Intially, they didn’t talk on the way home, but Erin didn’t let go of Remy’s hand the entire way. He told himself that it was only for a few blocks and that it was to soothe Remy's ruffled feathers, but the truth was, it was to soothe himself.

There was just something about walking with an Alpha by his side. Even as they passed others on the street, the power in Remy’s stride never dissipated.

And yes, it was soothing to Erin, who for years had Mitch beside him. The scent of an Alpha. The illusion of safety. Whether it was true or not didn’t really matter. It was the familiarity he craved. The strength of Remy’s arm around him, and sureness of his steps.

“Thank you,” Erin suddenly whispered when they almost reached the condo.

“For what?” Remy asked.

“For letting me make the decision,” Erin replied, smiling under the flourescent hue of street lamps. It was the same street, but Remy’s company subdued the heaviness of his heart.

“It was your decision to make. Not mine.”

“True, but a lot of Alphas wouldn’t have yielded to an Omega.”

“They would if they saw what you did to Old Paulie back there.” Erin burst into an echoing laugh, shaking his head.

“Are you saying you’re afraid of me?” Erin asked Remy with a teasing smirk.

“I’m saying I’ll be more cautious with where I put my hands moving forward.” Remy snorted. “Where the hell did you even learn to do that?”

“Nina. My sister,” Erin explained, slowing his pace as he admired Remy’s gait once more. “She insisted I take self-defense classes when I moved to the city.”

“Moved from?”

“From Staten Island.”

“I see.” Remy nodded in that commanding way Erin was quickly growing used to. “And is that where your family is?”

“My mother passed away when I was younger, but my step-mother and father still live there. My sister lives here, though. Well- not here. In Brooklyn.”

“Got it.”

“And you?” Erin dared to ask him. “What about your family?”

“My mother is a snowbird,” Remy admitted. Seemingly reluctant. “She lives in Tampa half the year, and she is every bit as high maintenance as snowbirds are reputed to be.”

“Like mother like son then,” Erin gave him a pointed, but amused eye.

“I suppose so.” Remy huffed out a chuckle. “I also have an older brother, who lives in Paris, but he travels a lot for work.”

“If you’re saying he travels a lot, then it must be all the time.”

“Indeed. Though it’s very hard to miss him,” Remy added with a note of exasperation. Erin wondered what kind of people they were, Remy’s mother and brother. Refined and confident like Remy, or more subdued and passive. “What about your father?”

“He died when I was deployed some years back,” Remy told him. “He was also a pilot.”

“Ah.” Erin nodded as if he was discerning something important. “Then I was mistaken.”

Remy gave him a questioning frown.

“It is like father like son, after all,” Erin proclaimed with a giggle.

“I suppose... so...” Remy’s voice trailed. Erin could feel the shift in the air, and the sudden strain of Remy’s tone. When he stopped walking they were standing just at the edge of the valet.

“Remy?” Erin whispered. Remy squared his shoulders and stood up straighter.

“I’m not in the habit of apologizing, for my actions, but I recognize when one needs to be given.”

“Ok?” Erin tilted his head to meet the Alpha's eye.

“I spoke with Annalee, and she told me what happened.”

Erin pressed his lips together and swallowed around the sudden lump forming in his throat.

“I shouldn’t have taken the picture without your permission,” Erin whispered, lowering his eyes to the pavement. He continued to walk toward the condo, hoping to distract himself from the way his heart ached in his chest. “It wasn’t my place.”

“I should have asked you why you took the picture.” Remy followed a step behind him. “And listened when you tried to explain.”

“Yes, but if I had communicated with you in the first place—”

“Then I wouldn’t have listened,” Remy finished for him. “I wouldn’t have seen what you were trying to tell me. I wouldn’t have realized how right you were. About Annalee...and about me.”

Erin stopped walking just as they reached the valet, and turned toward Remy. He could see the sincerity in his eyes as Remy said, “you were only doing what you felt was best for Annalee. If I didn’t have my head up my ass, I would have seen that.” He sighed long and deep, seemingly shaking away the derisive thoughts. “From the bottom of my heart." He touched Erin's burning red cheek with cool fingertips. "I am truly sorry, Erin.”