Author's Notes: This is an Otis/Maeve story but it doesn't quite start that way.

This is a story aware of the spoilers for season 3 and is based on some of them mixed in with my own thoughts but there's no way it happens like this in the show.

Don't read just yet if you want to go into Season 3 clean.

I was just curious if I could write something now that I've spoiled myself through my idiotic choices.

Chapter One

Isaac Deleted The Voicemail

Maeve walked along the corridor of the near-deserted school, sighing heavily, her feelings awhirl. If it wasn't anger, it was heartbreak. If it wasn't sadness, it was grief.

As she walked past an open doorway, she glanced inside and saw him sitting awkwardly on the windowsill, staring through the panes, and her entire body glitched.

She quickly took a step past the doorway before he turned and saw her then she stopped, drawing in deep breaths as her mind tried to batter through the shroud that had enveloped it.

She wasn't sure how long she stood there before the sound of approaching heels on linoleum registered to her senses.

"What are you doing, Wiley?" Ruby's voice came from behind her and Maeve hitched in a breath. "If you want to talk to him, I don't have him on a leash."

"Just…" Maeve began, not turning around, clamouring for the words. "Thought I forgot something. Trying to remember whether I have to go back."

Ruby sighed heavily. "I think Maeve wants to talk to you."

"No, I—" Maeve began but let her voice trail away as the sound of heels on linoleum moved into the classroom.

She stood still, too conflicted to even run.

"Maeve?" His querying voice floated from within the classroom.

"Have you seen Aimee?" she called, using as steady a voice as she could.

"What?" he called, the combined effect of the distance and the walls muffling her words.

She took a deep breath, blinked rapidly then turned and walked briskly through the door.

The first thing she saw was him, now standing and looking at her and the second thing she saw was Ruby, leaning against a lab bench, neutrally watching her.

"Have you spoken to Aimes this afternoon?" Maeve asked, worried that her voice was not as smooth as she tried to make it.

"No," Otis said. "Why?"

"I haven't seen her and she was really upset earlier," she lied.

"Oh, she's out on the lawn with Goat," Otis said, jerking his thumb at the window.

"Oh, great," she said, feigning relief.

"Why was she upset?" Otis asked. "Steve…?"

"No," Maeve said, shaking her head.

"Is he…? Did he…?"

"They haven't been together for a while," Maeve said.

"Told you," Ruby said under her voice.

"Oh?" Otis said, a hint of sadness in his tone. "I hadn't heard. He couldn't…? Did he…?"

"No, he was good. Really good. Aimes just… couldn't see it," Maeve said.

"I'm sorry," Otis said, quietly, sincerely.

Maeve nodded and said, "Me, too."

"But she wouldn't have come to me. She'd have gone to mum. She doesn't speak to me."

Maeve hissed in a silent breath then said, "Better go see she's okay."

As she turned to walk out the door, Ruby said, slightly negatively, "Is that what you're wearing?"

"What?" Maeve asked, momentarily confused before realising. "I'm not going."

"Not Isaac's thing?" Otis asked and there was that familiar hardness deep beneath his tone she sadly realised she only now understood.

"I'm not in the mood," Maeve said with the truth. "Bad rags," she continued with a lie and left the room.

Maeve pressed her face against Aimee's neck and accepted Aimee's embracing arms as Aimee's hand tenderly stroked her hair.

"Babe," Aimee whispered gently.

Aimee continued to hold Maeve tenderly, moving her hand down to gently caress her back.

"You want a hug from Goat?" Aimee soon asked and looked down at Goat chewing the grass, unconcerned with the events that had surrounded her. "Do you want to give Auntie Maeve a hug?"

"I still don't think she likes me," Maeve murmured, giving Aimee a grateful squeeze then stepping back as Aimee released her.

Maeve swayed a little, feeling light-headed and hurriedly sat down on the brick wall, putting her head between her knees, completely indifferent to the parade of passing legs. "I think I'm going to faint," she murmured.

Aimee glanced down at her, concerned, then sat beside her, facing the other way so she could give Goat a belly scratch.

"Gentle breaths, babe," Aimee murmured.

Maeve took gentle breaths until she felt normality returning then she raised herself, resting her elbows on her knees and her head in her hands. "I'm a fucking idiot."

"You couldn't have known," Aimee murmured, consolingly.

Maeve took deep breaths, rubbing her forehead with her fingertips.

Aimee watched her ministrations for a while then murmured, "You should have told him."

