As the time hits ten o'clock at night, Stephanie feebly makes her way to the living room, where George is still sat silently. She brings herself into his peripheral vision, to catch his attention; in response, he glances up with no emotion.

"I'm about to go, now," she announces softly, having been given a few hours to calm herself down. "I-I'm going to Harrison's house." She tucks George's diary under her arm, before heaving a saddened sigh. "I was hoping we could both just move on from this. I want us to remain friends. You said you wanted that, too."

"I don't think I'm ready for that," George answers monotonously, before his eyes move back to the nothingness he was staring at before. "Have a nice time with Harrison. I hope he makes you happier than I ever did."

"You made me so happy, George." She frowns, feeling sorry that she has damaged his confidence so much. "It was my own insecurity that has ruined things. I know that my insecurity was ... needed, given I felt like you didn't love me. I was correct about that. But ... the way I handled it was entirely wrong, and I'm so sorry for that."

"I hear your apology, and I apologise for hiding my sexuality; but I can't accept any remorse you claim to feel." He clasps his hands together, as a means to alleviate the urge to fidget. "And if you don't wish to accept my remorse, that's fine by me. I couldn't care less if I tried, to tell the truth."

"Maybe I will accept it, once I've had a look in here," she informs him, in reference to the diary he has given to her. "I know you want your space now, so I'll take it with me to read. Once I'm done, I'll make sure you get it back."

"You better. I have a lot to write in there," he says, shortly.

"I know." Her eyes meet the analogue clock on the wall; it reads 10:06PM. "Anyway, Harrison will be expecting me, now. I'll leave you be." As she gathers her bags, and starts to head towards the front door, she speaks one final time. "I'm sorry, George."

His face contorts slightly, as he tries to hold back tears until she's out the door. Once she's out of earshot, his entire demeanour changes drastically; where he was once paralysingly numb, he is now full of emotion. He growls loudly, rising from his seat on the sofa to head to the nursery room. From the doorway, he peers inside; seeing the sweet painted walls and the furniture for the baby he thought was his son. He scans the room with his caramel irises, until his gaze lands upon the snow globe that Stephanie gifted to him only recently. He marches over to it, swiftly picking it up from the windowsill it's perched on; with jittering eyes, he examines the baby scan that's proudly presented inside. He then spots the writing on the base, which reads, 'I love you, Daddy'. This is enough to cause his hands to start trembling; in rage, he throws the trinket against the wall, causing it to smash harshly. Glass and fake snow scatter all over the place; staining the wall; and spilling onto the carpet below him. He stands for a moment, looking at the damage he's done; but this doesn't stop him from continuing his out-of-character rampage. He finds the blanket that Stephanie had planned to give to George, ready for his first time holding Alexander; he pulls at it, tearing it into two, then lets it fall to the ground.

George spots tiny items of clothing neatly arranged in the miniature wardrobe, aggressively tugging them from their hangers; he tosses each outfit and accessory carelessly over his shoulder, until the rack is bare. His eyes fall on the little book collection that Stephanie has set out; these were intended for both his and Stephanie's usage, so that they could read to Alexander to keep him settled. He opens each story, ripping pages out until a pile of colourful paper lays beneath him. He notices some sweet figurines and statues; simply there to decorate the room and pull the aesthetic together. With smooth actions, he sweeps them off the shelves they're sat on, allowing them to break as they hit the hard surface of the crib below. And oh — the crib! The centrepiece of what was once an adorable hideout for a beloved little boy. George begins to punch it with the strength he has left; but this is exactly when the fury starts to subside, and so his anger switches gradually to pure heartbreak. His hits become more mellow; his intensely-furrowed brows soften; and he eventually falls to his knees in grief, as he sobs agonisingly.

He remains in this fallen, defeated position for hours to come; crying out for the two people he's lost, who he loves the most in the world.

• • •

Stephanie makes herself comfortable on the sofa at Harrison's home; leaning George's diary against the arm as she opens it to a random page. Her eyes flit to an entry from May of last year — before George even knew Levi existed.

Dear Diary,

It feels as though there's no point anymore. I've felt this way for a long time already, but it burns stronger today. Every day I wake up and feel dreadful, knowing that I'm lying to a woman who dotes on me. It crushes my soul knowing what I'm doing to her, but I'm too afraid of telling her my truth in case it gets me hurt.

Her brows knit together sadly, as she skips over this entry; to another one, from just after he met Levi.

Dear Diary,

I'm still shaken up from yesterday. I'm stunned that Levi called me in the nick of time. If he hadn't, I'd be dead now. He saved my life, and I can't seem to shake that surreal feeling. I was so close to doing it, to finally ending everything. He also told me he was gay, something I never expected. We told each other our stories, how we worked out our sexualities. It was a daunting phone call, but one I'm glad we had.

"He almost killed himself?" she wonders aloud, the revelation being so new for her. "My god ... " She turns a few pages, coming across one from October.

Dear Diary,

I still can't believe that Levi has admitted his feelings for me. I'm the happiest man in the world, knowing I've found someone who I feel this connection with. It's the greatest feeling I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing. I never want this to fade. Of course, I feel so sorry for Steph through all of this ... I can't help but think about how much I'm hurting her without her even knowing.

