Chapter 7

Ivy Pepper stood there on the doorstep in a short tailored skirt and a white blouse. Her long red hair was up in a ponytail and she wore long earrings that looked like trailing gold ivy. She smiled warmly as she entered the apartment.

"It's so nice to see you!" she said as Jim closed the door behind her.

"I'm surprised to see you, Ivy," Jim replied honestly.

He invited her in, and then he made some coffee. She waited for him in the front room, saying nothing until he returned and set the coffee on the table. Then she settled back on the armchair, crossing her long legs as she got comfortable.

"Actually, you've been on my mind since we spoke online," Ivy admitted, "I don't see nearly enough of Ozzy and Ed. I don't know what's been going on in their lives lately. It's like they're shutting everyone out. It's hard, Oswald is my best friend."

"I saw them recently," Jim replied, "It was just by chance. They both looked well, I bumped into them when Ed was getting some work done to his back tattoo."

Ivy paused for thought.

"Does Oswald seem okay?"

"He looks just fine," Jim replied, then as he sipped his coffee and put it down again, he felt slightly guilty – Ivy was Oswald's best friend, and even she didn't know everything... If she was hoping for information, he wasn't going to give it, he wasn't going to break his promise to Ed. Then Ivy said something unexpected.

"I hope you don't mind me asking, I was just wondering... are you still in love with Oswald?"

Jim was glad his coffee was still on the table, if he had been drinking it at that moment, he would have choked on it out of shock.

"No, of course I'm not! I'll always care very much about him, we had something very special... a long time ago. I'll always care for him as a friend."

"What about Ed, do you like him?" she asked, "You guys go a long way back, you used to know him from the GCPD, right?"

"Yes, he worked in forensics before... everything else that happened. It took a long time for me to understand that what he did to Oswald wasn't his fault. Back then feelings were very raw for me. But..." he smiled as he thought of Ed, "When I saw him coming out of that tattoo parlour, I wanted to give him a hug. I didn't get the chance, he was too busy playing with his camera."

Ivy laughed.

"He's always making videos. I think Ed's always liked attention. These days he gets it with his tattoos. He's always showing them off, always joking around with Ozzy... I just wish they'd let me in and tell me everything. I don't know much these days."

"They seem very happy," Jim replied, "And I'm glad about that."

Ivy's phone sounded a text alert.

"Excuse me," she said, then she read the message and quickly sent a reply. She kept the phone in her hand, moments later another alert sounded and she paused to answer a second message.

"Sorry about that," she said, and then she drank some coffee and put the cup down on the table.

"I shouldn't really be asking this," she added, "But I was just wondering if you know anything I don't. I know you wanted to find out what was going on and I don't really know much at all – only what they told me. It's been a while since I've been to the house."

"Oswald is fine," Jim replied, "I saw him in the street recently and he looked okay, honestly, I'm not making it up. And that's all I know."

Then Ivy smiled.

"I'm really sorry about this," she admitted, "But I'm not here because I happened to be passing by. I'm actually here to check your email to be sure you followed Ed's instructions. No offence is intended."

Again, he felt taken by surprise. Now this was starting to feel like some kind of conspiracy, and he was yet to learn why...

"You need to check my email?"

"I don't need your password, just sign in and let me check you've deleted the files and you haven't sent them on anywhere else."

Jim accessed his email and handed her his phone.

"I've got nothing to hide," he said, as he watched her checking it and wondered what the big deal was around all this secrecy. He understood that Oswald didn't want the world to know how sick he was, but to send Ivy to the house to check he had destroyed the videos seemed very strange indeed...

Ivy handed the phone back to him.

"Thank you, Jim," she said, then she reached for her own phone and sent a message.

Jim sat there in silence as he wondered what she would say next. A reply came back. She read it, then as she got up, so did Jim.

"What's going on, Ivy?"

She paused to gather her thoughts and then smiled politely.

