Disclaimer: I do not own Skins in any way, shape or form. :(

Cook didn't know why Effy hadn't come to visit again. She hadn't even contacted him to explain. After around six months in prison he had earned the right to Release on Temporary Licence since he was a fairly low security prisoner and hadn't tried to escape again. He could go out for one day a month subject to good behaviour and his performance in his community service as long as he wore an ankle GPS tracker, was back by eight and didn't stray from the specified boundaries. Cook didn't mind the rules, though. He got to get out of the prison with all those grey walls. He knew exactly what day he would apply for leave. He took his release on the third day of the seventh month of his sentence.

Buttoning up his cardigan against the autumn wind, so glad it wasn't coloured grey, he headed for the train station with a cigarette in hand. Stepping outside of those walls was the best he had felt since Effy came to visit. It was a rare, cloudless day and it was full of potential. It was pregnant.

It was a long time coming and Effy wasn't sure how she felt. She'd been so safe until then, so protected by the white walls and soft carpet and kind people. Packing the last of her shirts, she looked out the window and smiled. She zipped up the bag. At least it was sunny.

'Hey, princess.'

Effy froze. She couldn't believe it. She turned to face him slowly. He had that stupid, lopsided grin on his face that always made her smile too.

'Cook,' she stated, completely unfazed by his random materialisation. 'How did you get here?' The morning light shone behind her and he thought she looked a little like an angel. The most fragile and broken angel that ever was, if that was possible.

'Our J is useful after all, hey? He told me you were gettin' out of the loony bin today. Thought someone ought to celebrate with you, hey, peachy?' Cook kept smiling that lopsided grin.

'Oh. But how did you get out of gaol?'

'I've been a good boy and earned a day off. It was fucking hard, believe me. You know how many fucking fights I had to stand down from to get here today? And how much rubbish I've collected on highways?'

'Well come on, then. You can get the bus with me. It's a nice day, at least.'

Perfect, Cook thought. He wasn't sure if he was thinking of the weather or Effy.

They rode the bus in comfortable silence, Effy leaning on his shoulder. She looked tired. She always looked tired to him. Except at least now the physical and emotional scars were beginning to heal. She really was looking better. They'd barely exchanged a few sentences in the hour they'd been together and Cook didn't care. He didn't mind that his shoulder was going numb, either. There wasn't anywhere he'd rather be. 'How come your mum didn't come pick you up?'

Effy sighed. 'She hasn't taken everything too well. First Tony, then dad, then me. I'm surprised she didn't end up in the hospital herself. Although she did end up at AA for a while-'

Cook snorted. He knew that would happen. '-and a few months ago she went on a holiday to France and she hasn't come back. She got a job there. I guess she's kind of living there or something. She has a flat, but I don't know how long the lease is. She calls every few days, though.'

'Wow,' was all he could say. Suddenly the hum of the bus seemed too loud. 'How are you gonna manage, Eff?'

'It's okay, I guess. Mum and dad paid for the hospital and mum pays the bills and it's not like I have to pay rent…I guess now I just have to pay for groceries and spliff and my crazy pills. I learnt how to cook when mum went loopy after Tony got hit.' Effy gave a sad smile. 'The worst bit is that I have a three bedroom house and no one to fill it. Although Katie will come round. That'll do.' She pressed the stop button, pretending not to care that she was alone. Cook patted her hand.

The house was in a right state and they spent all morning cleaning downstairs, occasionally talking about memories from before this all happened, careful to avoid talking about themselves or Freddie. They got some chips from up the road and ate them on Effy's bed. When she took a big, red pill with her lunch without even thinking, Cook was reminded just how fucked up she was and just how long she still had to go until she was really okay.

Effy was thinking about all that had ever happened in her room. How many times they had fucked in her bed, how she had lived here with Freddie the last time her mum was gone and how wrong it all was. Now she was here with Cook and it was the happiest she'd felt since she last saw him, and it felt horrible. You're going to get hurt, Effy, that's why you never went back to visit him. He doesn't love you, and you're meant to love Freddie, he was your boyfriend. Effy shook the thoughts from her mind.

'How come they let you out of the hospital?' Cook took Effy by surprise.

