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Dereck offered Lyn a smile when she opened the door, and he quickly made his way inside, the smell of fresh baked cookies filling his nose. This was probably her way of keeping herself distracted from the things that happened. His hand moved up to rub the back of his neck, and he looked around her house, following her form until she whipped around. The look on her face startled him, and he almost reached for his gun when she approached him about the blood on his shirt. A small chuckle escaped his lips, and he shook his head. The blood most certainly was not his, and he had completely forgotten about changing before coming over. "No, it's not mine. It belongs to Tommy, I was just in such a rush to come over here I guess I forgot to change." His hand was placed over her slender one that rested against his chest. "I didn't mean to worry you.." He kept his one hand over hers, then with his other he grabbed her forearm gently and pulled her form against him, letting his hand hold the back of her head against his chest.

He breathed in deeply, closing his eyes as the scent from her hair filled his nose. That familiar floral smell was back, and it made him feel a little more relaxed. With everything that happened, he needed to hold her. Just to physically feel her against him. "I was hoping you wouldn't mind me coming to stay with you for the night. I wanted to make sure you are okay...The funeral's are tomorrow.." His hand stroked her back gently, making sure not to go anywhere near where Dylan's name was carved into her back.

Tessa N. Thiessen

The next day Cadence awoken to find her friend Tessa laying in bed beside her, flicking through a magazine. She looked as flawless as ever. Cadie groaned and rolled away from her friend. Immediately she covered her face, embarrassed of what she looked like in front of her gorgeous friend. Tessa always looked breath taking and Cadie always seemed to fee like she might as well be wearing a potato sack as clothing, and a paper bag over her head. There was just no way to compete with Tessa, not that Cadence ever wanted too.
"Already saw you face Frankenstein!" Tessa called cheerily.
"Frankenstein was the Doctor." Cadence replied as she forced herself to sit up.
"Who cares!" Tessa replied and slid off the bed. She walked around the bed and watched Cadence getting up and shuffling toward the bathroom.
"How the hell did you even know where I was?"
"Tiny town, hicks talk. Wasn't hard to find out the dirt." Tessa replied offhandedly. Cadence hated how anyone 'beneath' Tessa she considered a hick.
"Oh. Well...why are you here? You aren't speaking to me, remember?" Tessa examined her manicured nails.
"Well....I wasn't, but for the sake of our vacation. I decided to forgive you and help you shop!" Tessa announced happily.
"Tessa...I can't go anywhere in this condition." Cadence stated.
"Why not? I can do your make up, I can fix your face. Make you look almost as good as me!" Tessa walked to the bathroom and entered the small space with her friend.
"I have funerals to attend, and doctor's appointments."
"Oh boo! Why did you have to get caught up in this White trash war?!" She huffed and left the bathroom.

Cadence shook her head and closed the door. She focused on getting herself ready for the funerals. Her Mother had let her know that Kennedy Busch's funeral would be taking place that day. She exited the bathroom in just her towel.
"Ewww! That is disgusting looking!" Tessa screeched as she pointed at Cadence's leg. Immediately Cadence tired to cover the stitched up wound. She was feeling more self conscious by the second.

At the funeral Cadence stood off to the side. Closer to the back. Tessa had insisted on doing her make up so that Cadence would look 'human' for the funeral. Tessa parked a bit a way, and remained in her brand new BMW.

Tessa had agreed to wait in the car for Cadence, and was still trying to convince Cadence to go on vacation. She had also taken it upon herself to tell Cadence how much better off she was now that she wasn't having some 'trashy biker's' baby. Cadence had to bite her tongue that time to keep from snapping at her. She did not like her, or anyone talking poorly of her Jasper. She knew that Tessa often spoke with good intentions, but always seemed to choose the worst words to express herself.

Grace had eventually calmed down from her panic attack. Just having the warm water from the shower rain down on her made her relax, and come back to the present. She was not going to be able to go back to sleep, so instead she stripped of her clothes and took a shower. There was a bit of blood that stained the floor from where the nurses at the hospital had missed a few spots. Upon getting out, she slipped on a satin nightgown and went into the livingroom, turning on the TV until Orion woke up. He had left to get a new suit, so she sat around and waited for him to come back before getting ready. She slipped into her black dress, and stood in the bathroom, covering her black eye as best as she could with her makeup, when Orion came from the shower. She looked over at him, and offered him the smallest smile she could muster. He was still here with her, so that had to mean something. "Can you zip my dress?" She turned her back to him and lifted her hair, temporarily forgetting the brand mark that had been burned there during her assault. Her ribs were black and blue with bruises, and there were multiple pairs of little dots from where the taser had come in contact with her body.

Orion had the towel wrapped about his lean hips. As Grace presented her back to him and asked him to zipper her up he shook his head no.
"Nope! Sorry! i can't! It goes against The Orion De La Cruz playbook! I only UNZIP dresses baby!" He stepped forward and paused. Examining the brands. Then he lightly kissed them before carefully zipping her dress.
"You look beautiful....I just wish it wasn't for a funeral..." He turned away and went off to dress himself.

Once he was dressed he combed his hair. He slicked it back, and straightened his tie. He turned to Grace, his green eyes looking empty again. He offered Grace his arm.
"We have to take your car. Mine is home..." He lead Grace toward the door. Pausing only to grab her purse and hand it to her.

