'I bumped into your Mum the other day. She said she's not seen you in a couple of weeks'

Lucas sighs, he's already regretting this visit and he's not even been here five minutes. He looks at the older man that is sat up on the porch.

'Anything to do with the fact Keith's anniversary is coming up?'

'I'm not about to make things harder for her at this time of year Whitey' Lucas scuffs his foot on the ground.

'Her son going MIA is hardly what I'd define as making things easier'

'Yeah? Well I think she'd disagree with you there'

'That's ridiculous. I know she worries even more about you when you disappear on her Luke'

'You don't know what it's like. She still can't even look at me sometimes. I get it I do, I destroyed her world and I know I'm a painful reminder of it all'

'She needs your support. She's long forgiven you and the part you played in that night. It was an accident-'

'That I made happen. That never would have happened if it weren't for me. Just because I didn't mean for it to happen doesn't make it any better. My actions killed him. I was drinking. I made the decision to drink and drive and he was trying to stop me...'

'I think perhaps you avoiding her every year over these few weeks boils down to the fact that you've not forgiven yourself'

'Forgiven myself?! I killed my uncle Whitey! He'd still be here right now if it weren't for me. I'll never fucking forgive myself for that. My kid sister has grown up without her dad. She hates me'

'Yes you prevented her from getting to know her father but you're also her brother. She loves you. But how could she not begrudge you for staying away and putting everything on her shoulders every anniversary. She's at college now. She's got her studies. She could really do with you stepping up and-'

'I'll go round and visit my Mum okay?!' Lucas cuts him off harshly to end this lecture. 'Sorry' He breathes all of a second later. 'I'm sorry...you're right. I know you're right I just...'

'It's hard?' Whitey supplies. 'It's always going to be hard but shutting your family out isn't going to make it disappear. Talk to you Mum. Tell her how you're feeling. You might be surprised at how much better you both feel after'

Lucas exhales heavily because he has a hunch this delightful conversation isn't over yet because that was far too easy. It's never that easy to put an end to this caring mentor's lectures. 'Now, lets get to the main reason I invited you round' Whitey hums, confirming Lucas' suspicions.

'How did I know there was more?' He leans on the post of the rickety porch.

'I saw Haley' And there it was. 'She mentioned a certain tour that you're apparently doing. I have to say, it came as quite a shock to find she wasn't talking about her own tour'

Lucas scrapes his hand through his hair. 'I was going to tell you' He feels like a child that's being reprimanded. He is being reprimanded.

Whitey nods in a familiar way. It's somehow forgiving and judging all at once. It automatically makes Lucas feel like he's on trial.

'Son be honest with yourself, why've you agreed to this?' Whitey eventually asks.

Lucas looks up at the sky. Pauses. His answer is simple. 'She asked me to'

'As did Haley but letting her down doesn't seem to bother you'

Lucas rolls his eyes. 'I didn't let her down. And I'm certain I'm the last person she wants to be around right now anyway. She's got a billion of other people that can do that gig'

'And Peyton hasn't?'

He turns his back to the probing man and sits down on the porch steps. 'No one can tour our album but us' He grudgingly answers.

'No, I suppose you're right about that. But I'm sure there'd be another way around all this. Her father is Mick Wolf. She's Peyton Wolf. If any two people in this world could pull some strings I'd say it's them' Whitey diplomatically points out.

'Peyton Wolf doesn't ask for favours'

'No? What do you call what she's asking of you then?'

'That's different'

'Why?' Whitey grunts as he sinks down to perch beside his more sprightly companion.

'We're friends'

'Is that what you're calling it these days?'

'What is it with everyone having something to say about our relationship'

'I'm not everyone Luke'

'No, but you sure do have enough freaking opinions'

'As your sponsor it's my job to have opinions on all things you'

'Is it? I thought it was to support me'

'Giving you an alternative perspective isn't doing that?'

'Well can you cut to the freaking chase instead of these lengthy, drawn out interrogations you like to give'

Whitey smiles. 'You know what I'm going to say already. You're messing with your steps. You're making brash decisions'

'Hardly' He snorts.

'No? Luke you told me last weekend at our meeting that you'd decided on going on tour with Haley. It's been five days and in that time you've committed to touring with Peyton and I can only assume you've been alone with her on a handful of occasions. You usually call when you're reconsidering a plan'

Lucas sighs. 'I know, I know. But she needed to know, there wasn't time to-'

'To make a ten minute call in the last five days?'

