My apologies for the delay. Things seem to be getting back to normal again, though it sure seems like my family could use some good karma. I swear crap is never-ending lately. Anyway, thank goodness for the distraction of writing. As promised, this chapter is longer and includes more characters. Thank you for the reviews. :-)


"Have you proposed to Naomi yet?" Jack sat on the couch next to his brother. The house was quiet. Rachel was at work, Seth and Nina were at school, and Milo had just gone down for a nap.

"Not exactly," Shawn mumbled, suddenly finding his cup of coffee fascinating.

"Why the hell not? You've been walking around with that engagement ring for almost a year."

"I know that."

"I remember how excited you were when you bought it. You even bought it here because you were afraid if you got it in New York or Philadelphia Cory would somehow find out and ruin the surprise. Rachel doesn't even know. And I swear she was suspicious when we got home. It was like she could smell the days' worth of jewelry stores on me," he laughed. "Thank god I bought her those earrings to throw her off."

"Yeah."

"So," he punched his brother's arm, "why haven't you proposed? Don't tell me you're afraid she's going to say no. Shawn, Naomi loves you. There is no way she would turn you down."

"You think I don't know that," he responded, slightly agitated. Shawn got up and walked over to the large picture window that overlooked Jack and Rachel's neighborhood.

"Then what, you still love her, right?"

"Of course I do. I don't know what I would do without her."

Jack was confused. Shawn loved Naomi, knew she loved him back, and that she would say yes. What was the hold up? "So why..."

"Sometimes I feel like this is all too good to be true, you know? This shouldn't be my life. I'm not the one who's supposed to get the happily ever after like in one of Nina's fairytale books."

"Why not?"

"It's just the way the world works. Although lately," he shook his head, "the world seems to be off its axis."

"What do you mean?"

"Cory and Topanga- they're good people who are supposed to get the happily ever after, but look at them. I think they are one big fight away from one of them walking out. You and Rachel, you guys make sense. You are getting the happily ever after. You have the house, the dogs, the kids- you're there. Eric and Angela, two good people who also deserve to be happy, but who the hell would've thought they'd find that happiness with each other?"

"You are okay with them, right?"

"Would it matter if I wasn't," Shawn asked. "But seriously, 98% of the time, yes, I'm fine. The other 2% of the time I still think it's insane, but it's nothing I'm willing to screw up what I have for. Plus, they're having a kid. That's reason enough to hope they work out."

"That's very mature of you."

"I know," he scoffed, running a hand through his hair, "see, the universe is all messed up!"

"I still don't understand."

"See, the thing about the universe is...eventually it rights itself," Shawn explained. "Cory and Topanga will work things out and the other shoe will drop for me."

"Why? Why is that the way it has to be?"

"Because it's the way it has been my entire life. I've never been able to have everything all at once. I have a career, someone I love, and the other night I actually thought about what will happen when we buy a house upstate near her parents," he said in disbelief. "Oh, and a dog, Nomi and I both want a dog." He sat back down on the couch. "I've been able to skate by with having it all for a while now, but how long can that last?"

Jack decided to skip over Shawn's doom and gloom talk. Nothing good happened by allowing him to wallow in it. "Oh, you'd move upstate, not stay in the city or move back to Philadelphia?"

"No, she really misses her family and I can still commute to the city from White Plains, and...wait a minute, you're missing the big picture here."

"That all sounds great, Shawn, really, really great."

"Yes, it does. It's a shame it won't last."

He sighed. "Why won't it last? And I swear if you say the universe one more time I will hit you and I don't even care if I wake up the baby. Good things are happening for you Shawn. You've earned them. You worked hard so get over all the issues and crap you had to deal with growing up. Don't blow it now by thinking you don't deserve the good stuff. How long have you and Naomi been together?"

"About four years."

"Right, don't you think if you were going to do something to push her away that would've happened by now? She knows everything about you, good and bad, and loves you anyway and wants to be there for you."

"I know, but..."

