Tired, you sat in the armchair your mother had always wanted you to sit in as a child, in your old nursery, staring at a white wall.

A full glass of whiskey dangled between two of your fingers. If you had held on just a little less, it would have slipped from your grip and spilled on the handmade, very expensive Persian carpet.

It had taken hours for the sour aftertaste of the reading of the will to disappear from your mouth. The mood had not been the same afterwards.

You knew that everyone present would have traded their shares for your father's life. But it just wasn't possible, so they had taken what was offered and continued to mourn.

In the end, you were quite happy with the result, even though Lukas had refused everything they had wanted to give him.

But you didn't worry about him.

He was a wealthy man himself. His circumstances would have been neither worse nor better because of the inheritance.

The only thing that didn't make sense to you was that Felix had refused the money. On the other hand, you wondered why your father had left him Aunt May's house and not her. You remembered that before Felix had been born he had bought it especially for her at your mother's request. So it didn't make sense to take it away from her now.

And Felix certainly didn't even want it. He had only taken it because otherwise his mother would have been homeless.

A deep sigh escaped your lips as you closed your eyes and let your head fall back.

Your head ached.

With a low hum you took a sip from your glass. The alcohol burned all the way down your throat until it hit your empty stomach.

The silence was deafening. The urge to run itched in the tips of your fingers.

It felt like something was sitting in the back of your neck.

Ghosts.

Or maybe just the certainty that there was no one left in this world you could call family. Sure, Aunt May and Felix were family. But there were no parents left to call in a crisis. And there were no siblings who could have been a comforting shoulder.

"Shit...", you muttered, rubbing your aching eyes.

Another sip of whiskey burned your stomach.

All of a sudden a knock sounded.

You didn't feel like seeing anyone at the moment.

Your eyes wandered out of the window.

It was night, stars shone bright while shadows stretched underneath trees and across lakes. It was a clam night.

But you couldn't enjoy it.

Again, someone knocked.

Your frowned, took another sip. Maybe if you ignored it that unwanted visitor would just leave.

But you were wrong.

Again, the knock sounded, followed by a gruff chuckle.

"I know you're awake, kiddo.", Lukas voice said.

A slim smile appeared on your lips. You let out a deep breath.

"Come in.", you called out.

The door opened a crack wide.

Lukas' face greeted you with a soft smile.

"May I come in?", he asked, only his head stuck through the door.

You nodded.

"Be my guest.", with a gesture you offered him the empty seat opposite of you. "A drink?"

His hands in his pockets, he shook his head.

You noticed that he wore his hat and was fully dressed as well.

A dark thought dawned on you. With yours eyebrows pulled together you looked at him.

"I'm sorry.", he said, honest empathy in his voice. "But I can't bear it here."

"You want to leave already?"

"Don't be upset. I'll visit you as much as you want. But I can't spent a single night in this house."

"Why not?"

Taking a deep breath, he let his gaze wander out of the window for a moment. His hands fondled in his trench coat pockets as if they were looking for something.

"Some... people here are hard company.", he admitted and had to smile awkwardly. "And I'm honest, I don't want to be here longer than I have to."

"I'll see you out.", you got up from your seat, not allowing him to argue.

"You don't have to."

"Nonsens. Get your bags."

"Already at the door."

You huffed and downed the last bit of whiskey.

Silently, the two of you walked down the corridor, side by side.

Already halfway down the stairs, Lukas cleared his throat.

"You're not going to ask who I'm referring to?", he asked with a side glance.

You just shrugged.

"Why would I?", you asked back. "It's your business."

"And your relatives."

"Some people don't get along with others. It's fine. But for my own piece of mind I won't ask for names."

"They are all good people. Just... not for me."

"Then that's enough for me.", with a smile you stopped in front of the main door and waited for him to say his goodbye.

For a moment he seemed to struggle with himself. It wasn't like him to hesitate. Lukas was a man so honest that many people picked it up as rudeness.

But he had never been stingy with you.

After a while he simply pulled you into a hug.

"Make sure that you always keep your head up, you hear me?", he asked while his arms kept you tight. "You're a good kid. Your dad was a good man. But sometimes people make mistakes. And sometimes people turn bitter because of it."

Confused, you frowned but let him go without a question as he pulled back to tap his hat as a goodbye.

"Don't think you could get away with not calling once in a while.", you called after him with a smile.

Chuckling, he raised a hand to wave goodbye as he walked through the door and disappeared.

With a sight you watched until it wasn't possible to see his black coat in the dark anymore.

It was a shame that he had to go so soon, but you could understand. Lukas had never been the type to socialise with strangers. But whenever he choose someone to be his friend he was loyal like no other.

"It's kind of early to leave.", a voice suddenly said in the dark.

Startled, your head snapped around.

"Mister O'Neill?", you asked, frowning.

The lawyer nodded.

"Sorry to scare you."

"You're up late."

He huffed.

"You too. I smoke. And you can't sleep, I assume?"

"True."

"That's good, actually. There is something I have to give you."