February 28th.. a little over a month of him being notified of his ex-husband's death, he needed to attend a funeral, one planned by his father who survived him. Octavius did send him an owl a few weeks prior to request if he could sing a song at his ex's funeral, and the answer he got was a yes. That morning, he put on his vibrant green suit out of distaste for the ex, his sons walked out of their rooms in their dark colored tuxedos. Clark with a dark blue, Simon with a dark orange, and Ben with a dark purple. He had told them the night before that if they wanted to eat something in the morning, they had to just grab something out of the fridge or make some cereal.

They were doing the funeral services in a muggle church so all magic had to be left at home, and he also made sure that his kids knew that. It was 9pm and they were getting into the car to go to the big church in Perth. It wasn't too far from the house, but he figured for when they took the body down to his grave, he'd do what the muggles do and drive behind the hearse slowly.

When they got to the church, the four got out of the vehicle, quietly closing the doors and walking up the steps to the church. He had to sign in his name to say he was there. Octavius opened the door and saw the coffin in the middle of the aisle between the two columns of pews, thinking it was slightly odd in where it was placed, where he was given the thought that it was placed on a stand in the front of the church normally, but okay. That was how it was done and he was to accept it.

There was not even a stand with the deceased individual's name or picture on it nor how long they were alive, but everyone who attended seemed to know who he was, himself and his children included. As he walked up to the coffin, he just looked then walked down to his own pew, where his crying children would join him after they muttered their goodbyes.

The generic funeral song was being played, and he was starting to feel a little torn, regretting even divorcing him, as he left the world a little too soon. He was only 38.. Octavius was just a little younger, and he only hoped he wasn't next.

Ten minutes passed and the last of the Carter family streamed in, said their goodbyes, bawled and sat in their pews. He noticed that his sons weren't even fighting today, where they normally would be. Did his ex really have an impact on his kids? A positive one? He was a cheapskate though, giving his kids junk items as part of the will.

So why were the kids sad about it? They lost one of their fathers, yes, but he was still alive. He was there for them. He turned to them. "Guys, it is okay to cry, but remember I'm here for you if you need any form of consolation." They were already crying, so what he said was basically meaningless but hopefully they understood what he intended.

He heard his name and he stood up, going to the stage where he was handed a microphone. It was the agreement between him and Joseph's dad for him to sing one song. Octavius never did tell the father that he was not a good singer though. But he just began singing regardless.

Four minutes later, he ended. Clark just stared at Octavius judging him with an expression that told him that he was awful, but the audience kept their mouths closed, probably mentally judging him, but it didn't matter. Not to him anyways.

Thirty minutes down the line, everyone except him has spoken about Joseph, and he knew he was about to get his turn. Ben finished his heartfelt speech when he then moved back to his seat. Octavius stood up and walked up to the stand, taking a moment to figure out what he was going to say.

"Joseph was the love of my life, marrying me after I broke it off with my ex-wife, and when we got the divorce last spring, I was not very happy. These kids needed someone to care for them over breaks and days that I couldn't be home, as I would've been busy as the Professor. He was a great father, as you just heard from Ben, Simon and Clark. A man who is cherished and adored and made memories that made people happy." Yes, he held his tongue and figured that outside of his presence, his horrid voice, and his intention of wearing something distracting at a funeral, he needed to still show at least a bit of respect. "We intended on going to the States one year, but we didn't, and I wish we did. I think he would've enjoyed it tremendously. If he had any regrets, I hope he let it go before his sudden departure. I miss him, Joseph, one day I'll see you again."

It was time to bury him. He stood up, just like everyone else did and they faced the aisle where Joseph's brothers came out to lift the coffin, two other men joined in taking the back. Slowly, they marched out of the church, the doors held open for them. His mother seemed to be torn apart, blowing her nose every few seconds and wiping her tears. She was crying so loud, you could hear her sniffling.

They followed as everyone else got behind the coffin being carried and Octavius stood in the back, behind his kids to make sure they stayed in line.

They were taking the body to another graveyard, one in Corsiehill. It was normally an 8 minute drive, but given that it was a funeral, it would've taken longer. As the coffin was loaded into the hearse, everyone got into their cars and put up a purple flag on their car and allowed the immediate family, the parents, to follow the hearse before they followed suit and Octavius followed along.

A green canopy was set up when they arrived, over an open grave, a mound of dirt piled on the side. The coffin would soon be laid on the stretcher that laid over the grave. His tombstone glistened in the sunlight. On it, it said "Joseph Rosalyn Carter. November 29th 1986- January 21st 2024. Bless our angel, he left us too early."

The funeral director got up to say a few words before letting the burial process begin. "And as we now hold your memory in our hearts and send you on your final journey... May you forever rest in peace with the certain knowledge that our love goes with you."

And now he was being lowered. And now Octavius broke down. He felt like something pulled his strings, and he now had to accept that he would lose his ex forever and there was no way he would ever come back. Yes, he knew he was dead, and he knew that he couldn't get another Joseph.. but there was some form of hope in him that hoped that Joseph would return, that Octavius's distaste for the man was not going to last. Perhaps Octavius could've apologized before he died, but alas, that opportunity was derived from him. As memories of their wedding, their honeymoon, adopting the boys, travelling, buying their house together went through his mind, he cried, loudly.

Whoever said men don't cry have obviously never been loved. 'I love you. Please, I want to see you again one day, I really really feel broken. All these good memories for what? I don't know how I lived without you. You meant the world to me. You lifted the mountains when I was carrying so much weight on me. You cared for the kids. You made people happy. Please, Joseph, tell me I'll see you again one day.'

The service ended. They were invited to a banquet but Octavius felt he didn't want to go, that they'll make lunch when they get home. Octavius waited for everyone else to leave, except for the remaining people who stayed by the buried Joseph.

His kids hopped in and he took the purple flag off the car, only to drive home. His heart felt like it sunk so deep in the unknown and he wanted out of it, to hope that Joseph truly went to a better place. It was conflicting for him, for many reasons but it wouldn't stop him from driving back home.

They got home and the kids hopped out of the car when he laid his arms down on his dashboard, his head laying on the steering wheel. The happy moments of his marriage played in his head, the date they had prior marriage, the first time they met, and the negative moments of the marriage, and post the divorce. Octavius had his regrets, but he hoped Joseph didn't.

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