A/N: Sorry for the wait. The holidays interfere with everyone's schedules as I have found these past two weeks. But with the coming holidays possibly gives me time to make more chapters. Happy Holidays!

Chapter 37: Conflict Resolution

"Ladies and Gentleman, we're beginning our decent into Seattle. Please fasten all seat belts, and make sure all seats and tray tables are in the upright position. From behalf of all of us, have a happy holidays."

I've held grudges before, but it never ended wellhead. I read a study that said that holding grudges in the long term can lead to a lot of health problems in the future. If you were to tell my aunt that fact sometime while I was gone, and then mention my name, she'd probably tell you to fuck off.

I headed out to the airport, and to the taxis. I headed down to the ferry terminal to take me out to Port Angeles. My cell rang.

"Yeah?"

"Hey, it's me." It was Juno.

"Hey, what's going on?"

"Louis offered me something that I'm really considering. But I think I should run it past you, first."

Louis. Seemed like no matter where I went I couldn't catch a break from that guy.

"What did he offer?"

"He called it an early Christmas present: he wants me to move in with him."

"Holy shit! That's the worst idea in the world! Don't do it!" Is what I should have said right then and there. And that was my first thought. Because then it made me realize it would cause Juno to not see me as much anymore. Maybe that's why he offered her to move in with him. Because then he wouldn't see me as a threat anymore. It seemed like Juno just couldn't stop making mistake after mistake. But I realized another thing: It didn't matter what I thought. What mattered was that Juno was happy with him, so I shouldn't say anything.

Reluctantly, but faking a voice of happiness for the two of them, I gave my answer: "If you mean that much to him that he wants you to move in, then you better do it, J. Go ahead."

"Really? You won't miss me when I move out of the building?"

"Hell no. We'll still see each other at rehearsals."

"Thanks, Ollie. I'll see you when you get back. Hope you like the present I got you."

"Later, J."

After long ferry ride across the water, I finally made it back to Port Angeles. My dad was waiting there for me.

"Hey, son." He had shaved his beard off and had his old hunting jacket on.

"Hey, old man."

"Juno not coming this time?"

"Nah, she's out spending the holidays with her own family. What's with the jacket?"

"I think it's time for a good hunting trip."

"Really?" I asked. "I'm not so sure about it." Last time it ended with me lying in the ground bleeding half a liter into the dirt.

"Yeah, I figured that you'd say as much. That's why I'm not trusting myself with the rifle this time. I'm only counting on you to do it, and you can say no to this trip. I'll understand."

I shook my head. "No, it's not that, Dad. It's just that after a long flight and ferry ride, I'd just like to get home and have a beer."

"That can be arranged." He said, smiling. "Got some locally made brews from Seattle. They call it Supersonic Tonic."

"But I thought the Supersonics are in Oklahoma City now."

Dad shrugged. "I don't know. They can't find a catchy name for it beyond Supersonic Tonic."

After arriving home, the first thing I did was put the presents under the tree. I did end up getting a gift for Aunt Terri, and I hoped that she would appreciate it as a nice gesture.

"I'm sure she will, Ollie." Said Dad, after I told him what it was.

"But I still think she'll hate me; I didn't get anything for Britney."

"Who can blame you?" He said. "You barely know her. I'd understand if that happened. Tell you what: I'll write your name down on the card for her present along with our names."

"Thanks, Dad. So when do they come?"

"Early Christmas morning. You won't see them until then."

"No Christmas Eve service?"

Dad smiled a bit. "Actually, your mother and I have been planning something else. We're throwing a Christmas Eve/ Welcoming home party for you."

"No shit?"

Dad shook his head. "No shit. We were so happy you showed up in June that we called up a bunch of the neighbors and our friends. There are a lot of people that want to see you again."

"Well then, I'm excited to see them, too. Let's have a great Christmas."

"Perfect." Dad said. "I'll see if we still got some of the Supersonic Tonic."

Dad headed in, and I headed out onto the balcony. It overlooked the water towards Victoria.

"Glad you finally came back again."

I jumped and turned around. A woman stood there. She wasn't someone I recognized. Her dark brown hair was tied up and she looked to be a bit younger than me. She had a face that looked familiar, but I couldn't put my finger on how. She sat down on one of the patio chairs, and looked up at me.

"Who the fuck are you?" I asked.

"Whoa, language there, Ollie. I did just come back to talk to you."

Then it hit me. I did consider checking myself in for more therapy with Kevin after this, but I just remembered that she wasn't actually real. I just think I was being haunted at that moment.

"What the hell? Lucy?"