"The Nygmas apologise for testing your loyalty. They also thank you for proving trustworthy and would like to welcome you into their circle of friends," she said, then she leaned closer and kissed his cheek.

"That's from Ozzy and Ed, not me," she added, "Everything I said to you about not hearing from them wasn't true. I see them almost every day. It was another test."

"To see if I'd say anything about the videos?"

She nodded.

"They also understand how hard this has been on you emotionally, considering your past links to both of them in very different ways. But you can be sure all will be explained very soon. Keep Saturday free. A car will be sent to pick you up at ten am and you will spend the day at the Van Dahl mansion, Ed and Ozzy are looking forward to seeing you, to strengthen ties of friendship."

Jim looked at her in surprise.

"How is Ozzy, is he going to be okay?"

Ivy looked at him apologetically as she shook her head.

"I can't say anything, I'm sorry. They want to tell you everything face to face. And also, I really, really don't approve of the horrible thought of flowers being cut, but I do love those guys very much and this isn't my request. Ed would like you to please bring some flowers in a bouquet for Oswald. He said it's very important that everyone around him makes him realise how special and loved he is, he's always giving him flowers and he wants their friends to do the same."

Those words gave Jim a sharp jolt. He still didn't know what was going on and the part about the flowers had him worried.

"He wants me to bring him flowers?"

"Ed recommends shades of orange, purple, blue or deepest crimson, Ozzy likes those shades. Orchids, chrysanthemums lily arrangements are preferred. But no red roses. Only Ed gives him those."

"Of course," Jim replied, then he thought again about all he had seen on the videos and emotion got the better of him as he blinked away tears.

"I need to know about Oswald... how long does he have left?"

Ivy stepped closer and gave him a hug.

"I'm sorry, I can't tell you anything," she said as she let go, "But everything will be much clearer soon enough. Just see them both on Saturday and then you'll understand."

He thanked her for stopping by, then she said she had to get back her greenhouse to feed the plants. Jim walked her to the door and as she left she smiled warmly, before walking away.

Jim closed the door and went back to the front room and sat down. He thought about all he had learned – which was very little, he still didn't know why Oswald was so sick, or how long he had left. But at least he would get some answers at the weekend...

He still got the oddest feeling that perhaps he hadn't quite grasped all the facts here; last time he had seen him, Oswald had looked happy and well. He got the feeling he was missing something, which for a detective, was frustrating. The days would go by very slowly as he waited for the weekend to come around, when he would finally get to the truth of what was starting to feel strangely like a mystery, although he wasn't quite sure why...

The week dragged by. Every day, Jim kept thinking of Saturday and wondering what he would learn. But he could tell no one; he had made his promise and he would keep it. To know he had gained the trust of Oswald and Ed meant a lot after all these years. There had been a lot of water under the bridge, but they were willing to rebuild ties, ten years on, under very different circumstances, and Jim appreciated that.


When the weekend finally arrived, Jim felt nervous. He went out early to a florist and looked at the flowers, unsure what to order. He had never been into buying bouquets except for the occasional bunch of red roses to send to dates... He had pointed at a large bouquet in shades of orange and burnt gold and deepest purple.

"That one..." was all he said, indicating to the arrangement, then he had paid for the flowers and left.

On the way back, he stopped off by the pier, looking to the end of it. Now it was empty and sunlight made the water shine and the cityscape beyond it look bright, much as it had on that last day he had been with his lover. In that moment, Jim was struck by the crazy thought that back in time, he was still standing on the end of that pier, on a happier day, as he embraced Oswald. For a moment he could see them there in his minds eye, then the image shimmered and vanished like ghosts. He felt an ache like an old wound had opened up in his heart. What ever was wrong with Oswald, at least it wasn't too late, at least they could mend their friendship...

He returned home. Waiting for the car to turn up was difficult. Jim kept checking his watch, then looking out the window. Finally just before ten am, a car pulled up outside and he picked up the flowers and left his apartment.

Victor was waiting in the car. He smiled as he laid eyes on Jim.

"Hey Jim, how are you?" he said brightly.

