#episode based

Parking the car, you angrily slammed the door shut before making your way to the detention facility. You paid the clerk the $15,000 bail before leaving to wait outside.

You leaned against the car, foot tapping anxiously, arms crossed. Limping down the stairs at the entrance to the building, a grin on his face upon seeing you.

“I called Wilson!”

“You’re an arrogant idiot.” You told him and entered the car.

You drove in silence, every time he tried to talk, to justify himself you were sure, you raised your hand to shut him.

You dropped him at the entrance to the hospital and waited for him to get out.

“I’ll see you in the office.” You informed him quietly.

He raised his eyebrows in surprise and opened his mouth to say something but instead shut it back up and nodded once before leaving your vehicle.

Later that day House got a call about Tritter who got a search warrant for his house and found a stash of about 600 pills, which of course made Tritter add trafficking to the charges.

Convinced that House is an addict and decided to apply pressure on his co-workers to testify against him.

When Wilson found out House had stolen his prescription pad to write himself prescriptions he came straight to you, he told you he lied, and said he signed them himself, however, Tritter noticed that the signatures didn't match, and as a result his car was impounded and accounts froze.

When the diagnostic team refused to turn him in as well, Tritter decided to go after all of your weaknesses: he went after Cameron by appealing to her love for House, not knowing it was no longer there. He went after Foreman by promising to help his brother get out of prison, and Chase by making it look like he has already co-operated, not that any of you believed that. The only one he has yet to try was you. Which made everyone uncomfortable.

Due to clubbed fingers, House diagnosed the patient with lung cancer, and tests confirmed small cell lung carcinoma, which has metastasized. The patient only had a few months to live. Cameron volunteered to break him the news which allowed you to leave for the day.

You made your way to your car, searching your purse for the keys. You jumped as you looked up and saw Tritter leaning against your trunk.

“Oh good you didn’t forget me, I was insulted.”

He half smiled as he chewed his nicotine gum, “Did you hear that I searched Dr. House’s apartment,”

“I’m aware.”

“Are you also aware of the fact that I found 600 Vicodin pills in his apartment?” Pushing himself to stand upright and fully smiling, “Should I say, your apartment? Found a picture of you and your mom in a drawer on a bedside table. I assume you wouldn’t want your boyfriend to go to jail and lose his medical license. It wasn’t Dr. Cameron that’s in love with him, it’s you. You know that lying to a cop is a criminal offense?”

Crossing your arms across your chest, “You think threatening me will help you convince me to help you put House behind bars?”

“If you don’t, you’ll face the same consequences as your colleagues. Just one phone call away from having your account frozen as well.”

Moving to open your car door, you tossed your purse to the seat next to the driver, “Good thing I went grocery shopping yesterday.” You snarked and entered the car.

“Is he worth your medical license?” He yelled.

Turning the engine on and reversing out of the parking space, you pulled the window down, “I’ll see you in court.” And drove away.

Entering the apartment, threw the keys on the counter, your purse was tossed aside and you walked straight to the bedroom.

House looked up from the piano, slightly confused at your lack of greeting. Marching back to the living room you dropped his pillow and a blanket on the couch before turning to face him, “You’re sleeping here until this mess clears up and you apologize to Wilson.”

You went back to the bedroom and slammed the door shut.

You woke up in the middle of the night, at first you weren’t sure what pulled you from sleep but you did when you felt the bed dipped.

“Get out.”

He laid down and put his arm around your waist, he kissed your shoulder blade.

“Come on, don’t be like that.”

Moving his arm off of you, you pushed the blanket back and sat up.

“Fine, you take the bed.” You said as you left the room.

He rushed after you as fast as he could without his cane, holding onto his thigh.

“Don’t you think you’re being ridiculous?”

Turning sharply to look at him, “Wilson got his car impounded because of you, that’s the only reason I came to bail you out. He cannot write prescriptions, everybody’s accounts are frozen, my license is on the line because Tritter searched the apartment and you don’t give a crap.”

