Chris zipped around the house like the roadrunner from Looney Tunes, working to flatten the remainder of empty moving boxes so he could transfer them to his recycle bin and roll everything out to the curb. There had been a point in time when he was convinced he would never fully unpack, but he had done it, working with nothing except raw determination. Being on good terms with Stephanie did that to him. They had spent so long at odds that whenever he had her reeled in, even if only a little, he felt like he was capable of any task in the world. With one final sweep of the second floor, Chris jogged back down the stairs and closed the gate at the bottom, which he had put in at Stephanie's request.

It would only be a matter of time before Penelope started walking, and they didn't need her showing herself up the stairs without help, so he heeded Stephanie's advice. The place was about as babyproofed as he could possibly get it, but no amount of safety equipment could take the place of buckling down and watching his daughter like a hawk. Whenever she was in his care, that was precisely what he intended to do. With four days until they would be due at mediation, Chris had invited Stephanie over to his place so they could attempt to work out the details of what was to become their custody agreement.

He saw the potential for their situation to get both messy and complicated, because Stephanie was planning on returning to work soon, and Chris would eventually have to end his hiatus with Fozzy and the WWE. The most important part of agreeing on shared time with their daughter was to be realistic about it, because as much as both Chris and Stephanie liked to believe they could always be there physically for their daughter, there would be times when neither one of them could. Perhaps that was the danger in having unplanned children. They hadn't given themselves time to be practical and think about how custody should be divided between them, but, then again, Chris had always assumed they would still be a couple if they had a child.

Slowly, he was coming around to the idea that Stephanie might never fall into his arms again. He wasn't okay with that by any means, but he was working to adjust, because he couldn't kidnap Stephanie and force her back to him. He had to sit back, be patient, and hope that she missed him someday, or else he would pick himself up and search for Mrs. Right later on. After straightening the pillows on the couch, Chris jogged over to the massive window in his living room and checked the driveway, finding it empty, save for his own new vehicle. He had purchased a white Volvo XC90 — not exactly the coolest mode of transportation, but it had a crazily high safety rating.

A part of him would have loved to pick out a sporty convertible, but Chris was planning on driving Penelope around town regularly, and he had to pick with her in mind, because that's what a loving father did. He hadn't shown the vehicle off to anyone yet, and the temporary tags were still attached, but he hoped it would help Stephanie see that he was adjusting to life as a responsible father. It was different, but rewarding in ways he could never have imagined. Penelope was the first thought on his mind when he woke and the last thought he had before drifting to sleep at night. That little girl was his world, and he was so thankful she had been born, even despite all the drama and heartache.

In the kitchen, Chris opened the refrigerator and took out a silver platter holding sliced cheeses, summer sausage, and hard salami. In the center was a pile of crackers, and a small bowl beside that housed carrot and celery sticks. Two small cups of ranch dressing filled out the platter, and Chris brought it to the coffee table, placing it down. He went back to the kitchen for a bottle of sparkling cider, and just as he lowered it to the table, Stephanie pulled into his driveway.

Chris dusted his hands off on his jeans and rushed out the door, coming up on the side of the driver door as Stephanie shifted the car into park. Her windows were pretty heavily tinted, but he thought he noticed a wave from behind the glass, so he waved back, showing himself to the back passenger door. The second he opened it and came into full view, Penelope boasted a slobbery grin, reaching out for him. Chris rubbed her cheek, cooing like a fool. "Hi, baby! Daddy missed you so stinkin' much. Do you have any idea how much I love you? Any idea? Huh?"

Penelope answered with a soft burp, which Stephanie cackled at, finding it hilarious. Her laughter reminded Chris she was standing behind him, and he worked a little quicker to get Penelope out of her seat, shutting the door as he went. When he turned around, Stephanie stood watching him, like she didn't know what type of greeting was appropriate. Should they hug, or shake hands, or not do anything at all? Chris settled for kissing her cheek, smiling as he pulled back and led the girls inside.

"Nice car," Stephanie called out from behind him, stopping to enjoy the view. She cupped her hands around her eyes and peered into the windows as best she could, since they were tinted as well, although not to the same degree as hers. "These are supposed to be really safe to drive."

"Yeah."

