It is the evening of the day
I sit and watch the children play
Smiling faces I can see
But not for me
I sit and watch
As tears go by
*

"I am sorry..." I said before he could act or even see me. I had no idea how this would turn out, it always was a surprise with Brian. One moment he was decent, nice and sweet even and the next he was just a bastard... Therefore it just seemed right to tell him I'm sorry, before he even knew I was here or I perhaps wouldn't get the chance again. "I shouldn't have said it. It just seemed far more probable than you wanting to keep me around..."

He turned around and I couldn't really judge his face. He seemed tired and annoyed, but like always with him there was hint of sadness as well. I wondered what his vision would show if I touched him. I nearly wanted to reach out, but didn't. Brian would know what I would be up to and I doubted that this would mend any relationship we still had.

"What are you doing here?" he asked frowning.

I had expected a lot, but not that. On the other hand, it seemed typical, that he missed the important bit and concentrated on some small detail first. "Keith brought me along."

Brian rolled his eyes. "Of course he did. He's your friend and not some job..."

That actually sounded more like something I had expected him to say. I heard some noises from behind me, but didn't turn around. I could imagine what was going on... I probably should now think about what I was going to say to him. I would have stopped this conversation, if it wasn't something we both desperately needed... "You are too... and I didn't mean it like that... I don't know, but you were not expecting me to live forever with you, were you? Be honest for a minute."

He sighed. "No... But I like having you around and then you just tell me you'll leave... I- I just don't know, if this is even changing anything... You have your job, your own life and I am not part of it... "

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry if I gave you that impression... Brian, you are surely a part of my life, but my job is too and I just can't give everything up, because you asked me too. I need this, however if it's some comfort to you I took a whole week off after you threw me out." I smiled a bit.

He looked at me as if I had grown another head. "Seriously? I thought you would work no matter what."

I looked away from him, because I felt uneasy under his gaze, especially after two weeks of not seeing him nor was this something I really wanted to tell him. Admitting that leaving him had affected me to the degree I hardly did anything else than drink and hid away in my flat definitely didn't sound like a good idea at all. Even if I knew Brian had probably reacted the exact same way towards me leaving his life, if Keith was to be believed, still this seemed too personal. "I didn't feel good and I needed some time to think..."

I could still feel his eyes on me, which wasn't really helping my awkward feeling. "And what did you find out?" He asked.

"Nothing much, besides that I probably think too much and probably shouldn't..."I mumbled. "Oh and apparently living with me is hell. Mary doesn't go as far as to throw me out, but I think she would be really thankful if I'd moved back in with you. " I said finally looking up at him.

He seemed surprised and raised his eyebrows. "And you?"

"I promised you." I smiled. "And I don't break my promises, even though you make it quiet hard. It's the third time you've thrown me out in something a little bit more than a month."

He returned my smile and I could feel the situation relax. "Well if you wouldn't argue with me on everything..."

I rolled my eyes. "And if you wouldn't perhaps overreact over everything..."

"At least I don't overthink everything."

"As if-"

We heard the doors open and Keith, Marianne and Mick tumbled on the terrace, interrupting me. "Yeah we get it! You're both impossible, but love each other! Now kiss and come back in. I'm hungry!" Keith exclaimed sounding somewhat annoyed. My and Brian's making up had probably taken longer than his patience.

"Keith! You can't just interrupt the two or they'll never get their problems right!" Marianne scolded him. I frowned. I could understand why Keith listened in on us and even Mick, but why did she tag along? She hadn't even known me before today, but well I supposed it didn't matter anyway. She wasn't the one who had interrupted us and curiosity probably just got the best of her.

"No, I fear Keith is right. If they don't stop now they're at it until New Year's." Mick said.

Marianne shock her head. "They hardly discussed anything, you should have at least given them 5 minutes more... Brian hasn't even said that he would take her back..."

"Oh you're right..." Keith mumbled and Mick laughed. "Well Brian tell the lady that you take her back, give her a kiss and we can move on."

Brian and I just stood there very awkwardly. I knew that somebody was listening in on our conversation, but that they would just barge in to it, wasn't really what I expected nor the meddling into something that clearly wasn't their business. Neither Brian nor I replied Keith.

