The only nice shirt Angus thought to bring was the one he wore with his school uniform. And it just so happened to not have been washed as recently as he would have liked.

He stood from the couch, his suitcase open at his feet with articles of clothing strewn about the floor in search of something to wear to this, this...whatever the hell Travis talked him into going to. If Angus had his way, he would have said no and slammed the door in his face. But with word that Hannah was going...he wouldn't let that man lay one hand on her. And surely...with so many people there...he wouldn't do anything he'd regret...

Malcolm had been invited too. After enduring a long description from Travis who was sweaty and out of breath from looking for his hotel room, Malcolm yawned and closed the door, leaving Travis to stand there and hope he'd show. For now Malcolm sat in his hotel, with his head in his hand.

He looked up when he heard another knock. Grabbing his glass of water he stood up and opened the door, sighing when he saw his brother on the other side.

"Thank God."

"Great to see you too, Mal." Malcolm stood aside to let Angus in and closed the door after him. "Quick question, Mal. When are we getting the hell out of here?" Malcolm laughed.

"I've made plans to go back to Australia next month, it was the cheapest flight I could find. You know half that money is paying for Sherrie to get home?"

"I know, don't remind me." Angus set the shirt on the table and smoothed it out. Malcolm stood behind him, looking at it.

"It's not great," he said.

"Travis doesn't deserve great, he's a pig himself if I ever saw one." Angus walked to the fridge and pulled open a drawer. Taking out a lemon, he grabbed a knife from the drawer in the counter and cut it in half. "You get invited too?"

"Yep. 'Bout a half hour ago. An' it took him about half that time to tell me about it too. Finally kicked him out." Malcolm pushed Angus aside. "What are you doing?"

"Freshening up." Half of the lemon was in Angus' hand, scrubbing the shirt. Malcolm took the shirt off the table and took it to a closet. "I'm wearin' that one, Mal."

"You're not wearing a shirt you've covered in lemon juice. Whether or not Travis is a pig, you don't need to dress like one too, an' it's not him you're impressing." Angus pouted at that, earning a smug little grin from Malcolm. "Is it?"

"Not impressin' anyone, jus' goin' to make sure Hannah gets there an' home safely." Angus took Malcolm's spot on the couch and watched his brother put his shirt in the washing machine and turn it on. "How much soap are you using?"

"No more than what Mum taught me," he answered.

"I don't want that laundry smell, ya' know?"

"Christ, Ang..." Malcolm muttered, laughing his way to the kitchen. "Just like Mum." He grabbed an apple from the fridge and washed it off in the sink. "Just like Mum..."

"Any idea what this is about?"

"This dinner?" Angus nodded. "Well-" Malcolm wiped the apple juice off his chin. "I could only hear a few words here and there, an' most of it was rubbish anyway."

"He told me but I kind of forgot."

"Forgot." Malcolm almost choked on his apple. "You'll kill me, Ang. Is this what he's been doin' this whole week? It's been forever since we've seen the guy, not that we're heartbroken." Angus played with a thread on the couch, then grimaced when next to it was a strand of hair. Malcolm saw it too. "That ain't mine."

"No? Well, should have thought as much, looks like a woman's anyway." Angus grinned and stood from the couch to dodge Malcolm's apple. "Way to go, Mal, down between the cushions it goes."

"It didn't, just landed on your little print you left behind." He took another bite. "Oh, oh, it's warm!"

"Maybe Travis wants to apologize," Angus said changing the subject.

"For what? Yellin' at his roommate, cuttin' my hand, bein' an all around bugger? A dinner won't buy me." Malcolm threw away his apple and grabbed a different one. "Hannah deserves far more than food, of course, food for her wouldn't hurt," he said remembering the reason for their trip to the grocery store.

Angus didn't hear him. He knew Travis would never apologize for what he had done, for what he might still be doing. Maybe it's been happening all week, as Travis had put a note on the door that he and Hannah had left for the day and told any visitors to leave lest they be charged with trespassing. On the fourth day with that same sign on the door, Angus stole away to the backyard with Malcolm, keeping silent behind him. When Malcolm stepped on a tree branch and woke up the new guard of the property, a fierce mastiff, the two didn't come back. Until, of course, this coming evening.

Angus rubbed the knee he had cut when he fell as Malcolm bowled him down running away that day. Sure he came back to rescue him, but not until the dog almost had his ankle in his teeth, stretching the rope tying him to the house, the rope that Angus didn't trust to be strong enough. He hoped with every bone in him that they got rid of the dog as soon as they returned. They found out when Travis gave them both a visit, making their evenings a trifle more tiresome. Angus pushed away the annoyance with the thought of finding Hannah, his friend, and checking up on her.

"This dinner ain't for us, if that's what you're thinkin'."

Angus shot his head up, getting a little dizzy in the movement. "I'm sorry, what'd you say, Mal?"

Malcolm sighed. "Should get your ears checked. Been repeatin' myself non-stop around you lately."

"I'm sorry. Go on, I'm listening."

"Are you?"

Angus nodded.

"Well, I was jus' sayin' that Travis hates our guts as much as we hate his, an' he's not gonna be throwin' us a party anytime soon. Apology, or not."

