"The weak can never forgive."

Connor struggled for air and hastily untied his bowtie and undid three of the buttons of his white dress shirt as he slowly replays the scene he witnessed earlier.

Oliver is with another man…with the other man's child. Oliver has his own family.

Connor held his palms together under the faucet as he fills it with water and splashed the content on his face. "Wake up, Connor! Wake up! This is just another nightmare." He chanted desperately and splashed his face with water again. "Please… please… let it all be a dream…" Connor wished dreadfully, but he knew there was no way he could wake up from this because this is his reality now; a sad and painful reality.

More than five years ago, he was married to the love of his life, but he was just too stupid to acknowledge it. He let his emotions cloud his judgment and made horrible things that eventually led Oliver away from him. He watched on the mirror in front of him as the droplets of water, mixed with his own tears, land on his necklace. It's a simple long stainless steel lace that stops just below his clavicle and with the two platinum rings as its pendant… his and Oliver's wedding ring.

The night he found the wedding ring on the floor, he knew that Oliver had given up on him and left him with nothing else. Up to this date though, Connor wonders if Oliver was aware that he took Connor's heart with him when he left.

Throughout the years, Connor clung onto their cliché wedding vows of 'Till death do us part'. Even if he and Oliver weren't together anymore, those words help him strive to live every single day. Only death can separate him from Oliver, and he'll fight death until he has Oliver in his arms again. But now, he was having second thoughts as he remembered how Oliver's lips curved into a smile when he lifted the child into his arms and leaned on Thomas's arms for balance. Maybe death isn't the only thing that can keep them apart… maybe seeing Oliver happy with another man can make him finally give up on his fantasy that he and Oliver are meant for each other.

For the last five years, even if he is just taking a shower, he never took off the necklace once he had worn it. With Mochi gone, he was too scared to lose the only other thing that bounded him to Oliver. But as he watched himself fiddles the ring between his fingers on the mirror of the restroom, he thought that maybe now he has a reason to take it off.

Connor's thoughts were disrupted by a succeeding loud knock on the door followed by the voice of a man quickly wiped the remnants of water on his face, fastened his buttons, straightened his shirt and wore his deep blue blazer again. He paused first, closed his eyes and breathed in deeply before unlocking and exiting the restroom. "Sorry," he said courteously to the man waiting outside the door, and then searched for the table where Oliver and Thomas were.

Yes, he made another stupid decision. He should have decline Oliver's offer of dinner. Based from Oliver's sullen reaction when he accepted the dinner invitation, he realized that Oliver only invited him out of courtesy. It was a stupid idea to intrude to their family dinner date, but it wasn't a mistake; he simply wanted to know more of Oliver and his new family.

He even bore the most heartbreaking elevator trip he had ever ridden. Being invisible from his position at the back of the pulley, he watched as the little girl rattle off about his friends at the day care as the two men listened intently and laughed with her. He had a passing thought that it was him and Mochi that was making Oliver laughed at the moment, but he quickly repressed the that foolish idea.

So when they finally arrived at a French family diner across Oliver's building, Connor immediately excused himself to the restroom and had his own breakdown. He had regretted ordering Asher to go back to their hotel first when he needed someone to calm his nerves and help him get through this dinner.

Connor quickly found the table where they're at, but he stopped momentarily to observed how the family interacts. He was so envious of Thomas to have a family with Oliver. He wanted to hate Thomas and the girl for making Oliver so happy when it was supposed to be him in their position. But as he watched the girl on Oliver's lap, he doesn't have the heart to hate the innocent girl.

As Connor watched their gleeful faces, he thought of bailing the dinner and tried talking to Oliver alone on another time, but the girl turned her head and saw him. Then the kid started jumping on Oliver's lap, pointed at him and shouted, "Curly! Curly!"

'I guess there's no out in here.' Connor thought and made his way through the diner and sat at the vacant seat of the four-corner table. He was startled when the girl immediately leapt on his lap and tugged his hair.

"Eew. Why is your hair sticky?" The girl asked giddily, and continued playing with his hair.

