Sorry this update has been a few days late – my sister and I had a girl's weekend and I was away from writing and even my 'puter for a couple days. But the regular updates will continue!

M L Europe- thanks for reviewing (especially since you don't like to!) It means a lot when I get feedback and really encourages me to continue.

Ditto for Royboy – thanks for the email!

And of course, thanks to Raven Child who had been quickly becoming a fun penpal.

Thanks to all who have encouraged me to write this. I will have to say, this story is really helping me hone my writing skills and I love the fact that so many of you are enjoying the story.

This one, due to being set during their twenties, will have a few more adult scenes to it, so be forewarned. Not NC-17 or anything, but come on, a bunch of twenty-somethings definitely won't be stuck in the holding hands stage…just FYI!

Justifying the Means

"Hatred is gained as much by good works as by evil."

-Niccolo Machiavelli

"The end justifies the means."

-Niccolo Machiavelli

Chapter 6

"Did that really just happen?"

"I think so, Brittany." Alvin said in awe.

"Are you sure?" Brittany asked. "Because I would really hate to think that it did, only to find out later it was all just a mistake."

"No, it happened." Alvin said. "We finally picked out a house."

"I can't believe it." Brittany shivered. "I thought it would never happen."

"Me neither." Alvin had honestly believed that. Whenever they would go house hunting, one of them would always find something wrong with it. The bathrooms were too small. The pool was too big. The master bedroom didn't have a good enough view. Having virtually unlimited choices didn't make it any easier – it was nice not having to worry about price, but the ability to limit themselves had never been either of Brittany or Alvin's strong points. But they had finally chosen one.

"Did you want to grab some dinner before we go home?" Alvin asked Brittany.

"That's a good idea. I'm starving." Brittany smiled at him. "Hey, why don't we try catching Theodore and Eleanor? They're doubling with Gavin and Belle tonight."

"Great idea." Alvin tossed her his cell phone as he turned a corner in the car. "Call my house, that's where they're meeting. I can't wait to tell them about our new home."

He really couldn't. He and Brittany had chosen a house that while yes, probably would be considered a mansion, was both tasteful and manageable. The pool that they had both required was there, a whimsical creation was oddly shaped to resemble a natural formation and had an actual waterfall built into it. There were eight bedrooms, which Alvin had thought a little excessive, until Brittany reminded him that eventually they would have nieces and nephews to spoil and they wanted to make sure they had a place to stay. "Plus, think of the party potential," she had reminded him, and he had been sold. Best of all, while it was huge and would definitely need some staff to help them upkeep it, it wouldn't need an employee complement the size of Prince Charles' to keep it nice. Alvin didn't mind the fact that Brittany wanted housekeeping staff – had in fact been glad, since housework of any kind made him shiver in fear – but he hadn't wanted to have people underfoot day in and day out.

Especially being home with a new bride.

"No one's answering. I just keep getting voicemail." Brittany said.

That was odd. Someone should be home, and even if they were already on the phone, the Sevilles did have call waiting. "Leave a message, then. Tell we're on our way back to the house or tell them to call the cell phone so we can meet them if they need to leave."

"Okay." Brittany redialed and left the message. She hung up the phone and looked at Alvin curiously. "Hey, Alvin, speaking of Theodore…has he been upset lately?"

Alvin frowned. "Not that I've noticed…but you have to admit, we've all been pretty busy. Its almost a relief to have Simon's wedding over with."

"Don't forget we still have a lot to do for our own wedding." Brittany warned him.

Alvin groaned. That was the understatement of the year. Brittany seemed to want to outdo any Hollywood wedding there had even been, and the price tag that was accompanying theirs was frightening even him, who cared very little about such things. "No, I didn't forget, trust me."

"Good." Brittany said. She was quiet a moment.

Alvin thought about her earlier comment, and Theodore's strange behavior at Simon's wedding. "Actually, though, Brittany, Theodore has been acting a little strangely the last few days…ever since Simon and Jeannette's wedding."

"He has?"

"Yes." Alvin stopped at a stop sign, did a cursory check, and continued. "He said he needed to talk to you…but neither him nor you mentioned it again."

"Oh, yeah." Brittany suddenly seemed evasive, which made Alvin definitely think that something was going on.