"I know," she stated, turning to him. "I almost bought one of these. I mean, not this exact model, but I was looking into Volvos after I got pregnant because I've always heard so many good things about them. It's really thoughtful that you would pick something like this for Penelope, because I know it's not normally your kind of car."

"Yeah, but she's worth it," Chris said, bouncing Penelope lightly and kissing her temple. Speaking against her skin, he added, "Nothing but the best for my little Pen-Pen. She deserves the absolute best all the time."

"I couldn't agree more."

Stephanie cast one final glance at his new SUV and flipped her hair over her shoulder, following Chris up to the front door. He pushed it open and allowed her to enter first. As she passed, he said, "If you want to see the inside of the Volvo, just remind me before you leave, and I'll give you the keys. You seemed kind of curious, so..."

"I'd actually really like to see it up close and personal, so I'll take you up on that offer," she replied. As he locked the front door, Stephanie went straight to the sofa and her eyes lit like fireworks when she noticed the display. Peeking up cautiously at Chris, she asked, "Can I take some crackers and cheese?"

"Of course you can," he laughed. "You guys were the whole reason I put them out. Did Pen get a bottle before you left home? I'd love to feed her if she didn't."

"Oh, no, she's good. I gave her one before we left, and she even got in a little nap."

"That's awesome," Chris said.

He took a seat beside Stephanie and gave the bulk of his attention to Penelope, engaging her in playful speech, nuzzling her nose, covering her in kisses, and gazing lovingly at her. Penelope was easier to love than anyone he had ever known, and she warmed his heart in ways he hadn't previously thought possible. Stephanie downed the cheese and crackers that had been in her hand and started in on the vegetables, crunching down on a carrot stick, sans ranch dressing. She felt eyes on her, and when she looked up, Chris was watching.

Instantly, her cheeks swarmed with warmth and she slowed her chewing, wanting to sink right into the cracks between the sofa cushions. Here she was, over at Chris's place to discuss their next set of moves regarding Penelope, but instead, she went straight to shoveling food down her throat. Never mind that she hadn't found time to feed herself at all that morning, because she had spent her hours cleaning the house while Penelope napped. By the time Stephanie had fed her for lunch and placed her down for a second nap, she'd had to get herself showered and ready to go.

She had to leave by a certain time, because if she hit the freeway at the wrong moment, she would be stuck in standstill traffic, and with an infant in the backseat, she knew that wouldn't go over well. As a result, she had gone to Chris's house hungry, but he seemed to recognize that and take pity on her, at least in some form. Patting her back, he asked, "What have you eaten today?"

Swallowing the bit of carrot still hidden in her mouth, Stephanie answered sheepishly, "Um, only crackers, cheese, and carrots just now."

"Stephanie," Chris said, speaking her name with a slightly scolding tone, "you have to take care of yourself. I know your main focus is taking care of Penelope, but you have to take care of Penelope's mom, too. You can't just not eat anything. Let me go whip you up something in the kitchen."

"No, no," she said, pointing to the platter he had set out. "I'm fine with this stuff."

"No, you're not. I put that stuff out as a light snack, not a substitute for breakfast and lunch. What do you want to eat? I went shopping again since the last time you were here, so I have tons more groceries, including the French Vanilla creamer you like in your coffee. I could make a fresh pot of coffee and get you some food to go with it."

"I couldn't ask you to do that."

"But you're not asking. I'm offering," Chris noted, tipping his head as he stared her down. "You have to eat, so make this easy on both of us and tell me what you want."

"Whatever's quick and easy."

"Like what?"

"I don't know," she giggled. Stephanie ran her hand over her forehead and stared at the ceiling for a moment in thought. "How about, um, something greasy and unhealthy? This is my last cheat week before I have to get back on a strict diet, so I'm enjoying myself."

"In that case, I can make you like a burger, or a tuna melt, or maybe a grilled ham and cheese. I've even got some chicken here, so I could do something with that. Whatever you want, but you get to pick, because I don't think you're heard enough. I spent so much time thinking about myself that I didn't think about you like I should have, and I want to change that. You tell me whatever you want, and I'll have it ready as fast as I can."

