Part 3

Part 3

Time rolls on

And dreams they die

And I've thrown out the pictures I had of you and I

And if you're ever wondering if love can be true

Well, think of me and remember darling like I, like I do

"Flight No. 114 from Los Angeles now arriving at Gate 13."

Will, Bella, and Scout waited impatiently for him to arrive. They were older now, all of 28. Will, retaining his boyish charm and poetic eloquence; Bella, radiant as ever and six months pregnant; and Scout, stoic, yet soft and as in love with Bella as ever, marrying her two months prior to Hamilton's move to Los Angeles.

The passengers exited the plane and it wasn't until almost all of them had filed out that Hamilton appeared.

Bella ran up and flung her arms around him. "It's so good to see you," she told him, nearly yelling with joy.

He pulled away, still holding her arms and exclaimed, "You too mommy! You look...just like I remember...well except for the swelling stomach."

They all laughed at his remark and soon Scout and Will were crushing him with a group hug.

The guys finally released Hamilton from their clutch. For the first time in a long time, Hamilton felt truly happy. He pondered why he had stayed away for so long.

"Gees, its good to see you again. That California sunshine is hard to resist huh?" questioned Will.

Hamilton shot him a smile. "Pretty much. But, I've been busy. Yeah, busy."

"Uh huh," Scout chimed in. "Well you're here now. The four of us...together again. This is great stuff."

Hamilton agreed. It was great. Still, he couldn't help but wish that Jake was there too. He was anxious to see her and at the same time scared. The thought of her marrying someone else was killing him.

Bella saw the look in Hamilton's eyes. She instantly knew what he was thinking about. To break him from his thoughts, she pulled him by the arm and announced that it was time to go.

For an hour, they struggled through New York traffic. As they drove through the city, Hamilton couldn't help but be in awe. He had lived in New York before, but somehow it was different. It was as if he was seeing everything for the first time. He had forgotten how much he loved the city. The bright lights, busy streets, neverending commotion--all forced Hamilton to admit what he had left behind. Being in the city reminded him of her. He looked out the window picturing the two of them walking down the streets, hand in hand, smiling, laughing--happy.

Bella, who could see Hamilton from the rear view mirror, couldn't help but feel bad for him. She could see that while he was glad to be with them again, he was upset. It had a long time since him and Jake, but Bella empathized.

She was lucky to have married her first love and have such a wonderful life. Bella didn't want to imagine what her world would have been like if she and Scout hadn't ended up together. Silently, she prayed that everything would turn out okay for him.

Finally, they arrived at Will's TriBeCa loft. It was large, yet cozy. The walls were adorned with pictures of the five of them--at Rawley, on their many trips, at graduation. Hamilton stared at them, reminiscing about the past, thinking to himself that if he could only turn back time, he would have done things differently.

"The best years of my life," Will started. He was standing next to Hamilton now, looking at the photos. "I'm glad they've been spent with you guys."

Hamilton turned to him. Will's simple words touched him. He looked at his friend, grinned, trying hard not to get choked up, but it was no use. Hamilton broke down in tears. Between his sobs came apoligies--for shutting them out, for not being around. Scout, Bella, and Will comforted him, assuring Hamilton that everything was okay. He was back. That was enough for them.

After what was a good 30 minutes, Hamilton was smiling again. Six years of loneliness and emptiness had come pouring out in his cries. He realized how much these people cared about him and how much he needed them...as if he never knew.

They congregated in front of a window, looking down to the busy street; the noise of cars and people filling the air. For awhile, it seemed like they were just going to stand there the whole night…in silence, staring out the window. Hamilton broke it.

"I don't think I can do it. It's too hard," he whispered. "I though I could, but being here, so close to her and yet not being able to be with her. It's just...too much. I can't go to the wedding tomorrow. I won't."

Scout glanced at Hamilton, who's eyes had never wavered from whatever it was he was looking at. Though he knew nothing he said would console him, he didn't want him to turn back now.

"Look, I understand how difficult this must be. If I were you, I'd probably be acting the same way," Scout concurred.

"But you got to do what you got to do. You came here to see her, to talk to her, to get some closure. Now, not seeing her would go against the whole…uhh plan you had going."

Will, who was standing next to Hamilton, put his hand on his shoulder. "We don't mean to pry and push you. We just want to get you through this. Running away from her is not going to make things better for you. You know that."

Inside, Hamilton wanted to die. They were right. However, admitting that he had lost Jake was too much to handle.

He walked towards the picture wall and pointed at one. It was of him and Jake at Scout and Bella's wedding. Jake

looked exquisite in a light blue, form fitting gown. Her hair was still short--she had grown accustomed to her pixie cut. Hamilton, decked out in traditional tux, had his arms wrapped around her and giving her a kiss on the cheek.

With her arms around Hamilton's neck, she smiled genuinely for the camera.

"I almost asked her to marry me that night," Hamilton revealed. It was the first time he had told anyone that information. "Stupid mistake. I should've. The wedding tomorrow...should've happened six years ago...except she should've married me."

He retreated to one of the rooms and lay on the bed. Minutes later, Bella knocked on the door and asked if she could come in. He got up and opened the door. They sat on the bed facing each other. Hamilton was surprised to see her on the brink of tears. What could she be upset about? Had he struck a nerve?

Bella rubbed her eyes, preventing the water from escaping them. Taking his hand, she stared him in the eyes. She had always had a way of being able to get through to him when he was having troubles--especially with Jake. Bella found way to alleviate his pain--with just a few words or her shoulder to cry on.

Minutes passed yet nothing was said. When she finally did speak, it was simple. "She'd want you to be there. She'd want to see you again." Hamilton was motionless. He seemed unnerved by her comments, so she spoke again.

"Hamilton, you love her. You always will. And she'll always love you. Don't shut her out. Not again. Because if you do, there won't be a next time to try come back in."

He nodded. He understood now. Maybe he always did. He loved Jake. So, he decided what to do. His mind was set. Hamilton smiled at Bella and hugged her good night. When she left the room, he could hear her discussing what had happened with Will and Scout, who had stationed themselves outside the door. Uneasy as he was, he managed to fall asleep.