'You're not a parole officer Whitey'

'No' He smiles. 'I'm just a concerned friend. Peyton makes you vulnerable Luke'

'You know how I feel about her'

'Exactly. You're liable to be impulsive' Lucas is silent. 'You know I love her' Whitey hums.

'Yeah, well for someone that loves her you put a lot of time into telling me she's dangerous to be around. She was never the problem. I was the problem. I had the problem, not her'

'Son, if one day you two come together I will be beyond happy. Trust me. I'm just about you both finding that in a truthful and honest way. There's a lot of hurt wrapped up in your relationship that neither one of you have addressed. Plus there's the little matter of her being married with children. You're not kids anymore. It's a whole lot bigger than the both of you'

'I know all that'

'Why say yes then?'

'She needs me!'

'Ah, she needs you' Whitey nods compassionately. 'It's been a long time since she's really needed you hasn't it?' Lucas becomes silent, the older man's words making him antsy. 'If you're really going to do this I think we should go over some of the finer details' He resolves.

'That's not necessary-'

'Isn't it? This record means a great deal to you. It was at the pinnacle of your career but also at the height of your struggle with this god damn disease' Whitey reiterates.

'I'm in control now. Maybe I get a do over at this tour and-'

'We're never in control of this disease son' Whitey cuts him off 'You know that. Managing it and controlling it are two different things entirely. You two singing these songs together, working together in this way is going to bring up a lot of raw emotions'

'We can both be professional'

'So your meetings and rehearsals have been going well this last week then have they?' Lucas scowls at the wise man and wishes for just one god damn second he wasn't like the freaking oracle. 'No?'

'It's going fine. Is it going to be plain sailing? No. Of course not. We've always had differing opinions when it comes to certain things but it always makes for a damn good song'

'Mm. So you've had disputes about certain things already?'

'These first couple of weeks are bound to be that way. She's got a hell of a lot on her plate right now and none of her family or friends are supportive of this decision- she's on edge'

'Jake and Mick weren't all that pleased to know of you collaborating again then?'

'Everyone is acting like we've not worked together for the last thirteen years. I don't get what the big deal is. We've been on the same stage together a hell of a lot'

'You might've played lead guitar for her on a number of occasions but you've not sang together. I'm sure if you were in Jake's shoes you'd not be thrilled by this arrangement'

Lucas bites his tongue. Stops himself from blurting out words he knows he'll later regret. Not speaking when it comes to Jake Jagielski is always a good shout.

'It's quite a big thing you singing in fact, you will be singing right?'

'Touring an album that I sang on without me singing would be kind of hard Whitey' He drones.

'Quite right' The older man agrees. 'You've not done that in a while mind'

'I gig Ravens songs all the time at Tric' Lucas argues. 'You're there every week- am I that awful that you block it out?' He jests.

'Okay, let me rephrase that- you play intimate gigs. I meant on a larger scale. You know Haley and I have spent years encouraging you to return your focus to a solo career again. You write songs for other people. Never yourself. You play lead guitar for anyone that'll have you but you're far more than just a guitar player- don't get me wrong- you're a bloody great one at that but you're the full package, you're more than that one album Lucas'

'No' he disagrees. 'We were great together. Peyton is what made the songs damn good'

'You're wrong about that son. You two coming together is like pure magic, there's no denying that but you can both hold a stage without each other. Hell you did it without her for several years before you did this album'

'You know I don't care about all that, about the fame thing or being recognised musically. I just care about the music, how it makes me feel and doing that with her is...it's unexplainable. I've never liked the idea of returning to that without her'

'But you're not returning to it with her in the same way Lucas. You're not-'

'Together. I know' He grinds.

'I just don't want you getting carried away and thinking this is something it's not. She needs your help and you're perhaps mistaking that for her needing you-'

'I don't need you to clarify what this is Whitey. I'm not stupid. I know after this she goes home to another man. I know that'

'And children' Whitey adds.

'Yes...Maybe this is what I need. Maybe you're all wrong. Maybe everyone will finally get what they've been wishing for; I never got any closure. Maybe this will give me that and I, I'll finally be able to...let her go.'

Whitey tilts his head to regard the younger man's pained expression. He's uncertain whether Lucas' words are just words he thinks his sponsor wants to hear or if they come from an honest, defeated place. Either way some might say it's the most sense the musician has made in recent years, after all, over a decade of not moving on is a long time. But Whitey has been around longer than the tortured artist before him. Long enough to know that when you find the one there is no moving on.