He rarely went out. Today he didn't really feel like it more than he usually did. But he did know what he needed and that "it" could easiest be found in the dark, sweaty depths of a nightclub. What he wanted wasn't so much an "it" perhaps as a "someone", or to be quite honest, an "anyone", to forget - if only for a few moments – that Jefferson Madden existed.

He didn't always go out and find someone after seeing Jeff. But once in a while the pressure built too high and the frustration had to take form. So he showered and changed after work before finding his way to the Never Neverland Club. Going downstairs the beat of the music slammed against him, the rhythm vibrating from the soles of his feet, through to his chest until it seemed to meld with his heartbeat. Reaching the bottom of the stairs he looked around and met four different pairs of eyes. Finding one grey pair in particular attractive he steered towards them and let the noise swallow him up and drown everything else out.

Three hours later the owner of the grey eyes spoke.

"I look like him, don't I?"

"Hm?" Whale looked up from where he was checking his emails in case of any emergency cases at the hospital, his reading glasses slipping down his nose a little.

The young man was standing at the wall to ceiling window, his naked frame silhouetted against the dark blue sky. The tip of his cigarette glowed in the dark and cast a shadow over his face that made him even more similar to Jefferson. He inhaled and narrowed his eyes.

"You know, the man you really want in here."

Whale took off his glasses, tossed them on the desk and rubbed his eyes. What was the point of lying to a stranger anyhow?

"I suppose you do."

The man nodded and exhaled smoke, watching it slowly rise to the ceiling.

"I thought so. Straight?"

Percy thought of all the women Jefferson had paraded around with, the ones caught on camera with him in various state of undress, the ones he'd seen him with himself.

"Very much."

"It's a bitch."

"It is. I don't have to see him a lot but today…Well, I saw him today."

"How long?"

He didn't have to tell Whale what he was asking.

"Fifteen years."

"That's rough." The man seemed to think for a while before deciding something. "I don't usually do this but…You know, if this helps then it's no hardship for me to come back. I'll leave my number."

He shouldn't take it. He shouldn't have a direct line to someone so similar in looks and yet so different in person to Jeff. It was unethical, it was painful, it was masochistic, it was…addictive.

"Pad's in the kitchen." As the man ambled through to the next room, Whale called to him.

"Hey, what's your name?"

"I told you, it's Will."

"I mean your full name."

"Scarlet. Will Scarlet."

o.O.o

The next evening Percy found himself commiserating at the bar in the Diner.

"You didn't really sleep with him just because he looks like him, did you?" Ruby filled the measure with bourbon before shrugging and adding a healthy second dose to the glass.

"No." Percy unbuttoned the first button of his shirt and ran a hand through his hair with a sigh. "But it was the main reason."

"And what were the others?"

"I was just lonely. And tired of it. Of this. It's not as if I think about Jefferson everyday and lead my life hopelessly pining and wishing he'd be in it. Just, sometimes, it gets to me that he's the person I've cared about for the longest and he'll never be anything but an acquaintance, really."

"Would you want him to be more? As in friends?" Ruby reached for the limes sitting pre-cut into wedges in a metal bowl.

"I don't know. Probably not. It might just make it worse. But I don't not want to see him ever again either. I really don't know, I…Oh god." He spoke out loud as he spotted a familiar figure in the mirror behind the bar and Ruby turned from making their drinks, her smile fading.

"What? What is it, Percy?"

"It's…It's him. They. Them. Here." Deciphering his stumbling Ruby looked up over his shoulder to see Jefferson and Grace enter. Grace's face lit up in pleasure as she saw the fairy tale theme and gave her father's hand a tug. He was wearing a similar grin as he took in the grumpy looking crowned frog and the picture of the skimpily clad Goldilocks sleeping, a bear staring down at her in not altogether displeased surprise.

"That's him? He's gorgeous."

"What have I been telling you?"

"I didn't believe you, you have weird taste."

"I have weird taste?" Lowering himself over the bar, praying he'd be able to escape before they spotted him, Ruby turned on her hundred watt smile.

"Oh, look he's seen you. He looks pleased. They're coming over, they're-Oh, hi, welcome to Granny's, how can I help you?" The last part she directed at Jeff who had approached, Grace in tow.

"I just saw someone I know here. Dr. Whale, how nice to see you."

Grimacing to himself before straightening up he managed a weak smile.

