Black was sitting on her loft bed when the door bell rang. "BLACK GET THE DOOR!" Her aunt called from her shower. The woman had super hearing I'm telling you. Black grumbled as she shoved her bookmark in her book and climbed downstairs. She opened the door and tilted her head when she saw three men in military uniforms. "Hi is your mother home?" One of them asked and one of the other guys face palmed while the other glared at the guy. Black narrowed her eyes. "No. She's dead," she said gruffly. The man who asked looked like he felt bad about 'offending' her. "Sorry...uh...is your...uh...guardian...home?" The guy asked. "My aunt is in the shower so I'll have to do," Black grunted and stepped aside, motioning for the men to come inside. Two of them looked extremely upset and she realized she recognized them. They were her dad's army buddies, Felix and Tony. "You guys are home?" She asked them happily and hugged them. "Where's Dad?" They looked at their feet. "You might wanna sit down for this B," Felix said sadly. Black slowly sat on the couch and the three guys sat across from her. The first guy opened his mouth to say something but Tony cut him off. "You won't say anything. You didn't even like him. Like hell you'd tell his daughter-" he stopped short. "Damn it," he grumbled. "Tell me what?" Black said, her usually strong voice reduced to a whisper. "Your dad was a great man," Felix said. "You know that." Black's voice wavered as she nodded and asked, "W-was?" The guys nodded gravely. "Coco died B...he...he died protecting his friends..." Tony said. "There was a grenade...he absorbed most of the blow," Felix explained. "I'm so sorry B." Black's face fell and she leaned back on the couch. She gathered her legs and arms into a ball in the corned of the couch and silent tears fell. After a few silent moments, she looked up. "You," she said to the first guy. "I've never met you?" "I'm Sargent George," He explained. (for lack of better name) Black resisted the urge to punch the guy. Black's dad had told her many stories about the Sargent and none of them good. The guy really didn't like her dad. "We figured you'd want these," Tony handed her a pair of dog tags on a chain. "Thanks," Black whispered and closed her hands over the tags with her father's name. She started breathing faster, trying to keep from crying. "Do...do you want something to drink?" She asked, standing up. "That'd be wonderful!" George smiled. "I'll take a water please." Tony and Felix shook their heads. Black walked into the kitchen to get a water bottle. She rested her elbows on the marble counter and set her head in her hands. She started breathing fast and watched tears splatter to the counter. She quickly wiped them away and grabbed the water bottle. "Thanks," George smiled when she handed him the bottle and sat down. "I'm so sorry about this B," Tony apologized. "We have to go." Black nodded in understanding and walked wth them to the door. She stood their and watched them leave. She ran up to her bedroom and cried into her pillow. "Black!" Her aunt called. "Black who was it?!" But she didn't answer.

(Time skip to funeral)
Black help back tears as she stood in her nicest clothes, black leggings, black long sleeve sweater, black heeled boots, and laced black choker. She stared at her father's casket, counting the Stars and Stripes on the flag over the casket. She looked up when she heard her name. She stood up from her seat with her three best *cough* only *cough* friends and aunt. She stood at the podium and recited the speech she'd so far failed to do without crying. "My dad was a great man. He died protecting the things he loves, his friends, his family, and his country." Her speech went on for about three minutes when her voice cracked. She cut short because she didn't want anyone to see the tears in her eyes. "Thanks," she said and stepped off stage. She walked over to her seat and muttered to her aunt, "Im gonna run to the restroom real quick." She walked to the door and the moment it shut she broke out in a full sprint to the bathroom. She ran into the door and stood at the sink with her elbows on the rim and her head in her hands. Her fingers dug in her hair. 'Don't cry don't cry,' she begged herself. She heard someone knock on the door. "Uh...B-Black?" A voice called from the other side of the door. "You alright?" "Y-yea," Black called back. "I'm fine. You do know this is the girls' room right Sparky?" She rightened herself and wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her sweater. She walked out of the bathroom and saw Flame blushing furiously. "S-sorry. Soot said to..." he trailed off. "It's fine. I'm fine," Black said. Flame made a doubting look. "No you're not," he said. "I know when you're lying." He smirked. "You can't hide anything from me." He quoted Black. Black laughed weakly and rolled her eyes. "I don't know," she sighed. "I was never really close with Aunt Yarrow and since Mom died, Dad was the only one I could really talk to. Now...now he's gone too." She wiped her eyes again. Flame stepped forward and tentatively hugged her. She hugged him back as she started to cry. "You have me," he said quietly. "And Soot and Spider." Black smiled gratefully. "Thanks Sparky," she smiled. "We'll always be here for each other. I promise," Flame said. "We better get back," Black said, backing out of the embrace. "before Aunt Yarrow gets any ideas."