ODDS OF LOVE SEASON TWELVE

Episode 106

As the priest recited the Lord's prayer at the newly dug gravesite of former homicide detective Eric Fletcher Reese Malden ,  in an elegant black designer suit and sunshades , stood between Rebel and Dom among the large crowd of mourners gathered around the bronze closed casket.

Reese folded his fingers around the wide gold wedding band he had taken off of Eric's hand at the funeral before giving it one last kiss goodbye. He could see the inscription on the ring in his mind.

Till Death Do Us Part.

He wanted to cry but it felt as though he was all cried out really. His shielded red rimmed eyes watched silently as two uniformed police officers deftly took the American flag off of the casket and gracefully folded it.

He didn't want it. Not another damn flag. But he accepted it from the officer who presented it with a solemn face.

He didn't want the flag. He wanted his husband back.

As they performed the twenty one gun salute his gaze drifted off just past the casket to a group of nearby tall majestic oak trees. It was most likely his imagination but he could have sworn he saw his husband standing there in his dress blues smiling at him.

" I love you, Viking," he called out in his head. And a single teardrop slid down his face.

He watched as Eric blew him a kiss. Then the image faded away.

                    -------------

At the same cemetery a few paces away there was another graveside ceremony being performed. This one was much smaller.

Nicholas Volkouv stood rigidly erect between Matilda and Maxim with Alexi on the other side of Maxim. The priest read a bible passage about love and forgiveness and mercy over the bronze casket that contained the final remains of a man that the Washington Reign and other media deemed a vicious killer and stalker and madman.

Maxim cut his eyes at his older brother as he heard Alexi's phone ringing shrilly. As did Nicholas and Matilda. Max's eyes widened as his brother actually answered it. What the hell was wrong with him ? , he wondered.

Alexi spoke quietly into it and then handed the phone to their father who wordlessly took it.

Nicholas said," Yes ? "

On the other end of the phone line Nigel Norland replied," Dad , I'm sorry I couldn't be there today. I just wanted to make sure you were alright. "

Nicholas finally felt like crying as he heard his youngest son's voice. " I am now. I'm with my family. And that includes you. "

Nigel said softly," I love you, Dad. "