"Jefferson. Grace. What are you…I mean, this isn't really your part of town?"

"No, we made a special trip since you've been talking this place up for so long."

"Have I?" He could barely remember what he said most of the time Jefferson was around. He mostly tried to hide the fact that his eyes got stuck on various parts of him. The lobe of his ear, the strong point where arm met shoulder, a lean hip bone under leather. But how could he be stupid enough to mention a place he actually went to? Risk exactly this happening?

"Well, that's just perfect. Percy here was just telling me he hadn't eaten dinner yet, why don't you all take the Little Red Riding Hood table?" Ruby said cheerily and Whale could have strangled her.

But Jefferson just smiled and tilted his head towards him. There was no way he could say no to that look.

"I bet you're a Riding Hood fan, aren't you?" Ruby bent down towards Grace who nodded shyly, her eyes wide and admiring on the billowing sleeves of Ruby's "uniform".

"Follow me."

Seated under the stuffed wolf's head with Jefferson to his right and Grace opposite he cursed Ruby to seven hells and back. He'd never been so uncomfortable in his life. Glaring daggers at her she just smiled sweetly and handed out the menus.

"Here you go. Today's soup is pumpkin – Cinderella's old carriage to be exact," she said to Grace and winked as the girl giggled. "And the special is our Lady and the Tramp meatballs. I'll be right back to take your orders."

Jefferson continued to look around the Diner, an appreciative grin on his face. Allowing himself a quick moment to appreciate the lines of Jeff's face when he smiled Percy found himself caught staring when the other man turned his attention on him.

"So do you believe in fairy tales, Doctor?"

"Of course not." He caught Grace's appalled face and quickly corrected himself. "I mean, some."

"Which ones?" Grace asked, her eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"Well…Beauty and the Beast, for one. I've even seen them in person." Or so he liked to imagine when recalling witnessing the blooming romance between the sweet hospital librarian and the investment banker from next door. They seemed a perfect fit to be cast in those roles, he thought, with her sweet nature and his cold demeanor.

"And Snow White, certainly. I've met her too." The schoolteacher from the school opposite who had been given mouth to mouth by one of the policemen in the area after there had been an accident just outside the hospital and "magically" she had awoken to be brought in to the ICU alive.

"Cinderella too, she was nice." A poor, malnourished girl in the ER who'd caught the eye of the son of a steel magnate whose father was in for a bypass surgery. She had then been whisked off to a life of luxury seemed like a modern retelling of the classic story.

"Did you really meet Cinderella?" he didn't think Ashley Boyd would fail to meet Grace's expectations of a fairy tale princess with her sweet face and gentle nature if they ever met. And she'd probably agree with him her life had turned into a fairy tale. Or so he would think as she had just floated from his office last week with the good news of expecting a baby to share with her Prince Charming.

"And, of course, I know little Red Riding Hood. Here she is now." Ruby must have caught the end of the conversations as she simply responded to Grace's question if she'd really been eaten by a wolf and cut out again by a huntsman by replying,

"Sure. It was a bit stuffy in there but the humidity did wonders for my hair. Do you know what you'd like to eat?"

"Mac and cheese. And Snow White Apple juice." Grace piped up and Jeff elbowed her gently. "Please," she added and Jeff smiled in approval. Whale was grasped by the strangest urge to have him look at him the same way.

"The Pinocchio sandwich and a Friar Tuck brew, please, "Red"." Scribbling as she turned her gaze to him, Whale mumbled,

"Just water." She narrowed her eyes at him, clearly seeing through his transparent plan of a quick escape. So he sighed and added, "And the same for me, please Ruby." He sighed. God, the woman was pushy.

"Coming right up." Then she sashayed off and he hoped she could feel his gaze burning a hole through her back as she left. Listening to Grace and Jefferson chat about the various fairy tale themed decorations around he prayed the evening would speed up when Ruby returned to put down their drinks. Jeff smiled at her in thanks and Ruby flashed her wide, dazzling smile in return. Excusing himself Percy followed her when she left the table.

"Would you stop doing that?"

"Doing what?" She unloaded her tray at the bar, efficiently sorting dirty glasses in order of shape.

"That thing you do around men. The walk, the smile, the flirty voice."

"I am not flirting with that man. Give me some credit." He slumped a bit and sent Jeff a glance over his shoulder.

"I know. It's not intentional. You're just so…you. You're what every man dreams of."

