Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews, as always I appreciate them. Summer's here! WAHOO, and as I have no job (its a recession, Mother, not my fault NO ONE is hiring summer employees!) you all will be subject to many updates. Also, there are new and improved character bios up. I streamlined the process so rather than those lengthy paragraphs that were there before you get a few quick sentences. And theres a very quick, very subtle Gossip Girl in-joke with Amy...since in my head she's played by Blake Lively.

Disclaimer: I own nothing

Chapter 25:Cranky

Tammy giggled as she rolled over on her bed and kissed Steve.

"Don't go home," he said, "I won't either, we'll just stay here." She laughed and kissed him.

"I have to," she said. "I promised, but it's only five days, and then I'll be back." They kissed again. "I have to get to the airport Steve!" He kissed her.

"If you miss your flight you can't go," he shrugged.

"Tom will get me another flight," she said. "He's good like that."

"What are you in such a rush to get home to?" He asked. "I'm not in Minnesota." She laughed.

"Noo," she sighed, "but my mom is, and Tommy, and Jimmy will be, and Rick and Cassie, and,"

"Alright, fine, you made your point," he said. "Speaking of Jimmy." She sighed. "Are you going to tell him?"

"I haven't decided yet," she shrugged. They kissed and she pulled close. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I'll miss you too," he said. They kissed.

"Tammy," Kelly walked in. "Come on, we'll miss our plane."

"Hi Kelly," Steve said.

"I'd rather pretend you're not here." Kelly said with a too sweet smile.

"Be nice," Tammy frowned and kissed him. "I'll see you next week?"

"See you," he sighed standing up. They kissed again.

"God, come on!" Kelly groaned. Tammy glared at her and picked up her bag.

"You're just jealous," Tammy said.

"Hardly," Kelly snorted. "And don't get distracted. You have meetings with department stores about the spring line."

"I know Kelly," Tammy rolled her eyes.

"I'm just saying if we get into a department store the brand will break through," Kelly said, "and that won't be bad for your little art career either."

"You've been crabbier lately," Tammy said. "What's going on?"

"Nothing, I just need to get home," Kelly sighed, "OK?"

"OK," Tammy nodded. "So let's go then."

"You're sure it's OK?" Jaime asked sitting on the couch. Julie looked at her. "Because Julie, if you don't want him here…"

"Where else is he supposed to go?" Julie sighed, "it's fine, and Amy couldn't get back up to Portland either so it's the perfect set up."

"You're being a very good sport," Jaime said. Julie sighed and sat down, her head on her shoulder. "When did Jimmy go?"

"A few hours ago," Julie sighed, "I hate being the girl whose life revolves around her boyfriend you know?"

"Sweetheart," Jaime said, "your lives revolve around each other, it's a two way street. You're not that girl." Julie nodded.

"Hey," Josh walked in, "I got the stuff," Julie stood up and bounced off to the kitchen.

"You didn't!" Julie shouted, she walked back out. He frowned at her. "You didn't get sweet potatoes."

"I got regular potatoes," he frowned. Julie sighed and grabbed her keys.

"I need both," she said, "I'll be back later." Josh laughed and sat down.

"Are you at least on my side?" He looked at Jaime.

"She gave you a list," Jaime shook her head. They both laughed and she started coughing.

"Oh baby," he sighed and rubbed her back gently.

"I'm OK," she whispered. "It's just a cold, the doctor said I was fine, don't tell Julie, she'll just worry."

"She's right to," he said. She looked at him. "You know how much you mean to her, that's all I'm saying." She kissed him softly.

"I love you," she said. "But you both need to relax. I'm done with chemo now, I just have to heal."

"Yeah," he smiled, "about that," he sighed, "now that you're done with chemo, there's something I want to talk to you about."

"Oh my God!" She sat up and crossed her legs. "Did you get that job, the one in LA? I knew you could, you've always had the best instincts, you'll be a great agent. I'm so proud of you."