Marianne rolled her eyes. "I doubt that's enough. Keith did you even listen to them? Charlie told him that their relationship was not going to last and he threw her out and now you simply want him to take her back? How would you feel if somebody you care about just tells you they would leave you? Surely not happy. "

"She did say that she was sorry." Mick offered. "Even if I don't see a reason why she should be in the first place when she's right. We all know how this is going to end. He'll knock her up and send her away."

My eyes widened at that comment. It just sounded so wrong and still Brian had tried to get me to sleep with him, hadn't he? But this... I- no. I took a deep breath to calm down. There was no reason to freak out. We were not together, I surely wouldn't sleep with him and this would never happen.

"Mick!" Marianne exclaimed.

"What? Be real for a minute, she's right in staying away. She's probably the cleverest girl he ever had and still she was not enough to completely stay away from him, even if I think she's just in for the money or something." I frowned. I was a bit astonished at Mick's opinion on me. I mean we hadn't really talked to each other, but did he seriously think I was just with Brian for money? I knew our relationship looked odd to everybody, but this?

"You know nothing..."Brian grumbled. "And it's none of your business anyway."

Mick rolled his eyes. "Of course not, none of your shit is. The band only has the problem later on, but it's not like you care for that either."

"Maybe we should get back in... I'm sure the others are already waiting for us and Charlie and Brian still need to talk..." Marianne tried, but I doubt Brian nor Mick would just simply drop this.

I need a drink, I thought, but I must have said it aloud, because Keith started to laugh. "See Mick, she's not in for the money or fame and since when do you even care about Brian's relationships? Let them just be and it will take its course on its own. He already threw her out thrice, let them have another try, it doesn't matter anyway. The result won't change."

"You're just waiting for that, aren't you?" Mick snorted.

"You two! This doesn't has to end up bad, can't you just be glad that he found somebody he likes and move on?" Marianne said before anyone else could reply for which I was really thankful for. "We really should leave them on their own and let them get their problems straight... Charlie, I don't really know you nor do I know every detail, but you can't just tell him that you doubt you'll be still together in some months that is something you just don't say, especially when I don't see a reason for it...No matter what those two tell you. I mean I have only seen you once together, but I didn't get the impression that neither of you weren't serious about this. So please think about it. "

I knew Marianne intentions were good ones, but I definitely didn't feel right with her meddling or the others. Blimey I hardly could stand Mary meddling and I know her much longer. Still Marianne had probably saved this conservation from descending into a very ugly discussion, no matter if I liked it or not.

Brian seemed to feel my unease and put his hand on my back. Water. Suffocating. Death. I sighed, but wasn't surprised to see this vision. This hardly seemed like one of his good days. "Marianne, it's ok. We made up... She didn't mean it like that." Brian mumbled. Judging from his tone of voice I didn't think she was going to believe him, but he had at least tried. "We can go back in."

"Oh no not so fast." Keith stopped us before we could even move and I nearly groaned. Couldn't we just drop this? Brian and me surely still needed to talk, but the way this was going at the moment going back in and ignoring this sounded really good. "Tell her you take her back and kiss her."

"I thought you were hungry?" Mick raised his eyebrows.

Keith shrugged. "Maybe, but it's Christmas. So we need some love. I want a kiss at least."

"If that's all you want..." Mick pulled Marianne into a kiss. She yelled Mick and hit him playfully, but she looked rather happy. I sighed and I think I started to realise why people questioned me and Brian. We surely didn't look like that or even anywhere close to that.

"I don't mean you... Brian, come on now." Keith said annoyed, even if I couldn't understand why he was so after this... I wasn't sure, maybe it was just again everyone else making me believe in something, but I thought Keith liked me, hadn't he even said to give him a chance if I was looking for a relationship? So why was he so keen now on getting me and Brian to kiss? Shouldn't he be glad if Brian and me didn't solve our problems? Or what was he trying? I knew Keith was suspicious of our relationship, but what would he get from forcing us to kiss? This made no sense at all or I was again just thinking too hard about this...

