Emmett soberly watched the scene playing out in front of him with just a hint of a smile touching his lips, knowing that Heidi's loud complaints would get her nowhere.

It's also one he'd find much more amusing if he wasn't still trying to hold onto the reins of his temper, and wasn't fully cognizant of the reason for this hospital visit.

Oh, he hadn't been aware of the reason for Heidi's meltdown at the time; but due to the amazing pervasiveness of digital media today, Emmett was now well-aware of why Heidi had broken down the way she had.

Emmett had long wanted to instigate a Come-to-Jesus Meeting; preferably with his foot up Michael's ass. But Heidi had talked him out of it time and time again; and because he loved Heidi so much, and was trying to heed his wishes, Emmett had remained silent.

Well no more.

After watching his friend work himself up into such an agitated state that he literally passed out due to hyperventilation; he wasn't going to sit back and play Mister Nice Guy. Michael was in his crosshairs, and he better do as his Aunt Lula would have suggested, running long and hard; because his check was about to come due and he'd long been writing checks his ass couldn't cash.

Sighing, Emmett tuned back into the ongoing 'discussion' between CEO and Big Bad, Yet. Emmett had enough problems keeping his own temper in check; he didn't have the time or the patience to hold back a rampaging Kinney set on the warpath.

A sight that could be truly beautiful to behold when it was directed to a laser-like point, but also one that left a widespread trail of collateral damage in his wake.

And there would be plenty of the latter in this particular case.

"When can I get out of here again?" Heidi groused, punching at her pillows as she tried to beat them into some sort of comfortable state.

"Tomorrow," Brian reiterated, rolling his eyes at his husband's continued antics and slapping Heidi's hands away as he rearranged the pillows once more. "I already told you this."

"It was just an anxiety attack," Heidi huffed, throwing herself against the pillows in a fit of pique that almost hid the way her hands trembled. "I just don't see what the fuss is; I've had them before. There was no need to haul me off to the hospital."

"Your blood pressure is still higher than they like," Brian said, sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose, likely praying for patience. "They want to observe you overnight to make sure this is an anomaly, not something we need to worry about. It's done, Heidi. And all the whining and groveling in the world is not going to change this."

"You take that back," Heidi hissed, baring her teeth in the process; and really, she wasn't helping his argument by doing that. "I do not whine!"

"You're doing a great impression of it then," Brian said, casting an irritated look Heidi's way; and then said something that had Emmett wincing because he knew it wouldn't go over well at the moment. "For a minute there; I swore that Mikey was in the room."

"Don't speak that name to me!" Heidi spat, her eyes spitting fire; and yup, Emmett had known that would happen. Now that Heidi was no longer shocked by the venom Michael had spewed at him, he was spitting mad.

"Oh, fuck," Brian said, narrowing his eyes at his wife. "What the fuck did Michael do now?"

"Nothing," Heidi mumbled, wincing as she never intended on saying anything.

Baby crossed his arms over his chest and looked away from Big Bad, likely in the hope that he'd drop it. Emmett could have told him that would never happen. Big Bad was on the scent of trouble and was a fucking terrier with a bone when it came down to it.

"Heidi," Brian stated implacably, a hint of steel in his eyes.

Heidi turned back and just stared him down, not once flinching under that hard gaze, a mutinous expression firmly planted on his face.

"You know I will find out," Brian said, arching a brow. And really, that was the truth of it; because if Heidi didn't fess up, Emmett sure as hell was going to do it. "You might as well come clean now."

"I can deal with it myself," Heidi said, turning away to face the wall again.

Brian compressed his lips into a thin, white line as he stared at the back of Heidi's head, his fingers clenching and unclenching as he tried to find a way to get his recalcitrant wife to talk. And then he flicked his eyes over at Emmett, latching onto him with a suddenness that had Emmett sitting up straight; and then he smiled a cold, hard smile that said he'd figured out that Emmett was his best chance for information.

face the wall again.

Brian compressed his lips into a thin, white line as he stared at the back of Justin's head, his fingers clenching and unclenching as he tried to find a way to get his recalcitrant husband to talk. And then he flicked his eyes over at Emmett, latching onto him with a suddenness that had Emmett sitting up straight; and then he smiled a cold, hard smile that said he'd figured out that Emmett was his best chance for information.