"I did get the job, and I'll take it if that's what you want," he said. She smiled. "But that's not what this is about exactly. I love you," he said, "so much and, I want to be with you forever." He reached into his pocket and pulled out the ring he'd been carrying around for almost a month.

"Oh Josh, no," she said reflexively. He stopped and looked at her. "I mean, I don't mean, no, no, I just mean, not right now."

"Because?" He asked.

"Because, you know how I'm a little superstitious?" She sighed. He nodded. "OK, so, when Cal proposed," he sighed, "I was wearing sweats and had just thrown up for two hours, it was for a very different reason I'll grant you, but still, and I mean, look how that turned out."

"So you want me to wait?" He said. She nodded. "But when I do, decide to,"

"I fully intend on saying on yes," she smiled. "But, just, not now, not like this, it's a jinx."

"You are completely out of your mind," he shook his head and kissed her. "I guess I better peel the apples to make things up to Julie."

"Yes," she kissed him. "Do that." He laughed and stood up.

"Um, hi," Amy walked in. They looked at her. "You must be Jaime and Josh? I'm Amy, thank you so much for having me. I brought a pumpkin, Julie said she wanted to use fresh for the pie or something."

"Hi Amy," Jaime smiled. "It's really nice to meet you."

Tammy walked into her room and plopped on her bed. So much had changed since she was last here, curled in a ball crying.

"Hi sweetheart," Ana said walking in.

"Hey Mom!" Tammy hugged her. "I missed you so much."

"I missed you too," she said. "I spoke to your father." She sighed, "I'm glad you're going over there tomorrow."

"I'm not eating with them," she said, "but Tommy's right, we owe our brother something."

"I think you'll find it harder to get Tommy to do things than you expected," Ana grimaced. Tammy looked at her. "A lot's changed since you were last here."

"I know," she said, "I sort of wanted to,"

"I'm home," Tommy shouted glumly and walked into his room.

"He sounds suicidal!" Tammy said. Ana nodded. "I'll go talk to him."

"Thank you," Ana said, "I'm so glad you're home." Tammy smiled and stood up and walked into Tommy's room.

"Hey there," she said.

"Hey," he sat up on the bed and promptly fell back down.

"I half expected to find you here listening to The Cure and cutting yourself," she said. He snorted humorlessly. "What's going on little brother?" She lay down next to him.

"Mom didn't tell you?" He asked. She shook her head. "Angie cheated on me."

"Oh Tommy," she hugged him.

"It gets worse," he said. She cocked her head. "With Nick." Tammy shuddered, hearing the name. "I'm sorry."

"It's OK, this is your problem not mine." She whispered and hugged him. "It'll get better Tommy."

"I love her," he said. "I just wish it was enough."

"Tammy," they both stopped hearing Tom call. "You have a visitor."

"Weird," Tammy said. "I didn't hear from anyone." Tommy shrugged, "are you going to be OK?" He nodded and she bounced out. "I have news too but it's much happier."

"Kelly already warned me about your new boyfriend," He mumbled, "it's weird that you're dating Julie's ex." She rolled her eyes and walked downstairs freezing halfway down.

"Hi," she said breathlessly.

"Hey Duncan," Fulton smiled. She ran down and hugged him. She hadn't expected to be so happy to see him. "How's it going?"

"I'm OK," she said. "Do you want to go for a walk?" He nodded. They walked out for a while, not saying anything. "How's school?"

"Good," he nodded, "I declared a criminal justice major."

"You're going to be a cop?" She asked.

"FBI hopefully," he said. She nodded. They'd talked about that. "But I could live with being a cop." They both sighed and stopped. "So are we going to talk about the most obvious thing or not?" He looked at her and she sighed.

"What happened with Tanya?" She said. "Are you two um,"

"We're together," he nodded. "It's been good, we just kinda fit." She nodded.

