Author's Notes: This is imperfect, more of a framework for a fully fleshed-out story but I hope enough shines through that it's worth your time.

I am very melancholic after Season 3, melancholic with thoughts of how Maevis may go in Season 4, just feeling very melancholic overall.

So I publish this as is, so I can get the feelings out and put them behind me and get back to the happy story.

I've been influenced by ideas here, there and everywhere and I no longer know the original source for most. I'm sorry for not being able to directly acknowledge each influence but I really love the line I borrowed from Age Of Ultron.

A Thing Isn't Beautiful Because It Lasts

MAEVE: Hey

OTIS: Hey!

M: Back in town tomorrow but do you mind if we don't connect? I want to settle back in, spend time with Elsie

O: Sure. If nothing else you'll be jetlagged

M: Probably catch up with Aimes, too. Catch up on the goss

O: No probs

M: Sunday?

O: Sure

M: Where you want to meet?

O: You OK coming over to mine?

M: Sure

O: What time?

M: Ten

O: Great

M: See you Sunday

O: Looking forward to it

M: Missed you

Maeve sensed the world returning but for a moment she was confused. This did not feel like her pillow, this did not feel like her bed. She heard the soft tone of a woman's voice that she almost recognised but could not and then harsh brightness crashed through her eyelids.

"Hey, Maeve," the woman said, gently. "Cuppa's there. You said to wake you so you can shower before your friend gets here."

The pieces fell into place and Maeve smiled to herself, content, relieved, safe.

"Maeve," Anna said gently, giving her shoulder a gentle shake.

"'M'awake," Maeve mumbled and opened her eyes, squinting through the glare to see Anna smiling gently at her.

"Afternoon," Anna said as Maeve sat up in bed, stretching as she did.

"What's the time?" Maeve asked.

"Two. I told her to leave it an extra couple of hours. You were so tired last night."

"Did you have to drag me through the house?" Maeve asked as she picked up her tea and took a sip.

"Almost."

"What time did Aimee come over?"

"She didn't. I called her."

"You have Aimes' number?" Maeve asked, surprised.

"Hm-mm," Anna hummed. "She's been coming over visiting Elsie every now and then. Helped me out if I need someone to look after her. She's really nice."

"Yeah," Maeve agreed, pleased. "So how is she?"

"Aimee or Elsie?"

"Both."

"Well, Aimee seems fine. She seems comfortable in herself. And Elsie has missed you madly."

"Where is she?" Maeve said, hopeful.

"Taking a nap. She tried to wake you earlier but you were dead to the world, so I told her if she took a nap – a real nap, not a pretend one - then when she woke up you'd be awake and she could stay up a little bit past her bedtime to spend time with you. Hope you don't mind."

"No," Maeve said, smiling softly. "I've missed her."

"I've invited Aimee to stay for dinner. And if there's anyone else you want to invite…" Anna indicated, meaningfully.

"No," Maeve said. "Aimes is the one I want to spend time with right now. Just us."

Maeve sat at the kitchen table in Anna's house, Elsie in her lap. The small girl was drawing in a book and Maeve was studying her work intently while Aimee sat opposite, watching them both.

"Who's that?" Maeve asked.

"You," Elsie said.

"But I don't have pink hair," Maeve said, amused.

"You used to," Elsie said.

"I showed her a picture of you back then," Aimee said.

"She did see me with it," Maeve said. "But I doubt she'd remember."

"You are looking so…" Aimee began.

"So… what?" Maeve asked.

"Fantastic," Aimee said.

"It feels good to be back."

"So, how was it?"

"It was great. It was hectic. But it was so different over there. In a good way. I'm just glad to be back here for a bit."

"For a bit? You're going back?" Aimee asked, surprised.

Maeve took a deep breath then said, slowly, "I've been offered a scholarship… based on the grades I get for the rest of the year."

"In America?"

"In America. I don't know whether it's one of the top Universities but it looks good."

"That's great, babe," Aimee said.

"It's two years. And a possible two more years, if I do well."

"So your big brain really is going to be enormous?"

"Yeah," Maeve said.

"That's fantastic."

"Yeah."

"Fantastic."

Maeve went silent, sadness emanating off her.

"So…" Aimee began.

