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"We need to talk" Don called Bri on evening after Doug had gone to bed.

"About?"

"Doug's school," he said simply.

"He's going to graduate next year."

"I want a say in which one he goes to when he graduates from Rosemead Academy."

"You're not paying for it"

Don retorted. "Neither are you."

"Touche," Bri said.

"Well, now I want to get involved." Don said. "

"Fine. I'll need you to try and make the interviews!" Bri warned "Okay? Call in sick if you have to!"

"I'll see what I can do," Don promised. "Let's meet for lunch with Robin."

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The three met for lunch, at a Chinese restaurant one Wednesday afternoon.

"You know what Doug asked me for one time?" Don began the conversation as they looked at menus.

"Front row seats to a No Face Value concert?" Bri asked, a slight smile on her face.

"Besides that?"

"What?"

"ADD pills"

"ADD Pills??"

"He was worried about doing well in school, and saw other kids using it."

"I didn't think I'd encounter that so soon..." Bri shook her head.

"Well you have. He's under too much pressure."

"It's just that graduation is around the corner, and he's gotta apply for another school."

"He needs time to be a kid, ya know?"

"He does have time to be a kid," Bri argued. "He's in little league, has guitar lessons, plays with his best friend...."

"Well, maybe together we can find a school that's academically excellent, while allowing him to be kid," Robin suggested.

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About a year or so later

Don called Bri

"When were you gonna tell me that you were gonna take Doug to Europe?"

"Soon."

"So it's serious with this guy?"

"Yes it is. ."

"I'll need an itinerary"

"Of course, and he'll call you every night"

"Good."

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As the time of the trip came nearer, Don gave Doug about two hundred dollars for the trip.

"Thanks Dad!" Doug smiled.

"It's not gonna stretch as far as you think" Don said. "So spend it wisely. Get something for Robin, Grandpa, Uncle Charlie and Aunt Amita"

"I will"

"Stay close to your mother and her boyfriend" Don warned.

"Okay, Dad."

"Call me every day. Tell your mother that I'll reimburse the calling costs"

Finally, the day of the trip came. Don, Robin, Charlie, and Alan went to see Doug off.

"It's gonna be long summer without him" Robin remarked.

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Doug called every day, telling Don of the day's events.

Finally, for Don, Doug arrived home safe and sound, and with a surprise announcement upon meeting with Don and Robin. "Frank and Mom are getting Married! We're going to Vegas on Saturday"

"Is that right?" Don asked.

"Yep" Bri smiled, holding Frank's hand. "He proposed to me in London."

"Congrats!" Robin said.

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The next time Don went to pick Doug up, he saw a police detective come out of Bri's apartment. Curious, and concerned, he asked her about it.

"What's going on?"

"The detective had a few questions for Frank" Bri tried to hide her nervousness.

"What kind of questions?"

"Routine questions. I'll call Doug. He's in his room." Bri went to go get him. Soon after, Frank came out of the bathroom.

"Frank? I need to talk with you." Don told him.

"About?" Frank had coffee colored hair, was clean shaven and was a few years younger than Bri.

"Why a police detective would wanna talk to you?"

"I've got a past" Frank admitted.

"Does Bri know this?"

"Yes."

"What kinda past do you have?"

"Burglary, but I did my time, and reformed."

"Bri believes you?"

"She was mad at first, but after some thinking, she believed me."

Just then, Doug came out of his room.

"Hey Dad! I'm ready!"

"Let's go" Don said, giving Bri a 'We gotta talk' look.

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Bri's dating a criminal!" Don told Robin that night in bed.

"A criminal?"

"Burglar. Says he's reformed." Don added. "I don't want my son living with a criminal!"

"Have you looked up his record?"

"yeah. He was caught doing a B and E, and was jailed for it." Don said.

"Who knows how many other crimes he's done?" Robin mused.

"yeah. I'm gonna have a talk with Bri" Don said, "She's gonna have to choose between Doug, and her boy toy"

TBC