MP-Hey everyone. here is another chapter. I have been so excited to start writing again. I have a pretty busy with work and being a full time mom to a rambunctious toddler. But I will try my hardest to stay on top of posting regularly. Enjoy and if you do don't forget to favourite and review. Tell me what you do and do not like about the story or what you hope to see in the upcoming chapters. Thnx

Brown Hair and Blue Eyes

By: MandasPandas1011

Chapter 1

5 years later

He pulled his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. He could tell how long he'd been at this for based on how deep the indent was. It had been about 3 hours according to the sizable dip in his skin. He gently fell backward, the chair catching him. He sighed keeping his eyes closed, tilting his head back. He had started to doze off when a gentle tap drew him out of his drowse. He blinked one eye opened and saw Catherine standing in the doorway. He wiped the sleep from his eyes and sat up. She gave him a small chuckle at his present state. He looked at her with a questioning look.

"Care to share what you find so amusing?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

"How long have you been at this Gil?" she questioned, entering the office.

She began to organize the frazzled papers o his desk. He sat watching her for a few minutes. He seemed far away, it was only when she said his name for the third time. He answered.

"Hmm..?" he managed to get out.

"It's just a schedule Gil," she said, concern in her voice. "No need to overwork yourself."

"I have to get this right, Cathrine," he explained.

"And why exactly have you decided now is the time to take a vacation?" she questioned, peering over his shoulder at the schedule he was writing up. "You haven't had a vacation in 5 years Gil, minus a few lectures or conferences here and there. You have well over 6 months stacked up. What are you going to do for 6 months, Gil?"

He stared up at her for a minute, opening his mouth as if to reply, but looked back down at his paperwork.

"You're going to see her right?" she exclaimed, staring at him as his body went rigid. "Sara?"

He pursed his lips and pretended to ignore that she had mentioned her name. He shuffled uncomfortably in his chair, feeling her eyes burning into him like lava. She swung around the desk and plopped herself in the chair in front of his.

"Gil," she started, choosing her words carefully. "She's clearly moved on. Why haven't you?"

The room was silent. The tension was building up as she just sat staring and him.

"Because I can't Catherine!" he blurted out in a raised voice. "I can't! It is agony for me to wake up every morning without her. Everything reminds me of her and what we had. Hell, even my own dog still goes by the same routine she used to. No matter how many times I've tried to change it. He wakes when she woke, Naps when she'd napped and eats when she ate. I can't live every day knowing how much I pushed her. I hurt her Catherine, I hurt her so badly. I cannot live with the guilt of that. I wake up almost every night reaching out for her."

He had tears coming down his face at this point, she quickly got up and went to his side. She placed a loving arm around his shoulder. He leaned into her, his sobs slowly subsiding.

"I have to apologize to her, Catherine," he said, clearing his throat.

"I know Gil," she sighed, patting his arm. "Good luck my friend!"

1 week later

Gil took a deep breath as he exited the bustling airport. Despite him taking the earliest non-stop flight out, the almost 2-hour trip seemed exhausting. He didn't like flying much, preferred ground travel. He cleared his head with every breath of outside air. The air was warm for an April morning, but he welcomed the nice warmth to the cool air of the aircraft. Finally, he walked over to the taxi line, which was thankfully short. Workers were moving people fast and soon he was on the way to the hotel.

"What brings you to SanFran?" the driver gleamed into the rearview mirror.

"I'm visiting an old friend," Gil answered politely, not really wanting to make conversation.

"That's why I came too," he laughed heartily, rhythmically slapping his hand on the steering wheel. "Been here 10 years now!"

Gil gave a little chuckle, shifting his legs into a better position. The cramped back seat of the car smelled musty as though it had not been cleaned in a while. The hot black leather seats clung to Gil's sleeveless arms and pulled on the skin. The floor mats were full of dirt, wrappers and various pieces of garbage. Something caught Gil's eye and he reached down and picked something up. When he straightened up he noticed the driver looking at him in the mirror, one eyebrow raised questioningly. He raised his fingers where the small coin was pinched in his fingers.

"Aw, lucky penny!" the driver exclaimed, turning his full attention to the road. "That is a good find, my friend!"

"I'll say," Gil chuckled. "I'm probably going to need all the luck I can get."

"So it is a lady friend," he answered. "Why else would you be needing luck?"

Gil shifted uncomfortably in his seat, avoiding the eyes of the driver. The driver just laughed.

"Let me guess," he began, smiling at Gil. "You probably had a pretty serious relationship with this woman. Then you guys got in a fight, a big one. You both said things you shouldn't have. Things got pretty heated, one of you stormed out. Now it's been a few years and you're deciding it's time."

Gil was shocked to have his situation so bluntly laid out in front of him. He looked up at the driver who was returning a sympathetic smile.

"It's alright man," he continued. "I heard many tales of heartbreak. I am a particularly good listener if you'd like to lay it all out. I will tell no living soul, taxi's honour."

Gil decided that this was a better time than any to clear his head of the past, allowing him to live in the present. Gil spoke to the driver for the next 35 mins of he and Sara's romance. Their humble and flirtatious beginnings to the intense and heartbreaking final days. The end of their tale finishing just as the taxi approached the main door to his hotel. He felt lighter somehow, just speaking openly to a complete stranger helped lighten his mood. He unclipped his seat belt and exited the door. The driver had exited with him and was opening the trunk to remove his luggage. The bellhops swooped over and escorted the luggage inside, Gil turned to the driver.

"Farewell." he smiled, bowing his head slightly. "Thank you for listening."

"Farewell, my friend." He smiled, opening his door. "I hope that you a Sara can be good again." \

With that, he slipped in the taxi. Gil made his way into the hotel and up to the front desk. Check-in process was fairly quick and painless. Soon he was laying on his bed staring up at the intricate crown molding on the ceiling. He looked over at the clock adjacent the bed.

10:37 AM

He got up, grabbed his coat and exited the room.