Alex's P.O.V.

This was the luckiest day Alex had since Josh came back to him. Esmond had to go to some sort of business meeting and mingle with some rich people. So now Alex was able to spend his day off free of that maniac. Carl tried to convince him to stay home but Alex told him that he wanted to get some shopping done. The timid man did not want him to leave the house, stating that they should take the chance to get to know each other better. But he allowed Alex to leave anyway.

So now Alex would be able to see Henry again, finally after all this time. Of course, what would be his luckiest day would give way to his worst night. He had agreed to sleep with Esmond tonight and the thought made Alex sick. Could Henry help him somehow? Would he even be willing to help him, after what Alex said to him? Alex shook his head of the question. Henry wasn't that heartless and Alex knew it. First thing was first, Alex had to help Henry escape his obsessive killer.

He made sure to hide his favored pistol in his pocket as he waited around in the store. He was risking a lot of anyone found out what he was carrying, but he wanted to be prepared in case Sullivan did come. He'd fought plenty of supernatural monsters with the same weapon, so he hoped he could do the same with a ghost.

Josh insisted on going with him, almost to the point where he was about to throw a tantrum if he didn't get his way. In the end, Alex conceded, though only after Josh promised to run away at the first sign of danger. While they were walking along the sidewalk, Josh tugged at Alex's arm.

"That woman. There. Is she who you were talking about?"

Alex saw that Josh must have had a strong sense of who was a ghost and who wasn't, because he picked out Eileen among the entire crowd. She came up to the two males and Alex gestured they go somewhere just a tad more private to talk. They went to a coffee shop that had only a few customers inside.

"Stay here. I'll go tell him where you are," Eileen left as quickly as she could.

Alex leaned over to Josh's ear.

"If anyone sees us, we're talking to your imaginary friend, okay?"

Josh pouted, "Why can't he be your imaginary friend?"

"Because I'm not a kid."

"You could pretend to be crazy?"

"Eh…no."

The two brothers smiled at each other. Alex was in high spirits. Soon, he would finally be able to see Henry and apologize, just as he had been intending to do for a while.

Josh got himself a hot chocolate while Alex ordered black coffee and a scone. The elder Shepherd glance at the clock nervously. It had already been ten minutes, so now he was wondering if Henry really was too mad to talk to him.

Suddenly, a figure zoomed in front of them so quickly that Alex had to adjust his vision. Henry gaped at him and Alex did the same, both frozen in place like they were about to hug each other. Alex was ready to but remembered that his hands would go through air if he tried.

"Henry…Would you like to sit down?"

It sounded like a stupid thing to ask but Alex didn't know any other way to break the ice. At least it did the trick, if the relieved smile on Henry's face was anything to go by.

"Thanks."

Josh waited for the two men to start talking, but their awkward silence went on for too long.

"Can you help us, Henry? I don't want to live with Esmond anymore."

Henry glanced at him, then turned to Alex with a concerned frown.

"I'm not sure what I can do. Maybe I can scare him somehow? You can make up a story or something about being haunted."

Josh went into a fit of giggles.

"Yeah. Alex is haunted by a very scary and very jealous ghost."

Alex chuckled when he saw Henry blush a bit. His eyes shone in a kid of hope he hadn't felt in what felt like forever.

"Can you do that, Henry?"

Henry smiled, "Yeah. I can pick up some things if I focus enough. They'll look like they're floating to most people, so I think it will be fine."

Maybe it would work. Maybe he could leave the creep as well as keep his job, if he scared Esmond enough.

Well, they came up with a solution for Alex's problem. Now he had to focus on Henry.

"Why's your killer so upset with talking to a live person?"

A guilty look flashed through Henry's eyes, and the ghost quickly averted his gaze to the floor. Alex waited for a while, but soon figured out that Henry knew the answer, yet was unwilling to tell him. The living man shook his head.

"Never mind. You don't have to answer if you don't want to."

"I'm sorry, Alex."

"Why? If anything, I'm the one who should be sorry. For what I said the last time we talked. That was really douchie of me, and I can't tell you how much I regret acting like I knew your situation and jumping to conclusions."

The smile on Henry's face was bright enough to light the room. It was contagious, as both Shepherd brothers had a grin on his face. Suddenly, Josh looked serious.

"Henry, when can you scare Esmond off-"

"Well, I…"

"Can you do it tonight?"

The question produced shocked faces from both adults. Henry because of the unexpected time constraint and Alex because of why that time constraint might even be there in the first place. Did Josh have an inkling as to what Esmond planned for Alex tonight?

He mentally shook his head. No, of course not. That couldn't be right. Josh was just a little kid, and besides, he had no way of figuring it out. He wasn't in the room when Alex made the deal.

