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On January 31st, during the once in 150 year Super Blue Moon Eclipse, a tragedy struck. Richard and Elizabeth White were two of a number victims of a terrorist attack while at a local charity gala. All victims showed no outward sign of violence nor any inward indication of trauma. The event is under investigation.

The family will receive visitors in the parlor at Sacred Heart Cathedral from 10:00 a.m. until the Requiem Eucharist at 12:30 p.m. in the church. Burial will follow at Live Oak Cemetery.

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Things had become a blur from the moment Jeremy had picked her up until the moment she stood at the front of the church gazing at the pair of coffins that rested there. Everyday Delilah had prayed this had all been a dream. Every day she prayed that her phone would ring and she would spend time chatting with her mother or fighting about her life choices with her father. Everyday she prayed it had been her instead of them.

But today she had to face the truth. It was them, not her. She was the one who would stand there as they said goodbye then have to force herself to turn her back on their graves and continue to live her life. Logic didn’t work in making any of it better. Truth was logic made it worse. Delilah had always known that one day she would have to bury her parents but she never could have believed that day was here.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to be…” Her voice shook as tears slowly ran down her cheeks. “It wasn’t your time. I...I’m not ready…” Both hands were in fists as she tried to hold herself together. Visitation was about to begin and she was expected to take her place with her grandparents to welcome the words of everyone who came to pay their respects. She was expected to tell people she was going to be alright and had already started preparing herself to move on with her life.

To look them in the eye and flat out lie.

But it was far worse to tell them the truth.

Raising her eyes from the wooden coffins, Delilah gazed up at the stain glass image of the Sacred Heart above the alter. The cathedral was quiet except for the sound of the rain outside. Mother Nature herself seem to be paying respect to the lives that had been taken. There was something soothing to Delilah though to hear that water run over the roof. A comfort knowing that the sun would not shine on such a ‘celebration’.

Shaking the anger that came with that word, she turned to gazed back down the alie at her Grandparents and several of her Aunts and Uncles. Most came for show. Uncle John especially. He hadn’t spoken to her father in years. Funerals had a odd way of doing that. Still, Delilah had been grateful that they had handled the preparations.

Especially not since…

Since she had physically seen their life forces and handed them over to Cosmos herself. Leucite had decided to play a cruel, sick joke on her that had nearly driven her mad. As if to twist the knife into her bleeding heart, he had returned the starseeds they had taken to her. A peace offering? A comfort? The very idea made her sick. Once she would have believed he had done it because of some humanity left within the General. Now…

Lights began to flicker and Delilah’s mind shook back to the present. They had flipped the switch and the church was beginning to glow with the overhead lighting. It was time.

Walking back to the altar, Delilah placed a hand on each of the smooth wooden coffins. Red eyes fluttered closed and she prayed once more a silent Hail Mary on their behalf. When she was finished, she gazed up at the figure of Jesus with his outstretched arms. “Died to save us from our sins.” Slowly her eyes dropped to gaze at the floor.

“Then I ask that you turn your eyes from what I am going to do.”

Releasing the coffins, she turned to walk back down to join the rest of her family as they began to welcome mourners.

It was going to be a long day.

There were many things Mathias had hoped he'd not have to do. Attending the funeral of Delilah's parents had been one of them. While black humor was normally a thing he often relied on at times, none of his usual quips were going to be on hand today. In fact, the normally energetic man was more than a little subdued, the grey weather and the rain almost seeing to gel to his current stormy mood.

He and Imara were not the only ones in the car as he parked outside the Cathedral. It had made no sense for them to take two cars, not for this. His parents sat quietly in the back seat, his mother doing her best to soothe his father's frayed nerves. The families had not be overly close - coming from differing sides of the divide, but as the closest members, his father and Delilah's had begun working together after he'd retired from the Air Force.

The joys of the military industrial complex.

The worst part of it all - of course - was the guilt. Was the KNOWING that he was the one who, if guilt were to be assigned, was at fault for Delilah's loss. He'd done what he could - he'd returned what had been stolen under the Guise of Leucite - he could only hope that Delilah had found a Senshi to return them to where they belonged. Only Imara was aware of this transgression - he couldn't keep secrets from her.

He turned off the car, got out, moving over to Imara's door to open it and make sure that the umbrella was already open for her so she wouldn't get too rained on. He knew she wouldn't care - but it was the small things that were keeping him together right then. If he could play the doting husband, it would stop him from stringing up two Lieutenants, that were likely tied to chairs at the moment, by their respective feet and using them as punching bags.

He gave a nod to his father, who was doing the same thing as him - only for his mother in the back seat. This was going to be a very, very long day.

Kaileen entered the catherdral and looked around. She didnt nomally step inside churches or catherdrals very much. Haven't been inside one since her mother died. It felt weird to be inside one again. It has been almost 11 years since she had. She remembered being young and confused about death. She blamed the powers that be for the lost of her mother. She even made a promise to never go into one again. But yet here she was.

She looked up at the girl who was approaching her.

"Hi my name is Kaileen. I don't know the family but wanted to give my support and condolences. I know what it feels like to lose an parent. I know.... "

Kaileen turned her head and wiped away the tear that had fallen.