"That is ridiculous, Percy."

"It's not. But could you please at least stop…I don't know, smiling or…"

"Percy, you're being paranoid. He's not looking at me in any particular way, which is even unusual, I'll give you that. So stop sneaking off to hide and just talk to the man. Believe me, he didn't come here for me."

"I am not sneaking off."

"You most definitely are."

"I'm just-"

"You're just avoiding him. Now give him a chance, go over there and relax a bit, talk to the man for heaven's sake. This is your chance to actually get to know him."

Trying to follow Ruby's advice and relax he found to his surprise it was easier than he thought it would be to talk to Jeff. Trying to see past the ghost of his first love hovering in front of him at all times and obscuring the man he was now he could now see a funny and intelligent adult, one he enjoyed talking to. They laughed and talked long after Grace had fallen asleep in the booth out of boredom, her head pillowed on her father's jacket and Percy's spread on top of her like a blanket.

Besides similar upbringings they also had in common that their parents harbored very alike views of their sons. They both enjoyed old horror movies and shared a common taste for Italian food. On most other things they differed but instead of this drying up the conversation it only made it flow easier.

Walking home afterwards Percy felt happier than he had in a long time. But under it, like a cold spot of shade in the early spring where the weak sun couldn't reach yet he knew seeing Jeff more was a terrible mistake. Even if they could grow to be friends they would never be anything more. And he wasn't sure if that was better than pining from a distance.

o.O.o

On the way out to lunch a few days later he spotted the doctor from the psychiatry ward three floors up. He was standing on the steps, looking around, seemingly unsure of something.

"Dr. Hopper." He turned and Whale saw he had been fiddling with a smartphone. Fumbling it back in his pocket he pushed his glasses up his nose and focused on Percy.

"Dr. Whale. How are you?" Unfailingly polite, with a charming smile and a deep voice Percy thought that if had been at all into the geeky type he would have found more reasons to head over to the psych ward for the quiet red haired psychiatrist. With wide shoulders, large, yet elegant hands and an adorable twinkle in his eyes, sexy horn-rimmed glasses and a crease in his cheek that had to have been a dimple when he was younger he added to an all around appealing figure. The tweed was just a bonus.

"Very well, thanks. How about you, you look a bit lost?"

Dr. Hopper looked a bit sheepish and Whale couldn't help smiling. For his age, which was probably a little older than Percy himself, he still looked like a boy when he made that face.

"Ah, I was just…Well, I was trying to find someplace to eat for lunch. I normally bring my lunch with me but today I forgot so and I don't know the area all that well…"

Feeling more than helpful after his excellent evening the other day Whale smiled. He could be generous when the world was smiling at him so he asked,

"How about coming with me? I'm just heading across the street to Granny's. Food's good, service is quick and friendly and it couldn't be closer."

"Oh…" Dr. Hopper seemed to consider for a while. "Isn't that the fairy tale diner?"

"It is."

"I heard it's really busy."

"It is but I know the owner. Well, her granddaughter. We'll get seats no problem."

"Not ahead of the people who are waiting? I wouldn't want to delay people who have been waiting."

Whale shook his head. He had no idea that breed still existed. The considerate one.

"Okay, we'll go ask Ruby how it's looking then. Deal?"

Nodding, Dr. Hopper walked with him and Whale stepped into Granny's. For once the diner had at least three empty tables and feeling lucky, Percy headed to the Wonderland one and sat down.

Looking around interestedly Dr. Hopper joined him, setting his umbrella down and letting his lips twitch at the sight of the Cheshire cat wearing glittery reindeer horns in early celebration of the season. Then Ruby bustled up and leaned over the table to kiss Percy's cheek, her perfume scenting the air as her hair fell over her shoulders.

"Ruby, this is my colleague, Dr. Hopper. He's a psychiatrist." Ruby straightened and smiled.

"Oh, that's great! Maybe you can tell me why I'm still working as a waitress at age thirty one, while living with my grandmother and dressing up like a fairy tale character as a job?" Ruby joked and set her tray against her hip as she gathered up dirty glasses from the table.

"Ah, well, I don't know you or your particular circumstances but I would guess you in some way feel obliged. If you live with your grandmother instead of parents you probably only have her and though your relationship might get strained sometimes you're all you have so you feel compelled to help each other. You probably feel guilty about thinking wanting to leave, which adds strain to your relationship, especially since you also live together and that leaves you feeling even guiltier. And I'd think you enjoy your job if you're still doing it but you're reluctant to admit it, especially to your grandmother. But that's just a guess."