"Uhmm… uuhhh…" Connor started blankly, he was too surprised by the girl's sudden question about his hair products that he even didn't notice how the girl's action made the other two men froze on their seat. He just held the little girl in place; cautious that she might fall because of her excessive liveliness.

"I like it." The little girl giggled. "It's like play dough, right Papa?"

"Papa?" Connor repeated the nickname and glanced at Thomas, who had his lips on Oliver's ears, whispering sweet nothingness to him.

"Come on, baby… sit with me. It's rude sitting jumping on other people's lap."

"But I like playing with his hair," The girl protested and pouted his lips.

"Better than mine?" Thomas pouted back.

"No!" The girl shouted, and then jumped from Connor's lap and run towards Thomas. "I like yours the best coz it tickles." Thomas chuckled to the girl's answer and lifted the kid to place him on a high chair between Oliver and Connor.

It was quiet for a moment when the chils was suddenly engrossed with the utensils on her tray, leaving the adults to talk to themselves.

"So… you and Thomas?" Connor bravely asked Oliver to disperse the awkward silence among them.

"Me and Thomas." Oliver responded and curled his right arm with the other man's left.

"Are you two…?" Connor started, but can't bear to finish his own question. 'Happy…? Engaged…? Married…?'

Even without finishing, Oliver knew what Connor was trying to ask, so he gently intertwined his fingers with Thomas and brought it to his lips. "We're planning on it. I mean… that's the only thing missing considering that we already have Alexi."

The chain on Connor's neck suddenly felt so heavy that it made him harder to breathe. For the last five years, he spent thinking how his reunion with Oliver will result to. He thought of a scenario where Oliver will realize how he still loves Connor and came running to him despite losing their baby. Another where Oliver will find him, drenched from the rain and begging for his forgiveness on their front porch in Michigan. Another was where he will let Oliver beat him up so badly until he was satisfied, but Oliver will tend to his wounds afterwards and they'll make up eventually. He even thought of having angry sex with him; Oliver will suddenly show up to their apartment, they'll have a heated argument that'll led to Connor being ravished on the front door of their apartment, letting him only come after the third-time Oliver fucks himself on Connor's cock.

All his fantasies have different beginnings, but he only had one ending; him and Oliver lies on a soft cot while whispering 'I love you' & 'sorry' to each other. Oliver will pregnant, and they will start a new family again.

Connor and Oliver.

Oliver and Connor.

They were supposed to be endgame, not Oliver and Thomas.

"So her name is Alexi?" Connor probed Oliver for another topic. 'A little more and you can get out of here. Calm your brains, Walsh.' he reminded himself and twisted his head to look adorably at the girl beside him.

"Princess Alexandra…" Oliver elaborated and smiled at the child's cuteness.

"Flashdance." Connor whispered, but the occupants on the table heard him nevertheless.

"Excuse me?" Oliver asked and stared at Connor incredulously.

"ohh… I mean…" Connor started when he saw Oliver glaring at him; he didn't intend to blurt his thoughts out. "Alex from Flashdance. Uhmm… I remembered that you keep playing that record before. I… I just thought you named her after the protagonist." Connor clarified sheepishly.

"Oh… uhmm… yeah… I did." Oliver admitted reluctantly and was also surprised that Connor still remembered random insignificant things about him. 'What are you up to, Connor? First the Tomorrow Foundation and now this?'

"So you really named her after Flashdance?" Connor asked giddily, pleased that he guessed the baby's origin name right.

"Yeah." Oliver smiled softly, but then remembered that this is Connor Walsh who he is talking to and immediately returned to his stoic posture. "But she preferred to be called Alexi."

"That's me! That's me! I'm Alexi." The girl—Alexi—shouted from her seat while stomping her feet on the elevated foot rest.

"I know, baby… You're my only Alexi." Oliver smiled and leant forward from his seat to kiss his cheeks.

"I'm Papa's only Alexi." The girl repeated, he glanced at their table and suddenly remembered their guest who had sticky hair. "Curly?" He turned to Connor and then he nodded when his papa whispered Curlys' real name.

"Mister… uhmm.. Connor… Are you papa's friend?" The girl asked curiously.

