miss the games of Snakes and Ladders we used to play. I'll miss the trips to the park on the bikes. And I'll miss the smile she used to give me when I've been a good boy.

"I'll just miss ... her.

"All I can really say is "I love you, and I'll miss you mommy". I know the future will be hard, but I'll try and get through it. Goodbye mommy ... I love you."

By the end of the eulogy, Michael's full-blown crying. I know why though. It isn't necessarily because Virginia's gone ... it's because Ollie is so hurt by it.

Michael hugs Jason and Ollie tightly, letting his tears fall uncontrollably. I hope he'll be okay through his own speech.

"Thank you, Jason, Ollie ... and Michael," the priest smiles. "Now Michael, you have your own eulogy?"

Michael sniffles again, and nods, "Y-Yes," he tries to speak without his voice giving out, "I do."

He averts his eyes over to me, and I give him a reassuring smile and the thumbs up. He ushers Jason and Ollie back over to me, and once they've reached me, I hug them tightly.

Michael then goes on to begin his own speech.

"Okay, so ... I've known Virginia for years and years. We dated briefly ... in high school, but separated on mutual terms. It was only by chance that we found each other again, a few months back.

"She's always been a friendly girl, and despite not seeing her for fifteen years, we got used to one another and became friends again ... this year.

"For the past two weeks, she stayed at me and Becky's house, along with Jason and Ollie. She was great to be around, and gave our home a little more life ... y'know?

"It's weird knowing she's gone, but I know ... she's in a better place. This world is far too cruel, so she's only escaping the harshness, to be honest."

He clears his throat loudly, trying not to start crying again, before adjusting his tie; loosening it slightly.

"Uhm, and ... Jason and Ollie are with us now. They're our adoptive sons, and we're gonna treat them as our own; blood related. We're always gonna be there for them.

"Virginia, if there's any chance that you can see or hear us right now, then ... just know how much we all cared for you. You were a great friend, caring and considerate ... if not a little crazy at times."

He chuckles lightly, before concluding his speech.

"So, see you in the afterlife, girl. We're all gonna miss ya."

He steps away from the microphone stand, and walks back over to me, Jason and Ollie. I think his positive speech has given him a little more happiness than before, when he was reading Ollie's.

"You did brilliant," I smile at him.

He pecks my lips once, and returns a small, closed-mouth smile, "Thank you sweetheart."

We both avert our eyes to Jason and Ollie, who are now consoling one another.

I feel so sorry for them.

Man, I hope their lives get better soon.

This chapter gave me feels. :'(
Will their lives get better? Or ... worse? I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I hope you liked this chapter. :)