It was Lucy. But it looked as if she had grown up since she had passed away. She looked to be 23, which is what she would have been by then.

"I'm losing my goddamn mind!" I said, covering my eyes as I sat beside her.

Lucy laughed. "Nah. You're just realizing something that's been on your mind, and I'm here to talk to you about it. I'm not even real."

"Is this some kind of subconscious Freudian bullshit?" I asked.

Lucy shrugged. "Beats me. All I know is what I'm here to talk to you about."

"Which is?"

"My mom."

I groaned. "Here we go. Terri's being an unnecessary bitch to me. If you really want me to sort things out with her, then you better go back upstairs to the big guy, cause you're wasting your time with me."

"I know what she's been saying about you, Ollie. And you're right: she isn't being fair to you."

"Can you guarantee that the gift I got for her will make her forgive me?"

"Ollie, look at me. I'm a figment of your goddamn imagination. Technically I'm just telling you stuff you'd say to yourself."

"Yeah, that makes sense. This whole thing doesn't, but that does."

"Just try your best to talk to Mom again, Ollie. That's all I ask. For your cousin."

I shrugged. "I guess. But I'm not sure what to do."

"Something will come up. Now I want to bring up something that's bothered me since after I passed away."

"Cancer is complete crap?" I asked.

"No...Yes it is, but that's not what I was going to say. You met some guy when he was drunk?"

"Oh, you mean Ted. Yeah, we met him 8 years ago when he crashed our party, drunker than drunk."

"You believe in fate. Did you ever think as to why you were supposed to meet them? Him and his friends?"

I thought about it. This I hadn't considered in so long, despite my constant babbling about fate and destiny. Why did I meet Ted so many years ago? Was it a coincidence, or was it supposed to happen?

"I got nothing." I said. "It could have been a coincidence."

"Sh!" Said Lucy. "No such thing as coincidences! Cuz, what do I say? What do I always say?"

"Everything happens for a reason." We both said in unison.

"But what was the reason for meeting Ted?"

Lucy smiled. "I know why. But you won't get an answer until you figure it out yourself."

"You really like to test my patience for riddles, huh? Some things never change."

I looked over, but Lucy was gone.

"Come back soon." I muttered.

My phone then rang. I almost jumped out of my seat at the sound of it. I picked it up.

"Yeah?"

"Hey, it's me."

"Hey, J. What's going on?"

"Wanted you to know Darren's at it again."

"Shit." I groaned. Darren was part of the band much longer than I was. Everyone knew him as a fire starter, and he was the only one who said I shouldn't be in the band because of my "obsessive drinking". Juno and I made an agreement that we'd always consult the other before jumping to conclusions on whatever statement Darren made.

"What now?"

"He says that you like Washington better than New York."

"Juno, I barely talk to that asshole. You really think that I'd tell him how I feel about Washington compared to New York?"

"Yeah, you're right. So how is it there?"

"Do you believe in ghosts?"

"Whoa..." She said. "So you saw your cousin?"

"Yeah. It's scary. I think I'm losing my mind." I said.

"No you're not, Ollie. A teacher of mine said that only sane people think they're insane, and vice versa. If anything, it really is some Freudian stuff, and whatever you saw was just a figment of your subconscious."

"Right. So how's your family?"

"You know them, Ollie. They're always just as good as you would expect. I come from a family of optimists. Now about what you're seeing, I'd focus more on finding a resolution with your aunt."

"Got it. I'll talk to you later."

The next day I headed out with Dad for a good hunting trip. He didn't bring the rifle, insisting that I would be the only one to make the kills if we found anything.

We found a few rabbits, but that was it.

"The deer are hiding really well this year, Oliver." Said Dad. "They may have moved on from this place. We may have to find a new hunting ground."

After the trip there came the ride home.

"Does Terri still hate me?" I asked.

Dad glanced over at me, but then gave a quick nod. "She has a hard time letting go of the bad things, son. I don't think she'll want to try to reconnect unless if what you're giving her would touch her."

"I hope it will. I can feel something."

"What do you mean?"

"I told you about Barney, right Dad?"

He nodded. "Yeah. He's pretty much the exact opposite of you?"

After meeting Louis, I realized that I was more alike to Barney than him. But Dad didn't know that. "Yeah. Well, anyways, this past month I helped him cook up a scheme that ended with him proposing to the girl he loved. Their wedding's supposed to be 6 months from now, and it's coming in hot."

"I can imagine. The older you get, the faster time goes by."

"I believe that before whatever's about to end does so, I should tie up loose ends."

"Are you saying you're dying?" He said, suddenly.

