Gillian arrived early at Wildwind the day of Dimitri's funeral, and walked around the gardens that Dimitri had loved. He said they reminded him of exoctic places he had visited, but that all the credit went to Peggy. Smiling at the memory, Gillian sat down on one of the stone benches in the deepest part of the gardens. With her eyes closed, and the intoxicating scent of flowers all around her, she couldn't see the black mourning clothes she wore, or hear the sadness in Edmund's voice. And for a time in the garden, she could forget that Dimitri was gone, and be comforted by the memories of their time together. But as all good things must end, reality came cruely crashing back and Gillian opened her eyes, completely aware of her mourning clothes, and that Dimitri was gone forever. "God, Dimitri," she held back her tears, she had to be strong today. "Even the garden's different with out you." Suddenly a feeling of such intense rage came over Gillian that she picked up a vase and hurled it at the garden walls. "It isn't fair!" Gillian screamed to no one; and just as her rage had come, it left, and she felt empty inside.
Hearing the crash, Ryan dashed through the maze of flowers to the part of the gardens where he saw Gillian, trying desperatley to stay strong today, with a shattered vase a few feet away. "Princess?" She turned to look at him and seeing the concern, she broke. "It isn't fair, Ryan. It just isn't." The tears of pain Gillian had tried to lock away for today came pouring out, as if those simple words had opened the flood gates. Wrapping his arms around her, Ryan silently wept for what this was doing to his princess, "Shhh...I know it isn't, Gilly. I know how much you loved Dimitri and I know this is hard for you, but I don't think Dimitri would want you to be hopeless. He loved you, and he would tell you to pick up the pieces and start again." Gillian pulled back and looked at Ryan, smiling. "And then he'd give me a credit card and tell me to go shopping." Tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, Ryan smiled. "It's a miracle the poor man had any money left." Gillian smiled, and then turned serious, running her hand down Ryan's cheek. "Thank you for coming today, I know how much you liked Dimitri and-" Placing a finger over her lips, Ryan silenced her. "I'm here for you, he meant more to you than anyone." Kissing the finger on her lips, Gillian nodded. "In my own weird way, I think I loved Dimitri most of all, beside Edmund of course. I thought of him as my father, and my friend. He was there when no one was, when I needed him." Smiling sadly she took Ryan's hand in hers, "Let's go up to the house to see if anyone needs help." Ryan nodded and let her lead him away.
Glancing around at the people gathered was a testament to just how special Dimitri was. Almost everyone in Pine Valley was present, from Erica to Adam and Liza. The sun seemed to mourn Dimitri as well, not shining as brightly as it usually did, Gillian noted. As the service began, Gillian felt Ryan take her hand, and she used him as a source to brave this service.
"Friends and family, we have come today to mourn the passing of a great man; Dimitri Merrick was both a devoted family man and a source of peace for troubled friends. As I look around today, I see just how much one man impacted our town. But to those who loved him, Dimitri was not just any man, he was an extraordinary man. Today the family of Mr. Merrick have all decided to give their own tributes to him."
Watching Edmund walk slowly up to the podium, Gillian could see the anguish in his eyes and she prepared herself for her tribute to Dimitri.
"My brother and I did not always get along," Edmund smiled sadly, "but Dimitri was there when it counted, which was often. He saved my life on more than one occasion, in more than one way. In return, I tried to save him when he was headed for destruction. We balanced each other out, when one was hot headed and quick tempered, the other was calm and thoughtful. And although I would give anything to have Dimitri still be here, I am proud to be his brother, and I am proud of what he did for me, for all of us, and I thank him, wherever he is for that." Edmund's lip quivered as he went back to his seat.
As Alex moved to make her tribute, Gillian felt Ryan wrap his arm around her waist, and she glanced up to him, smiling sadly.
"My husband and I had little time together. But Dimitri made sure that the few moments we did have were all special in there own way. He was so excited to come here and introduce me to all of you. He told me stories about fighting with Edmund and running WRCW. And he told me that he knew everything was okay if he could come downstairs each morning and see Ryan and Gillian fighting, while Eugenia tried in vain to make them stop." Alex smiled and wiped a stray tear from her cheek, "If anything, Dimitri loved and was proud of each of you for different reasons. He was a man to be honored and I thank you all for helping us do that today."
Alex stepped down and Gillian knew it was time for her to pay tribute to Dimitri. Taking a deep breath, she squeezed Ryan's hand before taking her place at the podium.
"I don't know how to put into words what Dimitri meant to me...to all of us. He was a father and a friend to me, and managed to understand me most of the time." Ryan smiled at the thought of anyone ever completely understanding Gillian. "Dimitri took in a spoiled Hungarian princess, and with some help and alot of patience, he managed to show me that money couldn't solve all my problems. He helped me and believed in me when no one else did. I was sitting in the gardens earlier, remembering how much Dimitri loved them. I was re-living the stories that he had told me, and thinking of all the wisdom he shared with me. I know that if Dimitri was here, he would be laughing at all of us for being sappy," everyone nodded, "but Dimitri is worth much more." Stepping down, Gillian bit her lip and felt her eyes water as Ryan embraced her. "You did good, Gilly." She could only nod.
Gillian couldn't stand the reception after the funeral, and she silently slipped out into the gardens again. She went to the same bench as before and cried all the tears she'd held in for the service. Gillian began thinking of all the times Dimitri had made the tears stop. "But now there's no Dimitri to make my tears go away." Gillian said to herself, wiping her eyes. "There's me." Standing up, Gillian wrapped her arms around Ryan. "Thank you...for today....for everything." Ryan wiped away the tears running down her cheeks. "I care about you, princess. I hope you know that you can always count on me to be where you need me." Gillian glanced up at Ryan, her dark eyes wet and shiny, and he knew what had to be said. "Gilly, can we sit and talk for a minute?" She nodded and they sat down together. "Seeing you like this lately, hearing you talk today, has made me realize how much I care about you. Things haven't been easy between us, and I know they'll never be simple, but the good things never come easy." Taking Gillian's hands in his, he felt his eyes water, "But I want to try again. After everything we've been through, for us to still care so much about each other has to mean something. Gilly.......princess....I love you." Gillian's eyes watered to the brim and her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
Clearing her throat, she spoke, "You don't know how long I've waited to hear those words again. I love you, too. I always have. Even when I hated you, I loved you." Leaning over, she kissed him lightly. "I guess something good can come out of every tragedy." Ryan said as he leaned over and kissed Gillian, sealing their second chance at love.