'Dunno, really. They said they think I can manage okay now. But I still have to see Amy once a fortnight. And I have to take the pills forever, or the voices will come back. But I guess that's a decent price to pay for being alive. At least I want to live, now.' She laughed a mirthless laugh.

He nodded. 'Well I'm glad you're out. ' He clapped her on the back. Effy didn't reply.

Cook lay down on the bed, shoes still on. 'Why didn't you visit when you said you would? It's so fucking boring. JJ's only visited once since you came to see me. He's always fucking busy at uni doing some kind of genius shit. And Blondie sent me a postcard. That's it, Eff.'

Effy lay down beside him and snuggled into his side, wrapping her leg over his. He put his arm around her waist and stared at the ceiling. They lay in silence for a long time.

'I was scared,' she whispered. He looked down into her eyes. She looked embarrassed, he thought.

'Of what, babe?'

'I dunno. Everything that has happened. Life. I just want to forget it all.' She buried further into his side, murmuring 'Too much, it's all too much.'

'I know, Eff. We all miss Freds.' He completely misread what she said. 'You'll keep getting better, you know that. You've got friends who'll help. And I'll be eligible for parole in three months.'

She lifted her head at that. 'Really, will you?' Shit, she thought. She thought she'd have more time to forget about loving him.

As they waited for Cook to get the train back 'home' to gaol they sat on a bench, backs to the wind. He wondered how she always managed in the cold when wearing so little clothes.

'Where are you gonna live when you get out? You don't have any money,' Effy said matter-of-factly.

'Dunno, babe. No fucking clue.' He shook his leg almost nervously. He didn't know why he was so worried about something that would normally be a trivial fact. In the past he would've slept on a park bench or couch surfed. Maybe he was starting to grow up a little. Prison was good for something. Or maybe it was the fact that his best friend was murdered.

'If you need a place to crash I have two spare bedrooms.' Why, oh why, did you just say that? Effy wanted to pinch herself. She just couldn't herself, sometimes. No self-control. Probably the same reason she did drugs and fucked in the nurse's office at college.

'Thanks, Effy. You're a top fucking chick, you know?' He passed his cigarette to her for a drag. Before she inhaled she looked him straight in the eyes and said 'Fuck you, Cook.' But she was smiling. They sat in silence sharing the cigarette until they saw the train approaching. Cook stood and looked at Effy. 'Well, time for me to go peachy. It's good seein' you look better.'

'Thanks for helping clean the house.' She stubbed out the cigarette and he walked to the edge of the platform as the doors opened. She took a few bold steps after him. 'Cook?'

'Yeah, princess?'

'Why'd you come see me anyway?' Just like he had asked when she came to see him at the gaol. Cook turned to face her. Fuck it, he thought. He was usually the kind of guy that spoke his mind. He was sure Freddie wouldn't mind. He'd just want them to be happy. Is it okay, Freds? He looked to the dark evening sky for some kind of answer and seemed to know it was. No matter what happened between them Freddie and Cook would always love each other. Always. Ah well, no time like the present.

Effy fiddled with a hole in her fishnets until he spoke. 'Well…' Mirroring Effy a few months ago, he looked her straight in the eyes. 'I missed you, Effy.' He leaned forward and kissed her on the forehead. The corners of Effy's mouth were tilting upward, begging her to let herself smile. Cook knew she wanted to and he thought for a second, maybe, just maybe, she might feel the same way. He felt the now familiar hope and anticipation creep into his bones. Effy opened her mouth to speak but Cook was already boarding the train. The doors slid shut and she was left standing in the wind, dumbfounded and smiling stupidly. Cook had never seen anything so beautiful. He laughed to himself.

A/N So I wasn't sure whether to keep writing this due to lack of feedback. But I decided to do this chapter coz this'll be a decent place to stop if no one is reading. If you read, yes YOU there, reading this A/N right now. Please a review, even if brief. It is very disappointing to see hundreds of people view the story but only a few review. I really would like to know how I can improve my writing, incorporate peoples' ideas, or whether I should stop writing this altogether. Let me know if I should continue or give up by hitting the button below. It took me 2 hours to type up this chapter and it'll only take 2 mins to review.