Greg surfaced sometime in the early evening, sprawled on the dock by the Orangery. The empty bottle of Goose was on it's side next to him and his head was pounding.

"Oh bloody buggering fuck!" he snarled, clutching his head as the sound of his own voice was too much. He cracked his eyes open to see the sun setting over the water and groaned softly. He'd gone and done it again; drinking himself into a stupor. It had been early afternoon when he'd arrived so he hadn't been out for more than three hours - or so he thought.

He needed his Pixie. He needed a bit of her sunshine just now. Maybe some of her hugs too. He clumsily got to his feet and concentrated on the instructions Katie had given him for Rose Cottage. He didn't like showing up half-drunk and half-hungover, but he couldn't think of anywhere else to go. Maeve would yell, Pansy would pour more vodka in him, and Fred...well they'd not exactly defined what they had yet. He needed his Pixie, it was that simple.

When he landed outside the prettiest cottage he'd ever seen, he nearly fell on his face. Stumbling, he made his way to the door. Leaning heavily on the wall, he knocked.

Katie's eyes fluttered open when she heard a pounding at her door, Pea having jumped off the sofa and adding little barks to her alarm. She hazily glanced down at the novel she'd been reading, now splayed out on the floor. She must have fallen asleep. Getting up, she padded towards the door all oversized sweats and sleep tousled hair, Kaiya following closely at her heels. As the Husky wasn't growling, Katie figured the person waiting for her was of the safe sort, though the bigger dog seemed to be interested in exactly who it was.

Opening the door revealed a haggard looking Greg Goyle leaning against her door frame. Worry instantly settled into her stomach to see hardly any color in his face along with red-rimmed eyes. Closing the distance between them, she tip toed up to wrap her arms around his neck in a tight hug, not wanting to let go until whatever was wrong was better again. He was a new friend, but one that was easy to talk to and made her blush and cared if she smiled and whose arms felt nice wrapped around her.

Greg held on as Katie's inherent peace enveloped him. She was so tiny compared to him and yet she fit perfectly. He laid his cheek on the top of her head and sighed. "I'm sorrry, Pixie, I didn't have anywhere else to go."

Katie held on tighter at the rough sadness in his voice. "Don't be sorry. You're always welcome here." Then, pulling back so she could see his face, she asked, "What's wrong though? Are you alright? Oh! ... " A thought popped into her head and she wriggled out of his arms, only to run her hands feather light over him, checking for injury, though she didn't know exactly what she was looking for. "... You're not hurt are you? Did I hurt you? I didn't mean to ... you just looked so broken and like you needed a hug and ..." she babbled, worried.

Greg froze. Oh Merlin! She's so tiny, so bright...I can't sully her with my darkness. "No," he rushed to assure her, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear while keeping his other arm wrapped about her tiny waist. "I'm not hurt...not physically, though passing out on a dock isn't the wisest decision I've made lately." He sighed again, feeling like a total and complete arse for coming here and bothering her when he should be protecting her from bastards like himself instead. "I'm sorry, Pixie...I should go. I shouldn't have bothered you."

He gently untangled their arms and stumbled a bit as he stepped back. He had to get away. His Pixie was better off if he was away, far, far away. She didn't need friends like him. He tripped over his own feet and barely balanced in time. He looked away, unable to face what she must be thinking of him now. Run, his mind screamed.

As he stumbled back, Katie's hands fell to her sides, the oversized sleeves of the hoodie she was wearing slipping down over the tips of her fingers. "You're not bothering me, promise," Katie said softly, insides tightening in a knot. Something was obviously wrong and she wanted to help make it better, but ... "...but if you don't want to be here, I understand that too. Sometimes hurts make us do things we wouldn't have otherwise."

Greg's legs gave out and his knees hit the ground. The shock and disbelief hit him hard. She thought he didn't want to be here? He buried his face in his hands and struggled for some sort of control. He was on the edge, breaking worse then ever before. He was still drunk enough to start babbling. "No...no...I want to be here. I shouldn't be here. I'm a bastard with an affinity for vodka. I run instead of dealing...it's just what I do! I should be running away from you, not coming here half drunk and putting my issues on your shoulders..."

