Disclaimer: I own nothing...but you know materialism is for loses.

And here is Part 2 finally.

Tom ended up carrying Eve in her little baby carrier, which he stole. Hal had taken up the burden of the cooler because he had refused to wear the strange and "frankly humiliating contraption" that Eve was happily gurgling in. Annie unable to carry anything just walked between her two boys.

They actually looked ridiculous and stuck out like a sore thumb. A young man in a long coat and khakis with a baby strapped to his chest and a pale male with a look of utter discomfort on his face wearing a ridiculous pair of cheap sunglasses, people couldn't help but do a double take.

"Where shall we go then?" Annie chirped glancing from Tom to Hal, "we could go down to the ocean or take a walk in the park. Are you two even listening to me?"

Sure enough neither of the men replied. They looked straight on ahead and continued to walk not saying a word. Annie glanced from man to man confused by why they were ignoring her.

"If you lot don't let me in on the joke, I swear I'll – I'll," Annie said trying to find some kind of valid threat, "I'll just stop!"

And stop she did. She stood still and refused to walk any further. The two men stopped abruptly as well. Tom let out a sigh and Hal rolled his eyes.

"Anneh," Tom whispered to the side, "we can't talk to ya otherwise people will think we're barmy."

If Annie weren't dead she'd have blushed at that moment.

"Oh right," Annie said looking around at the people who couldn't see her before falling in step with the people who could, "sorry about that."

Annie laughed weakly and she could have sworn she saw the corner of Hal's lip twitch. She just hadn't been out much is all. And wasn't that the point of that day, the whole trip? To get her out and about, for Annie to see some sunlight or something like that. However, Annie couldn't help but feel just the slightest bit worried that perhaps the day would not go as smoothly as they had all planned.

"We were thinking the park, and then perhaps we could go down to the water once it's cooled down a bit," Hal mumbled through light lips, "as you can imagine I'm not really one for sun and sand."

Hal's lip had in fact twitched and if it wasn't for 55 years worth of self-restraint he would have even laughed. He enjoyed Annie and he enjoyed Tom and Eve. He was happy to spend the day with them though his rota was ruined for the day. Hal wasn't all that concerned. Perhaps routine need a rest, the rota needed a day off.

The park was lovely and people only showed mild concern when the saw the two men and the little white bundle that was strapped to Tom's chest. Truly they were an unusual sight but never let it be said that the good people of Barry were prejudiced against alternative life styles. And that bunch was the very definition of alternative.

"Oh I do love the park," Annie said as she stood aside and let the boys set up the picnic, "back when I was a student I used to skip class and just walk and walk in the park right off of campus."

Tom looked up from his task of putting out the blanket and grinned up at the ghost.

"You? Skippin' classes," he said, "don't sound very much like you, Anneh."

Annie made a face and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'll have you know, Tom," she replied, "I was quite the rebel back when I was student."

"I don't think I believe ya," Tom volleyed back as he set out the sandwiches.

Annie made a sound of disbelief. She looked to Hal for support. He wasn't much help, however.

"Tom's right, Annie," Hal said taking a spot on the blanket, "I just can't see you as a rebel. Rebel of course meant something quite different in my time but I'm assuming you mean delinquent. I can't see you as either."

Hal smiled up at her, a smug and playful expression. He had learned that smile from Pearl. She was a right smug little thing and Hal missed her.

"Well sit down boys," Annie said to the already seated duo, "and I will tell you the story of my life as a teenage hooligan."

Annie spread out her arms as though she were a performing magician readying her crowd for the great finale. Tom and Hal stole a doubtful glance at each other. Then Annie began to tell her tales.

"And they never figured out that there was no fourth pig?" Hal asked.

Annie shook her head unable to catch her breath in between giggles. Hal couldn't help but notice the way the light reflected off her eyes as glanced at him with a mischievous smile like she had a secret. A secret that he wanted to know, that he had been looking for since he had arrived at the house.

"No," she said finally, "for all I know they're still looking."

They fell into another lapse of laughter and when they calmed Tom spoke.

"Well Anneh I guess ya proved me wrong," he said his cheeks hurt from smiling so much, "you were a right criminal."

"And don't you forget it," Annie replied.

It was past noon by the time they decided to leave and to go to the pier. The light was softer when they reached the sea though it still burned Hal. He didn't say a word about it however. It was just one more sad truth of his condition.