Maeve shook her head without lifting her hands from it. "I'm so glad Ruby turned up when she did."

"Tell him next time when she isn't around."

"That's how I got myself into this fucked-up situation in the first place. I love you, Aimes, but your advice is shit."

Aimee leaned over Goat and mock-pouted. "I need a hug, Goat. Auntie Maeve said I'm shit."

Maeve raised her head, concerned, and said, "I said—" then noticed the smirk on Aimee's face and relaxed.

"What are you going to do tonight?" Aimee asked, gently worried.

Maeve stretched her back and said, "If I see him, I'll kill him."

Aimee stroked Goat's back then sat up.

"We can go to the gig, get smashed and wake up in the drunk tank," she said.

"He's got the tickets. What if he goes?"

"Then we leave," Aimee said.

Maeve sighed then looked down at herself.

"Can't go in this," she said.

"Borrow my stuff," Aimee said. "I've got a few things that'll fit you."

Maeve turned to Aimee, softly smiling gratefully then noticed something over her shoulder. "Shit!"

"What?" Aimee asked.

Maeve looked down at the ground, upset. "Otis and Ruby are coming."

Aimee turned and saw Otis and Ruby approaching, very swankily dressed. Ruby was looking fleek and Otis—

Aimee's admiration morphed into a glare and she glanced back at Maeve before reaching out for Goat. "Here," she said gently, and picked her up. "Hold Goat," she said to Maeve. "You won't have to look at them."

Maeve glanced at the approaching couple, then reached out and took Goat from Aimee, placing her in her lap and gently scratching under her chin.

"Is Goat getting bigger?" Otis asked as he and Ruby approached.

Aimee was silent and Otis noticed her glaring at him for the umpteenth time.

Maeve leaned over Goat's ear and murmured, "Otis is asking if you're getting fat. Tell him to fuck off."

"I didn't say she was getting fat," Otis protested. "I just said… I don't know how big she'll get."

Maeve glanced up at Otis then quickly back down. "You've hurt her feelings."

"Um, I'm sorry, Goat," Otis said to Goat. "That was insensitive of me—"

"Have you been crying, Wiley?" Ruby asked, abruptly.

Maeve startled then said, fumblingly, "Allergies."

"I didn't know you had allergies," Otis said, surprised.

"A lot you don't know about me, Milburn," Maeve murmured.

Ruby tapped Otis' arm and said, "Anwar's waiting."

"You said ten minutes," Otis protested.

"Which means five. You never pay attention. It's been months."

Ruby started walking. Otis glanced at the glaring Aimee then hastily looked down at Maeve.

"Sorry you're not feeling up for the gig," he said to her and followed Ruby.

When they were obviously out of earshot, Maeve said, "You don't have to keep glaring now we know it wasn't him."

"He could have come and asked if you heard it. It's been months," Aimee said.

Maeve and Aimee, looking gorgeous in their outfits and make-up, embraced in the middle of the relatively sparse group of fellow students, eyes closed, swaying to the slow song of the band playing in the middle of the field.

"This is nice," Aimee murmured, content.

"Hmmm," hummed Maeve.

"You think maybe we should think about, y'know, us instead of boys."

"I like boys, Aimes."

"Why?" Aimee asked. "After all they've done to you?"

"'Cause I'm an idiot," Maeve said, ruefully.

"I mean, name one boy who ever made our lives better. I don't mean just a few good things. Steve did a few good things. But overall. What guy has ever made our lives better?"

Maeve remained silent, sadly wishing Aimee could see, hoping it wouldn't be too late when she did.

As the song ended, the sound of Ruby's voice drifted to them. "Anwar's taking so long with the drinks."

"He's probably in the loos with Bryan," they heard Olivia say.

"I could go see," they heard Otis say. "If I can't see them in line…"

"No," they heard Ruby say impatiently. "He'll come back with the drinks, then you'll come back with drinks…"

Maeve and Aimee broke apart, opening their eyes and looking in the direction of the voices. They saw The Untouchables and Olivia's hanger-on a few yards from them, a handful of students occupying the space between them.

"Do you want to…?" Aimee asked into Maeve's ear, using her thumb to indicate the direction behind herself.

"No, it's right," Maeve said, shaking her head, turning away from the sight as she saw Ruby facing the band and Otis stepping up behind her to wrap his arms around her waist, pressing himself against her.

The band started again, a louder faster song this time.

Olivia turned away from the band, scanning the crowd, then noticed someone.