Connor thought for a moment on how to answer the girl's question. With the factors that constrained his relationship with Oliver, he knew that he can't be considered as a friend right now. So to be safe, he answered that they were just business partners, which of course the little girl didn't know what it meant yet.

"It's like papa and Ms. Eve, Alexi. They work with the guy with a hammer," Thomas clarified for him.

"Ohh…" Alexi paused for a moment and looked at Connor intently like she was trying to look for a smudge of dirt on his face. "Mister Connor… how old are you?"

Connor didn't know why the girl asked him his age, but he still answered him. "I'm thirty-two. How about you Alexi, how old are you?"

"Uhmm… I'm…" The girl then lifted her hands to her face and slowly counted her age by raising each of her fingers. "One… two… three… four…" she then thrust his hands to Connor's face and shouted. "I'm four! Mr. Connor."

It stung knowing that the girl was four years old. Apparently, it didn't take long enough for Oliver to get over him and start a new family with his best friend; whereas, he spent five years hoping for their broken relationship to be fixed.

"Papa, what's tee-tee two?" she asked when she tried counting Connor's age on her fingers, but always stopped on number ten.

"Thirty-two, Alexi." Thomas repeated slowly. "There are too many numbers for your brain, Alexi, but you'll learn it once you get bigger…"

"Like you?"

"Like me… and uhmm…Like Connor and Papa… Mr. Connor is as old as papa." Thomas jokingly explained and received a playful jab from Oliver.

"You're old like papa?" The girl returned her gaze towards Connor.

"I guess…yeah…"

"Then you can't be my friend anymore and I can't play with your hair." Alexi said sadly.

Connor was about to tell him that he can still be her friend even if he is older than her, but the next words that came out from the girl's mouth made his blood drain from his body.

"If you're old like papa, then you're also a dad like him, right?" Alexi questioned innocently. "Do your little Connors also have hair like yours?" Alexi asked and tried reaching for Connor. "Can I be their friend?"

The three men stayed frozen-shock when they heard the little girl's innocent question. And said little girl, then now noticed how their table became so eerily quiet, so she stopped grabbing for Connor and looked at the man himself.

"Mr. Connor, are you crying? I won't play with your hair anymore, I promise." Alexi swore when she saw Connor's tears falling from his eyes; afraid that she upset the other man.

Pour Connor a bucket of cold water then electrocute him then repeatedly whip his back with a metal chain, but nothing was comparable to the painful reminder that he was once a father… that he and Oliver were supposed to have their own happily ever after.

It's the sweet voice of Oliver assuring Alexi that it wasn't the girl's fault why he was crying that broke him from his aching trance. He stood up abruptly from his seat and made the chair stumbled backwards, causing a loud noise that gained the attention of all the customers and staff of the restaurant.

"I… I'm sorry… I have to go." He said to Oliver and Thomas; trying to regain a little bit of dignity even though they can all see how wretched he was. He then quickly dashed from the restaurant; stumbling in the process as his head became hazy and his eyes were flooded with his tears.

*Crash*

*Bang*

*Crash*

From his position just outside Connor's hotel door room, Asher can picture how Connor ferociously threw things at the wall, and smashed it into pieces. He was worried about his friend's state of mind, he had only seen Connor like this once. It was five years ago in Michigan, on the night Connor had found out about Oliver's miscarriage.

Asher should have insisted on participating on the dinner and be there for his friend. He shouldn't have obeyed Connor when he was instructed to go back to the hotel first. He should have protested and disagreed with Connor, but his words were caught in his lips when he saw Oliver Hampton walking hand-in-hand with a taller man—which he was introduced to be Thomas—and the little girl as their daughter.

It must have been a big blow to Connor to see the love of his life—or so Asher was told—to be seen happy with another family. And as he looked at Connor's pleading eyes, he conceded to his friend command and let him go to the dinner alone.

But now as he listened to the continuous sound of items being smashed into parts and the loud wail of Connor's cries of Oliver & Mochi's name, he wondered how Connor's meeting with Oliver's new family turned out to be. He knew that it won't turn out good, but he didn't expect that it will bring the vicious beast in Connor out again.