Angus looked toward the washing machine and tapped his fingers to his jeans. "Hope it's not too long, I don't know how much we can take."

Malcolm passed the apple back and forth between his hands, chewing quietly. "Been meanin' to tell ya'."

"What?" Malcolm didn't say anything, just swallowed his bite. "You're going." No answer. "Right?"

"Angus, I've a feelin' this guy's gonna have a bit of alcohol there, an' for the sake of my health I'm stayin' behind an' catchin' dinner somewhere else where I'm not tempted. Ya' know?" Angus frowned and crossed his arms.

"Mal!"

"It's for my own good, I can't put myself where I know I'll be tempted-"

"You ever gonna see Hannah again? You ever gonna hike your skirt up and talk to Travis rather than leavin' me in the dust with him? You ever gonna volunteer to take him off our hands?"

"In case you've forgotten, I have been. What about when you wanted to have dinner with Sherrie at your room? Hmm?" Malcolm imitated his brother's stance. "If I recall, I stayed behind with her then."

"But Mal, Travis is-" Angus stopped. He couldn't. Not now.

"He's what?"

"He's...he's...he's a pain in the ass," he mumbled taking his spot on the couch again, putting his feet on the coffee table.

"I know that, call all the camera crews in town an' cancel school tomorrow. That ain't news, Angus." The younger man clenched his hands together, setting his fists on his knees. Something in him snapped and he forgot all about what that monster of a man had threatened him about.

"Mal, he's-" Angus jumped about a foot in the air. Malcolm hurried to the washing machine and turned off the siren of an alarm. The white shirt was pulled out, wrung, and examined. Angus walked up and made sure Malcolm did the laundry right.

"It's got that soapy smell," Malcolm said.

"Better get it dried then." Malcolm threw the shirt in the dryer and turned to face his little brother.

"Now then, what were you saying?"

The same way something snapped, something deflated. Maybe Malcolm didn't need to know right away, as long as Angus could keep Hannah away from Travis for the night, and make a plan for her to stay somewhere else. Maybe it was better Malcolm didn't go. Drunk or not, Malcolm would certainly cause a scene if he found Travis after hearing news like that. Not that he would mind ruining Travis' dinner, but it was time to act like an adult in times like these. He'd talk to Hannah about it first...if she would see him. "Nothin'," he finally said.

"You sure?"

"...yeah. Yeah, I'm sure." Angus sure hoped he was.

With his new dry shirt in his hands Angus walked to the bathroom to put it on. He'd have to find some form of pants to wear with it but until he felt like it he would just relax in his jeans. He scoffed at Malcolm's accusation of impressing anyone. The thought hadn't ever crossed his mind.

He emerged from the bathroom buttoning the top, and went to sit on the couch. He stopped, as he glanced at the counter, where a small key was. The key to his apartment. Sherrie had left with hardly a goodbye earlier that week, leaving her copy of his key behind with him. At first he thought the apartment would seem lonely and empty without her, but in all honesty, he felt the same. Nothing seemed different. Sherrie really wasn't there in the hotel room with him a lot, unless of course, they both had a certain mood about them. Even then, she left before he could fully recover. Something in his heart was glad he wouldn't have to endure that again, and get frustrated with someone who didn't care when confronted.

The key was small, even in his hand. He hadn't picked it up in months, and though it was an exact copy of his own, it gave him a weird chill to touch it. It'd be easy to lose it, and he brought it to his suitcase and closed it in a front pocket. The room was still a mess, and any minute he expected Sherrie to start getting after him to clean it up. He didn't mind. He didn't mind hearing her, he liked the way she sounded, and respected her desire to keep the place clean. It got a tad annoying when she would leave a clutter on the bathroom counter and dismiss it when he needed some space, however.

When Sherrie didn't emerge from the kitchen, or bedroom, he grabbed the clothes he could reach and tossed them in his bag. It would never zip shut in the state it was in so he sacrificed some time in folding the clothes. A decent pair of pants was wedged near the bottom, and he pulled them out along with a pair of socks. Something crinkled underneath, and he paused his reveal. An aged, torn up piece of paper had gotten stuck in between the legs of the pants, and was almost torn again from being pulled out. He grabbed it, and placed the extra clothes aside.

Some tape had peeled from the top, sealing the two main halves together. He replaced it, and smoothed it out as best as he could. He hadn't dared take it out when Sherrie had been there, knowing her reaction when she found it. Rummaged through his suitcase looking for God knew what, and came across the one thing he had left to remember his friend. A paper not capable of any real harm, but certainly a provoker of jealousy. Yet, Sherrie had a right to be jealous. Or, had she? After all, their relationship had never been confirmed. Now Angus was sure, there wasn't one at all.

He closed his eyes, trying to picture that night. That school dance, after everyone left. That one last song still playing throughout the gym, while Hannah stood on his feet as they danced. Every time he tried to picture that first kiss they shared, Johnny's fist to his eye threw him out of his imagination in a state of frustration and phantom pain. Shivers ran down his spine at the thought of Travis doing the same to his friend. Grabbing his pants and the poorly repaired note, he made for the bathroom again and shut the door.

Someone knocked on the hotel room door. "Hang on, hang on," he said zipping himself up. Checking one last time and deciding it was the best he could do on such short time, he walked to the door and opened it, seeing Malcolm standing on the other side. "Change your mind?"