"This will be Eve's first time seeing the ocean," Annie said nostalgia in her eyes, "George and Nina always talked about taking her but they never got the chance."

She and Hal had decided to walk down the pier but Tom had decided Eve needed to get bit of the feel of sand on her skin. Annie watched from above as the two, Tom and Eve, enjoy the sun and sand. Eve on a blanket and Tom at her side, he could have been her father.

"We all had plans, such great plans," she said, "but they never came out quite right."

She wasn't talking about the plans that they had made out loud like George's lists or her rota. She was speaking of those other plans the ones they had made in secret, in the deepest most sacred parts of their hearts. These were the plans they had made for each other. Plans that they had whispered into the shells of ears when they thought no one was listening. The grandest of plans all of them gone to waste.

"Plans have a nasty way of doing that," Hal replied.

Annie nodded in agreement and turned from the bittersweet scene. They walked in companionable silence down the pier. It was the same pier that she and Mitchell had visited. Oddly enough she didn't feel sad in that place. She felt content.

She glanced over at Hal who stared into the blue of the sea. Annie was pleased to see that he looked just as content as she felt.

"Anneh!," Tom called, "Hal!"

The two immediately stopped in their tracks. In half a second Annie was gone from Hal's side and down the beach next to Tom.

"What?" she said frantically, "what is it?"

Her hands were all over Tom and Eve searching for any kind of abrasion or injury. She patted Tom's shoulders and cheek and ran her fingers over Eve's sparse hair.

"Are you hurt?" she said, "did someone hurt you?"

She glanced over Tom's shoulder checking for any predator or enemy.

"No, Anneh," Tom replied but she didn't stop her frantic movements, "Annie!"

She stopped stunned by his stern tone. Tom stared at her like he was disappointed.

"You're scarin' Eve," he said, "'sides we're fine. Eve an' I just wanted to show you this lovely shell we found. Isn't that right lil love?"

The baby cooed in response causing Tom to look down at her with such a tender expression Annie could barely stand to watch. She forgot sometimes just how much Tom loved that little girl. Just as much as she did, Annie imagined.

"I'm sorry," Annie apologized calming down, "I overreacted. It's just that – well- it is a very lovely shell. I think it's time we headed back home."

Tom nodded in agreement and bounced Eve on his hip. A second later Hal came jogging down the beach towards them.

"Is everything all right?" he said worried though nowhere near as frantic as Annie had been.

"Everything is fine," Annie said as she watched Tom walk away to retrieve the blanket, "we're going home now."

Hal was confused by the sudden change in plans. They still had a few hours before it got dark and he didn't really want to leave yet. He would never say it aloud but he liked the beach and he liked seeing Annie at the beach. The wind and the blue of the sea suited her.

"I've got everythin' packed away," said Tom when he returned.

Eve was once again strapped to his chest in her carrier. Tom handed Hal the cooler and the blanket and Hal took them still disappointed that they had to leave. There was a gloom over the two that Hal didn't quite understand.

"Did something happen?" Hal asked Annie.

"Nothing, Hal," Annie said, "I just overreacted is all. Let's go home."

Hal could only nod and walk besides her. Tom brought up the rear all the while talking and cooing the child.

By the time they got home the gloom had lifted and Annie seemed to be in a much lighter mood.

"Oh today was great wasn't it guys?" Annie said her cheeks looking almost flushed.

Hal thought he could almost see the evidence of the sun on her. Her skin just a few shades darker and her eyes just a little bit brighter but it wasn't and they weren't. Her cheeks weren't actually flushed. They couldn't ever be. These were small things that Hal noticed. Little ways to remind himself of what she was, of her limitations. He forgot sometimes.

"I'm glad you 'ad a nice day out, Annie," Tom said that lovely smile wide on his face, "but tha day's not over just yet."

Hal of course did not even think of attempting such a smile. Hal didn't do wide lovely smiles and he never had. He didn't envy his young friend; instead he enjoyed Tom's smiles, and found joy in his friend's joy.

"What do you mean?" Annie asked confused.

Hal smiled as Tom went over the kitchen and came back with a bag. They were going to surprise her with it once she got back from her day out.

"Here ya go!" Tom said gleefully handing Annie the little paper bag.

"Oh!" she said when she saw what was inside.

Stacked together were a bunch of Colin Firth films. She had seen them all already of course but Annie could never have enough Colin Firth.

"George tol' me once about 'ow you were in love with tha bloke," Tom said, "didn't know he was an actah at first but then I looked it up and I borrowed them from the library."

