Author's Note:

This chapter is dedicated to my mom and artzannie25 and all the other readers who want more Duke. That being said, I feel the need to mention again that this is an Audrey/Nathan story. Don't shoot the writer.

Chapter Eleven

Of all the possible outcomes Duke had imagined for the night of the meteor storm, his own death had not been a factor in any of them, although he was only mildly surprised. This was Haven, after all. Why should it surprise him that he was trapped in another dimension with the woman he loved and the adult son she had with his only friend?

He wasn't an idiot. He'd known that Nathan was James' father for weeks. It wasn't hard to figure out, really, though he had ignored the evidence at first. He'd practically walked in on Nathan and Sarah kissing before they returned to 2011, and they'd had plenty of time together while he was busy with Roy. Then of course there was James, who had Nathan's eyes and mannerisms, but who Duke kind of liked anyway, though he hated to admit it.

The worst part was when it came from Audrey. He understood why it needed to be said, for Jenna to gain Nathan's trust in the hospital, but he'd be lying if he said he wouldn't have appreciated her telling him one-on-one. Or better yet, not having his suspicions confirmed at all. Alas, the truth was already out there, and it tainted every look they shared. That was why he pulled her away. He would be damned if he was going to let the knowledge that her previous incarnation had a son with his friend ruin their relationship.

"We need to talk," he said, leaning against the counter. She was standing in the doorway and he was trying to keep his distance.

"Yeah, we do. I wanted to apologize for yesterday, outside the hospital. I didn't want you to find out about James and Nathan that way."

"I already suspected anyway, so it's fine."

"You couldn't have told me? I only found out when I went in the barn." She laughed and he shrugged.

"How's the kid doing, anyway?"

"As well as expected. It's a lot for him to deal with, you know? Between me and Arla and Nathan and being dead."

"Yeah, but he's a lot like you, so he'll be okay."

"I don't know about that. I think I'm just … used to the unexpected." She wandered over to the table and sat down, tracing circles on the tablecloth with her finger. "It's weird, right? Getting used to all this?"

He didn't answer right away, watching her and thinking of all they'd been through in the last year. "It's sad," he finally said, taking the seat across from her. "You shouldn't have to get used to anything. You shouldn't have to take care of this town. It isn't fair to you, but you do it anyway."

"I don't have a choice."

"Yes, you do. You can leave Haven and let us all deal with the troubles, but you keep making the same decision to go in the barn for – what? Three hundred years?" She avoided his gaze. "Well, it doesn't matter now, anyway. A few more days and it'll be over, and you'll get to know your son."

She smiled. "It would be nice to not have to forget all of this, too."

"Right." He straightened up, stalling as he thought of how to ask the question. "Look, Audrey, I realize this is probably the worst time to do this but if there's anything I've learned in the last few months, it's that you can't keep putting things off." She met his eyes. "So, about what happened in Colorado … I believe you said something about not having the time to fix things if you messed up our friendship."

"I did," she agreed, looking down at the tabletop again. "And I still might not."

"I'm optimistic. I just need to know what we're doing here because I know we can…" he stopped himself, rubbing a hand over his face and sighing. The image of her and Nathan kissing just before she went in the barn flashed through his mind. That long, drawn-out kiss that differed greatly from the peck on the cheek he'd received just before. It served as yet another reminder that no matter what he felt for her, or how badly he wanted to continue what they'd started in Colorado, her heart belonged to another – arguably better man.

"I just wanted to say that whatever's happened in the past, or whatever is going to happen, I'm always going to be here for you. We're always going to be friends."

She looked at him skeptically. "What?"

"You might say I'm breaking up with you," he clarified with a hint of a smile. She laughed and shook her head before reaching across the table and squeezing his hand.

"I'm sorry."

"You have nothing to be sorry for. I guess we should go join James."

"Duke." She stopped him as he tried to leave the table. "Thank you."

He smiled and laid a hand on top of hers. "You deserve to be happy."

The rest of the day dragged on slowly. Audrey and Duke both worked on helping James as they both seemed to be in complete control. When Jenna came to check on them an hour or so later, she explained that usually it would take spirits weeks to gain that kind of control. She believed it meant their connection with the living was still strong, and it would be easier to bring them back.

Once Ellen was filled in on the situation, Duke came downstairs to help with the diary research, though first he made the most of his ghostly situation and threw a decorative pillow at Nathan's face.