"How'd Portman take it?" She asked. "I mean, you're his best friend and Tanya's his ex." Fulton nodded. "Did he like totally freak out?"

"Why do you care how Portman reacted?" He said confused. "You two have never been that close." She looked away. "Oh my God! Holy shit Tam!"

"What?" She said quietly.

"You're sleeping with Steve Callins aren't you?" He asked. She sighed. "You haven't told Julie either, obviously."

"You'll make a great cop Fult," she rolled her eyes. He laughed. "I like him, a lot, I might even love him I don't know. I just feel incredibly guilty every time I'm with him." Fulton looked at her. "I don't want to hurt Julie."

"So float a test balloon," Fulton tried.

"We did," Tammy said.

"With Jimmy?" Fulton said. Tammy looked at him.

"With Kelly," Tammy said. "She flipped."

"Try Jimmy," he said, "he's not a psychopath." Tammy laughed. "But to answer your original question he still thinks we're half kidding." She nodded.

"Eva look who's here?" Rick said carrying the baby into Kelly's room. "It's your stupid Aunt Kelly!"

"Cute," Kelly said taking the little girl. "Oof," she said. "You're getting big baby girl."

"Kelly pretty," Eva cooed and stroked her aunt's cheek. "Pretty like Mommy." Kelly laughed.

"So did you just come to insult me and show off your brilliant and beautiful daughter or what?" Kelly asked.

"I talked to him," he shrugged, "I just wanted to make sure you were OK."

"I'm fine," she said. "We're just roommates now, it's perfectly fine." Rick nodded. "What exactly did he tell you?"

"Oh something along the lines of there was some awkwardness in the sexual tension department and then it went away," Rick shrugged, "I didn't want to pry further, because you know ew." She laughed.

"We just kissed," she said, "mostly me. It was stupid. He has this new girlfriend and I got jealous."

"Amber," Rick nodded. "She's cool, we met this summer."

"You're my brother," she said. "You're supposed to be on my side!"

"I am on your side," he sighed.

"Like hell you are," she mumbled. He laughed. "So Cassie tells me you don't want to be a lawyer anymore?"

"You're my sister," he said, "you're supposed to be on my side." She giggled and bounced Eva on the bed. The baby screamed in glee.

Guy walked downstairs in the townhouse and stuck his finger in a pot of gravy that Connie was stirring.

"Tastes good," he nodded. "Needs more salt though."

"You don't get to sample," Connie shook her head, "this is for misplaced east coast Duck Thanksgiving."

"Yeah," Charlie said from the table, "not for people who are taking the obviously better invitation to meet their new girlfriend's super rich parents. God Guy, what is wrong with you?" Guy laughed and sat down and started breaking green beans with him.

"It's weird that we're not all going to be together on Thanksgiving," Connie whispered. The other two nodded. "You and Gabrielle should come for desert, though," she said unenthusiastically.

"Say it a few more times," Guy said, "it'll get easier." Charlie shot him a warning glare.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Connie turned around.

"I just don't understand why you don't like her," Guy said.

"It's not that I don't like her," Connie said her voice going up about an octave.

"Thank you man," Charlie mumbled, "really, I super appreciate this."

"So then what is it?" Guy asked calmly. Connie looked at him, her mouth open looking for words. "Connie?"

"I-I-," she sighed and stomped her foot. "That's incredibly unfair." She marched off and Guy started laughing. Charlie looked at him.

"Oh what?" Guy sighed.

"I'm gonna have to deal with that all day tomorrow," Charlie shook his head.

"You married her," Guy shrugged, "that means you take the moodiness with that." Charlie laughed. "I shouldn't have pushed, I'm just sick of it."

"Gabrielle's great Guy," Charlie said. Guy nodded. "Really, and we're happy for you." They both cringed hearing an upstairs door slam. "Or me and Tammy are happy for you." Guy laughed.

Keep the reviews coming! Thanks a bunch and happy summer!