"You're dying to ask, Aimes."

"Did you meet anybody over there?" Aimee asked, hoping for a particular answer.

"Yes."

Aimee tried to keep a smile on her face. "Great."

"I met a taxi driver called Rosh. Met a bartender called Telika. An English Lit professor called Bil. She was cool."

Aimee nodded.

"I met a lot of guys. A lot of guys. I thought there'd be more girls in class but still about two thirds male. Hung out with a few of them. But mostly the girls."

Aimee nodded.

"Didn't so much as hug any one of them."

Aimee tried to keep the relief from her voice. "So… does Otis know you're back?"

"Yeah. See him tomorrow. Said I need time to settle. I wish I could wait a few days but he deserves better."

"Did you miss him?"

"I missed him like fuck. That's why this is going to be so hard."

Maeve rang the doorbell once and waited, nervous. She had told Aimee to tell her nothing about what he had been doing.

When he opened the door and stood there looking at her, his clear anticipation morphing into obvious joy, the feelings in her heart seemed as if they would shatter.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she said, her smile so glorious.

She stepped forward, hesitated but when he opened his arms she almost flung herself into them, clutching onto him for dear life. His arms around hers were so comforting.

When his arms began to loosen, she squeezed. "I can't. It's like my heart's a magnet and it's come back to its opposite and I'm not strong enough to pull them apart."

"That was a very open, vulnerable thing for you to say," Otis said, gently. "Also, very cheesy."

"Well, I've been thinking a lot about the three T's and what I would say when I saw you again."

Otis squeezed her tighter again, then gently stroked her cheek. She looked up at him and their lips met and she never wanted them to be apart ever again.

When they finally did part, she stepped back, looked at him, noticed her eyes were wet with tears.

He was about to say something but she interrupted. "Can we go inside and talk? There's something… I've been waiting ages to tell you."

"Um, Mum and Joy are asleep on the lounge."

"Who's Joy?"

"Oh, right, didn't get a chance to tell you much. Joy's my sister."

"Great. That's a great name."

"Ola thought of it."

"Oh, how's she like her new sister?"

"Um... um… that's complicated. Look, I'll tell you later. How about…? You saw the treehouse?"

"Oh, yeah."

"Jakob started it. Eric and I finished. I'll just go get a couple of bottles of water and we can sit up there and talk. I have missed you."

"Okay," Maeve said and with a pang of her heart and a twist of her stomach watched him as he dashed inside.

She turned to the treehouse, climbed it and then sat in the corner facing the door, hugging herself.

When she heard the sound of the front door being quietly closed and footsteps approaching and then the sound of him climbing the ladder, she forced herself to relax.

When his head popped into view, the sight made her heart soar as if bricks were attached to it.

He clambered into the treehouse, passed her a bottle and settled down opposite her.

"Thanks," she said and sipped.

"Maeve…" he began.

"Can I sp… can I speak first? I really need to say this."

"Okay."

"I have missed you," she said, almost breathlessly. "Everyday. Like I said, my heart is a magnet, being pulled back to yours."

She tenderly watched the smirk rise on Otis' face and then gathered herself.

"I love you," she said, enjoying and mourning the hitch in his breath. "I have never said that to anyone on… a romantic level. I romantically love you," she said with a momentary smirk.

"I—"

"Shhh," she said, waving her hand gently. "I want us to be together. I want to be your boyfriend and I want you to be my girlfriend."

Otis smirked.

"Shut up. I fucked that up. I know."

She took in a deep breath. "I want us to do all the boyfriend/girlfriend things we can think of. Sex. Snuggling. Watching movies. Dancing. Selfies. All the romcom shit that makes me sick because the thought of it doesn't make me sick when I think of it with you."

Otis bit his lip, looking happy.

Maeve's heart was tearing asunder.

"But I've been offered a scholarship in America. If I keep my grades up then at the end of the year I've got the scholarship. In America. For two years and another possible two years after that."

"Oh…" Otis said, quietly.

"I'm sorry," she whispered.

"No, no, no apology," he said, blinking rapidly.

"I want to be with you until I leave but… I'll understand, Otis."

Otis was silent for a moment, then said, trying to control his voice, "That's good. The scholarship. I'm proud of you."

She watched him silently.

