Happiness

Chapter 4

Disclaimer- I own nothing!

Alan stood in his room getting ready to head out, he wasn't wearing anything fancy but he wanted to look put together. He wanted to show Eric that he didn't need him, that who he was wasn't because they had been together. Okay with everything he put his old house key in his pocket and went to see if Ronald was ready. They didn't say much as they walked to the park though Ronald told him he wasn't going to hover but would be close in case anything happened. He knew they needed to talk alone. Arriving at the park they saw Eric already there. Wishing Alan luck Ronald walked to one of the trees to relax. Going up to Eric he took a deep breath, this was it.
"Hello Eric."
"Alan, thank you for agreeing to let me talk to you. I see Ronald tagged along."
"I asked him too, but he is going to stay over there. And just know I didn't agree to this for you, I'm doing this for me."
"Of course."

Both sat on the fountains edge not saying anything at first. Where to start?
"Why did you throw me out? Honestly?"
"Because I was hurt and not thinking clearly. I see now that I wasn't fair to you. I wouldn't even let you talk about it."
"It wasn't because you were tired of me and moved on?"
"No, never!"
"I see. Then why were you flirting with that woman?"
" I was waiting for you to come back, she sat down and we started talking. I never flirted with her."
"You never saw me sitting, at most, ten feet from you? Somehow I doubt it. And yes you were, everyone around you could see it. She was flirting with you and you started flirting back. I may not be good at it but I know what it is."
"I am sorry." Thinking back on it he realized the whole reason he didn't see Alan behind him was because he had turned his back to him when he started to really talk to the other woman. "I had been drinking but that is no excuse for my behavior. Now I have a question for you. Does he make you happy?"
"Does who make me happy? Eric I swear I have no idea who you are talking about. As I've tried to tell you before I have never cheated on you, I would never cheat on you."
"I'm talking about Ronald. I see how you are with him and we've both known him forever, I saw you two together. I know you lied about helping him home. You two were practically ready to get on it in the street."
"No we weren't. We have never toget."
"I saw him kiss you, Alan!,
"He has never…oh god! Eric it isn't what you think at all."
"I know what I saw!"
"No you don't!"
Both stood up causing Ronald to get ready to be on his feet. Others in the park had stopped to see the two yelling at each other.
"Ronald was trashed that night! He could hardly walk even with my help. We stumbled and fell over a broken sidewalk. Ronald wasn't thinking, yes, you're right he kissed me that night, but! I pushed him away as soon as it happened! I was with you and I couldn't do that to you, idiot!" Alan couldn't believe this, all that happened, all the pain he had gone though, all because of ones misjudgment.
"I doubt it's as simple as that. I could hear your laughter, you both were flirting with each other!"
"We were having a good time; it was funny watching Ronald trying to walk. We are good friends, you know this! I can't believe that you still don't know me!"
"Of course I know you, we've been together from the very beginning."
"If you did then you would know I would never do anything to hurt you. I would never flirt, kiss, or sleep with one of my best friends when I am still with someone! We dated for a hundred-fifty years and you never trusted me!"
"Alan…"
"No! I'm so glad we had this talk because I finally get to see who are. I get to see how you placed no faith in me! Thank you for bringing this truth to light for me!"
"Alan I…"
"You are such a hypocrite. I can't talk to a mutual friend but you can do whatever you like. Why do I love you?!"
Alan went wide eyed as Eric's hands grabbed the side of his face and kissed him. Pulling away he slapped him across the face before walking away from him. Eric stood there for a moment at a loss; the sting from Alan's hand wasn't nearly as strong as feeling the hatred it held for him. Ronald ran up to Eric to apologize to him for what happened that night.

Alan opened the front door to Eric's place with his key and went into their, once shared, bedroom. Opening the closet he dug in the back for an old box he had. Opening it he saw it was basically empty except for an album or two. Going through the house he took everything that was his and packing it in the box. Using that and an old bag he had once gotten for work he made sure he had everything before leaving his key on the kitchen table and locking the door behind him. He was closing this chapter of his life forever. Now knowing the truth he knew he could move on in time. He would no longer hold on to the questions he always asked himself.

