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Everyone is there. Everyone who loved Spencer, who was there for him through everything. Aaron and Derek ride together, Derek's parents are out of time but they sent flowers. Elle, Penelope, and JJ all rode with JJ's parents. All of Spencer's teachers came. Gideon came too.
When Penelope sees Derek she bursts into tears.
"It's okay Penny, everything is gonna be okay," Derek assures her
The friends all hug, then they sit down next to Aaron.
"Family and friends, I welcome you into this gathering which is made sacred with the spirit of love and friendship you bring to this gathering. On behalf of Spencer's family and friends I would like to say thank you so very much, to all of you who have come to be with them today," the preacher says, "to start off today, I would like to invite Aaron Hotchner up. He was Spencer's foster father, who then adopted him,"
Aaron walks to the front of the room, slowly and sadly.
"Spencer was a bright spot in my life. I knew from the moment I brought him home he was amazing. He knew how to bring a smile to everyone's face. Even though my time with Spencer was shorter than I would have liked, I saw him grow. When I first brought him home he was quiet, scared, lonely. In his last days he was surrounded by the people who loved him. He made so many great friends," Aaron has to pause to wipe his tears, "Mitch Albom said 'Death ends a life, not a relationship.' I know that this is true, I know that those of us that are here will never stop loving Spencer," Aaron wipes his tears again then returns to his seat.
Derek knows what comes next, it's his turn. It's his turn to talk about his boyfriend. His turn to stand up there and cry about the fact that his best friend died because of the years of abuse he had to suffer through.
"Next I would like to invite Derek Morgan up," the pastor says
Derek takes a deep breath and walks to the front.
"Spencer Reid Hotchner was my best friend, the person I trusted most, and my boyfriend. I was his first friend when he moved here, and I was one of the last people who held his hand before he died. He was an amazing person and it sucks that I have to refer to him in the past tense now. He didn't deserve to die, he was so amazing and anyone you talk to can tell you that. He was so smart and kind. He never made you feel stupid for asking a question and he would always hear you out. I get that everyone dies at some point, but I don't understand why Spencer had to die so soon. He went through so much, finally found a good family, and then he was ripped from our arms. I will always miss Spencer, I will always remember Spencer, I will never let the memory of Spencer fade," Derek sobs and walks back to his seat
The rest of the funeral drags on, then they put Spencer in the ground. It's horrible to see such a young kid put in the ground in a box. The sobs that fill the area are heartbreaking. But that's how it goes. Someone is born, they live through some kind of hell, they find their people, they die. That's the cycle of life, like it or not. Nobody is invincible, nobody is immortal, nobody lives forever. There is no escaping the fact that you will die someday, there's no escaping the fact that people you love die. The only thing that you can do is keep going. Keep going for the people around you.