Young Justice: The War

(18) Coming To An Close

Aphrodite Pov

~~Three Months Later~~

I stand in the cemetery in my black mid thigh dress and heels. I made my wavy brown cover my face. I hated funerals. I hated watching my best friend get buried. Wally stood next to me with his hand in mine. Ali comes up next to us with Roy's hand in hers. She was 19 by now.

I was now 18 as was Wally. We had moved into an apartment together and went to the same college while Ali and Roy just lived together. I would still crash at home though. My mom and Roger got married and she was expecting a baby.

Zoey came up beside me with Dick in hand. Artemis and Aqualad walked over with M'gann and Conner.

"He's gone." Zoey said as if she finally believing it

"Yeah." Roy answered

"Be at peace, friends. He died happy." Wonder Woman said walking past

I looked away. I kept my hair in my face so no one saw the tears in my eyes. I walked away from the group and looked at the horizon. The sun was setting. I felt some come next to me.

"Look, Ali I don't want to-" I started to say but instead saw Hawkgirl

"Sorry to disappoint." She said

"No, its ok. Uh, hi." I said

"You know he really did die happy." Sheria said

I nodded.

"How...how did his parents react?" I asked

"They cried. Blamed themselves for sending him here and not giving him a chance. Then they went on to blame me and Hawkman were the cause of his death." She said

"You weren't." I said

"I know but definitely feels that way. I was his guardian. I was suppose to protect him."

I nod and sigh.

There he laid. Originally Max was muscular and tan. Now he's slim and pale white. Everything about him looks lighter. Every feature of bone that stuck out use to look sharp now they look like they've been softened. The scars that he use to wear were always so dark it look like he just got them, now it looks like they're finally healing.

I sigh once again.

Finally the burial was over. Everyone was meeting at my mom's place to eat.

The thing about funerals is everyone's sad in front of the dead person, but when you walk away and sit down to eat with your family and friends, in honor of who just died, everyone seems fine. They act as if nothing happened. That is the greatest mystery of all time about people.

I followed the act.

I wasn't one to act as if everything was fine when it wasn't but right now I didn't have the energy to do anything. When we got to my mom's house people gather at the table. Everyone talked and Ali said the few words she could.

I picked at my plate and smiling every once in awhile. My mom caught me doing that and gave me an look. I took an bite out my food and she smiled.

Everyone smiled and laughed. Talked about their memories with Max. I got up and walked to the poolside. I didn't want to laugh nor talk. There was an whoosh and when it stop I laid my head on their shoulder and they put their hand around me.

"So are you going to go mute, babe?" Wally asked

"No, I don't think that an possibility. I'm still the daughter of the President and the stepdaughter of the new one. Not talking isn't an option for me." I said