September 1989

Gregory Joseph House was an idiot. He knew it. She knew it. Everybody knew it.

How could he have been so stupid? She came to surprise him, and he wound up screaming at her. He couldn't remember what they had fought about. He couldn't even remember what had provoked it.

He'd known it was a mistake as soon as he'd reached - He refused to say that other girl's name, even in his thoughts. She had been throwing herself at him all last semester, begged him to tutor her despite her consistently good grades. Nothing he had said to her deterred her efforts to be in his company.

If Layla had known that part, she might not have given him the go-ahead to take on one more student.

Where could she be? He'd tried the school library, the park, then he realised she would have gone where he wouldn't be likely to follow after her. She'd probably started wandering aimlessly after she'd stormed out of his apartment. If she was upset, then she would've gotten hungry. What was open at this hour? Diners and fast food joints. That's what she'd look for.

He never should have gone to her place. He'd been upset enough over his fight with Layla to allow her to kiss him. He hadn't stopped her when she'd done more than kiss him. Now, he was sick to his stomach over his betrayal.

'Every stumbling step I take back to your side hurts my pride. I couldn't leave you if I tried.'

He could only hope she'd understand.

Aileen Layla Becker sat in a booth in a nearly empty diner, an impressive array of greasy foods in front of her.

How could she have been so stupid?

If she had simply called him before she'd made the drive out to Michigan, then they might not have had that silly fight over nothing.

The cheese sticks were very good, crisp and melty. She was sure she would have a stomachache later, but she didn't care. She was already in enough pain not to care about a little more.

She glanced up at the rain rolling down the large windows. She could almost see Gregory's face in the random patterns made by the water.

Then she really did see his face, staring back at her sadly. Her heart leapt into her throat, and she ran out into his waiting arms. They stumbled over apologies to each other.

"I was afraid I'd never see you again," she admitted huskily.

"I couldn't leave you if I tried," he promised. "I did something stupid."

She shook her head. "No, I was the one wh-"

He placed a finger over her lips to silence her. "After you left, I sh- I went somewhere I shouldn't have. I slept with -"

She fainted into his arms.

When she came out of the darkness, it had stopped raining. House was stretched out on the sidewalk, cradling her in his lap, oblivious to the puddles of rain surrounding them.

"I'm sorry, Layla," he kept repeating softly. "You're all that I want. Believe it or don't. After all is said and done, darling, please believe me, you're the only one."

Her head was throbbing. Her groan told him she was awake. "Gregory?"

"Hey," he sighed, relieved. "D'you want to go back inside?"

She nodded weakly. "I've got a table full of food still in there." Slowly, she pushed herself up to a sitting position beside him. After another moment, she stood.

"Hang on. Let me make sure you're okay." He knelt in front of her and gazed up into those deep, soulful eyes. He'd never needed someone as badly as needed her. She made him want to be a better man. "Will you marry me?" he asked softly.

She started to smile, but then she remembered what he'd said that had made her faint. "What about -" She shook her head. She wished she didn't know about that. "Did it mean anything? Did you feel anything? Emotionally?"

He couldn't look her in the eyes anymore. Shaking his head, he replied, "No. She was just -" Aileen held up her hands. "I don't want to know. I don't want to know who she was or anything about her or what happened. I don't want to hear you mention anything about this ever again. Considering your condition, I . . ." She was silent for several moments. "If you ever feel the need to . . . r-release physical tension . . . again, hire a professional. Be safe about it. And don't tell me. I'll know anyway, but I don't need to hear the details."

He was about to protest, to swear that it would never happen again, but, instead, he merely said, "I was stupid not to go after you."

"If you had, we would have just kept fighting. We both needed time to calm down. I got lost out in this sad old town, and every bridge I crossed just turned me upside down."

Still on his knees, he wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head against her. It was good to hear her heartbeat again. "I'd rather fight with you than joke with anybody else."

"You cantankerous grouch," she chuckled. "What am I going to do with you?"

"Niiiiiiiiiiiiiice." He rose suddenly, sweeping her up into his arms as he did so. "Marry me," he murmured against her lips.

"Hmmmm," she hummed as she pulled back a fraction of an inch.

He pressed another kiss to her smiling mouth. "Say yes. Say you'll spend your life with me."

"Tears may fall, but, after all is said and done, believe me, you're the only one. I couldn't leave you if I tried."

Song credit: Some lines are from I Couldn't Leave You If I Tried, written and performed by Rodney Crowell, released 1988.