Chap Summary: In which some confess, others don't, most are sorry and few are happy.
A/N: A mix of angsty, a dollop of fluff and a dash of smut. Serves one. Read, enjoy and review!
Pushing the door open, George unsteadily tried to shut it quietly behind her, it slammed shut, she winced, giggled and tiptoed towards the lounge, her vision was blurry after several drinks that she'd had after work to celebrate a positive result after a lengthy trial for one of her old cases. As she haphazardly turned on the lights in the room she squealed in surprise when she realised someone was in the lounge after all, it was Don who had clearly made the couch his impromptu bed.
He glared at her sleep now gone from him "What the fuck is this?"
"Shit! Sorry" she tittered and stumbled into an armchair "Me and...me and some of the gang went for some celebratory drinks after work sweetie"
His frown deepened "You know we were supposed to see the minister today from my parents church"
"For what?" she sniffed and closed her eyes, smiling sweetly "Oh yeah the wedding. God that fucking wedding. It is all you ever talk about"
He sighed and tried to lower his voice "You know what? Go get some coffee and sober up before you come to bed"
Her eyes flashed open "Your parents church?! What the hell Don? I thought we were having a non-denominational...cere...cermon...thingy"
"You didn't tell me that" he said in a strained tone
"I figured you'd work that one out for yourself smartass. My parents are deeply religious and so are yours, the intelligent, well thought out thing would be to have a wedding that didn't turn into a my god vs your god free for all between our families"
"I can't talk to you like this"
"Oooh typical Flack. Love to start up shit but can't confront the truth. Run away then. Avoid me like you're avoiding your sister"
"This has nothing to do with that"
Suddenly a lot more sober George glared at him "It has everything to do with that. Your attitude lately has been shit. How dare you judge her and how dare you judge me?"
"I'm not the one who left our son at my parents for so long. I come home and I can't find you or Adrian so I go to my parents and they say you never came to pick him up! What the hell is that Georgina?"
She inhaled deeply and tried to sit straight "Okay that was stupid, I realise. I'm sorry" she stood up a little unsteadily "I need to talk to you about this wedding"
He looked at her coldly "You're drunk, we'll discuss this in the morning"
"No we won't" she insisted
"God George everyone gets cold feet, its a big thing for both of us"
"For you maybe"
As soon as she'd said the words she'd regretted them but a small part of her was glad that at least now things would be out in the open.
"What the hell does that mean?"
"It means Don that...I don't want this wedding. I never really did. I just wanted to make you happy"
"Don't do me any favours"
"Honey. I really tried"
"Clearly not hard enough"
Her voice caught in her throat "You see? I can't do it. I can't get married to you"
He seemed to deflate at her words "Bullshit. This is total bullshit" he said tonelessly and began to walk towards the kitchen
"Don wait" she called out
He turned his head "What? Whats changed in the past few seconds?"
"I love you. I love you so much and I wanted to make you happy but this idea you have...this idea that if we get married we'll be happy and last forever but what happens when it doesn't? I couldn't bear it...I couldn't lose you"
Stunned, Don stared at her in silence, he struggled to make sense of what she'd just told him but found he couldn't, sensing how deflated he was she moved closer towards him and tentatively placed a hand on his arm.
"But I can't keep lying. Not to you or myself"
"What so we're over?" he said, his voice sounding strained
"No! I just don't want to get married" she said quietly
He gazed up at the ceiling, somewhat relieved but still unable to process the things she'd told him. She moved to kiss him on the cheek but he took a step back
"So thats it?"
She frowned, her expression answering better than she ever could, he shook his head his own face unreadable and walked into the kitchen.
After weighing up whether or not to talk to him or wait for him to find her George headed upstairs to bed, half of her angry with his unwillingness to face up to what she thought had been evident all along and the other half of her exhausted from the night and their argument. She walked into her son's bedroom and watched him sleeping in his crib, his tiny fingers curled up in little fists as he slept soundlessly.
George dropped a kiss on Adrian's head and wiped away a runaway tear then she curled up on a rocking chair with the fluffy yellow blanket that was on it. After a few minutes she drifted into sleep.
Stella smiled at Mac across his desk "You seem cheerful"
"Its a great day" he said warily then closed the case file he'd been looking at "Is there something you wanted to speak with me about?"
"Still all business eh?" she said lightly and then grew serious "Here's the thing. I'm leaving. I mean I'm moving, to Italy. Gavin has a promotion there and I think the forensics team there is really first rate, Europe has some wonderful opportunities for my career"
When after a few seconds had passed she couldn't bear the silence and kept talking.
"Gavin's company has given him a home. Just to set us up while we're there. Its gorgeous, I've seen pictures and god, I am going to miss this place. Not inspect Gerard but-"
"Stella" he said calmly cutting her off
She stared at him nervously "Yes?"
"I'm going to miss you"
Her expression mirrored her confused thoughts "What?"
"Its not going to be the same here without you" he said softly
She narrowed her eyes, watching him for any change in emotion any tell-tale flicker in his eyes but saw nothing.
"So thats it then?"
"When do you leave?"
"End of next month"
"Thats soon"
She studied him carefully and suddenly snapped "Mac!"
He looked at her sharply "What?"
"Thats it? Thats all you have to say to me?"
"Thats it. Is there anything else?"
She stalked out of the office without another glance or word, he watched her go then when he was sure she was gone he grabbed his coffee mug and tossed it across the room. It crashed into the wall and shattered into shards spraying stale coffee over his floor.