Jim got into the passenger seat and forced a polite smile. Last time he had seen Zsasz had been that day on the pier, when Oswald had ended their relationship and Jim had been a tearful wreck.

"I'm fine," he replied as the car pulled away and headed off on the drive that would take them through the city and out into the better side of town, "So, you're still working for Oswald?"

"He asked me to stay on after he cut ties with the underworld. It's not a bad job at all, he pays me well, I'm their security guy mainly – although these days that job description covers a lot more."

Victor was watching the road as they hit the highway. Jim was deep in thought, then he spoke up again.

"I guess it's been difficult this past year."

"Difficult?" Victor exclaimed, "Yeah, I'd say that just about covers it. Penguin's been a real pain sometimes!"

Jim glanced at him in surprise.

"He's been sick, you can't blame him for that."

Victor gave a sigh and shook his head.

"You have no idea what it's been like. You don't know what he's been like. I'm not denying he's got guts, he's been through a lot – but it's been hard on Ed, too. That guy has so much patience!"

Jim met his gaze.

"Oswald's been through a terrible time. Don't you feel sorry for him?"

"No," Victor said in surprise, then he looked back to the road, "As I said, the boss did go through hell – but the way he goes on about it, you'd think no one in the history of the human race has ever been through it! And he's one of those people who goes into way too much detail if you ask him about stuff... I once had to listen for an hour, Jim, a whole hour! It was too much information!"

Jim glanced at Victor, who was still watching the road. Then he looked away, feeling confused. It didn't make sense that he had no compassion for the man he had worked for all these years...

"But you must have found it hard, to watch him go through so much?"

"There were some bad moments," Victor admitted, "But you know Penguin – when he sets his mind to something, he goes all out to do what he wants... Ed wanted him to wait a couple of years, when it would have been a lot safer, but he said he couldn't wait. That's Penguin, always willing to take a risk."

"But he had no choice," Jim pointed out, "He's sick, he's probably desperate."

"He was definitely desperate. And determined," Victor replied.

"What's wrong with him?" Jim asked quietly.

Victor glanced at him.

"I've been asking myself that question for years!" he replied, and then he laughed, "I guess he's just crazy enough to take a huge risk. He's always been the same."

"Why won't anyone answer my question?"

"Because it's up to him to tell you. I'm not allowed to tell you what's up, or what's been happening. Just be warned about how he goes into too much detail. And these days, Ed spoils him way too much, he's got used to that and expects it from everyone now. Just humour him, that's my advice... and be kind, he's a bit fragile, according to Ed. I don't personally think he is now. You'll understand when you know what's going on."

Then he laughed again as Jim sat there feeling utterly confused. A short while later, they drove through the gates of the Van Dahl mansion, and Victor parked outside. Jim got out of the car. Finally, he was about to get some answers...


They went up to the front door and Ed opened it, he was in a suit but his tie was off, his jacket was off and his shirt sleeves were rolled up, showing off his inked arms. His shirt was partly unbuttoned too, where more tattoos were visible. In that moment it dawned on Jim just how much time had flown by, and how much it had changed them all...

"Jim!" he said warmly, "It's wonderful to see you! And those flowers are perfect, Ozzy will love them!"

He took the flowers from Jim and thrust them into Victor's hands.

"Put these in water, next to Ozzy's favourite couch."

As Victor walked off, Ed led him inside and closed the door.

"It's been years since we properly met as friends," he said, "Today is a new start, Jim. And I realise recent times have been very upsetting for you, not knowing what's going on, but that's about to change..."

He led him through to a front room that hadn't changed since the days when Oswald had ruled the underworld. Victor briefly made an appearance, placing the flowers, now in a vase, on a table next to a couch. As he left the room, Ed sat on an armchair that was close to the couch, then gestured to the other seat.

"You sit there," he said, "Then we can both be close to Ozzy when he comes in. Oh dear, that's not right..." he had sat down, but then he got up again and leaned over the couch, carefully arranging cushions against one end of it, "He needs to be comfortable," Ed explained, then he sat down and turned to Jim.

