A/N: Hi everybody. Here I am with my third FanFiction. It's a little different to what I usually write. It's angsty, it's got a lot of soul-searching in there, and it's less focused on the whole 'romance' thing.

I have written all of this out already, all 13 chapters, and I have two versions of the last chapter, a happy ending, and a not-so-happy ending. The ending I post will all depend on the feedback, and I shall post the other ending as a one-shot some time after I have finished the story for those who would like to see how it could have ended.

Oh- and as to why it's called 'Out of love' as apposed to 'In Love' – basically, in this fic, they did not hook up in the episode 'Sink or Swim' (funnily enough, I LOVE that episode.)

Anyway, apologies for the awfully long note. Hope I've sustained your attention long enough to make you interested in the story!

Eric Delko's Guide to falling out of love

Chapter One:

Never look meaningfully into her eyes. Ever!

It's pretty self explanatory, isn't it? Basically, her eyes bewitch me, and I know that whenever I look into them I'm a goner. Ever since we agreed to 'just be friends', I can't look her in the eye. I know it's all probably for the best, and it does help somewhat to know that she does feel the same way about me. I know that we both want this relationship, we've both admitted it, and I'll treasure those kisses we shared outside Immigration, just as I know she will.

It's not just about the job. We're both broken in so many ways, and I guess we're both a little scared about letting anybody in close enough to see if we can ever be fixed.

I know she has issues with trust, and I think I can finally relate to her on that one, she grew up with a – how shall we put this – 'less-than-perfect' family, and I've just found out that mine have lied me throughout my whole life.

Anyway – back into the subject; her eyes. Her ever-so-beautiful, mix-between-emerald-green-and-freshly-cut-grass green eyes. They're one of her best features, and whilst most people would go for her absolutely killer body (and don't get me wrong, I would!), I find myself, instead of constantly ogling at her body, I always try to catch her eye, and I've just realised that that particular habit may be my downfall.

Because, well – she just shows so much emotion there, and every time I look real close into her eyes, I can see that deep inside, she wants 'us' just as much as I do. And it pains me to know that she's hurting as much over this whole thing as much as I am, because I made a silent promise to her that day, the day she got taken to hospital with smoke inhalation, I promised her that I'd never let her hurt as bad as that again, and that I'd take away as much of her unnecessary pain as I could.

I'm breaking that promise, every single day. I am being to her what I always promised myself I never would be; I'm being just another 'Peter' or 'John'. I know I couldn't be another 'Jake' to her, because he made her genuinely happy for some time, and I've never even had the chance to do that.

So – step one in my guide to falling out of love?

Never look her meaningfully in the eye.

Ever.

Under no circumstances.

Co-Incidentally, I have written a similar piece to this entitled 'Calleigh Duquesne's Guide To Falling In Love' - Interested?