A/N: I wasn't planning on updating today. But, I got a message from someone awesome, and it inspired me to get out at a chapter before work. So here it is! This chapter is dedicated to for being the one who inspired me to write so soon. Thank you! :) And enjoy - Sam

May The Best Man Win

It felt alien to be with Micheal again. He held me tightly and I barely hugged him back. He kissed me and I felt...nothing. This truth scared me and I hardly said a word to him.

"Angela, my love, is everything alright?" Micheal asked, concerned.

I smiled weakly. "Just caught me off guard I guess...a lot's been going on. I'm going to get dressed, okay?"

Micheal smirked and he gently tugged my bathrobe. "Or you can finish getting undressed..." He kissed my neck, but it didn't have it's usual effect. No, things were definitely different. And I didn't want to allow myself to look into why.

I pulled back. "Not now." I told him. "Erik will be home soon."

He looked at me incredulously, a mixture of anger and confusion on his face. "Who's Erik?"

Oh. Right. Didn't tell him yet. "A police officer working on my sister's case because he knew her and doesn't think it was a car accident. He was her brother in law."

Micheal relaxed a bit, the anger mostly gone. "Okay. So he's been visiting to reopen your sisters case?"

"No." I said, seeing no point in avoiding the truth. "He came originally to do that, not knowing I had Lexi. Then his house burned down and we were all he really had. So he's been living here, and will continue to do so, until he gets back on his feet." I turned to head upstairs to get changed when he grabbed my arm and pulled me back.

"When were you going to tell me this?" Micheal snapped. "You had plenty of chances!"

"I wanted to explain in person." I said calmly before ripping my arm out of his grasp. "Erik is a character and better to explain in person than on the phone. Plus, you don't exactly call a lot, now do you?"

He glowered at me. "I'm working."

"Are you?" I asked, with eyes narrowed. "Because you never even tell me what you're doing for work."

We stood at odds until the door opened. Micheal looked, but I didn't, I knew it was Erik. Awful timing too since Erik already decided he didn't like Micheal...unless he was just making jokes for the sake of making jokes...which he very well could be...

"Hey shnookums!" Erik greeted loudly. "...and friend?"

Micheal glared. "Boyfriend. And you're the uncle. So that means you and Angela are pretty much like brother and sister right?"

Erik smirked. "Brother and sister hillbilly's maybe." He's implying incest. Leave it to Erik!

"Shut up, both of you. Erik is Lexi's father's brother, not mine. Thank God for that, he's annoying, and I can't imagine growing up with him. And Erik, this is Micheal, my boyfriend, he's back from his business trip." I said, getting the introductions out of the way. "I'm going to get dre-"

"So no sleeping in the same bed anymore, eh? Well unless Micheal is down for it, in which case, THREEEEESOME!"

I closed my eyes and took deep breaths. Don't kill him...don't do it...it's not worth it... "He's been sleeping in my bed?" Micheal asked, clearly and rightfully pissed.

"Yes but there's been pillows in between and it's only because I couldn't convince him to sleep on the cou-" I started.

"And I've been wearing your clothes too. Hope you don't mind, they might be a little stretched out because I'm more muscular than you." Erik interrupted. If I don't kill him, Micheal might with the look on his face.

"That's it, I want him out, Angela. We both live here, I have say too." Micheal said, facing me. "You can't just take in strange men and expect me to be okay with it. Especially ones that hit on you and go out of their way to be assholes!"

"You're right." I said, putting my hand on his arm gently. He softened a bit, took my hand and kissed the palm. "And we can talk about this, we don't need to make rash decisions..." I continued, letting him touch me, falling back into sync.

"Are you kidding me? Well, lovebirds, while you decide to talk about me, I'm going to go out. I'll be back later to learn my fate I guess." Erik said before storming out, completely uncalled for. I didn't go after him because I had a lot of talking to do.

"Get dressed and I'll make coffee so we can talk about this guy. My vote, as of now, is he needs to go. Unless you have a good reason as to why he should stay, it'll stay that way." Micheal informed me before kissing me.

I kissed him back, wanting my calm and reasonable Micheal to come so I can be cool and rational Angela again. "Okay, I'll be back in a moment." I went upstairs and changed into jeans and a t-shirt. I sat down at the kitchen table, Micheal handed me my coffee. I took a sip and made a face.

"What? You always have your coffee like that." Micheal commented before sipping his. He's right, usually just cream or half and half.

I reached for the sugar bowl. "I know, but recently I've been adding sugar. Developed a bit of a sweet tooth I guess."

"Ah. So a lot has changed, huh?"

