"We both were just a couple of blithering bloody idiots" Stephen said with a sad smile. "Both messed up, let the emotions get in the way, and were too stubborn to try and see things any other way."

Stephen reached over and with a slight hesitation put a hand on Cutter's shoulder and pulled him close into a hug. "At least we got this time now... right here... to make up for some of that lost time. Time we never had before. I'd consider that a gift and a sign that we're gonna be alright in the long run."