something you carry around with you ;

"Oh, I guess that's not overbearing then," Gale replied, "Sounds exactly like what she needs to be honest. I don't know much about sobriety though. I'm sure she has someone to talk to. Isn't that what they're supposed to do? Have sponsors and stuff?"

"Maddie has been fine. Though if I'm being completely honest, most of the times we ran into each other, I was drunk and it was at an event but when I wasn't, she was fine. Maybe she knew we needed to figure it out between us."

"Okay, if you're sure," Gale replied, raising an eyebrow. He took a deep, letting whatever he had prepared slip from his mind and just starting with, "I figured it was about time that we talked."

"I take it you were going for a different colour," Gale replied, not even trying to stifle his laughter and letting out a soft chuckle, "Do you not have the reversal potion or spell?"

"Speaking as someone who has two siblings who can become overbearing and also someone who can be overbearing myself I'm sure, I would be careful about the Erin one. Keeping an eye on her is great but sometimes people need to go on their own journeys," Gale explained, "That is a good idea though. To make more friends at work. I could probably do with that one as well. I'm hoping that comes with becoming healthier mentally too."

"No lying, I can promise that," Gale agreed, nodding, "And the big things, I'll tell you the big things no matter how much I don't want to. I am hoping there aren't too many more bad big things though."

Gale needed to speak to Alec, talk to him about what he'd said or what they'd both said. He was just going to go to his office, planning to knock but finding the door open. He stepped forward and then spotted Alec stumbling, "I came to see you. Are you okay? Are you feeling alright?"

"Thanks, Freya," Gale said with a small smile, "Sometimes I do need the push," he admitted, "I haven't been up to much," he admitted, "Just mingling and catching up with people."

ASA BUTTERFIELD in Best Friends for Uber One / Uber Eats

"Perfect!" Maddie grinned. "So, shots? Maybe a glass of champagne, that sounds festive."

"Madeline Brown, are you being a bad influence?" Gale asked, raising a teasing eyebrow, "Shots it is and a champagne to wash it down after. Sounds good to me."

"Merlin, no. I am an entirely different type of focused outside of work," Gale said, "is this the first time we've done anything outside of work? I find that hard to believe," he admitted, furrowing his brow slightly.

"Sometimes things don't go according to plan. That sucks, but it happens," Lyra shrugged in reply when he'd pointed out that his plan not to get too drunk had failed. "You probably should. You'll thank yourself in the morning for it," she nodded. "About thirty-five past eleven," she said after double checking. "So don't worry, you didn't miss out on the countdown or anything."

"I didn't think I had. I'm sure I would have noticed the noise from the countdown if anything. Just wondering how close we were to it so thanks," Gale said, taking a sip of water and feeling refreshed by it, "I'm not sure water is enough to fix the risk of hangover but it's a nice idea."

"I wouldn't say it works every time but... it has it's perks," she shrugged. "Nothing bad, no. And I guess good in a way. There will be so much home-cooking there that I will need a second stomach and that's a win in my book."

"Sorry, that was a bit of a personal question. At least it's a good family thing. Home-cooking sounds great," Gale agreed with a nod.

Gale chuckled, "I see. You had entirely selfish motives," he teased, "Seeing as I'm a hopeless cook, I suppose I can't complain. Thank you, Bes. I appreciate it, honestly. I was about to take my lunch actually. Do you want to join me?" he asked.

Carrie Fisher, from The Princess Diarist.

"I promised before I wasn't going to trauma dump on you at a party again so the only thing I'm going to say in answer to that is no, not all the time," Gale replied, shaking his head and laughing, "A walk? That sounds nice. I was probably just going to hang around and watch movies. Maybe order food," he shrugged, "Bit of a lazy day for me. Seems lame compared to yours."

"I would never leave," Gale said, "I hope you know that. I know you know that. I also know it doesn't stop the voice in your head that tells you otherwise but it is the truth," he paused. Freya leaving had hurt him too but he had gone the opposite way, believing she would come back and having full trust in her when she did. It was why they had fought before. He had thought they would never fight like that again until this one, "I'm not. I won't. I've done enough of putting myself in bad positions. I won't do it again," he paused, "I trust you and I want you to trust me but I can't promise I'll talk to you about everything. I know you would listen and take it all in and try to help but I think sometimes, I need to talk to someone who didn't get messed up in the same way I did, in the same place I did. Hence the therapist. I can promise I won't keep anything bottled up anymore and I'll talk to someone," he smiled, "I've always trusted you to look after yourself, you're a badass. Now you need to trust that I can do it as well."