Gigi closed the front door and let out a small, satisfied sigh. She couldn't remember feeling this content for such a long time. Since she had started college she had felt so lonely, as hard as William tried to be there for her, he was always so busy with work. She hadn't made a lot of friends, and was really feeling the effects of being in a new city all by her self. Until she met George Wickham.

The swimming coach Ms. Younge had set up a meeting after she had asked for some extra training. Gigi had been shocked but happy when George walked through the door. They had started spending every afternoon together and all those old feelings of her teenage crush come rushing back. Though this time, it seemed like George looked at her in a different way. Eventually one thing led to another and now here they were.

Gigi didn't know what she would do without George in her life. He was so sweet and caring, it seemed like he made all of her problems disappear. And She knew he felt the same way about her, he had told her just the other day. It was nice to be needed sometimes, to feel like a valued part of a relationship. Gigi made her way to their bedroom where George was still sleeping, sheets gathered around his waist and exposing his perfectly toned chest. Crawling across the bed she gave him a quick good morning kiss. He responded slowly at first, but after waking up slightly gripped her waist and rolled them over, pinning her to the bed.

"Morning peach."

She grinned up at him before pushing him off and saying "Not now George, I have to shower. I'm all sweaty from my run."

He followed her off of the bed and into the bathroom. "Maybe I'll just have to join you then."

They were curled up together on the couch after lunch, watching some lame made for TV romantic comedy. Ever time there was a particularly cheesy line, George would turn to her and repeat it.

"God, you are so lame" she teased.

In response he leaned over and kissed her softly. The kiss deepened and George gently lowered her onto her back. After a few moments Gigi decided that clothes were an unwelcome element and started tugging at the hem of her boyfriends shirt.

Her pants were just about to join their shirts on the floor when she heard a key turn in the lock and practically threw George to the ground; but not before William walked through the door and saw George Wickham on top of his half naked sister.

"Gigi!"

"William, I..." She pulled up her jeans and grabbed her shirt, quickly pulling it on, covering herself, but her brother wasn't paying attention.

"What are you doing here?" He directed his murderous stare at George.

"Good to see you too Darce." George's voice was casual as he picked himself up off of the floor, pulling up his pants but not bothering to find his shirt.

"I asked what you were doing here?"

"What does it look like?" He eyed Gigi up and down before sending a satisfied smirk to William. Gigi had yet to take her wide eyes off of her brother so missed George's expression.

William moved around the coffee table towards him, unsure of what he was going to do beyond causing George pain, but Gigi ran in front of him.

"William stop." She put her hands up to his chest and he looked down at her, trying to push past her. "George… George lives with me." This stopped him dead. He looked back at George who nodded, smirk still on his face.

He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, trying to regain his control. "How long?" His words were clipped.

"A month." It was barely more than a whisper.

"A MONTH!" His eyes snapped open and he looked down at his baby sister in disbelief. "You've been lying to me for the last month."

"Actually we've been dating for 2 months..." George started, moving to put his arm around Gigi but she turned to him and have him an exasperated look. He was obviously not helping his situation.

"We knew you would react this way, that's why I didn't..." But William cut her off.

"How else am I supposed to react Gigi, when I see my little sister being used by that..." he said, motioning towards the man now taking a seat on the couch. He didn't have words to describe how vile he thought George was at that moment. Not ones he would use in front of his sister at any rate.

"He's not using me William, he loves me. Okay. And I love him." She grabbed his hand and gave it a small squeeze. "We can go back to being a family again William, don't you want that?"

"You love him?" His voice broke.

"Yes, I love him."

He could see it then, in her eyes, that she really did believe herself to be in love, and she really believed that George returned that love. William's heart broke for his sister. He knew from experience that George wasn't capable of loving or caring about anyone but himself.

"I'm so, so sorry Gigi, but he doesn't love you." He held both of her hands in his, returning the gentle pressure from a moment ago. "He's using you to get back at me."

Gigi stared for a moment, and then started shaking her head. "No, no he wouldn't do that, you're just being..." She started pulling her hands away.

"Fine, I'll prove it." William sighed, hating to be the one to hurt her.

