Note: The rating on this story has been changed to T due to some references to harassment in this chapter. It's very mild but not something I'd want kids reading.

Dez set foot inside the coffee shop and was instantly bombarded by the smell of fresh beans, clean floors, and cologne. It was Saturday morning, and the shop was full of people. Normally, he would have paused to take in the beauty around him with all of his senses. Today, though, he was in a hurry. He gazed rapidly around the room at the myriad of differently shaped tables, both large and small. He finally saw the flash of red he was looking for in the line at the counter.

"Didi!" He exclaimed as he ran in for a hug.

She turned around. "Dez!" she scolded. "You scared me." She put her arms around him and then pulled back. "Quiet down," she whispered. "Can't you tell the whole store's watching us."

"Didi," he laughed. "It's been too long."

"I know. I've missed you too."

Dez smiled and took a deep breath. It had been ages since he had gotten to hangout with his favorite sister. They had spent a lot of time together after she moved to LA after college, but in more recent years life had gotten in their way. Filmmaking and family kept him really busy, and her job as a surgical nurse meant that their schedules rarely matched. Espresso and cappuccino in hand, they wandered to a tall table in the corner and sat down.

"So, how have you been, sis?" he asked, glancing across the table.

Her hands gripped her cup as she answered. "I've been doing just fine."

"Yeah?" he probed. Despite her outgoing nature, Didi could be really reserved. "Diana?" he added with a smirk.

"We've been through this so many times. It's Didi, not Diana."

"I know, but it's not my fault Mom and Dad spelled Deanna like Diana," he returned lightheartedly.

At that, she smiled, and he knew that he had successfully broken through some of the awkwardness that had grown up between them. Time had a way of changing things, but he knew that they still cared about each other.

"Stop," she commanded. "I thought coffee was your idea."

"It was. It's just no fun when you get all quiet on me. I can't do all the talking myself. Come on, it did work. You're talking now," he reminded her. "So what have you been up to lately?"

"Well, classes for the np program have kept me busy," she explained, taking a sip of her espresso before continuing. "And then work has been rather stressful. I did recently join an Irish dancing club."

"Good for you. I knew you'd like dancing. Irish eyes and Latin hips do run in the family, you know. Any special dance partners?"

"Nope. Don't get any ideas. We mix up our partners weekly. Gotta keep it interesting, you know."

"Is there anyone at work?" Dez felt himself smiling again.

"No. I'll get there eventually, but I'm ready to put myself out there again. When I do, I'll be wanting you to meet him. I just can't end up with a dirtball."

"I'll be waiting for your call. Always glad to help my baby sister."

"Dez, I'm glad you're eager to be helpful, but I'm not a helpless baby. We're just two years apart, and we're both adults now!" Didi was trying not to sound irritated, but he could see the traces of frustration in her face.

"Well, you would have been in trouble if I hadn't been my nosy self and kept bugging you until you told me what was going on with Doctor Perry and insisted that you do something about it. That scumbag didn't have any right to make comments about my sister's body and guilt trip her into thinking that she needed to go home with him. That's classic harassment, and nobody harasses my sister when I'm around. Everyone at work is treating you okay, right?"

"Yes, everyone's been nothing but polite. I'd be rather nervous about messing with someone who's won a court case, myself."

"Don't estimate yourself. You're quite feisty. I wouldn't want to tangle with you when you're mad."

"Thanks," Didi whispered. "So what about you and Trish? How's it going?"

"Well, it's been pretty tough going. Things are getting worse, and this separation thing isn't working for me anymore. I've been missing Trish a lot lately."

"I'm so sorry. That's really rough. Have you tried to talk to her lately?" Didi's tone expressed her concern.

"Well, she didn't say anything when I dropped off the kids last weekend. It was so hard to see her there and not be able to tell her how I feel. It's just really awful. I wish I go back in time and get a do over. I think I'd start seven months ago….No, I'd go back to when Esmeralda was born…Yeah, that was when it started getting bad. We'd decided that we wanted three kids. Bryan was such an easy baby that I thought that having two a year apart wouldn't be a big deal. But Max was really difficult. When Esmeralda was born…."

Dez felt himself get choked up and struggled to continue. "We were both really busy after Trish went back to work. I was right in the middle of a big film project that had me away for days at a time, and….her boss at the news agency was really demanding too. We just didn't talk that much….We always talked before. It seemed….seemed like she was always bugging me about the little things…like how I hung the clothes in the closet. She was just so critical that I...I...wanted to get away from her so I'd go up to the attic with my video games. One day, we got into a big fight…and decided….that it'd be better if I moved out for a while. Things just keep getting worse. My marriage is in shambles. Why can't I just get a do over?" Dez was sobbing now.

Didi moved around to his tall chair and put her arm around his shoulders. "Oh, Dez, I'm so sorry." She rubbed his back in circles and let him lean his head on her shoulders.

"I just want it to go back to the way that it was before. I don't want to give up without a fight, but I don't know what to do."

Didi pushed his head off her shoulder and moved around to her side of the table. "So when was the last time you talked. Like really talked?"

"She hasn't said more than hello since Bryan's birthday party."

"Well, it sounds to me that you two need to just need to sit down and talk."

"But what if she won't talk to me. I'm not so sure she would." Dez was sobbing again.

"Dez, listen to me. This is you and Trish you are talking about. You are absolutely perfect for each other. I remember noticing that the day you brought her home for dinner. You told me you two weren't dating, but I took one look at her and knew there was more to the story."

Dez laughed. It had taken him years to realize how he felt about Trish. He had been pretty clueless for a love whisperer.

"You were always bringing home these wimpy, girly girls. They might have been perfect as lead actresses in your princess movies, but they wouldn't have made you happy. Trish was different. She asked for seconds without apologizing and snuck sips of your soda when you weren't looking. When I took her upstairs and showed her my nail polish collection, she was unimpressed and told me she'd rather play Zaliens video games in the basement with you. That was when I knew she'd be my sister-in-low someday. You needed someone who'd be strong and determined and steady enough to stick by you in all your ups and downs."

With Didi's last sentence, the tears began streaming down Dez's face again. "But she hasn't."

They were both silent before Didi broke in. "It's not over until you give up. You may have chosen to fight with you mind, but your heart isn't in this. You're a dreamer, Dez. I'm always impressed by the fact that you dream big. I can remember you telling me you were going to be a filmmaker when you just were a kid. I thought that it was ridiculous, but look at where you are. You believe in your dreams and work until they come true. During the court case, I felt like trash. It was so embarrassing for everyone to hear the details of what had happened. I didn't want to get up in the morning much less go to work or the courthouse. I remember you telling me to choose to believe that I could make it through. I did, and here I am. It's been a year. I've got a new job, and I'm feeling so much better now."

She reached across the table and grabbed his hand. "Dez, I believe in you. You're a man, a strong, kind man. Trish is so lucky to have you. You can't give up now. You were there for me before, and now I'm here for you."

Dez grabbed her napkin and blew his nose. "Maybe you're right, but what I am going to do?"

"Just believe, Dez…And maybe I've got an idea….."

Author's Note: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I had to use my imagination for Dez and Didi's relationship. The show didn't give me much to go on. Let me know what you think of this chapter.

I've also been thinking about head canon lately, and I'd love if you told me what you imagine happening to Trish and Dez after the show ends.