This chapter is dedicated to whamjackson due to the fact that she is the namesake of a character in this chapter.

Note: this chapter contains description of homophobia, violence and death.

• • •

"By midnight, you'll finally know where you stand," Levi murmurs to himself, as he glances across the bedroom; where his single bed used to be, there now sits a brand new, pristine double. He adjusts the bedsheets, folding them neatly to make sure each edge is as crisp as the last. Once he's completed this task, he takes a step back; admiring his extensive handiwork. "Only three more hours until midnight."

"Levi?" The sound of Penny's voice can be heard calling from downstairs. "Are you up there?"

"Yes, Mum," he shouts back, before continuing to work on some final preparations for his room. He has been tidying up intensely, to ensure that he pleases George if he does move in by the end of the day. He evaluates that — if all goes wrong — at least he will be able to come home and cry into freshly-washed blankets.

A few moments later, Penny opens the door ajar to peep through. "Is today the day?" she asks, as she widens the gap enough to enter the room. "Is today the day when George comes to live with us?"

"Provided all goes well," Levi beams, admittedly feeling an overwhelming level of excitement for what could occur soon. "I gave him until midnight to walk out the door. If he does, then he'll be here before the sun rises."

"How wonderful." Penny grins, clasping her hands together in satisfaction. "I just hope he does the right thing. It wouldn't be fair to keep his girlfriend in the dark for much longer. Especially since she's fit to burst now with the little one."

"That's why I made the deadline today," Levi explains, his smile melting to become more mellow. "I didn't just consider myself; I considered everyone who's involved in this. It would be selfish to only think of myself."

"You're too kind for your own good, sometimes." Penny raises both arms up, squeezing her son's cheeks with her thumbs and forefingers. "Anyway, I'm going to head to bed now. Are you going to drive down to London soon?"

"I'll be leaving in about half an hour," Levi informs her. "Just so that I can get there early. In case he tells her earlier than midnight. I want to be there if everything starts to crumble around him. I'm worried she'll refuse to let him see his son."

"That's what I fear, too," Penny admits. "Please come and wake me up when you're home, so that you can let me know what happens. Drive safely, please."

"Of course, Mum," Levi chuckles. "I love you. Get some rest."

"I love you too, sweetheart. Goodnight."

"Goodnight." Levi watches as his mother heads up the stairs to her room, before checking the watch on his wrist. "Less than three hours. That's nothing to wait for happiness. Less than three hours."

• • •

"I'm just really struggling to get to sleep tonight, babe." Stephanie rolls over as best as she can, laying on her side in the bed she shares with George. "I'm sorry for keeping you up."

"It's nothing to worry about," George assures her sweetly. "I wouldn't want to be the one carrying all that weight from another human being. It must be exhausting."

"It really is," she agrees breathlessly. "I just don't think that I can do it. I don't think I can sleep when he's moving about so much."

"Is he kicking you?" George asks, hopeful at the possibility of the answer being yes.

"Quite a lot," Stephanie smiles faintly; her fatigue is giving her a defeatist demeanour. "Did you want to feel?"

"I don't think there would ever be a time I'd say no," George chuckles, resting a single hand upon Stephanie's large bump; he feels around for a second, until he feels the sharp sensation of his son pressing his tiny feet to the walls of her stomach. "Wow. This feeling really doesn't get old, does it? I will miss it, once he's born."

"It just reminds me that I'm never truly alone," Stephanie divulges insightfully. "As long as I have my boy, the rest of the world can come and go as it likes. Obviously, I adore having you around too."

"I didn't doubt that," George responds, still in awe of how nature can bring the miracle of life in the way it has. "But if you're struggling to get to sleep, perhaps we can settle downstairs and watch something on the TV until you start to feel sleepy."

"Well, I have nothing else to do," Stephanie jibes, using all of her strength to force herself up. "So that sounds like a nice idea." George helps her manoeuvre herself off of the mattress by holding a firm hand against the small of her back; his other hand grips hers, so she has the physical support that allows her to reach the ground in one piece. "Thank you, babe. Honestly, it's so embarrassing needing help for basic tasks, now."

"I think even the best of the best would need help if they were carrying a human being inside of them," George reassures her kindly, leading the way as they head down the stairs. "How about a film, anyway? Can we watch E.T. again?"

"You're obsessed with that film," Stephanie jeers. "But alright. You're lucky I enjoy it, too."

• • •

After a drive full of mixed emotions, Levi finally arrives on George's street. He parks up right outside the house his lover shares with Stephanie; turning the ignition off to save fuel. He heaves a shaky sigh, feeling antsy about how the next hour will pan out. Granted, a decent ninety percent of his mind tells him that things will go to plan; that George will walk out the door tonight, and they can go and live their new lives together in Goring. This, however, doesn't stop the terrifying possibility of the other ten percent — the chance that George's fear will overrule his love for Levi; and that Levi will have to drive home unaccompanied. As he peers at the windows of the house, he spots that the lights are switched on downstairs.

"Perhaps they're discussing it downstairs," he voices aloud to himself, in an attempt to justify the apprehension he is feeling. "Perhaps he's packing his things and leaving."

In reality, George is sitting in the living room, on the sofa with Stephanie; as they watch the iconic blockbuster on the television. The date has entirely slipped his mind; which is incredibly unfortunate and ill-fated, given how much George has previously feared this day coming. He laughs a little; he recites some of the dialogue between the characters; and he sheds a tear or two (despite knowing the plot inside-out) until the conclusion of the film brings him out of the magical universe it had transported him to. Once the movie is over, he grabs the remote control; switching the television back to the news channel to catch up on what's occurring in the world.