"No, jus' came by to give you this," he said, holding out a small bouquet of flowers. Angus recalled the time he had almost given flowers to a window repair man, a rather large one at that.

"I'm flattered, Mal, my favorite."

"Not for you, for Hannah. As an-apology for not bein' there, hopin' she'll understand." Angus took them, the note in his hand showing. Malcolm saw it. "What's that you got?"

"Uh, nothin', nothin'." Angus stuffed it in his pocket, trying not to crease it more than it had been. "She'll understand, I'll give 'em to her." Angus cleared his throat and smiled. "Thanks, Mal."

"Keep her safe from Travis, alright?" Angus clenched his jaw and closed his eyes.

"Yeah," he said. "Yeah, I'll-I'll keep her busy, he won't have a chance to get after her for some shit he's come up with." Malcolm took a step back.

"Not gonna ask how," he said. "I'll trust you with that. Don't you get yourself drunk now," he added as a tease. Angus laughed.

"Don't worry, you hear what Bon teases me about, I won't have a drop."

"What time's this charade anyway?"

Angus checked his watch then realized he didn't have it. "Uh, I'm supposed to be at Hannah's by five, Travis was gonna drive us."

"You gotta go to him?" Malcolm scoffed. "He ought to come pick you up, an' even then, drivin' in that Hearse? With him?"

"Maybe we'll crash an' Travis will get a bit...hurt."

"I'd sooner get him myself, don't want to risk you two gettin' hurt."

"Thanks, Mal. Too kind of ya'."

Malcolm checked his watch. "Ang, if you gotta be there by five, you better get your ass goin'."

"Why, what's the time?"

"Four fifty two."

"Shit, I'm off, Mal." Angus ran back into his room to his suitcase.

"It's this way, Ang, where're you goin'?" Angus returned with his jacket, hastily slipping it over his shoulders while balancing the flowers in his hand. He passed Malcolm in the doorway and ran down the hall to the elevator. "Run, Ang, an' don't stop until you get there!"

The Hearse was still in the driveway. No one was standing by it, until Travis came out from the garage shaking his wrist that bore what Angus thought was a very unflattering watch. He stood by the gate, waiting to be let in by the owner. It seemed Travis didn't see him, or pretended not to, until Angus cleared his throat loudly enough to hurt, and he could pretend no longer. "Angus," Travis said, with a hint of disappointment. Angus could see him look around behind him. "Where uh-where's your brother?"

"He's not comin'," Angus snapped. "He's one lucky man tonight, I think." Travis paled a bit and stuttered to respond.

"You say-he's not coming?"

"Did I stutter?" Angus did nothing as he watched the taller man pace in what seemed to be a sudden onset of panic. "What's bitin' your ass then?"

"You say Malcolm isn't coming, after all I-" Travis rubbed his hands together as if keeping them warm, then muttered to himself. "They're gonna hate me for this, this isn't good..."

"What the hell are you talkin' about-" Angus turned his head when he heard a door close. His heart grabbed a jump rope and practiced double dutch when he could see her properly. Wearing a dress he had never seen before matching the shade of the flush on his cheeks, covered in lace and sequins. She had a jacket over it, Angus knew, to cover her arms. Travis saw her too, and Angus nearly threw up when he looked her up and down.

Her gait slowed as soon as she lifted her head to see Angus. He made no advance, nor did she, but instead kept each other's gaze in their own, unsure of the next words. Travis took it upon himself. "Got everything you need, Hannah?"

"Yeah," she mumbled lowering her head again. "I'm ready."

Angus was quick to approach her, letting himself through the gate, forgetting to care about the dog that chased him away in the backyard. Hannah stepped backward, not quite understanding why she did so. "Hannah...hi." Unable to help himself, and not quite wanting to, he pulled her in for a hug, despite not getting one in return. Her arms hung limp by her side, straying away from making themselves vulnerable like the last visit. They separated, and Angus studied her for a minute. Finally he reached for her hand, then stopped when she pulled back, eyeing him from behind her hair. Then she took his hand which grew suddenly warm. They left the front yard and met Travis by the car, who still looked like he lost an overdue library book. Angus remembered the flowers he still held. "Oh, these are for you." Hannah stared at him. "Malcolm. He-he's not gonna be able to come tonight an'..." Angus shrugged. "He wanted me to give these to you. As an apology." He smiled as Hannah reached out to take them.

Something in Travis' head snapped him out of his thoughts and he grabbed the bouquet before Hannah could. "A lovely gift, Angus," he said inspecting them. "All flowers should have a vase you know." With that he threw them into a garbage can by the garage, wiping his hands as he returned. Something had snapped within Angus as well.

"The devil himself doesn't have a place for people like you," he muttered, his hands balled up. "You can fuckin' breathe, Travis, they're from Malcolm, not me!"

"You're one and the same, it would seem."

"How can anyone put up with you? How can you mean any of what you say, of what you do? How can you do this to her, how can you give her hell, when you came from the flames yourself?"

"Angus!" Angus turned around and lowered his fist when he saw Hannah grab his arm and gently pull him away. Something in her eyes vanished his anger. She brought him to the car and opened the door. "You can sit in back with me, that is, if you want." Angus couldn't help but smile.