Somebody took my hand. Water. Suffocating. Death. "You can come back..." Brian mumbled. He clearly just said it to get Keith off his back and I rolled my eyes.

"No, no, tell her you love her, have missed her and want her back." And Keith had clearly seen through him. At this rate, we were never going to go back in.

"I think you're going a bit too far now." Marianne tried, but Keith just shook his head.

"Other ways they are never going to say it!"

"Keith, please Brian and me have made up. Can't you just drop it now? And let us go back in. The others are surely wondering where we are by now." I said.

He sighed. "Alright, but still I want to see a kiss."

"You're definitely worse than a five year old..." Marianne said and Mick laughed.

"It's just a kiss, it's not like he asked them to have sex on the spot or get married... Please just do it so he shuts up and we can finally get some food." Mick said and she shook her head.

I definitely didn't want to kiss Brian. Not again and especially not now, when everyone was watching us, but I doubted there was a way around it without appearing very suspicious and well Mick was right after all it was only a kiss. Brian and me had done this before and nothing more had come out of it. So if that got Keith off our backs and we could finally go back in, I could go through with this.

Brian was still holding my hand and squeezed it. I turned around and looked at him, which made me suddenly rather nervous. I didn't like being so close to him, it made me uneasy. Blimey I couldn't stand physical contact with anybody, but it seemed even worse with him. Brian had invaded my personal space like no one before and I wasn't sure what to think of that. I liked him, but there couldn't be more and I just wanted to get away from him and fast. That sadly wasn't an option.

Brian leaned in and touched my lips with his, out of reflex or because I was supposed to return it, I wasn't sure, I closed my eyes and kissed him back. I knew I had to pull away, but I couldn't. My brain screamed at me telling me it was wrong and this could never be, however my body didn't listen. I had missed him and I needed him and that seemed to be all that mattered. I felt his other hand caress my cheek and then I heard somebody whistle, which finally pulled me out of the moment. I pushed Brian away and I probably blushed a horribly shade of red. I couldn't believe that we had just make out in front of the others and still it had happened... Brian too looked a bit caught off guard, it seemed like he hadn't expected this either, not that this was any comfort. It rather unnerved me even more. It was obvious why this should have bothered me, but him? I didn't even want to know how many girls he had kissed without a second thought, so why? This shouldn't have made a difference for him, except if he indeed felt more towards me... No that couldn't be, I told myself and tried to look for another explanation, but couldn't come up with one and just put it down as stuff Brian did I couldn't understand.

Keith started laughing. "Well seemed that was long needed." He patted Brian on the back. "You can thank me in the morning for bringing her along." And I think I probably would have blushed even more, if that would have been possible. "Let's get back in." He said and was the first to walk back in. Marianne and Mick followed immediately behind him and I was about to do the same, when Brian held my arm back. Water. Suffocating. Death.

"I didn't mean to..." He whispered.

I shook my head. "It's ok... It's not your fault." And we probably should just forget about this altogether, I added in my head and I wondered how many memories I already had with him, which I actually wished had never happened. Probably too many, but it was for the best for both of us. We needed to stay together if we wanted this to work out and we couldn't let some awkward feeling come in between us. In the end it would just complicate things even more.

He took a deep breath. "You know, he was right... I did miss you. It wasn't the same without you and I would be happy if you come back."

"I missed you too... Why didn't you tell them the truth that we were on a break?"

"I hoped you came back before I had too..." He whispered.

I bid my lip. "I am sorry..."

He cleared his throat. "Well let's get back in." He took my hand and we went to the dining room where the others were already waiting for us. They had sat down and were eating. They probably got tired of waiting for us. At first I wanted to take the seat opposite of Keith, but Brian sat down before I could and forced me to sit down at the end of the table between him and Keith. Next to Brian was sitting Bill, then a woman I didn't know and neither seemed anybody to bother to introduce us. I assumed she was either Bill's or Stu's girlfriend, simply because she sat in between the two of them and that would make the most sense. Charlie sat on the head of the table and next to him was an empty chair, which I supposed belonged to Shirley then. On her side sat Marianne, next to her Mick and then Keith.