Voice catching in her throat, Stephanie brought her hand to her chest and waited for it to return. Struggling not to become emotional, she looked him in the eye and said, "Thank you, Chris. I mean, really, thank you for finally hearing me. It feels good when you're on my side."

"I'm always gonna be on your side and Penelope's side. Despite all the arguments and the drama, I think it goes without saying that I love you girls more than anyone. You know that, Stephanie. Even when you and I weren't getting along, my feelings never changed."

"I know," she said. Stephanie opened her mouth and shut it again, turning her words over in her mind a little longer before she next spoke. "Whenever I bring Penelope to you, or when you come to my place to see her, I sense a change in her. I can tell how much she loves you. She just lights up immediately and starts reaching for your face and wanting to pat your cheeks, and I honestly feel good about knowing that when I can't be with her, you'll be with her instead. You're a really good father, and I don't know if I've ever taken the time to really sit you down and tell you that before, but you do an incredible job with her."

"That means a ton to me. I'm so glad you see that in me."

Stephanie tried to answer, but her stomach interrupted, rumbling loudly enough to make her and Chris laugh. She patted her belly and glanced up at him. "How about a bacon cheeseburger with fries?"

Grinning, Chris nodded. "I'll make ya the best damn burger you've ever had in your life. Here, take Pen-Pen for me."

Chris went right to work, thankful he had kept a package of ground beef down in the refrigerator so he didn't have to wait for it to thaw. While the pan heated on the stove aisle, Chris pulled back the plastic covering on the beef and grabbed a hunk, forming a round patty in his hands. He placed the meat down and washed his hands, grabbing seasonings from the cupboard and sprinkling them on. The second he dropped the beef patty into the awaiting pan, it sizzled and popped, and he followed that by pulling a smaller pan out of a cabinet for the bacon.

Once the bacon was cooking and he had flipped the burger, Chris grabbed a bag of waffle fries from the freezer and spread them out in a pan. He allowed the oven to preheat a few moments before popping them in. The food on the stovetop finished cooking before the fries came out, so Chris grabbed all the condiments necessary to complete the meal, since he still remembered everything Stephanie liked. She wasn't crazy about onions, but she loved tomato slices, and she preferred mayonnaise and ketchup to mustard. She also liked her pickles on the side instead of directly on the burger, so Chris found a jar of pickle spears and plucked two out, adding them to her plate.

Just as he was pulling the fries out, Stephanie wandered into the kitchen without Penelope. Chris raised his brows, as if to ask where she was, and Stephanie read his expression. "She's a sleepy girl today, I guess. I was playing Peek-A-Boo with her and she started nodding off, so I brought her upstairs to your bed and lined it with pillows on both sides so she can't roll off. I didn't want to leave her on the couch because it's way smaller and seems like more of a falling hazard than your big ol' bed."

"Yeah, that's perfect. You did the right thing," Chris said, inviting her to the dining room table with a simple sweep of his hand.

Stephanie tucked her hair behind her ears and nodded, strolling over to an empty seat. She looked more confident, sure of herself, like the Stephanie he remembered. It was only then Chris realized what an impact his behavior had been having on her self-esteem. In the short time that they had been getting along and bonding again, Stephanie had started oozing confidence from her pores, and now that Chris was aware he held that type of power with her, he never wanted to do anything to screw up again.

Realistically, he was only human, so he would have his less than stellar moments, but he made a commitment from within to consider Stephanie and her feelings before he said or did anything in the future. With her bacon cheeseburger and fries complete, Chris carried the plate over and slid it across the table to her. "Enjoy. What can I get you to drink?"

"Oh, holy greasy burger!" Stephanie exclaimed, even going so far as to pull a hair tie off her wrist and slick her hair back into a ponytail. Watching her prepare herself to chow down on his food brought a smile to Chris's face, and he wished so much, right then, that he could pull her into his arms and kiss her. But he couldn't, and he knew that. "This looks amazing. Thank you so much."

"I'm happy to do it." Since his previous question had gone ignored, Chris tried again. "Do you want to just have water or did you want something else? I've got juice, tea, flavored water, and a little bit of soda, but I don't usually drink much of that."