Annie couldn't stop her eyes from glossing. It was such a thoughtful gift. Small and moderate as it was, it was probably one of the nicest things anyone had ever done for her. Besides breaking her out of purgatory of course.

"Do ya' like it?" Tom said nervous at her silence.

"Oh yes Tom," Annie said swallowing her tears, "I love it."

Tom grinned at her answer. He was glad she was happy. Annie was such a nice lady always taking care of others and trying her best. She was such a lovely lady and Tom loved her. He loved her in the purest and simplest of ways. The way a child loves a mother, that's how Tom loved Annie.

"Which one shall we watch first?" Annie said excitedly.

In the middle of Pride and Prejudice Tom began to yawn and then so did Eve. She blinked wearily from her place across Tom's chest. The two seemed so in sync sometimes. Annie wondered if it was a werewolf thing but remembered that Eve was in fact not a werewolf at all.

"Oh it's way past her bedtime," Annie said rising to take the cooing baby upstairs to bed.

"Dun worry about that, Annie," Tom said already rising before Annie could even protest, "I getting' tired meself. I'll take 'er."

"Oh no. It's my turn on the rota, Tom. You don't have to do that," Annie said still bent on taking the baby.

"Naw, Annie," Tom said cradling the baby in his arms already the infant was half way gone, "I can take 'er. 'Sides me an' Eve are best mates practically. We do need our time, Anneh."

He stuck out his bottom lip and looked at Annie then to Eve then back to Annie. And then it seemed Eve decided to join in the game as she let out a low whine and looked up at Annie as well wearing an expression identical to Tom's. Annie could only smile at the charming picture. How could she ever say no?

"Thank you, Tom," she said leaning forward to peck him on the cheek, "for everything. Today was absolutely lovely."

Tom nodded and smiled at her looking absolutely enamored; Annie could have that effect on people when she wasn't trying. Hal watched the two and couldn't help but smile as well. He seemed to be doing that quite a lot that day.

"Night, Hal!" Tom called to him and Hal waved him off.

It all felt so domestic, so normal and comfy. They felt like a family and Hal couldn't deny that he was enjoying it. It had been so long, so very long since he had felt human.

"Aw just look at them," Annie said mooning over the picture of Tom and Eve as the ascended the stairs.

She came around and clicked off the TV. She checked her mug and Seeing that it had grown cold she decided to make herself a new cuppa but not before asking Hal if he wanted anything. He declined the offer.

Hal listened contentedly to the sounds of clinking and clanging in the kitchen. Things were going so well. Already his mind began working and weaving how things would go, should go. Eve growing up and going to school, Tom and Hal would work in the shop maybe get better jobs one day. And Annie would be there as well. She would be their mother, their comfort and just plain Annie. She would always be there to welcome them home and be wonderful.

Of course Hal wasn't stupid. The Old Ones were coming and were probably bringing with them the end of the world and his little make-believe family but he could dream. That's what humans did wasn't it? Dream, believe, plead for their lives.

"My boyfriend killed me," Annie said and Hal jumped when he heard her speak.

She walked around him to sit on the couch across from him.

A confused and shocked "What?" was Hal's reply.

"My boyfriend killed me," Annie repeated matter-of-factly.

Hal stared at her with an expression that Annie had come to know fairly well. It meant "what the bloody hell". George had his own special facial expression for that and Mitchell most definitely. Nina almost always wore her brand of "what the bloody hell" but that was mostly because she was surrounded by strange people.

"Your boyfriend. Killed you?" Hal said confused by her sudden admission, "Mitchell?"

"What?" Annie said taken aback by the thought, "no no not Mitchell. God no. Well I guess he wasn't my boyfriend, he was my fiancé if we're getting technical."

"I'm sorry who are we talking about again?" Hal said looking well put off and confused.

Hal didn't really like being confused but he figured it was something that came with the territory of being part of that household.

"Owen, my fiancé," Annie said sipping her tea, "he's the one who killed me."

Hal couldn't for the (un)life of him understand why she was telling him this. So in a very Hal-fashion he just asked.

"Why are you telling me this?" Hal said eyebrows slammed together and the right corner of his mouth quirked upward.

Annie knew this look as well. It said 'I don't think I quite understand and I don't like it'.

"I dunno," she said, "I guess I just wanted you to know."