Swallowing thickly, Emmett stared right back, shivering at the look on Big Bad's face; and it took everything in him not to gasp out loud at the rage he'd seen simmering in Brian's eyes, inadvertently giving him away to Heidi.

"I hate hospitals," Heidi muttered, wilting back against the pillows, her face paler than it should be as he stared miserably at the ceiling.

Brian instantly homed in on his husband once again, allowing Emmett to take a deep breath and relax. He didn't fool himself one bit in thinking that Brian wasn't going to pin him down as soon as possible to pump him for information. It would happen, and Emmett could all but read the number of days until Michael's demise in that look.

"I know, baby," Brian said, his face softening as he kissed Heidi on the forehead. "But it's just for the night, and I will be right here with you the entire night." Brian ran his hand through Heidi's hair, garnering him a watery smile. "Promise me that you will stay; if not for you then to make sure that Sunbeam is safe."

"Not fair," Heidi mumbled but seemed resigned to her fate.

"I thought we covered this before," Brian said, arching a brow as he sat back in his seat.

"I know, I know," Heidi huffed, scowling at a very triumphant, and smug in the knowledge, Big Bad. "You still fight dirty."

"That's never been a secret, my CEO," Brian smirked, running his fingers over Heidi's arm before linking them with the fingers of the hand resting on Heidi's stomach. "And still you manage to love me anyway."

Heidi opened her mouth to respond but was quickly interrupted by a blonde whirlwind as her friend rushed through the door in a panic. Heidi didn't even bother to hide her groan as she rushed her, relief filling her face as she pulled him into her arms and nearly squeezed Heidi to death.

"Heidi!" Jen gasped against Heidi's hair, her eyes closing against the tears welling up in them. Heidi sighed and shot Brian an annoyed look as he patted her on the back. Brian just smirked, one that quickly smoothed out as Jen let Heidi go and faced him. "I got here as quickly as I could, but between trying to get everyone out of the house I was showing and traffic…" Jen huffed and then dropped a kiss onto Brian's cheek before sitting down to catch her breath. "Hello, sweetheart; do you have any information yet?"

"You know," Heidi huffed, staring at her friend in disbelief. "I am sitting right here."

"Hush, Heidi," Jen admonished in the way only mothers could, barely sparing Baby a look before she turned back to Brian with a knowing look. It always amused Emmett that in these situations, Brian was the favored child; something Big Bad needled Baby about endlessly. "I know better than to ask you as you'll just downplay everything."

Heidi huffed, threw himself dramatically on the bed, and buried her face into his pillows muttering something about interfering friends and annoying husbands that wouldn't go away and leave him alone. Brian smirked at Heidi's back but quickly sobered as he filled Jen in on all of the details, his face growing darker with everything that the doctors had relayed to him about Heidi's condition.

By the time he'd finished, Jen's face was set into a grim mask, Brian was clenching his hands into fists once more and Heidi was staring at her hands with an uncomfortable moue on her face. And Emmett; he was furious. Meeting Brian's gaze once more, he nodded towards the door, getting a confirming nod in return.

"Jen," Brian said, a stiff smile on his face as he uncrossed his legs and stood. "Could you sit with Heidi for a bit? I need to talk to Emmett out in the hall for a few minutes."

"Of course, sweetheart," Jen said, looking between Brian and Emmett with a curious expression, but didn't ask.

Heidi`s head shot up and he narrowed his eyes at her husband, but Brian just ignored him. She turned to look at Emmett instead, knowing she'd have a better chance of convincing him to let things go, but Emmett just shook his head.

"Emmett," Heidi said with a stern look.

"Not this time, Heidi," was all that Emmett said as he headed for the door.

"Jen!" Heidi spluttered, a little shocked he wasn't getting her way. "You need to stop them!"

"Heidi," Jen stated in a firm voice. "I don't know what's going on; but, if it's what I think it is, there is no way in hell I'm stopping them. Now lie down and stop fussing."