Nevertheless, he didn't dare go inside the room; he stayed outside and waited patiently for the sound in Connor's room to subside. It took an hour before he can't hear anymore furniture breaking… thirty minutes more before Connor stopped shouting … and another two for the sound of sobbing to completely stop; indicating that Connor had drained all of his energy and had fallen asleep.

When Asher was sure that Connor's outburst was finished, he took his phone out and called Gemma Walsh. Connor and Gemma's relationship as siblings were strong to begin with, but it strengthened even more when Gemma became Connor's rock during the five years of Connor's desperation. She was the one who knew what to do in this kind of situation.

Asher quickly dialed Gemma's number and was thankful that she answered it immediately, he hurriedly explained what had happen—which is not that helpful, given that he wasn't part of the dinner—he started from Oliver's sudden appearance during the meeting that led to Oliver and Connor's talk in the office—which he still doesn't know what happened by the way—to finding about Thomas and their child and then to the destruction of Connor's hotel room.

After Asher explained the situation, Gemma then advised Asher to let Connor sleep for a while and he'll talk to Connor himself later. He assured Asher that once he had talked to Connor, everything will be fine again.

They hung up the phone call, but Asher doubted Gemma's assurance that things will be the way as it was. Gemma wasn't the one who had caught a glimpse of Connor before he disappeared to his room, and lifeless can only be the best, or rather the worst that you could describe Connor's state.

The night had just fallen as they stumbled inside the two-story house. It was a typical country house, it was not too spacious nor was it too big for Oliver's little family; furthermore, Oliver refused to move to a bigger house even if he already had the sufficient funds to transfer.

Oliver let Thomas tucked Alexi in bed as he proceeded directly to the kitchen and took a glass wine from his wooden cupboard and the red bottle of wine which he reserved for special occasions. He made an exception this time, he needed something strong to get through the rest of the night.

He drunk the wine as he repeated in his head the incident in the diner, and no matter what he does, he can't erase on his mind the look of desperation in Connor's eyes.

"He should be happy!" Oliver blurted out and paced the kitchen floor while holding the glass of red wine in his hand. "He got what he wanted, so why was he acting like I took everything away from him when he was the one who ruined my life!" Oliver whispered angrily to the room. He didn't want to disrupt Alexi's sleep just because of his fucked up relationship with his ex-husband.

"Maybe because he felt guilty about what he did to you…" Thomas suggested while leaning on the entryway of the kitchen. He gently walked behind Oliver, took the glass in his hand, drunk the remaining alcohol and put it on the kitchen sink.

"Is Alexi asleep yet?" Oliver questioned and leant the heels of his palms on the kitchen counter for balance.

"Like a boar…" Thomas replied; he wrapped his arms on Oliver's waist and rested his chin on the pale man's shoulder. "Relax, okay. Everything will be fine." Thomas comforted him.

"Everything is not fine, Thomas. Connor is here. Why would he show up now when I just started forgetting everything that happened." He asked the taller man even though he knew that Thomas doesn't know the answer to his question. "Why does he make me feel that I was the bad person here?"

"shh… you're not… you're not bad…"

"But you saw his face on the restaurant, Tom. He was crying because Alexi mentioned about him being a father." He turned around from the man's embrace and talked to him face-to-face. "He was the one who said that he didn't want the baby in the first place, so why was he so devastated about losing Mochi?"

"I really think that he felt guilty about giving you the abortion papers…"

"So does he think that because he is guilty about aborting the baby that everything will be fine again?" Oliver asked Thomas angrily, he knew he shouldn't have blown his anger to Thomas's face, but his mouth can't just learn when to shut up. "Does he think that we could regain our relationship just because he still remembered random things about me? Does he think that building foundations for carriers like me will help him turn time and stop his idiotic past-self to make stupid decisions?"

Thomas was about to respond but Oliver beat him to it.

"No, Thomas! Everything will never be the same no matter what he does or what he remembers. He ruined my life!" He shouted to the blonde-guy. "And now when I've finally moved on and happy with my life, he came crashing it again. "Oliver cried to the man's arm and clutched to the collar of his dress shirt. "That's not fucking fair!"

