It took him less than five minutes to get here. It feels like I only just hung up the phone with a nervous sigh before I hear another knock at the front door. Damn you Mick! I haven't even had time to figure out what I want to say!

Nonetheless, I walk to the door and open it to find the pensive face of Mick St. John looking back at me. A weak smile spreads across his lips as he greets me. "Hi Beth."

I nod at him and step aside, opening the door wider. "Why don't you come inside?"

He nods in return and takes a step forward. I watch him glance all over my apartment as I close the door behind him. His gaze rests on the rose and cookies still sitting unashamedly on the kitchen counter. A small smile creeps up the corners of his lips as he continues to think to himself.

I play with the sleeve of my shirt and look at the floor as I address him. "I wanted to say thanks."

I can feel his eyes on me and I look up, against my better judgment. That crooked little smile is still settled across his lips as he answers me. "You dragged me all the way down here just to say thanks?" I hear the playful tone in his voice, and the guise of a smile fills my face. I wish it could reach my heart, but it only gets to my lips. "No."

He nods his head, obviously having seen it coming. "Of course not."

I sigh and rub my temple, stalling for time so I can think about what I want to say. "Do you want to sit down?" He nods once again and we make our way to my couch. I still stay silent for a minute or two, preparing myself for the conversation we've both been avoiding. Thank God Mick is a patient man.

With a sigh, I begin my speech. "Well, I think it's about time we talked about what happened." I don't elaborate. He knows what I'm talking about.

I hear him sigh and I look over at him. Pain was clearly written over his face, though I know he's trying to hide it. "Beth I'm sorry."

I'm dumbfounded at his words. Everything I'd hastily planned to say left my mind as I gape at him. "What?"

"I'm sorry Beth. I'm sorry that I couldn't save Josh. I wanted to help him, please realize that. I did everything I could, but I just couldn't bring myself to turn…" His voice breaks, struggling to continue. He clears his throat for a few seconds in preparation for his voice, and he soon continues with his words. "I just don't want you to be angry with me anymore."

My heart is breaking for him. What does he have to be sorry about? "Mick, stop. I shouldn't have asked you to do that for me. I was frantic and desperate." I feel the tears burn my eyes, but I angrily wipe them away. It's too soon to start crying. "There were just things I wanted to tell him. Things I hadn't made time to say. But I shouldn't have asked you to turn him. And for that, I am truly sorry."

I pause and look back out the window. The sunset is fading, slowly turning the sky to black velvet. I focus on it instead of Mick's face. I can't think straight when I look there. "I feel terrible Mick. Ashamed that I was willing to beg you to do the one thing you swore you'd never do."

I hear him inhale deeply and chance a quick glance at his face. His eyes are closed, his face settled into a look of deep concentration. It takes me a minute to realize what he's doing: looking into the past.

"You two cared for each other very much." His voice is quiet as he opens his eyes. God, what did he see? What memories of Josh are still hidden in the air, indecipherable by my human senses?

"Yes." It's a weak answer, I know, but that whispered word is the only thing my voice can manage. I clear my throat, preparing it for the words that I know I still have to speak. "Please Mick, don't be angry with me. I just missed him so much." The tears I've been holding back spill over and flow freely down my cheeks. I don't wipe them away this time.

I feel his hand on my shoulder as I hear his quiet words. "Beth, I'm not angry with you. I never was, and never will be. I thought you were angry with me." I strongly shake my head as I close my eyes. "No, Mick. I'm angry with myself."

A moment of silence settles over us as we're left to our own thoughts. I wish I could tell what he's really thinking. It's not fair that his senses are heightened in so many ways, and mine are still stuck at the mediocre human level.

A few more sighs and sobs from me fill the air as I open my eyes and take a deep breath. "Well, now that we've established that we're not angry with each other, do you think we can try to get back on the road to normalcy? I know it'll take a while, but I feel like I need to move forward. Looking back only prolongs the pain."

He rubs my back gently and soothingly, as if physically trying to relieve my pain. "Moving forward sounds like a good plan."

I nod my head and turn to look him in the eyes once again. A small smile twists into place across my tear streaked face as I talk to him. "Thank you for helping me Mick. I really need someone. I feel so alone…" I sigh deeply once again as another sob threatens to disturb my voice.

His arm wraps around my shoulder and pulls me closer to him as he whispers in my ear. "You'll never have to feel alone again. I'll always be right here for you."