Second Chance

Chapter 30:

It was a somber day, it was the day of Wally West's funeral.

Many people were in attendance, including but definitely not limited to: Artemis Croc, Queen Perdita of Vlativa, Princess Percilla of Atlantis, Jay and Joan Garrick, Barry Allen and Iris West-Allen, Rudolph and Mary West, Dick Grayson, Will Harper, Lian Harper, Tim Drake, Bart Allen, Connor Kent, Garfield Logan, Megan Morse, and Kaldur'ahm.

Rudolph and Mary, Barry and Iris, Percy, Dick, Will, Kaldur, Connor, Megan, and Artemis were the worst off at the funeral.

They'd known Wally the best when he was alive and his death was hitting them the hardest, and they'd been having a hard time logging on ever since he'd passed.

They were burying an empty casket and the wake had been a very sad thing, and now as they headed to Percy's mansion she owned in Central for the remembrance of Wally, everyone felt numb. It was hard for them to feel anything since Wally died, but Percy knew that everyone just needed to be reminded about the good in life.

She wiped away her tears as she entered the room and saw everyone was there already, that she'd been the last one back there from the cemetery and she felt her heart ache as she saw the smiling face of Wally in pictures.

"Hey," someone said from behind her and she turned and saw it was Mal. She offered him a weak smile and he returned it, "how are you holding up? I know that you grew up with Wally and Dick, and your previous boyfriend Anthony." He said hesitantly and she nodded and looked down, "that is correct. Wally was like a older brother to me, Dick and Kaldur are as well. And Anthony, he was an amazing boyfriend but it has been years since he passed."

Mal nodded and shifted awkwardly on his feet, "your concern is touching, however I am not the one who needs it right now. I learned how to live through the loss of someone I cared for many years ago, I will be fine in time." She told him and he nodded, and Percy decided that she'd sing her song for everyone now rather than later.

She took a deep breath and walked to the microphone that was by to the instruments, "could I please have everyone's attention?" She said into the microphone, and everyone turned to look at her and she took a deep breath, and gazed at the crowd.

"I wanted to say a few words in honor of Wally," she said before she took a breath and looked at Mary and Rudolph.

"Wally was one of my best friends here on the surface world, he was like a brother to me. He helped me laugh and smile during hard times and he was there for me when my boyfriend was killed four years ago." A tear fell from her eyes at that but she quickly wiped it away, "but I know that Wally's never going to be truly gone. For he will forever live on in not only my heart and memories, but all of ours.

He touched so many lives and did so much good for everyone around him, and never asked for anything in return. It hurts to know that he's gone, but-but I know that he wouldn't want me or anyone to be hung up over his death. He'd want us all to be able to move on with our lives, it wouldn't surprise me if he came back to life just to make us see that." She admitted and everyone chuckled, "and so I'd like to sing a song in honor of Wally."

Everyone was shocked since she hadn't publicly sang since Anthony died, so this was a big surprise. However when Percy pressed a button and instrumental music began to play, she took a breath before she began to sing.

"Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you
That is how I know you go on

Far across the distance
And spaces between us
You have come to show you go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go 'til we're gone

Love was when I loved you
One true time I'd hold to
In my life we'll always go on

Near, far, wherever you are
I believe that the heart does go on
Once more you open the door
And you're here in my heart
And my heart will go on and on

You're here, there's nothing I fear
And I know that my heart will go on
We'll stay forever this way
You are safe in my heart and
My heart will go on and on."

Everyone had tears streaming down their faces and were clapping profoundly at the Princess and she simply bowed before she walked outside, away from all their gazes.

She could tell that her song had reached them all, they wouldn't stay hung up over the loss of Wally West, rather it would give them strength to keep living. They would keep living to honor him.

"Percy?"

She turned around and saw Artemis standing in the doorway looking like a mess, which she didn't blame her for. She knew she didn't look any better at Anthony's funeral, she had no right to judge.

"Hey Artemis," she said and Artemis slowly approached her. "I-I have a question to ask you Percy," she admitted slowly and Percy nodded and leaned against the railing of the balcony as she waited for Artemis to ask it.

"I know that you've had experience with this situation, of-of your boyfriend dying. And-and I wanted to know if the grief ever goes away," she said and immediately Percy's expression saddened and looked so very vulnerable.

"Unfortunately Artemis, the reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not get over the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but, you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same, nor would you want to." Artemis looked at her with a broken expression and Percy sighed and hugged her friend tightly, "you know I wish I could tell you otherwise. I wish I could give you more hope right now Artemis, however I just can't. Grief is a powerful thing, but you are strong and I have faith that you will be able to get through this."

Artemis nodded and Percy hugged her tighter, "don't do what I did Artemis. Running away and closing myself off from everyone did nothing but hurt me, please, learn from my follies and accept what is and find a way to keep going. Keep being who you are and don't let his death keep you from living your life and finding love once again, because repairing a broken heart that you purposely taught to keep from loving or forming any kind of meaningful relationship is a lot worse than living with the grief."

Artemis nodded and looked at her sincerely, "thank you Percy." And she smiled, "it was my pleasure."

-0-0-0-

Sorry that I'm completely skipping a chapter, but it's taking me much longer to write the chapter before this one than I had initially thought it would. And seeing as how I'm now working, experiencing writer's block from multiple things including my depression, am doing college research, and some other things which are preventing me from updating my stories. I figured you all deserved something, so enjoy the depressing chapter of yet mother character death. I promise that I'll work to get more work done on this story for you all, but till then, enjoy.