"I'd like nothin' more." Making sure to give Travis one last glare and receiving one in return, he helped Hannah into the backseat of the Hearse and joined her, closing the door after him. He took in the details of her dress. "You look very nice, you know."

"Thank you," she said softly. "You look nice too."

"Thanks," he smiled. "Mal helped me wash my shirt. An'-those flowers really were from him, Travis had no right takin' them from you."

"They're beautiful, really. Thank you." She looked out her window. "Why couldn't he come?"

"He told me this little dinner will most likely have alcohol an' he doesn't want to tempt himself. You uh, hear he's been havin' a little trouble with that?" Hannah recalled their talk at the fountain.

"Yeah, he mentioned something to me. Well, it's better he's not there, he's doing the right thing." Angus gave a little nod. "I'll miss him."

"He misses you, a lot." He turned her head to face him. "We both do." Forgetting where they were, forgetting where they were going, they stared at each other, searching their eyes for any emotions the other one might have been hiding. Angus leaned in closer so he could see them better, but it never seemed close enough. One hand still under her chin he brought her closer, and they both shot apart when the front door opened. Travis tossed something onto the passenger seat and got in, slamming the door behind him.

After wrestling with the seat belt while the two in back waited having none of their own, Travis started the car. "Everyone ready?"

"We're ready," Hannah answered. Angus glared at the front seat, and spread his arms out on the top of the back seats. The car was subjected to Travis' poor driving, and Angus and Hannah were thrown forward.

"He's an eager beaver," Angus mumbled, holding Hannah so she wouldn't fall.

Only three mailboxes were driven into that evening.

The size of the gathering was not what Angus was expecting. It wasn't so much the dull atmosphere keeping guests engaged that surprised him, rather the fact that Travis had so many friends.

The man in question had pulled aside the man who wore the blue suit at the bar, and had now traded it out for a white suit. A packet of cigars was taken out of a white pocket, and offered to Travis. "Not right now," he reluctantly denied.

"First time for everything," he mumbled, replacing the packet with a lighter. He blew out a ring of smoke and held the cigar in his fingers. "So," he said with a smirk. "You bring her?"

"I brought her, yes."

"And does she agree with our little arrangement?"

"She doesn't know about it." The man in the white suit frowned.

"The deal is off then," he said not caring how blunt he was. Travis sighed. "She's not with us, then you're stuck with your little friends."

"What are you all planning to do to them anyway?" Travis asked. "You only have so much power."

"Never undermine my powers, T," the man said, tapping the ashes from his cigar.

"Well, I'll ask you not to kill them, thank you very much," Travis said crossing his arms. "There's no question I want them gone, but I can't have the cops on my back, not now."

"Goin' soft on us, T. It's definitely the easiest way, even if it's not the cleanest." The man in the white suit shrugged. "But if you can't get Hannah to join us then I guess there's nothing at all we can do."

"I'll tell her, I'll tell her. Just give me some time."

"We don't have all the time in the world, we've got those champions to train, the reason for this whole shebang!"

Travis rubbed his arms despite how toasty the building was. "I'll tell her, just-don't kill them. Whatever you do, if you ship them off to Timbuktu, or if you use witchcraft to make them invisible or whatever, go ahead. Just...don't kill them."

"Oh, going all sentimental. are we?"

"I want them gone, but killing is just-"

"Alright, alright, I got it. No killing. And you'll get Hannah to come with us? Men don't listen to orders as well, ya' know, and we all get awfully hungry while we watch our hogs." The man in the white suit held his hand out. Travis narrowed his eyes, and grabbed it, sealing the deal. "So it's a deal then?"

"Deal."

"Alright, I'll get the guys and see what we can do."

"Oh, and-uh...there's gonna be a slight obstacle in this, uh, Malcolm...didn't come."

"Didn't come? What do you mean, didn't come?"

"I mean, for some reason, he's not here, even after I told him and everything."

"Why isn't he coming?" Travis didn't like the look on his comrade's face.

"Didn't explain, just said he wasn't coming."

"Do you know how much alcohol is here? How much I paid for all this, hoping it'd get into that head of his?"

"Your plan was to get him to drink?"

"You're the one who said he's got some sort of addiction starting, aren't you?" The man in the white suit let go of Travis' shirt once he realized he had grabbed him. Travis smoothed it out. "How about the other one, does he drink?"

"I don't know, maybe you can get him to take some? Just...get him away from Hannah, make him forget all about her, get rid of him."

Angus felt so out of place among the crowd of tall men, all laughing like snobs and colliding their glasses together. A few women were there too, wearing modest dresses and clinging onto the arms of their favorite man. Hannah walked beside him, keeping her head down. Angus took one hand out of his pocket and placed it on her shoulder, both of them stopping under the light of the crystal chandelier above them. The red dress sparkled even more, the ring on her finger dulling in comparison. Angus didn't speak, as Hannah simply waited for him to. Guests scurried past them as if the two were stopped in time, completely unaware of all going on around them. Seeing he wasn't able to speak, Hannah took it upon herself. "You don't have to stay, Angus," she said. "I'm sure this isn't your idea of fun."