"So he did think about me," she gasps, knowing now that George was telling the truth about this in their argument earlier. "I've been such a twat."

Dear Diary,

I found out today that the gender of my baby is a boy! I'm having a son! Words can't express how overjoyed I am at this news. Of course, I'd have been just as ecstatic regardless of the gender — but now I know for sure that he's a boy, we can start organising the nursery and buying him blue baby things. There's only a few months to go until he's finally here, and I'm counting down the days!

Levi has been incredibly supportive despite his reservations about the whole situation. I've formed an emotional attachment to this baby, even though I didn't plan to. It'll make things harder when I want to move to Goring to be with Levi, after I've told Steph the truth. But right now, all I can do is celebrate the fact that I'm having a healthy and happy son!

In all honesty, since the homophobic attack in Reading a few months back, things have started to look up for me. I know I have a lot to work out, but I think one day I'll get there. I truly believe that, even if I get a little anxious sometimes.

Yog x

"He was so excited ... " She sheds a single tear, only just realising how beside himself George must be, now that he's aware he's not the father. She then quickly re-reads the final paragraph again. "And ... the attack was because him and Levi are gay ... Shit."

Dear Diary,

Today was undoubtedly the hardest day of my life, so far. I missed the deadline for telling Stephanie the truth about being gay, and Levi thinks I no longer love him. I drove to Goring today, to try and make amends. He shot me down with every word I said. I even proposed to him, for if/when we are ever allowed to legally get married in future. He said no, because I'm still "committed to Stephanie". He told me to go home, so really I had no choice in the matter.

To say my heart is broken is the biggest understatement I've ever made. Nothing feels the same anymore. Nothing feels quite as wonderful and bright as it did when I had him. We opened our hearts to one another, we became so vulnerable and we knew each other inside-out. I feel as if I've lost my lungs, and now I can't breathe easy, I feel as though my heart has been ripped straight from my chest and stomped on. Is this how much breaking up hurts? I've had relationships in the past, and none of them ever felt quite as painful as this. As dramatic as it may be, I don't feel like myself now, as he has taken part of me that I can't replace or get back. I feel lost, and hopeless.

A deeply despairing Yog x

Having read enough, she finally closes the book; then, she locks it with the padlock. Her chest weakens a little in sympathy, for the turmoil her partner has been through without her knowledge. Granted, it is difficult for her to forgive the lies he has told, and the secrets he has kept; but despite this, she knows that he only did it to protect himself, and his own life. Her thoughts are interrupted, when a dashing young man enters the room to sit with her. His blonde hair is just long enough to sweep behind his ears; his piercing blue eyes are bright enough to serve as the focal point to his entire face. He gives Stephanie a smile, joining her on the sofa.

"You okay, sweet?" he offers genuinely. "I know today has been hard for you."

"He's been through so much," she whispers guiltily. "I know he kept a huge secret from me, too, but ... he was so excited for Alex to arrive. He loves this boy. And I didn't even know how rough it's been for him."

"Maybe one day, he'll forgive you," Harrison suggests. "It would be nice if you can remain as friends once all this has blown over."

"I don't think that'll happen," Stephanie admits. "There's been too much hurt. He's lost everything, now."

"And it's an incredibly sad situation," Harrison frowns, feeling sincere empathy towards George. "But dwelling isn't going to do you any good, either. You have a baby to think about."

She nods, bringing her head to his chest. "I know. It'll take a while to stop feeling so sorry for what's happened, but I'll try to focus on this family we have, now."

• • •

"Please, Levi ... I told her the truth. I told her everything. She knows about it all, I swear. I can't live without you by my side. We're a team." George's voice gives out, as he clutches the telephone in both hands. "You have no idea how much I loathe this answerphone of yours. Please just call me back. I miss you so much. I love you so much. And ... " Eventually, he can't help but start to cry down the phone. "I need you ... " He slams the phone down clumsily onto its receiver, stumbling away from the small table it rests on. He makes his way to his bedroom, collapsing onto the large bed, which he no longer shares with anyone.

"Please, Levi ... I told her the truth. I told her everything. She knows about it all, I swear. I can't live without you by my side. We're a team ... You have no idea how much I loathe this answerphone of yours. Please just call me back. I miss you so much. I love you so much. And ... I need you ... "

Levi and his mother stand together by the telephone, listening to George's desperate pleas on the voicemail function. Penny would hate to admit it, but she wishes Levi would give in and call George back to give him some peace of mind; alas, Levi has other ideas.

"He did this to himself," he mutters coldly; although, deep down, his heart shatters hearing George in such a state. "He made his choice."

"But he's done what you asked," Penny reminds him. "He was late with it, but he did it. And he did it for you."

"He'll find someone new," Levi dismisses bluntly, taking a seat at the bottom of the staircase. "A man as attractive as him will have no issues."

"But you know that's not what you want him to do," Penny asserts. "You know you still love him. You're just trying to make a point. You would be broken if he found somebody else to love."

"Well, it isn't about what I want," Levi concludes, deciding already that he can't face discussing his ex-lover so soon after their split. "It's about what he wanted. And it wasn't me, when he had the choice."

With no other words spoken, he stands himself back up; rushing up the stairs, so that he can be by himself yet again.

• • •

Well, there was a lot of emotions in this one! Hope you enjoyed it. xx