"So much for me enjoying this bloody cake."

LUCY

With my fake smile stuck to my face and my head held high I turned to Lockwood. He wore a vacant expression, a hollow expression. It nearly broke my heart but I have now clue why. He opened his mouth but closed it soon after.

"I believe we have some paperwork to fill out." I said. He did nothing but nod his head and walk to his office.

"Oh you mean like you're leaving right now?" Holly asked. I turned to her a smiled a reassuring smile.

"Yes Holly." I said. I heard Lockwood call my name from his office so I followed. He stood with his back to me, head down. His hands shook as he held my papers, those papers with everything on them. They were more tattered then I remembered them to be. I suppose someone had read them more than once. It didn't bother me. I walked up behind him and reached one arm around him from behind, placing it on his cold hands. He looked shocked at first but soon fell accustom to my touch. He turned and wrapped his arms around me, rocking me in tight hug. His head came down into the curve of my neck and his breaths became raspy. He started crying and I was shocked by this. I had never seen him cry before.

"L-Lockwood! Hey come on don't cry over me I said backing him up, placing my hands on his shoulders and starring him in the eyes. Oh his beautiful eyes, and sharp facial features that now seemed to lack definition in the moment.

"Im sorry Luce it just... I don't want you to leave." He said. His voice outlined and filled with sadness. It broke my darn heart.

"Hey were still friends right? You know Ill never forget about you or George or Holly. God, I won't even forget smirky upstairs. And I can come visit if you wish. Lockwood this isn't good bye forever," I looked him in the eyes and finished with " just a while alright."

He looked down at his shoes and wiped his eyes.
" I know Luce," he said. "Can I tell you something?" He asked. I was slightly scared but agreed anyway.

"Im happy you went into her room. Wanna know why? Cause no one else has tried so hard to know who I am and where I came from. I felt like someone wanted to know me." He hugged me again and whispered " and not just my smile."

I hugged him for what seemed like forever. I knew he dreaded letting go, but we had to. I signed the release papers and made my way upstairs for the last time. I threw my clothes and other random assortments in my bag before sitting on the bed; my head in my hands. The skull didn't say two words since I had placed the cloth over him. I heard a knock on the door.

" come in." I said. Lockwood came in and sat next to me. We didn't speak for a while.

"Now what?" He asked. I shrugged.

" we part ways and I go... home." I spat the last word out. This was home. Not back there. His arm wrapped around my shoulders and lightly squeezed. I rested my head on his shoulder.

" I can't let you leave."he whispered.
"We have to part ways Lockwood."
"No we don't. It doesn't have to be this way Luce you can stay."
"Yes I do Lockwood. Please don't make this harder then it already is."
"But Luce we love having you here."
"And I love being here"
"Then stay!"
"I can't Lockwood."
" please Luce give me another chance."
" why are you asking for a second chance? Its not your fault Lockwood its my own."
"No its not."
"YES IT IS!" I yelled turning from him. He flinched but never removed his arm.
"If you're really convinced on leaving then I have to do something before you leave me." He said.
I turned around " what Lockwood?" He looked at me with his big brown animated eyes. And he kissing me. I wrapped me arms around his neck as he pushed me back on to the bed. His arms on either side on my head. We broke apart only when we were certain we would pass out if we continued. He smiled at me. "That." He whispered.
"Boy everywhere take note: that was a kiss!" I sighed. Though I could tell all play had left him. He kissed me more feverishly then before. I kissed back. Soon he was completely on top of me. His fingers traced my cheeks as my hands became tangled in his tousled hair.

I don't know how long Holly was standing there but when I opened my eyes for a brief moment I seen her horrified face. I pushed Lockwood off off me, breaking the kiss. He looked hurt, then he to noticed Holly. She just stood there, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Were kinda in the middle of something here." Lockwood said obviously annoyed by her presence.
She ran from the room, slamming the door shut. Lockwood sighed and ran his fingers through his messy hair. He smiled an awkward smile at me.

"I can't believe that you just said that to her." I said playful hitting his chest while sitting up. My legs where underneath his thighs. His knees straddling my hips. He pulled me into his chest.

