The chatter of hiatus gossip shape-shifted into quiet smiles and warm hands on backs and Vanessa eventually nudged Naya to actually eat. Chicken and rice became cupcakes and cookies. The sun climbed into the early July sky and the adults eventually gave in to temptation and started refilling and expelling the super soakers themselves. Heather's self-deprecating joke slinging and laughter ricocheted between family and colleagues and colleagues that became family. Taylor quietly moved from group to group on his own, thanking people for coming, for their gifts, for their presence in their lives and hopefully in the life of their child's as well. When he greeted Naya, Vanessa, Zach and a few other's from camp Glee, he also thanked them for understanding Heather's choice to leave the show for a while and gushed about how thankful they both were to have so much support from the whole community. Even he knew the entire storyline of the season had been shifted to accommodate Heather's pregnancy and everyone agreed the MIT story line was too hilarious.

Naya watched Taylor move on to another gaggle of friends, perhaps his teammates from college, and she was delighted to see him treat them with the same eloquence and maturity. He didn't put on a show for Heather's friends and treat his own differently. He was calm in his skin. Confident in his step. A totally different person that the Taylor she'd met before. The last time she'd seen him he was uncomfortable, judging, perhaps just frightened in his new city, but this Taylor seemed to match the man her best friend had talked about for years. A little shy, but earnest and kind, charming and even chivalrous. He must have been quietly funny because Naya knew Heather needed laughter the way most people needed air and water. But that guy she might never get to know. She wanted to see Taylor's funny. She wanted to see the man Heather loved. She wanted to like him. No, she wanted to love him. She wanted to let it go.

"Hey, wanna getchur paint on?"

Vanessa's question was accentuated with a hip bump and it snapped Naya back to the present. A picnic table of fabric paint had been laid out by Heather's sisters and a stack of different-sized onesies beckoned attendees to personalize.

Ashley waved them over and Vanessa sat between them fussing over color choice and subject. Naya sat on the far left, so she wouldn't elbow anyone, and thoughtfully sketched a set of chunky headphones around the neckline of a onesie that was for a 6-9 month old. She wanted the baby to wear it for a while and knew the littlest ones would be worn for a few weeks at most. She wanted Heather's baby to be as cool as its momma so she made a set of bright red headphones with a swirl of cable on the belly. The wire spelled "love" surrounded by tiny music notes. She was so focused on her mini-masterpiece she didn't even notice Ashley and Vanessa giggling over exactly what kind of cat to paint or the barrage of poop jokes coming from the other side of the table.

Ashley stood to excuse herself from the table and leaned over Naya's shoulder to check out the micro-fashion in progress.

"That's totally adorbs, Naya. Are you gonna tag those with Big Sean's logo?"

"Huh?"

"He's got a new Headphone line coming out right? Just a little cross marketing?"

If Naya was watching the movie of this moment she was certain she would have heard her jaw hit the table. But this wasn't scripted. This was real life and as her blood began to boil she felt Vanessa's hand on her thigh under the table and heard Ashley's jewelry jangle as she walked away.

"God they really hate him huh?" was all Naya could muster.

"You can't hate what you don't know, Naya. They don't know him. And if all they know of Sean is what the Internet tells them, you know as well as I do, that they don't know him at all."

"Ain't that the truth."

"Make it a song, will ya?"

"Sure" Naya agreed, sucking her teeth.

Then she flipped her onesie over and using a fabric pen finished it with a perfect heart and "Tia Naya" scrawled right on the butt.

"How cool is that?" Vanessa laughed. "Kid's not even here yet and they've already got Naya Freakin' Rivera signing their ass!"

After onesies Ashley returned and led a raucous round of "Embarrass the mother to be" games. And then came the presents. What seemed like an unending, unyielding, and unimaginable supply of beautifully wrapped and carefully selected gifts for a baby that was so ridiculously loved already, by every single person in attendance.

Taylor stayed dutifully nearby, though almost completely tucked out of harm's way. He laughed and smiled from behind a camera taking snapshots of Heather and her many friends, cousins and aunts fussing over every little thing. Naya watched him from across the long dais and wondered if he was really into this whole Jack and Jill shower situation. The shower is all about the mother to be – and the grandmothers, really. The men in her family used to stay at someone else's house and get rip roaring drunk during baby showers. Some of her friends were vehemently against baby showers all together – too superstitious. But she wanted to talk to Taylor. Get to know him. So she did.

Naya casually walked around behind Taylor and squatted next to him quietly.

"Hey Taylor, do you want to maybe help with the presents? I can play family photographer if you'd like."

"Oh, hey Naya. Thank you. You don't have to do that. I've got it."