Brian and Emmett exchanged an amused look as Heidi squawked at her friend's words and quickly left the room before Heidi could try hopping out of the bed to stop them. They silently walked down the hall, passing the waiting room to find a much more private area before Brian turned to him with a grim, but determined smile.

"What happened?" he asked, his tone brooking no arguments. Not that Emmett intended to argue with him over this; he, himself, was done.

Taking a deep breath, Emmett quickly filled him in on what he'd seen happening at the restaurant, including how Heidi had seemed tense the entire morning in spite of his efforts to distract her, leading up to when he came out of the bathroom to find Michael hovering over him. Brian's face grew darker and darker as Emmett then relayed the argument between him and Michael and trying to help Heidi with her panic attack, but he had been too far gone to listen.

And then, when Emmett mentioned the man who visited Brian`s office and his threat, that Mike blamed Heidi and called names. Emmett blood-chilling in his veins as he watched Brian's face harden until two pieces of flint stared up at him.

"I am so done with this shit," Brian said in cold, measured tone that had Emmett shuddering as he handed Emmett his phone. "It ends now."

With that Brian walked around Emmett with a grim smile; and well, Emmett was all for Big Bad going out and handing Michael his ass. But…but he'd promised Heidi that he would be there for the night; and if he went after Michael now, there was no way he wouldn't end up in a jail cell. So, girding himself up for a fight, Emmett strode after Brian and intercepted him, arms crossed over his chest.

"Honey," Emmett said, and then paused to find the words necessary to temper Brian's rage; at least for the night. "I know you're angry and I don't blame you; if I were in your place, and Michael had done this to Drew, you would not be able to stop me from shooting his ass. So, far be it for me to stop you from getting your vengeance."

"I sense a 'but' coming," Brian said tersely; but at least he was listening and not turning Emmett into a human pancake.

"But right now," Emmett pointed out with a knowing look. "Heidi needs you more than you need to get revenge. That woman is terrified; not only because she's in the hospital, but because she knows damned well that this could have an adverse effect on Sunbeam."

Brian exhaled explosively and then cursed under his breath as he turned on his heel and walked a few steps away. He pulled at his hair and then turned back and gestured impatiently for Emmett to continue his thoughts. Again, he was visibly unhappy at the interruption, but still willing to listen to Emmett's reasoning.

"And to top it all off, he is worried about you," Emmett continued, running a hand through his hair; God, he hoped this would work. He really didn't want to tell Heidi that her husband was in jail because he'd murdered his former best friend. "That doesn't make for good headspace. So, you need to focus on her for now. And then tomorrow, or the next day, or a week from now, when she has been discharged and she's at home resting; you can seek out Michael and I will be right there with you. Understand?"

Brian exhaled explosively once more but eventually nodded.

"Yeah, I get it," Brian huffed, obviously not at all happy with putting his plans off, but seeing the reason in the current situation." What the fuck I am going to tell Todd and Brandon?"

The two sons of Heidi were gone to New York to their jobs. It was a big socked to them learning about their mother's marriage with Brian Kinney, the man who broke their cousin's heart and then, fucked their mother. Todd has seemed to accept his mother's marriage but Brandon was so close to killing Brian. The older son of, almost went man about the wedding and Tucker with Todd had to keep Brandon from beat the crap out of the man. The young man found the marriage disgusting and ridiculous because of their mother married to someone who is just like her, it was like Heidi married herself but a male version. Todd and Brandon threatened their new step-father telling him that he must love and respect their mother or no one would find his body.

"That you kept your promise" Emmett nodded; and then his gaze hardened as he thought of something else. "So, you go take care of our CEO; I have a few things I need to do myself."

"Em…" Brian warned, obviously thinking that Emmett was going to go after Michael himself.

"I promise not to do anything to Michael," he said with a thin smile. "Yet. But I am curious as to why Carl, who knows better than to talk about an open case, is filling Michael in on details that would be better off left in the dark. Something isn't right there. I just can't see him doing that no matter how much he loves Deb."

"You make an excellent point," Brian mused thoughtfully as they headed back to Heidi's room. "I remember when he was dealing with that rash of break-ins before he retired. And even though we all knew most of the details from friends, he still refused to confirm or deny anything."

