Title: When The Worst Happens
Author: Jenn
Disclaimer: If I owned Roswell, would I really be writing this? *Shake
your head no* I didn�t think so. Roswell and all its characters belong to
Melinda Metz and the United Paramount Network. Brendan and Jason are
another story. I�m still working on that. LOL.
Category: Mi/L mostly.
Rating: R for now.
Author�s Note: This is Post-Departure with a few twists.
Dedication: I want to dedicate this to DMartinez, SilverSky,
Peachez4MaxEvans and MoonBaby19 who have written some of the most
awesome Polar fics out there. It�s because of them that I am now a definite
Polarist. I want to thank them for inspiring me to write this.
Summary: Just when Liz thought she had gotten her life back
together, a tragedy strikes that could prove to ultimately be her breaking
point. Who will save her from herself before it�s too late?
********
Part 5: Remember Me This Way
Ashley woke up at around 3 o�clock in the morning. He didn�t really know why,
but he had this nagging urge to check on everyone. Maria was snuggled up on
the chair next to him. Kyle and Isabel were asleep on the couch. As he made
his way around the apartment, he noticed Ava was no longer in Liz�s room;
instead, she was curled up like a baby in Max�s arms. Okay both sets of
brother and sister accounted for. Onto the last set of siblings. He took a
peak into Liz�s room. There on Liz�s bed, were Micheal and Liz. She clung to
him like he was her lifeline, even in her sleep. And he was holding on to her
protectively. He may be hurting because of Maria now. He thought.
But he�ll eventually see what I do: He should be wit Liz. He smiled. It
also figures that once again it takes his heart being broken for him to find
the real one. It happened in our last life too. Ashley thought
ruefully.
He sighed. He had been waiting to find them for so long. To find him. It�s
just my luck dat I fall in love wit da girl dat had his heart. I guess fate is
comin back ta bite me in da ass. He chuckled to himself. Well I guess
dat mean dat Ria an I will get married for sure. Coz when the same thing
happen with Ayara, I ended up marrying her. And we was so god damn happy.
Well Rath was pissed for a little while, till he found Akyra.
Micheal felt someone staring at him. And for some reason he knew that
person was Ashley. I wonder why I feel like I know him from somewhere.
And for some reason since him and Maria showed up, I�ve been getting this
weird feeling of deja vu. Maybe it�s just me. He felt Liz snuggle into him a
little more. He wrapped his arms tighter around her waist. I shouldn�t
even be caring about this at the moment. Liz is the most important thing
right now.
3 Days Later: Wednesday
The Funerals
Liz sat in the funeral home in a daze. So many people had come to pay their
respects to her parents. Their entire family was there. Even some of her
and Ava�s friends from school. Each of them coming up to her and Ava
uttering words of sympathy. But none of it helped. She just wanted her
parents back home, safe and sound. As did Ava. But be realistic Liz.
She thought to herself. They�re not coming back. You�re an orphan now.
She let a small sob loose as she stared at the coffins that held her parents.
Ava wouldn�t allow her to look inside at. She told her that it would be too
painful for either of them. Their parents bodies had been burnt so badly.I
never got to say goodbye She thought over and over.
Max was somewhat relieved as he looked at his girlfriend and her sister.
At least they�re taken care of. That�s all that I can possibly ask for right
now. For either of them. Life is not going to be easy for them anymore. And
it�s not fair. But neither is life. He was glad that there were some things
that Liz and Ava would never have to worry for. They had gone to the
reading of the will that morning. Apparently, Jeff and Nancy had been
prepared in the event of their deaths. Funeral plans had already been set up,
saving the girls the heartache. They had everything taken care of every last
detail in their will. They left everything to Liz and Ava: the Crashdown, the
money (And it was quite a lot at that. Jeff and Nancy had never informed
Liz and Ava that they had so much money in the bank. Then again they never
asked.), both of Grandma Claudia�s summer homes(One in Florida, the other
in Mexico.), and a small vacation home in Saratoga Springs, New York. So
they had no worries about money and such. Jeff and Nancy had made sure
that both of their daughters, in addition to Micheal, knew how to run the
restaurant. So that took a little bit of pressure off of the Parker
girls.