"Hey," Olivia shouted into Otis' ear. "Isn't that Maeve's guy?"

Startled, Otis turned, looked in the direction Olivia indicated and saw Isaac in his wheelchair with his brother Joe behind him.

"And there's Maeve," Olivia said.

Ruby glanced around, saw each in turn. "I thought they weren't coming," she murmured, heard by no-one else beneath the volume of the music. A sense of unanchored dread flickered across her eyes.

Aimee noticed their gazes. "They've seen us," she shouted in Maeve's ear.

Maeve started to turn but stopped herself. "So what?"

"We could go down front," Aimee shouted.

Maeve shook her head, sighed and then noticed movement through the crowd behind her friend. "Oh, shit," she said, wearily. "Joe's here."

Aimee looked around and saw Joe approaching. "Do you want to talk to him?"

"No," Maeve said firmly.

"That way," Aimee said, indicating with her head.

Maeve turned and moved in the direction Aimee indicated, straight past The Untouchables and friend.

Maeve could feel Otis' eyes upon her but kept her gaze straight ahead.

Otis watched Aimee and Maeve disappear into the crowd then turned back to see Joe, seemingly quite agitated, hurrying after them.

Otis took a step into Joe's path, said, "I don't think—" then staggered backwards as Joe casually brushed him aside.

Ruby and Olivia and Olivia's hanger-on helped steady him and once returned to balance he faced Ruby with concern etched all over his face, hands gentle on her arms as he said, loudly, "You okay?"

Ruby nodded then watched Otis turn to look after the retreating Joe. "Should I-?" she saw him say, the sound covered by the music then she patted his arm and when he returned his gaze to her, nodded her head in the direction of a movement that had caught her eye.

Otis looked over and noticed three large men in entirely black clothing moving gently but firmly through the crowd of students to converge on Joe who was still clearly visible in his white t-shirt. One of the men in black hurried forward to face Joe from the front.

Otis and Ruby and other members of the crowd watched as an unheard conversation occurred between the man in white and the men in black then one of the men behind Joe held out his arm to point in a particular direction and after a moment Joe began to move in that direction.

"Do you think Isaac saw that?" Olivia asked, and Otis was pleased to hear the genuine concern in her voice. "He may not know why he doesn't come back."

Otis turned, scanned the crowd, unable to see anybody in a wheelchair. He felt a gentle hand on his back and glanced down to see Ruby nod her head in the direction of his gaze.

He smiled at her, grimly grateful, then began to move forward, sensing Ruby following him.

He soon sighted Isaac in an oasis of space amidst the crowd, noted the glare that was being directed at himself, a glare that never wavered as Otis approached the wheelchair.

"Joe's been escorted out by security," Otis shouted.

Isaac frowned, turned his head so his ear was prominent in Otis' view.

Otis pressed his lips together, leaned forward and shouted, "Joe's been escorted out by security," then straightened again, gazing down at Isaac, letting the lingering smell of alcohol fade from his nostrils.

Isaac gave him a dead-fish stare then nodded before turning to look directly ahead of himself.

Otis pressed his lips together then leaned forward and shouted, "She left. Do you think she's going to come back?"

Isaac glared up at him as he straightened, held his gaze for several very long moments then muttered, "Congratulations. You won."

Otis leaned forward, shouted, "What?" then quickly retreated as Isaac began to turn the wheelchair.

Aimee stopped the car in front of the caravan and looked across at Maeve, concerned.

"Are you sure, babe?" she asked, gently.

"Yeah," Maeve murmured. "Rip off the band-aid."

"Do you want me to stay?"

"No," Maeve said, shaking her head, gently adamant. "Joe wasn't going to hurt us. He just…"

"He was pissed."

"He's very protective of Isaac," Maeve murmured.

"No, he was pissed," Aimee said, miming drinking.

"He still wouldn't have hurt us," Maeve murmured, then opened the car door. "Thanks for at least trying tonight, even if it didn't work out."

"It was something," Aimee said.

"You okay?" Maeve asked.

"Yeah," Aimee said. "Haven't run like that in a long time. It was really invigorating."

"That's one word for it," Maeve said, amused. "'Night, Aimes."

"'Night, babe."

Maeve closed the car door and stepped back and watched as Aimee started the car and began to reverse.

Isaac directed the wheelchair through the darkness, constantly aware of the silent presence of Otis and Ruby behind him.

"You were an arsehole to her," Isaac said, abruptly.

Otis remained silent.

