The hours passed on and Lou tried to mingle as best to her ability. Even Scott had turned up eventually, but the only person that had said they'd be there and didn't, was Mary Jane Sutka. No one really know why she had bailed, but when the word got around that she wasn't coming after all, people started to leave.

Lou felt like the whole reunion had been anticlimactic, even if it had been nice to meet her old friends, but when Marnie walked up to her as they were clearing the tables, she felt like at least something good had come out of this. With the help of Marnie and Tonya (as much as she'd hate to give her any credit), Lou felt like she had been able to let go of the whole stress that came with MJ.

"You did good," Marnie said, impressed by Lou's ability to throw a party. Then again, she had always been pretty good at that, "Do you need any help with the cleaning?"

"No, I think we've got this," Lou said as Georgie and Amy were helping to clear the tables, "Besides, didn't you say you were like million years pregnant? You should rest. You've done your part."

"Well, yeah," Marnie couldn't argue that, "It was good to see you, Lou."

"It was good to see you, too," Lou said, "And let me know when the baby comes. I'd love to come and see you all."

"I will. And you, don't be a stranger. I know you're busy, but... whenever you're around Hudson, give me a call, we should get together more often."

"I'll keep that in mind," Lou promised. "See you."

"See you, Lou."

When Marnie walked to the door and closed it behind her, Lou felt empty. Now she wasn't sure what she was going to do to keep herself distracted. The party was over, it was time to come back to reality.

"You wanna hear my theory?" Mitch's voice reached her from behind.

Lou turned around. She had somewhat avoided Mitch all night, even if he had been her plus one, but she felt like she had a good reason and maybe he too needed some time off from her. Lou didn't feel like faking anything with Mitch. They should have had the talk before they would continue with the banter they did whenever things got uncomfortable.

"Theory about what?" Lou asked.

"Why Mary Jane Sutka didn't come here," Mitch replied as Lou started to pack her books back to the box they had come in. Only few people had asked her autograph, but even then, Lou felt like they had not really remembered who she even was in the first place and had just asked the signature in hopes that she was someone huge that they just didn't know about. This book signing had been as huge failure as the book tour few years ago.

"Well, what is your theory?" she was interested to know.

"She was scared that she would not live up to your expectations," Mitch said.

"Maybe," Lou said, "but she has a whole book tour coming up. Is she going to cancel that too?"

"Well, some people cancel things because they are scared, some people face things even if they are scared. Maybe you all from high school not being around will make the tour easier for her, seeing you're the ones who really know the real MJ and not just her brand," Mitch said, making Lou wonder what was he really talking about. It felt like there was something Mitch really wanted to talk about, but this wasn't it, "I'm sorry you didn't get your revenge."

"It's okay, I'm kind of over it," Lou admitted, "I mean, Mary Jane Who?"

Mitch hummed, thoughtfully, "Good for you, I guess."

Things got quiet for a while, and Mitch decided to help Lou back the books.

"Listen, I'm sorry for what I said before and the way I acted," Mitch said, "I guess I've been kind of... on the edge about a lot of things, namely because of your dad and the whole cattle deal, and I took it out on you. I shouldn't have, I'm sorry about that."

"I feel like maybe it's more than that," Lou gave her theory. Mitch looked at her, feeling like she was somehow able to read him more than he would have expected, "I know I shouldn't have put you on the spot today and I'm sorry about that. But I have a feeling you wouldn't have come here if you had not already somewhat forgiven me for that, even if it was on your terms. So, I have a theory that you're mad at me about something else."

Mitch was quiet for a while. He didn't want to admit it, but he didn't know if he had no other choice. And besides, this was his moment to bring it up, no matter how Lou herself was going to take it. He had had this conversation with her in his head for many times, but since she had not been around, there had been no possible time for him to have it in real life - and besides, was she already over him, too. Maybe he was the only one hanging on the remains of their relationship anyway.

"It's about the revenge," Mitch said.

"I know, but we didn't get it, and it's not even important to me anymore," Lou replied, "It was stupid in the first place, I was being childish."

"No, I don't mean about the Sutka siblings," he corrected. "I mean, with you. I guess I just wanted to see if that's who you really are with other people as well."

Lou was confused and stopped what she was doing, just so she could focus more on the man in front of her.

