May you grow up to be righteous,
May you grow up to be true,
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you.
May you always be courageous,
Stand upright and be strong,
May you stay forever young,
May you stay forever young.

May your hands always be busy,
May your feet always be swift,
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift.
May your heart always be joyful,
May your song always be sung,
May you stay forever young,
May you stay forever young ( AUDRA MAE COVER OF A BOB DYLAN TRACK )
　
Bette couldn’t help but cry at the beautiful track – it was sung so perfectly and the words were so moving. She pulled Tina close and for a few minutes they were both lost in their own thoughts. Bette had been thinking a lot about how she would feel if she didn’t have both her parents in her life. She was proud of how close she was to them and couldn’t imagine what it would be like to face the day when one of them was dead. Bette could also feel Tina’s hurt – the blonde wasn’t sobbing but tears were streaming down her face. Bette did her best to hold Tina close and somehow give her the assurance and the love that she needed. When the song ended there was a silence – Bette couldn’t hide the fact that she had been crying and she didn’t want to
“That’s beautiful “
Tina sniffed “She knew that she was dying so she took a lot of care about what sort of funeral she wanted “
“And did you give her the funeral she wanted ?”
“Yes – she left detailed instructions – there was not a lot for us to do – just register the death – do some formal things and that was it. She had the funeral director sorted and down the most exact detail. “
“I guess bereaved people do not always make the best decisions “
“She said for weeks that she wanted “Always look on the bright side of life “ playing but she didn’t in the end. This one she wanted played for mom and me”
“That is a gorgeous track – I can see why it reduces you to tears “
“It was on my ipod for a long time – I think that’s how she found out about it. I had to take it off because when it would appear on shuffle it would just finish me off. Just hearing the first few bars gets me and I start sobbing “
“I am not surprised “ Bette pushed Tina’s hair out of the way and kissed her shoulder “She would be very proud of what a fantastic job you have got “
Tina sniffed and smiled “I know – she would have been thrilled “
“Your mom was so happy for you “
“She was “ Tina pulled a tissue out of a box on the sofa and blew her nose
“And Kate would have been proud of you as well “
“I just get so pissed that she was taken away from me before I really had the chance to make her proud of me “
“She was very proud of you darling – I know that she was”
“But I hadn’t done anything “
“You don’t have to do anything for a parent to be proud of you. I know that – the littlest thing that I do I find my mother or father telling other people about. “
“She would have loved you – I just dated all sorts of idiots and losers in those days – I wish she could know that I was capable of finding the right woman and being in a real relationship”
Bette kissed Tina’s shoulder again “She knows honey “
Bette didn’t know if she believed in the afterlife or whether she believed that the people you lost were still there and she had been thinking about it a lot because it was obvious that Tina deeply believed that her mother was still “present “
Tina cried for a few seconds “ I wish you could have met her “
“I wish that too sweetie – but I know that she was an amazing woman because ii know how much I love her daughter – her kind and loving and beautiful inside and outside daughter”
“Thank you “
“it’s the truth – you are amazing and I know that you have got a lot of that from your parents”
Tina laughed “ And you figure that it all must have come from Kate because Emma can be such a cow “
Bette chuckled “Your other mom has her good points “
“But you would have just adored Kate and she would have been so pleased that I was with you “
“I am pretty damn pleased that I with you as well “
Tina sniffed again and rubbed her eyes
“I never thought I could be happy again after she died “
“it’s a hard thing to deal with whatever age you are – you were 23 “
“I just think of all the things I never did with her or never said “
“She knew that you loved her Tina “
“I hope she did “
“Of course she did”
“That’s one of the reasons I am not cross about mom and Helena – I see how happy she is. She was destroyed by her illness and her death. Mom took it so hard – made worse by how alpha she is . When you are used to the whole world revolving around you it’s a nasty shock when the world has other ideas and deals you a blow like taking your wife away from you”
“I know that you have said in the past that Kate would find it funny”
“She would – my staid mom – Kate was the trendy one who I would go clothes shopping with – so for Emma to be the one having the hot and heavy affair with a 30 year old millionaire would have tickled her “
“Are you going to see Emma today ?”
“I don’t know – I really dropped a huge clanger when I said that I wanted to take you to the cemetery – god I can be an ass “
“I didn’t want to tell you this until now in case it set you off – but Emma is going with Helena. Is that okay by you ?”
“Of course – why wouldn’t it ?”
“Because when I mentioned it to my mom that Helena was going to see Kate with Emma she asked me if I thought it was a little tasteless “
Tina twisted round “Its fine by me – I should have gone with her and I could kick myself for saying such a dumb thing but I so wanted to go there with you “
“I think it might turn out to be the right thing to do – Helena going with Emma is a step in the right direction for both of them. I don’t think either of them want a relationship now that is just all about sex and spending money”
Tina nodded and gently kissed Bette on the lips “Thank you for everything “
“I am just glad that you trust me enough to let me close to you when you are feeling as vulnerable as you are “
“Of course I do – I have always found it easy to open up to you – you are a very good listener”
Bette smiled – it wasn’t something that had often been said about her but there was and had always been a connection between them.
“Its what its about – you and I having a real relationship – its not always going to be sex and fun. I just want you to know that I am here in the good and the bad times for you “
“I do know that – thank you “ Tina kissed Bette on the lips and Bette pulled Tina into a hug.
When the hug had ended Tina rubbed her eyes
“Do you want to hear the other track she had played at the funeral ?”
“Are you up to it ?”
“Well I wasn’t planning to wear any mascara today – I do find some comfort in listening to these songs and thinking about her “
“I know it must be impossible on the anniversary of her death but you have to hold onto the good things -”
Tina nodded – she kissed Bette again and got up and changed the CD. She checked the CD cover and came back to join Bette on the sofa.
“You got a tissue ?” Bette asked. Tina smiled and discarded the used one in the waste basket and pulled a fresh one from the box – she handed one to Bette
“I love that you are such a softie “ Tina said smiling at Bette and realising for the first time that Bette had been crying as well
“Only for you and I don’t want it to get out “
“I think the cat is out of the bag – Helena and James know for sure what a softie you are “
“James keeps it to himself “ Bette said trying to maintain her “tough “ image.
Tina pressed PLAY and the second song started
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