Katie felt her heart break a little bit for the pain written in the lines of his body, in the words he couldn't seem to hold in. Closing the few steps between them, she took his face between her hands, him being on his knees giving her a slight height advantage. Looking down at him, her eyes ran over his face, the tense lines between his brows, dark brown eyes seeing, but not. "If you want to be here, then you should be here. I want you here. I don't want you to feel like you have to run away from me, even with tipsy issues." She caught his eyes, trying to make him understand through the hurt trying to take him over. "I have strong shoulders, even if they are pixie sized."

Greg broke, inside and out, with her simple heartfelt statement. His vision was blurry and he started to sway. Memories came crashing down one after the other, in an endless stream of horrors. The tiny hands holding his face were the only thing anchoring him. He couldn't bear to see the pain in her eyes, pain he knew was his fault. Useless coward, his father's voice screamed in his head only to change and become Maeve's, then Pansy's. Abelinda should have lived instead. His father's voice drowned out everything else. You are no son of mine! Why can't you do anything right? Is it too much to ask for you to do the simplest things? Why? Why? Why?

Mindlessly, he brought his hands up to cover hers. "Why?" he murmured, unsure if he'd said it aloud. "Why?"

As his eyes filled with moisture, Katie knew that he wasn't seeing anything but the demons and ghosts inside. She could feel her chest tighten, tears threatening at the sight of Greg in so much pain, a hurt that no one could see but him. Sliding her hands back into his hair, she pulled his head to her chest, holding him there. She rest her cheek on top of his head while petting his hair away from his face, soothing touches. A lone tear slid down her skin and into his hair as she murmured comfort sounds. "Shhhhh ... bad dreams, puppy ... shhhh."

Greg sobbed, utterly and completely unable to do anything else. The words bubbled to the surface and he was incapable of stopping them either. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry...hate me...p-please..." he trailed off as his throat seemed to close off, the tears tracking down his face and into her shirt. He gulped, struggling against the weight of the pain. "I-I should have stayed gone. No one wants me here...no one needs me here." You're a disgrace, his father's voice screamed in his head. In defense, he blindly wrapped his arms around his Pixie cradling her even as she did the same for him. "I should leave."

"You should stay," Katie murmured against his hair, hands still petting the soft brown strands away from his face. When his arms came around her, holding her close as if she was the only thing keeping him here, now, a small weight lifted in her chest that he had accepted her comfort, had accepted her. His anguish and tears still made her feel as if her heart would break, but there was a little light if he could see her through it all. The thought that he trusted her with this, with him, pulled at her in ways she couldn't even begin to comprehend. She really hoped she was worthy of such trust. "I want you here with me. Promise, puppy," she whispered.

Greg leaned a bit into the hand that was on his hair, needing the contact. He could definitely stay right here for as long as she'd allow it. "I promise," he whispered, the answer as natural as breathing. He leaned back a bit and looked into her eyes. He so didn't deserve her in any way, shape, or form. But, she was all sweet and sunshiny...and she called him puppy which he liked, alot. He'd made a promise and would keep it. Not that he needed much motivation.

As he came back to himself, demons and ghosts pushed away for now, Katie found that she felt more peaceful as well. She continued to pet his hair, the action soothing to both of them. After awhile, he leaned back, eyes locking hers in deep brown thoughts that she couldn't quite catch. Her fingers played with his soft strands, thumbs stroking away the last remnants of wetness on his skin. Before she knew what she was doing, Katie leaned down, pressing her lips softly to his. She didn't really know why, just that she wanted to in that moment, that it felt right and good.

Greg lost himself in the deep down sense of rightness of their kiss. It was light and gentle, something he hadn't had much of before. Her hands on his face and the soft press of her lips on his was undoing him completely. He cupped the back of her head and deepened the kiss. He wanted to crawl inside her and allow her goodness to heal him, to wrap himself in her light. He knew it was wrong of him, that he should go as far from her as possible...he just couldn't.

Katie didn't know why. There was the sadness in his eyes, his arms cradling her, his soft lips, the only soft thing about Greg Goyle, just there and she wanted to taste them, to comfort him, to take some of the pain away. She didn't know what to expect, hadn't thought past her lips on his, hadn't thought much at all. When his hand came up, pulling her closer, lips insistent against hers for more, a shiver went down her body, lips parting, softening.

Greg gently, carefully ran his tongue over her lips. He didn't want to scare her off. He also didn't want to wake up if this was a dream. He wound a hand in her hair, tipping her head to the side to give him better access. he broke the kiss reluctantly, but he wanted to nibble and kiss along her jawline and throat. He moved slowly, kissing the corner of her mouth, the tip of her nose and her brow before moving back down to her jaw.

