The Serpent Queen

Who put the fun in funeral?

Phoebe stared at her grandmother's body. Lillian had been dressed in the finest clothes and her hair and makeup were done. If anything, it looked as if she were just sleeping and not dead.

"I hope you're at peace and flying with the Angels." Phoebe gave her a small sad smile before making her way out of the room and down the stairs. She hadn't cried since the hospital. The girl felt as if she shouldn't be grieving as much as Demetri as she only knew her grandmother less than a year and he'd known her his whole life. Not that he actually cried in front of them all.

The family held the wake at the family home in Encino. The open casket sat in the master bedroom and would be removed later tonight for the funeral tomorrow.

Nothing much was happening in the house, the Alexopoulos's all sat in the kitchen with hot drinks, accepting visitors to walk in the front door. The visitors were also free to walk upstairs to view the body if they felt comfortable doing so.

The front door knocked and the Diaz' appeared in the kitchen.

Miguel immediately went over to Phoebe and hugged her, while his mom and grandmother expressed their condolences by hugging Sophie and George and giving them a bunch of flowers and a card. He broke away from Phoebe to bro-hug Demetri.

"Ladies, thank you." Stavros said to Rosa and Carmen. He looked to Miguel, "Who might you be, young man?"

Miguel shook his hand, "Miguel. Phoebe's best friend."

"Ah, yes."

Another pair of footsteps came into the kitchen. It was Hawk and just him. He also had a card in his hands. "My parents are so sorry they couldn't make it tonight, but they'll be at the funeral."

Phoebe took the card. "Thank you."

"You have our condolences."

Stavros stood up from his chair and approached the teen, "Eli, I was wondering where you've been and why Demetri hasn't mentioned you in a while. Turns out you're busy dating my granddaughter. Not too busy I hope."

"Uh...no, Stravros." He said completely ignoring the name issue. It certainly wasn't the time nor place for it.

"That's enough, Dad. Leave him alone." George patted Hawk on the back.

Hawk turned to him. "I'm sorry for your loss, Sophie, George, Peter, Kate, Demetri and Phoebe." He walked over to his best friend and hugged him along with Phoebe. Then he just stood off to the side next to Miguel.

Sophie glanced at her husband at Hawk calling him by his name.

George just waved it off and went back to nursing his cup of coffee.

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An hour later, Stavros began entertaining his family with stories of Lilian from their youth as all the other visitors had left. None of them wanted to overstay their welcome, but show their respects.

"My parents wanted me to marry a Greek girl, but you know what I said? No, I'm going to marry my American Lily."

"That's so sweet." Phoebe smiled. "Like Romeo and Juilet."

"It's not sweet, Phoebe. They both die." Demetri said.

She just rolled her eyes, but listened to all the rest of the stories. They met in the sixties and were high school sweethearts and got married at eighteen. That got her thinking of her and Eli. What was in store for their future?

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The next day, the Cobras all stood around the dojo all chatting and stretching before class. Hawk and Miguel stretched with Aisha.