"Why the hell aren't we just dating?"

Helga looked up from her history homework. Across the table, Phoebe actually closed her AP Calculus book and looked over at Helga as if to say "I gotta hear this one."

Helga looked from Phoebe to Tad, who'd asked the question.

"Are you high?"

"Seriously Hel, why in the name of Queen Elizabeth are we not dating? I mean, we're best friends, we're both attractive people, we have so much in common already. We've seen each other in our underwear…Phoebe included."

Phoebe raised her hands. "Don't bring me into this! I have a boyfriend."

"First off, how dare you Sir, invoke the name of Queen Elizabeth into this conversation. Second off," Helga ticked off another finger. "We're both in love with unattainable people and keep foolishly hoping beyond hope that one day, they'll see us and realize they're madly in love with us. And when that time comes Thaddeus Gumblethorpe, do you really want to be dating a manic-depressive blonde who knows all your dirty secrets?"

Phoebe looked over at Tad as if to say, "Explain that one, genius."

"If we were dating, I wouldn't have eyes for anyone else but you, my love."

Phoebe gave a disbelieving snort.

"I could!"

"Not," Phoebe retorted. "Even I have problems believing that line."

Helga leaned forward. "So, barring the fact that we are not attracted to each other, have zero romantic chemistry, and are best friends. If, after all those odds, we were to actually take leave of our senses and date, you mean to say that the moment the princess crooked her finger and said Tad, I need you, you wouldn't drop me like a hot potato to do her bidding?"

He leaned back in his chair and scoffed, putting a hand to his chest. "What kind of boyfriend do you take me for dear lady? I am hurt, nay, insulted that you are questioning my integrity!"

The door to Slaussen's opened and Rhonda and Nadine entered talking about something. Rhonda caught his eyes and waved towards him.

"Tad, come here a minute."

He closed his book and stood up. Helga snorted.

"Insulted, eh?"

"To be fair, we are not dating as of yet. Be right back ladies,"

Helga and Phoebe watched his walk towards the two women.

"So," Phoebe said. Helga grinned.

"Hot potato much?"

"Indeed."

It took a week. One week for Rhonda to finally crack.

She sat in her office, sketches, fabric and color boards surrounding her and the only thing her mind kept going back to was Tad.

The way the salmon button down blended perfectly with the dark pressed jeans he was wearing. The way his hair was styled in a devil-may-care fashion that looked professional yet gave the appearance of being able to jump in the convertible and take a drive up the coast. The ridiculously expensive sunglasses he hooked into the top button of his shirt, the equally ridiculously expensive watch he glanced at right before he took his leave from them.

The way that, for one brief moment, his dark eyes looked at her like they used to so long ago before they were quickly shuttered into a gaze that was bland and professional.

Almost the same look she gave to her co-workers on a daily basis.

A knock on her office door pulled her out of her thoughts. Her assistant had poked her head in.

"Hey Rhonda, Greg from merchandising wants to know when the Marbanzo line is supposed to come in. Apparently, we have people asking already."

She looked at her computer and pulled up a program. "Delivery is two weeks from tomorrow, however, we don't roll out the new line until three days later. We have to clear the space and place the line."

"So, I'll tell him in about three weeks, then."

"That would be it. Oh and…" She pulled up another program and looked at it. "Ask Greg when he wants the fall line of Zyra out of the stores. It's September and the winter line needs to be in already. We're wasting money on stuff that's already past it's sell by date."

"Got it."

"And Meghan?"

She poked her head back in.

"I'm taking the rest of the day off. If anyone needs me they can get me on my cell."

"Gotcha. Have a nice afternoon."

Shutting down her computer, she grabbed her purse and jacket. She wasn't going to get anymore work finished today anyway, might as well do something about it.

Her heels clicked across the floor as she left her office and headed towards the elevator. First home to change and then to the dry cleaners. Rhonda Wellington-Lloyd was never one to moon over a guy, no matter who he was. The best way to get over this was to face it head on.

In his line of work, he dealt with petulant actors, over-demanding studio execs, bloodthirsty lawyers and diva producers. He was used to working with over demanding and crabby people on an hourly basis, it's what he was good at, it was his specialty.

But his mother was driving him crazy.

He wasn't sure if it was because it was his mother or if the Gumblethorpe's just knew how to find that one little chink in the armor and dig in until they drove each other nuts.