"And that's why I don't believe Michael one bit," Emmett said; it would just be like Michael to twist things into his favor. "Something is fishy there, and I aim to find out."

"Let me know what you find out," Brian said, grimacing as he approached the door. "For now, I have a drama princess to deal with; God knows making sure he doesn't try to sneak out of the hospital will be headache enough for tonight."

"Kiss our CEO for me," Emmett teased, smirking when Brian glared at him. "I'll be back once I find out what the hell is going on."

"Not likely, Honeycutt," Brian glowered, pointing at Emmett. "The only kisses my CEO will be receiving are from me, and me alone. Keep your hands to yourself."

"Can't blame me for trying," Emmett quipped as he continued down the hall. "And don't call me, Honeycutt."

The sky is a bleak grey today. Without the sun, the breeze is cool enough to make the hair on her arms rise.

Her bags are packed and her condo is immaculately clean. It's so clean it echoes, and Heidi can still hear Brian's voice the last night, giving her the news, and she can still hear the ancient blessing, harrowing words in Hebrew, falling from his unpracticed lips as if they had come to them from nowhere.

"We are moving on"

After what happened with Mike, her husband had decided that they must leave and go to New York. They want their daughter to grow up away from a toxic environment and away from Mike.

A sharp knock on his door shakes Heidi from his thoughts. She can feel the whole sleepless night in her bones, no, in her whole body, really, on the inside of her eyelids and on the tip of her tongue, as she walks down the hallway to see who is there.

Melanie.

She opens the door and lets her walkthrough, Heidi eyes following her along the hallway and up to where her bags are waiting on the floor, all neatly packed, in the middle of the dining room.

For a moment, they're both just standing there, taking each other in, not really sure what to say. Heidi knows that she's all but staring, but she can't really judge, because she's not taken her eyes off her since the second they banged into each other. She tries not to let everything overwhelm her, but her fantastic brain feels the need to remind her that the last time she saw her, they were rutting against each other like horny teenagers in her apartment.

"So I guess I owe you an explanation."

Heidi smiles. "I guess so do I."

Brian stared at the house that had, at one time, been home to him and sighed. It hurt his heart that after today, he may or may not be welcome in it; it really could go either way. After all, Michael was Deb's biological son, and she had a nasty habit of siding with him no matter had badly he'd behaved. And Brian was likely about to end a nearly thirty-year friendship today, but one did what they must.

He hated to confront Michael at Deb's house of all places. It had been his sanctuary for many years. And Michael knew it; which is why the asshole had very cleverly taken to hiding here as often as possible; he likely thought that Brian wouldn't dare rip him a new asshole in his mother's house.

Mikey really should have known better; nothing, but nothing would stop him from this.

"You ready, sweetie?" Emmett asked from the passenger seat, his eyes coolly trained on the house in front of them; he, thankfully, hadn't commented on them sitting outside it for the last several minutes as Brian put his thoughts together.

"Is anyone ever really ready for this, Em?" Brian huffed, bitter note in his voice.

"I guess not," Emmett said noncommittally; he turned to Brian and arched a brow, taunting Brian just enough to raise his hackles. "Having second thoughts?"

"Oh, hell no," Brian hissed, glaring at a smirking Emmett. And he really wasn't; even now, his blood boiled every time he recalled Michael telling Heidi that she was a danger to him; that he should have been...well, we all know what Mikey thought Heidi should have been. Gritting his teeth, rage flooded his system; he really should have hit the asshole a lot harder that day. Maybe then he would have caught a clue.

"Not one bit" Brian confirmed with a grim smile; Michael was about to get a reckoning. "This has been a long time in the making." Brian paused, a small sad smile touching his lips. "I just wish I could believe that Deb won't hold a grudge or find a way to blame me for…whatever. Unfortunately, prior experience speaks otherwise."

Emmett sobered and smiled sympathetically; something that Brian ignored. He didn't need nor want anyone's pity.

"No matter what happens," Emmett said, patting him awkwardly on the back. "Just know that the majority of us – Jen, Daphne, Drew, Ted, Blake, Molly, Carl, and myself – we are all on your

Brian couldn't help but smile a little at that because it was absolutely true; look at what the brat had done when he and Mikey weren't...speaking. He sobered at that thought; maybe it would have been better if he hadn't. Heidi certainly would have been much better off without Michael's presence in their lives.