Don woke up awkwardly from the couch, he groaned and realised he'd slept there. Again. That had been twice in a row in the same amount of days. He hadn't seen much of George since their fight but then again they'd both been working hard. He spotted a Post-Stick note on the coffee table and read it.
"The sitter has taken Adrian to the park and then to daycare. She will pick him up at 2. You need to pay her for last month. I've gone to stay with my cousin for the weekend. There's a casserole waiting at your mom's she said that we should come over tonight, obviously I can't. I'll call you tonight.
George"
He crumpled the piece of paper up in his hand and shut his eyes, willing himself to be more awake or to at least be dreaming and that things were back to normal. Whatever that was. Cursing whoever was incessantly ringing the doorbell and causing Atticus to bark so loudly. He shuffled to the front door and answered it, shocked awake when he saw how distressed the person was.
"Ronnie? Are you alright?"
Shakily she smiled "Peachy. I just...need somewhere to stay for a couple of nights"
"Why? Whats happened?" he asked bemusedly
She shook her head "Please D. Just two or three nights"
Realising she wasn't yet able to talk about what happened he let her in and shut the door behind her for a few moments she stood in the hallway, shaking and crying, he put an arm around her and pulled her close to his chest.
"Hey, whats up sweetheart? You alright?" he asked gently
"I'm sorry about everything I..." she sobbed
"It doesn't matter" he said and took her in his arms, holding his sister tightly and waiting patiently till she had calmed down.
A good forty five minutes later the two siblings were stood holding mugs of coffee and had just finished discussing the various reasons why their day had turned out the way it had.
"Wow" said Don
"Yeah" said Ronnie
"I'm sorry" he said looking at her sadly "I really am"
He put his arm around her for emphasis, kissing the top of her head.
She sighed "I'm sorry too"
"We're both sorry" he said not without a hint of humour
She half smiled "You'll be okay"
"So will you"
"Maybe. But you, you and George are solid. This is a hitch"
"What about you and Danny? Can't you two recover?"
"No. Not from this"
Hurriedly wriggling out of his jeans, Adam hesitated, questioning the fact that he was in the toilets at his friends show and getting undressed. Then he looked at Daisy with her unblemished pale skin, crop of bright hair and a slender body almost naked save for a sheer pair of panties and bra and continued to get undressed.
She grabbed him suddenly, kissing him passionately and curling her hands through his hair.
"You are so hot. You're funny you know?" she giggled, her tongue tracing circles in his ear
He groaned "Its great that you have a sense of humour, I'm hoping that will help me tonight"
She giggled again and began to unbutton his shirt hastily, he kissed her as she did this, hooking his thumbs into the top of her panties and shimmying them down her hips.
"You're gorgeous. Like probably way out of my league gorgeous" he said trying to catch his breath
She laughed "You don't know how sexy you are" she nibbled his bottom lip "And what a great kisser...mmmm..." she kissed him "...you are"
Twenty minutes later, the breathless two were getting re-dressed. The band had finished their set and people were now flooding into the womens toilets where they both were.
"That was amazing" said Adam quietly
Daisy winked "It was"
"I think we should do it again sometime. I mean...well, not it...not that I wouldn't like that but..."
Daisy kissed his cheek tenderly and stroked his hair "Adam, I'd love to hook up again"
He smiled shyly "Can we have dinner? I know this great place..."
Her expression changed "Adam, this was fun. So fun but I'm not into serious relationships...or even just mediocre relationships. I'd really like to meet up with you again, we can drink or watch another band but it has to be no strings. Just sex. No...coupley stuff"
He frowned "Oh"
"You're a great guy" she said sternly and cupping his face in her hands "I'm just not interested in that"
Making another snap decision Adam grinned "Me neither. Geez, relax its not like I proposed"
She eyed him suspiciously "I'm not going to change my mind later"
"Neither am I" he straightened up and then with a laid back tone he never thought he'd be able to pull off said;
"Now come on, lets get out of here and continue this some place more comfortable"
Sheldon smiled across the dinner table "Good god that was amazing"
"I told you that Chinese takeaway was the best this side of Chinatown" said Izzy, she dabbed at her mouth with a paper towel
He watched her lick her lips and couldn't help but smile again.
"I've missed you so much" he said
She went still and looked at him, feeling nervous about what to say next, she didn't want to ruin the moment. Then the doorbell rang. She got to her feet, flashing him an apologetic sheepish grin and went to answer it.
"Hey Danny" she said on seeing who was there
"Hey Iz"
"Are you okay?" she asked, noting his tense body language
He didn't reply to her question instead he looked over her shoulder "Are you having dinner?"
"Ye-es. Do you want to...come in? You're soaking wet" she said in a concerned tone
He shrugged dismissively "Its raining. Is Ronnie having dinner with you?"
"She's not here. I thought she was at work" said Izzy growing more worried "Danny is my sister alright?"
He looked away "Its-I...made a mistake. She must be at work"
Izzy frowned "Have you two had a fight?"
He shook his head but again refused to be drawn into any conversation "Look, I'll catch you later"
He turned and hurried down the stairs away from her apartment. Izzy watched him disappear then went back inside.
"Was that Danny?" asked Sheldon as he cleared the table
"Yeah. I don't know...he seemed kind of upset" she said thoughtfully
Sheldon paused "Whatdyamean?"
"I'm going to call Ronnie and find out"
A/N: More coming...