"What did you talk about?" He asked.

The silence that greeted him wasn't encouraging. "Brittany?"
"I'm thinking." She said. "Eleanor told me some things in confidence, so I don't know how much I should say…"

"Eleanor?" Alvin was confused a moment. "But we were talking about Theodore…oh, no, they're not having problems, are they?"

"I hope not." Brittany said fervently. "But I think all the weddings recently are getting Eleanor a little scared about the future. Theodore's been noticing her behavior – she's been really withdrawn lately – and he just wanted to ask me if she was mad at him. I told him of course not, that she was just going through a hard time and he needed to be patient."

"Oh." Alvin said. "Do you think their relationship is in trouble?"

Brittany hesitated. "I honestly don't know, Alvin. I'm worried, I know that. Theodore said something kind of weird when our conversation ended the other day. It was a really short conversation, but still… it was a strange comment."

Alvin was really starting to get concerned now. "What did he say?"

"I told him that he would just have to wait for her to be ready to accept his help, and he told me not to worry…that he knew exactly what he needed to do to help her."

Alvin thought of his selfless younger brother and a germ of fear grew in him. "Did he say anything else?"

"No, he just left." Brittany looked at him oddly. "Why?"

"Just a hunch, Brittany…" Alvin speeded up a little. "Why don't you try calling the house again? What time were they supposed to leave?"

Brittany glanced at he watch. "Just about now…why?"

"Like I said, a hunch. Call. Tell them to wait for us."

The urgency in Alvin's voice made Brittany do so without hesitation. "Still no answer…"

Alvin drove faster.

OoooOoooO

"You're not canceling again, are you?"

Theodore winced at the irritation in Gavin's voice, ignoring the beeping the call waiting was making. He had to finish this call. "I'm sorry, Gavin. There's just some stuff I really have to take care of."

"Can't you do it later?"

Theodore closed his eyes. How he wished he could put this off, even for one more day. "No, Gavin. I've waited far too long already."

The irritation in Gavin's voice gave way to anger. "Fine. Give me a call the next time you feel like doing something. Maybe I'll be able to find the time to do something…unless something comes up, of course." He hung up.

Theodore sighed as he replaced the phone in its cradle. Gavin had a right to be angry. He and Eleanor had canceled every date with their friends for the last two months…usually, like now, at last minute. But he couldn't put this off any longer. Brittany's conversation with him several days ago had clinched it…and this was going to be the best time to do it. Alvin wouldn't be back from house-hunting with Brittany for another few hours, he was sure, Dave was at work, and Simon had left for his honeymoon yesterday.

It would be the only time for the next few days that he would have alone with Eleanor…and besides, he didn't know if he would be able to have the courage to do this if he didn't do it now.

The doorbell rang, and Theodore took a deep breath. This was it. He wheeled himself to the door and opened it.

"Hi, Theodore." Eleanor came in and gave him quick kiss that he savored more than she knew. "Gavin and Belle here yet?"

"No." Theodore said, closing the door behind her. "They're not coming."

Eleanor frowned. "Why on earth not?"

"Because I asked them not to." Theodore told her.

"Theodore, why would you do that?" Eleanor scolded him. "They're already annoyed that we keep canceling. And they've been so looking forward to this."

"I know, I know, but we've had so little time together lately…alone…"Theodore trailed off.

"Still, Theodore, we could have planned some alone time later." Theodore didn't mention that every time he had tried to do so, she had come up with some excuse to either study, invite his brothers or sisters along, or keep the date so short that they barely had time to say hello, let alone talk. "You should have asked me."

"I know, I'm sorry."

Eleanor sat on the couch. "So what's the plan then? Are we going to dinner alone?"
"Actually, I thought we'd stay in tonight." Theodore said.

"Oh." Eleanor seemed a little sad. "I really wanted to go out tonight. You sure you don't want to call Gavin and Belle back and-"

"No." Theodore interrupted. "Actually…I wanted to talk."

Suddenly Eleanor seemed uncomfortable. "Talk? About what?"

"Well…about us." Theodore took a deep breath. "I've notice you seem, well, a little distant lately. Is anything wrong?"

Eleanor averted her eyes. "Theodore we've already talked about this. I'm just already missing my sisters. It's going to be lonely at home without them."