He took a step closer to you, “He threatened you?”

Sighing, you rubbed your hand across your forehead, “Doesn’t matter what he did.“

“He’s a bully.”

“I don’t care House! You caused this mess! I’m going to sleep, don’t come after me because I don’t want to see your face right now.”

Sitting down heavily on the couch he saw his bottle of Vicodin on the coffee table. Reaching, he popped it open, shook two pills out, and tossed them back before lying down and settling to sleep.

After a week of separate sleeping and House and Wilson fighting due to Wilson cutting a deal with Tritter. He was offered to go into rehab, but no jail time. Of course, he believed that Wilson was only cooperating with Tritter to get his practice back.

You unlocked your apartment door, tired and cranky. It was dark and quiet. You assumed maybe your boyfriend used the opportunity you weren’t home to go to sleep in your shared bed.

You shut the door and entered the living room to see House passed out on the floor near his vomit, along with the prescribed oxycodone that he stole from Wilson’s dead patient.

Rushing to his side to check if he had a pulse, he turned his head to look at you with hazy eyes.

Tears streamed down your face as you looked down at him, “I can’t anymore.” You whispered, got up, and left the apartment.

The next day House went to Tritter to take the deal, but Tritter turned him down. Tritter found out about the stolen oxycodone, so he didn’t need yours nor Wilson's testimony to prosecute House.

He came back from court, he stood next to you in the kitchenette. You moved to sit on the opposite side of the table, as far away from him as you could while still being in the same room. House didn’t take his eyes off you the whole DDX. Soon as he ordered tests you were the first to flee the room.

A few days later, following Cameron’s visit the team performed electroshock therapy on the patient. He remembered his name after the treatment, but little else. You let his brother and Amy into the room. He didn’t react negatively, but he didn't recognize them.

The patient was getting better, despite his memory loss. The only side effect was that his voice had gotten higher. Wilson came to see House again and even brought him a new tie for court. House apologized to Wilson because he knew that Wilson was trying to do what he thought was best.

You ran into Wilson in the elevator on your way to the clinic after he came back from seeing House and was on his way to leave work.

“Did you force him into rehab?” He asked.

Shocked you turned to face Wilson fully.

He looked at you slightly horrified, “You didn’t know he was there?”

“Tell me what’s going on.” You demanded.

“House entered rehab voluntarily. A few days ago. I thought you had something to do with it, he said you haven’t been home since the oxycodone fiasco.”

You shook your head just as the elevator doors opened to reveal the hospital lobby and clinic. Instead of going to the clinic, you press the floor for the rehab center.

You found him vomiting in the bathroom, sitting on the floor, and looking miserable. He glanced up at you before lowering his gaze back to the floor.

“Didn’t think you’d come.”

Stepping forward, you crossed your arms across your chest, “Because you told everyone not to tell me you’re here.”

He shrugged once, “Tritter came to visit.” He shared quietly.

You sat down opposite him on the floor.

“Told me, he doesn't give addicts another chance, and even my actions are a lie.”

“You caused all of this.”

He nodded, “I know.”

Getting up, “Good luck with the trial.”

“Will you be there?”

You paused at the bathroom doorway, “I haven’t decided yet.” You said honestly and left.

You got to the hearing as Tritter gave his testimony about House taking another patient's drugs. You sat beside Wilson and he held your hand in silent support. Everyone paused to stare at House as his phone rang, the team (minus you) called House in court to say that the patient’s memories were false. House ignored the judge’s instructions to give up his cell phone and made a smarmy comment to the judge. You rolled your eyes and looked at Wilson in despair. He then left the courthouse and the judge found him in contempt.

On his way out of the courtroom, he noticed you sitting and winched, making you even angrier.