Angus shook his head to clear his thoughts. "No, I'll stay, it's fine. I mean, no, I don't love this whole get together when you, Mal an' I could be havin' our own fun..." His eyes brightened. "We can leave, ya' know." Hannah smiled back and Angus thought his heart would rupture.

"And do what?"

"What I just said. Find Mal an' go do our own thing. Like we did before."

"You know how that turned out." Angus remembered that cigar Travis held when they took Hannah home. His heart ignited.

"Yeah. I do." He grabbed her other shoulder and looked her in the eyes. Lashes just as long as he remembered still hooded them. "Listen, I've been thinkin'...about all this. Are-are you sure you're okay?"

She seemed to shrink at the question, and Angus knew the answer.

"You can't let him do this to you, you've got to tell someone-"

"You haven't told anyone, have you?" she asked quickly.

"No," he said. "No, not even Mal." Her shoulders relaxed under his hands. "We can tell him together, we can get you out of there. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Yes, but-" Angus was pulled away from her at such a force she wondered if maybe she had accidentally pushed him again. A man had placed his arm around Angus' shoulder and led him away from the young woman.

"Great party here, glad you could make it," the man said. Angus blinked, never before seeing this man in his life. He glanced over his shoulder to see Hannah standing there, staring at them. "T really knows how to throw 'em, eh?"

Angus ducked out of the man's hold, knowing good and well Travis couldn't conduct a song if he tried. "I'm sorry, do I know you?" he asked. The man smiled and straightened his coat, giving Angus a hand to shake.

"Name's Barney, over there is my brother Barry." The man pointed over to the man in the white suit. Angus nodded. "I'm a friend of T's-or Travis as you may know him."

"Uh huh."

"Well, I've taken it upon myself to introduce myself and get to know each and every one of his guests, like a good co-host should, eh?"

Angus turned around to see Hannah had left, accompanied by none other than Travis, and a couple other women. "Can you please excuse me, I've got somewhere to be-"

"Oh she can wait, she can wait," the man said taking Angus around the shoulders again. "She's a real looker tonight, eh? Never seen her in red before. Have you?" Angus was sure his face was redder than any dress out there. "She's a favorite among the guys, Travis talks all about how respectful she is and how she never nags at him."

"She's sweet, that's why," he muttered. "No one else on Earth could be so nice to a guy like-"

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Barney reached into his pocket and pulled out a small business like card. He checked it then handed it to Angus with a smile. "Look at that, eh?"

Angus read the card with mild curiosity. He shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I don't want one."

"Come on, a handsome man like you? You're always up for a good time, and these women are the best at it. It's real easy, you just call the number and give your address and they send a girl up there to you, it's real easy."

"That may be all fun and games for you, but I'm not interested. Is that all you men know how to do? Gawk at women and treat them like this?" Barney looked astounded. "You're a rotten lot of blokes, you are." Angus turned to leave when Barney rushed in front of him. "Excuse me."

"We're not sayin' you have to, but that the option was there, and these women volunteer to do this, we don't make them." Angus gave the card back and lightly pushed the man aside.

"I'm sorry, but I'm with someone." And with that, Angus left the man's side, unknowing that the card was slipped into his jacket pocket as he left, with Barney looking around as if he committed a crime.

Hannah seemed to have disappeared among the throng of people and Angus had to stand on his toes to see anything. Trays were carried from table to table, appetizers already being served to those eager to dine. Angus ignored any hunger his stomach might have hinted at, dodging people and trays level right with his head. He finally found a group of men and Travis, standing in a half circle with Hannah standing uncomfortably under Travis' arm. Travis was the first to notice him. "Angus! Come talk with us, the guys are dying to meet you."

"They are?" Angus asked, following him to the circle, wrinkling his nose.

"Of course! We could all use a laugh, right guys?" The men chuckled around them and Angus' short temper began to rise.

"I'm really not that funny, Travis," Angus spat, looking at each of the men's laughing faces. "At least, not to you."

"Ha! He jests, the little character," Travis said to his mates, laughing all the while. Angus made to stand by Hannah and take her out of Travis' grasp when she was pulled away from him and introduced to another man, someone whom Travis had known since childhood. The two became engrossed in conversation, and Hannah ducked away to join a pitifully smiling Angus.

"Havin' a great time, aren't you?" he asked replacing his arm over her shoulders.

"I told you that you could leave," she answered.

"I'm not leaving you here," he whispered, stopping where they were to look at her. His eyes cast a glance at Travis, who still hadn't noticed his lack of company. "I'm not leaving you with him. He hurt you again?"

"Angus, I'm fine."

"Did he hurt you again?"

"It was just a small one this time, it didn't hurt as bad-"

"As bad? As bad as what?" Angus lifted her arm up to check it when she pulled away. "He did, didn't he?"

"Last week," she mumbled.

"Why?"

"Talking to Malcolm, he thought I might have told him-"

"Hannah, he needs to know this, I needed to know this! I remember distinctly the last time you didn't tell me what was going on and I lost you!"

