One last update for my lovely readers before I go on holiday :)

I hope you enjoy it. Please review x

I needed to get out of the house. Away from everything. I didn't have many people to talk to and I felt a little stupid for considering it really, but I knew of a little place where I could also get a nice cup of tea made for me and a chat.

"Howard, it's nice to see you again. Where's you're friend?" Violet spoke to me from over the wooden counter.

"He's at home. He doesn't really come out much."

"That's a shame."

"Yes he's missing out on a great cuppa." I smiled.

"I'll be with you in a moment, my shift ends in about five minutes." She handed me my cup of tea.

I sat down at a table. Purple table cloth this time with some lovely purple flowers (I had no idea what type they were) sat in front of me. I was beginning to wonder why I had come here. We hadn't known each other very long but already we had become good friends. Last time our conversation had involved her telling me about her husband and the rough patch they had been going through, so I assumed that it would be ok if she was to listen and advise in the way I had done for her. I hoped my expectations weren't too high. The café was quite empty but outside many shoppers rushed passed carrying dozens of carrier bags. Every single one of them mad, who in their right mind would push their way through the crowds for fun?

Violet brought over her own coffee and sat down opposite me.

"How's it going with Phillip?" I asked. Phillip was her husband.

"Really well, it's as if nothing happened."

"Good. I know this might be asking a lot of you. I feel a little embarrassed really…"

"Go on Howard, I'm always here to listen."

"No but it's…"

"Don't be silly you were brilliant the other day. So what can I do for you?" she smiled and waited.

"It's Vince."

"I see…" she paused. "Is he any better?"

I'd previously told her about Vince. She was shocked and deeply saddened. Now I had so much more to pile on her. I did think it would be so much easier to just stand up and walk out before I had said anything.

"No. It's… I don't know. I made it worse."

"I'm sure you didn't. What happened?"

"I… last night… I thought I could make things better. I hid his anti-depressants." I couldn't look Violet in the eye. What a cruel, cruel thing I did. "But… I didn't do it to be mean."

"I know you wouldn't do that."

"I did it because… I wanted to help him. I don't think… well I didn't think Vince needed them. I thought well I suppose I was hoping he was just taking them for the sake of it."

"He didn't react to well?"

I shook my head. That was an understatement. "No. He isn't the same person when he takes them. Why can't I just accept that and just work around it? Why do I always have to feel that I know best and have it my way?"

"Because he means a lot to you. You only want to help and if you can think of anything that might help him then I know you would try it. It hurts you to see him like that and you're probably very worried that he might never go back to how he used to be so you're blaming the pills."

"But why can't I just accept it the way other people do?"

"Because you love him." I hadn't told her that. I think she noticed the shock on my face. "Howard it's obvious, when you talk about him your eyes glisten you're always so proud of how far he's come and you just light up. You're just so devoted to that man, he has no idea how lucky he is."

"But he's not. He could have had anyone. I selfishly took the pills away from him just so I could have what I wanted."

"You're only looking out for him."

"He begged me. I just said no. Then I… stupidly told him I didn't love him when he took them. I thought it might get him to stop. So incredibly stupid." I banged my fist against the table.

"Howard, this isn't me having a go at you or going against you, but you have to be so careful what you say. From what you have told me he relies on you so much and something like that could easily… set him off."

"I know and I still do it." I put my head in my hands.

"You need a break."

"You mean as in a holiday?" I looked up at her, was she mad? I couldn't leave Vince.

"Mmm sort of. You need to spend a bit of time away from Vince."

"No! I can't do that."

"Why not?"

"Because… he needs me."

"I thought you said he had someone else at home too? Are you sure it's not because you need him?"

"Of course I need him. Yes Leroy, but that doesn't mean I can leave him." I admitted.

"You're both too attached. I hate to say it but I'm guessing because you're around him so much he must be bringing you down."

He does but that isn't the point, I really didn't care about that. The point was I was there to raise Vince's spirits or at least try to. Not that I'd been very good at that recently.

"He is too attached. I mean yesterday I…" I couldn't believe I was going to admit to this. I felt sure I would never have to mention it again "When Vince noticed the tablets were in my pocket… he lunged for them but then I…"

"What?" she said sympathetically reaching out to hold my hand.

"I didn't mean to. I promise I'd never do anything like that on purpose. It was an accident. I really didn't want him to take them. I didn't want to give into him I thought being firm and not allow him to have them would… make him realize… but I…" I paused and managed to find the confidence to say the words out loud "I pushed him away and I-I punched him."

Violet stayed calm. She didn't look angry or disgusted at me. I thought I would surely lose her as a friend.

"You only want what is best for Vince." I could see she was struggling with what to say next.

"But it shouldn't have ended with that. He fell to the floor and ended up with even more injuries. I can't even look at him anymore, his face is bruised and swollen."

"Have you spoken about it?"

"No, not really. I said sorry over and over again. He asked me to stay with him last night. We slept on the sofa together like nothing had happened. I did say I'd sleep somewhere else but he wouldn't let me."

"He needs some more independence. It breaks my heart listening to this Howard. I am so sorry you have to go through this." She said sincerely. "He's forgiven you?"

"I think so. Deep down probably not. I'm worried he might bottle it up. Use it against me one day and I know he could build such a strong case against me. All of the things I have done wrong."

"You're one of the only people he has and I'm sure no matter what you do he will forgive you. I know you feel guilty enough as it is after what you have done so I'm not going to shout or make you feel any worse but Vince relies on you so much he can't hold a grudge. I don't think it's healthy. You need to be careful Howard. Get him to do things for you, that way it's an even relationship."

"You think I'm too controlling?" I snapped a little. I blamed it on the new reflex actions I seem to have gained.