House came back to find Cuddy on the stand. She told the court that she had the pharmacist substitute placebos for the oxycodone because she was afraid that House would be in a particularly vulnerable state. She even had an inventory report to back it up. Tritter accused her of perjury, but she only held back the inventory report because she didn't expect the matter to go this far, she said and looked at you this time. The judge chastised House and dismissed the charges, not before instructing the bailiff to incarcerate House overnight for leaving the courtroom, and ordered House to return to rehab upon release from jail.

You went with Cuddy and Wilson to visit House in jail. Cuddy, furious that she had to perjure herself, told him that she would be working him harder than ever and left.

Wilson gave him his withdrawal medication, which you figured out was actually Vicodin.

You waited further back until Wilson left, only then you neared the bars separating the two of you.

“Great way to celebrate our one-year anniversary.” You told him.

Sighing, he put his hands on top of yours through the bars.

“It’s just one night.”

“You didn’t even learn anything from what happened, those were still Vicodin and you got your way.”

“No, I got out of jail. Well, sort of at least. I hurt you along the way and I am sorry about that.”

“You should be.”

He chuckled, “I’m sorry.”

Reaching between the metal bars, you cupped his cheek, “You’re going to make it up to me. For the last few weeks as well as being stuck in a jail cell on our first anniversary.”

“I can see that you make this boy happy. He looks up to you Zuko,” you chuckled lightly placing your hand on Zuko’s shoulder.

“You’re starting to sound like my uncle.”

You shrugged, “maybe thats a good thing.”

Unfortunately, there were rogue Earth Kingdom soldiers who were terrorizing the town. They were violent because of food. 

“They have Lee,” you shouted in panic to Zuko. 

You and Zuko made it to where these men had the boy tied up. 

Zuko tells them to let the boy go. Your fist balled up with disgust and rage, water starting to show around your fists. They were going to pay for what they did to this town and family. 

The “soldiers” ask Zuko who he is and other questions. 

One soldier runs to him but Zuko shows who is stronger. You shake your head and run towards the other men. You collect enough water and throw it at them. 

“You should of given us the kid when you had the chance,” you proclaimed, retrieving the water and making ice spears out of them. You shoot them to one guy and he gets pinned down. 

Another has his spear to you and swiftly turn around and flip him over. You put him with water in a bubble and let him suffer for a few seconds. He drops down and you elbow him in the face, knocking him out. 

All that was left was this man with these two hammers. He looked more rough and tough then the others. 

“What do you think about this one Zuko? Do you think you can take him down with out your powers?”

Zuko took out both his swords that were on his back, “I don’t know...but I’ll try.”

The man using one of his hammers smashed the rocky ground and using his bending powers to throw the piece of rock at you both. 

Not taking it Zuko cut the rock into small pebbles. 

Throwing more and more in your guys path, you went and used your water bending on him. You created a wave to go at him but he put up a rock wall and stopped it. As he was throwing more and more rocks at you, you turned your water once again into mini spears and went through the rocks. 

One of the pieces flew to Zuko, hitting him right in the stomach. He slid back in pain. Your face changed into worry and you sprinted to him. He put his hand out to you, signifying he was fine. 

“Its okay y/n.”

Zuko charged towards the man and the guy just kept throwing more and more pieces at him. You used your bending again splitting from the force of the water the pieces in half. 

Once more, Zuko got hit. You again, ran to Zuko’s aid, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. 

“Zuko, I think maybe you should back out of this one,” you tell him worriedly. 

You knew without his powers he would lose. Zuko was skilled in many things but he was still young and learning. 

“No!” He shouted at you, anger and annoyance evident in his tone. 

He stood up again and kept slicing the rocks that were thrown at him. 

The man then pushed his hammer on the ground and it erupted a huge piece of boulder sticking out, crashing against Zuko. 

“Zuko!” Yelling his name out of fear, you slide to Zuko, putting a water wall. 

He laid on the floor and you sat by him. Crying his name and placing your hands all over his face. His eyes were closed shut. 

“Zuko, please wake up. You have to wake up,” you cry out to him. 

