A/N: It's what you've been waiting for, ladies and gentlemen. It's the return of Eric! I missed him. I missed him so much, he's got a whole chapter. It's kinda sad this chapter, makes you just want to hug him, and little Alan too. It's a good job Shelly's there to help Alan. Eric, not so lucky. Don't worry though, their paths will cross again soon. I'm not going to keep them apart forever, I'm not that cruel. Anyway, wow, look at all those reviews. Thank you so much and please keep them coming.

"What are you up to, rookie?" Eric glanced up as a brunette sat next to him. Peter Dunham was one of the most senior officers in the Midnight Branch of reaper. He'd been working there longer than Eric had been alive. He'd been Eric's mentor when he'd joined the branch. "You shouldn't be getting drunk the night before a big job you know."

"Do you know what tomorrow is, Petey?" Eric said quietly.

"Don't call me Petey."

"Then don't call me rookie. I've been here seven years now, Pete," he snapped. "I'm not a rookie anymore. Seven years tomorrow..."

"Look on the bright side," Peter said, patting his shoulder. "If you've been here this long, you're probably going to be here for a long time."

"That's not reassuring," he sighed. "It's a lonely job." Peter frowned and went for drinks. "I miss Alan." Peter glanced back, grabbed the drinks and returned to him. "You ever been in love, Pete?"

"Stop moping," he said quietly.

"How are they?" Eric muttered.

"Well, Alan's new partner is a young man named Christian Moore, about your age-"

"I know him. We used to hang out in bars together. He was an ass. But you know, at the time I wasn't that different. And he's sitting over there with the guys. So self obsessed they haven't even noticed me, and I'm not making any effort to hide. He hasn't made a move on Alan, has he?"

"Michelle said he's got his eye on Ronald at the moment."

"He was always like that. The more uninterested they seemed, the more he'd want them." He frowned and took a long drink. "I thought Michelle wasn't talking to them anyway."

"She's been keeping an eye on them though. So far, Ronald's told him to get lost every time he's tried but he doesn't look like he's going to give up. Although, apparently, he's yet to show any interest in Alan. And the new supervisor smacked Ronald today."

Eric's head shot up. "He hit Ron?"

"Apparently Alan was furious. He's developed a temper."

"He always had that fiery side. It just takes something to bring it out. I remember the first time he went off on me. Among other things he called me an arrogant, selfish, insensitive idiot."

"And you loved him?" Peter laughed.

"Love," Eric said. "I love him, still. And I always will. And if Michelle keeps her promise, she'll protect them for me."

"She was pretty pissed. When I met up with her, she'd just come from talking to Mr Corbin. She's going to keep her promise to you whether she's talking to them or not."

There was loud drunken laughter and Peter turned to glare at the idiots at the bar. Eric glanced over. He knew who they were. He'd come to listen to them chatting loudly. Eric's old friends. They would laugh and talk loudly about what was going on in the London Branch. They were nearly always in that bar after work, chatting and gossiping loudly like a bunch of girls from the secretarial department, not caring about the mortals around who could hear them.

"You've not got your hands on Spears' boy yet, Chris?"

Eric glanced up at that and glared over. Peter rested his hand gently on his shoulder. "Don't let your temper get the better of you, rookie."

"I used to be one of them," Eric growled.

"Ah, not yet," Christian laughed. "It's only a matter of time, of course, but I haven't really been trying yet. Don't you worry, I just figured I'd give him a couple of days to make my intentions clear. Although, I suppose after a week, it's been plenty of time."

"What about that little Humphries?" said one of the others. "He's cute."

"Cute isn't the word I'd use," he said. Eric growled and Peter squeezed his shoulder. "I was going to focus on Knox, to let the poor little thing grieve. He managed to make Slingby go soft though. He must have been something special."

"I can't stand this anymore," Eric hissed. "Let's get out of here."

"Couldn't agree more," Peter said, getting up. "Let's go home."

Eric nodded and followed him out. As they passed the group of laughing idiots, they turned and Eric locked his gaze with Christian's for a moment, flashing a nasty smirk. Christian's eyes widened. They strode out to the streets of London. Eric wanted nothing more than to tear Christian apart for daring to talk about Alan or Ronald like that. He still loved Alan. He knew he'd never stop loving him. Alan had tried to move on. Ronald had set him up on dates but it didn't matter, Alan hadn't been interested in any of them. Some selfish part of Eric was glad.

"I'll see you later, Petey, I got some stuff to do."

"Stop calling me Petey, rookie," Peter snapped. "And if you're going where I think you are-"

"I'm sorry, Pete," Eric said, turning away. "I just have to see him, just to make sure he's ok. I won't be more than an hour and I won't let him see me."

