Back home, your father wants no part of Allison's 'funeral'.

Unsurprisingly, your father was not all that keen on the idea of attending a funeral for your mother, under the pretense that it was for Allison, and instead decided to have a memorial of sorts with just the four of you instead. This basically consisted of you, him, David and Tabitha planting some flowers in the back garden (your mother's favorite) and saying a few words about how much she meant to you all. It was incredibly emotional and deeply moving, yet rather cathartic at the same time. It certainly made the idea of burying your girlfriend's body less daunting. Your father, once again having no problem with you attending.

And so, the following week, you put on your best clothes and headed to the church, accompanied by Randall who offered to go with you. At first you were resistant to his tagging along, thinking it might make you feel like even more of a fraud, but you figured, as dysfunctional as his and Allison's relationship was, and even though you knew she was really alive, Randall didn't. This was his chance to say goodbye to someone that he truly believed he would never see again. You couldn't take that away from him.

It did however bring up the question as to why your parents weren't attending - seeing as Allison was basically like a fifth member of the family (sixth if you included Randall himself), but fortunately this time you had an excuse to fall back on.

"They can't make it unfortunately. My Dad's brother isn't so well and they've gone up to visit him for a few days," you told him, which he thankfully bought. As did the many other people at the funeral who inquired.

The service itself was a very surreal experience, but thankfully you got through it unscathed. Though you did find yourself welling up at times. Over the thought of your mother, and at the thought of Allison having to now take over her life. At having lost 22 years and all the opportunities that might have been. A brief word with the Lowry's at the wake revealed that they were feeling the exact same. But Mrs. Lowry seemed to have a outlook that just couldn't be broken. As far as she was concerned, her daughter was alive and no matter what else happened, that was a blessing in itself.

"Allison's been asking after you again," she told you, having not actually spoken to her since you'd visited the house. Only sent a few text messages here and there. What with your mother's memorial and the funeral, you hadn't really gotten the chance, but you did really want to speak her again, having felt a lot more positive after last time.

Obviously not wanting to attend her own funeral, thinking that too weird, nor be seen out in public just yet, Allison had opted to stay home. Apparently her days now were spent mostly watching trashy television up in her room and listening to music, and according to her mother she was going a little stir crazy. "Once we start looking for somewhere for her to live things should get a little better. It will get her out and about again and give her something to do. But until then, she really could use a little company."

"Yeah, I'm sorry. I'll try and get over there soon. Tomorrow maybe."

"That'd be wonderful," Mrs. Lowry smiled, giving you a hug as she did. Telling you then that, "You're always welcome at ours, Tim. You're practically family. Just because Allison is in a different body, it doesn't mean that the relationship the two of you shared just disappears. She needs you. And I'm guessing you need her too."

She'd hit it right on the head pretty much. As strange and as awkward as it was having your girlfriend now inside your own mother's body, she was the one person you could tell anything to. She was the one person that you knew could truly help you get through this. "Yeah. I really do miss hanging out."

"Well then, we'll see you tomorrow," she said, before disappearing again into the crowd.

You meanwhile, found Randall and decided to head on home. Having had about as much as you could take of this whole fake grieving thing.

The next day then, you got on your bike and peddled over to Allison's house as promised, receiving a warm greeting from Mrs. Lowry at the door, before being once again ushered up the stairs towards Allison's room. This time, on seeing her sat there, watching TV on her computer, you didn't get quite so much of a shock - finding her now dressed in your mother's much more familiar clothing. No longer looking like she was about to burst out of the material at any second (which you had to admit, you were glad of).

"Tim! Hey!" she grinned, on seeing you there, your mother's smile lighting up the room.

"Hey, yourself," you smiled back, finding it rather comforting seeing your mom's face again. Especially after both the funeral and the memorial.

This time the chat started flowing even quicker than it had done the last time, it almost feeling like the old days again as you made fun of her choice of television program and she retaliated in kind with some of the names of things you liked to watch. The conversation did inevitably turn to the funeral of course - Allison having heard about it from her parents, but seemingly wanting your thoughts of how it went too. As well as who all that you knew actually showed up. She seemed to find the idea that Randall had gone with you rather amusing, though did indeed start to look on him with a **** light, telling you that "perhaps he isn't as much of an idiot as I always thought he was".

With all of that unpleasant stuff out of the way then, things between the two of you pretty much resumed from where they had been the week before. You chatted about friends, you chatted about things you'd both done together, and things you'd been planning to do. You talked movies, music and everything in between. Allison making little mention of the fact that she now wore your mother's body, or spoke with her voice. Well... other than when you briefly commented on her choice of clothing and how it suited her much better.

"Yeah. Your mom had some nice things. They're a little more sophisticated and 'motherly' looking than I'm used to. But at least your mom's fashion sense wasn't quite as lame as my mom's. I don't look like I've walked straight out of the 70's or something!"

"Hey! I heard that," Mrs. Lowry replied, appearing from outside in the hallway. Once again to dole out refreshments - this time orange squash and cookies.

Chiding her daughter for being cheeky (it once again being odd to see), she asked her then if she had mentioned to you about the apartment hunt, before disappearing again out the door.

Asking what she meant, Allison then explained that they'd already started looking into apartments for her, "...Yesterday evening in fact, after the funeral. I've been getting quite a few phone calls from friends of your mom wondering where I am and stuff. It's getting kind of awkward coming up with excuses." You didn't doubt that for a second. Finding it rather difficult yourself lying all the time. And seeing as Allison was obviously having to pretend to be your mom while she lied, it presumably made it all the harder. "I know it's only been a couple of weeks since I got out of hospital, but I figure with this money they gave us, it's probably better to use it for something productive and get back out there into the world again. Rather than just squandering it and hiding away in here all day."

"Yeah, makes sense I guess," you said, well aware that she was going to have to move out at some point (though admittedly having not expected it to be quite this soon). "Are your folks cool with that though? You living on your own so soon after..."

"Surprisingly yes. They obviously don't want me to move anywhere too far, and I imagine they'll be checking in on me every five minutes. But mom says it'll be good for me to get some independence."

That was all very well, but you were more concerned about how she felt, rather than her parents. "And what about you? What do you think?"

"Well you know me, I've been **** to get my own place for years now," Allison smiled, having still lost none of that sunny disposition of hers. "Plus I think it'll help get me more used to my new role now. I imagine once your dad starts telling everyone that him and your mom have 'separated', I'm gonna have to pull out all the stops pretending I really am Jennifer Connors. What with all the questions I'm sure to be bombarded with from all of her friends and stuff."

"Yeah, I guess so. But Dad said he won't do that until he knows you're settled anyway. So you don't have to worry about that just yet at least."

"That's good. How is he doing anyway?"

Informing her that he was okay, and had actually been a lot better since the memorial a few days ago, the conversation then moved onto school - seeing as the beginning of term was growing ever nearer. It was sure to be weird going back there without Allison by your side. Sure, you'd still have Randall, but things wouldn't be the same. Plus, you'd no doubt get an influx of people pitying you for having lost your girlfriend. An idea that you weren't particularly looking forward to either.

"Well, just so long as none of those other girls make any kind of move on you or anything," Allison said, folding her arms over her chest. Sounding kind of jealous.

You just laughed it off however, telling her that you doubted there was anyone who'd actually want to put a move on you. Still, it did feel slightly awkward for a moment, and highlighted just how fucked up this situation really was. Allison, even though she was now technically your mom, not being ready yet to let go of you as her boyfriend. Mind you, you weren't exactly ready to get back out there either... Not when you still had feelings for her too.