"Always knew… you had great things…"

He settled into silence, staring at the floor of the treehouse.

"Otis?" she asked, gently.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I can't," he said, rising to his feet and heading for the ladder. He started to climb down then stopped with his head in view. "I'll call you… text you… maybe… maybe see you at school. I can't… I need time…"

"I'm sorry."

It took all of his strength to look at her. "Don't apologise, Maeve," he said, and she could hear the sincerity overwhelming the hurt he was trying to suppress. "Never apologise for doing what the right thing is for you. You deserve this."

"I may not get it."

"You'll get it. You'll get it," he murmured. His head disappeared as he continued climbing down the ladder.

Maeve slumped back, letting the tears flow. He looked so devastated but she knew, if she had another chance, she would cause him to make that same face again. And she hated the Universe for making her choose.

Jean turned around as Otis entered the kitchen. She looked for Maeve then noticed the redness in Otis' eyes.

"Maeve came?" she asked.

"We were just talking."

"Not good news?"

"It's… it's great news for Maeve."

"She met someone?" Jean asked, a tinge of sadness in her voice.

He shook his head. "At the end of school, she's going back to America. She's got a scholarship. It's great. I'm… really… I'm proud of her. I just…"

Jean stepped forward and embraced him. "It's okay to feel proud of her, happy for her and sad for yourself at the same time. There's no contradiction."

"I thought she was my person. I thought we'd have a chance for forever."

Maeve sat across the kitchen table from Anna, sipping her tea.

"I'm sorry," Anna said, gently.

"I couldn't lie to him. I've seen how things go when the beginning of a relationship begins with a lie. Twice."

"Maybe… maybe when he gets over the initial… feelings…"

Maeve shook her head. "How many people go into a relationship knowing the exact day it will end? I don't think he's the type of guy who can do that. And maybe the fact that I can means I don't actually love him."

"Oh, I think you definitely do love him. Quite a lot. It wouldn't hurt this much if you didn't really love him."

Jean opened the door to see Ola standing there.

"Ola? What's-?" Jean began, surprised.

"I'm not here to yell at you," Ola said.

"Oh," said Jean, relieved.

"Eric is still out of town. He called me. Asked me if I could be his second."

"I see," Jean said, stepping aside. "He's in his room."

Ola stood outside the door of Otis' room and knocked. She could hear music faintly through the wood but could not recognise the tune.

"Otis. It's Ola," she said. "Eric asked me to come and see you."

There was silence.

"What will I tell Eric if you won't see me?" Ola called.

After a moment, she heard movement and then the door opened and Otis stood there, eyes red. He stepped back, allowed Ola to step into the room and then re-closed the door.

The words above the music floated around the room.

Ola smiled gently at him. "Moping in your room playing sad songs?"

"Yeah," Otis murmured. "Made a whole playlist. Repeats every few hours."

"You're such a cliché." Ola spread her arms and asked, "Do you need a hug?"

Otis stepped into her arms and she hugged him.

"Did Eric tell you what…?" Otis asked.

"No, just… something about Maeve."

Otis released her and walked over to the bed, sat leaning against the head of it, legs stretched along it. Ola sat cross-legged on the end of it.

"I didn't know Eric had your number," Otis said.

"He didn't. He called Adam. Adam called me. Knew it was serious. They hadn't spoken in months."

"Mmm," Otis said.

"Did she meet someone?" Ola asked.

Otis was silent, staring at his feet.

"I've come into enemy territory under a flag of truce. Don't waste my magnaminity," Ola said, lightly.

"Magnanimity," Otis said.

"Whatever," Ola said, then waited a moment before asking again, "Did she meet someone?"

"No, would be easier if she did. Maybe I could prove I was a better choice, just by being around her. Not pressuring her, or anything. Just… being the way we were before I fucked it all up."

"So… what?

"She's going to be going to America for the next four years. She's got to keep her grades up, but she'll do it."

"And she wants to concentrate on her studies," Ola said, understandingly.

"No. She wants to be with me. Be my girlfriend. She told me she missed me really badly and… and that… and that she loved me."

"Oh," Ola said. "And you don't think that's something you could do?"

"I know the statistics. I know very few couples who get together in High School manage to make it… long term. But I was always hoping we could beat the odds. Now, I know we won't."