I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around
~Five Finger Death Punch

Orion drove even though he totally hated cars. He loved his bike. Cars seemed so confining to him. It could just be that he was so use to his bike that the confinement was all in his head. Or perhaps it was a feeling brought on by what he feared awaited him at the funeral.

Once there and parked Orion took a very deep breath before getting out the car. He walked around to Grace's side of the car and helped her out. He lead the cute blonde over to where the others were gathered. He greeted a few people. There was a lot of embracing and crying from the women. Lincoln was quiet and looked out of it. He definitely looked like he had not slept.

Orion noticed that Cadence was with him. He froze as she caught his eye. He had never went to see his sister. he had not even called her. He felt like a complete a*****e suddenly as he realized he had been so deep in his s**t that he had not thought a bit about her. He had thought of Grace, of Jasper, or Dereck, but never once his younger sister.

She looked away from him, and he could feel the wave of anger she sent his way. He stayed away from her thought he wanted to go see Lincoln. She had taken Lincoln's hand and was tending to him. Orion was glad that someone was taking care of Lincoln. He looked like he needed someone badly.

I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around
~Five Finger Death Punch

Jasper grabbed his cut from the table, leaving the drill, as he left the room with Dereck. "Let us know when they are." He told the man with a nod. He would tell the others. At least some of them should make it if his people were coming to theirs. Jasper got back on his bike and sailed back to the Angels Clubhouse. He wasn't ready to be back at his apartment. Knew if he went there, he woulnd't get up to make the funerals the next day. He told Killian about what Dereck had said, before taking a seat at the bar at the club.

The next morning Jasper woke in his bed to the silence in the club house. It was too much for the house to be so silent, and his head was a splitting head ache. Slowly he got up off the bed and crossed to the bathroom attached to the room. He threw on the cold water, stripped, and walked in. Letting the water do the job to wake him up.After that chore was done, he moved to the closet in the room to see what he had in there. He grabbed a pair of dark jeans, almost black, and a black button down shirt that was in there.

Jasper found himself at the funeral. He stood near the back of Kennedy's and Isabelle's. Both were hard funeral services to sit through. Lincoln had Cadence near him, so he couldn't offer an solace to the man. He knew Cadie wanted nothing to do with him right now. And Orion... he needed some space it seemed. Plus what would Jasper say?

Orion gave Grace's hand a little squeeze. He watched as Moira approached Cadence and Lincoln. Cadence offered Moira Lincoln's hand. She took it, and Cadence hugged him and kissed his cheek before she disappeared. Moira stayed with Lincoln the rest of the service.

At the end of the service while everyone was milling away he felt his heart stop. He found Cadence again and she was talking to two men. Though it had been years since he had last seen these men he was immediately aware of who they were. He swallowed the sudden lump in his throat.

As if they could all sense Orion watching them, their heads turned and all three looked at him. The hurt and accusations that laid in those three sets of eyes were almost too much for Orion to bear. He forced himself to walk over to them. He wouldn't be surprised if he went the way of Caesar today. He would deserve it, wouldn't he?

The men turned, arms crossed over their chest. Cadence was barely visible between and slightly behind the men. Finally one of the men spoke. His rich amber eyes full of emotion.
"You have a lot of nerve."
"I'm sorry..." Orion finally said and he knew it wasn't enough. Regardless of what he said it would never be enough.
"Your sorry? Your sorry?! Great! Orion is finally sorry for once in his pathetic life!"
"Landon..." Cadence said softly as she laid a hand on his shoulder.
"Please....not here. You have every right to be upset and angry, just please....not here."
"Cadence is right, Landon. Let's go." The other man who looked like a taller and stockier Orion with slightly darker, and shorter hair said. He nudged the amber eyed man, and for a minute the other man didn't move.
"Don't show up tomorrow Orion. Your not welcome." He finally said as he started away. Orion nodded his head in understanding. Elias turned to Cadence and gave her a quick hug.
"I will pick you up tomorrow Cadie." With those words spoken he followed the other man. Cadence nodded and was relieved a fight had not broken out.

Now she was left with Orion. She was not comfortable with that and immediately started to walk away. Orion started after her.
"Cadence, wait!"
"No! No! No! I don't want to hear it! Please! Just please leave me alone!" Orion caught up to her, and stepped directly in her path.
"I'm sorry for everything. I know this was all my fault...and..."
"Stop! Stop it!" Cadence shoved him.
"Look! i understand your sorry, I really do, but I don't care. There is nothing I can do with your apologies. They won't bring Aunt Celeste back, her home that she took so much pride in, her Cafe that she loved, it won't bring back Isabelle who had an entire life ahead of her. It won't bring back my baby.... Your apologies mean nothing. They are just a way for you to ease your guilt, and honestly...I think you should live with it. Everyone else will have to, so why shouldn't you? Goodbye." She pushed right pass her brother and headed straight for the BMW with the unknown driver.

Orion felt stunned, and even more like s**t. He essentially just had an emotional drive by. Held by his siblings and cousin no less! He turned and started back toward Grace. They had been far enough he was sure no one overheard the exchange, but he was sure a few people had definitely seen the family meeting.

Once at Grace's side he took her hand. He was now just cold and numb. He was feeling so much it felt like his body decided to shut down his emotions to spare him.
"We should go to the luncheon..."

I have the answer
I can take the pressure
I will turn it all around
~Five Finger Death Punch