"But I'm bored with talk shows and soap operas." Aggie whined trying to get comfortable on the couch. "There's nothing on, and you won't get me any more fig newtons."

"Are you kidding?" Tad exclaimed, almost losing his patience. He was so close. "You have an entire shelf full of nothing but DVD's you haven't watched yet, there are two full websites with nothing but movies and television shows spanning almost seventy years' worth of entertainment. And you've gone through three packages of fig newtons in a week, so no, I'm not buying you any more until next week."

The doorbell rang.

"If you were a good son you'd buy me some." His mother reasoned, her hand's resting primly on her lap. "Your father would."

"I'm about ready to make Dad come up here and I'll work out the remainder of the shop's hours open because you are driving me bonkers."

The doorbell rang again and Tad groaned. He walked towards the front door.

"You're over-exaggerating. I am an angel. And I'll happily work for your father, if you'd let me off this damn couch."

"Woman!" Tad threatened. "You can't even make it to the bathroom without pain. I am not letting you anywhere near stairs."

He grabbed the door handle, giving the door a hard yank as he finished yelling at his mother.

"What?" he snarled at the person at the door and froze, color draining from his face.

Rhonda stood at the entryway, the surprise on her face freezing her motions.

"Is this a bad time?"

He schooled his features quickly, smiling casually. "I wasn't expecting company."

"I spoke with your father and he said you were upstairs." She explained, an eyebrow raising.

"Tad, who is it?" his mother called from the living room. "And more importantly, do they have fig newtons?"

Tad's carefully schooled face crumpled. Rhonda hid an amused grin as he twisted to look back into the living room.

"No! Nobody has fig newtons for you. You're on detox. And don't even think about calling Hel for any because she's already been forewarned."

"Why are you being so mean to me? And who's at the door?"

"Nobody for you so don't worry about it."

"I'm telling your father you're being horrible to me."

He twisted back. "Sorry. My mother's still on bed rest and bored stiff. Her new hobby is seeing how long it takes to make me lose my mind."

"What's her record so far?"

He grinned. "Three hours, twenty-three minutes."

"She's losing her touch."

"To be fair, I haven't been back home in about four years either. There's only so much practice one gets while talking on the phone. Now, what can I do for you Ms. Wellington-Lloyd. Or should I say Mrs. Montague?"

"Your mother comes by it honestly," she retorted. "I was wondering if I could speak with you for a moment."

"Of course. You can even have several moments. God knows I could use a break from her."

On cue, Aggie's voice echoed into the open doorway. "Is that a female voice I hear? Are you bringing girls over to the house Thaddeus?"

"Oh, she thinks she's funny." He muttered. "Excuse me for a moment."

Leaving the door open he walked back into the living room.

"Are you leaving me for a younger model?" The wail was melodramatic. "I see, now that I'm broken you want to move on!"

Rhonda couldn't hold back a snicker.

"Mother, I will be back in five minutes. Do not, I repeat, do not leave this couch for any reason. If I come back and find you not here, I swear I will chain you to the chair tomorrow."

"What if I have to go to the bathroom?"

"It's five minutes' woman!"

She was still giggling when he walked out into the hallway, shutting the door behind him.

"Sure, laugh at my pain."

"I thought that's why you got into showbiz," she said, the smile still on her face.

"Ha, ha. I'd offer you a seat but that would involve either the kitchen or the back balcony, both of which would involve going back through the house and dealing with my mom."

"I'm fine, thank you." She clasp her hands in front of her because a Wellington-Lloyd did not fidget. "I don't want to take up too much of your time. I just wanted to thank you."

He leaned against the wall, arms crossed against his chest. An eyebrow rose questioningly.

"For Veronica. Since her trip, she'd been a different person. If I'd known it would take a trip to LA to pull her out of her shell, I would've gone years ago." She smiled cautiously. "Although I suspect it's less the trip to LA and more who she met there. Anne and Allen have been more than nice to her."

The eyebrow rose higher. "She still talks to them? Huh, she must have left a mark." He gave a shrug. "Ronnie is a great kid. And Anne and Allen are great kids too, if not a little private. That might be why they all get along."

"Ronnie has always been a quiet child. She's more at home in books than in the mall."

His mouth twitched to a half grin. "That must've been frustrating for you."