"I expect you have many questions. I'm going to let Ozzy break the news."

Suddenly Jim felt overcome with emotion as he looked to the couch and then the flowers.

"I just want you to know if there's anything I can do, I'm here for you both," he said, "I'll help in any way I can, I know it must be tough... I understand that he's been very sick... is he going to recover or..."

"I think I'll leave the explaining to Oswald," Ed said with a smile, and he placed his hand on Jim's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, "It's really moving that you're so caring, Jim. But under the circumstances, hearing the rumours, then seeing the videos I sent you, I get why you would think the way you do..." he laughed, suddenly there was a wicked gleam in his eyes that reminded Jim of Riddler, then it was gone, "You need to realise that was just a few selected parts of a very long video diary - and we put some moments together to make it look… slightly inaccurate. The reason was purely to be sure we could trust you. I'm sorry about that. Now we know we can, everything will make perfect sense..."

He paused, leaning back in his chair as he looked to the door.

"Oz!" he called, "Jim Gordon is here!"

Jim looked to the door. As it opened, Jim rose from his seat. Oswald walked into the room in a fine suit with his air swept up into spikes, his eyes were sparkling and he smiled warmly. Now Jim was really confused, Oswald looked glowing with health.

"I know it's been confusing," he said as he leaned on his cane and hurried over to him, "But I'm going to explain everything. Yes, I was in a lot of pain and all the stuff about the toxins poisoning me is true. Everything you saw on those videos was accurate. But there was a reason."

He went over to the couch, leaned his cane against the wall and then sat down in a fluid, energetic movement, siting back against the cushions as he put his feet up and got comfortable. He looked to Ed, then to Jim, and he was still smiling.

"But I thought it was serious, I thought you were dying," Jim said.

Oswald glanced at Ed.

"You arranged my cushions just right."

"I want you to be comfortable," Ed replied kindly.

Then Oswald noticed the flowers.

"Did you get those for me, Jim? They're beautiful! Ed often gives me flowers."

He looked at Ed and their gaze lingered for a moment, then Oswald spoke again.

"Go and get my most treasured possession, Edward."

"I'd love to, Ozzy," he replied, then he got up and left the room.

It was then he noticed the look in Jim's eyes. With all that he had misunderstood, he knew Jim had been through more than enough, fearing the worst for him.

"I'm not dying," he said, and he noticed the instant relief on his face as all tension vanished from Jim's expression.

"But you've been very sick?"

Oswald was smiling now. He shook his head.

"Not exactly...Yes and no..." he said with a hint of playful mystery in his voice.

Then Ed returned to the room and handed Oswald his shotgun.

"There you go, Ozzy," he said, "Your most precious possession."

Oswald glared at Ed, then he leaned it against his shoulder and as Ed laughed, he started to laugh too, recalling the old days.

"It still feels so right to hold it again!" he said fondly, then he handed it back to Ed and his expression became serious once more.

"Put it away and go and get my real cherished possession!"

"Of course, and mine too!"

"And take your time – give me ten minutes to explain everything to Jim."

Ed glanced at Jim.

"I am one plus one yet make three, what am I?" he asked.

Jim shook his head. He was so confused right now, that a riddle was the last thing he needed.

"You don't know the answer? Then you're in for a big shock," said Ed, and then he left the room.


Now they were alone together, Oswald settled back comfortably and looked at Jim, who looked back at him with a confused expression as he waited for an answer.

"Before I explain," Oswald said, "I'm aware that a lot of emotion was dragged up over this – and I also recall our last meeting on the pier. You asked me if I ever really loved you, and I didn't answer your question."

"It's been ten years..." Jim looked away, but Oswald reached over and touched his hand, then he drew it back again as he met his gaze.

"I do owe you an answer," he said, "Yes Jim, I did love you. But I loved Ed more."

