Author's Notes: For any readers that might have noticed where I'm from, I just want to let you know that, yes, I'm alright. I wasn't near any of the things that went down, neither were any of my family or friends. It's unreal, though. I can't even begin to imagine how all those families must feel. But I'm proud of the people here are handling it. We're determined not to let this horrible tragedy change what we stand for.

With that said, I just want to extend my gratitute to my beta, Mediatorsk. And for everyone else I just want to say; enjoy and let me know what you think :)

Violet frowns in surprise when she finds Pete on the other side of her door, "I thought you were hanging with the guys tonight…"

Pete gently pecks her cheek, "I said I was going for a drink or two, not that I was gonna be gone all night…" he holds up a paper bag, "I also figured you might be hungry…"

"Take-out again?" Violet chuckles.

"Once in a while is still alright," he gently reminds her.

Violet accepts the bag and heads into the living room as Pete removes his shoes and jacket.

"Oh, by the way, I found out who Cooper's mystery girlfriend is…" Pete calls out.

Violet gawps, "How is it my best friend told you before me?"

Pete shakes his head, "He didn't…" he says cryptically, "She was at the bar and Cooper ended up going home with her…"

He plops down on the couch next to her and Violet looks at him in anticipation, "Okay, so are you going to tell me anytime soon?"

Pete grins as he grabs one of the containers, "So, here we all are at the bar, trying to help Sam get back into the dating game…" He stabs a piece of meat with his fork, bringing it to his mouth, "Sam pretty much reveals he has no game whatsoever, and both Cooper and I taunt him a bit… so Sam decides to challenge Cooper to put his money where his mouth is so to speak and points out this blonde across the bar… just as Cooper proclaims it to be 'too easy' the blonde turns around and lo and behold… it's Charlotte King…"

Violet chuckles, "Okay, not that it's not a funny story, but could you maybe speed up to the part where Cooper leaves with the mystery girlfriend? Cause I already know he's not leaving with Charlotte…"

Pete doesn't say anything, simply gives her a smug grin as he takes another forkful from of his container.

"No way," Violet shakes her head, "He did not go home with Charlotte King…"

"He downed his drink, headed over and within just one minute he had her following him out the front door…" Pete shrugs and leans back in his seat.

The door barely closes behind her before Violet exclaims; "Charlotte King!"

Cooper's expression is one of guilty admittance, "I know I should've told you… I wanted to; you just haven't been very… approachable lately…"

Of course Cooper believes that's what she's being upset about… okay, so maybe the surprise factors in a little bit, but… "You've been giving me nothing but grief about me and Pete, and the whole time you've been sleeping with Cruella…?"

Cooper winces, "Don't call her that…"

"I'm just trying to understand, Coop… when did you stop hating her?"

"I don't know," he shrugs, "I don't know if I have… I mean she's mean and rude and… bossy, but God help me, I like her, Violet. I really like her, almost like kind of… love her. And I'm freaking out, because now everyone knows and they're asking me about her and I don't have you to lean on, which I know is partly my own fault…" he sighs, "I'm sorry, Vi, I know I probably should've been more understanding about Pete given the whole me and Charlotte thing… I guess I just freaked out…"

Violet sighs and takes a seat. It's hard to stay mad at him with the way the man apologizes. "Okay," she nods, accepting the apology, but she leaves it to him to carry on the conversation.

Cooper eyes her carefully before asking; "So how are things between you and Pete?"

"Complicated," Violet gives an involuntary chuckle.

"I'm in love with a woman I hate," Cooper points out, "I think I've got you beat…"

Violet shakes her head, "Unless the next thing that comes out of your mouth is that she's pregnant, I don't think so…"

"You're pregnant?" This makes Cooper sit up straight and frown, "You serious?"

"Going on ten weeks now…" Violet spots the disbelief in his eyes, "I know… I didn't expect it to be that far, either, I only did the test like two weeks ago…"

"What does Pete think?" the pediatrician frowns, "I mean… you have told him, right?"

"He's onboard…" Violet shrugs and leans back in her seat.

Cooper cocks his brows, "As in…?"

"He wants to move in," she explains. Given their most recent interactions, Violet halfway expects Cooper to have another freak-out about it all, possibly another 'I told you so' moment.

He ends up surprising her; "And what do you want?" he calmly asks.

"I don't know," she sighs, "On one hand it's Pete, you know… I mean, how can I even contemplate a future with him given everything I've seen these past eight years…? How naïve wouldn't it be to think it could change with me…?"

She looks to him to give her an answer; in a way she's expecting him to talk her out of it, like tell her it's too soon or that she's right to worry about Pete, but surprisingly all Cooper does is slightly raise his brows.

"Do you have feelings for him?" he finally asks.

Just the question alone sends shivers down her spine. The therapist in her recognizes that arguing against Pete only proves to confirm there's more going there on than just scratching an itch, but… "I don't know what of it is just… hormones… and what's real," she quietly admits. That's the problem. The pregnancy having progressed as far as it has, it blurs what feelings might have developed naturally and what is simply a physiological response.

Cooper nods pensively, but doesn't say anything. Normally the man would at least offer some sort of opinion on her situation, but today he's being uncharacteristically quiet.

"Is that it?" Violet asks, frustrated, "You're not going to say anything? I'm pouring my heart out here, Coop…"

"But are you really?" Cooper asks, "Because to me it seems like you're more debating with yourself than talking to me… Now me, I poured my heart out about Charlotte… which you haven't said a word about, by the way…"

"What do you want me to say?" Violet sighs, "You say she's mean and you hate her, but then you say you love her as well… I don't know what to say about that… I mean, she's Charlotte King, Cooper…"

"Love is irrational," Cooper shrugs and gives her a small smile, earning himself a smile in return, "What about you, do you love Pete?"

Violet hesitates, she's almost afraid of answering, "I… ah… I don't know," she shrugs, "He's… Pete…" she sighs. To Cooper that statement doesn't really say much; if anything, it has a slight negative connotation considering the man's dating history. To her on the other hand, it says everything; he's Pete… he puts a smile on her face, sends shivers down her spine, makes her feel like everything is gonna be alright… which scares her all the same… "I guess I'm afraid…" she admits.

"Of…?"

"Getting too close…" Violet shrugs.

"You're having a baby with the guy," Cooper gives her a pointed look, "I think we can safely say you've surpassed that…"

"Getting too close emotionally," she clarifies, "Getting burned…"

"That isn't really in your control, Vi," Cooper points out, "You can choose to keep him at an arm's length, but that won't make any feelings you have for him go away…"

Violet frowns, "Wait, are you saying I should go for it?"

"I'm saying that your feelings will be there regardless of what you do. I mean, I could dump Charlotte tomorrow… sometimes I just wanna dump her ass and walk away. But that wouldn't make the feelings I already have for her go away… And whatever you may feel for Pete… telling him 'no' isn't going to change any of it. It's good that you're guarded, Vi, but if you think that's going to keep you from getting hurt, then I'm just afraid you could be in for a rude awakening…"

Violet slumps backwards in her seat and lets out a sigh in frustration. Rather than solving her dilemma, Cooper seems to only have muddled her thoughts even further. Sensing her distress, Cooper leans forward and grabs her hand.

"Let your heart decide, Vi…" he strokes her hand soothingly, "Maybe you and Pete could work, or maybe it's a disaster waiting to happen… I don't know. And maybe I am signing myself up for nothing but heartache and misery by letting this thing with Charlotte continue, but with the way I feel about her I just need to try… see if it could actually become something… more… Maybe that's what you need to do with Pete… see where it leads…"