"I don't know," answered Henry, "I would have to do it before the sun sets. Otherwise, I won't be able to get away from the apartment."

"We can set him up. Alex, call Esmond and we'll meet up somewhere."

Alex had a feeling that Esmond would be willing to leave the meeting if it was asked of him. And if it would give him extra benefits tonight.

Henry caught his eye.

"Okay. I'll do my best," he said.

Alex inwardly shuddered. It was a risk, but one he would take.

"Alright. Let me help the set up. Henry, I'll let you know the time and place."

Eileen's P.O.V.

This café was so wonderful, the colors of the interior design light blue and grey. It was a calming little place and the people that went there were always so nice to Eileen. She missed the taste of their mocha lattes.

She was sitting down in her usual spot, trying to pretend that everything was normal. This has been her habit ever since she died. She knew it was sad, borderline pathetic as a matter of fact. But the idea that she was dead was still so much to take in, that an ounce of normalcy kept her from sobbing all through the night.

There was the old couple that she used to chat with. They were having their usual, the husband with black coffee and the wife with raspberry iced tea. She smiled.

"Good day, isn't it?" she said like she did when she was alive. She imagined them responding back to her with those pleasant smiles they had always granted her.

The couple seemed cheerful, but then the wife suddenly frowned.

"Every time we come here…" she trailed off.

The husband evidently knew exactly what she was getting at. He cupped her hand into his.

"I know. Maybe we should start going to another place?"

"Oh, no need for that. It's such a lovely place. It's just still so shocking to think about. She was becoming the granddaughter I never had, and then suddenly…she's killed."

Eileen stood up from her chair and ran out the shop. Tears were practically streaming down her face. She had made the mistake of going to her own funeral. When she saw her mother drown in sorry, her heart tore in half so much that it physically hurt. Even in death, she could still feel pain. Life had been so fair to her, so maybe now she was paying for it in death.

She's suddenly stopped by a hand grabbing her shoulders. She stared wide eyed into her killer's face. Walter didn't exactly look angry, just upset.

"Mother Reborn. Where is the Receiver?"

Eileen refrained from gulping.

"I don't know."

"You're a terrible liar, Miss Gavin."

Eileen braced herself to be hit. She flinched when Walter let go, expecting his fist to come flying at her. Thankfully, Walter did nothing of the sort.

"I will find him myself. Don't think you'll get off easy next time you lie to me, Mother Reborn."

The killer walked away, his strides even and almost relaxed. Eileen took that moment to recover her nerves. Yeah, karma really was probably making her pay up for her nice life.

Henry's P.O.V.

Alex was waiting around in the park. Henry knew that he had got Esmond to agree to go with him. He was waiting around with Josh's toy. They needed to make sure that no one else was close by to see the toy disappear. Otherwise, they'll cause a panic.

Walter had told the ghosts early on that if they would cause too much a panic, they people who saw will die and they would be punished severely. These two threats kept all the ghosts in line.

"I'm glad you're here, Henry. I'm glad you're willing to help."

"I'm glad too. Thanks for being so willing to talk to me."

"Of course. I had plenty of trouble with the Order, so I would know a good ghost when I see one."

Henry smiled at him. Alex looked away for a moment, causing Henry to grow curious.

"You know, Henry. Not that I'm justifying myself, but there's a good reason why I wanted to blame somebody for your death, even if it was you."

Henry gave him a look that silently told the living man to continue. Alex willed himself to keep going.

"I wish you were alive, Henry. I think I would have really fallen for you."

Henry didn't know whether to be hurt or to jump for joy. This news was so bitter sweet, and Henry wished he could kiss the man on the lips right now. Technically he could, but he wouldn't do so without Alex's permission. And then it would look weird if Alex said no or try to kiss back.

The photographer decided to make his own confession.

"I think I had a thing for you when I first saw you. I loved how well you treated Josh. You were always acting like something was going to take him away," Alex gave him a guilty look, but Henry continued rather than ask what was on his mind, "I thought it was really cool that you became so parental to him after you guys lost your own. I'm so sorry about that."

Alex smiled, but then he frowned. Henry was about to ask what was wrong when he realized that Alex was staring past him. He turned around.

And his heart plummeted to hell.

Walter was there, glaring at him. Had he heard everything? Oh no, Alex!

"Something you want, buddy?" Alex asked, clearly taking Walter to be some weird stranger.

Henry stood up and faced his killer, making sure Alex was behind him.

"Walter. Don't do anything. I was just pretending. He's not the man-"

"Oh, he's not?" Walter smirked, "Then tell me, how can he see me? I'm not visible to normal living beings right now."

