Chapter 1

"I'm swinging by the studio and then I'll be home, yeah of course I'll check on her, love you too Luke, see you later," 26 year old Rosalina's phone was wedged in between her shoulder and ear. She slid it down her arm and into her purse before swinging the door to the familiar studio they had been in and out of since childhood. She waved at the receptionist who buzzed her through the doors and she headed down the hallway where their dressing rooms once were, most of them were now used as offices for Nat's producing company and Cooper and Patty's management careers. The State of Grace girls still had their large dressing room for when they rehearsed and record with Nat. She found the door she knew all too well as Nat's dressing room, and now office, and opened the door. Nat was sitting on the couch, his feet kicked up on the coffee table, and eyes on the TV. But Rosalina's favorite sight of all was the bundled up baby in 24 year old Nat's arms.

"Look who's here Benny," Nat whispered to his son, kissing his forehead. "It's your hot momma."

"There is my favorite boy," Rosalina gushed, taking her son into her arms and snuggling him against him. "Benjamin Michael, you are the most adorable thing in the world."

"How was work?" Nat asked, getting up from the couch to gather the baby's carseat and diaper bag.

"This issue is so hard for the staff, and my intro class was just so unfocused, they are clearly ready for finals to end next week," Rosalina said, referring to her job as an advisor on the NYU newspaper and professor in the journalism and communications department. "And so am I because then I get to spend everyday with my baby boy."

"No more days at work with Daddy," Nat smiled, picking up his son and strapping him into the carseat. "Can't believe this guy is already 6 months old."

"Me either," Rosalina shook her head. "Thanks for taking him again, Juanita got caught up at the youth center and Alex had a study session and you know I can't ask him to miss that," Rosalina said. "Are you going to be here much longer today?"

"Yeah I want to finish up the acoustics on the girl's new track, the guitar is just not sounding right," Nat said, referring to State of Grace's booming career. Though the Naked Brothers Band retired and went their separate ways when the Nat and the boys graduated from high school, the State of Grace career was just starting. They were working on their 4th album, being produced by Nat with the help of Alex when he wasn't at school.

"Okay well remember that everyone is coming over for dinner, Cooper had something to tell us," Rosalina said. "I'm hoping it's that him and Patty will finally get engaged."

"Nah, I think Alex and Juanita will get engaged before those two, they're too work focused but hey they live together, they're practically married already," Nat said.

"Who knows," Rosalina shook her head, leaning in to kiss her husband of 2 years now. "I'll see you later, love you."

"Love you both," Nat waved as Rosalina and his son headed back out the door.

"Alright buddy, let's go see your Aunt Kristina, huh?" Rosalina said to Ben as she pulled in the driveway of her and Nat's house just outside of the city. She took Ben's car seat out of the car and headed to the house next door to her's, where Kristina and Luke moved in about a year ago right after their wedding. She let herself in with her key and set a sleeping Ben down in the living room, careful not to wake him up. Kristina was nowhere on the first floor so Rosalina headed upstairs. "Kris, it's me."

"In here," A soft voice said from the bedroom. Rosalina walked into Kristina and Luke's bedroom and found her best friend buried in blankets, the Netflix queue screen on the TV.

"Hey," Rosalina smiled softly, climbing into bed next to Kristina. "Whatcha watching?"

"Grey's," Kristina responded simply.

"How are you feeling?" Rosalina asked, taking in the sight of her best friend. She looked like she hadn't left her bed in days, and she hadn't. Kristina worked as a teacher at Amigos but had taken off the rest of the school year.

"Fine," Kristina avoided eye contact with Rosalina.

"Do you want to talk?" Rosalina asked quietly.

"No I just want to watch Grey's," Kristina softly said, picking up the remote and pushing the play button. Rosalina sighed at her attempt and settled in with Kristina, scooting a bit towards her in the bed. Kristina did the same, leaning her head on ROsalina's shoulder. Rosalina felt content with the moment, even though she couldn't get Kristina to talk very much. Rosalina put her arm around Kristina and brought her into her, kissing her forehead.

"I love you," Rosalina said as Kristina rested in her arms. "I'm ready to talk whenever you are."

"I know," Kristina looked at her best friend for the first time. "Just not yet, I just want you to stay here with me for a bit."

"Always," Rosalina forced a smile. She looked at Kristina, who's eyes were fixed on the screen. She could see how much hurt was in eyes and was worried about how she was handling everything life was throwing at her recently.

"Where's Ben?" Kristina asked.

"I left him in his car seat downstairs," Rosalina said. "He was sleeping so I didn't want to wake him up."

"Will you bring him up here?" Kristina asked, Rosalina looked a little wary. "Please."

"Of course," Rosalina went back downstairs, carefully taking her son from his carseat, careful not to wake him. "Hey Benny boy, here's your Aunt Kristina."

"He's getting so big," Kristina took her nephew into her arms and held him tight to her. "I've missed you buddy."

"He's missed you too," Rosalina grinned. "Someday, you'll get one of your own Kris."

"Yeah," Kristina looked like she was going to say more but then stopped. She just looked at the sleeping baby in her arms. Her eyes started to tear up and tears started to stream down her face.

"Oh Kris, c'mere," Rosalina took her son from her arms and set him in between her legs. She put both her arms around Kristina and pulled her crying face into her lap. She rubbed Kristina's back and pulled back her hair.

"This isn't fair, life isn't fair," Kristina cried, causing a tear to roll down Rosalina's cheek.

"I know," Rosalina stroked her hair, looking at her son over Kristina's head. "I never pictured life ending up like this.