I woke with a startle and almost fell out of the side of the bed as the noise i had heard suddenly turned into quite the rumble. I rubbed my eyes and turned and looked at Harlen screaming at Liam who was backed up against the wall, when had Harlen come home? and just what the hell went on?

"how fucking dare you?" Harlen cried pushing Liam into the wall again.

"Harlen, would you just listen?" Liam said, trying to reason with the other.

I finally got up from the bed and got in between the two, I understood why Harlen was upset, but truth was that nothing had happened, we had just slept, but i could tell from his expression that there was no way in hell he would believe that. "Harlen" i said "its true, He just slept here man"

"So? whats wrong with the couch?" Harlen said, "i seem to recal you said he would sleep on the couch"

"i know.." i said, my voice dropped to a whisper "but the couch was cold, and.."

"nice try there, asshole" Harlen spat.

"Honest to God, Harlen, its the truth" I groaned, rubbing my face in frustration. I looked over to Liam who still stood against the wall, "just go man, this has nothing to do with you" i said, and Liam shot me a nervous smile and quickly pulled his shirt on.

"like hell it has, it has 'everything' to do with him" Harlen yelled. "what is it with this guy Cain? answer me man, cuz i really need you to say something i can believe in"

"I did not cheat on you Harlen" I whispered.

"oh yea? and just why should i believe that? it would not be the first time, and it looks like that it was not the last time either, Cain.." Harlen took a deep breath "I can't live like this, i just can't."

"Harlen! wh-what are you saying?" i heard myself stutter "i did not cheat on you, i love you Harlen, why wont you believe that? Do you think i go about and get engaged to the devil and his mother?"

"I..I.. dont know" Harlen mumbled as he started to cry, "I dont know anything anymore"

I wrapped an arm aroung Harlen to comfort him "hey baby, you know i love you, i would never hurt you"

Suddenly Harlen slapped my arm away and turned to me, and pushed me backwards while he cried hysterically "Get out! just fuck off" he cried.

"Wh-what?" i stammered like an idiot.

"I said get out!" Harlen growled, and then turned to Liam, pointing at him "and that means you too"

I had not wanted to hurt Harlen, when did i ever learn? i understood why he didnt believe me, but it still hurt to be distrusted that much, and to know that the tears in Harlen's eyes was my fault. "Harlen" i said, taking a step towards him, in an attempt to talk him down.

But he just blew up instead "get the fuck out, the borh of you!" he cried before he ran off to the bathroom and locked the door.

And i did, I offered to drive Liam home, but he said he'd just call a taxi, i wished him good luck on patching things up with Dawn, and got into my car. where the hell was i supposed to go? I sighed, yea getting drunk sounded like an exelent idea right now.

And so i got to the nearest bar and walked straight up into the bar and sat down. dowining one drink after the other, when i suddenly had to hear Early's voice, and without second guessing myself, i called him up and asked him to come meet me.

As he arrived i sat in the dark balcony of the club and had a drink, having a hard time to even stay on my chair. "yea that's gonna help Cain" he said with a sombre voice as he closed the distance between us.

I looked up at him and started to snicker "You look like shit Early" i said and got out of my seat to embrace my old friend and lover. "but i missed you"

"yea i thought id try the blond look" Early laughed, "Don't think i like it tho" he squeezed me tighter. "So what's wrong? you sounded so troubled in the phone"

"I dont know, i mean.. Harlen thinks that.. oh Early what have i done?"

"I dont know" Early said guiding me to a chair, "so tell me"

And i did, i told him we had gotten engaged and i told him all about Liam, and then i told him about this morning. and as i finished my tale, he just nodded.

"You know, id been pissed if i were Harlen too" he said ".. come on Cain, you dont invite an old lover to your bed, even if you just slept"

"i know, i mean.. i don't know what i was thinking, and now Harlen is all pissed off" I whispered.

Early took my hand and squeezed it, "im sure he will forgive you eventually, if he loves you, he will"

"That ring should have been yours Early" i whispered caressing his cheek tenderly.

"don't say that" Ealy whispered and squirmed out of my reach, "It belongs to Harlen, and not to me"

"No" i said shaking my head in my drunkeness "It belongs to you, beause you are the one i love"

Early laughed softly and kissed me on my cheek "Go home Cain, sleep it out and talk to Harlen again"

And so i did, i let Early hail a taxi for me, and went straight home.

Even as i slept on the couch, i heard Harlen make a phonecall, i couldent really decipher who he was talking to, but it sounded like it was someone he hadent spoken with in ages.

When i woke, i had some coffee, and then i decided that now would be as good a time as any to talk with Harlen. so i figured i would try a happy approach, maybe he had forgotten how angry he was.

"Hey Harlen" i said, giving my most charming smile, "I wonder if you'd might want to go out for some lunch, just you and me?"

"who the hell do you think you are?" Harlen spat as he pushed me roughly away "you and me are going nowhere, not to lunch or anywhere"

"But, i thought... that.." I gasped surprised.

"if you had thought, then you would never have promised me something you cant see through" Harlen growled.

"I swear i didnt do anything" I whispered hanging my head in shame.

"maybe you did, and maybe you didnt" Harlen answered cryptically "but im not sure that i can.. deal with that"

"just give me a chance, i will proove it to you" i said, raising my head to look at Harlen, "I love you"

Then my phone rang, i looked at Harlen who nodded with a sigh, and so i picked up. "oh hey Early" i said, feeling Harlen's gaze burn holes in my back. "Yes i'm home, and all is fine, thank you for getting that taxi man, i owe you one"

When i hung up, Harlen had crossed his arms and looked at me. "So? went out with another of your loverboys huh?"

"It was not 'like' that" i whined, "He just sent me home to you in a taxi"

"Did you want to go home? or what?" Harlen said a little nervous, and i had to fight a little smile, hearing this first crack in his anger.

"I did" I said, grabbing Harlen and wapping my arms around him in a tight embrace "I will always wanna come home, dont you get that?"

Harlen didnt answer he just sighed and rested his head on my shoulder.

Things were quiert for a month, and things seemed to have gotten back to almost normal, besides that Harlen seemed silent and deep in thought most of the time, But i figured it was because he missed his family when it was Christmas.

TBC

-outtakes-