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Ambrose took a step back; even though the Dude's tone wasn't angry, he had the right to be mad at the drop of a hat.

"I... well... She's right - nothing happened. I just... well, I tried to talk to her... and realized soon after that if she had any cognizance of what I was talking about or had any sort of inkling in response, she would have said something....

I guess it was eating at me for a while... I mean..." he shook his head and sighed. "I don't know what I'm feeling. I DO miss Angelina. To no ends.... and I DO love her... I just... well... It's been like a month and a half - and I know that that's nothing in the scheme of things... but... I guess it's starting to sink in just how long I might be here" He frowned, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I mean... I wish I knew what she was thinking.... does she think I'm dead? Is she looking for me? I love her... I always WILL love her.... but... ARGH! I hate this uncertainty. How long do I wait? There's no right answer, and no answer makes me be able to sleep soundly at night." He huffed.

"I ... well.... I guess I'm lonely. I mean, I've got friends - which is wonderful. Without you guys this would be a million times more difficult... but I'm lonely in the other sense....." His face flushed. "I'm not used to being single. And, well, I guess my mind started putting things together behind my back... things Greer and I had in common. I'm sorry, Dude. And I'm sorry, Greer. I don't want to screw up our friendship."

********! Bad things were happening! Bad things! Greer looked worriedly from one man to the other, having no idea how to stop this from getting worse.

"Sean, Ambrose, please! Please don't fight!" She tried to sound strong and compitent, but the words came out sounding like a frightened little girl.

"I'm not fighting ..." - the Dude said defensively. "And I don't care who wins here ... I didn't even know it was a contest."

He opened his mouth to say a whole lot more stuff, but saw Greer's frightened face and totally forgot what it was. Why were they fighting again? Because Ambrose thought Greer was hot and butchered telling her that? Hell, after that dance on the bar Ian and Vasile probably thought Greer was hot, too. That thought put things a little bit in perspective ...

"Sorry, grasshopper ..."

The Dude looked at his feet then remembered the sunrise. Turning his face to the east, he looked up at the now orange skies and pointed for everyone: "Look guys, it's coming ..."

Ambrose sighed, slumping his shoulders and returning his hands to his pockets. Despite the fact the argument had died down, he couldn't get past the feeling that there was silent resentment to his bringing it up.

He turned his attention to the rising sun, squinting into it as the orb painted the clouds over the seas in brilliant colors. It had been some time since he had watched the sun rise. His heart ached even more as he thought of the last time that he had woken up intentionally early to watch it with someone by his side.

Instead of a woman, he leaned up against one of the trees, and it was certainly no substitute, watching Dude hug Greer.

It was official... he really, really missed Angelina. He turned before his eyes could well up.

"I... I should probably get back. I'll leave you two be." He commented, his voice gravely.

Greer looked at Sean, beaming. He was officially perfect. Walking over to Ambrose, she grabbed both his hands and started pulling him over to the future sea lion. "Sean is right and I continue to be an idiot. Now sit, watch, and enjoy yourself or I'll break your shins, Pup."

Sitting down next to the dredlocked one she tugged on her friend's hand, encouraging Ambrose to sit down on her other side. Sean was going to get a thank you dance for making this better tomorrow night.

Amrbose lifted an eyebrow and looked back over his shoulder as the dude invited... well, more like demanded, he to return. But he was right, he didn't want to screw things up and stalking off feeling sorry for himself wasn't helpful.

"I don't hate you, Dude. Really. That's what I'm trying to say." He gave a small smile and plopped onto the ground besides them. He declined to comment about the imaginary romances part, knowing it would probably just start an argument.

He looked indignantly to Greer. "Pup?" He gave a mock scowl, forcibly lightening his mood. "Though shins aside, you DO still owe me another epee match. You can't get out of that." He smiled, hoping internally that things could just... go back to the way they were before he complicated things.

Greer stuck her tongue out at Ambrose, looping an arm through each of theirs. The bird in the back of her mind nearly purred. Why did that make it happy?

"Yes, pup. You're still a baby at twenty after all. And I assure you, I have no wish to avoid beating you at your own game."

There we go, much better. She could handle social stuff as long as it was on the positive side of the spectrum. She turned her face towards the rising sun, cheerful and flanked by friends. Her mother wouldn't have recognized her.

"You don't need to say that, dork. Just say "hi". Both of them have been holed up in their duplexes for the past week, unwilling to come out. If not for your sake, do it for theirs." - he shrugged.

"Or just walk up to Em and tell her "Hi, would you mind if I hug you for a while here? I promise to give you backrubs in exchange". I say it's a pretty fair trade ..."

The Dude put his flipper on Greer's hand on his shoulder. It was warm and nice and the brown feathers moved a little in the breeze. His mind migrated back to the feathers along her spine and the violent reaction she had regarding it. The Dude coudlnt' figure out why she would have kicked him for trying to tickle her. S' not like he was violating her virginity or something ... Pondering that, he was gently petting her dawny hand feathers with his thumb.