[KneelingAngel and Gilmore ] A Long Road Home

[KneelingAngel]

Justice's heart stopped and took a step back. "W-what?" Then James almost strangled the doctor, but Justice pulled him back and hugged him tightly. She shushed him and buried her hands in his hair. She felt him shake and sob, tears falling from her own eyes. Her eyes fell to Maxi, who was sitting confused on the ground.


Clay heard the wail as well and saw the doctor shake his head. He removed his hand from the wall and quickly grabbed Char by he waist when she started shouting bloody murderer. He held the smaller woman close as she hit his chest and screamed all her pain out. Tears rolled down his face too, but he didn't make a sound as he let Char sob uncontrollably into his shoulder. There were no words to say.


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[Dark_Psycho]

James held her tightly he was in tears.James couldn't handle this.why did this happen to them. He sat back down shaking not having cried this much ever.


Effie had grabbed the wall for support she slid down. Tears in her eye's. She held her daughter and cried. She closed her eye's and sobbed.


....


A few days later the funeral was to be held. Effie had been silent decor the past few days. She hadn't eaten a thing. She had been going through the motions of feeding and playing with Adelaide, but when Adelaide was asleep Effie would lay in bed curled up.Char after the night at the hospital had disappeared. Effie layed in bed staring at the ceiling. Ckay was next to her.She had her hand in his.She got up to get dressed and did her make up. She wore a black dress and had a on a black hat with black sunglasses. She woke Clay slowly. "Babe, we have to go."She says


James had gone into denial and just put himself into justice and his son. At nights he would stay up. This had affected the whole band and no one was happy. Today was The funeral. He stayed in bed for a bit then showered and dressed. He sat next to Justice on the bed and slowly woke her.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

Clay slowly woke up. His eyes hurt from all the tears these last couple of days. Unlike Effie, he hadn't been able to put his energy in anything, not his wife, not his daughter, nothing. Clay clicked his tongue and got up, he got dressed in a black shirt and dark jeans, knowing that Luke would laugh at him if he would go in suit. Tears swelled up in his eyes as he tightened his belt, he had to lean against the closed to keep himself from falling. He took deep breaths to get himself together. "I'll go get the baby." He said and cleared his voice, hiding his face from Effie.


Justice got up and sighed as she rubbed her face. She dressed in her black dress and leather jacket. She went to the bathroom to do her make up and leaned against the sink. She looked at herself in the mirror and shook her head. This was one thing she hadn't arranged, feeling too weak and torn up to do so. She hoped that at least Char was going to be there, she didn't want to lose another person. Finally getting her make up done she walked back to James and held his hand hers as she cupped his face with the other. Justice could see the hidden tears behind them. "It's okay." She said and pecked his lips. He didn't have to be strong for her.


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[Dark_Psycho]

Effie turned and nods. She needed her husband. Effie was barely keeping it together. She had to for her daughter her husband wasn't. Effie knew this hit the guys hard. It hit her just as hard. Luke was her family too.Effie sat on the bed as she put on her shoes numbly. Clay got Adelaide and she took her daughter.Effie changed her daughter and picked up the diaper bag and purse. "I will meet you in the car." She said and put her sunglasses on and walked out of the room. She sighed and walked downstairs to the car. She held her daughter for comfort. Since it was all she got the last two days.


James hugged her tightly."I love youm he picked Maxi up and walked with her to the car. He joined Effie in the back with Justice. Finally Clay joined them all. They were driven to the grave yard. The ceremony began and Effie sat in her chair. She kept her self quite till it was her turn to talk she handed Adelaide to Clay and stood. She walked to the post and cleared her throat. " we gather here today to say good bye to a friend, a brother and a bassist. "She stopped and cleared ger throat. "Luke was a jokster a fun loving guy. Thats how he lived his life. Nothing got him down he was always smiling even in the end. He would want us to celebrate his life not mourn it. He..."She stopped again and bit her bottom lip."Luke..was an amazing guy and to loose him is a great loss to us all.I... will..miss him. He was like a brother to me and my husband."She breathed in and tryed to not cry. She sniffed in and shook slightly. "I umm.I am sorry. I lost my place."She says and shakes.She bit her bottom lip again and walk down to sit down in her seat.