I nodded, added the sugar and sipped mine, then sighed with contentment. "Yes. Lexi is my neice and I've grown so fond of her, Micheal. But I never would have had that chance if it wasn't for Erik. She wouldn't talk...or even eat." Of course, it's because she's a vampire. But he doesn't need to know that. "Then she got him back in her life and she started changing a bit, being more receptive. Now we're family. And he's family too. He's important to her, so therefore he's important to us."

Micheal nodded slowly, taking in what I was saying. "So you want him to stay here how long?"

Hope rose in my chest, I think he's actually going to compromise. "Just until his house is rebuilt. They work on it five days a week. I know all the old part is taken down and it's framed. So it shouldn't be too much longer."

It was silent for a moment. Micheal looked at me, lovingly, and nodded again. "He can stay...under certain conditions of course."

I smiled gratefully. "Thank you. It's understandable that there would be conditions."

"He pays the electric bill and pitches in with groceries and chores, we don't charge him rent during his stay. He stays only until he can live in his house, then he can visit with Lexi. And he sleeps on the couch, not our room." All perfectly reasonable and fair.

"Sounds good to me." I said, leaning in and kissing him softly. After the agreement, I helped him unpack and do some laundry. Then we watched a movie together on the couch, his arm lazily around me, and it felt okay. There were no sparks or deep emotion, just comfortableness. I didn't look much further in it than that, though. There was no reason too. Everything was the way it should be.

It was midnight and Erik wasn't home yet. I had no idea where he went, but maybe he was staying with a friend. Micheal and I got ready for bed. "You know, you might even like Erik. He goes out of his way to be an ass, yes, but he's still a good guy."

Micheal smiled. "Maybe."

That's when the door slammed open downstairs and a drunk Erik started shouting all sorts of insults towards Micheal, derogatory words towards me and wanting to fuck the girl he brought home in the kitchen. Micheal sent the girl home and I got Erik on the couch when he passed out.

Man, was I pissed. And maybe even a bit hurt.

*Erik's POV*

I woke up and my head was pounding. I remembered everything that happened. Seeing Micheal kiss Angela's hand, her touching him softly in a way she never has and now I know never will touch me, and it making me so angry. I remember going to the bar, bringing home that girl just to hurt her as bad as she hurt me. It didn't work, because I passed out, and now thinking about it that was stupid and immature.

I rubbed my head and could smell breakfast cooking. It was eleven in the morning, I was late for work at this point, so why not be a little more late.

I got up and went to the kitchen, Micheal was reading the paper and Angela was cooking. "Oh look who's up." She said, her voice cold.

"Yeah...sorry about last night...I-"

Angela turned on me, her eyes full of emotion. "Save it. I don't know what got into you, Erik, but that was stupid. I convinced Micheal to let you stay, we were going to tell you that but you came home so beligerantly drunk we never had the chance. Now, seeing you like that, he might not even want you to live her. And if that's the case, I won't fight for you to stay again." She fought to keep me here?

She cares, idiot. "I'm sorry, Angela." I said softly, meaning it.

"Yeah? Then apologize to Micheal too." It was a test. Could I say sorry to him even though I'm not? For her? Play her game and hope to win?

I looked at Micheal. "I'm sorry." I said as sincerely as I could pull off. Yes, I could play, and it'd be for her heart. This meant a lot to me, more than any conquest ever did...and I don't really know why...oh fuck that yes I do.

I'm falling for this girl.

Micheal looked up at me. "I'm still standing by the agreement I made with Angela. You can pay the electric bill, pitch in with groceries and chores, and sleep on the couch until your house is rebuilt. Then you can come back to visit Lexi."

Hm. That's reasonable. "Thank you." I said, not trusting it.

Angela looked pleased. "See? We can all get along. Not so hard." She sighed happily. "I'm going to call the camp and check on Lexi. I'll be back." She said, taking the phone and leaving the kitchen.

"So, thanks again for-" I started.

"Please, Erik." Micheal said, an arrogance taking over I never dreamed he'd have. He picked up the paper and looked at it. "I kept you here to watch you. Because you get to watch me be with my girlfriend, every single day. You get to watch us be happy together," He glanced up at me, smirking, "Knowing you're not me. You don't get to be with the girl you're falling for. I do."

"So you want to parade her around like some sort of accesory?" I asked, getting pretty pissed.

"No." He put the paper down. "I love her. I have her. And I'm not going to let you dig your little paws into her anymore. You know what they say, keep your friends close but your enemies closer. And yes, you and I are enemies. Don't for a moment think that we're anything but." He said, threatening.

I got close, intimidating him. "I've just been being her friend, pal." Yes, pal was just to piss him off after his little enemy rant. "But if that's what we're doing? Fine. Game on. I'll win her over quicker than you think."

Micheal leaned back. "We'll see." He went back to reading.

Yes, we will, may the best man win.

A/N: Thanks for reading! PLEEEAASE review! - Sam