Disclaimer- Saban and Disney's, not mine.

Notes- Spoilers for 'Future Unknown' apply. I tried to answer a question that's been bugging me since I first saw episode, but I'm not entirely sure that I did. And, um, those are the only warnings I can think of! I'm a very tame writer, at least when it comes to the PR universe.

"I'm sorry!"

Katie blinked, confused. While Trip did have a bad habit of apologizing for even the smallest thing, he usually waited until he had actually done something. She was about to ask him if he had, but he started up again before she could even open her mouth. "I'm really, really sorry. Just... please, forgive me.

"... Okay... I forgive you," she began slowly. "Now maybe you can tell me what I'm forgiving you for?"

He looked up at her, first in surprise, then in guilt. "Because I knew. Everything, all the time. About how much you were hurting, how scared you were of losing your family... and I didn't do anything."

"Oh. Yeah." She couldn't say she was too shocked; even though he was listening to Lucas there were still a few things he was going to pick up no matter what, and she had made what she felt perfectly clear. Thinking about it still hurt, but she had dealt with it (as much as she could, at least), but it was becoming more and more obvious that Trip hadn't. "Look, Trip... it's not your fault I miss my family. And it's not like either of us can do anything about it--"

"But I should have!" To see that much anger coming from someone like Trip was unsettling. "You're my best friend. For a long time you were my only friend. You've helped me out so many times... and the first time you needed me to help you, I didn't do anything. I could feel what you were going through, I could feel it growing stronger every day and I wanted to do something to help... but I didn't."

"It isn't your--"

"I guess even though I knew I couldn't bring myself to believe it." He toyed with the brim of his hat nervously. "You've always seemed... well, invincible to me. Like nothing could hurt you." He hung his head. "But that's no excuse for how I acted. Some friend I turned out to be."

What Katie wanted to do then was take him in her arms, to try and convince that they were friends, that it wasn't his fault she missed them, but it seemed like he had already made his mind up... and then she remembered what he had said to her that morning.

You must miss your family a lot.

"Are you kidding? You've done more than enough," she said as she leaned over and kissed him on the cheek.

"Huh?" She did her best not to laugh how utterly helpless he looked.

"I admit, I haven't had much luck in this century. I think I can count all the good things that have happened to me on one hand." She wrapped an arm around him, drawing him close. "You happen to be one of them."

His smile was tentative, but real. "So does that mean you forgive me?"

She smiled back. "Apology accepted."