Jim nodded, taking his answer as making perfect sense all these years later, after so much had happened.

"And so you should," he agreed, "You belong together."

"I knew that back then," Oswald admitted, "Remember that day I had the documents on me and you asked me about one of them? It was a legal agreement, I got Ed to sign it to agree that if we resumed our relationship there would be no more violence. I was seeing you at the time, I just wanted to cover every future possibility. He didn't even know what he signed until later. Not that he would ever hurt me now, so much has changed."

Jim didn't even feel angry. Of course he would do that, Penguin always got what he wanted and always planned for every possibility, he liked to cover all angles...

Then Oswald turned his attention back to the matter at hand, as a smile lit up his face as his eyes sparkled.

"Back to the reason you're here... as I said, I'm not sick and I'm certainly not dying! There's nothing wrong with me..."

He paused, there was a look on his face that said he was very pleased and proud about something, and he was waiting for Jim to guess what it was. Jim had no clue as he looked back at him.

"Then what happened?" he asked.

"I had a baby!" Oswald announced proudly.

Jim's jaw dropped. Oswald saw the look on his face and laughed. Jim was still trying to find his voice as the thought Men can't have babies ran though his mind.

"You had a... wait, how the hell can you have a baby?"

Oswald began to explain:

"Ten years back, after Ed was facing a long recovery from the surgery, I went to see Hugo Strange to find out if there was anything he could do to help him recover faster. He told me Ed was making a good recovery and it needed to take its time, so there was nothing he could do for him. Then I noticed Strange was working on something, and I asked him to tell me about it. That was the day I found out he had plans to create an organic implant that can enable anyone to conceive – it works by the host taking a formula that enables the implant to talk to the host DNA so it can create the right environment to draw in the sperm and create the foetus, once the pregnancy starts, it's all contained within the implant, which can only expand a certain amount before it has to be taken out – which only covers the first three months. Then the implant is opened up and the baby grows for the next six months in the lab."

He paused.

"Wow..." Jim whispered.

"And this is all legal, by the way," Oswald added, "It was all funded by the city with full approval by the authorities. Strange had started it as a project to help women with fertility problems, but when I asked if anyone could use one of those implants, that's when he realised how big this invention could become. I told him, as soon as the prototype is ready, I'm his volunteer because I wanted a baby with Ed."

Now everything he had seen on the videos made sense. Ed wasn't being cruel when he was laughing and fooling around when Oswald felt so unwell, he was just excited, because he knew he was going to be a father...

"And you had to wait ten years."

"It took Ed two years to get over the surgery," Oswald paused, recalling less happy times, "He needed me to look after him. He had weakness in his right hand, he was forgetful, I had to feed him and get him dressed every day for the first few months. But he recovered and then we put our lives back together..." his mood brightened again, "Then Strange said he had the prototype ready, at last. He said if we waited a few more years there would be less risk to me – the risk is all to the host, the baby safe inside the implant – but I couldn't wait any longer."

"And everything that could go wrong, did?" Jim guessed.

Oswald nodded.

"I was sick from the medication, then the implant failed early... it leaked toxins into my body, it was very complicated to remove – what should have been a small cut and a couple of stitches turned into something else entirely..." he briefly paled at the memory, "I was in such a mess I may as well have given birth to a full term baby! I can't explain what the pain was like – I can only compare it to feeling like I'd sat on a cactus wrapped in razor wire!"

As he carried on in detail about his injuries and his internal stitches, Jim recalled Victor's warning about too much information as he briefly looked away, trying to think of a way to change the subject.

"It was three months before the pain stopped," Oswald was saying, "Even to this day if I'm in the car and we go over a bump in the road it all comes back to me -"

"So you carried the baby for three months?" Jim cut in quickly.

Oswald blinked.

"Yes, just the first three months. Then after the implant was taken out, I had all the pain to get through from the complications, on top of that I got this crazy kind of depression thing because I knew it was gone, there was nothing there any more.. I was pining for my baby, even though I knew it was safe in the lab in the gestation chamber."

