The week following Eric's funeral passed slowly and without event. Evey attended briefings, press

conferences, and even a full dinner where the most respected of the rebel party united. She played the part of spokeswoman quite well, and no one was the wiser to her whereabouts immediately following the inaugural attack.

But inside, she'd felt she were dying.

Everything was no more than a motion to Evey, something akin to breathing and eating. Necessary for life, but she had no true passion for it. She was operating on autopilot, doing what was expected of her and then finally collapsing into bed when there was nothing left for her to attend to, no more distraction for her wayward mind.

Gordon finally approached her one night. "We have no engagements tonight, Evey. Let us spend the evening in each other's company." He offered.

Evey had originally wanted to hide away, to resume her solitude in the spare bedroom off the west wing. It was were she suffered in relative silence, where she could bleed her emotional wounds with no one to be the wiser. But Gordon had been insistent, and Evey far too tired to do anything but give in to his request. They spent time talking of light matters, enjoying each other's company. But eventually, the conversation switched to V.

"You miss him," He remarked after he'd poured their third round of drinks.

"Should that be any surprise?" Evey asked, taking a swallow when he handed her the glass.

"No," Gordon swirled his own liquor in the tumbler, but did not drink. "No surprise at all."

Evey eyed her friend. "Something on your mind, Gordon?" She could see through his demeanor like a looking glass.

"I just worry over you, Evey. You've not been yourself. I understand that you are grieving, but I sense that this is more." Gordon said as he sat down.

"I'm still struggling to convince myself I've done the right thing," She said with a sigh, taking another healthy drink of her scotch.

"Evey...do you really love him?" Gordon asked pointedly.

She thought about lying. She really did. But she knew Gordon would see through that, too. "Hopelessly." She murmured.

"Despite everything? Do you really know this man, Evey?" Gordon pressed.

"I know him as well as he knows himself." She answered. "He's never been able to help what they made of him. If he was able, he would have shared more of himself with me. I believe that whole-heartedly."

"But he doesn't know. Do you think he's read the journal?"

Gordon asked, sipping his drink.

"He left it for Eric to find. I'd be surprised if he hadn't. It doesn't matter, anyway. There were no details on who he was before he gained Delia's interest." Evey said, unable to hide the plain disgust she felt for the woman who had tortured V so.

"Ah," Gordon murmured. "You know, Evey...these past few days I've given quite some thought to the topic of love."

"You hopeless romantic, you." Evey said, smiling. "I didn't think I was quite your taste."

Gordon chuckled as he watched her get up to fix herself another drink. "You've figured it out. Marry me, Evey...and we shall ride away into the sunset together!"

"Whatever will we tell the others?" Evey said, smiling as she poured. The scotch was going down quite smooth, and she was rather enjoying the welcome fuzziness it brought to her aching heart. "Alright, what's got you thinking about love, Gordon? I have to admit I'm curious," she commented as she seated herself back in the sofa, tucking her feet beneath her.

"I was thinking of how far we've come, actually." He said, his playful grin fading slightly. "It wasn't too long ago that people like me would have been killed for our desires. And now? It's becoming accepted. We are building a world of equality, Evey. And that is a beautiful thing."

"I very much agree," she told him, smiling. "It's been far too long. People should not be repressed...for any reason. It's a long road, but we'll get there."

"Indeed we will," he mused. "Can you believe it? A gay man, elected into a position of power. I lived a lie for many, many years. It feels wonderful to be free of that restraint."

"I'm sure it does. I can't imagine how hard it was for you, to hide behind a facade for so long. I'm sorry it was that way for you, Gordon. But I'm glad we're fixing it now. It feels good to see you happy." Evey said, and she meant every word deeply. Gordon had suffered much, and it was only right that he be allowed a life he could be proud of.

"Oh, I think you do know what that's like, Evey. You've been living something of a facade yourself. And I would give just about anything to see you happy. I don't think that's ever something I've witnessed," Gordon said quietly.

She tipped back her drink. "Sure you have," she said. "When I first realized you were going to survive after we found you, I was ecstatic."

"Not quite what I meant, darling," Gordon sighed. "I mean with life. You've always been missing someone."

"We've all lost, Gordon." Evey said.

"Yes. But what I mean is, I don't think you quite know how to allow yourself to be happy." He said finally after much deliberation.

Evey frowned. "Well what the bloody hell is that supposed to mean?"

He sighed, watching as she finished her drink and went to fix another. "I mean only that you find a way to keep yourself from love. With Eric, it was V that held you back. With V, it is the past."

"I think I'm damn well justified."

Evey snapped, glaring over the rim of her glass as she took a drink.

"I'm not arguing that, Evey. But is it truly what you want?" Gordon persisted. "We have seen just how much life can change in a mere instant. I realized that during the aftermath of the carnage at the inauguration. In fact, that event set these thoughts of mine in motion. I've come to realize that if we have a chance at love, we must not waste it." He sipped from his glass, eyeing her for a moment. "It is why I finally admitted my feelings to Dominick over dinner just two nights ago. It was unfair of me to make him wait as long as I did. But it's a decision I'll not regret."

The fight went out of Evey at that admission. She had known the two cared deeply for each other, and had not understood why they had not made their relationship official. "Oh Gordon. I'm so happy for you both." She said.

"Thank you. But I don't tell you this for your well wishes. I tell you this because I would like to see the same for you, Evey. You love V. For better or for worse, that is the truth of the matter. Not often are we offered a second chance...and when we are, we must hold onto it tightly. We must never let it go." Gordon's expression was severe as he watched her. "His final lie hurt you deeply. It'll take some time for that to heal. But perhaps...perhaps it would be better if you let him help mend it."

Evey stared at Gordon for a long moment, hardly able to believe she'd heard him correctly. He had just validated the very thing she wanted most, but wouldn't allow herself to have. "You truly think I should go back to him?" She asked finally.

"If that is what you want.

If your heart tells you this man is the one for you, you ought not deny yourself, Evey. This past year, you believed him dead and gone. He is alive, and you have another chance. Take it, if you so desire. Do not deny yourself based on principle. We all make mistakes. If your V truly is repentant, and you wish to have him, then follow that road. See where it leads. As I said...nothing need ever be permanent," Gordon said.

Evey dumped more booze into her glass. She paced for a few moments. Then she finally looked at him again. "I need to think, Gordon. I...I just need to think."

"Of course, my dear. Decisions made on scotch are not sound decisions, anyhow. I only thought I would say my piece and be done with it," Gordon said, waving a hand dismissively. "And now that I have, I'll say no more on the subject."

"Thank you," Evey said. Her mind felt thick and clouded, as it was like walking on air when she stepped close to brush a kiss against her friend's cheek. "I really am happy for you, Gordon. You deserve the very best."

"All these years you've known me, Evey, and still you think that." He said with a chuckle.

"And I always will," she said, smiling. "Goodnight, Gordon."

"Goodnight to you as well," he said as she left the room, taking her glass with her.

As it turned out, Evey did think. She thought a lot. Of the night V stepped from the shadows and into her life on that fateful evening years ago. Of how he looked at her, the weight of his heavy gaze behind the mask. Of how strong her felt when he let her collapse against him. Of how his voice shook when he had admitted that he loved her. Yes. Evey thought a lot. She also drank a lot. And eventually, she finally came to a rash conclusion, as we so typically do when those two factors combine.

She left a note on her door, and slipped out into the night.