I'm back from my vacation, had a lovely time, but glad to be back to my story. Can't believe the summer is going by so quickly.

Chapter Twenty-One:

It had been exactly 6 months 4 hours and 5 minutes since the union of The Piemaker and the girl he loved. Life was happy in the Pie Hole (as well as the Intrepid Cow). Ned and Chuck settled in to their new house. Maggie and Maurice moved into their old apartment and were expecting the baby in about a 2 months. Vivian and Nathan were happy together, and much to the dismay of Lily showed no signs of breaking up.

Ned and Chuck stood in the kitchen of the Pie Hole baking Cherry Cup Pies.

Chuck looked up at Ned and smiled, "It's already our 6 month anniversary today doesn't time fly."

The Piemaker smiled and put his hand on top of hers," Pretty soon we'll be old people." His thoughts drifted to their short honey moon in Cancun, the hotel might have been horrible, but they had a great time. He glanced over at Lily who was sitting at a table enjoying Pie and vodka reading some book.

"Lily has been hanging around here a lot," Ned said.

"She's trying to evade Vivian and Nathan," Chuck sighed. "I wish she would be happier."

"She's Lily," Ned said.

"That doesn't mean she can't be happy," Chuck paused. "She's just stubborn."

"Why too stubborn," Emerson, who was sitting at the counter, grumbled.

"Oh yeah I forgot to tell you," Chuck suddenly smiled. "Were invited to the Intrepid Cow for a complementary dinner."

"You have celebrated your week, and every month anniversary like that," Emerson said. "You are only spouse to celebrate year ones! Well," Emerson said finishing off his pie. "I gotta go work on a case."

"What case?" Ned asked.

"I just gotta go," Emerson said walking away.

"Bye," Chuck said as she glanced at her watch. "Oh crap! I told Olive a hour ago we'd be their in an hour."

"Lily can you help Maggie close up shop," Ned said. Maggie refused to take any time off even though she kept complaining about being tired all the time. "Oh and if you could drop Blueberry off at our house." Blueberry was tied up in the kitchen, unlike Digby she was not calm enough to be lose in a restaurant full of people, at least not yet.

"Why not, see you tomorrow,"Lily turned to Maggie. "I can close up by myself if you want."

"Sure," smiled Maggie grabbing a dirty plate and walking slowly to the kitchen.

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"I thought you guys weren't coming!" cried a cow print clad Olive Snook.

"We wouldn't ditch you Olive," said Chuck hugging her.

"Here I got a seat for ya over here!" Olive smiled leading them to a table for two with a candle on it. "You should try the mac and cheese pie." Ned stared at her, "It's a lot better then it sounds I promise."

"Maybe," said the Piemaker who wasn't about to try a pie with macaroni in it.

"We should get it," Chuck said getting down.

"Remember I'm a traditional Pie guy."

"But the cup pies were non-traditional and they're great."

"Ah..."

"We're getting it."

Exactly 1 hour and 49 minutes they lay cuddling on their couch with Blueberry sitting on Chucks lap watching old movies when the door bell rang. Ned walked up and opened the door to see a pale woozy looking Lily.

"It's Vivian," she whispered. "I can't find her."