Liz decides to not do anything too impulsive.

“It’s about time I slipped you one, Liz.”

Liz gives him the face 🤨

“One of these.” He hands her a tequila. “Is it not about time? For old time’s sake, old friend?”

They down several shots, as they discuss the nuances of the past at great length.

Every single detail so it need never be discussed again.

As the night progresses, Ian decimates Liz at Mario Kart, they eat pizza, they get horrendously drunk.

Shot…

After shot…

After shot.

At one point Liz slightly rolls her ankle as she stumbles about, a cigarette in her mouth. Ian nurses a single malt as they continue their discussions.

Their last drink, fittingly for Halloween, is a Zombie. Complete with Wray & Nephew 63% rum.

Liz passes out. Ian manoeuvres her to the bedroom and puts her into some more comfortable clothes, not touching the goods but absolutely looking at them for an extended period of time. He then completes his next Murdoku puzzle before falling asleep beside her.

Some time passes before she awakens. It is morning. She wanders out of the bedroom in Ian’s tight fitting t-shirt.

Ian is nursing a single malt, sat in a chair with a leather bound book. He checks his watch.

“Well now. That was a fun night wasn’t it Liz, I think we both needed that, didn’t we?”

“Quite. What now?”

“Well,” Ian replies, “it’s time for phase 3 of our friendship. I’m a new man, of course.”

Ian pours her a gin and tonic. She takes it and embraces the bliss of its floral notes.

“But now you must forgive me, the world outside needs me. Will you join me in December for a cocktail, Liz?”

She goes to speak. Ian interjects-

“Before you answer, perhaps you’ll take the trouble of reading this…”

He passes her a handwritten note. She opens it.

“Dearest Liz,

I am sorry for how our friendship ended.

But I have returned, a new man. Well, in some ways. I am an Imagination Champion now. House Storm has found its purpose, as have I.

But in truth I remain the same in other ways. I remain more deeply sad than anyone can imagine at times, when it comes to Sarah. I am sorry for who that has made me at times.

I didn’t want us to be apart this long - you are one of my best friends. Were? Are? A supporter during times of need, second to none. And I cannot imagine House Storm returning without a fair maiden as yourself there from the start.

But I also know that it was necessary for us to have this break. And to ease slowly into things……..

I care not how things ended, now. I care only for the future.

So perhaps in December we could rekindle this friendship of ours, amid the flourish of Christmas festivities?

I hope - in some ways - that regardless of how Phase 2 ended (Phase 1 was before you blocked me the first time :) ) I hope you can see I’ve taken my time this time. To reflect. To allow us to have space, as you wished. As we both needed, perhaps.

I was a disgrace at the end at times - whether overly emotional - or whether also simply aching to be inside you. I was so annoyed at whoever that prick was. I remember so vividly being unreasonably jealous. That is of course neither of our faults - that is the weight of the goods you bear.

After we parted ways - if you remember I had just finished my 4.5 week reset period. lol @ that now, how it ended. In many ways it was fascinating how we started that 4.5 week period (with some very sexy activities…) and how we ended. A whole story was begun and ended.

I thought I had ended it successfully in terms of House Storm, and perhaps I did, but I was not successful in myself. If I learnt anything in that 4.5 week period, it was how broken, and how desperately grieving Sarah and that lost child I truly am. I took Lyana to Brighton at the end of that period, and I just broke down during that trip. It was quite overwhelming having her on my own, all the journey and then all the logistics, and me also trying to film a couple of shots of us while there for future content.

All the while remembering that’s where Sarah and I said we love each other, etc. I thought it would be like ridding the ghosts of the past - instead I realised how truly powerful they sodding are. I cannot rid them, I can only now control them and allow them to take their course in some way. I accept that.

Interestingly I’m taking her back to Brighton - my second try. If we can say one thing about me, it’s that I never give up. So I hope to deal with the ghosts better this time. If not able to rid them, then at least bend them over and give them a seeing to of my own.

So here we are… I found my way with House Storm, with my intentions, and I have now returned.

The question is, are you ready for Phase 3?

That’s a choice I leave to you.

Liz sips her gin. She finds herself walking a little funny after the events of last night.

She receives a phone call from Harry, who was absolutely not knocking one out back at their base facility in the West-wherever-it-is.

“Err… mother…”

“Yes Harry, what is it now??”

“Err…”

“Come on, spit it out!”

“Well, it’s just there are 10 McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier 2s outside our windows… hovering…”

Liz receives a text message on her phone. It’s Ian.

“Oh,” continues Harry, “there are now red laser dots shining everywhere…”.

Liz looks around. Ian seems to have left while she was reading the note. She tries to open the front door.

It’s locked.

She reads the message from Ian.

Oh, but just to be clear, old friend. There are consequences to your decision. Tick tock, old girl. Tick. Tock.

Liz calmly sips her gin.

Her finger hovers over the reply button.

The future, now, is yours to write.