The following week was hard for Brooklyn. It felt like she was losing everything. She had a carefully crafted a life where she was dating two women and other nooners to play with at whim. It looked like she lost Harper, even though she still hadn't given her a definite answer, but Brooklyn was savvy enough to read between the lines.

She started drowning her sorrows in alcohol. She called in sick at work and spent her days bathed in an alcoholic haze. She avoided Mia, which made her act crazy. Mia kept messaging and calling her, desperately trying to find out what was going on. She ended turning up on her doorstep, trying desperately to reason with her. Brooklyn had shrugged her off and Mia had left in tears, wondering why her once passionate lover had turned icy cold on her. There had been a lot of tears, yelling and angry tirade. Brooklyn just sat in stoney silence as her lover screamed at her, unable to deal with what was going on around her.

Brooklyn made her way to a local bar, where she downed gin, after gin, after gin. The warm fuzzy feeling felt good, it made the outside world disappear and her cares just melted away. She ignored everyone around her, knocking back advances from pretty girls and kept drinking until the bartender cut her off.

"I think you've had enough." The cute brunette explained. "Here's a glass of water instead."

Brooklyn scowled. "Come on darlin," She slurred slightly. "Just one more for the road."

The brunette shook her head firmly and pushed the glass of water towards her. "Can I call you a cab?"

Brooklyn shook her head fuzzily. "Nah, I'll get an Uber." She sipped her water and handed her unlocked phone to the brunette. "Could you?"

The brunette nodded, punched in the destination Brooklyn pointed to and handed the phone back to her. "They'll be out the front in a minute."

Brooklyn nodded and slid off the barstool somewhat gracefully. "Thanks darlin." She winked and swayed unsteadily out of the bar on to the front of the street.

The Uber car showed up minutes later and Brooklyn slid into the car seat gratefully. She had her eyes open for a minute and then promptly fell asleep. She awoke to the driver shaking her awake gently.

"We're here ma'am." The young indian guy said politely. "You're home."

"Thank you." She said unsteadily. Brooklyn slid out of the car and looked around. She was out the front of Harper's place.

"Shit." She mumbled as the car zoomed off down the street. "Wait!" She called out, but he was too far away to hear her.

Brooklyn stood there for a moment, swaying slightly, wondering what to do. Her alcohol fogged brain wasn't working as well as what it usually did. Part of her really wanted to see Harper, finally get an answer as to whether or not it was really over. She swayed slightly and then made her way up the front steps of the townhouse. The desire to see Harper overwhelmed her and she started banging on the front door.

Harper was roused from her sleep to a loud banging on the front door. What the hell? She thought. Has Sebastian lost his keys or something?

She sleepily made her way downstairs and opened the door.

"Sebastian..." She started sleepily and stopped short when she was confronted by an intoxicated Brooklyn.

"Hey babe..." Brooklyn mumbled drunkenly, trying to be suave but failing miserably. "How you doin'?"

"What are you doing here?" Harper snapped, wide awake.

"Baby... Baby... Baby..." Brooklyn slurred slightly. "I've missed you."

Harper's face contorted in pain and anger.

"No." She said defiantly. "No. You don't get to do this."

Brooklyn lurched towards her and tried to put her arms around her.

"Come on," she said drunkenly, throwing her arms out to hug Harper. "Babe, please?"

Harper caught her by the arms in midst of her drunken hug.

"Come inside." Harper sighed.

She helped Brooklyn inside and sat her down on the couch.

"Did you want a coffee or something?" She asked not quite knowing how to handle this new development. Brooklyn sat on the couch with her head in her hands.

"I want to know what happened?" She mumbled through her hands. "Why don't you want to see me anymore?"

Harper sighed and started making coffee.

"Because you cheated on me." Harper replied sadly. It somehow felt easier to talk to Brooklyn when she was intoxicated. All the walls were down at the moment.

"Yeh..." Brooklyn said sadly. "I'm sorry. I was scared." Brooklyn shook her head drunkenly. "You have anything to drink here?"

Harper shook her head no and passed her the coffee. Brooklyn shrugged and took a sip.

"Good coffee babe." She acknowledged, lifting the cup. "I've missed you so much this past week."

Harper's face contorted with pain. She didn't want to hear this. It was too painful. Brooklyn was bringing up every painful memory of walking in on her with another woman. Harper's freshly healed heart was being ripped open again and she felt like she was going to collapse.