Ola looked at Otis, compassionately.

"Do you resent her?" she asked, softly.

"No, she's doing the right thing. For herself. It's great. I'm so proud of her. That's everything about her that made me fall in love with her in the first place."

"But…?"

"If I could find the centre of the Universe, I would stab it in the heart."

Ola and Otis lay side by side on the bed, staring at the ceiling, their hands clasped across their stomachs. The song changed and Ola smiled sadly to herself as she recognised it.

"Are they helping?" she asked, indicating the music.

"Not yet," Otis said.

"How many days has it been?"

"Three."

They let the music wash over them.

"So what are you going to do?" Ola asked.

"Lie here, listening to music until school starts and then continue the clinic."

"Is that healthy?"

"Got nowhere else I want to be."

They settled into silence for a while, content to just let the music play.

"Do you ever think about what it's going to be like? Ten years time. We look back at school?" Ola asked.

"I hate those types of essays…" Otis said.

"I always wonder what I'm going to regret."

Otis rang the doorbell nervously, swinging the bag in his hand back and forth. After a moment, Anna opened it.

"Oh, hello," Anna said, her voice filled with warmth.

"Hi," Otis said. "I was just wondering…"

"If Maeve was in?" Anna asked, stepping aside. "Yes. She's playing with Elsie."

Otis stepped into the house, and Anna led him through the house to where Elsie and Maeve were lying on the floor, colouring.

"You have a visitor," Anna said.

Maeve looked up and hitched a breath at the sight of the diffident Otis.

"Otis," she said, pleased.

"Hi," he said, giving her a little wave without raising his arm.

"Otis made Maeve sad," Elsie said.

Maeve looked at Otis, horrified, then faced Elsie. "Oh, no, sweetie. Maeve made Otis sad."

"Why don't I help Elsie colour for a bit?" Anna said.

Maeve nodded, biting her lip then rose to her feet.

"Do you want to come to my room? Or the kitchen?" she asked.

"Oh… whichever… you…"

Maeve glanced at the kitchen then led the way to her room. She indicated that Otis should sit on the bed, closed the door then sat at the head of the bed, one leg stretched out, the other curled beneath it. She looked at Otis, waiting to let him speak.

"I'm sorry I… I haven't contacted you… till now… I just thought we should talk before Monday…" Otis said, apologetically.

"It's okay, I understand."

He realised he was still holding the gift bag. "I brought you this," he said, offering the bag to her.

She took it then reached in and took out a Funko Pop in a purple graduation gown. She grimaced, amused and puzzled.

"Ola and I were making some for Joy and I made that. I think Joy likes them. She seems to smile when I wobble them at her. Not sure how much she really sees yet."

"Is Ola finding it hard having a new sister?"

"Oh…" Otis said, uncomfortable.

"You said it was complicated."

"She's not… Joy isn't her sister."

Maeve frowned, surprised.

"Yeah, um, Mum screwed up. She didn't mean to but… she's not with Jakob… and Ola… Ola named Joy and… she came over to… see me… and that was the first time she saw Joy since they moved out... She felt sorry for me so we just… hung out for a bit… customising Funko Pops for…"

Maeve watched him, not knowing what to say, so saying nothing.

"I'm sorry," he said, waving his hand at the Funko Pop. "It's stupid."

"Yeah, it is pretty fucking stupid," she said, smiling fondly. She placed it tenderly on the bedside drawers, tapped the head to set it bobbling.

"I just thought the eyes looked like yours," Otis said.

"Mine are bigger," Maeve said, then waited, watching him.

Otis took a deep breath. "A while back… when I… Jakob once told me, people deserve the whole of my heart and if I can't give them that, then I should let them know."

Maeve swallowed, blinked.

"I can't give you the whole of my heart, Maeve. Not anymore. I need… I need to… I could only give you a little."

"A little is a lot, Otis," Maeve said, quietly.

He shook his head. "You deserve more. And I can't do less than all. Not… I'm sorry..."

"Don't say sorry," Maeve murmured.

"I… don't know if… I can hang around with you. I'll have to see."

"Okay."

"But we'll see each other around. We'll talk," Otis said and began to rise.

"Are you still doing the clinic?" Maeve asked, quickly.