Some guests who were close enough turned their heads but the overall party continued to bounce. Angus turned around to wave off any listeners and turned back to see Hannah, head lowered, face red. Giving her a moment to take his words in, he stuck a hand in the pocket of his pants, and felt a papery material. "I'm sorry, Angus, I-"

"Come on," he said grabbing her hand. He pulled her through the crowds away from the men, away from the snobby laughing and away from the noise. God forbid he spend any time alone with her anymore. Sneaking around corners and having no idea where he was going, Angus stumbled upon an exit door, and pushed it open. The evening had turned to night and a cold wind pressed upon their faces. The door swung shut behind them and echoed in the air. Hannah closed her jacket tighter around herself, the March air bringing about a slight discomfort. Angus did the same, then grabbed one of her hands and pulled her closer to him, a few feet away from the building. "You cold?"

She exhaled, her breath faintly visible.

"Sorry, bad question," he said lightly smacking his head. She smiled, and suddenly, it didn't seem as cold. "Why didn't you tell me?" he whispered.

Hannah toed the ground with her shoe. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "It's not that easy to tell, Angus."

"I'm your friend, ain't I?' He stepped closer, as the night sky was difficult to see in. "What's wrong, are you mad at me?"

"No," she sighed.

"Do you hate me now?"

"Of course not."

"Then what is it, do you not trust me?" She averted his eyes, and he had to tilt her head up to look at him. "Is that it?"

She finally looked him in the eye. "Of course I trust you. Look, you know what he did to me when he thought I told Mal." She rolled up a sleeve of her jacket and pointed to a week old burn, one that still hurt to touch. Angus frowned when he saw it, seeing all the burns he found before. Her sleeve was pulled down before he could touch it and she wrapped her arms around herself again. "I don't give him permission to have control over me, I want to leave. I want a life of my own, a life with my friends again." He smiled when she put a hand on his shoulder. He placed his own hand over it. "I don't want Travis to hurt either one of you either."

"Hey, don't worry about us, us Youngs are a tough species," Angus said flexing his arm. Hannah pushed it away with a grin, then looked to the stars above them. The chandelier had nothing on them, Angus thought. He put a hand to his back pocket and felt the paper again. This may have been his only chance. "Uh, listen." He cleared his throat. "While we're on the subject of tellin' each other stuff...there was somethin' I was supposed to tell you."

"There was?"

"Back...back when I found you again in the yard an' flowers," Angus recalled. "Actually, I was supposed to tell you this when we were kids but...it seems we both had a secret to hide."

"I thought you said it didn't matter-"

"Well it does now, it does now. Things-things have changed, ya' know." He took her hand and swung it gently, feeling her cold skin. With how small she was she must have felt it furiously. "I kind of...found somethin' years ago, I think it may belong to you?"

"Something of mine?" He nodded. "Did I leave something behind?"

"Sort of, you see-" He reached into his back pocket when the door they left through opened. Angus sighed when he saw Travis on the other side.

"There you two are! Come on, you must be freezing!" Angus stepped back as Travis was quick to wrap an arm around Hannah and lead her back inside. Angus followed, returning the note in his pocket. He squinted as the lights of the room came into view, the warmth the only thing to be glad for. Travis walked much quicker than Angus would have liked, taking Hannah a better distance away than he would have liked as well. "Come on, we better get to a table, they're serving the drinks! I think a bit of alcohol ought to warm you both right up!"

"Excuse me, Travis, I don't drink-"

"Aha! Here's a splendid one." Hannah was left to pull out her own chair and the seat next to her was grabbed before Angus could take it. With a glare he took the one a few spaces over and crossed his arms. The tables were well put together, decorated with a centerpiece of flowers over a teal tablecloth. Beautiful silver plates were at each spot, a number of silverware to accommodate them. There were no glasses, as each glass was served on a tray with a green bottle of champagne. One was set at this particular table and Travis grinned. "Now, it's a real party, am I right? Now let's have at this..."

With a weak amount of strength, Travis ripped the cork off and poured each glass with golden cascading alcohol. Hannah took hers then set it right back down again, Angus watching her, then doing the same. Travis drank all of his, then poured himself another glass.

"See, this is the good stuff. Not like that cheap bar whiskey and beer, am I right, Angus?"

"Like I was sayin', T," he said. "I don't drink." Travis lost his smile at the nickname.

"Your brother does."

"Do I look like Malcolm to you?"

"It's inevitable of a slight family resemblance, Mister Angus. Forgive the mistake-" He hiccuped. "I thought you would have a real good time if we served this."

"Mal was right," Angus said. "This is exactly the reason he didn't come, he knew you'd try to get him drunk, he knew you'd tempt him!"

"Settle down, settle down, that wasn't at all my intention. I was only being considerate to the Youngs, the ones my cousin's daughter thinks so-(hiccup)-highly of." A glare was shared between the two. If Travis' friends hadn't come along and stolen him away for a moment, it would have ended in a fight.

Making sure Travis was gone, Angus left his seat and took the one next to Hannah. "Hey, you want mine?"

Hannah smiled, glad of the better company. "No thank you, I don't drink."

"No?" Angus asked, eyes wide. "That makes two of us then." He bounced his leg up and down, watching the various trays set at the tables. "Don't want to be rude an' ask for somethin' else...not that I care."

Hannah tapped her glass with her fork, smiling at the sound. "One glass can't be that bad." Angus watched her tap the glass, wondering whether to agree or not. "It is just champagne."

