[apartment] me and my broken heart [tegan]

"Come on Duke lets go out." Aeric grabbed the leash off the hook and attached it to the dogs collar. He might as well get Duke out for a walk before Tegan came by for drinks. It was nice seeing her in town a few days prior. They hadn't had time to catch up, so he invited her over to his place. He would be in London for a few days, mostly in meetings so being at home made it more relaxed. Stepping outside he headed down the street, sliding his free hand into the pocket of his pants. He barely had time to himself, even now he could feel Niko lurking somewhere in the shadows. He was happy that the man allowed him to be alone inside his apartment. Maybe it was because he occupied the one directly next to it. Regardless he was thankful from that piece of freedom.

Emerald green eyes dropped down as Duke pulled him to the right, taking their usual route around the neighborhood. Enough time for them to get a bit of fresh air and exercise. Sky would be home tomorrow which he was excited about. Aeric tried to give him as much social interaction with his cousins as he could. He wanted the next generation to be as close as the present one. He wondered how he would explain what he had been through when they started swapping stories. Should he tell her everything or would that be overwhelming for her? He wasn't sure but he knew one thing. He had missed her. It would be nice to see her again.

Finally back at the apartment he stepped inside and let the dog free as he walked into the kitchen. Wine. That was a catch up drink, right? Well, it was going to be if he had anything to do with it. With that on ice he moved to check the food. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was something. He figured Te might like the break. A meal and wine over light conversation. That was the plan. He hoped that plan would stick.

Te had always had a way over him, even in school. Even though they'd broken up he liked to think they were still friends. He hoped they could still talk about anything. He had so much weighing on his shoulders he felt like he would never be free. It was a part of the world he lived in, it came with the responsibility. He wanted to tell Etain, but she had a family of her very own to worry about. His problems were just that, his. He would have to find a way to handle them. Yes, he would love to vent, but that would solve nothing.

The knock at the door caught his attention as he moved to leave out of the kitchen. "One sec." Wiping his hands on a towel he tossed on the table he moved to unlock and open the door. "Hello beautiful." He gave a smile before moving in to give her a hug. "It's good to see you again, I'm glad you could make it." Stepping back he moved to give her room to come inside. "Make yourself at home. Wine?" Closing the door he stepped into the room holding his hands together in front of him.

The Regan family and the Bane family had always been a bit close. Well, close was actually sort of an understatement. You see, Bane women were hopelessly attracted to their respective Regan men, like moths to a flame. Persephone had had Dom. Rosaline had had Conall. And Tegan... She had had Aeric. The two had dated in seventh year, and if she were honest with herself, they had never quite gotten over one another. Sure, she had married and had children; later divorcing and then seriously dating Elliott McLaren, who she was currently flat-shopping with. But, she always got butterflies whenever she and Aeric were around one another. It was a curse, and a blessing. He was her best friend, without a doubt.

Which was why she was terribly pleased to be spending part of her day with him. She had missed him quite terribly, in recent months. However, both of them were unfortunately very busy with their lives. It was nice, then, that they could finally make time for one another. She tugged nervously at her green dress underneath her cloak before knocking on Aeric's door. Her hair had been swept up into a messy bun, and her makeup was done in black, winged eyeliner and red lipstick.

A bright smile came to Tegan's face as her friend opened the door. "Hello, flatterer." She teased, hugging him back tightly. "It is good to see you again, as well. I've missed you. We really do have to stop going so long without seeing one another." She replied, giving him a grin before stepping inside.

Wine? He'd said the magic word. "Yes, please?" Taking off her cloak, she went to hang it before turning to him once more. "How have you been?"

"You're right. I know I let work get in the way of my free time. I just try to get it all done while it's fresh on my mind." Which was true, he had a lot to get done everyday. His main concern was the threat that had shown itself so blatantly it was offensive. Kerr was at school again, but Aeric could only think what would have been had he not been found. The shadow of that accident followed him around, because he couldn't understand. The school was supposed to be a safe place, a place where the kids were free to be themselves. The war had shown that even the most protected of things could be broken.

Ah, there it was that question. How are you? "I'm okay." He walked as he spoke to pour them both a glass of wine. "Just adjusting to a lot of changes.." He gave her a smile as he handed her a glass. "Dinner is almost done, I figured I could cook for you for once." Stepping passed her he walked towards the living room to stand near the couch. "Please relax." He sighed softly before sitting down, sipping from his glass as he did so. How was he? He was terrible. His world was in havoc and there seemed to be little he could do about. What he wanted was answers to the million questions he had in his head.

"So, how have you been?" He could still remember the day she told him she'd gotten married. It had been surprising to him for more than one reason. He wasn't sure what he felt for Tegan still, they didn't spend time often. "It seems like it's been forever since we last talked." It had been. He knew it had been because he could remember their last actual conversation. She was starting a family of her own back then. It seemed over the course of events they lost touch. Yes they saw each other here and there, catching up quickly before going back to their lives.