"Are you still going to leave?" He asked me hesitantly. I thought back to the ghost and what he had said.

"Yes Lockwood I must." I sighed.
" yeah I thought so." He sighed getting off me and holding a hand from me to take.
I excepted it knowing I would never get a moment like this again.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2 years later~~~~~~~~~~~~

LOCKWOOD

"Hey baby." Kristen purred while climbing on top of me. Ever since Lucy had left I had changed. Everyone knew it. Holly even quit because of it. So it was just me and George. I had dated 12 girls since Luce left. George had tried so hard to help me. So many therapist and doctors. So many. Nothing helped. She hadn't come back like she promised she would. I gave up on hoping. The only girl I had ever really loved walked away from me. I kissed Kristen, she kissed back. As always. The same old game over and over. I pulled away.

" listen I don't think this is working. I think we should she other people." I said. She gasped and smacked my face before getting up and running out. I came down stairs and sat in my old chair. George sat on the couch. He mumbled "13"
"Ah shut up." I groaned.
"Oh and just so you know, you're therapist quit. He couldn't take it anymore. So now We have 13 ex-girlfriends and 9 ex- therapists. Bloody brilliant Tony."
"Dont call me Tony." I growled.
"I did manage to get ahold of another therapist and I am sure you'll be pleased with this one."
"Why? I asked.
" you're about to see." He said. Then as if right on cue I heard the bell chime.
" shes here." George said placing his book down and running to the door.
" he's right in there." George said. I closed my eyes and groaned.
"Hello Lockwood, long time, big see." Lucy said. My eyes burst open and there she was. Standing before me. "Look what you've become. A pig! A rat! A waste of time!" She yelled. I flinched at her sudden rage. He smacked me across the face.
"What am I to you?! Nothing! I thought you loved me!" She screamed, tears running down her face. I couldn't speak. "You never cared did you?! DID YOU!?" She cried. The light outside burned out and the candles that George had lit whistled away. Blood streamed down a gash on Lucy's head that wasn't there before. Her hands shook and her mouth clamped shut. "YOU DIDN'T COME WHEN I NEED YOU THE MOST!" She screamed as a blue outline ran its way across her neck. I screamed as she opened her mouth and blood pooled out on to her white shirt. She became blue and faint. "I will never forgive you for this!" She whispered as she clamped down on my neck and everything went black.

"LOCKWOOD LOCKWOOD!" I heard someone screaming. I bolted up, shaking, sweating, crying. Lucy sat beside me, a worried expression on her face. I grabbed her and hugged her. It was all a dream. I remembered, Lucy had come back for Christmas and I had convinced her to stay. Two years later I proposed to her. We married in early spring four months later. I held her close. It was becoming harder and harder to hug her these days. Her stomach bumped out due to her being pregnant. She was eight months pregnant at the moment and we were both ecstatic about the baby.
"I thought I lost you." I whispered.
" you were screaming my name, I thought something was wrong, don't do that to me." She said.
"Can I make you tea?" I asked. She nodded and began to remove the blankets.
" no Luce stay there I got it." I said jumping up. I picked her up bridal style and carried her down stairs. The entire time she complained about wanting to do things on her own and how she was perfectly fine. I sat her down in her chair next to mine and put the kettle on. I starred at the steam coming from the lid when I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. The whistle blew and Lucy let go. I began grabbing two cups when I heard Lucy shriek. I turned around and saw a giant puddle of water around her. She didn't move and neither did I. We looked at each other for a moment or two before she spoke.

"Yes! Finally! Once I have this kid I get my rapier back." She said as though she wasn't going into labor in that exact moment even though she was. I wouldn't let her have her rapier the entire time she was pregnant.
"Only you would say that, you know that right?" I asked shaking my head.
"Hey do you mind hurrying up, this kinda hurts ya know."
"Oh right baby hospital now go!" I said picked her up once more. She sighed and said. " again with the picking up!"
"Oh hush up." I said.
"Yeah tell me that in an hour or so." She groaned.