"Not at all. I've changed also since high school. More so since Ronnie's been born. My work life is my work life and my home life is completely different. Different responsibilities meant I had to grow up." She smiled mischievously. "I am completely different from Brooke nowadays."

To his credit, he didn't even flinch. "You were always completely different from Brooke."

"Brooke was much nicer for one."

Tad sighed heavily and pushed himself from the wall. "I'm going to give you the same line I gave Arnold. All characters on Ever After are not in any way resembling any persons living or dead. Any resemblance therefore is completely coincidental."

Rhonda laughed, waving a hand at him. "Please, I'm not going to sue. But I also know enough of the double speak to know when you're feeding me a line Thaddeus Gumblethorpe."

"I prefer to call it protecting my investment."

She studied him, still smiling. "It's really good to see you Taddy."

The eyebrow went up again, followed by an amused smirk. "You know you're the only one who's ever been allowed to call me that."

"I know." She opened her purse and pulled out a card. "Here."

He took the embossed card and glanced at it before looking back up at her. "Have your people call my people?"

"No. That's my personal cell number. I'd like to talk again before you leave. Maybe over coffee?"

Tad slapped a hand against his chest. "Why Mrs. Montague, are you asking me out on a coffee date?"

"Let's say…reunion." She turned and started walking towards the stairs. "After that…who knows. And Tad?"

"Yes?"

She winked. "It's Wellington-Lloyd."

Tad watched her walk down the stairs, not moving until he heard the downstairs entrance door close. He wasn't sure when the tables got turned on him or when he'd lost control of the complete conversation.

And…was she…did she just flirt with him?

He looked back down at the embellished vellum business card and saw she was right. The card had Rhonda Wellington-Lloyd on it, followed by the company she worked for and her work number. On the back was her cell number written in her handwriting. Which meant she had planned to give this to him. Or it was for someone else at one time and she still had it in her purse.

Tucking the small card into his back pocket, he opened the door to his childhood home and stepped back in.

The television was still on and his mother was sound asleep on the couch, exhausted from spending the afternoon tormenting him. Either that or she subconsciously knew that he now had someone new to torment him. He tucked the throw blanket over her legs and walked towards the back patio, opening the patio door and stepping out onto it. The afternoon was warm, with a heavy air that hinted that there might be rain in the near future. Pulling his phone from his pocket, he dialed a number. After two rings, Helga answered.

"What's up?"

"I screwed up."

"What did you screw up?"

He rubbed his forehead. "Rhonda came over. To my parent's house. She gave me her cell number." He sighed. "Help. I think I've completely lost control of this situation."

"I'm in over my head."

"Hello to you too."

I'm serious Arnold, I've lost control of this situation. I have no idea what to do."

"First, have we moved past starting a conversation with 'Hello' in this society?"

"Arnold!"

"Second, and I don't mean this in any way to be rude, but why are you calling me about your personal dealings all of a sudden? You are the most private person I know. It took you three years and a bottle of wine to tell me about your divorce. And that's only after Lila finally left me."

"Because I no longer have close friends I can call about boy problems anymore and since you are currently in a relationship with the best friend of my current boy problem, that makes you the friend that I call when I've made bad decisions by proxy."

Arnold chuckled on the other end of her phone. "Fair enough. What bad decision did you make?"

Rhonda went silent as she drove down the road towards her house. Calling Arnold was almost an automatic response once she got into her car. She needed to talk to someone and she was dialing his number before she even realized what she was doing. He was right, as a rule she was very private with her life. And as far as she knew, outside her parents, Arnold was the only person who knew the entire story of her divorce to Dashiell. Her entire life after her ex-husband had been carefully plotted out and planned, no room for alterations. And Thaddeus Gumblethorpe coming back into her life was a huge alteration.

"Rhonda?" She'd been silent long enough to make him wonder if after her rapid explanation of why she was calling, she'd just given up and hung up the phone.

"Sorry. I gave my cell number to Tad."

"You…gave your number to Tad." He repeated dryly.

"I might have flirted a bit too."

Arnold laughed, but it was humorless.

"Rhonda, we make quite a pair."

"Ugh!" she yelled in the safety of her car, her windows rolled up so nobody else could hear her breakdown. "Arnold! What am I doing? Why do I revert back to the Rhonda from high school around him? I have a plan in life. Why does he make me want to forget my plan?"