"Nice of you to finally join us too." Bill said as he handed Brian some soup. Brian took some for him and gave me some as well.

"Be happy that they appeared. I would have bet he would take her home or at least spend some more time on Watts' terrace, the way they had a go at each other." Keith said and I nearly choked on my soup. He started laughing.

"Did I miss something?" A woman asked, I supposed who was Shirley. She had just come back in with some bread, when she saw Keith laughing, but then she spotted me and Brian. "Oh you must be Brian's girlfriend, I didn't think you were coming!" She smiled. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you! I am Shirley, Charlie's wife." She came over and probably wanted to shake hands, but even before she could even offer it, Brian interrupted her.

"Don't touch her." Shirley looked a bit at loss and stopped in the middle of her movement. Despise his rude behaviour I had to smile. He probably was still angry with me, but still did his best to keep people away from me.

"You weren't joking with his no touching policy!" Marianne exclaimed.

Shirley frowned. "Sorry?"

"Brian has something against people touching her, nothing personal." Keith laughed. "Even though I don't get it. I can understand why you don't want me or any other man feeling her up, but really Shirley? I doubt she would run off with Charlie" Brian shrugged and Keith laughed. "Well Shirley at least doesn't need to get used to a different name."

"Didn't you want to do the same? Exchange her for Watts?" Bill chipped in. "So why shouldn't Shirley do the same?"

Shirley frowned again. "I don't get that either."

I rolled my eyes. "Sorry. Eh... I didn't introduce myself... Well I'm Charlie, but you can call me Charlotte, if it makes things easier and it's a pleasure to meet you."

Then she started laughing. "Oh I see." And went back to her seat. She was indeed sitting in the empty chair.

"And thank you very much for the invitation." I added.

"You're very welcome and I really hope you like the food. I'm not used to cook for so many people."

"Oh it's fine." I mumbled. "You shouldn't worry, the soup tastes wonderful."

Brian snorted. "Of course you have to say that, for you everything tastes probably wonderful. Can you even cook?"

I rolled my eyes, but again somehow this seemed so typical and I just had to smile a bit. I really had missed him no matter his rude behaviour. "Yes or how do you suppose I survived before I met you?"

He shrugged. "How should I know? On sandwiches and whiskey perhaps? That's probably everything I've seen you ever do in the kitchen."

I rolled my eyes. "For your information, I can actually do more and I don't drink that much..." Keith started laughing and was soon followed by Bill.

"Entwistle thought she could drink Moon under the table." Bill remarked.

Keith laughed. "Really? That's something I really like to see. Next time I met up with them you have to come with me." I shook my head. I think I had enough of Keith Moon for a lifetime.

"No, she doesn't." Brian exclaimed and I couldn't agree more with him for once.

"Oh yeah I forgot the Loon's somewhat fond of her. Kept clinging to her."

"He hangs on everybody, especially if the someone has breasts." Bill added.

They laughed. 

Thank you for reading, voting and any feedback! Sorry this chapter took a bit longer, I didn't really like it and well it's still not perfect, but at least it is decent enough. Oh and wattpad wasn't working and kept on deleting things I wrote... I hope this works now and has no missing bits...

Oh and I'm writing a new Keith Richards story if somebody is interested in that and no I'm not abandoning this. Well the story is called 'Sympathy for the Devil' and that's pretty much the plot too.  Sorry for the shameless story promotion. lol

Preview:

"When?"

I shook my head. "Brian this is not the place..."

"No tell me!" Brian had raised his voice and the others started looking at us curiously, probably wondering what went on again between us. I regretted accepting Keith's barmy invitation. I should have stayed at home, or I don't know. Everywhere else was better than here. 

"Really, we shouldn't..." I pleaded.

"Why? Just say it!"

"No this can wait! It's not that important anyway." I tried again.

"It is!" He yelled and now he definitely had the attention of the whole room.

"Brian, if she doesn't want to talk to you, just leave her be and don't go destroying Shirley's dinner. She's right this surely can wait 'til after dinner." Keith said.

Brian didn't even acknowledge Keith's comment and kept staring at me. "It's soon isn't it? That's why you don't want to tell me."