Duncan stiffened, and made sure Courtney was close behind him. His teal eyes intense, his face still slightly flushed by the heavy make out session he had just had. 

Another flash of lightning came, and the two adults yelled in surprise to see the figure was right in front of them now. The knife held against it's chest. 

"Get back!" Duncan yelled "Or I swear I'll kill you!"

"No! Don't kill me, please!" the figure whimpered. Duncan's shoulders eased up, and he dropped his fists to his sides, instantly recognizing that lovable voice

"Owen?"  he said. He felt Courtney relax behind him as well, and Duncan grabbed his lighter and flicked it open. He lit the thing, and the big oaf's face was illuminated right in front of them.

Owen had a terrified look on his chubby face, and he was shaking a little. The knife shaking in his hands. 

"What are you doing?" Courtney asked, stepping out from behind Duncan to stand next to him now. Owen looked at her, and cracked a small smile

"Is that Duncan's shirt?" he asked. Courtney quickly blushed and wrapped her arms around herself. Duncan smirked himself. 

"Why do you have a giant kitchen knife dude?" Duncan asked looking at the dangerous thing. Owen blushed sheepishly

"Well... I was laying in bed and got extremely hungry. Cause I never got my midnight snack. So I decided to come downstairs to make myself a sandwich. And was gonna use this to cut my bread," he said. Courtney rolled her eyes and blew out a long breath

"Unbelievable," she mumbled. 

"Sooo.. What were you two up to?" Owen asked, in a tone that hinted that he already had a pretty good idea. 

Courtney's blush deepened. She had never been so happy it was dark, and that no one could barely see it.

"We were just talking," Duncan said. Surprising her. Usually Duncan was one to gloat about these types of things to people. But for some reason, he felt like respecting her a little more. 

Owen eyed her wearing his shirt one last time, and raised a brow. But shrugged, suggesting to drop it "Anyways. I'm gonna head upstairs. Izzy is waiting for me. She hates it when I leave her alone. She seems to think the cops are still after her for burning that kitchen down a few years ago,"

Owen gave them one last wave, and walked back upstairs. Courtney noted that he still had the kitchen knife. Probably smart, he could use it to protect himself if the murderer came back.

Not a bad idea  she thought.

"We should probably head to bed..." she said, fake yawning a little. Duncan looked a little disappointed, but nodded anyways 

"Yeah, you're probably right," he said. The two grabbed the remainder of their clothes and followed suit behind Owen upstairs. There was an awkward silence between them now. All of earlier's sparks vanishing into oblivion again. 

Once they reached the top of the stairs to the hallway with all the guest suites they stopped.

"My room's on the end of this hall," he said. Courtney nodded a little

"Mine's the complete opposite, all the way down there," she said, pointing in the other direction. Duncan slowly reached up and scratched the back of his head

"So I guess this is good night?" he murmured. Courtney slowly looked at him, and then at her feet.

Courtney wanted nothing more than to let him in again. Let him sleep with her. With her head on his chest, and his big strong arms wrapped around her as she listened to his soft heartbeat. The way it should be. The way it used to be. 

But she just.. Couldn't. Whatever had just happened downstairs... It just wasn't enough. They had passion. There was never any lack of that. Never was and never would be. But passion wasn't enough. It just... Wasn't. 

Try as hard as she could, she just couldn't forget about what he did to her. Couldn't let him get close to her again. Couldn't let him in.

"Yeah," she whispered, a hint of sadness creeping into her voice "I guess it is,"

Duncan swallowed a hard lump in his throat. There were so many things left unsaid between them. There always had been, and probably always will be. 

"Good night, Duncan," she said, giving him a sad smile before turning away and walking down the hall. He felt a pang in his heart when he remembered she was still wearing his shirt. He watched her go, wanting to reach out to her. Tell her so many things he knew he'd never say. 

He's never tell her how much she truly meant to him. He's never be the one to crack and beg her not to go. It just wasn't who he was. It wasn't wired into his system to be that way.

And he hated himself for it

"Good night, Courtney," he heard himself whisper. 

And that was it. Duncan slowly turned and walked away from her, leaving his heart hurting. Leaving things unsaid. Important things. Just like Duncan always did.  

Because in the end, Duncan was Duncan.

And he was never gonna change.