"But nothing," Jack interrupted. "Do you know what you're doing every time you talk like that, every time you talk about the universe winning? You are validating every person who ever said, 'Oh, Shawn Hunter, trailer park boy? Write him off now because he's nothing. He'll never amount to anything.' You are letting them win."

"I'm not nothing," he pointed at his brother.

"I know that and I thought you did, too. But you seem to have forgotten lately. You deserve to be happy Shawn, no matter what you think." He heard Milo start to fuss on the baby monitor, but hoped he would soothe himself back to sleep like he has in the past. "You are still seeing your therapist, right?"

"Yeah," Shawn chuckled, "we had worked our way down to once every other week, but maybe I need to go back to once a week for a while."

"I don't think it would hurt." The baby's fussing had worked its way up to full blown crying. "I better go get him. Come with me. If he needs his diaper changed it will take the both of us."

"I'm not changing a diaper."

"No, you distract and I'll change the diaper."

"That's more like it." Shawn thought about something Jack had said earlier in their conversation. "Oh, Jack?"

"Yeah?"

"Trailer park boy?"

Jack shrugged. "So, I'm not good with the insults, sue me."

/

/

Trish looked up as her brother walked into the kitchen. "I'm planning a big grocery trip before I leave next week. If there is anything in particular that you want let me know. I know all of your favorites and I'm getting them, but look over the list and let me know if I miss anything."

Alvin rolled his eyes. "I'm perfectly capable of driving myself to the store and buying groceries."

"Forgive me for trying to make things easy on you. It's getting to be the hot time of year. You need to take it easy and I'm going to be away for a week. Who is going to look after you while I'm gone?"

He picked up the pad of paper and read over the list. "I know I need to eat healthy, but I think I should be allowed one or two luxuries when it comes to food. I'm putting Frosted Flakes on the list, the big box."

She noticed how he sidestepped her question. "I don't want her in my home, Alvin."

"What?"

"Joyce, that woman is not allowed in my home. I know you've ignored me in the past. I wish you would respect my wishes on who I do and do not want in my home."

"What makes you think that she's been here?"

"She hasn't changed her perfume in thirty years. It doesn't matter if she's out of here before I get home. It lingers in the house after she leaves."

"Oh."

"She has a hotel room, right? Go there."

"Actually, Joyce has an apartment now."

Trish dropped her pen. "What? She's moving here?"

"Yes. Given the uncertainty of my diagnosis she asked to be relocated to Las Vegas and it was granted."

She shook her head. "Unbelievable," Trish muttered under her breath.

"What?"

"Nothing, absolutely nothing. What would be the point of discussing it with you anyway? Your point of view will never change. You will never see how wrong you are."

"I didn't ask her to relocate. That was all her."

Trish got up from the table. "Fine. Then Joyce can take you to your doctor's appointments. She can make sure you take all your medications, make sure you get your exercise, and do your grocery shopping because I am done. Until you get your priorities in order I am finished doing things for you. You can move in with Joyce for all I care."

He followed her to the stairs. "Don't you think you are overreacting to Joyce moving to town?"

"This has absolutely nothing with her."

"It's about Angela?"

"I don't get it, Alvin, I really don't. She's your daughter! You know where she is. You have her number and yet you call her every couple weeks and have the most generic conversations I've ever heard. Call her and have a meaningful conversation. Visit her, ask her to visit you. Do something proactive before it's too late and you are both full of nothing but regrets." She was practically begging at this point.

"Is this your way of saying you're kicking me out?"

"I...no!" Trish let out a frustrated growl. "I would never kick you out. You're my brother and I love you, you moron. Not to mention mom and dad would haunt me for the rest of my life if I did." She took a deep breath. "You know, most people facing their own mortality take stock of their life, put their priorities in order and make peace with their loved ones. You...are doing the opposite of that. Frankly, I can't wait to have a vacation from you."

"You do need a vacation," he replied. "You need to relax. Maybe Indianapolis will do you some good."

Right, he believed she was going to visit her daughter and grandchildren in Indianapolis. Trish had to remember that. "Exactly," she rolled her eyes, "relaxation is my biggest concern at the moment." She turned away from her brother and began to walk up the stairs. "I'm going to bed.