As his hand slid into her hair, moving her how he wanted, Katie's breath quickened, eyes fluttering shut as his lips moved down her neck, warm breath ghosting against her skin. As much as he was being gentle with her, Greg was demanding in his own way, and she couldn't do anything but respond to that. He made her want to yield to him, give him what he would have. Her pulse beat rapidly against her skin, waiting, wondering what he would do with her.

In wonderment, Greg told her with actions what he couldn't say in words. He nudged her shirt aside and laid a gentle kiss where her neck met her shoulder. Mine. He didn't know why she was letting him in, just that he wanted to be here as long as she'd allow it. "Pixie," he whispered against her neck, a plea, a need of reassurance.

Her hand slid into his hair at Greg's plea, the gruff whisper against her skin raising goosebumps where his breath whispered. Fingers tangling in the soft brown strands, she tilted her head just a bit more, murmuring "yes" on an exhale of breath, "please." She wasn't exactly sure what she was asking for, just that she knew she wanted it.

He shifted, settling her into his lap smoothly, raining kisses down on her face. Reverently, he slid a hand down her spine. His touch was featherlight, almost fearful. Try as he might to be gentle it never ended that way and he wanted, needed it with Katie. She was healing a bit of his soul with every gentle touch. He wanted to lay her down and shower her with gentle caresses, kisses, anything really to show her how much she'd come to mean to him in such a short time. He pressed a kiss right below her ear and buried his face in her hair. Her tiny little noises were driving him to distraction and some part of his mind was screaming that outside, in the grass, wasn't the place...at least not this time. It killed him to do it, but he whispered, "Can I come inside, Pixie?"

Katie's eyes fluttered open when she heard his voice, words just a breath across her skin. As her thoughts caught up with the here, now, Katie was a little surprised to find herself in his lap, her hands fisted in his shirt. Her mind was a bit fuzzy, confusing thoughts swirling around. She hadn't really surrendered to anyone so easily, so naturally ... ever. And now she'd done so to two men, two men that stole her breath, made everything disappear but them and her when their lips were on her. Pushing away those swirly thoughts for now, she took a shaky breath to try and steady herself, dropping her forehead to his shoulder. "Yes, puppy, inside," she said quietly as she tried to catch her breath.

Greg cradled her to his chest, slipping and arm under her legs, and got to his feet. She was so tiny in his arms. He simply wanted to keep her there. "Where, pixie?"

Katie wrapped her arms around his neck as he stood up, not expecting him to want to carry her, holding close from the long way down. "Just, inside ... comfy red cushions." Her mind did a bit of catching up as Greg walked them through the still open door, puppies trailing quietly behind. She hadn't known that she was attracted to Greg in that way until she'd had the sudden urge to kiss him, to try and wrap him up in something besides the shadows behind his eyes. Katie had been more than a little surprised that he'd kissed her back, had pulled her to him, wrapped himself around her until all she could think of was yes, more, please.

Greg smiled softly as he settled in on the couch. He needed, wanted, had to touch Katie. Just being here with her was enough for him. He wouldn't push her, especially not when he was in this state. Curled up, here on her couch, was more than he ever expected to be worthy of. She was too good for him - the ex-potions addict, the alcoholic, the coward that ran from every responsibility he'd ever had. As long as she never figured out how unworthy he was, all would be well. He yawned, the day catching up with him, and then blushed. He didn't want Katie to think she bored him!

Settled in Greg's lap, cheek resting against his chest, body cradled in his warmth, Katie found that she was drifting. Her thoughts were the hazy, sleepy kind, his heartbeat lulling her eyelids to flutter. He made her want, but he felt safe too, somewhere to curl up, a shelter. The quiet, without kisses or tears or pain or the pull of bodies touching, was just as natural to them, a comfortable silence. When she felt him yawn, Katie turned her face up, eyes blinking open, the hand resting against his chest reflexively fisting his shirt before relaxing again. "sleep, puppy ... just good dreams, yeah?" she murmured, a low sleepy whisper.

"Yeah," he replied sleepily, stretching out a bit and pulling the blanket from the back of the couch over them, not surprised to find it was extremely soft. He tucked it around Katie and closed his eyes. Maybe sleep will come, sans nightmares.