The man comes through the water wall you had created and is about to smash you. You turn around and gasp at his presence. 

“Leave her alone!”

Zuko shoots up and uses his fire bending to make a ring of fire around him. The man gets thrown by the fire. 

Fire around Zuko you sit a distance from him shocked. Now people would know who he was.  

Zuko ran to the man again but this time he used his ability to throw him across. The soldier had debris all over him and he looked up to the prince, “who are you?”

You were terrified over that question. Zuko answers by telling everyone his full title and royal heritage.

The crowd erupts into gasps and whispers. People accusing him or calling him a liar. Zuko retrieves the dagger that belonged to Lee. You and Zuko walk toward the boy but his mother separates you both from him, stating to not take a step closer. You roll your eyes, and go closer to the mothers face even when she told you not to. 

“Y/n!”

“No Zuko,” you are a hair away from this woman, “let me tell you something. For trying to teach your son an example of love and forgiveness you are a poor excuse for a mother.”

She opens her mouth wide and is shocked.

“You teach your son to hate on others who you don’t know or don’t like. Let’s just hope karma won’t come biting back to you and your family in the future.”

She shakes her head being irate, “leave.”

“Gladly,” you mutter, stomping away from all this stupid commotion. From all of this! You wasting your time fighting when she and others weren’t even appreciative. How ungrateful!

You and Zuko ride away into the sunset. As you peer over your shoulder you see Lee looking at you two with disgust. 

“One day he shall learn to forgive,” you mumbled to yourself. 

You both set up camp further in the wilderness. 

Both of you sitting on the cloth you called bed, Zuko speaks up, “I’m sorry y/n, you were dragged into all of this.”

You shake your head, “That mother gets whats coming to her! She deserves it, that ungrateful woman! Zuko I know Iroh would of been proud of you the way you stood up today. Even though in the end people were mean to you, you were the bigger person and fought for them. You fought because you knew what was right. You are the hero today Zuko, whether that kid realizes it or not.”

Zuko smiled and tries to stand up but winces in pain holding his stomach. 

“Zuko, you’re hurt,” you said worriedly. 

Zuko tries to shrug it off, laughing, but again winces. “Yeah, it happened when I was fighting those rogue benders.”

You gently laid Zuko back and stroked his cheek. “Wait here.”

Zuko needed medicine, so you set off to get some berries and some leaves. If Iroh has taught you anything its that the earth is a safe haven. Using mother nature and what she has given can make such a difference. 

You collected the correct amount of herbs and set your way back to Zuko. After creating some type of aid you went back to him. 

“Here, let me help you.”

You lifted Zuko’s shirt slightly and saw the bruising there. You touched it feather like. “Drink this, it will make you feel better.”

Zuko lifted his head and drank the tea you made. He moaned at the taste, “Its good.”

Nodding, you collected some cream you made as well. Placing it all over your fingers, you applying a little amount to his skin. He groans in pain and bites his lip. 

“I know, I know,” you reassure him. 

Zuko relaxed once again and sighed. “Thank you y/n,” he said touching your cheek like you did to him earlier. “What would I do without you?”

“Probably be stuck in a hole somewhere,” you joked. 

Which made you even more regretful of the fight you had.

You wished you could call him and explain yourself, or at least say you were sorry (though what you were supposed to be sorry for you didn’t quite know). Maybe you could call Olivia or Amanda and tell them to pass on a message? Or just to call you…

It was at that moment the phone rang.

You picked it up at blinding speed, checking the unknown caller ID with hope. “Hello?”

“Y/N.”

You breathed a sigh of relief. “Sonny. Hey.”

“I’m sorry-” You both laughed as you tried to apologize at the same time. “No, no, you go first.”

His sigh was a rush of static over the line. “You have nothing to apologise for. I practically yelled at you in the middle of the office for no reason.”

“Well… just a bit.”