This time the laugh was full of mirth. "Whoa, you just gave him your number and flirted a bit. You're allowed to flirt Rhonda, you aren't dead. And it's not like you're planning to marry him and move to California."

"I suggested coffee."

"Is the coffee following dinner?"

"No!" She pulled into her driveway and put the car in parks, and promptly dropped her head onto the steering wheel. "What am I doing?"

"It sounds like you just asked a man out to coffee. Congratulations."

"Arnold…" she growled, her head still on the steering wheel. He laughed again.

"Rhonda, quit overthinking it. Tad was one of your good friends a long time ago. You're just having coffee with an old friend and you're catching up, that's all."

"Like you and Helga?"

Arnold sighed on the other end. "Helga and I…we have always been complicated. She was my best friend but it always ran deeper than that. We've just reached the inevitable conclusion of our story." He was silent for a moment. "Unless you're telling me there was more to you and Tad's friendship?"

"No. I don't think so. I mean, Tad was a person I knew I could trust and granted he grew into his looks during high school. And now…"

"Okay, I don't need to hear about how cute Tad is."

"I may have…thought about it once or twice in high school." She admitted. "But, I never would have entertained the notion any further."

"So, my suggestion is go to coffee. Talk about old times, laugh, flirt, have fun. Chances are you'll both leave that meeting remembering each other fondly and that'll be it. But," He added teasingly. "If there does end up being something else, he's here for a month. Get it out of your system and move on."

Rhonda laughed straightening in her seat. "You know what the funny part of that is? If I still talked to Nadine, I have a suspicion that she would say the exact thing to me."

"I loathe French 4." Daphne muttered darkly, going over the notes scattered on her bed again. On the floor, leaning against the bed, Ronnie was working on her Calculus homework.

"You volunteered to take that," Isabella stated matter of factly. "I, however, did not agree to take AP World History."

Alyssa turned around in the desk chair in Daphne's room, spinning slowly and ignoring the Math book on the desk.

"So how weird is it to have the producer of our favorite television show in your kitchen making dinner with your Dad?" she asked.

"I expected her to look different." Isabella said.
Ronnie looked up at her. "What did you expect her to look like?"

Isabella shrugged. "I don't know. Just not that, I guess."

"How weird is it that they went to school here?" Alyssa asked.

"She knows your Mom and Uncle," Daphne said.
"I know. It's weird," Alyssa insisted and gasped. "What if, Ever After was based on our parent's lives?"

"Don't be silly." Isabella insisted. "They can't do that. First off, my parents would know. Second, isn't that against the law or something?"

"It depends," Ronnie said, going back to her homework. "It could be liable or slander, but then someone would have to prove that it's all false and bad. And I'm sure there's some sort of copyright laws or something regarding using real life situations in television shows. Movies have to have the based on true events disclaimer."

Daphne had frozen on her bed, staring at her friends in horror. Alyssa spun around in the chair once again.

"I guess. Plus, that would be really weird. And I don't know if our parents know as many people that were in the cast of Ever After. I'm not sure half those other people existed."

"Your Dad seems happy." Isabella said, changing the subject. Daphne relaxed.

"Yeah, he is. Which is why I don't say anything. Even if it is a little awkward to see my Dad acting like a teenager when Hel's around, I'm not going to be the one to begrudge his happiness."

"I think it's sweet." Ronnie said. "I wish my Mom could find someone like that to make her happy."

"Isn't the reason Hel's here because her co-producer's mom broke her hip? What about him?" Alyssa asked. Isabella shook her head.

"I'd think he's too busy taking care of his mom to romance Ronnie's mom."

"I doubt he's going to take the time to meet up with my mom to even begin a romance. They didn't seem like they were really friends in high school when I saw him at the grocery store. And I'm more positive that my Mom isn't going to take time out to meet up with a guy who's only going to be here a month even if it is Tad."

Daphne laughed weekly. "Yeah, that's silly."

AN: Thank you all for your kind reviews. I know some of the flashbacks earlier never really show the group in the best light but honestly, are any of us the people we were in high school? I love writing Aggie. My headcanon is Aggie is the reason Tad is the way he is. They interact so well. :) Enjoy the chapter and please continue to review. I love your comments.