"Yeah," Otis said, sitting back.

"Is Eric… Is Eric taking bookings? He always wanted to be involved."

"No, he… um… tried… but his organisational skills aren't getting any better. No, Viv's taking bookings."

"Viv?"

"Yeah, her organisational skills are very good. She's still trying to figure out how to disguise it on her CV but… after Hope, she thinks I provide a valuable service."

Maeve and Aimee carried their trays from the cashier to a nearby table. Aimee noticed Maeve glancing across the room at Eric and Otis sitting together, huddled in conversation.

"So you haven't spoken all week?" Aimee asked.

"Said hello. How you doing?"

"I'm sorry, babe."

"No. I understand. It's hard. I'm the cause of this and I wish I didn't have to see him every day."

"I really thought you two would make it through everything."

"We're not living in a rom-com, Aimes." Maeve said, then asked, "Are you doing anything tonight?"

"No. Why?"

"Isaac's got some paintings showing at the Nab. Asked me if I wanted to come see."

"You've spoken to Isaac?"

"Yeah, we've talked."

"Are you thinking, since Otis-?"

"No. I wouldn't put Isaac through that. And… hooking up was nice but I only did it 'cause I thought I couldn't have Otis. And…he just wasn't being the person I fell in love with. Otis wasn't," she clarified.

"Isaac is kind of Otis-lite, isn't he?"

"Yeah. Substitute when you can't get the real thing."

Aimee looked across the room, saw Steve and Ruby making out in a niche beside the doorway.

"Talking of substitutes," Aimee said.

Maeve looked around.

"You don't think Steve considers Ruby a substitute for you, do you?" Maeve asked.

"No," Aimee said. "Not for me. And not Steve."

"I hate that comparison, Aimes."

"Can you deny it? She's been so much nicer since she broke up with Otis."

"He has that effect on people."

"I mean, she still thinks her shit don't stink but she's not mean anymore."

"Steve looks happy, anyway."

"He's definitely her substitute."

Otis and Eric sat at a table in the canteen. Eric had his arm curled sympathetically around Otis' shoulder.

"I'm so sorry, man. This time, I thought you'd be…" Eric murmured, consolingly.

"It's just not meant to be."

"I wish I'd come back sooner. At the start of term."

"No… no… I'm sorry, I haven't asked. How was your trip?"

"It was good. It was excellent. But it is not the time for that now." Eric noticed Maeve across the other side of the room. "Aren't you even friends anymore?"

"We talk. If we bump into each other. We don't hang out. It's too hard. I can't do it."

"So what are you going to do? Can you deal without doing something stupid? Like sleeping with the Queen Bee again?"

"Ruby's with Steve and even if she wasn't, I wouldn't do that to her. No, I'll just… I'll get over the pain, Maeve and I will be civil and then… next year… at Uni… I'll see what happens."

"You're going to be single until Uni?"

"I've got my studies. I've got the clinic. And… I don't think I'll really get over Maeve until I'm not seeing her nearly everyday and nobody deserves the me they'll get while I'm not over her."

"Oh, oh," Eric said, warningly. "The Queen Bee's approaching."

Otis looked up to see Ruby approaching, Steve in tow carrying her handbag. They sat down on opposite sides of the table.

"I will see you later, Otis," Eric said and hurried away with a small acknowledgement of Steve.

"When he says Queen Bee, does he mean-?" Ruby asked.

"Bee. As in buzz off. As in what he just did."

"She still won't tell me what she said," Steve said.

"He hurt Adam very badly. He wouldn't talk about the Kardashians for weeks," Ruby said.

"I should buzz off, too," Steve said. "I've got a few things to register for."

Steve put her bag in front of Ruby, leaned over the table and kissed her proffered cheek.

"See you later," he said.

"Bye, babe," Ruby said.

"Babe?" Otis asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Shut up," she said, only slightly embarrassed.

"People have been telling me how… nice you've been to them lately. No harsh words."

"Steve said he found me less attractive when I was mean."

"He's right. How's he getting on with your dad?"

"Great. We've been watching movies over the weekend. Iron Man 3 tonight."

"I thought you didn't like the Marvel movies."

"I never said I didn't like them. I said I never watched them."

"You both look happy."

