Ryan kept running and running and running. Oooooh, man, did his heart hurt. Mainly, it hurt because there was so much electricity running through him right now, and if he had stuck around much longer his mom would have to mourn him as well. But the worst reason was that he hoped he never saw his mother like that again. The speedster ran past New York City and kept going upwards towards Canada.

As he ran, he thought about his dad. His father was really gone, and he was never coming back. He slowed his running as he ran through the Canadian line, completely stopping in a patch off woods. It was the middle of the night, no one was around. No one would hear him. He took out his phone and sent a quick text to Juliettee, telling her where he was. After that, he threw his phone into his pocket and sat down against a tree, feeling himself starting to break away from reality.

It took the message a few minutes to reach her phone, but she felt something wrong before her phone dinged. She was still comforting Ryan's little sister while Alex and Crystal consoled Ariana. She pulled out her phone and didn't have to read much to know where he was. She gently propped Melanie on a couch pillow before she opened a portal to his location.
The angel stepped through, looking over the patch of woods to find Ryan leaning against a tree. "Oh, mon petit lapin," she sighed, walking over to him. She knelt beside him, gently placing her hand on his knee. "Ryan?"

Ryan looked up at her, smiling softly. "Sorry for bothering you enough to bring you all the way out here...I just can't really be at home right now." He explained, looking down. He wasn't crying, but his eyes weren't really reflecting any light at all. "I'm not sure what's going to happen now, with my family and all." He explained, thinking of his mom. It probably wasn't going to hit his sister as hard as it would for him, and for him not as bad as it hit his mom. His sister was so little, she probably doesn't fully understand what is going on.

Juliettee gave him a worried. She took in a deep breath as she took his hand. "In time, love," she told him, softly rolling her thumb over his knuckles. "In time you all will be fine." She paused a moment before adding under her breath: "Trust me, I understand." She brought his hand closer to her so she could kiss the back of his hand. She was younger than Ryan but older than Melanie when she had lost her parents, so she knew the pain of loss but also the unknowingness of losing someone.

Ryan sighed deeply and leaned against Juliettee. "Babe, I'm really not sure what I'm feeling right now. I'm feeling alot of things...but I don't feel anything at the same time." He muttered, trying to explain but doing a really poor job of it. He chuckled quietly. "Yeah, I'm not good at these heart to heart things." He looked at her, his eyes warm. "Thanks for just being here."

Juliettee gave soft hums for replies, resting her head against his. She continued to hold his hand and brush gentle sweeps over his knuckles with her thumb. "Firstly, you feel complicated," she told him softly, "and secondly, I'm always here for you, love." She smiled back at him then kissed his cheek. "But I suggest you cry if you need to, or do whatever to make yourself feel better. It'll help."

Ryan was quiet for a few minutes. "...That's the thing. I don't feel like crying, and I'm not sure why." He said, sitting back up to look at Juliettee. "I just feel really...empty?" He explained, making it sound like a question. His brows mashed together, his eyes looking down. He leaned forward, resting his forehead on her shoulder, shivering. "Oh...w-wait a second." He said, trying to make a joke. His voice broke. Suddenly, her shoulder started to get wet.

Juliettee pouted her bottom lip at him stating he felt empty. She suddenly felt the wetness soak through her sleeve. "Oh, baby," she cooed, practically pulling him onto her lap so that she could cradle him. "Everything will be fine," she told him, cupping the back of his neck and letting her fingertips play with the hairs that curled at the nape of his neck.

Ryan sat there quietly, not making any noise for a few minutes. He just shuttered and shook, occasionally sniffling. He graciously allowed Juliettee to touch him in this weak state. "...thanks." He said, after the wave of emotion passed, slowly sitting up and smiling at her. His eyes were puffy, but they weren't watering anymore. He looked really tired, but it was clear he wasn't going to be sleeping tonight.

Juliettee slid her hand to his cheek, giving him a sweet smile. "No need to thank me, love," she murmured, using her thumb to smudge away the streaks of tears on his cheek. She leaned forward and lovingly pecked his cheek. "Do you want to stay here for awhile?" She asked him.

Ryan slowly nodded. "...y-yeah." He replied, sheepishly. "Your crazy butler isn't going be too upset with you staying in the middle of the woods, early in the AMs, with a crazy goofball like Moi, right?" He asked, smirking.

Juliettee rolled her two-toned eyes at him. "I've done worse with you and she still finds out," she told him. "Even if she doesn't like you, she knows I'll be fine. I can kick your a*s any day so there's not much to worry about." She wrapped her arms around his waist then leaned forward once more to press multiple kisses on his cheek.