"True. I guess we...take 'em down as fast as we can?"

"Sure."

"Cheers then." Their glasses were raised and brought together, then to their mouths where they each drank the alcohol as fast as they could, getting it over with. Angus set his glass down first. "I won."

Hannah's glass came down. "We weren't racing," she said wiping her chin.

"I still finished first."

"Only 'cause I didn't realize we were playing a game."

Angus grinned like a schoolboy. "We weren't."

"Then you didn't win."

"Alright, we'll play a real game." The green bottle was taken up and brought to each of their glasses, the liquid filling them up to the same amount as they were before. Hannah's glass was given to her and the bottle was set down. "Here you are, sweetheart." Angus took his glass. "Ready?"

"Yes."

"Alright, go." Neither were completely sure what made them so competitive that night. Perhaps it had been the cold from the outside inviting the warm taste of alcohol. Perhaps they wanted to impress the other one by stepping out of their comfort zone. Perhaps it was Travis' company that they just couldn't stand to be sober around anymore. Angus didn't bother to figure the answer out when he nearly smashed his glass on the table again. "I won again."

"Damn it!" Hannah set hers down and wiped her mouth again. "Almost had it that time. Alright, we'll try it again," she said, picking the bottle up for herself.

Angus watched her, a little grin forming. "A lot of drinks are disappearin'...not good for your health."

"Our health is fine as long as you drink to it." The bottle was sloppily placed on the table and Angus helped to steady it. Gripping her glass, Hannah started. "Ready?"

"Any time you are."

"...Go!" The drinks were downed again, each swallow clouding their minds more and more though they were hardly aware of it. Hannah's glass was set down, only because she started coughing on what little amount she swallowed. Angus set his down and smiled at her, swaying slightly. "That's not fair, it went down the wrong pipe!" she coughed.

"You need to control your pace," Angus scolded. "Too slow, you lose. Too fast, you choke."

"Like you're such a drink expert," she said lightly pushing him and grabbing the bottle with two hands. "Alright, another one."

Angus fought back a hiccup. "Another one...you've quite a tolerance, babe."

"It's called perseverance," Hannah said finishing off her glass. "You should get some."

"I have more than enough," Angus answered, watching her pour the rest of the drink out. He accepted his glass, feeling a warm tingling in the back of his throat radiate to his stomach. Nothing seemed to bother him anymore. Maybe Malcolm and Bon had the right ideas. "Call it when you're ready..."

The elevator reached the requested floor and the doors opened, but Angus hardly noticed. The smell of their breaths was nothing they'd ever expected from each other, but right now it didn't matter. Finally Angus turned his head to see the hallway, and he stumbled out, pulling Hannah behind him.

The night was still early. Dinner hadn't even been served yet when they left. They both decided the party was no place for them and they wagged, neither one feeling the cold night air anymore, or the slightest bit of hunger. Leaving Travis behind, his friends behind, and the world behind them.

The door to his hotel never seemed to get any closer and he almost missed it when he couldn't read the numbers quite clearly. His key was almost dropped twice as well before he finally got the hang of it. Pushing the door in he led Hannah inside and feebly closed it behind them.

Hannah leaned on him to steady herself while she looked around. "So...what was this you wanted-to tell me, Angus?" she asked, Angus leading her to the couch.

"Want to-" He hiccuped. "-want to show you somethin'." When both were settled on the couch, Angus took the liberty to kiss her cheek, making her laugh. Wanting the same reaction, he smiled and did it again. "Somethin' funny?" he asked.

She shook her head, unable to stop laughing as his lips tickled her cheek. Both of them had taken a bit more alcohol than they could manage, and neither one had stopped the other. Something in Angus' brain wasn't working, and he continued to kiss her, thirsty for something else. "Angus?" Hannah asked, taking a moment to breathe, "Where's Sherrie?"

"Not important," he mumbled. Truth be told he hardly heard her. His hands made their way to her shoulders and he slipped her jacket off, revealing all the burns on her arms. She shivered as his fingers touched them, running over them.

Her cheek was abandoned by his lips and he migrated to her jaw, her laughing silenced. One hand slid up her thigh, squeezing the flesh beneath his fingers. The opposite hand sneaked behind her to her dress, joking around with the zipper on her back. No hands were touching him in return but he hardly noticed.

Moving his lips downward he found her neck and made his home there. He felt her tense up, and pressing his lips to her much warmer skin, he lightly bit down, his own breath hitching. Teeth were replaced by lips and he took to kissing her again.

"Mmm...what's wrong?" Pausing for just a second to see her reaction, he narrowed his eyes. Her own eyes were closed, and her small frame was shaking, keeping her arms close around herself. Her breathing was ragged and sharp, her head turned away from him. It was hard to tell, but something shiny ran down her cheek from her hidden eye.

"Stop..."

Hannah's voice was so quiet he wasn't sure he heard her. "...what?"

"Stop," she whispered. More tears began to fall and Angus removed his hand from her thigh to wipe them away.

