Agree to Disagree

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey’s temper flared, and he didn’t even care that Christine was sitting right there. He had things he needed to say to Roland, and he wasn’t going to hold them back anymore.

“You’re worried about me? Well, good. You should be. It’s all your fault this happened, so you should be worried. You had to go and die and leave everybody to fend for themselves. You always try so hard to protect all of us, and then when we actually need you, you’re not there. I was trying so hard to protect Riley, and she was falling apart. I didn’t even see the danger to myself until the second I got cursed. And then, afterwards, I lay in that hospital bed, and she wouldn’t even come see me for days. And then you came back, looking like the hero all over again… But where were you when I needed you? When Riley needed you? You don’t get to tell me how to live my life, Roland. You’re the one that messed it up. It would have been better if you’d just stayed dead!”

[Roland Ferrera]

Roland stayed perfectly calm, but it was difficult. He didn’t want to be the one to make a scene in Geoffrey’s house, and he recognized that his cousin had a few things he needed to get off his chest.

But that last part stung just a little, and he winced. “You don’t mean that, Geoffrey,” he said quietly. “I know that you’ve been hurt and that you’re angry, but blaming me isn’t going to make you feel better in the long run. You need to deal with what happened and figure out how to move on from there, and pointing the finger at me isn’t going to help.”

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

He was so maddeningly calm, and it only made Geoffrey angrier. How could he be so calm? “Oh, I do mean it,” he said harshly. “When you were dead, I could miss you. I could feel sorry that you were gone. I could look up to you without feeling jealous. But then you came back and everyone was saying how it was such a miracle, and you were such a hero, and it makes me sick. You have Riley, and she loves you, and I’m losing my best friend.”

[Roland Ferrera]

“If you’re losing her, it’s because you’re pushing her away,” Roland said. He was still calm, but there was a very slight edge to his voice now. He knew that now they were getting to the real heart of the conversation; the real reason Geoffrey had called him over here to “talk.” It was all about Riley.

“I am not trying to take your best friend away from you, and you know that. I would never make her choose between the two of us. But that’s what you’re doing. She regrets not coming to see you in the hospital right after you were cursed, and she wants to make it up to you, but when you act jealous about our relationship, you’re making her feel like she’s caught between us. If you force her to choose, she’s going to choose me, because I won’t ever ask her to.”

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey drew a sharp breath. He knew full well that Roland was jealous of his friendship with Riley. He could still remember the look on Roland’s face when he saw the two of them holding hands at Christmas. But here he was, taking the high road, pretending he didn’t care so that Riley would see him as the selfless one. It was sickening.

“I’ve known her a lot longer than you have. I’ve been there for her through some of the worst times in her past… I helped hold her together when her brother was making her life miserable, or when she had another nightmare, or when her mother wouldn’t go to her graduation. I held her hand while she was grieving for you, and I was there with her when she found out she was pregnant with your baby! And where were you during all those times? Dammit, Roland, I loved her first!”

[Roland Ferrera]

Roland’s eyes were fixed on Geoffrey during this little speech. He knew where it was going, and yet, his hand trembled a little at this last part. He’d known it, of course, but to hear it spoken aloud… It sent shockwaves right through him.

Yes, he was jealous. How could he not be? Geoffrey had a history with Riley that he could never touch. He was always painfully aware of that.

He took a quick glance at Christine, trying to reassure her that he wasn’t going to fight or anything. He felt sorry for her, caught in the middle of this. But it had to happen.

Taking a deep breath, he measured his words carefully. “I know you love her. We both love her. The difference is, I’m willing to share her, because I know how much she means to you. I want her to be happy. If she decided she wanted to be with you and not me, I would let her go, because I love her too much to ever make her unhappy. But you’re the one making her unhappy right now, Geoffrey. Riley and I love each other… and you can’t even be happy for her. I realize you’ve been through hell, and you want your best friend to help you through it, but your jealousy is pushing her away.”

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

Geoffrey wished he would get angry, raise his voice…. Something. The calmness was infuriating. And damn him, he was right, too. He knew it…. He was pushing Riley away because he was jealous. But what was he supposed to do? He had just realized that he loved Riley… now he was supposed to just let her go?

