Hayden & Dean (The Sequel) - A Tethered Love

Chapter 27: Mourning

When we get back to my dads house I get him his usual drink but he declines it, instead leaving it on the table and retreating into his room "he's really not doing okay, is he?" I look to Charles, guilt overwhelming me that I even had to leave him.

He shakes his head "doesn't look like it. I got everything planned for the wake tomorrow but the funeral home needs something to put her in. I asked Martin but he hasen't gotten me anything yet."

"I'll take care of that. Charles, thank you so much for everything. I honestly don't know what would've happened if you weren't here to help us with this." I tell him, truly being grateful for his support.

"Well, you were there for me when I lost my dad. It's the least I could do." He returns with a gentle smile "I just wish I could do more to help with your dad." He adds on.

I exhale, trying to think of something myself that I could do to help him through this "yea well, if you think of something, let me know." I have smirk back to him.

Charles regretfully tells me "I have to go back to work but there will be a car here in the morning to take you all to Charlotte's wake. Once you decide what outfits you want her in, give this number a call and they will send someone to pick it up from you" he takes a card out of his pocket and hands it to me "if you need anything till then, call me. Alright?"

"I will. Thank you so much!" I say again, this time leaning in to give him a hug. He hugs me in return and then quickly leaves the house, pulling out his cell to make a call on the way. I stand there thinking for a few minutes before moving myself to find Paul and relieve Lizette from watching him. The sun has already set by the time I finish bathing Paul and feeding him. I found the two outfits to put my mother in and Lizette called the number on the card. I told her to go home after they arrived and decide to try and get my dad out of his room. "Hey dad, I'm going to put Paul down to bed soon, do you want to see him before I do?" I call out through the closed door.

It's silent for a little but the door eventually opens and my dads sorrowful face appears in front of me. He sees Paul in my arms and his lips form just the smallest smile "hey you" he utters out. He leans forward and kisses him on the forward "goodnight sir" he calls him the nickname he gave him when he watched him then retreats back into the room and closes the door on us.

"It's okay little man, he'll be okay." I say to Paul as I walk away, more so for myself then him.

The next morning Paul wakes me up around 4. Not that I was sleeping well anyway. I check my phone and still have nothing from Dean. I give him a quick call while I change Paul's diaper and leave another message. After, I place him down on the floor with some of his toys and start to get ready for the long day ahead. I'm ready within the hour and I make my way to the kitchen to make some breakfast and coffee for when my father wakes up. "Good morning" Lizette says to me as we reach the kitchen.

She's wearing her attire for the wake but has an apron over it, standing over the stove as she cooks "what are you doing here?" I ask.

"Itz long day, you need help with son, with sir Martin. I'm here to help." She replies, looking over her shoulder.

I smile kindly but say "I'll be fine, you should go home. I'll see you at the wake." I push.

She just shakes her head and continues cooking the eggs in front of her. I pour myself a cup of coffee that was already made and prepare myself for the day ahead. A car picks the four of us up at 6 and drives us to the funeral home upstate. It's a stunning place, one my mother of course planned for the two of them to be buried at together. I go through the movements of listening to everything the man is saying but nothing really sticks. I'm too distracted by my fathers lack of emotion to feel anything of my own. The room fills with people who come to pay their respects, wearing their best furs and pearls as they quickly say goodbye to my mother and take a seat. Eventually, it's time for my father to stand up and say some things about her before the wake is over. He stands up, stares into the crowd but doesn't say anything. His eyes start to tear over when he opens his mouth and stutters out "I-I'd like to thank you all of coming" and I know he's not going to be able to do it. I quickly pass off Paul to Charles, who awkwardly accepts him and make my way to the front of the room.

I look around at a lot of familiar faces, and choke back the real words I want to say to them and say what I'm suppose "thank you all for coming. I know my mother would be honored to have everyone here, dressed in their best to say goodbye." I get a few chuckles and smiles and go on "my mother lived a wondrous life. She traveled the world with her one true love and the two of them manged to stay happily married for over 50 years." I look at my dad, whose looking at me with gratefulness. Although my relationship with either of them was not perfect, the two of them really did love one another and I can see that in the pain my father is showing every day since her death. "Not many of you know this but I recently got married myself. There's a lot that goes into a marriage and sure love will take you far but there's more to it in then that. I can see how much communication, understanding and patience my mother and father had with each other in order to stay together so long. I know in my marriage, I will need to look to theirs for encouragement and I am blessed to have had two people so in love to guide me." My dad smiles down at me and I thank everyone once more for coming. I leave the front of the room with my hand in my fathers and he gives me a big hug when we get to the back of the room.

As people start to stand and say their final respects once more, I spot Dean in the corner of the room staring at me. I quickly walk over to him and he embraces me in a tight hug "that was beautiful H." He mutters into my ear.

"Dean, what are you doing here? How's Castiel?" I ask him.

He still holds onto my arms but looks me in the eyes "I wouldn't leave you alone for this babe. Sam and I got Rowena. He's bringing her back to deal with the Cas problem."

"I love you" I simply utter back, so thankful he is the man he is "how long have you been here?"

He smiles "just before you got up to speak. Hey, where's Paul?" He questions me now.

I look around the room for the familiar head of hair and point to Charles "I had to pass him off to Charles before I got up. They are over there."

"Charles?" He asks, his tone low so no one around can hear it.

I purse my lips together to hide a smirk and say "Dean, he's helped a lot with this funeral and wake. He's just a friend of my families." He rolls his eyes at me and I chuckle back "wow, jealous? never seen that side of you before."

"I'm not jealous." He quickly retorts back.

"Mhmm. Well let's go get him and finish up here, alright? We have a longer day tomorrow and I think Paul is starting to get fussy."

Dean and I smile, knowing how he can be when he's tired as we walk over to where Charles is trying to soothe him. "Thanks man, we appreciate your help with him." Dean says, reaching his arms out to take his son.

"Uh yea man, no problem." Charles passes Paul over eargerly "he's a bit whiny right now, not sure why." He comments out to us both.

"He's tired, it'd been a long day. Dean why don't you take Paul to the car that's out front waiting and I'll finish up in here." I offer the idea to my husband.

"Alright, you sure your okay?" He asks me one more time. I nod a smile and he turns to leave "I'll go give your father my condolences and meet you outside." He says "thanks again Charles." He says one more time, leaving the two of us.

"Really Charles, thank you! This would not have been done as nicely without your help. I do appreciate it." I say as he stands. I give him one more hug to thank him.

He responds "it was my pleasure. It was great to hang around with you again." I go to open my mouth to answer back but he stops me "not in a romantic way, I know you are happily married with a kid now but it was nice to be around someone who really knows me. I miss our friendship Hayden." He tells me.

I exhale through my nose and put on a grin "yanno, I missed our friendship too but a lot has changed. I'm not the same person you used to date." I confide honestly.

"I can see that, and I'm not either. I know I acted like it at the party when I kissed you and I want to apologize for that" he goes to elaborate.

I shake my head "really, you don't have too."

"No, I do. It was wrong of me and I'm sorry." He says.

"Well, thank you. But we can talk about all that another time. I really should be with my dad right now as everyone starts to leave." I say in return.

"Of course. I'll see you tomorrow." He replies.