"They'll be in town, still, near enough to see them every day if you want to." Theodore automatically reassured her.

"I know, but it's not the same…"

Theodore nodded "I know." He hesitated, afraid to continue. But he had to…for Eleanor's sake. "But Eleanor…I need to know…is anything else wrong?"

"Of course not." Eleanor said a little took quickly.

"Because like I said, you've been distant lately…" This was the part that was going to be hard. "And I know I haven't been too much help for you lately."

"Oh, no, Theodore, you've been great." Eleanor said, taking his hand. "Really. It's just me. I'm so tired all the time, with school, and the weddings. Don't think it's your fault."

But it was his fault…and he knew it. He pulled his hand away from her, wishing he could pull her to him instead. "No, Eleanor. I've been feeling it too."

Eleanor frowned. "Feeling what?"

This was where he was going to have to lie. He only hoped he could do it convincingly. "Feeling that we've been growing apart the last months."

"Growing apart?" Eleanor sounded worried now. "Theodore, I know I've been a little distant lately, but I still love you. Its just that I've got a lot on my mind, and I'm trying to work through it."

She'd never leave you. She loves you. Brittany's words echoed in his mind. She loves you.

He loved her, too. That's why he had to find the strength to go through with this.

"Theodore?" There was a note of panic in Eleanor's voice at his silence. "What's going on? What's this all about?"

He had to do this. She loves you. He couldn't allow her to condemn herself. She'd never leave you.

"I've been thinking a lot too, lately. About us, Eleanor. It feels like we've been drifting away from each other for months."

Eleanor shook her head. "Theodore, I'm sorry about that. I didn't mean-"

Theodore didn't like to keep interrupting her, but if he didn't he wasn't sure he could go on. "It's not just you, Eleanor. It's me, too."

"Theodore, what are you saying?" Eleanor had tears in her voice.

"I've been thinking…"Theodore steeled himself. "That maybe we should try spending a little time apart."

"Time apart?" Eleanor reached for his hand again but he pulled away. He didn't think he could continue if he could feel her soft hand against his again – or keep his own tears from falling. "What is it that you're saying exactly?"

"I'm saying we shouldn't see each other for a while." Theodore said, amazed at the own conviction he was able to fake in his voice.

Eleanor was crying openly now. "But…why?"

It took every bit of performance talent he had to be able to continue. "Come on, Eleanor. You know it as well as I do. We don't spend any time together anymore…and when we do, neither of us seems to be, well, really there. You don't seem happy anymore…" and here he had to lie again…"And neither am I."

"I'm sorry, Theodore, really."

"It's not you're fault." It's mine. "These things happen. Sometimes it feels as if we're still together because we feel we have to be…not because we should be."

"But-" The phone started ringing. They both ignored it. "We can work this out," Eleanor said, "I still love you, Theodore. Don't you still love me?"

And now for the biggest lie of all. "I don't want to hurt you, Eleanor…but, no, I'm not sure I do anymore."

Theodore felt his heart would break. "So...so…you're breaking up with me? After all this time?"

Theodore closed his eyes, hoping she couldn't see the tears growing in them. "Its for the best, Eleanor. We can't keep pretending forever."

"I've never pretended, Theodore." Eleanor stood. "Never."

Theodore opened his eyes, and forced himself to hurt her again. "I wish I could believe that, Eleanor."

Eleanor looked at him for a moment, staring in disbelief at him, before her emotions completely overtook her and she ran to the door, crying. As the door slammed behind her, Theodore finally let his own tears fall, feeling as if a part of him had died.

It was for the best. It was.

That's how Alvin and Brittany found him, weeping in his chair next to the couch, only a few minutes after Eleanor had ran from the room.

"Theodore?" Alvin's voice was frantic. "Theodore, what's wrong?"

It took a moment for Theodore to compose himself. "Eleanor and I just broke up."

Brittany gasped. "Why?"

"Does it matter?" Theodore said angrily through his tears. "She's free, now. Just leave me alone."

He wheeled himself to his room, not wanting their company or anyone else's. He had done what had needed to be done, but his life would never be able to be the same now. But Eleanor's would be better.

That….that was all that mattered

End of Part 6

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