Tears stung his eyes, and he pushed away from the table. He couldn’t sit there for another moment, looking at Roland and at Christine with her eyes so worried. He walked over to the edge of the veranda and gripped onto the ornately carved railing with both hands. He had a good view of the lily garden from here, but he couldn’t see them through his tears.

He hated to admit it, but Roland was right about everything. That was the worst part. Roland was always right, and Geoffrey just felt like an idiot. He was trying so hard to blame Roland for everything, but the truth was, after the curse had been lifted, everything else that had gone wrong in his life was mostly his own fault. He was pushing Riley away. He was acting like a jerk. He sabotaged his relationship with Alison…

Alison. He was so confused now, because he didn’t even know who he really loved. Was it Riley, or was it Alison? Was it possible to love them both? He knew that he couldn’t be with Riley…. He’d lost his chance with her. And maybe he’d lost his chance with Alison, too. But he wanted to make sure that Alison wasn’t just his consolation prize…. She deserved better than that.

Bending low over the railing, Geoffrey broke down and began to cry. He didn’t even care that Roland was there to see it.

[Christine Montgomery]

Something strange happened to her as she sat listening to the painful exchange. For whatever reason it was as if she couldn't react. In the past she never would have allowed this conversation to have gone on so long. In tha pst they probably wouldn't have had this conversation in front of her. She couldn't move, and if she could she wasn't sure if she would have done the polite thing and excuse herself so they could hash it out or if she would have stepped in.

She snapped out of it when her brother began crying. That was a trigger she couldn't ignore, finally she felt her limbs move as she pushed the chair back and went to his side.

"Shh...it's alright...shh..." she tried comforting him. "Listen to me."

She stood and looked both at Roland then back to Geoff. "Both of you. This can't go on. Look at the two of you. All that matters is you both love Riley right? She's special to both of you and if you love her truly love her than her happiness is what matters, and she can't be happy without either of you in her life. Roland you're right if Geoff made her choose and she chose you that doesn't mean that she'd be happy. Geoff was here to pick up the pieces of your mess." She paused to let that sink in then turned to her brother.

"And Geoff...I know how much you care for her. I know that this is killing you, and even though you've been strong for her and for me for so long we both need you now to be strong again. Love her Geoff...and let her go to him. She'll never be happy without you in her life, just as you know that the love she has for him isn't something she could even begin to control. She needs you to love her and be happy for her. I need you to be strong for me...cause I can't do this without you...you're my hero."

She took a deep breath, "I look up to both of you. As men you are men above men. Riley and I should be so blessed to have the two of you in our lives. But pain and anger and pride has turned you both selfish and stupid. There are enough outside forces trying to destroy us, they've come close a few times but could never succeed if we stood together. And yet we could easily be our own undoing if we begin to attack ourselves."

[Roland Ferrera]

It was just an uncomfortable situation all around, especially for Roland. He'd made this mess, however inadvertently, and it was Geoffrey who was paying for it. There was no way of knowing how things would have gone if Roland hadn't come up with the plan of faking his own death, but it seemed likely that Geoffrey wouldn't have been cursed. He had tried to protect Riley and wound up becoming a target himself... and he could have done something truly terrible while under the curse, if he hadn't been stopped. Roland didn't blame his cousin for being angry and hurt. He just didn't know how to fix it. It wasn't like he could undo his actions.

Christine's speech didn't make Roland feel any better. She wasn't accusing him of anything, and yet Roland felt more responsible for Geoffrey's predicament than ever before. Maybe it wasn't fair that he had Riley, that she loved him and Geoffrey had nothing. But he did love Riley, and he intended to spend the rest of his life taking care of her and making her happy. He wasn't being selfish, and yet he felt like he was.

"Geoffrey, I don't know how else to say that I'm sorry about what happened to you, and any part I played in causing it. But I'm not going to apologize for loving Riley. All I can do is promise that I'll be good for her."

[Christine Montgomery]

That was really all anyone could ask for. Christine didn't think it was fair that her brother should suffer, and of course if there was any way at all to ease his suffering she would have done it in a heartbeat, but there was nothing she nor anyone could do really. It was perfectly clear how Riley felt, and Geoffrey would have known rationally that she couldn't be happy without Roland.