It was another three hours before they got the first clue from the diaries. It came in the form of a passing comment in the thirty-seventh book, about how Kickem' Jenny Neck – the little spit of land the barn always appeared on – was a magnet for supernatural activity. According to Jenna and Ellen's mother, the veil separating the living world from that of the dead was weakest here.

They weren't able to find out anything more for the rest of the night. Eventually everyone started heading up to bed – Ellen having thought ahead to pack a suitcase of things, and Jenna had stopped by Nathan's house and brought some of his clothes in the duffel. Audrey went upstairs around eleven, leaving Duke and Jenna alone.

Duke was laid out on the carpet, sighing now and again as he failed to find anything of importance. Jenna tried not to let it get to get as she went through her own stack of diaries without much more luck. After a few minutes of irritation, she tossed a finished diary back into the box and headed for the hallway.

"Where are you going?" Duke called after her. She peeked her head in the doorway.

"I'm going to make some tea. Do you want-" she stopped herself. "Sorry. I forgot."

He smiled. "I'd prefer something stronger than tea, but I'll settle for a break." He followed her to the kitchen and stared out the French doors at the water, illuminated by the moon and the occasional streak of a meteor as she put on the kettle.

"This must be hard for you, being trapped here," she said, watching him closely. He didn't acknowledge her. "I'm sorry, it's just … all the people I work with are dead. Most of the time I don't know them before they ask for my help."

"You don't know me either," Duke pointed out. She shrugged.

"I wouldn't say that. I am rather observant."

He turned around then, smirking. "Oh, really? You think you know everything about me?"

"I wouldn't go that far, but I think I know enough. Like how you prefer not to use your gift-"

"It's not a gift."

"-Even though you thought you had the chance to end it by killing Audrey. Which, by the way, probably wouldn't have worked. From everything you've told me, and what I've seen in the past couple of days, I'd say you love her. It would explain why you jumped into an exploding-"

"Imploding."

"-Barn. You pretend not to care, but you do. Worse is that you know her and Nathan are in love and that your chances with her are slim. But you're still set on helping them break the cycle, even if it means they'll be together and you'll be alone."

"What can I say? I'm a nice guy."

"Yeah, you are. You deserve more credit than you get." The kettle switched off and she busied herself with making her tea.

"And what about you?" he asked.

"What about me?"

"What do you get out of all this? You've opened up your home to four virtual strangers and are letting us look through your parents stuff and at the end of the day, you get nothing in return. And it's been like this for a whole year?"

"Almost." She carried her mug to the table and sat down. He took the seat to her left. "I'm good at this, though. And it gives me something to do. Since Dad died, I've been questioning what I want to do with my life."

"What do you do?"

She smiled. "I'm a psychologist, formally. I always wanted to help people, like my parents and Lucy."

"But you don't like being a shrink?"

"Sometimes. It's come in handy with the spirits and stuff." She sipped her tea slowly. "I took some time off after the car crash, when I became troubled. I just haven't bothered to go back. So I spend my little free time painting. It's relaxing."

"What about friends? Don't you ever get out of this place?"

"Not for a while. Most of the people I converse with these days are dead and depressed, and I don't even know what I would have to talk about with a living person. It's not like I can be completely honest about what I do with my days. And half the people in this town think I've inherited Mom's crazy gene anyway."

"So what happens to you when the troubles end for good? Do you go back to work and meet people or become a reclusive artist?"

"Somewhere in the middle, I hope," she said with a laugh, but then became serious. "I don't want to end up like my parents. My mom's family turned her into a freak, and my dad lived and breathed his trouble. It was his life and his work. I don't want to be like that. I know it seems like I do because all I ever do these days is help dead people, but I can't let them suffer. I don't want it to be my whole life."

"Then don't let it be."

"How? How can I not let this determine who I am and who other people see me as?"

"Well, first off, you have to actually get out and meet people. So as soon as this whole thing it over, you're coming to the Grey Gull and I'm going to introduce to some people … if it's still standing, anyway."

"Oh, it is. I meant to tell you earlier but I got sidetracked with Ellen. I saw it when I went into town."

"Well, then, it looks like you and I have something to look forward to after all." He grinned at her and she just shook her head in return.

Author's Note:

Wow. Super-long chapter.

Okay, reviews please?

-Lizzy