Ruby's mouth had dropped in shock and Whale blinked in surprise. It was a pretty accurate pitch of Ruby's complex love-hate relationship with the diner.

"That wasn't actually a question was it? Sorry, I didn't place it was a joke." But Ruby just shook her head.

"No, it's fine. I hope you get paid for that magic, doctor. This one," she nodded at Whale, "has to cut people open to see what's inside. You just need that brain. I'm impressed."

She smiled and then turned on her skinny heel and Whale looked over to Hopper. He was wearing the dazed look most men wore when they watched Ruby walk away but since his eyes were lingering on the back of her head and not lower Whale decided to leave it. Ruby was an attractive woman, there was no denying it. Her looks mainly seemed to attract the type of man who only led to heartbreak and Ruby had in self-defense sworn off men, a pact he had been happy to join in after his latest nasty break up. But now, now things were different. He had finally spoken properly to Jefferson and would maybe see him again. He had a chance of becoming his friend and if he were to ever give even the slightest indication he wanted more Percy would break the pact in a heartbeat. Ruby would understand. Probably.

Turning to Archie he saw the man was still in some kind of daze, staring at the spot where Ruby had stood.

"Dr. Hopper?" He didn't move and amused Whale leaned into his line of sight. "Dr. Hopper?"

"Oh, sorry." He cleared his throat and color rose in his cheeks. "Just Archie is fine, Dr. Whale."

"All right, Archie. I'm afraid my given name's Percy."

"That's not so bad. Derived from Percival, a noble surname carried by a family originally from Perci and the name of one of the Knights of the Round Table."

"Is it? My mother probably knows that. What about you? Know what Archie means?"

"Well, it's of Norman origin and brought into Britain during the early middle ages. It's combined by two words meaning genuine and bold." He cleared his throat again. "Sorry, I can't seem to help lecturing. I don't go out much."

"Not at all. If someone gets me started on a topic I enjoy I can go on for hours. Don't talk to me about cellular regeneration, for example."

"Would that be epimorphosis or-" He was interrupted by Ruby returning with menus.

"No! No, don't get him started, I mean it. He'll never shut up. How about you do me instead?" Archie coughed on his water and his glasses slipped down his nose. For once Ruby actually looked a bit embarrassed.

"My name, I mean. I guess it only means ruby like the stone?"

"Ah, well, yes. The root is from the Latin root ruber, I think. It was popularized in the nineteenth century."

"How do you know stuff like that?"

"I just have a good memory. For facts that is. I can't remember to do the shopping or get my hair cut." The normal flirting-for-tips-Ruby would have winked and said his hair looked just fine to her. But this unusually shy Ruby just said,

"Maybe you remember more important things. Let me know when you're ready to order."

o.O.o

Leaving the diner Archie had thrown a last look behind him and Whale couldn't help the light teasing when the red haired man had been so obviously taken with Ruby.

"You think she's cute, don't you?"

"What? No, I, I…" His shoulders sank. "I guess I'm not very subtle."

"That's not necessarily a bad thing. She liked you, I could tell."

Archie's ears grew red as he shook his head.

"No, not like that. Women usually don't. Especially not women like Ruby."

Whale nodded internally in satisfaction. Most men referred to Ruby as a girl even though she was past thirty. Archie hadn't.

"Maybe you just don't notice it. Women flirt with looks, gestures, subtle signals."

"I'm not very good at that kind of game. I can easily read them in others but when it comes to me I suppose I get a bit blocked. You can't objectively treat yourself. I mean-"

"Slow down, Doctor. Not playing games happens to be exactly what Ruby needs."

Though she might not know it, he added to himself.

"Dr. Wh-Percy, I don't…I'm not…Listen, I appreciate what you are trying to do but women are not very interested in me and I have made my peace with that so can you please forget it?"

With that he crossed the road and turned to the right before the stairs to get to the back elevator to get to the psychiatry floor. Whale shook his head and stuck his hands in his pockets before walking up the stairs. Who had damaged that man? Who had convinced him he wasn't attractive? He wasn't sure but he felt even stronger that the damages of his oldest friend and his newest would be able to heal each other. He would have to have a think about that.