"Hey, I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" Thinking it would help he brought his lips to her neck again and kissed the darkening spot. Her shaking only got worse and he pulled away from her. "What's the matter? Look at me, what's wrong?" Her face remained hidden from his sight. Travis was the first name that came to him, and the perfect idea to give some blame to in his tipsy mind. "Did Travis hurt you?"

Without an answer from her it was difficult to understand why his actions had sobered her up. Angus' head began to pound, and his heart began to break when Hannah's tears were impossible to stop. Wrapping his arms around her he rested his cheek on her hair and rocked her back and forth. "You're alright, I'm not gonna hurt ya'."

Deciding his words were true, Hannah relaxed into the embrace and buried her head on his shoulder, making his jacket rather wet. He didn't care, even as the alcohol started to wear off. Running a hand through her hair, he whispered, "Why didn't you tell me no?"

Her voice was muffled and quiet, and Angus hoped he didn't hear her correctly. A new fire had started, one that he couldn't put out. "No didn't work on him."

Knowing Travis was far away and that the best thing he could do was keep Hannah safe at the hotel, he continued to rock her back and forth, slightly humming as he did so. Her crying still hadn't let up. There was no question. Malcolm had to be told one way or another, and Travis had to be stopped. "Shhh...I've gotcha, I've gotcha." He closed his eyes and rested them back on the couch, Hannah curling into a ball. "I've gotcha, sweetheart, I've gotcha." Something strong began to overtake him, and his eyes fluttered lazily while his muscles relaxed. "I've always gotcha..."

"I've gotcha, Angus, I've gotcha," Mrs. Young murmured as she hugged her son. Malcolm stood three feet away, twiddling his hands together nervously, nervous for his brother. He didn't understand. Angus had never fallen from the tree before. None of the branches had ever broken when they climbed up there, and Angus weighed less than he did. But when Angus saw the blood on his knee, Malcolm knew their mother would be the best one to calm him down.

His crying had lessened, and was reduced to short hiccups. Mrs. Young had wiped his knee with a wet cloth and placed a Band-aid on it, kissing it better for good measure. The ten year old standing before them took a step closer. "Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine, Malcolm," Mrs. Young answered. "It was good of you to come get me."

"I'm sorry, Mum, I thought the tree would hold him."

"It wasn't your fault, dear. I will advise you to be more careful next time. Trees get old just like people do, and their branches snap. I'm glad he didn't get very high before he fell." Mrs. Young gave Angus a kiss on the forehead and smoothed his bangs back. His hiccups had stopped, and he gave a little sniff. "You okay, Angus?" The eight year old nodded, hiding his face in his mother's embrace.

"Why'd you kiss his knee, Mum?" Malcolm asked.

"Sometimes it makes our wounds feel better. I always kiss yours when you get hurt."

"Do doctors kiss them?"

"No," Mrs. Young smiled. "Usually it's only the ones we love who kiss us to feel better. Like you children." Malcolm cocked his head, then knelt by his brother and kissed his bandaged knee.

"I love Angus, will his knee get better now?" His mother nodded.

"I think it will, Mal. You're a good brother." Malcolm grinned, and sat on his mother's other side.

"I saw it first!"

"I'm the oldest, so I get it."

"That's not fair, you're not the oldest!"

Malcolm grabbed the yo-yo from his brother and smiled keeping it out of his reach, while Angus stuck his tongue out. Being the youngest really bites sometimes. Old clothes that belonged to a stinky brother for Christmas, having to sit with the kid relatives during family get togethers, and toys being confiscated for older sibling usage. Angus walked down the sidewalk leaving Malcolm to play by himself, secretly hoping the yo-yo was broken anyway.

He kicked a rock that was blocking his path, and he kicked it again to see how far it would go. Kicking never came to him as easily as it did for Malcolm, but he didn't mind. Johnny played soccer too, and Angus never wanted to chance being on his team. Malcolm would tell him he was too young to play with their year anyway.

Angus impressed himself by kicking the rock so hard, that it rolled down the sidewalk to a fence, and hit it with a bang. He ran after it, stooping to pick it up. His attention was grabbed by a small whimper coming from around the corner, where a cluster of trees grew. His first guess was a small kitten that had gotten stuck in there. When he went to save it, he was surprised to see a little girl there, crying into her knees that were pulled up to her chest. "What are you doing?" he asked, nervous to be around a crying girl.

Hannah raised her head and looked at him, ashamed to have been found in such a vulnerable state. She wiped her eyes on her sleeve, a hand poking out that Angus couldn't help but notice was bright red. "Go away," she mumbled.

"What happened to your hand?"

"I got hurt, now go away." Angus was never one to listen to Hannah or follow her orders, so he plopped right down next to her.

The Band-aid on his knee was already peeling, and his mother had been telling him to quit picking at the scab. Remembering how his mother and brother made it feel better, he asked her, "Did your mum kiss it better?"

With a shake of the head, Hannah answered in the most honest way a child can. "She's the one who made it hurt."

Angus didn't know what to say to that. Hannah's crying had subsided but she continued to run her fingers over the back of her hand. Hating what he was about to do, but knowing it was right and would make his mother proud, he kissed her hand when no one else would. "There," he said, wiping his mouth. "Now it'll feel better." He almost regretted his decision when Hannah wrapped her arms around his neck in return, surely giving him some infectious girly disease.

Almost.