Disclaimer: Danny's the only... uhm, person I own in here.

A/N: LoremIpsum provided this line "If nothing I can say can change your mind, if you truly believe it's your fault, you have to work on forgiving yourself." Gave me a kick in the right direction. And when I say kick, it's a good thing!

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"It's not your fault." Ben said, touching Riley's shoulder.

Riley jerked away, and looked down at the rose. He twirled it in his hand, and sighed. "Go away."

"Riley… Riley you need to know that – "

"That it's not my fault?" Riley turned, and stared at Ben angrily. "How in the world is it not my fault?! I drove him away from my apartment, Ben! If we didn't fight he would have never been on that street – "

"He was simply at the wrong place, at the wrong time, Riley." Ben resisted the urge to literally shake some sense into the younger man.

"If I – "

Ben sighed. "No more if's, Riley! Listen to yourself!" Ben crouched on the grass and looked into Riley's eyes. "It's not. Your. Fault."

"How could you say that?! You have never killed your brother before, Ben!"

Ben looked away. He knew Riley was strong; he could pull through this. But if he didn't let go of the idea that he "killed" his brother… "You did not kill your brother!" Ben shouted, out of desperation more than frustration. He couldn't bear seeing Riley like this. He couldn't bear watching Riley break down. The kid has been so strong all throughout, and now…

Watching your little brother cry his heart and eyes out in front of his real brother's grave does something to your psyche. Especially if said little brother is your best friend, who in spite of his puppy dog eyes and ramblings and flaws and flukes and feelings, has never cried hysterically in front of you. He always manages to lock up in his room – which makes you a tad bit more worried that he would go do something stupid while locked in his room, and you can't open the door.

Riley was sobbing out loud right now. "I killed him, Ben! I did! I did…"

Ben shook his head, and tried a different tactic. A more, irresponsibly stupid tactic. "If nothing I can say can change your mind, if you truly believe it's your fault, you have to work on forgiving yourself."

Riley turned to Ben. "Are you saying I killed him?" He looks so… vulnerable. More vulnerable than I have ever seen him in years.

"You said it, Riley." And that wasn't my point.

"You implied – "

Ben exhaled audibly, calming himself. "I did not. I just said, if I can't change your mind, then I can't." Ben placed his hand on Riley's shoulder again. "Look, Riley. Whether or not you believe that you killed him (and I'm inclined to insist that you didn't), you have to forgive yourself."

Riley didn't answer. He just looked down at the grass. The rose behind him started to lost petals from the wind.

"Let it go Riley. He has always loved you, and I'm sure, whatever you did, he already forgave you." Ben spoke quietly. The wind whistled around them, blowing leaves everywhere. "He's your brother Riley. And speaking from experience, whatever you do, your brother will always love you. I will always love you, Riley."

In normal circumstances, Riley would have shot back something along the lines of, "Ben, you love me? When were you going to say something to Abby? She wouldn't like this, you know…" But he did something I didn't expect – but still expected – he hugged me.

Riley cried on Ben's chest, softly now. "Ben, I didn't mean to get angry at him – I'm sorry… Danny I'm really really sorry. I'm sorry for hurting you, for that fight… I'm sorry for hurting myself." "It's alright, Riley." Ben said, holding his little brother. A gentle breeze passed in the middle of them, and for the first time today, Ben saw Riley smile.

"He was here, Ben."

"Who was?" Ben blinked in confusion. He saw nobody else around them, not even a bird or an insect.

"He said that – " Riley wiped his eyes. "He said that he loves me, and that it's not my fault. That more than anything, it was the fault of the consequences of the driver's false judgment of drinking and his inebriation. If anything, I'd say it was a mouthful, even for some guy in the afterlife." Riley laughed, albeit bitterly, but I don't care. At least he's finally laughing.

"The message was God-sent, Riley. Even the One Up Top insists it wasn't your fault – and He knows everything." Ben stated, grinning.

Riley smiled, and stood up. "Think everything's going to be okay, Ben?" Translation: "Do you really think it's my fault? Think I'm going to be okay after all this? Reassure me, please."

"Yes, Riley, I'm sure."

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I hope I made you cry. *grins evilly* at least just a tad sad, anyway... ^^

please review so I'd know what you guys think. pretty please? ^^ xD

-Jaeh ^^