Dropping his things off at Ronald's he noticed he wasn't back yet, no matter, he still had things to do. Heading back out he looked for a place of his own, nothing against Ronald, but, he needed to start fresh and he didn't want to live with him forever. Ronald had been nice enough to take him in but since he wasn't getting back together with Eric he needed to move on. Plus his house really wasn't big enough if two people planed to live there permanently. Heading to the housing office he inquired about single bedroom homes. He thought about a two bedroom but they could be harder to find around here. Ronald had turned a room into a guest bedroom as did most others.
"Any I can look into today or tomorrow?"
"We have two listening that are open now, I could get a few more open for tomorrow Mr. Humphries."
"That would be perfect, thank you."
"Oh, hold on, is your current house on the market?"
"What current house?"
"Four sixty-three Avenue C?"
That was his old address. That was right, he bought that house with Eric once they had been dating for a few years.
"No, but it's still occupied. The other owner is still living there."
"Well, you can look into these places but you cannot make a purchase until your name is released from the deed. "
"Oh, okay, that's not a problem." He forgot about the rule that everyone was only allowed to own one properly. He didn't want to talk to Eric so soon but he would have no choice if he planned to move out of Ronald's.

Checking out the two places he could for today he grabbed a smoothie for the walk back home. Thinking about it he should have grabbed one for Ronald. He would have to treat him to dinner to make it up to him. Actually he may not even back yet depending on what he did after. Opening the front door he heard he heard music playing, looked like he was home. Going into the living room he saw he was sitting there focusing more on something.
"Hey Ronald, everything okay?"
"Alan! Hey your back!"
"Yea, I had to get some stuff done. I'm sorry about leaving you at the park."
"Don't worry about it. So, um, I take it things didn't go as you planned?"
"No not really, though I wasn't really planning anything. I just wanted the truth, which I got. It hurts but I got it." Sitting on the couch together they talked about what happened during the fight and after Alan left.
"Do you really hate him Alan?"
"I don't hate him, I am heartbroken. Those are two different things. Today I learned how he didn't trust me, that deep down he believed I would cheat on him and he was just waiting for it to happen. That, knowing that hurts far worse than if we had just broken up."
"I am really sorry Alan, about everything. If I hadn't kissed you than none of this would have happened. You and Eric would still be together."
"Don't be stupid none of this is your fault, Eric jumped to conclusions, Eric didn't trust me. This would have happened eventually. I see that now, we may have been together for years but if there is no trust than it won't last." They talked about a few more things before Alan brought up him moving out. He stated multiple times that it had nothing to do with him he just needed to start fresh. He needed to talk to Eric though, he had to remove his name from the deed and that could be the problem. Technically he should just give it up so the alterations could be made but there was no guarantees he would.

Eric must have been off on Monday because Alan didn't see him. He would have to stop by the house than to talk to him. He really didn't want to but maybe it was better this way. Punching out he hung his scythe up in the weapons room and headed out. He found a house yesterday he really liked but couldn't do anything yet. The process would take a couple of days total but it wasn't that bad. Hoping he was home he walked up the front steps and rang the doorbell before waiting for an answer. Seeing the door open he could tell Eric was surprised to see him.
"Alan? Is something wrong?"
"I need to talk to you about something."
Letting him in they went into the kitchen to talk.
"I noticed you took your things out of here."
"I did and that actually leads me into what I need to talk to you about." He noticed the key he left yesterday was still where he put it on the table. "I need the deed to this place so I can have my name taken off it."
"What?!"
"You heard me; I am getting my own place. I never planned on living with Ronald permanently but before I can move I need to remove my name from here."
"Alan. Please, can't we fix us?"
"What's to fix? Our relationship wasn't built properly and can't just be repaired, our foundation was broken and that takes a lot more than words to fix. We weren't built on trust the way I thought it was."

Getting up Eric went into the back room and came back a few minutes later with a folder.
"Alan, I'm sure we can fix this. I can change, I never should have doubted you, I know you never gave me a reason to, ever. I am sorry for all I did to you. Let's start over. Please, move back in with me. Come back home." He reached for and took Alan's hand placing something into it. Looking down he saw it was his old key; his first initial was engraved into it, a present Eric had made for him after they reached a month anniversary of living in their first place together. It had been one of his most prized possessions at one point in time. Glancing at the table he noticed the one he saw before was now missing. Grabbing Eric's hand with both his he gave the key back.
"No."
Defeated Eric pulled away.
"This is the best for both of us Eric, maybe one day we can be close friends again. But, we both feel it, what we once had is gone and it can never be brought back. You'll never fully trust me as much as I'll never trust you. I'll always love you and you'll always be my partner but the time has come for us to move on."
"Alan. I'll always love you too." Taking the folder he handed it to Alan. "The deed is in there. Let me know if I can do anything else to help you."
"Thank you." Checking to make sure it was truly there he stood up, "Good-bye Eric, see you at work." Kissing his cheek he let himself out.

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Okay so I work till eight on Monday so chapter 5 will go up on Monday after eight. See you then. Please review.
~femalefighter~