A/N...saw this post from weedyart on Tumblr about Gail and Holly and how Holly walks out of her life for good, couldn't get it out of my head.

I'm really sorry.

Also, I'm not very good with dialogue or words. So, I'm sorry for that too.

Edit: I tried linking to the original Tumblr post, but technology and I don't always get along...so here it is:

- While processing what Gail has told her about her plans to adopt Sophie, Holly still agrees to go to the gala/ball thing with Gail.

- Gail goes to pick up Holly from her house and they end up confessing their love for each other. It's all very emotional and touching, but they decide that they can't be together - It's all too much.

- Incredibly sad, Gail still attends the gala (free booze) and ends up sitting at the bar alone, eyeing the cloakroom as people come in and out. She is tapped on the shoulder and is asked to dance. It's Holly dressed in some beautiful dress. They slow dance in silence and it eventually turns into them just hugging in the middle of the dance floor. Holly tells Gail "Plus One Forever," then leaves. For good.

"Wow. Okay, you've really thought about this. And this is something you're absolutely going to do?" Gail wasn't sure how Holly would react. So far, it didn't look promising.

"Yeah. Holly, she really is amazing. And I really care about her." She had changed a lot in the last few months. Staying through to the end of this difficult conversation was evidence of that. "The process is already starting and I really want this. I've started looking at apartments and homes, school districts. Heck, I'm even eyeing the next rotation for detective applications." Even though Holly wasn't saying much, she could see that the doctor was struggling with something internally.

"I'm really happy for you. Truly, I am. You would make an amazing mom, Sophie is one lucky girl…"

"But?"

"But. I'm going to need to think about this. It's a lot to process quickly, and you've had a few weeks compared to the ten minutes I've had so far." That came out more harshly than it should have. "What I mean is. This is a huge life decision one that you obviously haven't come to lightly. And we're still…we're still figuring ourselves out. Not that we can't figure it out while you…us?...we?...go through the adoption process. Thank you for telling me though." As she said this, Holly stood up and slipped on her coat. Just before she walked away from the table, she placed her hand over Gail's and looked her in the eyes, "It really means a lot to me that you're talking about things now." With that she walked out of the café where they met for coffee so Gail could tell her this "something important."

Gail didn't know what to think. Holly just needed some time, some space to think. At least that's what Gail was hoping. The blonde sat there finishing her drink for a few minutes before she got up to leave and checked her phone on the way out. Lost in her thoughts, she hadn't even heard the device chirp and found she had a message waiting for her.

- I'll still go with you to the police gala tomorrow night. Pick me up? 6:30?

She let out the breath that she had been holding, that had to be a good thing. Holly wasn't bailing and had still agreed to go as her plus one. All Gail had to do was wait. That's all, what was that saying? Patience is a virtue. One which she was still learning. The blonde quickly sent back a message in the affirmative, at least she wasn't working tomorrow and the bar near her place was open late. It was small, but the drinks were good and the price was right. She could always count on going there when she needed to be alone with her thoughts, no one ever bothered her, there was almost zero chance of running in to someone she knew, and the bartender was pretty cute too.

"Hey, Lisa. I'll take whatever red you got on tap." She might have been cute, but her name was unfortunate. She settled in ready to spend the next several hours there, she was making an effort to cut back on her alcohol intake and Lisa respected that, leaving her alone as she nursed a beer for an hour.

"Here you go blondie. You look like you could use an ear or a friend about now. I got some time, those guys are good for at least a half hour." She nodded her direction towards the corner where some older gentlemen sat playing a game of cribbage before she leaned in and lowered her voice, "Me, I don't know why they don't play poker or something. But they seem to have a good time."

"I don't know. Maybe they're trying to avoid the cliché," Lisa could always get her to smile. "Ah, it's just you know. Life, finally acting like a grown-up, and romance. I just need to mull this over a glass of beer from this fine establishment." Maybe they were always friendly, or Gail was finally starting to notice how comfortable she was around the barkeep. Either that or it was just that she had that barkeep magic where before you knew it, you were spilling out your soul to this stranger over a beer. She lifted her drink, tipped it to the woman as if in a toast and took a long pull. Lisa understood, it wasn't the first time Gail had walked in not wanting to talk.

One or two more people came and went in the two hours Gail was there, so she and Lisa were mostly alone with the classic rock tracks playing over the speaker and the clinking of glasses from behind the bar. There was some conversation but not much. Before Gail left, she opened up a little to the barkeep about what had transpired between her and her nerd. The woman didn't have much to say, even joking about betraying the laws of bartending in not having some sage advice for her but was able to leave Gail feeling a little better than when she had walked in. In those moments, it didn't matter what words were said but rather the knowledge that she had someone outside of her circle to go to and who had no preconceived notions of her as a mega-bitch.

Tomorrow night arrived way too soon. While putting on her makeup, Gail had to take some deep breaths to help stop her hands from shaking she was so nervous about picking up Holly. At 6:00 exactly, she texted Holly to let her know she was on her way to her house. At 6:24, she parked in front of Holly's house. In those 24 minutes, only one thought was on her mind. Her feelings towards Holly and if she should let her know. At 6:28 she got out, walked up the steps to Holly's front door, and rang the doorbell. She was not expecting what happened next.