"Prove it how?" But he was already pulling out his chequebook. Gigi looked at him confused, "What are you doing?"

"He's angry that I wouldn't give him more money, that's why he's dating you." He had reverted back to his clipped tone from earlier, trying to control his emotions.

She glared at him, her voice rising in volume and pitch. "You're being ridiculous William, he doesn't care about that any more, he..."

"Here, is this an adequate amount?" He ignored his sister and handed the cheque to George, whose eyes widened, and then he grinned at William.

"It'll do." as he snatched he cheque from Williams hands. He grabbed his shirt and car keys from the bench.

"But George, I don't..."

George was already at the doorway; he turned to her and winked. "Sorry peach"

A moment later they heard the door slam shut. Just like that George Wickham walked out of her life. She felt the tears start to sting at her eyes, the look of disbelief still on her face.

Gigi started shaking as the tears streamed down her face and a small sob made its way past her lips. She felt her brothers arm move around her shoulder but she shrugged it off. How could he think it was ok to pay her boyfriend to leave her?

"Don't." She whispered as she turned away from him.

"Gigi it's going to be..."

"How could you do that William?"

Now he was confused. "Me?"

She whirled around to face him, a dangerous look flashed in her eyes. "Yes you. How could you do that to me William? Why do you have to control everything?" Her voice shaking with a combination of her anger and sobbing.

"Gigi I wasn't trying to..." But she cut him off.

"Yes you were, you are always butting in and ruining everything. Just stay out of my life." Her voice started rising as she turned away from him again.

"Well I'm sorry that I was just trying to look out for you." His eyebrows drew closer together and his voice became louder. "Mum and dad..."

"Don't bring them into this. They never would have done this to me." She had turned to face him again and was shouting at him now, her face turning red in anger.

"Perhaps not, but..."

"You are not dad, you never will be, so just stop trying." She knew she had hit a sore spot. He turned away from her and walked towards the kitchen. Taking a few calming breaths he pressed on, his voice dropping down to a normal volume again.

"I know Gigi, but I still love..."

"Well you know who else loved me? George, and you just chased him away."

"He's the one that left, Gigi. He didn't have to take the money. If he truly loved you..." He was yelling now too, and she walked towards him, getting right up in his face.

"What would you know about love William? Nobody loves you."

It was a few moments before he could form a reply. "I was under the impression that my sister did, perhaps I was mistaken?" He turned away from her again, this time his voice was full of hurt.

"Yeah, maybe you were."

Without saying another word he grabbed his car keys and headed towards the door. She followed him and just as he crossed over the threshold she spoke quietly. "I wish it was you?"

"What?"

"I wish…" Gigi swallowed nervously before she looked him in the eye and spoke unwaveringly. "I wish you had died in that car crash instead of them."

He held her gaze for a barely a second before dropping his head and quietly responding "Me too." Then shut the door in her face.

Gigi stood there for several minutes staring at the door before sinking down to the floor in a heap and releasing her tears. She didn't know how long she lay on the floor, but eventually she woke up in her bed, and she could hear voices coming from the lounge room.

"I don't mind staying but are you sure?"

"Yes Fitz I'm sure. She made it perfectly clear that she does not want my presence in her life right now."

"I don't think she actually meant a lot of the stuff she said, people get irrational when it comes to love."

Silence and then

"I failed, her. I should have been honest with her from the start but..."

"No man, it's not your fault, or hers."

"She's right, Dad wouldn't have let this happen. They would be so disappointed in me."

"No. I do not ever want to hear you say that again. You have done a great job, under really difficult circumstances. How many people can say they've done what you have man?"

Gigi didn't hear anymore after this, the tears began again and she cried herself to sleep once more.

The next morning she woke to the smell of pancakes, and dragged her self out of bed to see her brother. When she reached the kitchen though, it was Fitz who treated her with a smile and a plateful of pancakes. Her heart sank as she realised that not only was George gone, she had pushed her brother away as well. She didn't feel very hungry after that, and Fitz hugged her as fresh tears started rolling down her face.

A/N - thank you to ouhusker7 for pointing out a word I left out in the first chapter and also for the nice review