She gave a slight nod of approval toward Roland. Yes him faking his death affected all of them. She loved her cousin very much, she looked up to him, he had taught her in part how to defend herself and was always fun to be around, but she wasn't a little girl anymore, and heroes were becoming more and more human in her eyes.

[Geoffrey Montgomery]

None of it made Geoffrey feel better. They were both right, he was being selfish, and that was what made it all feel even worse. He still felt the same way, and he couldn't change that. It was wrong, it was stupid, and it was selfish, but emotions aren't always logical and fair. He felt betrayed, damaged, and broken. He was no good to anyone right now... not Riley, not Christine, not even himself. Maybe it was better that they were all well shot of him, because he couldn't be what they needed him to be.

He looked at Christine. She'd been through a lot, too... the whole family had, really. And things were probably going to get worse before they got better. And he was already shattered. Somehow, he needed to figure out how to put the pieces back together again... but he didn't know how.

"You better be," he practically growled, fixing his eyes on Roland.

What else could he say? Riley loved Roland, and Geoffrey really did want her to be happy. Somehow, he had to figure out how to accept this, but right now.... He just didn't want to look at Roland anymore.

"I'm going up to my room," he said. "I trust you can show yourself out?"

[Roland Ferrera]

Roland sighed and nodded. Coming here hadn't been his choice; Geoffrey had invited him. And now he was inviting him to leave. He wasn't sure that any of this had done Geoffrey any good, but maybe he had just needed to vent for a while. Roland hoped that was all it was, and that soon Geoffrey would get back to himself. He had never said it before, but he'd always respected his younger cousin. Even though he had been born into a position where everything he could possibly want in life was either provided for him already, or was at least within easy reach, Geoffrey had never taken anything for granted, and had insisted on working for a living, just like anyone else. But Geoffrey seemed to be regressing, retreating into the safe, protected confines of his family.

"I might be a bit lost in here, actually... maybe you could help me, Christine?"

He looked at his other cousin for a moment. It would help if he could get her alone... maybe she could get through to Geoffrey where no one else could.

"I'll see you, Geoffrey," he said, moving towards the door of the veranda. "If you need anything... You know where to reach me."

[Christine Montgomery]

She looked between the two of them caught up in her own world for a moment she shook her head to clear her thoughts, "Uh...sure." she smiled and nodded toward her cousin. She moved toward her brother first and put a hand on his shoulder, that was her silent way of assuring him everything would be okay...not that she could possibly promise that.

Turning toward her cousin she began to lead the way.

[Roland Ferrera]

Roland followed Christine back into the house, falling into step beside her with his long, even stride. He was silent for a moment, thinking about what had just happened. He was understandably worried about Geoffrey... and about Christine, when it came down to it.

As they passed out of Geoffrey's earshot, Roland touched his cousin's arm lightly. "Christine... I'm sorry you had to hear all of that," he began hesitantly. "I didn't come here to fight with Geoffrey. I want to help him, but I just... I don't think I can reach him."

[Christine Montgomery]

Christine was lost in her own world when Roland stopped her. She turned to look up at him and concern for her brother was etched on her features, "Well...yeah. I mean ..."she gave him an apologetic look forr what she was about to say," can you blame him? After everything that's gone on he's really suffered the most if you think about it...and look Roland I know why you did what you did, and I'm honestly just happy that you're okay, but that doesn't change the emotional or mental damage your actions caused the rest of us, Geoffrey the worst. Put yourself in his shoes, Riley's his best friend, you are...I mean he and I both looked up to you. He already had a relationship going on and was steady in his life, then you died and Riley's world was falling apart and things just got really confusing for him he was there for her, naturally a bond formed, he did a lot of "stepping up" to try and fill shoes that you left behind knowing that he never really could, then you're back and you kind of rip the rug out from beneath him...he has a right to be angry right now, and after everything that's gone on so does everybody else...if I weren't so happy that you were alive and okay I'd be downright pissed at you...but he'll come around...on his own time."

Just like me...she hoped.