The two of them sat there, hand in hand, veils covering their faces. The
sight alone was enough to make anyone cry. Neither spoke a word, simply
nodding their heads at anyone who spoke to them. Ava was concentrating on
the caskets that held her parents. Both were closed. Jeff and Nancy�s
bodies had been too badly burned to have an open casket. And both Max and
Micheal had convinced her that it wouldn�t be wise for Liz�s sake either.
Speaking of Micheal, he was standing off to the side with Max, Kyle, and
Ashley. All five had black suits on. It figures that the only time we get
Kyle and Micheal into suits is for my parents� funeral. She thought as
tears streamed down her face.
Isabel still did not understand how this all could have happened to Ava and
Liz. They had never done anything wrong to deserve such pain. Well she
remembered Ava saying that she had done what she needed to survive when
she was living in New York City. Because Rath, Lonnie and even Zan were of
no help to her. But other than that she had done nothing wrong. And Liz.
Well Liz was a saint. It was all so senseless. They were just 16 and 17, and
now they were orphans. Why them? They�ve done nothing. She
screamed silently. Nothing.
Kyle watched Ava and Liz carefully. It was only a matter of time before one
or both of them had a breakdown. He felt the hurt, anger and sadness
coming from both of them. They�ll never be the same again. He thought
sadly. Especially Liz. She hasn�t spoken in three days. Not even to Micheal.
Ava at least gives albeit one words answers, at least talks. A sense of
dred washed over him as he glanced at the elder Parker sister. He felt that
Liz would be the one to have a total breakdown. She can�t handle this shit.
She�s had too much to deal with in the past two years. Alex�s death. Her and
Max�s break-up. Max and Ava getting together. And Maria up and leaving for
New York. It�s weird. We�re all here for her, and yet she�s all alone at the
same time.
Ashley felt somewhat out of place at the Parker funeral. He didn�t even
know them. Yet, as he kept a trained eye on Liz and Ava, he felt like he had
been there before. Not so much in the funeral home itself. But in the same
situation. Watching two sisters grieving for their parents. The only thing
that seemed to be missing was the solemn older brother who had a knack for
fading into the background. He shook himself in an effort to rid his mind of
the thoughts. He had only witnessed and felt such sadness once before in
his life. But that was another lifetime. Far away from here.
Micheal felt his heart break for what seemed like the thousandth time as he
kept a watchful eye on Liz and Ava. Just five days ago, both of them were
chasing him around the Crashdown laughing. Now, he wasn�t sure either of
them would ever laugh that way again. Like Kyle, he could feel the sadness
just flowing off them in waves. Liz hadn�t uttered so much as one word in the
past three days, and he was starting to get really worried for her.
He broke out of his stupor for a moment because he thought he felt
someone boring holes into the back of his head. He turned around only to be
met with the dead on stare of guy in the corner. He had similar features to
Liz (Dark eyes, dark hair, olive complexion.) only he was a bit taller and
seemed a hell a lot more rough around the edges. Kind of like himself.
Must be one of Liz�s cousins I guess. He thought as he gave the guy a
once over. Yet something seemed vaguely familiar about him. Like the same
vaguely familiar feeling he got around Ashley. Weird. Was his only
thought on the matter.
It still didn�t seem real to Maria, as she sat in the funeral home clutching
her mother�s left and her father�s right hands tightly. They can�t be dead.
Soon, we�ll all wake up and find that this was just a cruel joke. It seemed
as if the entire state of New Mexico had turned out to morn Jeff and
Nancy Parker. Everyone loved them. Her mother sat there sobbing
silently. Nancy had been Amy�s best friend since they were the tender age
of 5. And they had been inseparable since. They had been there for each
other for everything. Which also served to a contributing factor to how
close she and Liz were. They had been like a second set of parents for her,
through thick and thin.
She turned to her father with tear-filled eyes only to be met with his own;
full of unshed tears. He too was extremely upset. He and Jeff had been
best friends since high school. Jeff had been his best man at both of his
weddings; the first to Kyle�s mother Michelle, the second being obviously to
Amy. And he had been Jeff�s at his wedding to Nancy. There was a lot of
history between the Parkers and the Valentis. They had shared everything
over the years. But never in their lives did Amy and Jim think that they
would have to bury their best friends *brother and sister* so young.
Neither would live to see their fortieth birthdays. But the saddest part of
all was that they would never get the chance to see either of their
daughters graduate from high school.
