A/N: So, this was supposed to be the last chapter, but it's not. One more ought to do it, though. The song is Let her Go by Passenger. I heard it on the radio and it was so fitting I came home and rewrote this chapter.

Chap 11-

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go

He had gone to his room first, the one they shared, only to find all of her things gone. He didn't know what he had been expecting, but it wasn't this. He had just sat heavily down on the bed when Bree burst in.

"What the hell Banner? Do you have any idea what you've just done?"

"Bree…" Bruce started

"Do not interrupt me Bruce Banner, don't you dare. You need to hear this. You love her. I know you do, I saw it. Why did you do this? No, don't answer that. I know why. You're scared. Terrifed even. March to her room and talk to her right now!" Bree demanded and pointed to the door.

She would brook no opposition, so he went. He knocked and went in, breathing deep to keep control. Just like she'd taught him.

"Victoria." Bruce greeted her quietly

"Bruce." Victoria responded coldly, not looking at him.

"What are you doing?"

"What does it look like? I'm packing. I hope to leave by tomorrow afternoon."

"So soon?" Bruce whispered

Victoria glared at him, and Bruce knew what needed to be said but couldn't bring himself to say it. He tried a different tact.

"Tony will be upset. He likes having you around, I think." He began

"Tony will cope. He always has before." Victoria tersely responded

"Bree and Steve, and the boys. They really like you, they'll miss you." Bruce tried again

"They've always known it was only or the summer; That I'd have to leave to set up for school." She explained while she continued to pack up.

"You could teach here." Bruce ventured, running out of ideas. "The children on New York would benefit from a teacher like you."

"The children of New York? Well, if they need me! Seriously Bruce?" She snapped. "I think it's time for you to go."

"Please Victoria. Please stay, with me. I don't want you to go. I love you!" Bruce rushed out desperately.

"God dammit, Banner!" Victoria exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air and turning to the door. In a quieter voice she added. "You probably should have lead with that one, Bruce."

Victoria went to the door and help it opened, not looking up at him as he left.

Staring at the bottom of your glass
Hoping one day you'll make a dream last
But dreams come slow and they go so fast

You see her when you close your eyes
Maybe one day you'll understand why
Everything you touch surely dies

Well you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go

2 months since she left-

Bruce hadn't left the lab in…he couldn't remember actually. Had it been a day, 3 days, a week, more? Tony had been distant at first. But his anger at how Bruce treated his sister turned to concern after the first month. Bruce never left the lab unless forced. Bree had to drag him out day after day. Make him eat, force him to sleep. The day Tony stopped being angry was the day he found him in his room, slumped on the couch empty bottle in his hand.

"Bruce? What's going on?"

Bruce went to sip from the bottle of whisky in his hand and found it empty. "I let her go"

"Bruce, buddy…"

"I let her go. I love her and had no idea how much. Everything I touch dies, I wanted to protect her. Please understand Tony. I needed to protect her. I love her. She needs to be safe. Please, you understand?"

In a sudden fit of anger, Bruce threw the empty whisky bottle off the wall shattering it. Tony grabbed him by the shoulders, his intent to calm him down. Bruce gave him a fuzzy look, and passed out on the couch.

"I understand Bruce, trust me I do." Tony sighed to himself, leaning against the window and watching the late autumn rain fall.

The next morning, Dr. Bruce Banner announced he was planning to go back to India. There where people there that needed him, he explained. And he needed to get away.

Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
And you let her go

Staring at the ceiling in the dark
Same old empty feeling in your heart
'Cause love comes slow and it goes so fast

Well you see her when you fall asleep
But never to touch and never to keep
'Cause you loved her too much and you dive too deep

6 months since she left-

Victoria, by most standards, was doing well. That awful day when she came home from New York, Molly had shown up with ice cream; break up songs, and chick flicks. She felt a little better each day. Or at least she tried to. During the day she acted like the same Victoria, the successful teacher who was so happy with her life. She went to work, went out with friends. After a few months she even started dating again. She pretended to have moved on.

At home, alone, it was a different story. She dreamt of him night after night. He was all she could see behind her eyes when they closed. Every morning, she would wake up and resolve to smile until the day was over. And she would. Eventually she promised to keep smiling for a whole week. And she could.

Tony's phone calls hit her the hardest. It was hard to keep up the act with her brother. But he called, more often at first then less as the weeks wore on. She remembered only snippets of Tony's conversation, when his name had been thrown out casually, accidently.

"Bruce has been in the lab for days…"

"Bruce was drunk …"

"He's actually thinking of going back to Calcutta…"

"The Hulk yesterday…"

"…if you want to come visit again, Dr. Banner can go elsewhere for a while…"

"Bruce…"

"The Hulk…"

Her overall impression was that he was doing just about as well as she was. But he was shit at hiding it.

When school ended, Tony came to visit. "Come back to New York? Bruce is gone, and the rest of us miss you."

'Cause you only need the light when it's burning low
Only miss the sun when it starts to snow
Only know you love her when you let her go
Only know you've been high when you're feeling low
Only hate the road when you're missing home
Only know you love her when you let her go
Would you let her go?