Hal thought about it. All the ghosts he had met and he had met a few in his time and not one could he recall had ever told him how they died. Thinking about it Hal realized that it was a very personal thing to share. Death was an intimate act. Hal would know he had dealt it out enough. And here she was, Annie, the first ghost to ever tell him how she died.

"Thank you," Hal said and Annie almost laughed at how uncomfortable he looked.

Hal definitely didn't do intimacy.

"So is this going to become a thing?" Hal asked.

"What?" Annie replied placing her steaming cup on the coffee table.

"The whole late night confessional," Hal said easing back into the chair he was sitting in.

The T.V. was off now no more Colin Firth. Most of the lights had been turned off as the two living patrons of the house had gone to bed. It was just Hal and Annie. It was becoming habit.

"Dunno," Annie replied honestly, "this is just what people do Hal. When they trust each other, when they live with each other, they tell each other things."

"You do realize you just said each other three times in one sentence," Hal pointed out.

"Well," Annie said trying to think of a good quip just like George would have, "it was for emphasis."

It was a decidedly unsure quip and not quite done with that special George flare but Annie wasn't George. It was an Annie quip and she was satisfied with it.

"Oh," was Hal's reply, he paused and mulled over something for a bit before continuing, "I died in battle."

"Battle?" Annie said, "how very noble."

"Not at all," Hal replied, "I wasn't fighting for a cause or because of some holy mandate. I just wanted to fight, shed some blood if I could before I died. My death and what led to it was only the beginning of my malicious deeds. I've done worse than just shed blood, Annie. I enjoyed it."

Annie went silent. She couldn't meet his eyes. And yes perhaps she was afraid, upset, disturbed but then she realized something. The Hal who slaughtered thousands maybe more, the Hal who tortured and murdered, the Hal who relished in the pain of his victims, that Hal was the same Hal sitting before her. Just as the Mitchell who had killed those people on the train, and countless victims in his existence was the same Mitchell who had loved her and kissed her who ate her toast and drank her tea.

They hadn't actually changed you don't just shuck off that kind of filth. They would always be monsters it was the truth of their biology and yet somehow she had still loved Mitchell and she still trusted Hal. Annie realized that she never really came to terms with loving Mitchell, all of Mitchell, before he died and perhaps she never would but she had loved him. No amount of blood could wash that away.

"Does that scare you?" Hal said coolly just the slightest shadow of that malice and danger he had been talking about before in his tone.

He waited for the hammer. He waited for prosecution; he prayed for it. Hal wanted her to hate him. It made more sense if she hated him.

"Yes," Annie said, "Yes it scares me, Hal but a lot of things scare me."

Annie looked up at him a loaded question was in his eyes.

Can you handle that? Can you accept all of me?

The answer was in her gaze.

I'm not sure but I'm going to try. I will try.

And that was good enough.

"There are a lot of things to be scared of," Hal replied.

She had never quite accepted Mitchell. She had only like the nice parts, the cool demeanor, the sharp jawline, the way he was terrible at crosswords and the way he said her name. She had cherished the good parts and ignored the bad parts. That's how it had always worked before.

Maybe he hits you and makes you feel like shit but he's got a good job and future and he loves you. Calls you his.

Maybe he's addicted to blood, killed hundreds of people and will probably do so again but he's your best friend. You love him. You call him yours.

Her love for Mitchell was nearly cruel in its naivety. Annie realized that now. But she had loved him, all of him even the nasty and bloody parts. She had loved his sins as well but now it was too late to say the words, to tell him.

I accept you, John Mitchell. However you are, however you come to me, I accept you.

She was too late for Mitchell but not for Hal. Annie would try and she vowed one day she'd grow up enough to accept all of him. Blood and fire or dominos and Motown he was still Hal; he was still her friend.

Slowly but surely Annie was beginning to see him as more than just a threat or an ally, more than a lodger or a responsibility. She was beginning to see him as Hal, just Hal.

A/N: so sorry that this has taken so long. It's been sitting on my computer for nearly a week now and I've just been too busy and lazy to finish it BUT NOW I'VE DONE IT! IT IS FINISHED! MWAHAHAHAHAHAH

As always send me your death threats and lawsuits alike. Love it? Hate it? Want to drive a stake through my heart? Tell me all about it in reviews.

Next time:

"You can be so cruel, Annie," Hal said catching her eyes with his own, "and you don't even know it. So how can you be sorry? How can I ask you to be sorry for something you don't even understand?"