"Bed? We haven't even eaten lunch."

"Well, then I'm taking a nap. This conversation has given me a migraine." Once in her room Trish collapsed on her bed and buried her head under a pillow. She was really growing to resent her brother- not because he was sick and she was taking care of him, she didn't mind that, but because of all the lies. Alvin had started this twisted cycle. Now he was lying to Angela about everything and keeping her at a distance. Angela in turn had become very protective about her own life, even going so far as not wanting to be alone with members of her own family when meeting for the first time in a few years. Trish felt stuck in the middle. At first she felt loyalty to her brother. That was why she had agreed to keep his illness a secret even though she knew in her gut it was the absolute wrong thing to do. However, the more she talked to Angela and the more bits and pieces of information she was able to pry from her niece about her life, the more Trish was convinced she needed to know the truth about everything. So that was what she planned to tell Angela when she arrived in Philadelphia. Everything.

Alvin would hate her for breaking her promise. Angela would probably despise her for keeping the secret in the first place. But at least all the cards would be on the table and everything would be out in the open. That was all Trish wanted. No more secrets.

/

/

"I told Eric I loved him."

"You what," Rachel shrieked into the phone. "Oh, my god, details now! I need details. How did he react? What did you say? What did he say? Did he say it back? I bet it was romantic afterwards."

"Rachel!" Angela practically had to shout to cut off her friend. "Take a breather. It wasn't exactly romantic. I said it over the phone, he's in Florida, remember?"

"Oh, yeah," she said, "that does ruin any 'I love you' celebrations."

"And anyway, I didn't even realize I said it at first."

"Huh? How does that work?"

"I know! Our first I love you and I say it in the middle of a random conversation while trying to calm Eric down and reassure him that Tadpole won't forget his voice while he's gone."

"Who's Tadpole? Isn't the cat named Thor? Did his name get changed again? Or is it a new cat, did you guys get a cat together?"

Angela laughed. "Tadpole is what we're calling the baby. It's all Eric's fault." She explained what happened at their first ultrasound appointment and Eric's reaction to seeing the image on the screen. "So, you see, Tadpole."

"Oh, well, that's kind of sweet. I like Tadpole."

"It does grow on you."

"Literally and figuratively," Rachel joked.

"Hey!"

"So, get to the I love you." She smiled as she listened to Angela tell the story. "That is romantic, Angela."

"Care to explain it to me, because I don't see how."

"If Eric had said it first, would you have believed him or would you have been wondering if he was saying it because of the baby?"

She was quiet for a moment. "I would've wanted to believe him, but I suppose part of me would always be questioning it."

"Exactly. And if you would've had time to think before you blurted it out, you would be doubting yourself for the same reasons, right?"

"How do you know me so well," Angela chuckled softly after another brief silence.

"I read the Angela handbook. This is covered in chapter 12. It's all about how to keep you from getting in your own way."

"There's a handbook? Could you give me a copy? It would save me so much trouble."

"I think it's good it happened the way it did. This way there is no questions, no doubts. You know you meant it."

"That's true."

"Did Eric say it back?"

"Yeah," she smiled, "he did."

"Good. Anyone who has spent any time around you two at all has seen it."

"Rach, you haven't seen us in months, since New Years'."

"So?"

"You could tell then?"

"I had a sneaking suspicion it would turn out this way. Granted the baby, err..Tadpole was a plot twist I hadn't anticipated, but yeah, anyone who's watched the way you guys act around each other could tell. You do believe Eric, right? You're not questioning that he loves you?"

"There's a tiny part of my brain I have to tell to shut up from time to time, but yes, I do believe him."

"If he didn't mean it, he wouldn't have said it."

"That's exactly what Eric said. What, do you have a handbook for him, too?" She laughed.

"No one needs a handbook for him. He is an open book."

"You'd be surprised," Angela mused. "There are a few things that you wouldn't expect to come from him, at least I didn't expect to when we knew each other back then."

Rachel looked at the time. "I have to go start the bedtime routines in a few minutes. I can't wait until Sunday."