James squeezed her hand and stood with the rest as the choir sang. They set Luke's casket into the ground.Effie linned up and waited. As the burried there bassist. "Good Bye Luke."She said and layed a rose on his grave.She walked to the side wiping her eye's with a tissue.when the funeral was over. Effie pulled Clay aside and hugged him."Babe I miss him too. But I been strong these past couple of days and its been hard you have a living family here to think about I need my husband, Adelaide needs her father.We need you. Come to me when your ready, but dont wait to long we won't wait forever. "She said. She went to walk away.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

For the first time Clay knew what people meant when they said "you don't understand.". He knew he was bring selfish, ignoring his wife for the last couple of days, not playing with the baby, but the bond between Luke and him had been different. They had been bassist and drummer, not just friends of band mates. Clay remember staying up countless of thousandths times that they would stay up until the sunrise just to get the beat and rhythm right, staying in the studio just a couple of hours longer to work on that solo. Luke was his his partner in crime on stage. Clay placed a rose on the casket at fished something out of his back pocket. A picture of them at the very start from the band where Luke was crazy enough to do a back flip off of his drum set. "... You had to get hit by a truck..." Clay smiled sadly and ran his and over the casket as he walked away. "Rock on, Luke we'll see you in fifty years..." He walk away without looking back and grabbed Effie from behind, pulling her close and burying his face in the back of her neck. "Please don't go." He whispered again her skin. "I'm sorry."


Justice got up from her seat and walked to the casket. Maxi and her places a rise on the top and Justice smiled sadly, tears rolling from her face. "You had to die on my wedding day..." She scoffed sadly. "I can't even be mad at you for it... Say bye to uncle Luke, Max." The baby blabbered and she walked away. Justice looked at Clay and Effie from a distance, Clay was taking it really hard but it looked like he had excepted it a little more today. Justice turned towards James as she adjusted the baby on her hip. She was a bit worried about him. He was still in denial and always acted like nothing was wrong, but Justice feared that if reality would hit him he would start drinking again. She knew he couldn't sleep and it made her worry.


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[Dark_Psycho]

Effie relaxed into him. She knew he was sorry.She turned into his grip and pulled him tightly to her. She shook with tears, Adelaide tentatively reached out for her father and made a small noise. Effie was hurting she needed her family. She needed him.when he finally came up to her. All the tears she been holding in came flooding out. Luke was gone so was Char.She didn't want this to be the end of them or the band. She remembered all the fun they had.


James walked in silence. He placed a rose and stared at the grave.He was in tears"good bye old friend." He walked away and over to Justice. He leaned into her and wrapped around her and his child."I am drowning here babe I need help"he says.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

Clay held Effie closed and grabbed the baby from her arms, pulling the small girl close as well. He buried his face into Effie's hair as she shook with tears and kissed her head. He looked at the baby and Adelaide placed a small hand on his cheek as if you wipe away his tears. "Hey baby." He smiled through his tears and kissed his daughter's tiny hand, causing her to smile. At least there was still some light in the dark day.


Justice had an arm around James and a hand in his hair as the other arm held Maxi. She held him close and kissed his head. "It's gonna be okay." She mumbled and spoke soothing words as they just stood there. "Everything will be alright." She said and kissed his cheek. Maxi just looked ip at his parents, not really understanding what was going on, but when he spotted his father's tears he started whimpering as well. He didn't like to see his parents sad.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Effie clung to her husband like there was no tomorrow. She finally looked up wiping her tears.Effie just leaned on her husband and sniffed. What were they going to do now.she had seen Mac his normal ass hole demeanor was gone he just sat there staring at the grave. She knew this was a blow to him to.She pulled away wiping her eye's. She kissed her husband "meet you guys at the car."She sniffed. She mwnt up to Mac and gave him a small smile. "Hey come join us for a drink. You need one."She says Mac got up and hugged her. She hugged him back supprised."Thank you Effie."He said.Effie nods and leads him for the car, well slash limo.