"I know you could," Ryan replied, closing his eyes as he accepted her kisses, "you keep me in check. You're welcome to kick my ass, any day, babe." He joked, smiling. He looked up at the sky. Even though they were in the in the woods, the sky was still visible. The stars shown brightly here unlike the dim stars back in Central City. That's when a thought crossed his mind.

"...I might have to become the Flash now." The words left his lips with out him even thinking. His father was gone, surely someone was going to notice that there was no red blur running around. Bart could pick up the mantle, but he wasn't much older than Ryan. Neither of the boys really showed too much interest in becoming the Flash, even though Bart was Kid Flash and Ryan could make Bart eat his dust any day.

Juliettee giggled at his comment as she pressed one last kiss on his cheek. She let her head rest on his shoulder, looking up at the sky with him. Her soft smile faded when he mentioned becoming the Flash. She adjusted her head to look at him. "Do you have to become him?" She asked softly, shifting so that she could unfold her wings and surround them with the feathery masses. It wasn't so much that she thought it was a bad idea, but rather she was worried that it would too much for him.

"I...I dunno. If I really have to, I'm sure the Justice League will come find me." Ryan answered, he looked back down at the grass. "Maybe I should stay as Whirlwind, at least a little bit longer." He admitted, feeling stupid that he brought the subject up. "But for now, let's just take the moment in?" He asked, looking at his girlfriend.

Juliettee watched for a moment longer before softly smiling at him. She hummed softly in agreement, moving her head so she was comfortably nestled beside him, her arms still wrapped around his waist.

Preparations for the closed-casket funeral took only a few days. A nice contribution from Bruce Wayne himself helped get everything ready. Ryan had to put on a suit with a black tie. He thought he hated wearing suits before, but now he REALLY hated wearing suits. Dozens of unmasked heroes came to pay their respects to the fallen speedster. Waiola came with Crystal, Samuel came with his wife, Ranji, Dick and the rest of the bat fam came with Bruce Wayne, the Martians, the Hawks, Ryan even caught the unmasked Captain Cold briefly stepping into the cathedral.

The few days it took to have the funeral prepared, Juliettee hardly left Ryan alone. She put as much of her busy work as she could to the side so that she could be with him when he wanted her around. She was worried about him and about the whole ordeal. She was next to him in the cathedral in a simple black dress; none of the fashionable accessories she would normally wear either. She felt like her large white wings were distracting enough to the few who could see them.

Ariana was dreading the day of the funeral. She didn't have much hope that she was going to make it through the service without blowing every fuse in a five mile radius. Luckily, as much luck as she given, she had a bracelet that, if she needed, she could activate and prohibit her powers as to not electrocute everyone. Walking through the threshold of the cathedral in her black suit with her daughter's hand in hers was like walking on knives. She looked to be the physical definition of exhausted and depressed; not that she was messy looking, but her expression and movement suggested it. She had Alex behind her most of the time, occasionally taking Melanie who was dressed in a black dress so that the little girl didn't squeal at other people in greeting. She was surrounded by some many people who respected her husband, and it hurt her even more. The glimpse of unmasked Captain Cold didn't even surprise her.

Ryan trailed behind his mother silently. If it weren't for how strongly Ariana felt about this situation, Ryan wouldn't be there. If he did what he wanted, he'd be back in Canada with Juliettee at his side. He wanted to be sitting back in the deserted woods. His hand was holding onto Juliettee's. Her warmth was going to get him through this service.

Bruce walked up to Ariana. "How are you doing?" He asked calmly, not trying to cause her anymore grief with anything too touchy. He was sure she had already been told 'i'm sorry for your loss' too many times in the past 3 days, he didn't feel like repeated those words.

Dick trotted over to Ryan and Juliettee. "Hey, Ryan." he said, looking down at the younger boy. It was scary how much he looked like Wally. "Hey, Dick." Ryan replied quietly. Dick nodded, and patted his shoulder. "Your dad was a great man." This was so awkward. "One of the best." Ryan replied with a smile. There was no sadness in his voice, but it was obvious he was trying his best to keep his emotions in check.

Ariana's milky blue glass eyes seemed to barely graze over Bruce. "I've been better," she answered sourly. Alex returned with Melanie, the child having seemed calmed down from her excited state. The Spanish woman was glad to take her child back and into her arms. She picked Melanie up to prop her on her hip. The little girl grinned at Bruce with her childish happiness. It was like a stab to Ariana's heart with Melanie's blissful ignorance.

Juliettee smiled politely at Dick when he approached, but directed her attention on Ryan when he responded. She pressed her lips together, as she had done every time he seemed too calm for the situation. Of course, she had been the only witness to see him break down before. She gently squeezed his hand in assurance.