Hi again! Here's the promised Maddy/Fi talk. And after seeing tonight's (er, technically last night's, given the current hour...) episode (!), there will probably be another chapter. I have a couple of ideas, but I'm not sure which I'll pick. I'm trying to stay kind of canon, so it may have to wait until we see how next week's ep starts. Only time will tell. But, for now, enjoy!

After leaving Charlie's room, Fiona made her way to the kitchen where Madeleine was waiting patiently for her. Dropping unceremoniously into a chair across from the older woman, Fiona let out a weary sigh.

Madeleine simply raised an eyebrow and said "Oh really? So what's my son done this time?"

Fi looked momentarily taken aback, before deflating again.

Maddy chuckled darkly. "Oh come on, there aren't many things that would have you moping over here at this time of night."

Fiona ducked her head, loose hair falling across her face, and muttered, "I miss the bastard."

Maddy sighed. "Oh, is that all? I was worried it was something more serious."

Fiona's head snapped up. "That's all!? I—I hate him! I hate him so much. He's saved my life twice already since he's been back in Miami and it's still taken so much willpower to not slap him!"

"But you miss him." It was a statement, not a question.

Fi sighed, eyes glassy with unshed tears. "Yes." She whispered.

"And Carlos?" Madeleine asked gently.

"I don't know. He's…I don't know," she said, clearly frustrated.

"Okay. Let me tell you something I once told Jesse when he was relatively new to the group. You know what I said about you and Michael? I said, 'Michael and Fiona love each other, and they hate each other, but it's always each other.' And I still stand by that. That's not to say that you can't move on, but it should be because you want to, not because your hand was forced."

Fiona didn't respond immediately, but focused her attention on her index finger tracing invisible lines on the tabletop. After a few minutes of relative silence, a single tear landed on the tabletop near Fi's finger and that was it. The dam broke and the tears that had been building for days now finally fell.

"Oh honey," Madeleine murmured as she reached across the table and took Fiona's hand in both of her own. She didn't know what to say, but it hurt to see the woman she'd come to love as a daughter so distraught.

"I'm so angry at him, Madeleine. So angry. But I miss him, and I'm worried about him and I hate how much power he has over me without even trying. I—I just… damn you, Michael Westen!" Fiona spat. "Damn you," she whispered through her tears.

"I know, honey, I know. And I wish there was something I could say to you that would help, but…"

Fiona took a deep, shuddering breath before swiping a hand across her eyes and replying. "I know, and I appreciate it. I know you've got enough on your plate without me coming over here and blubbering, but… thank you. I should probably go now. It's been a long few days."

"Okay, I should probably try to catch some shut eye myself; Charlie's been waking up at the crack of dawn lately. And Fiona? You're welcome here anytime, you know that."

Fi managed a small smile as she stood and made her way toward the front door. "I know. Goodnight, Madeleine."