James hugged her tightly and sighed when Effie came by."come on guys. Heading over to red mens cafe for something to drink.non alcoholic of course. "She says. She was holding Mac.James nods and stared at her. He got mad for no reason. "How can you be so calm our band mate just died and your acting like its any other day."he snapped at her.Effie glared at him." I am just trying to keep it together here some one has to or where the hell would we all be. I loved him like a brother this hurts just as badly as it does for you.so don't tell me how to feel or act, now there is the car go."She says. She shook her head. James glared at her and took Maxi, he put one arm around Justice for comfort and support.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

"James, calm down." Justice said and pulled James aside. "Mac can you please take Maxi, thanks." She gave her sister a small apologetic smiled and handed Maxi to Mac. "Go ahead, we'll walk." She said and turned to James with a sad/angry look as the others walked away. "How dare you?" Justice questioned getting tears in her eyes. "How can you talk like that? How can you even to think like that to anyone?" She watched him worriedly. "Effie is just as upset as all of you.." Justice stepped closer to James and cupped his face. "I know it hurts." She mumbled and made him look at her. "I know it hurts so bad that you feel that you can barely go on, but Luke wouldn't want you to fight or to judge. He loved all of you! He may not to form it in words, but it showed on his face when he was on stage… We'll find out what to do, I promise." She said with a small sad smile.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Mac hands Maxi to Effie. She holds her nephew in one arm and Mac the others. "Will wait in the car."Effie said and walked them to the car. She let Mac in then got in and sat next to Clay. Maxi was a lot heavier then her baby girl but she didn't dare switch Clay needed his baby girl.She just held Maxi and quieted him down.she had tears in her eye's what James said stung.maybe he was right. Then another thought popped into her head was she acting to much like her mother? She didn't want to.Effie was becoming worried.


James shook with anger and sadness. "I dont know why I snapped at Effie it isn't like me.I just feel so lost. What are we going to do with out Luke. He was more then a bassist. He helped all of us when we were first starting out he actually was the one to pull Effie off the street. Clay and I said no at first. We didn't want another mouth to feed and an impossible stubborn one at that.But Luke brought her in and we all came to enjoy having Effie around, but I just felt like she didn't care he was dead.and He basically saved her."He says.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

"Of course she cares. She's breaking from the inside, can't you see it in her eyes?" Justice asked and let go of James's face. "She just wants to be strong for you guys! Effie always used to say that she was a bad mother, but she took care of you guys in return for saving her life. Clay is half broken down, you aren't stable, I am already emotional enough as it is and she just puts up a brave face for us." She said. "Effie doesn't want to see us in more pain then we already are. She just wants to continue and live life like Luke had wanted it. What do you think Luke would do now if he saw you?"


Clay was holding on to Adelaide when Effie and Mac took a seat in the car. He noticed something about Effie when she sat next to him in the limo with Maxi. He bit his tongue and frowned at her. "Who spoke to you?" He asked. There was that fearful look in her eyes. He was going to beat who ever had but that look on his wife into the ground. As if they didn't have it hard enough with Luke's death!

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Effie looked up at Clay. "James he is just having a hard time."Effie said. She fixed Maxi's outfit and wiped her eye's. She leaned into her husband for comfort. "Am I acting like my mother am I being to callous or cold?"she asked Clay finally. Maybe she was, maybe Luke's death damaged her more then she realized. Maybe it wasn't just a front to keep the once close band together. She was worrying now. She didn't want wind up like her mother. Her teeth worried her bottom lip as she looked at Maxi.


James sighed. He knew his wife was right. He was just hurting and lashing out at the first thing that pissed him off unfortunately it happened to be Effie his sister in law and his wife's sister, and band mate. He sighed and looked at the grave."he smack me over the head and say I am being stupid and to go apologize to Effie and have a coffee for him at his favorite cafe."He said. He had tears in his eye's. He was trying to hold himself together like Effie but couldn't.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

Tears appeared again in her own eyes again when tears appeared in James's. Justice took his hands in hers and kissed his ring. "Yeah, he would." She smiled at him a bit sadly. "You don't have to be strong, James." She said and brushed her hand through his hair. "Aren't you the one that always told me it was okay to show emotion? That it was okay to cry? Don't keep everything bottled up, baby." She whispered and gave James a kiss. "It's okay to cry."


