Skip to present day Edward and Ric discuss Serena over a glass of wine

"I'm guessing Serena isnt too happy about you staying on?" Ric asked whilst sitting down on the stool next to Edward in Albi's.

"She looked cheesed off," Edward answered and Ric laughed, "I think she was looking forward to celebrating my depature."

"With that paperwork?" Ric asked, "Believe me in the year of working with her, I'm still trying to figure her out."

"Join me?" Edward asked and the bartender gave Ric a glass, "So how have you found working with Serena?" Edward asked curiously.

"Frustrating, enjoyable and interesting," Ric took a sip of the wine, "But you have defiantly ruffled her feathers."

"I know," Edward smiled to himself, "Seems I'm the only one who's actually managed to press buttons."

"And made her lose it on AAU during your first day?" Ric had heard via the Mary-Claire grapvine, he saw Edward go a bit red.

"I pushed a bit too far," Edward picked up the glass, and took a big sip and sighed. "She's very easy to push."

"If you know her well enough," Ric saw Edward smile a bit, "Old flames die hard."

"Clearly not for you... Mr five times married," Edward joked and Ric laughed, "Plan to make Serena number six?" Edward asked.

"No," Ric answered quickly, "We'd end up divorced the day after... she's just a friend."

"We were friends, then married, I made a massive mistake, we divorced, she took full custody of Ellie and I left with a "child-bride", then she announced seven months ago she wanted a divorce. Took me straight to the cleaners i'm broke," Edward let out and Ric looked shocked and confused.

"Welcome to the numerous ex wives club," Ric welcomed him, and Edward laughed, "I welcome you with open arms."

"Serena found it amusing I reckon," Edward said sadly, "Then again I can't blame her... I destroyed her."

Ric had to symphaise with both Edward and Serena, Serena had obviously been broken by Edward, and hurt badly but Ric knew what it felt like too well and obviously he had more of an understanding for Edward, "It gets easier the fifth time round," Ric tried to make light of the conversation, "One day at a time... I don't think the eyes compliment helped."

"Green does bring out her eyes though," Edward said, "I always liked them."

"Ive had many brown eyed women," Ric poured himself another glass, "So what did your recent ex look like?"

"Complete opposite," Edward laughed, "Blonde, blue eyed."

Ric imagined Edward liking Barbie girls but then again he must've liked Serena type woman too, "I've stuck with the dark looks."

"Mindy was a defiante mistake," Edward admitted he now felt quite drunk, "I tried to explain that before we divorced but she was having nothing of it."

"Well can you blame her?" Ric asked.

"I regret it though Ric," Edward looked sad his eyes looked red but was it from alcohol or tears?, "I really do."

Ric cleared his throat, "How much you had?" He asked he noticed Edward looked drunk.

"Not enough," Edward answered and he downed his glass, Ric saw it against his good will if he was to leave Edward, he would just have to face Serena tomorrow.

"I think you've had enough," Ric moved the glass he half expected for Edward to snatch it back, "Where you staying?"

"Well Mindy has changed the locks... she gave me these back," Edward held up the set of keys, "Ive made a right mess."

"As long as you don't tell Serena... I have a spare room you can stay there until you've found a place of your own," Ric offered and Edward looked like he was considering it, "I wont tell her."

"If you don't mind?" Edward asked.

"I would rather you be somewhere safe rather than, drowning your sorrows alone. And because you're a colleauge it would be wrong of me to not help someoe in their hour of need." Ric grabbed Edward's coat and helped him to his car.

"So tell me... do you fancy Serena?" Edward asked in his drunken state, "The yank thinks you do."

Ric laughed typical of Michael of to think that, he had thought that his youngest child was Ric's even thought him and Annalise were having an affair, "Michael's imagination can run wild." Ric explained, "Just try and be her friend."

"Who?" Edward blanked out.

"Serena... just be her friend," Ric advised, "It'll take a while but be her friend."

"Ha Serena and I can't be friends... we can only either be together or apart we can't meet in th. middle," Edward said to Ric, it was true Serena and Edward couldn't meet in the middle anymore too much water under the bridge, "Anyway we'd end up killing each other."

"One thing I've learnt about working with Serena... you let her get her own way unless it's something serious," Ric tapped on his car wheel.

"Oh trust me I know," Edward said, "I regret leaving Eleanor more than anything... I missed so much the milestones, the first words, walking, first day of school, everything... and being a locum I got transfered from pillar to post, I don't want sympathy it's my fault and I kick myself everyday... the last time I saw her before I left she had terrified written all over her tiny face. We were arguing unaware she could hear us from upstairs, we heard her crying we ran up it was just heart breaking... Serena shouted at me to go and I went... just like that," Edward sighed heavily, "And now when I see her next I'm going to have lots to apologize for."

Ric didnt know what to say this was more of a case for Michael, he's in the same shoes as Edward the exact same, "For this you're better of talking to Michael," Ric admitted, "I have kids but Michael is more for this."

"Where am I likely to find him?" Edward asked.

"Holby but you need to sober up," Ric ordered, "So tomorrow you need to get onto finding somewhere to live, after that work on your domestics and then get onto making it up with Eleanor... baby steps," Ric advised and after making Edward a cup of coffee and giving him a bed for a few nights, he then needed to work on what to tell Serena if she was to find out.

Not much Sedward but it came to me let me know what you think :) x