Henry gulped. Alex was going to die if he didn't do something. He had failed to protect Eileen and himself. He wouldn't with Alex. The living man suddenly pulled out a knife and pointed at the killer in a most threatening manner.

"So, you're Walter? Well, I'll make sure you regret what you did to Henry."

"Alex?"

They turned to see Esmond gawking at his ex. Alex withdrew his knife with a guilty look.

"I…was just rehearsing a play for Josh's school."

Henry saw that other people were on their way and making themselves comfortable. Walter tilted his head in contemplation.

"It looks like I can't do anything now, not with all these witnesses. But that's Esmond Anderson, isn't it?"

The photographer gaped at the other dead man. How did he know who Alex's ex was? Something was off. Walter took a hold of Henry's hand.

"Time to go. We'll worry about him later."

Henry thought about arguing, but then realized that this way, he could keep Alex alive. And then he had time to think of some sort of plan to save him, right?

He had to make sure Walter was with him at all times now. Otherwise, how will he keep Walter from attacking Alex at night?

Wait, he didn't know where Alex lived. So maybe…

His thoughts were derailed when Walter dragged him away. Henry didn't struggle this time. He had learned by now that trying to do so just wouldn't work. They were well away from the park when the grip started to really hurt, though Henry couldn't tell if Walter was holding tighter or if the pain occurred from being dragged so long.

"I can walk on my own. I won't run from you," Henry stated.

He was only met with silence and more dragging. Walter didn't seem to be in any mood to talk to him. Henry thought things through.

"Please don't hurt him," he said when his mind hatched a plan.

This time Walter paused, though he did not let go of his arm. The blonde turned to his victim, giving Henry a half amused, half annoyed look.

"Why would I spare him? He tried to take away something of mine."

Henry gave himself a second to pause before he sealed his fate.

"I am yours. So you don't need to kill him."

Surprise spread across Walter's features. The grip on Henry's eyes became tighter, so much so that Henry winced at the harshness of the grip. He may have said something wrong.

Walter pulled Henry close and the photographer half expected a kiss. However, Walter instead leaned his head close to Henry's ear.

"You think you can give yourself to me just to save your little crush?"

The brunette didn't know how to answer, so he remained silent, praying that Walter wasn't nearly as angry as he sounded. He nearly jumped when he felt a hand on the back of his head. Walter forced his chin to rest on his shoulder. It was the oddest embrace that Henry had ever found himself in.

"Because you can't," Walter continued, "You're already mine. He's still going to die."

Henry was trembling. He hated this close proximity he had with his own killer. It took everything in his power to stay put in the tight hug.

"I know I can't stop you from killing him. But what can he do? He can't touch me like…like this."

Henry didn't know what was going through his head when he did this. Maybe he wasn't thinking at all. His arms wrapped over Walter and his hands landed dangerously close to Walter's rump. Henry trembled out of revulsion and prayed that Walter took the shaking for pleasure.

He heard Walter make a surprise noise and he couldn't blame him. This was nothing like him. And considering their last few conversations, this was probably the last thing Walter expected him to do.

Was he convincing enough? Or would Walter punish him for trying to fool him? The hand on his head forced Henry to look at Walter in the eye. The grip in his hair was tight but, fortunately, Walter didn't look angry anymore.

"You can really be a sweet talker when you want to be."

Henry didn't dare speak. He waited to see what the blonde maniac would say. But instead of speaking, Walter forced their lips together, prying Henry's apart so that he could enter his tongue inside his mouth.

He cringed as the digit invaded him, but he didn't struggle, hoping that Walter would be pleased if he remained passive. The murderer would be happy enough with that, right?

Walter suddenly withdrew.

"I don't need to kill him to own you."

Relief flooded inside Henry and he smiled at the killer for the first time.

"Thank you, Walter."

"Come back home with me. Don't talk to that living being again."

Walter's P.O.V.

It was nice to see Henry looking so happy. But he didn't mean what he said. At least, not in the way he said it. He was still going to kill Alex, just so that he could own Henry's heart, instead of playing this game his receiver made up for them.

That Esmond Anderson worked for the Order, as Walter had learned from Sister Wolfe. Therefore, he knew where to find Anderson. Since Anderson knew Alex personally, it shouldn't be too hard for him to give Walter an address to kill the bastard.

There would be hell to pay. He didn't think that Henry would be too upset after Alex's death. He might be a little sad, but then Henry would realize that he was the one who made the error and decide to fall in love with Walter as he should have done from the beginning.

And then the hug he was in right now would be real. He wouldn't have to feel Henry tremble in his arms anymore after Alex was dead.