"James told you that?" Clay asked and bit his tongue not to lose his anger, but it was no use. "I'm going to beat some sense into him." He snarled and handed Mac Adelaide, causing the baby to start crying. He got out of the car and quickly stomped towards James and Effie. Once he was close enough, Clay grabbed James by the collar of his shirt and slammed him against the nearest tree. "You think just because Luke is dead that you can just speak you mind, huh?!" His english accent had changed to southern, only something that happened if he was furious.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

James smiles and hugs her close."when did you become some wise."He said.


Effie looked at her husband. "What no, babe no I am just asking. Oh crap."She said." Mac please watch the kids.I will be right back. Thank you."She said. She got up and went after Clay.


When Clay grabbed him and pushed him into a tree James grabbed him"Clay bro let go I was going to apologize I just yelled at her." James says. Effie ran up."Clay put him down. It isn't what he said its what I am feeling. I was just asking you?"Effie. Got him to let James go.she looked at James."you okay?"she asked. He nods silently. Effie closed her eye's and opened them again.


"Thats it this shit stops here. You James are going to let it all out go to a gym cry into your wife. I dont care, Clay, I swear you need to get it together, because I am dying inside. I dont know what to do and for the past 3 days I been loosing my mind. Justice after today mourn relax help James, but you will start helping Mac look for a new bassist. I am not letting you all fall off the face of the earth. Luke is still with us. He is here in our hearts no matter what we won't forget him ever. The boy saved my life and now I can never repay him for it.more than anything I want this all to go away and stop.were a family as well as a band. So no more arguments not today.now car all of you I don't want to here any excuses, arguments or snappy comments. Just go."She says. She finally took a breath. She hadn't said anything till now. Her emotions finally broke and she was a wreck. James nods to her and leads justice to the car.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

"Clay stop!" Justice said and tried to push Clay off of James, but then her sister showed up. When Effie was done talking, Justice gave her sister a kiss on the head and let James lead her to the limo. She smiled a bit at Mac, he was holding two screaming babies and obviously didn't know what to do. "Hey, come here baby boy, baby girl." She said and took the babies from the manager. She softly rocked the babies and shushed them. She felt a little better after Effie's speech, but she didn't want to find a new bassist even though she knew that she needed to.


Clay just stood there, trying to calm down as Effie cried. He was ashamed. How could he lose his temper like that? He took a deep breath and gave Effie a hug and waited till she calmed down before leading her towards the limo. "I'm sorry, darlin." He said and kissed her head before climbing in and taking Adelaide from Justice.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Adelaide clung to her aunt and fussed. She wanted her mommy. She whimpered and fussed about. Mac gave Justice a thank you look.


James took Maxi so Justice could hold the fussing Adelaide. He sighed and looked at her. "So who knew Effie had that in her I am certain I didn't, I know Clay didn't. You okay?"he asked Justice.


Effie cryed into her husband shaking. She clung to him helplessly. When sobs had stopped wracking through her body.She sighs. "No I am sorry I shouldn't have flown off the handle like that."She says. He walked her back to the limo and they got in. She knocked on the window "to the cafe" she said to the driver. When Clay took Adelaide James gave Maxi back and sighed he closed his eye's. The car ride was a bit silent. They were all lost in thought.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

They reached the cafe and everybody headed inside. The silence was still deafening, but at least no one was lashing out at anyone. "I'll be right back." Justice said after ordering her drink and handing James the baby. She gave both her boys a kiss on the head and stepped outside. She grabbed her phone and dialed Char's number. She hadn't seen the girl at the funeral and Justice didn't like the fact that she had been missing for so long. Pushing the phone to her ear, Justice sighed when it went to voicemail. "Hey Charlie, it's me. Again. I, um, I know you probably don't want to see us, but please come home. We're all worried about you…" Justice hung up and looked at her phone. If Charlie hadn't made contact in a week then she was going to call the cops.