"Eric-" Eric glared over at him and Peter sighed. "Be careful, don't get in trouble."

"Thanks."

Eric strode through the dark streets of the London Branch's town. It was one of those times he realised how big it was. The Midnight Branch had one building with offices and residential all together in most large countries or few small countries. It was tiny compared to the winding streets of the London Branch. He'd travelled around a lot in the past few years, he'd only seen two branches that were of a similar size; Manchester and Rome. He'd been to Venice the year before. He wished Alan could have seen Venice. It was beautiful. He'd always said when they had some real time off he'd take Alan to Italy but hadn't ever found the time.

There was a bell toll and Eric looked up. It was half two. Alan would have been sound asleep by now- he should have been in- but he didn't know what shift Alan was working anymore. He didn't know much about him anymore. He turned up into the graveyard, wandering up to where his gravestone was. Only there was someone there already. Eric frowned and turned to rest against one of the nearby trees, watching him quietly. Alan was sitting there, leant back against the headstone, his knees drawn up to his chest, tears glinting in the moonlight.

"It's silly," Alan said quietly, staring up into the dark, starless sky. "I know you're not even dead... actually, you might be for all I know, they probably wouldn't tell me." He sighed and lowered his head. "I don't know what you're doing, I don't know if you're safe, I don't know where you are..." A choked sob tore from his lips and Eric clenched his fists. Alan was in pain. He'd seen the pain making Alan think he was dead had caused him, that's why he'd told him the truth. He'd hoped it would ease his suffering. "Every time I even think about maybe moving on... I don't know why it feels like I'm cheating on you. You left me. I know you did it to save my life and you're trying to make me feel better or something but..." He whimpered and shook, wrenching at Eric's heart. "I loved you, why does it hurt so much? Love's supposed to be a good thing. It's supposed to make you feel good, isn't it? It's hard to be happy when your heart's in pieces."

Eric stepped forwards, opening his mouth to say something- anything- to reassure him and make him stop crying. His poor heartbroken Alan. Before he could say a word though, there were heavy footsteps coming up the path. Alan glanced up and Eric turned. It was Michelle. She wasn't making any effort to hide her approach. In fact she seemed to be making an effort to let Alan hear her coming. She wasn't a heavy girl- she was slim and only a bit taller than average- and she'd been retrained by the Midnight Branch, she could be stealthy if she wanted.

"Michelle?" Alan whispered. "What are you doing here? Is everything ok?"

"I came to find you, sweetie," Michelle said gently, kneeling in front of him and stroking his cheeks. "I was worried about you."

"Why?" he said quietly, brushing away his tears. "I thought we weren't friends anymore."

"Don't be so silly, sweetheart," she laughed.

Alan blushed and Eric clenched his fists. That was his endearment. He frowned and shook his head. This was Michelle. She was one of his closest friends and Alan- as far as he knew anyway- had only ever been interested in men, he'd never taken any interest in women. Then again, Alan hadn't been with many people before Eric. Just because they'd all been men didn't mean... No. Michelle and Alan. That was absurd.

"Look, I might be kind of pissed at Grell," she said quietly, stroking his cheeks with a soft smile. "But that doesn't mean I'm going to abandon you. I told you, I always keep my promises. Why are you crying?"

"I dunno," he murmured

"Liar."

"I just... With what happened earlier, and something Ronald said just kind of struck a nerve, you know?" Michelle nodded and Eric frowned. What had happened earlier? "I loved him so much but it hurts so much to keep holding onto him. I... Earlier, when we, uh..."

"Kissed?"

"Yeah, when we kissed, it's the first time in a long time I wasn't really thinking about Eric and how much it hurt."

"I thought you weren't interested in me."

"I- I'm not, I mean, I don't- I don't think I am. You're really pretty, Michelle, and I like you but I'm not attracted to you. Does any of this make sense?"

He sighed and Michelle giggled, tipping his chin up gently. "It makes sense, Alan. And you don't need to explain yourself to me. Whatever you want, baby, I'll look after you. Even if you just want to feel loved again for a little while. After all, with what happened with Grell, I don't have any other obligations."

"I'm sorry about that."

"Don't be. I'm used to suffering through it. I've been dumped by enough people."

"You're lonely too, aren't you?"

"Don't be silly," Michelle laughed, but it sounded pained. Eric knew. She was lonely. "I've got you, haven't I?"

Eric's eyes widened and he forced himself to stay silent as Alan leant up and gently kissed her cheek. "Michelle, why do you-"

"I promised him."

"Is that it?" He sat up slowly and leant against her shoulder. "I mean nothing more to you than a promise to Eric?"

"What do you want me to say, Al?" Michelle whispered. "Tell me what you want."