"What kind of soda?" she muttered, speaking around a large bite. She snatched a clean napkin from the holder on the table and wiped at the grease starting to dribble down her chin. Then, she gave Chris a thumbs up while pointing to the burger, which he returned with one of his own.

"Glad you like it," he said. Turning his back to her and bending over the open refrigerator, Chris relayed, "I've got Coke, Sprite, and A&W Root Beer. I also have some Sparkling Ice Lemonade, if that's your sort of thing."

"Oh, like the flavored water stuff?"

"That's the stuff," Chris confirmed.

"Can I have the lemonade, please?"

"You got it."

Chris slid the drink in front of her, and she uncapped the bottle right away and took a healthy swig. As she dabbed at her mouth with the napkin and went right back to her burger, Chris was overtaken by such immense sadness. She was hungry and exhausted, all of which was clear as day, but he hadn't ever taken notice, because he was too busy fighting with her instead of sitting her down and demanding that they work as a team. He couldn't begin to imagine how lonely Stephanie must have been for all that time, having to battle with him, then go home and care for Penelope all on her own while still trying to concentrate on herself.

His heart sat heavy in his chest, and all Chris wanted to do was round the table, pull Stephanie into his lap, and hold her. If he could have instantly served up the entire world to her on a platter instead of that cheeseburger, he would have gladly done that instead. It didn't matter that he and Stephanie hadn't been an item for months, or that they might never be again. He felt it his duty to check on her, to make sure she was safe and okay, and he decided then and there he would call every day to make sure she was eating well and getting enough sleep. Chris would step up wherever he could.

With his hand rolled into a fist, Chris knocked his knuckles lightly against the table, which grabbed Stephanie's attention. He cleared his throat. "I want to start a new little routine with us, Steph. Whenever I see you, or if we talk on the phone or whatever, at some point in the conversation, I'll ask how you are. I'm always so consumed with Penelope and myself that I never really check on you. All I ask in return is that you answer as honestly as possible so that we can always be on the same page from now on. So...how's Stephanie?"

Wiping at her mouth with her fingertips, she swallowed the bite she was working on and said, "Stephanie's enjoying stuffing her face with this delicious, awesomely greasy burger."

Chris smiled at that, but he drummed out another soft beat with his fingers. "That's good to hear, but what if I want you to answer the question seriously instead of making a joke out of it? Then what?" Her mouth was open, poised for another bite of beef, but she sighed and placed the burger down, licking her lips as she stared absently at her plate. For a split second, her shoulders hunched over, but she must have regained her bearings, because she sat straight up again, still avoiding Chris's intense gaze. Since she made no move to speak, Chris gave her a nudge forward by repeating, "How's Stephanie?"

"Chris," she started, rubbing her hands together, "I don't know if this is such a good idea."

"You can do this. Speak from your heart," he urged. Then, one final time, he said, "How's Stephanie?"

She propped her elbows on the table and placed her face in her hands, shaking her head slowly. Chris gave her the time she needed, which turned out to only be about half a minute. Answering in the third person, most likely because of the wording with which Chris had used to pose the question, she replied, "Stephanie is...stressed. Um, this is so awkward," she whispered, starting again. "Stephanie is scared and worried because of the mediation that's coming up."

"Hey, can you look at me when you talk?"

"No, sorry. It's too weird talking about myself like this," she said. He smiled as she continued to cover her face. Leave it to Stephanie to make a serious talk amusing in some fashion or another. "Stephanie is feeling better that she's on good terms with you, but she's also feeling paranoid, like maybe she's being led into a trap and has to be careful of being tricked."

"Steph, I'm not tricking you."

"How do I know that?" she questioned, finally dropping her hands. Terror gripped her eyes, making them wide and unbridled. "You fought with me this whole time, but now you're deciding to be nice and I'm just supposed to think nothing is up? Mediation is right around the corner, and with the timing of you being super nice to me, it just seems like you're trying to get me close enough that you can pull the rug out from under me."

Forming an O with his mouth, Chris sat in shock for only a short moment before snapping himself out of it. "You honestly think I could do something like that to you? Do you really think so lowly of me that you believe I would lure you to me, give you a false sense of security, and then try to get Penelope away from you?"

