AN: Sorry, it's a bit shorter than usual.


Will and Emma were snuggled together on Will's couch, as close as possible. Emma was practically on top of Will; their legs were tangled up together and their arms were around each other.

It was a couple weeks since they had told Jacob, and Emma had come over for dinner that night. Jacob was becoming much more used to the fact that his dad and his teacher were in love, and their dinner together was enjoyable and delicious. Will was an excellent cook, Emma found out. Now, Jacob was fast asleep in bed.

"So... you must have had a million boyfriends before... right?" Will murmured into her ear.

"Not really..." Emma laughed. "I mean, I've had a couple serious relationships, but I've never been engaged."

"Why?"

"I don't know..." she shrugged. Afraid of commitment? Haven't found the right person? She really didn't know the answer.

"The last boyfriend I had... turned out to be a jerk." Emma sighed, and Will could tell it was hard for her to talk about. He listened to her, his sincere brown eyes urging her on.

"He, um... he cheated on me. After almost a year of dating."

"Ugh, Em, I'm sorry. What a jerk."

"It's okay," she shook her head and smiled. "I'm much better off now."

Will smiled and gave her a soft peck on the lips.

"So what about you?" Emma said, tired of talking about herself. "Whatever happened to Jacob's mom?"

"Oh. Um..." The question was a curveball for Will. You have to tell her, man. He told himself. All right, this is it. Here goes. "Emma, there's actually something I need to tell you."

She tilted her head questioningly and looked into his eyes. Will paused and took a deep breath.

"Dad?"

Will turned around to see Jacob standing in the hallway in his pajamas.

"What's up, bud?"

"I can't sleep." Jacob was rubbing his eyes and yawning. Will looked at Emma apologetically before getting up off the couch and going over to where Jacob was standing.

"Come on, let's go to bed. I'll bring you some warm milk in a few minutes, okay?" Will turned Jacob around and gently pushed him toward his bedroom.

"Okay..."

Will went back to the living room where Emma was waiting for him on the couch.

"Would you care to accompany me to the kitchen while I warm up some milk?" Will said, smiling as he motioned toward the kitchen.

"Of course, sire," Emma said, giggling. They went into the cozy kitchen and Will stuck his head in the fridge, pulling out a carton of milk. He poured some in a saucepan and turned on the stove.

"You know, if you just put it in the microwave it would be a lot quicker," Emma commented, not even trying to hide the fact that she was teasing him. Will smiled and rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

"Jacob likes it better when it's heated on the stove. When I use the microwave, the temperature of the milk isn't consistent throughout the cup," he explained. "When I use the stove, it's perfectly warm all the way through. That way, he can sleep better."

It made no sense, yet it made perfect sense. Emma stepped closer to Will and kissed him unexpectedly on the nose. He smiled.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Nothing," she smiled. "You're just a really good dad."

They looked at each other happily for a moment, then Emma broke the silence, remembering a conversation they had started earlier.

"So what did you need to tell me? When we got interrupted by Jacob?" she said curiously.

"Oh, uh... I don't remember. It was probably nothing, anyways."

"You sure?"

He nodded and turned back to the stove, turning off the heat and pouring the milk out of the saucepan and into a small blue mug.


"Okay, guys, it's time for your journal writing! You have 20 minutes to write about your favorite restaurant in your journal. Ready, go!"

It was Monday morning, and Emma was beginning a normal day of teaching. As her students scribbled onto their papers furiously, Emma walked slowly up and down their desks.

"Good, Elise. Nice job, Ben. Good work, Madison." She strolled around the students' desks, praising the ones who were working exceptionally hard. She stopped at Jacob's desk and smiled when she saw his wrinkled, word-filled paper.

"Jacob, do you want to read yours to the class?"

He smiled up at her. "Sure."

Emma tried very hard to give equal treatment to all of her students, especially Jacob, considering that situation. But it was admittedly difficult. Jacob was such a smart, well-behaved boy, and he was one of Emma's favorites even before she met Will. As he read out loud about how much he loved Breadstix, Emma listened with a tender smile, impressed by his writing style and vocabulary.

The rest of the morning passed without distinction, and when the bell rang for recess, Jacob started to run outside with the rest of the kids, but Emma stopped him.

"Wait a minute, Jacob." He turned around and walked back into the classroom.

"What's up, Miss P?"

"I really liked your journal write today. Your writing has really improved."

"Thanks," he looked at the ground shyly.

"So you like Breadstix?" He nodded enthusiastically. "Maybe we can go there sometime with your dad."