"No, no of course not. Just the way he looks up to you so much."

"Right."

"You need to stop blaming yourself. None of this was your fault."

"How can you say that?"

"Because from an outsiders view you have had a lot of bad luck."

"If I hadn't met that stupid woman in the first place we wouldn't be in this mess."

"Could you really have avoided meeting her?"

"No." I slowly began to realize that meeting Louisa wasn't thanks to me but their series of sick and twisted plans.

"There you are then. It's not your fault."

"That's what Vince said after I told him about the wedding and everything."

"Oh yes, how did he respond to that?"

"Ok, well I promised you I'd tell you the truth." I'd decided that the conversation would be formal so had made Vince sit at the dinner table opposite me.

"I'm listening."

I explained what had happened throughout my time in Paris right up till the day of the wedding.

"I knew there was something wrong from the moment I met her family. This uncle she had, Pierre seemed to have something against me. He used to say really strange things. I had no idea what he was going on about and Louisa would always rush me away from the situation and refuse to tell me what was going on."

I remember watching Vince shudder a little every time I said Louisa's name.

"She insisted on getting married as quickly as possible. I didn't want to rush but then I realized I couldn't let her go as I'd never have another chance."

"But you do. You've got me." Vince reached out to hold my hand and I let him.

"I know Little Man." I watched him smile before continuing. "I was stood at the altar then Pierre began shouting that I was a murderer." Vince look completely shocked, his mouth gaped open a little.

"Why did he say that?"

I couldn't contain my tears and let them fall.

"You're not a murderer." He continued.

"Remember that accident?"

"What accident?"

"That car accident… when I hit that girl?" I struggled.

"That was years ago." He nodded as he remembered.

"It was a plot for the family to get justice. That girl was Louisa's cousin." I studied Vince's confused expression. "Louisa began wanting revenge, turns out the whole family knew what was going on apart from me. They had planned all along that they were going to embarrass me in one of the worst ways possible. Something changed though. Louisa said she realized I hadn't done it on purpose and actually began to love me. The whole family had agreed to forget the whole situation and allow me to move on. Except Pierre. He was the girl's dad." I sobbed.

Vince gasped. "How could they do that? To you of all people."

"But that's what I am."

"Don't say that. It was an accident." I really wanted to believe him, believe that I was innocent.

"Louisa just stood there and wouldn't talk to me. I was left to stand in front of everybody while Pierre carried on calling me a murderer. I never ever forgot that day and they made sure I would never forget it. It was all a lie. I was just a bit of entertainment. Think of everything that went on behind my back. To think I could have married into that family and never known of what they knew…"

"You didn't deserve that. A cruel nasty trick." Vince had now stood up and held both of my hands as he stood round my side of the table.

"Then she told me…that they'd…got rid of you." I cried harder and Vince moved closer to hug me. "Then it all made sense. I'd accused you and you'd done nothing wrong. I just walked away. Louisa said she still wanted to marry me but I couldn't do that. So I got the Eurostar back to London. I was in a taxi, I thought things couldn't get any worse then I got your voicemail." I decided to stop there, Vince knew the rest of the story. "I let you down in the worst way imaginable."

"No." Vince shook his head.

"I did, look at what happened."

"We were unlucky. It's not your fault." Vince silenced me with a soft kiss on the lips.

"He reacted better than I could have imagined. He apologized for the fact I couldn't tell him sooner. He didn't make fun at me and say 'I told you so', he just sat with me and let me cry about it. He stayed strong for me."

"Sounds to me that you have both done so well coping with everything." Violet's soft voice calmed me down a little.

"You wouldn't think that if you lived in our house."

"Maybe not. But you've stood by him which is what he needs. How about doing something for you? You never know Vince might enjoy it?"

"You couldn't get two people more different." I laughed.

"They say opposites attract?" Violet suggested. I thought about that for a moment. She had a point.

"I've just had an idea… thanks so much for the chat. I am so grateful." I stood up.

"I enjoy our little chats… even if they aren't too jolly." She smiled.

I placed the money for my tea down on the table.

"Howard!" she sighed. "You don't need to pay me for that."

"I insist." Before she had the time to argue I had already left the café and was making my way home.

When I got home Vince was sat watching daytime T.V on the sofa.

"Vince, go fill a suitcase." I walked over to the T.V and switched it off.

"Hey, I was watching that… w-w-where am I going?" for a moment I heard the old Vince resurfacing.

"It's a surprise."

"But Howard I hate surprises." Vince turned to look at me and I winced at his badly bruised face. I couldn't even look at him without feeling guilty anymore.

"You used to love them."

"Mmm."

"Look I promise it will be a nice surprise, hopefully you will like it."

"Alright. How many suitcases?"

"Don't get too carried away, just the one."

I put a few bits and pieces in his suitcase. The essentials e.g. a toothbrush. I also put Vince's hair straighterners in after I noticed he had left them. He hadn't used them for a very long time, I liked his natural look with the slight wave of his hair but I had to try to put things back together.

"Are you ready Vince?" I called up the stairs.

"Yup, nearly." He replied. He emerged carrying a black wheelie suitcase covered in stickers.

"You alright there? Shall I bring it down for you?"

"Nah, you're alright." The next thing I knew Vince had pushed the suitcase down the stairs, I had to jump out of it's way as it clattered to the bottom step.

"That's one way of doing it." I laughed.

"Sorry Howard." He walked down the stairs to pick up his suitcase.

"Just put your suitcase in the car."

"Leroy's car? Have you asked him?"

"Nope. I'm sure he won't mind. I'm Howard Moon, living life dangerously. I don't have to ask for anything, I do what I want Sir."

"Sure you do Howard."

"Do you think I should leave a note?"

Vince just laughed and pushed me towards the door.