"The little twat does have a way of shutting people down," Brian agreed, his mouth twisting into a faint smirk; and then he turned back to the house, his eyes narrowing a tad as he noticed the curtains in the living room flutter; as if someone had been watching them.

And likely they were; his best guess would be Mikey since neither Deb nor Carl came to the door to greet them. And that just enraged him further. Fucking, little coward; hiding behind mommy's apron because he didn't have the fucking balls to face up to what he'd done. That one small action cemented how things were going to go in this meeting.

Had Mikey come to the door and taken his punishment like a man, Brian would have felt like there was still a sliver of hope left for their friendship. But by taking the coward's way out, he'd just proven he was not the man Brian had once thought he was; and he couldn't respect a man that couldn't admit when he was wrong.

Inhaling deeply, Brian opened his door and climbed out, barely aware of Emmett doing the same. He forcefully shut the door and then looked to the right; he shared a grim smile with Emmett and headed for the door. Quickly crossing the yard, Brian climbed the stairs with Emmett following in his wake. Reaching for the doorknob, he didn't even bother to knock as he didn't want to announce his presence. He just strode into the living room, a cold smile curling on his lips as he noticed Mikey shoving something into a bag at his feet, babbling to Deb all the while.

"Going somewhere?" Brian asked in a deceptively soft tone; one that he knew would throw the others off, but knew that Michael would recognize since he'd heard it numerous times when Brian had defended him from bullies. Michael's head popped up and he paled, his fingers falling useless against the bag. "Well, this won't take long."

"Brian…" Michael began weakly; likely about to begin his litany of reasons of why he wasn't really to blame – he wasn't feeling well, he was just worried and overreacted, he'd heard that Heidi was acting oddly, the moon was full, they didn't have her favorite cheese in the store, she stubbed her toe this morning.

It really didn't matter what the fucking reason was; Brian couldn't give even one fuck about his explanations; there was nothing that Michael could say to excuse his behavior. And Brian was beyond sick of Michael's attitude and he wasn't going to tolerate it anymore.

"You with me," Brian hissed stalking over to Michael; he grabbed the other man by the arm and yanked him out of his seat, dragging him across the room when Michael didn't react fast enough. "Now, Michael!"

"What's going on?" Deb cried, getting up from her seat; but Brian didn't even bother to look back as he forcefully led Michael on a path through the living, into the kitchen, and out the back door.

There was no need to. He didn't need to look to know what their reactions would be. Deb would be standing there, hands on her hips, an indignant expression on her face because God fucking forbid someone other than she chastises her baby.

"Deb, I love you; but, butt the fuck out," Brian threw over his shoulder as he opened the back door and shoved Michael through it. He held up a single finger and pointed between his chest and Michael. "This is between me and him."

"Now listen here you little shit…" Deb started as she made her way toward the back door, only to be intercepted from her righteous path as Emmett came out of nowhere and blocked her. And that would be exactly why Brian brought him. Queen that he may be, Emmett knew how to hold his own against Deb and would watch his back.

"Deb!" Emmett growled, startling her long enough that he had a chance to shut and lock the door. "For fuck's sake, leave it be! He is fully justified in his anger at Michael. And before you ask; no, I will not be telling you why, as it is none of your business! Now sit down and shut up!"

Brian smirked; if he hadn't been so pissed at Michael's actions, he would have laughed at Deb's shrill, indignant squawk filling the air, followed by the low, soothing tones of Ben trying to placate her. It was fucking pathetic just how predictable they could be. But as it was, he had a bigger fish to fry.

Brian clambered off the porch and down the stairs, Michael whining in his wake. He rolled his eyes, and grit his teeth against the urge to stop the whining with his fist. Entering the small yard, Brian shoved Michael firmly away from him, not caring that Michael stumbled a little. As it was, his breath was coming in shallow pants and he was so close to losing it, he needed to get Michael away from him.

"Ow!" Michael whined, rubbing his arm in an effort to draw sympathy; but it didn't work this time, as Brian was, to steal a phrase from Justin, on to him and his manipulative behavior. "Brian!"