"I feel bad, you're all wrapped up in this camera. Go open some presents or something. Go help your baby moma, go."

She reached her hands out and waited for him to relinquish the SLR. When he did, it sank in her tiny hands like a rock. It was heavy, but it was a Canon like her own camera so at least she knew how to work it.

"Thanks Naya. You really don't have to."

"I don't have to. I want to. It is the least I can do."

"Thanks." His smile was sheepish and he squinted into the sun before he strode towards Heather's side and pulled a chair up between her and the fire line of gifts coming to them from inside the house.

Somehow having a task, the task of capturing these precious moments in stills, gave Naya the calm she'd been searching for all morning and afternoon. Watching Taylor and Heather fall madly in love with their child in the form of perfectly knit booties, adorable gender neutrual outfits, a hand crafted moses basket, a ridiculous pair of Nike Air Jordon's (those must have been sent by Kevin) was precious. She still didn't feel like she knew Taylor. She had never been allowed to really. Heather seemed to purposefully keep them apart. Maybe it was too overwhelming to have two people you loved so much demanding so much of you. Maybe Naya should have just never pushed Heather by challenging Taylor's place in her life. Maybe, despite Naya's protective reservations, he was a really good guy after all. Maybe seeing him come into focus beside Heather, through the lens of his own camera even, might offer some kind of perspective that Naya didn't know she so desperately needed. Maybe the three of them actually could be friends. Maybe, just maybe, this baby could be the best thing that ever happened to them all.

When Naya's gift box, covered in gold bows and ribbons made its way to Heather's narrow lap, Taylor shifted it onto his own as the paper was peeled off with eager hands.

The largest box exploded into several smaller boxes and the on-lookers giggled, still not knowing who was to blame. Vanessa connected with Naya from across the way and smiled. The boxes were numbered. Of course. First the sock monkey – Heather immediately named him Georg (pronounced gay-org) like from Spring Awakening. Then the glam jacket. The crowed "oohed" and "ahhed." The converse socks. Some laughter. A faux diamond encrusted bottle that looked like a microphone. It was getting pretty obvious who the box was from. Maternity hot pants – in three colors. How could she not? A diaper bag cool enough for a hip dad. Taylor LOVED it. An Oakland Raiders pacifier. Of course. A onesie that said "Its Brittany Bitch!" that she found on Café Press and another that said "The Duck is in the Hat" which she had made. Priceless. Then a small school of rubber ducks for the tub. Each with the WMHS logo on its chest. Hilarious. Naya loved the sound of Heather's mother's laugh. It sounded just like Heather's.

The final box, which Heather opened with her breath tight, held the perfect pair of teeny white ballet slippers wrapped in white silk.

The card inside read;

For Baby,

May each step in your journey be soft and full of grace.

In love with you always.

Your Tia Naya

Heather burst into happy tears when she read it. Taylor peered over her shoulder and wrapped his arm tight around her back. He looked up at Naya and she snapped the shutter on the camera. Heather's hand over her mouth, eyes smiling. Taylor's grateful and sheepish grin, looking up. A perfect shot. If she could have, she would have instagramed that shit.

As they hugged and kissed everyone good-bye Vanessa was quiet, maybe a little too sun kissed, or maybe a little too moony with love for her friends. Naya smiled a little too long, or a little too longingly said good by to the baby belly that seemed Velcro-ed to her best friend's once glorious muscular middle. But as they climbed into the car well after most of the guests had left the anxiety and stress of their tardy arrival was just a comic memory.

The sun had long ago set and the highway moved with the push and pull of LA's unavoidable traffic. Naya hopped into the HOV lane, grateful to not be alone.

"Thanks for being my HOV, Vanessa."

"No probs. My pleasure. Anytime."

"No really. Thank you for coming with me. And for making me stay when I wanted to go and for just being your awesome self."

"Awe shucks. I'm gonna miss you bitch"

"You have no idea."

"You should come to my bar, check things out. We got to get you a guest spot."

"Seriously? That would be SICK!"

"Totally."

The conversation lulled into Maklemore on the radio and Mary Lambert crooned from the speakers.

And I can't change

Even if I tried

Even if I wanted to

"This IS the song of the summer, ain't it?" Vanessa offered. Trying to stop Naya from going… there.

And I can't change

Even if I tried

Even if I wanted to

"Indeed it is," Naya replied. "I still can't believe the Supreme Court. I mean. Just cray. In our lifetime. I thought it would never happen."

My love, my love, my love

She keeps me warm

"I know, right? America is a totally different place than it was just a few weeks ago."

She keeps me warm

She keeps me warm

"It absolutely is."

She keeps me warm…