"'You're the most selfish bitch I ever met and I love you, Maeve,'" Isaac sneered, pitching his voice high.

Otis remained silent.

"You have no fucking clue who she is. All the things she did for her mum. All the things she did for Elsie. You're the fucking selfish one, doing her head in, making her think your shit don't stink. Weaselling your way in so you know the buttons to push. 'I love you, Maeve. It's always you, Maeve,'" he sneered in a high pitch. "Seen a lot of arseholes like you and what they do to girls like her. You're not special," he spat out. "You don't deserve her. She's better off without you in her life."

Otis remained silent.

Maeve sat on the steps of her caravan, knees drawn up, arms wrapped around her legs, shivering in spite of the thick tracksuit she had changed into.

She heard the familiar crunch of wheels across the hardness of the ground and looked up, seeing the wheelchair emerging from the gloom.

As she stood up, she noticed Otis and Ruby following close behind. They stopped as Isaac directed the wheelchair forward.

She wasn't sure if the confusion on her face was visible in the darkness.

"His brother was arrested," Otis called.

"What?" Maeve asked.

"When security was escorting him out, he kind of took a swing at one or two or three of them," Otis said.

"Fucking hell," Maeve muttered.

"You going to be okay with him?" Otis asked.

Maeve stared at him, too many words attempting to escape at once, until she managed to say, "Yes."

She could see Otis nod then he said, "Good night, Maeve," and turned away.

She could see Isaac open his mouth, hear him draw in a breath and she glared at him, waving her hand sharply. He settled. Sullenly.

"Isaac deleted the voicemail," she said almost without consciously meaning to.

She saw Otis stop, sensed him draw in a breath then he turned and looked directly at her and said, "I know."

"You know?"

"I figured it out ages ago."

"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked.

"Would it have made a difference?"

"Of course it would have made a difference," Maeve said, incredulously. "He lied to me."

"So did I," Otis said.

Maeve hitched a breath, confused.

"What's my favourite line from Fleabag?" Otis asked.

Maeve was silent for a long moment, then said, "People make mistakes."

"That's why pencils have erasers," Otis said.

Maeve stared at him, silently, blinking rapidly.

"My issue with Isaac is not your issue with Isaac," Otis said. "I think he's a cunt but I have no right to decide what you have to think of him."

Maeve cut short her sniffle as best she could.

"I'm with Ruby, Maeve," Otis said.

"I know," Maeve said, sadly.

"Good night," Otis said and turned away, walking to Ruby. He looked down at her for a moment then put his arm around her and Maeve watched them disappear into the darkness.

"I'm sorry," Isaac said, softly, ashamed.

"Yeah," Maeve muttered, flatly.

She took a deep breath, let a sniffle free, then turned and walked toward the door of Isaac's caravan, reaching into the tracksuit pants for her keyring.

Isaac spun the wheelchair to watch her and when the door was open and her arm was outstretched, he manoeuvred the wheelchair up the ramp and into his caravan. Maeve followed him and closed the door behind herself.

Neither of them had said a word.

She flicked on the lantern nearest the door and turned on the overhead light for the lounge area.

"You don't have to stay," Isaac said, sullenly.

"And you have another shitfit like last time without anybody around?" Maeve asked. "So where are you sleeping? Chair or lounge?"

"Bed?"

"I am not getting a hernia carrying you up there."

"Lounge," Isaac said, forlornly.

Maeve breathed deeply then walked past him to the cupboard.

"You got clobbered before you went there?" she asked in disbelief. "What the fuck were you going to get Joe to do? Throw me over his shoulder and carry me back here kicking?"

She took out a couple of blankets and carried them to the lounge.

"I just wanted to talk," Isaac said.

"What would have been the fucking point?"

Maeve began unfolding the blankets and stretching them along the lounge.

"Pencils have erasers?" he asked, hopefully.

"Sometimes people write in pen," she said.

Isaac settled into silence and when Maeve finished setting up the lounge for his bed she turned and the sight of his chest heaving and the tears running down his face proved her heart was not stone.

She walked to the kitchen area, grabbed a clean washcloth and ran it under the tap then walked to him and knelt beside him and waited.

"Crybaby," she gently murmured.

"I love you," he whispered through a sob.

"When I lift you onto the lounge, don't cry on my shoulder," she said, softly.

"I love you," he said, louder.

"I know," she said, gently.

Author's Notes: It's not finished. I'm trying to finish it before the new season starts on Friday but I can't promise.

I don't know if it's working but I hope it's okay.