"Sunday? I thought you were flying in on Saturday."

"That was the plan, but then my mom practically had a heart attack about missing Easter with the kids. I guess she put together Easter baskets and all that. So, the choices were delay the flight by a day or kill my mother. Don't worry, we'll be gone to New York by the time your aunt come in. I don't want to interfere with that."

Angela sighed. The closer it got to Aunt Trish's visit the more nervous she became. "I honestly wouldn't mind if you did."

"Why, what's wrong?"

"She...she doesn't exactly know that I'm pregnant. My dad doesn't either."

"What? Why?"

"It's complicated."

"Angela, that's a lot to spring on a person all at once."

"I know and I have no idea how she's going to react. I already told her I wouldn't meet with her at first unless Eric was there." She nervously rubbed her bump. "Aunt Trish could be completely cool and supportive or she could hop on the next plane back to Nevada and tell my dad."

"Why don't you want your dad to know? And why wouldn't you want to meet with your aunt alone?" When Angela remained silent, Rachel knew her questions would remain unanswered for now. "This has to do with whatever happened between you and your dad a few years back, doesn't it?"

"Yeah," she whispered.

"You know I'm here if you want to talk about it."

"I know, I just..."

"It's okay. "

""Thanks."

"Maybe your aunt will understand."

"I hope so."

Rachel heard Nina calling out from the other side of the bedroom door. "That's my cue. I'll see you Sunday."

"See you then," Angela smiled.

"Plan something romantic for Eric. When is he coming home?"

"Tomorrow."

"Do something special. Celebrate that 'I love you.' Candles, dinner, buy some fun lingerie, make it romantic."

"I already have something in mind."

"Ooh, really, what?"

"That is none of your business," Angela giggled. "But it won't involve candles. Eric is a hazard around them and so is Thor for that matter- he thinks candles are toys. Though he'll either be shut in the spare bedroom or we'll be at my place."

"Oh, yeah," she grimaced, "how did I forget about Eric and fire?"

"It's like seeing fire makes him clumsy or something. I lit some candles at my apartment a few weeks ago when we were having dinner and there may as well have been a magnet in the flame for as many times as Eric burned himself. He even caught his sleeve on fire. "

"He didn't?!"

"Yes," she chuckled. "The funny and scary thing is I don't think he does it on purpose. Fire and Eric just don't mix. Thankfully I can trust him with the stove, just not candles."

"Okay, I'm going to put the kids to bed. We'll see if it takes more or less than an hour tonight."

"Poor you."

"Hey, soon we'll be able to trade stories. It'll be fun," Rachel grinned, "but until then, go have fun with Eric."

/

/

"Only one bedtime story tonight," Cory asked as Eric came back inside from the balcony.

"Angela was tired. She was working late on an article to make a deadline." He noticed Cory's suitcase open on the bed. "Packing?"

"I figure might as well save time tomorrow, right?"

"That sounds smart." Eric jumped backwards onto his bed and laid back onto the pillows. "When are you going to talk to Topanga?"

"I'm still trying to figure out exactly what to say. I mean, all I did was talk, but..."

"You almost went into her hotel room, Cor."

"Yes, I know that, thank you. I was there. You don't have to keep reminding me." He sat down on the bed, rested his elbows on his thighs, and put his head in his hands. "I wasn't planning on leaving that part out."

"Sorry."

"This isn't your fault."

"Sometimes I feel like if I had given you better advice, or paid more attention to you two, or just listened more when you complained...maybe I could've helped."

"That's nice, Eric, but there are two people in mine and Topanga's marriage, me and Topanga. Somewhere along the way we lost that. Hopefully we'll be able to get it back."

"You will."

Cory wished he felt as certain as his brother tried to sound. "I hope so. That's up to Topanga now. I'm willing to go to counseling and do the work, I've been willing, but she freezes up whenever it's mentioned."

"Maybe this will be the wake-up call she needs."

"Wake-up call?" He looked skeptical. "You consider me almost going with another woman a wake-up call?"