Shaking her head, she sniffled and plucked a French fry from her plate. Dipping it in ketchup, she bit off half before saying, "I don't really know what you're capable of anymore. I just don't know."

White hot anger built behind Chris's eyes and flashed before him. This was the point when he would typically lash out at Stephanie, telling her all the reasons why she was wrong about him. He would say some harsh words, she would say some right back, and before he knew it, she would be rushing angrily out the door with Penelope. Closing his eyes, Chris steadied his breathing and revamped his thoughts. If he wanted to be genuine friends with Stephanie again, he couldn't fight against her. He had to see the world through her eyes and relate to her from that angle.

When he met her gaze, she was watching him like a hawk. Her posture had changed once more, her chest puffed out almost defensively, like she was gearing up for the fight of her life. It made Chris sad to think he had reduced her to that, had turned her into this broken woman who always felt like she had to argue her case to the death whenever she was around him. For once, he needed to be there for her and address her concerns, instead of talking down to her for being wired differently than him. Scooting back in his seat, Chris rounded the table, Stephanie glaring at him the entire way as he caught her wrists and pulled her up.

She opened her mouth to argue her point before he could go in on her, but Chris grabbed her chin in his right hand, holding her face steady. Before she could react, he took over. "Every single time I see you and Penelope together, I'm amazed. I don't know if I've ever seen a mother who loves her daughter the way you do, other than maybe the way Linda loves you. You know, Pen-Pen is still so young, and it would seem like you shouldn't be able to tell yet how she feels about the people around her, but I see the love in her eyes every time she's sitting in your lap, or looking over at you, or reaching out for you."

"She's all I have," Stephanie said, tearing up.

Chris nodded, letting her know he was hearing her. "And you're all she has, too. I mean, not all she has, because she's got tons of other family, but you know what I'm getting at. It's a very special relationship between a mother and a daughter, and what you guys have together is what I will work every day to have with her. God, I hope one day I have half the bond with her that you do. Seeing you two together is beautiful, and if you think for one second my goal is to tear that apart and get her away from you, then I need to do a better job of showing you my true intentions. That is the last thing I want for you guys."

Although her tears had retracted, Chris could still make out the heaviness in Stephanie's eyes as she watched him. "But then, why do you want this so badly? This mediation? If you don't want her away from me, why can't I just have her? You can visit her like you already do."

"I understand that, but do you think it's fair to me if I scope out places online to take her, then get told by you that I'm not allowed to take her out anywhere?" Chris asked. Stephanie bit the corner of her bottom lip and looked down at his chest, shaking her head. "Because that's what it felt like to me. I had this place I wanted to take her, it was this father and daughter class for babies, which, yeah, it's sorta cheesy, but being a daddy has softened me up a bit." He earned a giggle from Stephanie for that. "I had these plans to bring her, and you said I couldn't take her with me. It hurt, Steph. It hurt real bad."

"I don't want to hurt you. I wasn't trying to."

"I know, but, jeez, what are we doing to each other?" Chris asked, tone thick with desperation. He was grasping both of her cheeks now, piercing her eyes with his unwavering gaze. "We loved each other enough to create this beautiful baby, and now we're just tearing each other down. And for what? I don't want to do this anymore. I just can't do it, and I don't think you can, either."

"I can't. I..." Stephanie cleared out a shaky breath. Now was confession time. "I miss you so much sometimes. I just wish things could be normal again and if I have a good day, or even a really bad day, that I could pick up the phone to call and tell you about it. I miss the closeness we had and just, like, I miss being best friends and telling each other everything. I don't have anybody to talk to anymore, and it kills me inside."

"I can be your friend," Chris whispered, hugging her to his chest. "I can be your friend again."

"I'm just so overwhelmed," she admitted, holding him snugly around the waist. "I don't want to go to mediation. Find a way to get us out of it."

"Steph, I promise you there's nothing to be scared of. I'll make sure we can agree on a schedule before we even get there. Can you just try to trust me and believe what I say? Because I miss our friendship just as much as you miss it, and I want it back today. I want it all back."

"Please make sure nothing goes wrong."

"Nothing's gonna go wrong," he whispered in her ear. "I won't let it."

After a slight pause, she whispered back to him. "I believe you."