"Yeh well..." Harper said slowly. "It's all over now."

"No!" Brooklyn shouted suddenly, jumping to her feet, the cup of coffee tumbled from her hands. "No! It's not. I fucking love you."

The two women looked at each other warily. Brooklyn swayed on her feet unsteadily.

"Yeh," Harper retorted. "You love me so much that you had another woman between your legs. You love me so much that you were FUCKING someone else while we were together!"

"No baby," Brooklyn said pathetically. "It wasn't like that. It was just, you know.... I was scared after Chloe...." Her voice trailed off as she sunk back on to the couch.

"It doesn't change that you were fucking someone else while we were together."

"But I fucking love you." She mumbled drunkenly. "I love you so much. It's killing me not being with you."

"No," Harper said sadly. "No, you don't."

"I do." Brooklyn mumbled. "I miss you. I miss all of you. I miss touching you, kissing you, smelling your scent..."

Harper steeled herself against the emotional outburst.

"It's over Brooklyn." Harper fought back her tears. "I just can't anymore."

"Please give me another chance," Brooklyn begged, as she swayed to her feet. "I can change. I'll break up with the other girl and then we can be together. Just us. No one else. I promise."

She dropped to her knees and reached out to take Harper's hand, but stopped short as she looked at the pain twisted on Harper's face.

Harper looked at her ex-lover kneeling in front of her, begging her to take her back, feeling a rush of sympathy for her. Harper wanted to believe the words that were coming out of her mouth. She really did. At that moment all she wanted to do was take Brooklyn in her arms and whisper,"It's ok, I forgive you for everything. I've been in love with you for so long. Before we were even together. When we got together it was like a dream coming true. I thought our happiness would never end. Its meant to be you and me, fighting against the world." But instead she shook her head sadly. The tears that she was holding back welled up in her eyes.

"No Brooklyn." She replied, her heart being wrenched out of her chest with every word that she uttered. "It's over. I can't take it anymore. Walking in on you...."

Harper sighed deeply and wiped her eyes before continuing. "... it just killed me. It really did."

"Yeh I get it." Brooklyn said softly, still kneeling in front of Harper, her head bent as she looked at the floor. "I fucked up and lost you forever now."

Harper looked at Brooklyn kneeling on the floor in a puddle of cold coffee.

"Just stay here tonight." She said resolutely. "But I want you gone by the time I get up tomorrow."

Brooklyn got up and stumbled to the couch, resting her head on the armrest. She nodded sleepily.

"I'll be gone in the morning. You won't hear from me again."

Harper looked at Brooklyn falling asleep and nodded. She took a blanket out of the cupboard and threw it over Brooklyn's sleeping form. Brooklyn snuggled into the blanket and began to snore softly.

"Good night." Harper whispered. "Good bye Brooklyn." Tears streamed down her face. "Good bye forever."

She slowly headed for the stairs and paused at foot of the staircase, trying to resist the urge to invite Brooklyn upstairs and finally have that night together where they fell asleep in each other's arms. It was all she ever looked forward to when she was still living with Jackson. Harper slowly made it up the stairs and softly closed the door to her room. She leant against the door and breathed deeply. Her eyes teared up and she started to sob. The urge to go back downstairs and invite Brooklyn to sleep in her bed was overwhelming. Harper had to resist the desire with every fibre of her being. It felt like it was one of the hardest things that she'd had to deal with it, especially when the temptation was so close. She sighed and made her way over to her bed. Harper reached for her phone to warn Sebastian about Brooklyn.

Harper: Just a heads up, in case she's still here when you get home, Brooklyn showed up drunk and is sleeping it off on the couch.

Harper put her phone down and lay in her bed staring at the ceiling, sleep eluding her as her mind replayed her relationship with Brooklyn over and over in her mind, the pain of how it ended was as fresh as the day it happened. Her heart felt heavy and broken.

Jackson lay in his huge bed, thinking about Harper and how he was going to get her back. He could hear Isabella breathing softly as she slept next to him. She had been a welcome distraction when she had come over to go through a few business contracts. He couldn't help himself and ended up luring her upstairs, where they made love several times. He just needed a warm body next to him.