"I was happy I ran into you the other day. In the haze of all the crap I was dealt I think I forgot I had friends." Aeric had once thought he had no one. He woke up alone in the hospital while his sisters were getting food. He had no idea who he was. Those had been dark times for the man. Learning himself all over again had proven hard. It seemed one day he woke up and he remembered everything. Just as quickly as his life had change it had been restored. "But work and family keep me busy..." He wasn't sure if she had heard about Skylar.

"But I'm glad we found the time to catch up, especially over something I cooked." He grinned brightly as he sat back on the couch. "I think you will be impressed by my cooking skills."

"I understand. But, that doesn't stop me from missing you." Tegan puffed out her bottom lip in a playful pout. Honestly, her life was rather hectic as well. She had gone back to work for the Ministry of Magic, though in a different department this time. On top of that, she had her duties as a mother to Mathis and Sophia. At the moment, however, they were with their father in Italy. Elliott was likely with a patient. For those reasons, she was glad that she wasn't at home by herself like she would usually be.

She gave a small smile and a bit of a curious look to her friend. "Changes? Such as?" So, perhaps she was a little nosy. Aeric was used to it. She was not used to this, however: him cooking for her. Usually, it was the other way around. It was a nice change, though. Her smile brightened, and she took a seat next to him on the sofa. This was rather short-lived, as her smile faltered at his sigh. Something was wrong. Why wasn't he telling her?

Realistically, he probably just didn't want to worry her or ruin her night. Aeric was one of those "suffer in silence" types, whereas Tegan liked attention. She wore her heart on her sleeve, and he kept his carefully contained. "What's the matter, love?" She looked up at him, concerned. "Something's bothering you."

Waving a hand a bit dismissively at his question, she shook her head. "I'm fine. Now, what's the matter? You seem... off.." And, there it was. Or at least part of it. He was lonely. She could relate. "I will always be your friend, Aery." She smiled at him with the same look of adoration that she always seemed to have for him. Sometimes, she really wished that she could be as strong and brave as he had always been. It was just a shame that he always seemed to be having such a rough time, lately...

"I am glad, too. I'm looking forward to trying your food. I trust that you haven't poisoned it or anything?" She teased.

How could he explain the trouble in his life without scaring her away? In what way could he say someone was trying to take his family down a notch with violence and intimidation? How could he tell her that Ivana had seemingly went crazy and suddenly vanished? There was no way in hell he could. That was the truth he knew that even if he sought another answer. He wanted something more, needed his life to feel meaningful. "I missed you too, so maybe we shouldn't let so much time pass between seeing each other." He had loved Tegan at a point in his life. Truly loved her and his heart had been ripped from his chest during their last meeting. She had moved on and he had waited - like a fool - to see if they still had a chance. Things between them slipped back into a friendship that would stand the test of time it would seem. Her question had been expected and yet he had no way of answering her. The last thing he wanted to do was ruin their time together with his sad stories of lost love and sought out revenge. But she had asked hadn't she, so he should obliged being a gentleman and all.

All he could giver her was a shrugged of the shoulder, the most commonly used non-communal act. He simply didn't know where to start and where to end. All he knew was that being in her company had brought some peace into his life. She asked again and this time he let the words spill out. He let his fear of judgement seep away. "I miss her." As soft as it sounded he did. He missed the laughter and the playfulness. Boy or boy did he miss the sex. "I wake up at night and have to realize all over again that she's gone, you know." He had allowed himself to be vulnerable with her and in the end it had nearly destroyed him. "Then there is all this bullsh*t going on with my family that is going to turn me prematurely grey." Though the bulk of it all was he was lonely. Yes, he had his sister and his family but they each had someone for themselves. He had no one. There was no one to vent to. No one to shower in love and affection. No one to plan a future with. He simply had himself.

"Are you sure about that? Because lately I've begun to realize that some friends are just passing through." Merrick had been one of them. He didn't know where she was or what she was doing and at this point in his life he didn't care. Cassie had been one that had lost touch. She and him had always been bound to their attraction for each other though they remained friends. It was like everyone in his life that he had trusted had somehow or another let him down. "Because I can't take anymore loses, I don't think I'll survive." It was proving to be too much, living the life he had been given. He was grateful that was one things he made clear but still it wore on him. He made choices that affect more than himself. The rise or fall of his family rested on his shoulders, it was hard to take in at times. His laugh was hearty as he looked over at her. "Really, poison. You think so little of me Miss. Bane." He gave her a grin before drinking from his wine glass.

"Honestly, I feel like I'm drifting in a crowd of people who can't even see me." It was because he choose to keep it all to himself. He knew that there were people who would listen but he still somehow found a way to do it all alone. Maybe that was what needed to change, he needed to stop doing it all alone. He had the help, Etain was by his side most days. Yeah, he was making a change. Things would be looking up soon that much he hoped.