"But you didn't go with her. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of wrong and bad stuff in this situation and at the moment it doesn't look great, but you said yourself you knew that if you went into Marissa's room things would never get better for you and Topanga. That means you want things to get better. Once Topanga gets over her initial anger, make sure she sees that."

"I've always wanted things to get better. It's her I'm not sure about anymore."

Eric didn't know what to say to that. "I wish I could help you, Cory, but I don't know what to do with this one."

He sighed. "That's okay. I think I just need to get my mind off of this for the rest of the night. Something tells me I won't be sleeping once I get home and the conversations start."

"You want a Dr. Seuss book?"

Cory was going to reject the offer, but what was more comforting than a childhood staple? "Do you have The Sneetches?"

/

/

"Delayed, how come," Angela pouted into the phone. She had just taken things out to start cooking, but it seemed like her plans of a romantic evening were about to be diverted, along with Eric's flight.

"Bad weather."

"I guess I understand, you have to be safe. You mean this weatherman gig doesn't come with special powers to actually change the weather?"

"Do you know how rich I would be if I had the power to change the weather?"

"Will you be home tonight at least?"

"I hope so, but don't wait up."

"We'll see," she smiled. "Call me with updates."

"I will. See you whenever."

"We'll be here. I love you"

"I love you, too."

Angela set her phone on the island and looked over to Thor, who had been watching her from his spot on one of the stools at the counter. "It looks like it's you and me again tonight. What should it be for dinner, Mexican or Thai?"

/

It was well after midnight by the time Eric finally got home. He was tired-tired of planes, tired or airports, tired of people in general. Even his dad and Josh had started to get on his nerves by hour four into their diversion to Nashville. He wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed with Angela and go to sleep. He left his luggage in the living room, not wanting to wake her by bringing it into the bedroom. Eric slowly opened the bedroom door, wincing slightly when it creaked. Angela still wasn't thrilled when she was woken up unexpectedly. The sight he found in the bed made him smile. He couldn't believe Thor and Angela were actually sharing a pillow, not only that, but his head was resting on top of hers. For someone who started out not crazy about cats, and Thor hadn't been too sure about her either, they had certainly bonded over the past week. Even knowing Angela would hurt him for taking her picture while she was asleep, Eric couldn't resist snapping a quick shot on his phone.

After doing his best to quietly change, Eric eased himself into bed so as not to disturb Angela, and promptly landed on the floor with a loud thud. "What the hell?!"

The lamp switched on. "Eric, is that you?"

"Yeah," he said, still unsure of what happened.

"Where are you?"

"Down here." He looked up as Angela's face appeared over the edge of the bed. Thor was a safe distance behind her.

She couldn't help but laugh at him. "What are you doing on the floor?"

"I have absolutely no idea," Eric answered in confusion. "I was getting into bed and then there was something blocking me, almost like another person, or..."

"Oh, my body pillow," Angela exclaimed. She held out her hand. "Here, get off the floor."

"Since when do you have a body pillow?" He sat on the edge of the bed and watched as Angela pulled back the comforter, revealing the pillow. "That's not a body pillow."

"Yes, it is."

"No, that's big enough to be another person. That doesn't look like any body pillow I've ever seen."

"It's designed especially for pregnancy. I had trouble sleeping and my hip was hurting and this got great reviews."

"Oh."

"What's wrong?"

"Is there room for you, me, Thor, and the pillow in the bed?"

"Hmm, I guess it would be tight. Well, you're home now. I can try sleeping without the pillow again."

"And if you can't?" Eric was a little put out by the thought that he had been replaced by a pillow.

"We'll just sleep at my place. I bought one to keep there, too. We'd all fit in my bed."

"You bought two?"

"Do you want to cart this thing back and forth?"

"No, then again it would allow me to get through the car pool lane."

"Be quiet," she smiled. "Ditch the pillow and get into bed."

"As you wish." Eric dragged the pillowed off the bed and hauled it into a chair. "Geez, do they call it a body pillow because it's stuffed with an actual body?"

"It's comfortable."

"More comfortable than me?"

"Not a chance." As soon as he was in bed Angela turned off the lamp and snuggled up against him. "See? This is much better."