OS 3 Part 4 : Maybe we could stop each other from falling.

Author's note :Ok, so… first, I am really sorry you all had to wait for sooooo long before getting this chapter. I know no one cares about my personal life, but well, I lost some of my documents (including all the other chapters I hadn't published yet), I hadn't the courage to write it again, and I got them back not a long time ago. And I know no reads this story anymore, but I still want to finish it, so… here is a new chapter.

"You see, I had a good life, once upon a time, Ivy began, trying not to tremble, and she totally gave in the comfortable embrace that Gretel was giving to her. I know that it's not really… original, but yes, I used to be happy.

- When did it end ? Gretel asked, curious and interested by her friend's story. And how ?

- My father died when I was only ten years old. That was the first thing which put a shadow on my life.

- I know things about that, Gretel muttered with rage. About losses."

And abandonment, she thought, angry at her parents.

Ivy looked at her with both compassion and surprise, but didn't comment it and continued talking.

She would ask her about it later.

If Gretel wanted to tell her, of course.

"But things were still okay, I had my mother, my sister, my half-sister… It's Jacinda… Henry's ex and Sabine's actual wife, she added, seeing her friend's confusion. We were still happy, and by the way, we were together.

A strange woman entered into my mother's life for a time, but she rapidly left, and I still don't know what kind of relationship they were sharing, if they were lovers or not… Her name was Eloise Gardener, and I am sure as hell that she is the most dangerous woman I ever met."

Gretel frowned, trying to remember if and where she heard this name, not finding it immediately.

"It was a strange part of my life, and I never clearly understood it… My mother was happy, I guess, but, Eloise… She was such a dark woman, that I think that she had a really bad influence on my mom… She could have had one on me too… If she had stayed longer… She left, and for a time, things were good again. And then, it happened."

This time, her hands shook again, and Gretel took them in her own hands without thinking about it, and she smiled at her friend. At this moment, Ivy's heart made a new jump in her chest, for yes, her goddamn smile was making her shining too much for her.

She couldn't support it.

"Ana and I, we almost drowned into a lake, when I was fourteen year old… I got out of it without any physical after-effect, I was safe and sound, but… Ana was not. She fell into a coma, and she never, never woke up since this moment.

My mother… she always made me feel responsible for what happened, since I was the one who had decided to walk on the ice, and as Ana had followed me… And since I had survived while she hadn't… While she was in this damn coma from which she risked to never wake up.

- And I guess she never did, Gretel said cautiously.

- Yes, or I think I would still be at my mother's home…

Gretel's look was now full of surprise and shock, but, again, she didn't make any comment about the situation.

It was not her job to do this, to talk about it, to say what she thought about all of this, to say how much she was disgusted by Victoria Belfrey's attitude.

Her job was to stay here, and listen.

- My mother clearly never forgave me for this, for what she thought was my fault, and for more or less ten years, I thought that she was right. That I was the one who had done this, that I was the one who had killed Ana. I feel so pathetic for this now, she whispered with a sad chuckle.

Gretel frowned.

- For what ? She asked, not understanding.

Ivy looked at her with so much sadness in her eyes that it almost made Gretel want to cry.

- For thinking that she was right… For thinking I was the monster, while it was her. For thinking everything was my fault."

Okay… So, now it was the moment for her to comfort her.

"It's okay you believed it, since this was what she wanted you to do… Since she was your mother, the one who trusted the most in the world, and you would have never, never believed that she could do that to you.

You were hurt Ivy, it's just… logical thatyoubelievedtheliesshetoldyou. Butyou'reright, it never was your fault. It was just… an accident. Tragic and terrible, but no one has to be blamed for what happened on this day. Especially not you, since you're a victim just as Ana is."

This time, when Ivy tried to smile, it was a real one.

She was radiating with relief and gratitude, seeming more beautiful than ever, especially with this smile on her lips, and Gretel was really hoping that she wouldn't get caught by her friend for being staring too much time at her lips, since she didn't want her friend to know about her… unrequited feelings about her.

It seemed like Ivy had just heard the words she always wanted someone to tell her, and her sadness almost entirely disappeared, since it was the first time she was telling someone about it.

It was not over, of course, it was just the beginning, but… to talk with Gretel was helping her a lot.

"Thanks, she then said… For being here, for being… my friend.

The word almost hurt her, because she wanted Gretel to be more than that, but it was enough. Yes, to have a friend like her was surely good. She was happy of not being alone anymore.

§§§§

Three other weeks had passed and Gretel was… lost.

She had been sure at first that her crush for Ivy wouldn't be that long, and wouldn't last – since it never did the other times it happened to her – but the thing is that she was living with her, she saw her every day, talked to her all the time.

Of course, it was going to be a permanent thing if she was not careful about it.

She was in love.

That's it.

And now, she was here, in this damn coffee-shop where she had met the person she now wanted to live with for an… undetermined period, in order to meet her brother for… undetermined reasons too.

In fact, she didn't even remember the reason why Nick had wanted to see her, since she was too much preoccupied by her love life. Well, by her nonexistent love life.

She sat in front of him, smiling absently at Nick, asking herself why he was here exactly.

"Hello sister… How are you ?

- Fine… I guess… Why are you here exactly ?

Nick sighed.

- Margot asked me to come there, because she wants me to talk with you about a certain bartender you know well…"

He looked for some seconds at Ivy Belfrey, showing her at his sister, in case his words hadn't been damn enough obvious about who he was talking.

His sister immediately blushed, and it brought an amused smile on his lips.

"Looks like she was not totally wrong about it, right ? He asked her.

- Margot should really stop playing the matchmaker, she muttered, trying to hid her embarrassment. It's becoming bloody annoying.

- Oh, you can trust me, her brother answered, according to Henry, she had already made worst things. At least, she is not trying to force you to go on a date, she is letting me talk to you.

- For which reason ?

- Well, the way Ivy looks at you… It seems sure that she has a thing for you.

- Since how many times are you an expert in love ? And since when are you interested by my love life ?

- Since Margot asked me to be, and since, according to her, nothing is still happening.

- And it's not going to change, his sister told him with a cold voice. Now, if you have nothing else to tell me, you can go.

Nick sighed, before adding.

- Try to notice the way she behaves with you… Trust me, if you do it carefully, you will notice things you never saw before."

And he left.

§§§§

Just as Gretel was beginning to notice things, Ivy suddenly changed completely her attitude.

Her brother and Margot had been right, much to Gretel's surprise.

Ivy seemed to be interested by her, but, before Gretel got the courage to ask her out, the other woman began… to act differently with her.

She was avoiding her.

And Gretel didn't understand.

What the hell had she done ?