Love isn't always enough A Jordan Knight/ Joey McIntyre fanfic

Chapter 98: This can't be the end

Joe spent the entire next day going through their photo albums. He and Jordan and everyone else were looking for photos with her.

Joe had a huge stack. Joe had sent a bunch to Stefan for him to go print off, and Joe gave him his debit card. I want a huge print of this one to display at the funeral home. 

Michelle came in and placed her hand on her Dad's back. "I'm so sorry, Dad. I know you are hurting, and remember you have all of us here to support you. Mama made me promise to make sure you were okay."

Joe looked over at her with tears in his eyes, "Oh, sweetheart, it's not your place. I'm sorry for your loss, baby girl. She was your Mom, and I know how hard it is to lose your mother. You don't need to take care of me. Right now, we are all in unknown territory, and we are all hurting, but one day waking up won't be so hard. One day it won't feel so bad to be in this world without her. There will always be a void in each of our lives, and we will all miss her, but one day we will just live. At least, I pray that happens." He hugged her, and they cried together.

"Mama, she really loved you, Dad. We are so thankful to you for making her happy all the way until she drew her last breath. You know this is your house, and you don't have to leave. I hope you will still call me every week like you always have, and I hope you still come to visit your granddaughter. She really loves her grandpa Joe." 

"Of course I will. I am your Dad, and nothing will ever change that. I love my little stinker butt, too she is our Stephanie recreated. I love you, baby girl, and I always will. You, Lukas, and Stephanie need to come and visit us in LA once I buy a new home. I may just rent one for a bit. I promise to Facetime you twice a week once we move out there. It will be after we finish with the tour this summer. Are you going to join us on tour?"

"Yes, she really is Mom made over. I love you, Dad, and I always will. We will do our best. I am gonna hold you to that. I know we will make a few shows, as many as we can, but Lukas and I have jobs. It will be really hard to be there without Mom." 

"I know it will, it's going to be hard for me when I look out, and she's not there cheering me on. She will be there in spirit and in my heart. This is by far the hardest thing I have ever had to do. We have to be at the funeral home in about three hours, and I just don't know if I can do it." 

"Dad, you can do it, and we as a family will do it together. Yes, she will be cheering you on from heaven."

Stefan had gotten all the pictures, and Jordan had taken them to the funeral home for them to be put on a DVD. Everyone was dressed and stood outside, dreading to go in. Joe, Jordan, Stefan, Michelle, Kira, Griff, Lukas, and Lizzy were to go in first. Jordan walked over and put his arm around Joe.

"You got this, man; I know it's hard, but this is for Steph. She took care of everything to make it easier on you. Let's go make her proud, and once this is all over, you and I are going to get completely wasted." 

"I know, J, but damn, this is hard, and it is going to be really hard to see her lying in that casket. My life feels so empty without her."

"Joe, you have five little pieces of her right behind you. She lives on through her children, yours and mine. She will never be completely gone from this earth. Our granddaughter looks just like her and is her namesake. We will never let her be forgotten because she lives within all of us and everyone who met her."

Slowly they all walked inside and were escorted into the viewing room, Joe slowly made his way to the casket and he looked at her. He broke down crying; she looked so beautiful she looked like she was sleeping.

For the next two days, Joe stayed right by her side. He had a chair, and he never left her except to go to the bathroom. The kids made him leave to get some food, and they took his place. Everyone showed up; people from the stage crew, the road crew, security guards, other artists that had gotten to know her over the years, family, friends, and her friends from New York came up with their families. Everyone that worked with New Kids and Joe was here. People they went to high school, and she went to college with showed up. They had to use two guest books because the first was completely filled up within the first night.