"And you and Wiley have spent the last week looking miserable. What's up?"

"Why do you care?"

"I don't. About her."

Otis pressed his lips together, smiling wryly.

"She met someone?" Ruby asked.

"No, but… she'll be going back to America at the end of last term."

"And she wants to just focus on her studies?"

"No, but I can't… I can't… I just can't…"

Ruby seemed about to speak then Viv sat down opposite.

"Sorry, Ruby," Viv said then turned to Otis. "You have an emergency session."

"What emergency?"

"I don't know. He didn't say, but he said he needs to see you before lunchtime because it'll be too late afterward."

Otis began packing away his items into his bag.

"Sorry, Ruby…" he said.

"Well, I didn't want to hang around your moping much anymore, anyway. I had enough of my own moping when I was doing it."

Otis winced as if in pain. "I'm sorry—"

"You let the whole world know how you felt about her. I just let myself hope."

"I shouldn't have been pushing—"

"Don't do that to yourself. A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts, OT."

Otis sat next to a boy at the back of the school.

"My girlfriend's leaving town," the boy said. "No, I mean… my girl friend is leaving town… My friend who is a girl is leaving town…"

"And…?"

"I love her."

"But you haven't told her?"

"No… Should I tell her?"

"Well, I can't tell you what to do. The choice is yours. Does she currently have a boyfriend? Because—"

"No. Well, not that she said. Her last boyfriend I know of was months ago. And I don't think she has a girlfriend either. I don't… I don't think…"

"So you believe she's single?"

"Yeah."

"Why do you want to tell her you love her?"

"Because I love her."

"And are you expecting any particular response?"

"No. Other than slapping me in the face, kneeing me in the balls and telling me to fuck off, I'm fine with any response. I just want to let her know how I feel."

"Why? I know you love her. But why?"

"My uncle never told the girl he liked in school that he liked her. And he said that at the reunion she said she liked him, wished he'd asked her out. I don't want to get to my reunion and find out I missed my chance."

"What if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"Then I tried. At least. Better to try."

"What if she does? Like you? She is leaving town."

"We can try long distance. But… I don't care. I just want that one moment with her, if she likes me back. I'm going to tell her," the boy said, mind made up, determined.

"Right."

"How should I tell her?"

"Well…"

"I was thinking roses. Give her a whole big bunch or roses. Or sing to her. Like Jackson Marchetti did."

"I think… rather than a big romantic gesture… speak from the heart."

Maeve was about to walk out the door of the science lab when she heard Otis' voice behind her.

"Maeve…?" he asked.

She turned, stepped aside to allow others to leave and tried to contain her rising hope.

"Can we talk for a few minutes? I don't think there's another class here just yet."

"Sure," she said and accompanied him to sit at one of the benches, facing each other.

He was silent for a few moments and Maeve softly studied him.

"I've been thinking about potential energy," he said.

Maeve grimaced, confused.

"I thought about two things with potential energy. They're here."

He held up his hands.

"And there's a lot of potential energy. And it was building. And building. If they're released, they have kinetic energy and they can smash together and… they could be a damp squib. Or they could explode and cause destruction to everything around them. Or they could find that sweet spot and combine and burn and burn just the way they're supposed to until… well, they don't burn anymore."

Maeve pressed her lips together.

"I still love you, Maeve. And there are no guarantees we'll even make it to the end of the year. But if I have regrets I want to regret that we never did find a way to burn forever. But I don't want to regret never having tried."

Maeve smiled.

"So don't let me ever try to pressure you into changing your mind about America… I never want to do that… but if you would still like to try to be together until then… I would like to be your boyfriend and for you to be my girlfriend."

Maeve leaned forward, looked him in the eyes and whispered, "Yes" then their lips connected and they found the sweet spot and they burned until it was time for them to burn no more.

Author's Notes: I know. It doesn't completely flow, but I don't want to spend weeks in this mindset getting it to work better and I think the story is there. Maybe one day I will come back to revise it.

Publishing is the only way I can put these ideas behind me.

I want Otis/Maeve in Season 4 – none of the ideas that are being spouted that will keep them apart even longer. But I don't need them as more than friends in the final episode – as long as we have a chance to see them happy for a bit and they part amicably.