His thoughts returned back to Harper. He knew that she had broken up with Brooklyn. There had to be a way of getting her to come back. To complete his life again. He was sure that Penelope was on his side and that she would help him. Maybe he would go and speak to Harper tomorrow, as all of his messages had fallen on deaf ears and she was ignoring his pleas. He smiled in the darkness as his plan slowly began to form in his mind. He would get Harper back. He was sure of it.

Sebastian was on his way home from his date in the early hours of the morning, when he finally checked his phone on the seat next to him. He picked up the phone to read the message from Harper.

"Awesome." He muttered. Hopefully Brooklyn won't be too belligerent when he got home to wake her up and send her on her way. He really hoped that Harper stayed strong and didn't invite Brooklyn upstairs. That would really throw a spanner in the works if she crumbled and gave in. Sebastian rubbed his chin thoughtfully as his powerful white mustang purred along the freeway and admired the sunrise. The sun was slowly coming up, painting the sky with yellow and orange behind the cityscape. He was close to home now and he would deal with Brooklyn soon.

He pulled into the garage and walked inside, straight to the kitchen to make himself a strong coffee. He saw Brooklyn was still sleeping on the couch, cocooned in a blanket. Sebastian sighed in relief.

Thank god for small miracles. He thought thankfully. Harper stayed strong.

He made two cups of coffee and started over to the couch to wake up Brooklyn. He shook her ankle gently.

"Eh, what?" She mumbled as she was roused from sleep abruptly. She sat up and ran her hands through her spiky hair. "What am I doing here?"

Sebastian handed her the cup, and Brooklyn accepted with a half-hearted smile.

"Thanks." She said gratefully. Sebastian sat down next to her.

"Do you remember why you came here?" He asked her quietly.

"Man!" Brooklyn exclaimed softly. "I have a mother of all hangovers right now. I'm gonna need like ten more cups of coffee before I feel halfway human." She rubbed her eyes as she drank her coffee, savouring the bittersweet taste.

Sebastian sipped his coffee slowly while he waited for her to answer him.

"I don't know why I came here..." Brooklyn said. "I guess that I wanted Harper back."

Sebastian exhaled slowly. "You know that's not going to happen don't you?"

Brooklyn nodded. "Yeh, deep down I do, but I guess I wanted to try one last time." She took another sip of coffee. "I just had to try. I know that I fucked up."

Sebastian nodded and took another mouthful of his coffee. "Its time to go Brooklyn."

"I know. I promised Harper that I'd be gone before she got up." She downed the rest of the coffee and stood up. Brooklyn glanced around the room and spotted a six panel piece in the dining area.

That looks familiar. Brooklyn thought, still a little hazy. It looks like what Mia had painted a few months ago. But no? Couldn't be that same piece, could it? She shook head, trying to clear her foggy hung over mind and headed towards the door. Brooklyn paused with her hand on the doorknob.

"Can you at least pass on a message for me?" Brooklyn sighed, her shoulders slumped. "Can you tell Harper that I'm sorry? I'm sorry for the way everything turned out."

Sebastian strode across the room and met her at the door.

"I will." He assured her. He placed his hand on the small of her back and ushered her out gently but firmly. Brooklyn turned on the step.

"Thanks Sebastian."

Sebastian nodded and closed the door. He heard Harper come down the stairs.

"She's gone, isn't she? Harper asked. "I thought I heard her leaving."

"Yeh, just now."

"I'm sorry that you had to deal with all of this." Harper said, her eyes puffy from crying herself to sleep and tinged with a deep melancholy. "I just couldn't face her this morning."

Sebastian rubbed her shoulder sympathetically.

"It's for the best Har-Bear." He said. "In the long run, you'll see that it's for the best."

"I know Sebby," Harper sighed heavily. "It just hurt so much to see her last night. It was like all the old wounds were all reopened as soon as I saw her. Like a knife in my heart."

She turned and busied herself with the coffee machine and made a cup of coffee, trying not cry, thinking about how everything had turned out.

"So!" Harper said brightly. "How was your date last night?"

Sebastian smiled over his coffee. "What can I say Har-Bear? It was AH-may-zing!"

Harper smiled, happy for her best friend. "So does this mean there's another date on the horizon Sebby?"

Sebastian smiled secretively. "Only time will tell Har-Bear. It's still in the early stages, so I don't want to jinx it."