"That must have been tough," Jim agreed.

"It was. I needed anti depressants for eight weeks. I just wanted to be with her."

Her? Jim started to smile.

"You have daughter?"

Oswald smiled proudly.

"Yes, we do. She's two months old now."

Suddenly everything made sense; Jim's detective skills had finally put the pieces together.

"All the secrecy... it's because you don't want the press to bother you, being the first to use the implant."

"Exactly," Oswald agreed, "Ed and I don't want her growing up with media attention. The other reason is the past. As soon as the press get involved, the past gets dragged up. I can gloss over my criminal connections because I was also known for being mayor of Gotham – but it's not so easy for Ed, not with his past. That's not the kind of stuff we want our daughter hearing about as she grows up."

"Of course," Jim agreed. Then he realised something else and laughed.

"That's why you look so tired sometimes – you're up at night feeding her!"

"Usually three or four times a night," Oswald replied.

Then Jim thought of something else.

"How come you're such good friends with Barbara these days?"

"Barbara has fertility issues and she wants to try the implant method. I persuaded Strange to put her on the waiting list. He's not going to make the method available again for two more years because he wants to improve safety, especially after the rough time I had..." he paused, then added, "I was in so much pain it gave me such crazy thoughts. I remember thinking, if I'd still been with you and we were doing this I bet it would have been the other way round."

"What?" said Jim, feeling confused.

Oswald smiled.

"If destiny had been different, it wouldn't have been me having the babies, I felt very sure you would have done that for me, to spare me the pain. In fact, I probably would have suggested it."

Jim looked away briefly as he smiled, remembering how he had learned the hard way that Penguin always got what he wanted - he wouldn't have suggested anything, he would have tried to insist... And he had just realised, back then, when he had been in love with Oswald and willing to do anything for him, it certainly wouldn't have involved carrying his babies... He could just see it now, calling in sick and Harvey saying, "Penguin's knocked you up again, Jim? How many more kids are you going to have with that guy?"

He would always cherish the memory of what they had shared, Oswald's name would always take up a small piece of his heart. But as for the rest of it, Jim had his life exactly how he wanted it, and his biggest commitment was his career as a cop and nothing would ever change that...

"How come Ed didn't offer to do it for you?" Jim asked.

"Ed had been through enough with the surgery. After taking two years to recover, even though he was cured, it could have been too much for him. Also, I really wanted him to father our baby."

"Are you going to have any more kids?" Jim asked. By now it was sinking in, Oswald had really had a baby. It had been with use of experimental technology, and he hadn't carried the child full term, but he had definitely conceived with Ed and now they had a daughter.

"No, I can't have any more," Oswald replied "The complications when the unit failed left me with too much damage and scarring. Thankfully my body is just fine now – at least, I think it is, me and Ed still have a great sex life, he says everything feels great when we -"

"I'm glad to know everything is ...back to normal," Jim cut in quickly, as he changed the subject, "So, what did you name her?"

Just at that moment, Ed walked into the room cradling his baby daughter in his arms.

The answer to my riddle is Family," he said, "And as for her name...Oswald gave it great consideration and decided to name our daughter after a very special woman who had a huge impact on his life," as he joined them, Ed had a playful gleam in his eyes, "But I told Oswald I didn't think Fish was a very pretty name!"

Oswald laughed as he shook his head.

"Stop it, Ed!"

"I was just kidding," Ed replied, "We named her Gertrude – Gertie, after Oswald's wonderful mother."

As he stood beside his seat, he proudly showed off the child he cradled in his arms, now Jim understood the reason why Oswald's mother's photo had been up online and what that comment about her eyes had meant... Oswald's daughter had eyes like her grandmother, and raven black hair like Oswald, and she had Ed's smile as she looked at him. She was wearing lilac and wrapped in a yellow blanket.

"Let's give you to Daddy," said Ed, and as Oswald took his daughter in his arms and sat back against the cushions on the couch, it warmed Jim's heart to see the look of pure contentment on his face as he gazed down at his child.