"This just in: a nineteen-year-old woman by the name of Deanna Whittaker has died after being rushed to hospital following an attack on Monday. The young lady — who was adored by all her friends and family — was attacked by her father Dean Whittaker in the evening, on Monday the fifteenth of June after an argument between the pair.

"The victim's mother — Anne Whittaker — claimed to have tried to prevent and diffuse the situation as it was occurring, by physically restraining the attacker as he attempted to hit and kick his daughter. Injuries sustained included broken ribs; a fractured back; and investigations have led us to believe Deanna was also bludgeoned in what would have been a final killer blow to the head."

"That's awful," George frowns, invested in learning more about the disgusting report. "That poor, poor girl."

"It's a cruel world we live in," Stephanie adds. "That nasty bastard, killing his own daughter."

As the clock strikes midnight, Levi looks longingly at the front door of George's house; there are still no signs of him, which fills his heart with nothing but pure sadness. He then notices that the lights downstairs are still on; he decides he must wait until it hits ten past the hour — just to allow George some leeway like he promised, in case he is still talking things through with Stephanie about practicalities. He drums his fingers against his steering wheel impatiently, anxiousness flooding his chest with every moment more that passes without his love.

"We got a few words from Anne — who was compelled to talk to us about her beloved daughter, in order to raise awareness about the situation; and to protect others from falling victim to the same fate. A statement from Anne says the following.

"There are no words in the English vocabulary to accurately describe the level of hurt, despair and anger I feel towards the tragic death of my beautiful little girl, Deanna. She was so bright; so full of love; and so much of a joy to everyone who knew her. It makes me feel sick to my stomach, that the man I was so in love with for twenty-four years would be capable of brutally murdering his own daughter; she doted on him from the moment she was born, only to be betrayed by the most essential male figure in her life.

"The truth is that my daughter was a closeted lesbian, who simply wanted to take the first steps to freeing herself from the hardships of hiding who she loves. She came to her father and I, in the hopes that she could tell us her truth; and that we'd be supportive. I, of course, never would have viewed her any differently. Her father, on the other hand, had other ideas. An altercation ensued, in which my husband punched her stomach; kicked her back; and hit Deanna over her head with the nearest object to hand — which, unfortunately, was a heavy hardback book. I tried to restrain him; I tried as if my life depended on it, as well as hers. My biggest regret will always be that I was not strong enough, and that his authority overpowered mine in such a way that it cost my sweet baby girl's life."

"That's heartbreaking," Stephanie whispers, deeming it inappropriate to speak any louder. "That poor girl; and that poor woman having to live with that for the rest of her life."

"Yes ... " George's chest sinks a little; reports about homophobic attacks and killings such as these make his own situation that much harder to cope with.

"This is Sally Matthews reporting; it is now nine minutes past midnight on the twenty-second of June. Goodnight."

George's brows furrow, as he takes a moment to think over the concluding sentence of the news report. When he realises the date and the time, he quite literally feels the colour drain from his sun-kissed face; the deadline has already occurred, for him to reveal his own secret to Stephanie — and now, he is too late to do so. In a panic (although making a good attempt at hiding said panic), George darts over to the living room window to look out of it. He scans the road thoroughly, to check whether Levi is parked outside; when he realises that his car is not there, he rushes to grab his jacket, and runs out the door. He stumbles out onto the street; his feet finally allow him to come to a halt once he hits the middle of the road. In the near distance, he sees the familiar car driving away from him; and as the reality sets in that he's ruined everything, his head falls into his hands in anger at himself.

"Fuck!" he screams out, as one prolonged syllable; his gravelly voice echoes down the empty street, but he doesn't care for disturbing the neighbours in the slightest.

"George? Are you okay?"

He turns around, finding Stephanie stood in the doorway of the house, with her arms folded to fend off the cool night breeze. He wants nothing more than to fall to his knees in tears; alas, he has no choice but to play off his stunt as something entirely trivial.

"Sorry," he apologies, before swallowing harshly to rid the lump that has formed in his oesophagus. "I-I thought I saw somebody come towards the house. But it was a false alarm."

"Come inside." Stephanie holds out an arm, inviting George to take her hand; for she senses there is something unusual going on that he is too distressed to discuss. He obliges, interlacing his fingers with hers, as she carefully leads him back into the building.

As Levi drives home alone, he struggles to fight the crying that he knows he wants to do. He evaluates that he'd rather make it home before he reacts to what has happened this evening, as he doesn't wish to crash his car due to being distracted. It is, perhaps, the most painful journey he has ever had to make in his life; but after a while, he finally makes it home in one piece. He trembles as he gets out of the car, locking it quickly so that he can go inside. The front door is already unlocked when he approaches it; he carelessly enters the house, locking up, before trudging up the stairs. Once he's made it to his room; his eyes lock on the double bed he bought especially for George and himself to share together. This is the final scattering of salt in the wound; a final killer blow, which causes him to collapse to the ground. He sobs loudly by himself, with no consideration for anybody who's sleeping around him; that is, until he hears a soft voice.

"He didn't come, did he?" his mother questions sadly.

Levi lifts his head for a moment; Penny sees the anguish in his eyes as he shakes his head in response. No words tumble from his lips; for he is unable to activate his vocal cords to even try.

"I'm sorry, baby." She kneels down opposite him, bringing her heartbroken son into her arms; in a melancholy attempt to comfort him.

Back in London, George remains awake while Stephanie sleeps; he is perfectly still — other than expelling quivering breaths — agonisingly overthinking his fatal mistake with eyes full of glistening tears. He eventually moves, bringing his knees up into his embrace, as he finally allows the heavy droplets to fall down his cheeks at the guilt he feels for what he has caused.

• • •

Is that the outcome you expected? What's going to happen next? xx