Clay sat next to James with Adelaide in his lap. The silence was still thick between them and Clay knew that he should apologize. All of them were having a hard time. Clay too a breath and playfully pushed James's head away. "Sorry." He said with a apologetic smile. Luke wouldn't want them to fight just because he was gone. "We're good?" Clay asked.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

James took Maxi and sighed. He nods."yeah man all good. were always good." James saud. He looked as Effie sat down next Clay. She ordered Luke's favorite drink. She found it gross but this was for him. James looked at her and made a joke. She smiled and laughed. That broke the tension. They all started talking about Luke and giving stories sad and funny. Effie raised her glass. To the man of the hour Luke a bassist among men." She says. The cafe cheered and nids to them."here here."James says. He held his son with a slight smile they would be okay.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

Justice walked back in wit a slight frown, but it disappeared when she saw the others were having fun. "Making a toast without me?" She teased with a small smile and took her seat next to James. She took a sip from her Coca-Cola and looked at Maxi, who was chewing on his fist. Maxi looked at her with a droolly smiled and slowly took out the fist from his mouth at his mother's glare. He happily clicked his tongue and squealed, reaching out for his mommy with a smile, kicking his daddy as he flared his legs.

 

[Dark_Psycho]

Maxi's squeals got Adelaide started. She started squeaking and laughing. Effie smiles and laughed at her daughter. She shook her head. Adelaide moved her arms and leg squeaking. "Hey little squeak toy."Effie said. She laughed and fixed her daughter's shirt. James laughed at Maxi."see what you start mr."He jokes.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

Justice laughed for the first time in days. "Maxi's his father's baby alright." She smiled at Effie and leaned into James's side, hugging his arm as she pulled her baby on her lap.


"Ow." Clay said when Adelaide gave him a mean kick. "And this one is defiantly like her mother." He huffed teasingly and handed the baby to Effie, giving her a kiss.


Maybe life wouldn't be so bad..


(Time skip to finding a new member?)


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[Dark_Psycho]

( Yeah )


It had been about two months since Luke died. Char wasn't found. She had skipped town not to return. They had mourned and became stronger. Effie James and Clay practiced, but felt empty with out Luke. Today was auditions for a bew bassist. Every hack who wanted be famous and thought they had talent signed up. Effie got her mic ready and bit her lip. She looked back at her husband. She was un sure, but they needed a new bassist. She was in a tight shirt and jeans. With boots. She pulled out Take me away the one Luke had been most involved in. She gave a calm breath in.She nods to her sister."let the talentless hacks in."She says


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

Justice nodded back and popped her head through the door. There were so many guys with their bases waiting. Taking a deep breath, cleared her throat and got everyone's attention. "Afternoon guys." She said with a smile. "I'm Justice (enter James's surname here), I am one of the bands managers. As you all know you are here to take the roll of the bassist. Don't fuck up." She have as advice an let the first guy in.


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[Dark_Psycho]

( ummm Cunningham lol I dk last name)


Effie would start them off she sighed when each bassist couldn't make it.she would nod and purse her thin lips."thank you will let you know" is all she would say.


Days passed and they still found bo one. Effie was getting frustrated. She stopped when a guy walks in."we were just about to close up for the day."She said. He nods and held a base."just give me one chance."He says."My name is Bormir, yes I know that is a movie character my parents had a sense of humor."He said.Effie lifted an eyebrow and nods. She goes to the mic and looked at the other's. Janes started this time and she started to sing.Effie actually finished the song. The guy was good. She nods to him."wait outside a bit please" she said."so?" She asked when he was gone."he is good."She said.James nods."He is the best we heard so far. He kept up well."James says.Effie turned to her husband.


Irish Ice Queen

 

[KneelingAngel]

Clay raised a brow and scanned Bormir over. He did keep up well, some slip up's here and there, but nothing major. Clay nodded, twisting a drum stick in his hand. "Some practice here and there and he should be fine." He said. "I'd say we'd give him a change. He's worth a shot."


Justice left during the try-outs. She needed to get to the hairdresser, do her nails and she wanted to by the babies something nice. Justice being Justice got her hair dyed a light silver and had her nails done at the same time. She watched how the five month old and the eight month old played together. They were growing up so fast. When she was done with her nails it was time to go shopping. "Who wants to go waste daddy's money?" She smirked as she put them in the double troller. Justice send James a text, asking how the try-outs were going and bought the kids some clothes for the babies plus something extra for herself, wanting to surprise James later tonight. They hadn't officially had their wedding night yet and Justice at least wanted James to have a proper night with her.