"Daddy loves you so much, sweetheart," Oswald said.

Jim looked on, watching as he realised that last trace of his broken heart was gone – this was Oswald's life now, with Ed, in the life he wanted, and the life he deserved. They were happy. Everything had worked out as it had meant be...

Much later, after dinner and pictures with the guys and Gertie, then Ed shooting some more videos of Jim's visit, Jim was driven home by Victor.


As he drove away from the mansion, Victor glanced at him and smiled.

"You look like you had a great time."

"I did, they invited me over next weekend, I'm looking forward to it," Jim replied.

"Did Oswald tell you all about his epic ordeal?"

Jim laughed.

"Yeah, I came close to too much information a couple of times but I changed the subject!"

Victor gave a sigh as he shook his head.

"He still goes on about it, if I hit a bump in the road he makes so much fuss! It's like the saga of his pain in the ass is never ending! There's nothing wrong with him, on Friday nights Ivy babysits and I pick the guys up from the club. Believe me, after what I've seen going on in that back seat when Penguin's drunk and all over Ed, there's nothing wrong with him at all now, he was over it months ago!"

Jim laughed again.

Then as they passed the river, he caught sight of the pier in the distance, but no ghostly images shimmered there in an embrace from the past now. Jim felt sure that every time he stepped out on that fire exit at work, he would still fondly remember Oswald standing there beneath the shade of his umbrella, saying I love you, Jim Gordon! But now he would recall it with a smile and feel no regrets. He thought about that question that had taken ten years to answer, and the moment when Oswald had said, "Yes Jim, I did love you. But I loved Ed more." Of course he did, he always had. Jim guessed he probably knew that even when Oswald had sworn they were through – he would never leave Ed, on some level, Jim had always known it, even if back then, he had not wanted to face up to it... Now he was just happy for them, and happy to be back in their lives as a friend, now that circumstances were very different.

Victor stopped the car outside Jim's apartment.

"Thanks for the ride," Jim said.

"Is Penguin the only guy from the opposite side of the law that you've ever dated?" Victor wondered.

"Why?" Jim asked.

"No reason... I was just wondering if you'd ever consider going for a date with some guy who might have criminal activity in his past... when I say date, I mean, go for a few beers and shoot some pool at a mutually convenient time?"

"I might, it depends on the guy," Jim replied.

"Okay," Victor replied, then he pulled a folded piece of paper from his pocket and handed it to him.

"What's this?" asked Jim.

"Just my number again," Victor said, "Call me -"

He laughed softly.

"I'm over Oswald. I don't need to talk about him now, it's all in the past."

"I know that. I just mean, call me... if you'd like to go for a few beers and shoot some pool at a mutually convenient time?"

He saw the playful look in Victor's eyes, and then he laughed softly and so did Victor. In that moment he realised he rather liked this guy, he was down to earth, he made him laugh, he wasn't demanding and he liked their shared conversations, too...

"I will call you, Victor," he said, smiling as he got out of the car.

"Great, see you soon," Victor replied, then he smiled back at him, started up the car and drove away.


A short while later, Jim was in his apartment, standing at the window and looking out at the view of the city. In the distance, the waters of the river looked kissed by gold as the sunset lowered. For a moment he thought of Oswald, then he felt sure those memories would always flicker like ghosts, him and Oswald up in the office together, then that day on the pier, and the time Oswald had turned up at work to tell him he loved him. Even here in the apartment, if he looked out in the hallway, he recalled the spot where he had fallen to his knees and passionately apologised for their quarrel.

But none of that mattered now, Oswald was where he should be, where he had always wanted to be – at home with Ed with their baby in his arms.

Jim was certain no regrets or heartaches lingered now. The future was suddenly unknown and bright with possibilities, and none of them involved looking back to the past: When memories returned to him him now, they would be remembered only with fondness, and if memories were like ghosts, he knew for sure the ghosts were happy now...

End.