Thomas embraced Oliver tightly and let the thin man wet his expensive shirt with saliva and tears. He waited until Oliver finished crying, so that he could held Oliver's face with both of his palms, and looked intently at his eyes. "Do you really think that you've already moved on?" Thomas questioned him.

When Oliver gave a nod, Thomas continued. "Are you really sure? …because part of moving on is finding your closure, Oliver. For you to have that, you and Connor need to have a serious conversation." He then gave Oliver a small smile. "It's already been five years since the accident… Things have already changed, you change. It became better for you. You have me… and you have Alexi. And sooner or later, your anger for Connor will not only affect you, but it'll affect Alexi also. Isn't five years enough for you to let go and forgive Connor for what he did?"

"But…. But…"

"I know that what he did to you is painful, but isn't it easier to move on if you hear his apology? Because most often than not, it's the not forgiving that holds us back to true happiness."

"But I'm still scared, Dee, what if he—"

"He won't. I promise you he won't and on the one in a million chances that he'll hurt you again, I'll be the one to call Michaela out so he could beat Connor again." He jested and Oliver lightheartedly slapped him on the shoulder.

"You coward." Oliver accused him; wove his arms through Thomas's neck and relaxed to the man's warm body. "I love you." He mumbled to the blonde's shoulder. "I really don't know how to survive this if my best friend weren't here."

"I know you won't and I love you too, Hackachu." Thomas replied. "And I promise you that I'll always be here for you, no matter what."

Oliver parted their bodies and lifted his fist to the man's chest. "Promise?" He asked and wiggled his pinky finger.

"Promise." Thomas swore and wrapped his finger around Oliver's.

Connor had entered his new hotel room and found Asher's laptop on the bed. It had been hours after he destroyed his previous hotel room. Because of the damages, Asher requested to transfer him into another room while his friend negotiate with the hotel manager about their compensation for the broken furniture and appliances.

Connor was never a violent person, but five years of compressed emotions can do something to your emotional state of mind. He is angry at Gemma for forcing him to go to New York, mad at Oliver for not waiting for him, angry at the world for making him suffer like this, but he is most angry at himself for ruining his own life.

He had a family.

He had a husband.

He had it all.

Had, as in the past, he's nothing, but a mere being that occupies space and has mass.

Life had lost it colors when his child passed away, but he swallowed all of that pain because he still had his husband that he needs to be looking for. But now, seeing Oliver in the arms of another man, he came to realize that he had lost his only reason to live.

The laptop was open to the Skype application. He then answered Gemma's request for video call. He flopped down to the bed and put the laptop beside him, so Gemma can only see the right side of his face, as he stared at the ceiling while talking to his older sister.

"You knew, didn't you?" Connor asked Gemma.

"I knew that Oliver is part of Eve's firm," Gemma replied. Because of the distance and Gemma's busy schedule, he can't fly right away to New York and comfort his brother, so she settled on talking to Connor via Skype.

"So that's why you are so adamant for me to take this case," Connor stated monotonously. His energy had been all used up on his outburst earlier, and even after a good amount of sleep, he still felt so tired. "I don't really know if I should be grateful or not."

"But I thought you wanted to see him…" Gemma said confusingly.

"Oh… I do… trust me, Gemma. I spent the last five years trying to be a better man, so that when fate finally wanted for me and Oliver to meet again, Oliver will be so proud of me. And I'll spend our remaining days to make sure that he is the happiest person in the world." He breathed deeply and twisted his head to look at his brother. "But if I knew that fate never wanted for us to be together, I'll rather choose to be alone and die waiting for him… at least I died hoping that there will be an 'us' again. But meeting him after five years, and knowing that he already has his own family, it just… it killed me." Tears started falling from his eyes as he clutched the rings on his chest. "I don't know how to breathe anymore. I don't know how to live the rest of my life knowing the reason of my existence had vanished before my eyes."

How could Gemma respond to that? Her brother sounded like a teenager with suicidal issues, and another wrong word could trigger something dark in her brother. Gemma just hoped that Connor was only talking nonsense and won't really take his own life. She knew how hard life had been for him with Mochi and Oliver gone, so he was afraid that Connor finding out about Oliver and Thomas is the last straw for him. So just to be sure, Gemma chose not to give Connor words of comfort anymore and just asked him to go back to Phili.