Holly opened the door slowly to reveal that she was still in her house-pants, with a loose hoodie on, her hair looking like it was maybe done and no make-up. She could barely look Gail in the eye. "Come in….do you want a glass of water?" She mechanically walked in, shutting the door behind her and sat down at the kitchen island.

"Wha? Holly, you're not even close to ready. I can't be late and I won't arrive alone."

"I know. And I've been doing some thinking," she said as she sat down across from her former…current…girlfriend she placed a glass of water in front of the blonde and clasped one in between her two hands grateful to have something to keep her nervous hands busy. At least Gail hadn't walked out on her yet.

"Um. Me too. What about?" They both knew what it was about. But neither wanted to admit it. The silence in that moment felt like it had stretched for years before Holly cleared her throat, took a gulp of water, and started.

"Us. Sophie."

"And?"

"And, nothing Gail. You surprised me with that news yesterday. I don't know where we're supposed to go now. I, well, you know I." Why was this so hard to get out. Another sip of water was in order, if only to buy her time. "You're the most wonderful person I've ever met. You've got this huge heart that you try to protect with a brash demeanor but we all inevitably find our way in. Even Chloe. That's what makes you a great police officer. You have this capacity to care about the weak, those in need, everyone. You're funny, witty, sarcastic, loyal." The blush and smile that was creeping on to the blonde's face was enough to keep her going and let her get it all out. "Never in my life have I met anyone like you. Not in my years at summer camp, college, med school, or even the morgue. And have you met some of the people that choose to spend time with stiffs? No one has made me feel as loved or as cared for as you. At the same time, no one has made me feel so devastated and absolutely crushed as you." The tears were starting to form in her eyes and she had to pause before continuing. But Gail, being the caring person she was, simply reached across and gave her hand a squeeze. "I love you so much. I just, I wanted you to know that." When she looked up, there were tears in the other woman's eyes. "I didn't mean to make you cry, your make-up. You didn't stop my rambling."

Gail gave a short laugh, "It's okay. I can always fix it. I just wanted to finally see how you stopped yourself. I love you too. You know that, right? I love you absolutely." Gail briefly dropped her eyes to the countertop, "however, I get the sense that you're not done yet. I feel a 'but' coming on here."

Holly gave a low chuckle. How did she find this one? With a long sigh she nodded and continued, "But. That's just it. We love so completely and so fiercely, it's…gahh…it's just too much. Look at us. We'll destroy each other. We already have, once. I can't put a little girl through that. You, my dear. Will be amazing. But I can't be a part of your life anymore."

This was not what Gail was expecting. They love each other, without a shadow of a doubt. They were two badass women who wouldn't take crap from anyone. They were perfect for the other. But at the same time, Gail knew she was right. Knew that's what the barkeep was skirting around in her cautious reply. Gail got up, walked around to stand in front of Holly and gave her a long, lingering kiss on the lips. When their lips finally parted, with arms around eachother's necks and foreheads touching she whispered, "I know. You're right. We love each other too much, lose ourselves so completely, and that. That is a recipe for self-destruction. Please don't think that this is over, I'll fight for you. I'm a fighter."

"Gail…." But she was cut off from the blonde's lips on hers again.

"I know. I just had to say that. I'll miss you. You're a hard act to follow." With that, she slowly made her way to the door, turned around for one last smile, and let herself out. This was going to be one hell of a night and she was arriving alone.

Once she arrived at the gala, she quickly fixed her make-up thankful that talk didn't turn in to a full-on sob fest so her eyes weren't too puffy, maybe a little red-rimmed, but an open bar could help with that. Her friends were already there mingling and dancing, but sensed that she wasn't in the mood for it that night and, unwilling to face the wrath of Gail left her alone. She planted herself at the bar, sipping slowly on some of the best whisky she'd ever had with a perfect view of the coatroom. It was enough make her seriously consider leaving before seeing Elaine Peck and facing the lecture later. But she dutifully stayed and even sat through a meal watching people kiss-ass without so much as a wayward comment. That was how much she was reflecting on the best relationship she'd ever had, the one that ended not two hours prior. By the time the dancing started, she'd had a buzz going for quite a while and was going back and forth between openly staring at the people going in and out of the coat room and turning down her friend's requests at dancing. Just when a slow song came on, she felt a hand lightly graze her shoulder blade and end with a tap on her shoulder, followed by a painfully familiar voice whisper in her ear, "One final dance?"

As she turned around and shining blue eyes met open brown ones, all she could do was nod and follow the stunning brunette out to the middle of the dance floor. They held each other tight, heads resting lightly on the other's shoulder, as they swayed back and forth to the music. At some point, they didn't know when, they stopped moving and were simply hugging each other knowing that at some point it would all be over. When the song came to it's inevitable end, the taller woman lifted her head and kissed the shorter on top of her head. With a whispered, "I'll always love you," she made to leave but before she could pull away, the blonde gave her a fleeting kiss on the lips and responded with, "You'll always be the most wonderful person I'll ever love."

Not wanting to make a scene, they walked off together hand-in-hand. Gail remained by Holly's side until she got her coat from coat check girl and with tears in both of their eyes Holly cupped Gail's face, ran her thumb down her jawline and simply said, "Plus One Forever," before showing off her signature lop-sided smile and walked out of the blonde's life. Both knowing deep down, that this time, it was for good.