With all the kids looking at her, and her looking at them, the next statement was obvious.

  Julianne: Are you kids ok?

  Max: (abruptly) Yeah...

  The four others eyes simmered on hearing that, and as for Julianne, she knew her son too well not to notice when he was trying to hide something.

  But also, she'd learned from experience that forcing things out of Maximillian Hunter had a habit of going awry, alot.

  And so, she turned her eyes to the other kids.

  Did one of them insult him, or harm him, or ridicule him?

  If so, was it his fault, or the fault of one of them?

  And if so, should she side with her child, or try to teach her son to be the bigger person?

  In a sense, she was stuck in thought.

  But, a sudden form of elation also encompassed her.

  She was finally a mother that had to deal with such problems. She almost smiled at herself. This is evolution.

  But she kept herself, and, quite easily, guessed who was responsible for the altercation.

  It was Tiffany, seeing how guilty she looked.

  And so...

  Julianne: (looking at Tiffany, speaking gently) Did something happen here?

  She didn't want to be too harsh.

  Ken, Luke and Rose shared glances quite nervously, before...

  Rose: It... well... we...

  Julianne: Hmm?

  Rose: It....

  And Rose could only motion Julianne towards the wall, which upon reaching her eyes, immediately made sense.

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  Julianne: I see...

  The photo of her family, of Max's family.

  And most importantly, a photo showing Max's father and her husband.

  Julianne only needed a few seconds to guess what had happened, why Max was suddenly so obtuse, and why they all seemed a bit shaken up.

  After all that was revealed that night, yet more weights had fallen on their shoulders.

  The room remained silent for a while after that, with the mother thinking of what to say.

  Just what could she say?

  Rose: I'm....

  Julianne: It's ok, Rose. It's ok.

  She turned to her son.

  Julianne: Maxie?

  Max: Mmmmmm.....

  Julianne sighed.

  It had been a long night, and it was about to get longer.

  Julianne: I suppose you'd all like to know about my husband.

  Tiffany, Luke, Ken and even Rose all froze.

  Was she really just going to...?

  Julianne sighed again, and, without saying another word, walked towards the kitchen, and prepared a cup of coffee.

  All the while the teens simply watched her in silence, every once in a while exchanging glances.

  The simple question in their minds was, "Just what was about to happen?"

  And Julianne, being a mother, would not let her son deal with explaining his father's death on his own.

  Perhaps she should have let him do it on his own, perhaps she should have let it go. But, that was motherhood.

  And in a few minutes, she returned with a cup of coffee.

  Julianne: Have a seat, all of you....

  They all sat down on the couches, one after the other, with Max sitting besides her, looking grouchy as she'd expected.

  Julianne: (thinking: Well... that's ma boy.)

  She calmly sipped her coffee once.

  Julianne: (sighs) His name was Preston Wes Hunter.

  That statement got all of their attention immediately.

  Tiffany: (thinking: Preston Wes....)

  Julianne: We... got married back on Neutron, and travelled here for a family vacation.

  She took a sip and made a nostalgic sigh.

  Julianne: Back then... Maxie was still a little boy.

  All their faces turned to Max in concern.

  Julianne: (sighs) He was... an incredible man, and an even more incredible husband and father. He was brave, strong willed, sharp witted...

  And at that point, even Julianne stopped.

  Memories of her husband started flooding into her mind.

  So much so, that she couldn't speak as clearly as she normally would.

  Max: (thinking: Mom...)

  They all noticed her hesitance to continue speaking.

  Anyone who'd met someone who'd lost someone would know, there is a certain sadness about them.

  Almost as though something in that very person's soul has been lost.

  If it is true, as many say, that when we make friends, close friends especially, that they become a part of us, then anyone who's lost someone looks as though there's a hole in their heart.

  Or rather, like something has been ripped out of their heart.

  Now, said heart can be refilled.

  However, all because it can, doesn't mean it is.

  That was that case in this situation.

  They could all feel it.

  The pain of the loss of Preston Wes Hunter the Hunter family.

  They both still missed him dearly.