"I- I just-"

"Tell me," she said firmly. "What do you want to hear? What's going to make it better?"

"I want- Tell me you love me..."

"Hmm, sweetheart, of course I love you."

Alan sobbed and clenched his fists around her shirt. Michelle sighed and wrapped her arms around him gently, stroking his hair. Eric clenched his fists, trying to stop himself making any sound. She was saying it for Alan, to ease his suffering, of course she was but it didn't stop it hurting. Alan was in pain, feeling neglected and unloved, and if getting Michelle to lie to him made him feel better then that was ok. He'd been the one to make her swear to look after Alan no matter what it took. He couldn't comfort Alan, much as he wished he could, but at least Michelle could. He supposed that was better than nothing.

He sighed silently and turned away, striding silently down the path. This wasn't helping anyone. What did he think? That things would always be ok? That somehow, one day he'd be released from the Midnight Branch and somehow get back to Alan and everything would be like it used to? Thos were silly, naive little fantasies. Even if he ever got away from the Midnight Branch and out of secrecy it would have been years, decades, who knew how long. Why did he imagine for a second that anything would be like it was? Alan knew he was a murderer. He would have moved on. He would have moved on.

The Midnight Branch's British base was an impressive old mansion, set in its own estate in the middle of pristine English countryside. It was nice to be in the mortal world rather than the reaper's realm. It was just another little way the branch kept itself hidden away from the general population. It was a beautiful place to work. He climbed up the steps and pushed open the door. Almost everything inside the grand entrance hall and the halls visible on the floor above were cold, clean and white. Eric wasn't fond of that. It reminded him too much of a hospital. He'd spent too much time in hospital with Alan.

"How'd it go?" Peter called from the top of the stairs. Eric frowned and glared up at him. "That good, huh?"

Eric sighed and sprung up the stairs in a few steps. "I have to let him go, don't I?"

"Yeah," he said quietly. "You do. And I know it's hard, but it'll stop hurting if you just let it go and remember you gave up everything so he could live. Try thinking that perhaps he gave you up so you could do the same."

"Huh?"

"He's never tried to contact you. And you must know that was killing him but he's never once tried to get in contact, no matter how much he's suffering or how much trouble he was in, because he knows if your caught you could be killed. He's trying to let you go so you can live, even if you can never be together. A tragedy, isn't it? What you need, rookie, is to have a few drinks and go hook up with some nice mortal. Or better yet, I can give you a list of reapers in the branch staying here at the moment who would give an arm and a leg to have even a one night stand with you."

"I think I can manage on my own," Eric said quietly. "Unless you're offering."

Peter smirked. "Get lost, idiot. I make it a policy not to sleep with rookies."

"Didn't think so. Keep your nose out my sex life then, Petey."

"What sex life?" Peter laughed. "You've been moping over Alan the whole time." Eric glared down t him but Peter smirked. "Well, go on then. Just remember you've got a big job starting tomorrow."

"Yeah, I remember, don't worry about it."

He strode down the hall to the next set of stairs and to the third story. Every reaper who'd worked for the branch and was still alive had an office and room. He passed Michelle's room on his way. It was always locked. Only she and the head of branch had a key. On the second story there was the Undertaker's room. It sent shivers down his spine whenever he passed it. He stopped at an all too familiar door and knocked quietly.

"What?" groaned the voice inside. The door opened and a brunette young man an inch or so shorter than his was standing there, his hair thrown everywhere as he slowly pulled on his glasses. "Eric? Hey... what's up? Haven't you got to sleep for you mission tomorrow?"

"Yeah, yeah," Eric sighed. "I can't sleep."

"Sorry to hear that, fella," he said quietly, glancing down. "Anything you wanna talk about?"

"No, Mark," he said firmly. Mark lifted his head sharply. "No, I don't want to talk."

"Oh. Ok," Mark muttered. "How can I-"

"Is your offer still open?"

"Offer?"

Eric reached over and cupped his cheeks, pulling him up into a gentle kiss, making his intentions perfectly clear. Mark's eyes widened and he pulled back sharply, gazing up at Eric with blurry eyes and a soft blush across his cheeks.

"Eric?" he whispered. "You- you're sure this is ok?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Eric said quietly.

Mark frowned and glanced away. "Alan... I mean, I'll give you a silly hook up if that's what you want but..."

"It's ok, beautiful." He almost cringed. He'd always called Alan that. But the way Mark smiled and blushed at the term reminded him of Alan way too much. "It's been seven years, if I don't stop hanging onto him soon, I'm never going to let go, am I?"

"Come on in then." He turned and Eric followed him inside. "You know, I preferred you as a blonde."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, you should change it back."

"I couldn't be bothered to keep dying it though."