"B… I don't know… just go home Connor, and let's talk about this first please." Gemma pleaded, but apparently \he had said something wrong because it made his brother bawled his eyes out again.

"Oliver is my home…" Connor cried and then slammed the lid of the laptop.

The ding of the elevator indicated that Oliver had reached his destination. He stepped out of the elevator, but didn't proceed to the room which he should look for.

Oliver thought about what Thomas had said to him last night, and knew that Thomas was right. He has to stop keeping grudges against needed to start anew, and the first step to attain it is forgiving Connor.

He walked to the hallowed halls of the hotel and stopped at Room 409 where Connor was staying. He lifted his fist, closed his eyes and breathed deeply. 'I can do this.' He thought to himself and thumped his knuckles on the door.

Connor stays at the Le Burgundy Hotel. The place was luxurious and definitely fits Connor's social status, but one of the hotel's best features is for their customers to feel the presence of home during their stay. So the lack of modern technology in the hotel is an advantage for them; hence, they don't have doorbell and auto-machine in the room.

*knock knock*

Oliver waits.

*knock knock*

No answer.

*knock knock*

Oliver took his phone out and started texting Unique to know if his secretary really did give him the right room number, but he unconsciously gripped and turned the doorknob. The door was unlocked and opened. So without thinking, Oliver slowly entered the room and quietly whispered Connor's name.

"Connor?" Oliver murmured and stopped at the living room of the hotel room. He paused first and took in the lavishness of the room; the furniture is obviously antique, the floor was covered in expensive carpet and even the paint jobs of the walls are classy, and then he suddenly realized how creepy and stupid his action was. He was about to quietly exit the room when Connor showed up on the entryway that separates the bedroom and the living room.

"Agghhh!" Oliver shrieked; he wouldn't have done so if Connor hadn't showed up naked in front of him.

Naked, as in, no whatsoever clothing that should cover his private part.

"Oh my god!" Oliver shouted and instantly covered his eyes and immediately turned around to walk out of the room. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I didn't know Julian came with you! I'm sorry!"

When Connor heard Oliver shout, he used the towel he was using to dry his hair and hurriedly wrapped it around his hips. He was baffled about the man's sudden appearance to his room, but this was the lone opportunity he wanted and he can't let Oliver walk away again.

"Wait! Oliver wait!" Connor shouted and grabbed Oliver's wrist. "Don't leave yet."

They were both panting heavily because of the embarrassment and awkwardness of the situation. "Please Oliver, don't leave. We really need to talk." Connor said to the back of Oliver's head. "I'll change first, but can you please wait for a minute?"

When he received a nod from Oliver, Connor hurriedly run back to his bedroom and put anything that he thought was decent to wear.

Back in the living room, Oliver was repeatedly pressing his cheeks with his palms to lessen the redness and hotness of his body. For a moment there, Oliver felt a sudden feeling of déjà vu, and he shivered because the familiar tension was the samas his and Connor's first meeting at the hotel in Las Vegas.

"Hi." Connor greeted him sheepishly while biting his lips, he suddenly felt so conscious now that Oliver had seen his body. He knew he shouldn't think how Oliver was comparing his body with Thomas's; that was totally irrelevant and inappropriate.

"Hi." Oliver turned around and greeted back; embarrassed of his own action. "I'm sorry; I really didn't know you were with someone."

That got Connor curious, he had never been with anyone after Oliver; just the thought of being with someone else, especially Julian, makes him feel like he had cheated on Oliver. "I'm not… Julian and I broke up a long time ago. I'm just used to being alone, so I don't have any inhibitions to walk out… uhmm… naked."

Oliver had a feeling that there's another meaning when Connor said that he was alone, and he also was surprised that he and Julian broke up. He had the sudden urge to ask him about what happened, but stopped himself before he open his mouth. 'It's not my business anymore to intrude to his personal life… They just didn't work out… I should just leave it like that.' Oliver thought, nodded at Connor and remembered his intention of going to the hotel in the first place.