“I just…” there was a pause. “I didn’t want you to see me like that.”

“Oh, Sonny. You could dress like that every day and I’d still love you the same.”

“I know, I know. But still.”

“I understand. I was just worried about you, Amanda said there was an accident-” “Really, nothing happened. Some idiots got it in them to come threaten us but another guy had my back.”

“A…. shelter guy?”

“Yeah, names Caskey. Good guy, he’s really working the program.”

“…interesting.”

“Look, I know it seems bad, but… a lot of these guys, they’re just trying to do what they can. They made some mistakes and they’re trying to fix it.”

“I’m glad you’re making friends. Just… try not to get too attached, okay?”

Sonny sighed. “Yeah, yeah, I know.”

You wondered what was going through his mind as a silence fell over the two of you.

“Amanda gave me your letters.”

“She did what?”

“The letters, the ones you wrote to your… wife.” The word made you blush and giggle at the same time. “She thought it’d be a nice ‘I’m sorry’.”

“The precinct was supposed to keep those!”

“They took out any information about the case.” You paused. “Look, I’ve only read one or two, if you want me to stop…”

“No, no, sweetheart. It’s fine. I just wasn’t planning on you reading them. They’re a bit… flowery.”

You giggled again. “Yeah, the one about the smell of my shampoo was really nice.”

“I’m never living that down, am I?”

“Nope. Sorry babe.”

“I guess you’re worth it. I guess.”

“Sonny!”

“Kidding, honey. Hey, I gotta go, okay? But ill call you tomorrow, cross my heart.”

You clutched the phone harder to your ear, like it would magically make him stay on the line longer. You missed him so much. “O- okay. Sonny, I love you. And be careful.”

“Anything?”  She teased out the syllables.  “You know what I want, Winchester.  I’ve told you before.”

Dean only hesitated half a heartbeat.

“Anything.”

A beat, as she eyed him thoughtfully, contemplating her reward.

“I’m sure you know what I want most, Dean.”

“Us, dead again.  Yeah, I know.  I just can’t—I can’t—“

“Balance,” she cut him off.  “I want balance returned to the world.  It hasn’t been the same since the failed Apocalypse, and the release of the Darkness only made things worse.”

Dean was confused now.  “Isn’t that the same thing to you?  You get us out of here, we go with you, the world stops going off script.”

“I could do that,” she allowed.  “But that wouldn’t fix the worst problem, the one spiraling out of control and threatening all of Creation.”

He was completely lost.  “I thought everything was kind of spinning alright?  Lucifer’s back in the cage, the Darkness stopped trying to eat the world.  What is it?” He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration.  “What haven’t we fixed yet?”

He turned to face her and stopped dead.  Her eyes were dark and burned with a cold fury.

“You killed Death.”

***

The stroke of midnight was met with darkness, lights flickering and dying, the engine cutting out, and the car rolling to an unexpected stop on a bridge in the middle of Colorado.

It was time.  Dean had to swallow down the sudden lump in his throat.  Now he had to say good-bye.  To Sammy, who he’d never been able to let go of, Mom, who he’d just found again, and Cas, who…who was Cas.

They got out of the car.  Dean vaguely registered Mom asking what was going on and Sam quietly explaining as much as he knew.  That they’d had to make a deal to get out.  That the deal was coming due.

That they were losing Dean.

His attention was focused on Castiel, who had come around the back of the car and now stood just in front of him, a little too close, making Dean think of conversations about personal space and missed opportunities.

“Dean.”  His eyes were big and blue and full of sadness and concern.  “Are you alright?”

“I’m—“  His voice cracked.  “I’m alright, Cas.  Just waiting for—“

“Me.”  Billie’s voice was low, drawing all attention immediately.  She held a long-handled scythe in one hand, the end resting on the ground.  “Winchesters,” she greeted.  “Castiel.”

