Faith stood in the middle of the bedroom, staring blankly at her wardrobe.
She could hardly believe she was burying her daughter today.
~*~*~*~
Spike held Tru's hand carefully, almost as if he were afraid the young girl was going to break to pieces.
"Come on, ducks," he murmured gently.
~*~*~*~
Angel stood in his office, staring out his window.
Sam & Dean
Sam peered into Faith's room, knocking softly first.
"Faith?" he said gently, "it's almost time."
~*~
Dean poked his head into Angel's office, spotted him, and cleared his throat.
"Angel," Dean used his name for probably the first time snce they'd met, "ah...the chauffeur's here and almost ready to leave."
Faith, Angel, Spike, Tru, Gunn and Lorne
Faith nodded, finally tearing her eyes away from the wall. She turned and walked to the door, eyes downcast.
She reached for Sam's hand.
~*~*~*~
Angel looked away from the window.
"Thank you."
~*~*~*~
Spike gently held onto Tru's hand, oddly careful with the girl, and he whispered to her softly as they sat together in the car.
~*~*~*~
Wesley straightened his tie as he got into the car. and Gunn followed soon after.
Lorne sat in silence, eyes turned toward the window.
Sam & Dean
Sam took her hand gratefully and led her out to the car, the other hand in his pocket.
~*~
Dean nodded to Angel then headed out to the car himself as he straightened his tie.
Faith, Tru, Spike and Angel
Faith held Tru's hand as they sat in the cemetary, the two brunette women leaning in together the same way.
Both seemed to barely hear what the priest was saying.
Spike glanced at Dean for a moment.
Angel sat on the other side of Tru, holding her hand gently.
Faith reached next to her for Sam's hand.
Sam & Dean
Sam took Faith's hand gingerly from where he knelt beside her, listening intently to the priest.
Dean stood back beside Spike with his hands behind his back, noticing vaguely Spike's glance from watching their shadows on the ground.
Faith, Angel, Tru and Spike
A single tear slid down Faith's cheek, and her hand squeezed Sam's instinctively.
Angel pulled Tru into his arms, resting his head against hers as the young girl wept.
Spike looked away from the scene in front of him, unable to watch Tru for another minute.
Sam & Dean
Sam massaged Faith's hand with his thumb, taking a deep breath as they prepared to lower the coffin into the ground.
Dean noticed Spike move and glanced up at him, before returning his gaze to the ground.
Faith, Tru, Angel and Spike
Faith watched silently, unable to tear her eyes away from the coffin.
Once it was lowered, Tru buried her head in Angel's chest, violent sobs racking her tiny frame.
Spike made a move to console Tru, but fell back.
Sam & Dean
As the people holding the funeral indicated for people to step up and place rose petals over the coffin, Sam stood, yet hunched over, waitig for Faith to join him on her feet.
Dean's eyes rose to watch, now that the coffin was out of sight.
Faith, Angel, Tru and Spike
Faith stood and she took a slow step towards the coffin.
Angel gently helped Tru, glancing at Spike for a moment.
Spike nodded to him.
Sam & Dean
Sam helped Faith up to the platform, taking some petals himself bt waiting for Faith to go first before releasing them.
Dean didn't move.
Faith, Angel, Tru and Spike
Faith opened her hand, letting the petals fall, and she watched them, almost mesmerised at the way they floated through the air for a second.
Angel led Tru away from the platform after they'd done the same, the girl shaking from grief.
Spike looked at Dean.
Sam & Dean
Sam stood off to the side with Faith as everyone else went up to do the same as they'd done. Or, everyone except Dean so it seemed, who remained like a statue.
"Did you want to stay and see some people, or head to the wake?" Sam asked Faith gently.
Faith and Spike
"I want to..." Faith's voice cracked slightly. "I don't know."
She shook her head.
"I don't want to leave her here alone."
~*~*~*~
Spike turned to Dean.
"Come on, mate."
Sam & Dean
"It's ok, we can stay longer if you want," Sam wrapped his arm around her, holding her close.
~*~
"Later," Dean said quietly.
Faith and Spike
Faith lay her head against Sam's chest, one hand resting on her chin, the other around Sam's waist, holding him tightly.
"I can't leave her, that's all."
~*~*~*~
"There's nothing more we can do," Spike said quietly.
Sam & Dean
"I know," Sam assured her, "I know."
~*~
"I said later," Dean's voice rose, but not by very much.
Faith and Spike
Faith's hand tightened around Sam's body, making a small fist and she hiccupped, almost afraid to let herself go completely.
~*~*~*~
"Are we gonna have to have a man hug?" Spike asked.
Sam & Dean
Sam kept his hold on her, nodding with a smile as people passed by them on their way out of the cemetery.
Dean, meanwhile, grimaced. But said nothing.
Faith and Spike
Faith finally broke down, body trembling as she wept, keeping hold of Sam.
~*~*~*~
Spike shrugged, then nodded.
"Alright. Come on. Let's punch it out."
Sam & Dean
Feeling the change, Sam held her tighter, hushing softly, and closed his eyes.
"Spike..." Dean began in a gruff, warning tone, "leave me alone before I stake you."
Faith and Spike
Faith held onto Sam as if she would simply collapse if she let go.
~*~*~*~
"If it would make you feel better," Spike shrugged.
He turned to leave.
"Least you still have her Mum."
Dean
Dean's eyes flickered across, before he returned to his vigilant watch.
When everyone had left bar those three, Sam looked across at his brother. Garnering no response, he looked down at Faith.
"We need to go, they're waiting," he said softly.
Faith
"Ok."
Faith made no move to leave, as though her feet were frozen in the spot.
She couldn't bear the thought of leaving her daughter alone.
Sam & Dean
Noticing she wasn't moving, Sam instigated the leaving motion, still holding her tightly as he walked. He took one last glance over his shoulder at his brother - who still hadn't moved - before helping Faith to the car.
Faith
Faith let Sam guide her and put her into the car, and she returned her eyes to the ground, unable to make eye contact with anyone else.
Sam
Sam indicated to the driver that they were ready, took Faith's hand and gave it a squeeze, then looked out the window as they passed by the cemetery.