Oliver riffled his bag and searched for the handwritten sorry card made by his daughter. He took it out, stepped forwards to Connor and gave it to him. "Here. Lexi wrote it for you. She had a knack of making these cards."

"Aww. Thank me for her."

Oliver smiled at Connor. "Uhmm.. about that…" Oliver started while scratching the back of his neck. "Uhmm… Why—"

"I'm sorry." Connor cut him off.

After 5 years, 4 months and 2 days, he had finally apologized to Oliver. It wasn't the grand gesture he had been planning before, but this will do. "I'm sorry for the things I've done to you. I'm so sorry for the way I treated you." He sincerely said; not giving Oliver time to respond. "I'm so fucking sorry. There is no excuse for the horrible things that I've done, but Oliver please believe me that I didn't mean it." Tears are racing to fall on his cheeks. "Please Oliver believe me that I truly am sorry. I know that I can't undo the things that I've said and done to you, but I'm just… so so sorry..."

'… for not showing you how much I love you… for not taking care of our baby… for being stupid… for letting you walk away from my life…' His mind supplied, but he dared not say it out loud.

Connor knew Oliver already has his own family, and he already accepted defeat that they can't be together anymore. "Please Oliver… I regret everything that had happened…"

Oliver wanted to question Connor more, but seeing how wretched the tanned man was about his mistaked five years ago, would suffice him for now.

Oliver had lived his life with anger, while Connor lived his with guilt. They were both broken, and only through each other that they could be fixed.

So without a second thought, Oliver stepped forwards and wrapped his arms around the crying man's neck. Connor's cheeks rested on Oliver's collar, and Oliver's chin was rested on the other man's shoulder. Oliver rubbed Connor's back for comfort as he gently whispered "You're forgiven."

Connor cried more loudly and tightened his embrace on the pale man's waist. At last, Connor had heard the two words he had been striving to hear for the last five years.

The birds were chirping more loudly, the branches of the trees were swaying with more grace, and the children's laughter became music to Connor's ears. It's not Technicolor yet, but it's a start.

It had been a week since Connor came back to Philadelphia. It also had been a week since his and Oliver's talk in his hotel room. There had been more crying and apologies after that, but eventually they have to part ways. Oliver decided that it's better for the two of them to not start anything but be acquaintances for now, and Connor agreed to it because they both needed time and space for themselves. He was glad that Oliver had forgiven him, but he wasn't ready to hear how happy Oliver was with Thomas. Even though he knew there were no hopes for them to be together again, his love for Oliver will not perish.

The past week hadn't been easy for Connor; sometimes he just stared at nothing and started thinking how he could move on from here. For three days, his routine was to get up early, bought coffee and bagels at a nearby café and eat his breakfast on a bench at a nearby park while he enjoys the beauty of nature.

It's already 8:30 am and Connor should head back to his apartment to get ready for work. He was just about to turn to the corner to his apartment when his legs bumped to a small girl.

"I'm sorry." Connor apologized immediately and was utterly surprised that he knew the girl in front of him. "Alexi?" He asked confusingly.

"Curly!" Alexi exclaimed and wrapped his tiny arms around Connor's knees.

"Connor." Oliver gasped a few steps behind Alexi; he was obviously running after the girl. "Don't go running again from me, young girl." Oliver asked and stepped beside Alexi.

Connor answered and crutch down to the girl's level to pat his head. "How… I mean, what? What are you doing here in Philly?"

"Uhmm… I live here now." Oliver answered hesitantly, and smiled closed-lip when he saw Connor's wide eyes staring at him.

Sometimes fate had its own mysterious ways of dealing with broken hearts.

Title Reference: "Meet the Hamptons" From the movie Meet the Fockers.

Story Reference:

-Flashdance fro Canon-Oliver's record stash

Story Outline:

-Awkward Conversation among the four

-Connor conversation with Gemma

-Thomas calming Oliver down

-Klaine conversation

-Oliver moving into Connor's building

Scenes included:

-Gemma Knowing about Oliver's involvement in Porcelain

-Connor knew the kid name's origin

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