"That would be fun," Jacob agreed with a smile. She smiled back at him, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair affectionately.

"Okay, go play. I don't want to keep you from your recess."

He happily obliged and ran outside to join his friends as Emma looked on fondly.


Breadstix tonight? You, me, and Jacob - 6:00?

Will reread the text Emma had sent him earlier that day, double-checking to make sure he had gotten the time right. He looked at his watch again - 6:15. Where was she?

He was sitting in a cozy booth at Breadstix with Jacob next to him, his legs dangling under the table. Jacob was looking down at his lap, playing on Will's iPhone.

"When Emma gets here, no more video games, okay Jake?" Will said to his son.

"Kay, dad." Jacob replied, keeping his eyes on the tiny screen.

"Sorry I'm late!" Emma, slightly out of breath, slid quickly into the booth opposite Will and Jacob. Both boys immediately smiled at her entrance.

"Hi Em," Will grinned. "Don't worry about it, we were just about to order." Just then, the waiter appeared at their table.

"And here's the pretty girl we've been waiting on!" he announced smoothly. Will cleared his throat loudly and Emma blushed, giving an awkward laugh.

"Can I take your dinner orders?" The waiter apparently did not notice his customers' reactions. They ordered dinner, Will got Fettuccine Alfredo, Jacob got spaghetti and meatballs, and Emma ordered mushroom ravioli.

When the waiter hustled away to place their order, the three of them talked easily. Emma made sure to include Jacob in the conversation, asking him about his soccer team and his new friends. When she asked him how he liked Ohio, he turned thoughtful.

"Well... I miss California, but I like Ohio. Everyone's nice. I like it," he said, nodding.

Just then, Will looked toward the door and spotted Terri walking into the restaurant. He made a strangled sound and immediately put his hand over his eyes, covering as much of his face as he could.

"Will? What's wrong?"

"Uh... nothing. It's just... it's really bright in here don't you think?" He put his sunglasses on and prayed Terri wouldn't see him. To his dismay, she noticed him right away and with a sly smile, began approaching his table.

"Well look who we have here," Terri said when she reached their table. "Will sexy Schuester!" Her voice was slurred and she smelled strongly of vodka.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Emma said in a confused voice as she looked from Will to Jacob to the intoxicated blonde woman standing at the edge of their table. Both Will and Jacob were white in the face, they both looked shocked and somewhat embarrassed.

"Oh I'm sorry!" Terri's voice was overly sappy. "I'm Terri Schuester, Will's wife." Her voice raised ten times in volume at the last word, and she raised her eyebrows at Emma. Will immediately stood up and grabbed Terri's shoulders.

"Terri, what are you doing here...?" he hissed, looking nervously over at Emma, whose face was just as white as his was five seconds ago.

"Will...?" Emma's voice was soft and he could tell she was trying hard to keep it steady.

"Emma, I can explain-"

"But you're not denying it. You're married." It was a statement, not a question, and she put her hand over her mouth as she absorbed the shock.

"Emma, let me-"

"Wait, who is this, Will?" Will was interrupted again, but by Terri this time. "A mistress? Are you cheating on me, Will?" Her voice was far from hurt or angry, rather it was happily surprised and somewhat triumphant. She leaned down and addressed Emma.

"Will called me a few days ago, begging me to come to Ohio. Probably missed me too much. Missed the sex." She cackled. Only then did she seem to notice Jacob. "Oh hi honey. Ready to go home?" Jacob looked scared to the point of tears, and he shook his head quickly.

"Will, what the hell?" Emma said quietly. She gathered her things and stood up to leave, her eyes glazed with tears.

"Terri, enough!" Will roared. "We are not together anymore! You can't just come into my life and say these things!" Terri took a step back, her sharp blue eyes seeming a little shocked at Will's outburst.

"Fine..." Her voice was quieter. Then she turned again toward Emma, who was about to walk out. "Just be careful he doesn't hit you like he did to me."

Emma's mouth hung slightly open, and she looked at Will in shock, shaking her head. Before Will or Terri could say another word, Emma had turned on her heel and ran out of the restaurant.

"Emma, wait!" Will called out desperately, to no avail. "Thanks a lot, Terri," he said harshly. He grabbed his jacket from the booth and gave an angry look to the malicious blonde woman.

"I will get that divorce," he said coldly. "Come on Jacob. Our dinner is ruined." Jacob scrambled out of the booth and stood behind his dad. With his hand on Jacob's shoulder, Will guided his son out of the restaurant and towards home, willing himself not to break down and cry in front of his kid.