In a smooth flurry of motion Cas was facing her, angel blade out, stance protective, trying to shield the Winchesters.  “You can’t have them.”  The growl held a hint of the thunder that had rumbled behind every word in the Illinois barn, but it was fainter now, softened by time and humanity.

Billie merely raised an eyebrow.  “You can’t stop me.  A deal’s a deal.  And I have need of Dean Winchester.”

“You can’t have him.”  Mom had drawn her gun and was pointing it at the Reaper.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.  Either this goes smoothly, or I take both your boys out from under you.”  The scythe in her hand twitched.  “Only my generosity that has them up and walking right now anyway.”

Mom’s gun didn’t waver.  Dean felt a flutter of panic.  That wasn’t how this was supposed to go.  “C’mon, Billie.  We made a deal.  Leave Sam out of it.  I’m the one you want anyway.”

“Dean.  Please tell me you didn’t make a deal with a Reaper.”  He knew that if Cas weren’t keeping an eye on Billie he would be less than six inches away from Dean’s face, eyes pleading with him, begging him to stay, to say no, to push back against the plan one more time.

“Sorry, Cas.”  He swallowed. “I had to; it was worse than Hell. I couldn’t take it anymore.”

Cas was suddenly in his face, angel blade gone, Billie forgotten, eyes wild.  “I can’t lose you, Dean.”

It took him three tries to get the words out.  “I’m sorry, Cas.  But I’ve gotta do this.  Restore balance, all that shit.  Hell, I’ve already been topside eight years longer than I should have.”  The skin around Cas’s eyes tightened.  “This was supposed to happen.”

Cas was getting desperate now.  “We’ve torn up the script before.”

“I have to do this, Cas.”  Dean’s tone was gentle.

Cas’s face crumbled and he clung to him, trembling. Dean held the angel tightly.

Billie watched the scene dispassionately.  Mom’s face was drawn and her hands empty, Sam’s eyes were red, though both seemed resigned to the outcome.

After a long moment he grabbed Cas’s shoulders and gently separated them.  He pressed his lips to the angel’s forehead, trying to memorize the way he shivered under his hands.  “’M sorry,” he mumbled again, his eyes wet.

He pulled himself away from Cas, taking the two steps necessary to wrap his arms around his baby brother.  As they pulled out of the hug he could tell they were both crying now.  He sidestepped to hug his mother.  Hugging Mom was still a new experience, neither of them quite used to having the other there, yet.  He turned his head and gave her a quick kiss on the temple before stepping away and turning to face the Reaper.

Billie didn’t say anything, just offered him the scythe with a solemn expression.

He stepped next to it and paused, his hand an inch from the smooth wood surface.  He turned back to his family.  All three were crying now, and Dean knew his face had to be equally wet by this point. He cleared his throat.  “Mom, Sammy…Cas.  I—“  He had to say it.  He had to. Because these were the people who deserved to hear it, and this was his last chance to say it.  “I love you.”  His eyes lingered on Castiel’s face.

He tried to summon his trademark cocky grin.  “See you on the other side.”  Dean took the scythe from Billie.

And Death came to Dean Winchester.

***

They say if you need to summon Death and you don’t want him angry at you (and you don’t want Death angry at you, trust me), you better have a Led Zeppelin cassette and a slice of apple pie on hand.  Death loves pie and classic rock.

And while you figure Death must be a very busy fellow (being Death and all), he’ll sometimes kick back, drink a beer with you, and shoot the breeze about the things that go bump in the night and how to send them back to Purgatory (a place, he assures you, you never want to end up, though he says that with a slightly wistful look, as if reflecting on a simpler time).

If you’re really lucky, Death will take the time to explain (in painful detail), how to fix the knocking sound your car engine makes when you push it over sixty-five miles per hour.

But sometimes, if you bring him news of the hunters named Sam and Mary Winchester or the angel named Castiel, he will thank you with all the gravitas of his station, and give you the answer to any question you ask.  And if you don’t like the answer, he’ll smile and laugh and offer you some of his pie.