This was a bit of a surprise. "No, Dad." Then I remembered something. "You remember that guy, Manuel?"

Dad nodded. "You and him hated each other through high school."

"Well, before school ended, I sat down with him, and after ending the arguments we had made in the past, we resolved the disputes and feuds. That's what I'm talking about. Tying up the conflicts before the end. I don't want this to end on bad terms. So I want to reconnect with Terri."

"We'll just see, son. We'll just see."

2 days later, it was Christmas Day. The night before we had the party, and I had seen many of Mom and Dad's friends who were greatly excited to see me once more. I never had received so many hugs.

The next morning I found myself sitting among the gifts. The gift that I had gotten from Uncle Alex's family was only signed by him. Go figure.

Aunt Terri looked over at me with disgust as she picked up my gift to her. I looked down. I had Juno's gift in my hands. Just then my cell rang.

"Sorry, I gotta take this." I said. I went into the other room, still holding Juno's present. I answered it.

"Yeah?"

"Have you opened the present yet?"

I looked at my caller ID, then the present.

"Holy shit, J. I keep asking this to you: are you a goddamn psychic?! I was just about to open the present!"

"Just answer the question."

"No, Juno. I haven't opened it yet."

"Good. I thought we'd both open the other's gift at the same time and thank each other."

"Sounds good."

"I got this for you because I thought you'd both like and need it."

"Funny. That's how I felt about mine to yours."

"Count of 3?" She said.

"1..."

"2..."

"3!"

I tore open the box, and her present rolled out. But in that moment I thought that I had accidentally gotten the gift I was giving her.

"Uh, Juno?"

"I think I accidentally gave you the wrong gift!" She said.

Then I realized what had happened at the same time as her, and we started laughing.

"We both got each other the same thing!" I said.

"A guitar pick punch! Just what we both wanted." She laughed.

"Thanks so much, J. I gotta get back to my family's Christmas, though. I'll see you for New Year's though."

"Bye, Ollie."

I headed back into the family room. Aunt Terri was sobbing, with Uncle Alex patting her on the back in a "there there" manner.

"Uh, did I come in at a bad time?"

Uncle Alex shook his head. "No, Ollie. But your Aunt wants to say something."

She got up and threw herself into a huge embrace, saying how sorry she was.

The present I had given her was a framed photo of her and Lucy when she had celebrated her 10th birthday. It was a year before Lucy's cancer had first come. Behind the photo in it's frame I had written over a page of apology and my expression of hope that we'd reconnect.

"I don't entirely forgive you for what happened, Oliver. But I realize now that we all are at fault for some things that happened. It was never only one person who went wrong."

I was glad to get the apology, but a little upset that all wasn't entirely forgiven. Oh well. Guess you can't win them all.

After a good visit with my family for the next few days, I headed back to New York on the 27th. With Carl's permission, I threw a New Year's Eve party at the bar. As I found out from Doug, it was harder than I had first thought it out to be, so I had to enlist his help.

Doug Martin. That guy had been at Maclaren's almost as long as Carl himself. He didn't like me for my inexperience among the others at the bar. Called me the "Rook". Asshole. I hated him for a few things, mainly his habit of using his fist instead of his mouth to solve conflicts. While I myself am guilty of throwing a few punches, as you've seen, I at least tried to start most of the time with my words. Marshall respected me for that.

That night at the bar there were a lot of rowdy customers, but at 5 to midnight, I, with several other staff members managed to sit them down in time for the final minute. I sat down with the others.

"Wish Juno could be here." I murmured. Louis and her had plans that night. It was clear that I was getting edged out by that prick.

"20 seconds!" Called Carl.

I sat down at the booth with my beer beside Barney and the others. Ted sat alone staring at his beer. His eyes were red. I couldn't help but notice, and it looked like he had been crying. Then Barney butted in.

"Thanks for helping me this past month, Ollie. I think now's the time to say it." He said. "We want you to be the barkeep at the wedding!" He called over the noise.

I grinned. If this was the thanks if be getting for helping Barney, then I'd take it with open arms. "I'd be honored, Barney."

"10..."

"And I know that this year..." I said.

"7..."

"Is going to be..." I continued.

"4..."

"Legen..."

"3..."

"Wait for it..."

"2...1..."

"HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

The last half of that word didn't come until many months had passed. But more on that later.

When I said that this year was going to be the one where everything changed, I meant it with everything I felt. And I was the only one who would soon find out the big answer to the question: why?

A/N: Supersonic Tonic is referencing the locally brewed beer that Lily tried to hunt down for Marshall in "3 Days of Snow". Merry Christmas!