Iglesia Nuestra Senora Reina de Los Angeles or as it was often called La Placita means "the church of our lady queen of angels" was the oldest church in Los Angeles, it was located in the "little plaza" Downtown known as El Pueblo, where the settlement of Los Angeles began. With its traditional California mission-style architecture, the church hearkened back to much simpler times. The altar inside was gilded in gold sections, that highlight the paintings on the wall, adding to the simplistic beauty and old-country feel of the church.

Today, it was where the Consiglieri of the Z-Team, Gray, gathered Katherine_Pryde and the members her family, WallyWest and The Umbrella Academy and the remaining Los Angeles mobsters to pay respect to those who died in the bloody altercation that reverberated across the country not long ago.

"My friends and family, I gathered all of you here in this historical church to pay our final respects to the people that we lost. A simple and generic funeral that we often see is not enough to mourn our loss so I arranged this mass for the repose of the souls of the dead."

"I invited our very good friend, Father Francis to lead the funeral service today."

The priest wore a robe that was something like a long sleeved black dress with black buttons from the neck right down to almost the hemline, where the shiny toes of black boots were just visible poking out. Yet somehow it was still manly and the black of the robe looked sharp and crisp contrasted with the white of the dog-collar. Around his waist was tied a wide black tasseled sash and from his neck hung a gold cross as big as a pinky. Father Francis, was an ordained clergy who served as a priest for prisoners at the Buena Vista County Jail and since then had been a very close friend of Gray even when he pursued the mafioso ways. 

"But before we commence the religious ceremony. I would like to read a short poem by the famous Margaret Mead."

To the living, I am gone.
To the sorrowful, I will never return.
To the angry, I was cheated,
But to the happy, I am at peace,
And to the faithful, I have never left.
I cannot be seen, but I can be heard.

So as you stand upon a shore, gazing at a beautiful sea – remember me.
As you look in awe at a mighty forest and its grand majesty – remember me.
As you look upon a flower and admire its simplicity – remember me.
Remember me in your heart, your thoughts, your memories of the times we loved,
the times we cried, the times we fought, the times we laughed.
For if you always think of me, I will never be gone.”

Everyone's heads were down. Maybe it was them showing respect or maybe there were too afraid to look at what was coming. The coffins bearing the insignias of Red Lotus, Los Angeles Shipping Consolidated, Disposition, Hotel California and Assassin's Order, were pulled from the hearse by a bunch of strong men, all wearing suits. The silence dwelled as they entered the church. It wobbled as they carried it to the front and gently placed it down. The coffins were dark stained cherry and they were perfectly polished. They were  cushioned with silky lining. They seemed inviting for Gray but the old man knew better.

"It's crazy how things can turn upside down for you. You see the person every day and suddenly, they're gone and when they go, a part of you goes with them too. Who knew where they were going to end up if there even was a heaven. I liked to believe that the place is inviting and calm and there's nothing but good in it."

"Everyone, I encourage you to deliver a eulogy to the altar after the ceremony and ask you to welcome the friends and relatives of the deceased from other cities so that they can pay their respects as well.

Gray urged the priest to begin the requiem for the fallen.

"Father Francis, please give us something from Matthew. I may have to convert after all of this."

Father Francis readily obliged, opened his Holy Bible and started reading the 28th verse of the 11th chapter from the book Matthew as Gray wiped the tears that has fallen from his mournful eyes.

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...

Wally's convoy of vehicles pulled up to the service and he exited the back of the car at a snails pace. He was always moving so fast, but today his legs felt tired along with the rest of his body. It wasn't a day he was expecting to ever come, although after the loss of Zoom he shouldn't have been surprised that death would come for more of those he had come to know and call friend. It was the way this life went for everyone. You just couldn't escape death forever...

He patted Gray on the shoulder as he approached the grave sites, "Thank you for putting this together Gray. I've had so much to do and even a speedster such as myself can only get so much done in such a short amount of time. I'm glad to have you over there in Pasadena to help Katherine out with her operations moving forward."

There were many of the remaining Los Angeles mobsters standing around, chatting, and paying their respects to the fallen. He could see Katherine who he nodded to from across the grassy ocean that lay between them. At least that was what it felt like since between them were a couple of graves. She was definitely a huge help in keeping him going after recent events. 

Wally even spotted Leanna and Gimpanzee paying their respects to the fallen as they felt it was needed after their move over to the district of Hollywood. That made him smile, which was a hard thing to do today. It was time to go pay his respects to at least a couple of the men who lay in those coffins. 

Zaheer's coffin had a large Red Lotus symbol carved upon it and ralph_lombino's was some of the finest mahogany they could get their hands on. No expense was too much to make sure they got a proper burial. He put his hand on each coffin and said a few words under his breath to pray for them wherever they were now.

He then turned to the people gathered around, "We lost some great men and women these past few days. We are also now looking at a new and different future ahead of us in the city of Los Angeles. You're all strong people who have stuck around to support Katherine and I as we try to rebuild. I thank you for that. I won't ask you to forget the people we've lost or the memories you have with them. Mourning is part of life. I will ask that you take what you learned while working with them and help it guide you as you continue to become better members of this thing of ours. We won't stop moving forward. We will not give up. Together we can build something great here in this city."

With that he walked over and took a seat to rest his legs for a bit. His old age was really starting to catch up to him, even if a speedster aged slower than your normal mobster....