Running your hands you straightened out your black dress. You took a deep breath, trying to calm yourself down. Blythe called last night to tell you about John, her husband’s passing.

Of course, you had to come to express your condolences in person, you grabbed a pair of earrings and put them in your ears before slipping on your black heels and making your way to the funeral home.

She welcomed you with open arms, kissed your cheeks, and thanked you for coming.

You never liked John too much, but his wife was kind enough. You were certain their son wouldn’t show, which played a major part in your decision to come.

You met their son in high school, you were starting and he was in his last year. At first, you were just friends, you didn’t even remember when it became more. You stayed together when he left for college, took a break when he was suspended from Hopkins and moved to Michigan; he told you he slept around during that time. While it hurt, somehow, it didn’t surprise you, you continued to date until you finished med school yourself. You planned on following his path and applying to start your internship wherever he went, he kept promising he’ll propose to celebrate the day you finish your internship. That was until one day you woke up and he was gone.

“James promised he’ll bring Gregory, they should be here soon.”

Her words made you freeze for a moment, her hand was on your arm, preventing you from moving and making your escape.

Your eyebrows rose in surprise but you quickly pulled a fake smile to try and cover, “Oh.”

A person in uniform interrupted by laying a gentle comforting hand on Blythe’s shoulder, you quietly used the opportunity to retreat and make your way towards the exit.

You were looking down at your phone trying to order a cab instead of the way you’re walking and stumbled into a person who entered the building.

He caught your arms, stopping you from falling. He had nice brown hair and matching eyes, you were about to stammer an apology when you heard your name being called from behind him.

The brunette turned surprised to look between you.

You didn’t get the chance to react or converse, since the recent widow came to tell you the funeral was starting.

You wanted to sit in the last row, you didn’t want to sit next to him. In fact, you preferred not to even be in the same room, but of course, his mother requested that you sit in the first row right next to her.

After he gave his eulogy or tried to, his friend dragged him away and out of earshot of the mourners. You squeezed his mom’s hand before following the odd pair.

You entered the room to hear Greg demand that his friend admit something, but instead, the brown hair man, whom you assumed was the James that was mentioned earlier, hurled a liquor bottle through a stained glass window.

“Nice.” You said sarcastically pulling their attention.

Greg rolled his eyes at your presence whereas James looked freighted at being caught.

“Give us a moment?” You asked politely but kept your eyes on Greg who turned to pour himself a drink.

James nodded and hurriedly left the room leaving the two of you alone.

“Heard you were proposed to, never heard what happened after, though the lack of a ring is kind of an indication.” he opened the conversation.

You chuckled and smiled slightly, “I don’t see a ring on yours either.”

He rubbed his hand across his forehead, his eyebrows scrunched together in a scowl, “Why are you here?”

“I was certain that you wouldn’t be.”

He looked hurt by that, yet also intrigued, “Why come to my father’s funeral?”

“Because your mother asked me to, unlike you she doesn’t have a problem admitting to liking me.”

He rolled his eyes again, “You really want to start a fight?”

Laughing, you pointed at the broken window, “You didn’t seem to mind fighting.”

“You know as well as I do that it wouldn’t have succeeded between us.”

“Do I?” You asked rhetorically.

“I could never give you what you wanted. Marriage, kids, I couldn’t give you that.”

“Couldn’t or wouldn’t? I think you couldn’t let yourself be happy, you just enjoy your misery so much, that’s why you’re alone now as well, isn’t it?”

His grip tightened around his cane, “And why are you still alone?”

Biting your lip, you smiled, “Because I couldn’t say yes to a man who wasn’t you.” You murmured.

“Jesus, y/n.”

You shrugged and turned towards the doorway, “It was really good seeing you Greg.”

Grimacing at himself, he called out, “Wilson and I are going to eat, you should come.”

You looked back at him, puzzled at the invitation.

“Maybe we could talk, schedule dinner or something.”