The Final Good-byes
So many people had come up and said their piece about Jeff and Nancy.
Some told funny stories from high school. Some talked about what kind of
people they were. Others just spoke about how the Parkers had lended a
helping hand when it desperately needed. It was something they had been
known for. Everyone in town, in some way or another had been witness to the
Parkers� graciousness.
Ava and Liz had asked Maria to sing at the service. She agreed. So she
ended up singing �Remember Me This Way� as the funeral procession made
its way to the cemetery next door. It had been their mother�s favorite song.
So it only seemed fitting.
Every now and then,
we find a special friend.
Who never lets us down.
Who understands it all,
reaches out each time you fall.
You're the best friend that I've found.
The procession was led by the caskets. Jim, Kyle, Ashley and Philip carried
Nancy�s. While Max, Micheal, and Jeff�s brothers Tony, Christopher, and
Adrian carried Jeff�s.
I know you can't stay.
But part of you will never ever go away.
Your heart will stay.
I'll make a wish for you,
and hope it will come true.
That life will just be kind,
to such a gentle mind.
They were followed by Maria who was trying as hard as she could to continue
singing the song without breaking into tears.
If you lose your way,
think back on yesterday.
Remember me this way.
Remember me this way.
Next came Ava, Isabel and Liz. Isabel stood in the middle while Ava was on
her left and Liz was on the right. Each of them clung to Isabel�s arms
tightly. All three were silently crying.
I don't need eyes to see,
the love you bring to me.
No matter where I go.
And I know that you'll be there.
Forever more a part of me,
you're everywhere.
I'll always care.
And they were followed by Amy who was holding onto Tony�s wife Terese and
Diane Evans for dear life. Both had tears streaming down their
faces.
I'll make a wish for you,
and hope it will come true.
That life will just be kind,
to such a gentle mind.
If you lose your way,
think back on yesterday.
Remember me this way.
Remember me this way.
Not too far behind were Chris and Adrian�s wives, Lisa and Shannon. And all
the Parker cousins. Nancy was an only child so the only family from her side
that was there were her aunt and uncle who elderly. They held hands tightly
with tears in thier eyes.
And I'll be right behind your shoulder watching you.
I'll be standing by your side in all you do.
And I won't ever leave,
as long as you believe.
You just believe
Jeff�s casket was the first one lowered into the wide grave. It was quickly
followed by Nancy�s, which was placed next to Jeff�s. Sobs could be heard all
around as Ava and Liz walked up to the grave hand in hand and dropped roses
onto the caskets. Everyone else soon followed suit. Amy buried her head into
Jim�s shoulder. Diane cried into Philip�s jacket. Neither woman could bear to
watch the bodies of their long time friends being lowered into the ground.
Neither man could stop the tears from sliding down his cheeks as they held
their grieving wives.
I'll make a wish for you,
and hope it will come true.
That life will just be kind,
to such a gentle mind.
If you lose your way,
think back on yesterday.
Remember me this way.
Remember me this way.
Finally the service was over. And the only people that remained were all of
the Valentis, the Evans, the Parker girls, and Micheal and Ashley. A strange
silence fell over the group as they watched the workmen begin to fill the
grave. It was quickly broken however by Liz�s cries of anguish as she fell to
her knees beside her parents� final resting place.
Micheal and Maria sunk down and held her tightly as she cried. Maria let out
muffled sobs as she clutched Liz�s hand. And Micheal tried to but found that
he could no longer hold back his tears. So they clung to each other crying.
Kyle held onto a sorrowful Isabel. And Ava collapsed into Max�s arms, next
to Micheal, Liz and Maria. Ashley stood back and let the tears drip down his
face at the mournful scene before him. He could feel everyone�s sadness.
And it was beginning to feel like it was his own.
Amy, Jim, Philip, and Diane stood together weeping as they watched all their
children. It was a heartbreaking scene. One that they had never imagined
they would ever have to bear witness to. But here they were. And the reality
of it all caused both women to turned away once more. It was too hard to
watch a group who had just barely begun to live their lives, deal with such
dreadful circumstances. They were too young to have such tortured looks in
their eyes. But nonetheless they did. And they would for some time to
come.
**TBC**
[Prologue][1][2][3][4][5][6]