"I have this feeling like you... enjoy punishing people," Mitch admitted and before Lou could get a word in, he continued, "Even if you wouldn't really acknowledge it yourself. I mean, you said you were after MJ, that you had this whole thing against her because of some things that had happened in high school. I don't know, hearing that... it just made me feel... weak or used, because I felt like maybe that same thing had happened to me. I feel like I was never really up to your standards or I didn't do things your way, and somehow, you're punishing me for it, like I'm the one who crossed you, and I'm just one of your revenge studies in which I would learn from my mistakes and come running back to you and do things better so you would accept me. Like some kind of power play."

"Oh my god... I've never intended to do that..." Lou said, somewhat shocked at what she was hearing as she had never thought of it that way.

"The craziest thing is, for a while I even thought I deserved to be punished," Mitch shared, "but I realize now that it was because I was carrying this guilt over Zach. I thought it was my fault that he's dead and I deserved to be punished for that, maybe in a way that I would fall in love with a woman and she would not love me back," He got chocked up thinking back to few months back when they had had one of their break-ups. "No matter how hard I would try to be good and understanding, I would never get that love back because I took him from his love. That was going to be my punishment."

Lou sighed, feeling awful just from hearing Mitch's side of things.

"And when we were talking with you and you caught me talking the way I did just now over the yearbooks, I guess I had a shock reaction to my own emotions. Like I was turning into the same kind of person. I never really realized how vengeful I had somehow gotten because of you not apologizing for what you did. I know people break up all the time and things are left to hang in the air, especially if the people never see each other, but I... I see you now, so I just wanted to say that... you really hurt me, Lou. I know I should have realized it sooner, but I guess it took me some time to realize what had even happened - and it doesn't matter when the realization happens as long as it happens, because I need it to happen so I can move on from you. I don't want you to forget me like you're trying to forget MJ."

Lou felt speechless. Mitch expected her to explain her behavior, but Lou didn't know how she could and should she even. Explanations were just excuses in this case.

"I don't even know what to say... I feel like "I'm sorry" will not cut it, but I still want to say it, in case it helps you to move on somehow," She looked Mitch in the eyes and hoped he could see that she really meant it. But it was up to him to decide if he accepted it or not, "And you're right, I guess I am hooked to feeling like I have the control and all the power, it feels like it's somehow my problem with everything and it probably explains why my life is such a mess right now. But that's not your mess to deal with, it's mine. Still, I want you to know that... it was never personal with you; I never meant to hurt you, you're such a great, gentle, sweet and loving man who I don't deserve. And I'm really sorry for Zach, even if I've said it to you before, but I feel like now I have a better understanding about you and him after what you just told me. So, I want to say it again. I'm sorry for Zach. You really don't have to punish yourself for it. It's not your fault. None of this is your fault, you did nothing wrong."

"Thank you," Mitch said, feeling like at least some part of those words set him free, even if he had no way of knowing how he would continue to feel around Lou from now on. Would she change her behavior with him and altogether? Would anything really have stuck with her?

"Hey, the tables are cleared, will you be needing for us for anything else?" Georgie walked up to Lou, unaware of what she was just interrupting.

"Oh, thank you," Lou said, looking around and noticing how quick Amy and Georgie had been with the cleaning. The conversation with Mitch had captivated her attention completely, so she had not even noticed, "You did great job. Thanks, honey."

"Will you come with Amy too?" she asked, hoping she was not left alone with her aunt now that they had weird energy between them because of Phoenix's training, but it seemed like Lou still had some work left to do at the diner.

"I still have some work to do here, but you two should go home already. I'll just... ask Chad from the kitchen to give me a ride," Lou said, trying to figure out how she would get to home since she had been drinking and didn't have her SUV here since she had hitched a ride from Amy.

"Okay," Georgie said, feeling a little annoyed that she was stuck with Amy, but at the same time she couldn't wait to get home, "I'll see you at home."

"Yeah. Have a safe drive."

Mitch looked at Georgie who disappeared to the back to change her clothes. He then turned back to Lou.

"You know, I can just take it from here," Lou said, not wanting to use Mitch to clean up the mess after the reunion as he was not inclined to do that, "Thanks for the help."

"No, it's fine. It's not like I have anywhere else to be. Besides, I can just take you home. I have to pick up some stuff from Heartland anyway, so... might as well."

"Really...?" Lou checked.

"Yeah, sure. I mean, I didn't really do my plus one duties that well, so I feel like you at least deserve a ride home."

"Well, if you are sure."

"I am. It's not a problem."

"Okay then." Lou didn't want to make Mitch feel like she was using him for yet another thing, even if it came to something as simple as giving a ride.