"Shut up!" Brian commanded, his eyes practically spitting fire. "I have something to say to you, and for once in your godforsaken life, you are going to keep that nasty mouth of yours closed and listen. Or I promise that I will take great joy in tying your ass down into a chair and gagging you. And trust me, you won't enjoy it."

Michael fell silent at those words, his eyes going wide and wounded, like a fucking puppy; but Brian wasn't buying it anymore. Not after what he'd seen in the past month. The wool had been firmly pulled from his eyes, shredded up and burnt to fucking ashes. There was no way Michael's little manipulations were going to get to him.

Pacing the length of the tiny yard, Brian studied Michael quietly, noting several things he'd been blind to for so many years – the slight bitter twist to his mouth, the spiteful crinkle of his nose and the calculating glint lying just behind that wounded gaze. It sickened him that he'd fallen for it so many times, and he couldn't believe that he had as he stared at this man – someone he'd once considered a lifelong friend. He also couldn't hold back the utter disappointment and disgust at himself from welling up in his throat like bile.

And that only made Brian's fury burn that much hotter and brighter; fucking little shit.

"I would hit you right now," Brian said in a carefully controlled voice, that still trembled with fury around the edges; he was careful to keep a couple of arms lengths between the two of them. He didn't trust his ability to hold back if Michael were within range. "But I'm afraid that if I start, I will never stop. And that…that doesn't make me feel very good, Michael. I have tried very hard NOT to be my father; and the fact that you have made me so furious that I'm contemplating physical violence makes me sick to my stomach."

Michael's eyes bugged out at that announcement, and for the first time, he looked uncertain. Good. He hoped that the little asshole wallowed in it; he hoped that it ate him up inside, just like the fear and stress ate at Heidi when the little bastard attacked her the other day.

"Tell me, Michael," Brian said in a faux conversational tone, his eyes growing dark and flinty as he stared at his former friend. "Where in your pea-sized brain did you think it was it was okay to get a pregnant woman so upset that she had to be rushed to, and admitted into, the fucking hospital because of her blood pressure spiked?"

Michael swallowed thickly, his Adam's apple visibly bobbing from where Brian stood; Brian circled the other man with a sneer on his face, looking very much like a shark waiting to attack. And really, he was. He was this close to saying screw his principles and just wailing on the nasty little brat. And really, the only thing that stopped him was the fact that Heidi needed him at the house, not in a jail cell. Brian arched his brow, and gestured with his arms and hands as if to say, 'well, hit me with your excuses, fucker.' But Michael just looked at the ground and remained silent.

Yeah, he didn't think the asshole would say anything.

"Tell me why," Brian continued in a mocking tone, smirking when Michael bristled at it. Come on the fucker. Just one word; just say one word and give me an excuse to pound your useless ass into the ground.

"Tell me why I was sitting at my stressed-out, anxious wife's bedside, listening to our doctors say things like 'hee blood pressure is far higher than we like it to be;' and that 'if it remains high, it could potentially lead to low birth weight or an early delivery;' or that 'it could harm the carrier's kidneys or other organs;' or my favorite, that it 'causes decreased blood flow to the placenta and potential placental abruption.'"

Michael turned white and then red; and took a halting step away from Brian, obviously wanting to put even more distance between them. But Brian could have told him that it was useless. If he'd really wanted to, nothing would have stopped him from getting his hands on the little bastard.

"Why was I sitting there comforting my wife," Brian asked, his voice growing steely as he stalked forward; the blood rushed through his ears and his hands clenched into fists as Michael scrambled backward. Not that it did any good as Brian caught up to him with two strides. He grabbed Michael by the collar and spat.

"Trying to soothe his anxiety so that his blood pressure didn't continue to rise; hoping, and praying to a God that I don't even believe in, that everything will be okay. Why was I holding her shaking body in my arms as she cried at the thought of our Sunbeam being born far too early, or even a potentially deadly, leading to a stillborn birth!?"

Michael shook his head in denial, but Brian didn't want to hear it. He didn't care if Michael hadn't realized that his actions could have such serious consequences. The fact of the matter was that he knew that it could be detrimental in other ways. He knew that Heidi's anxiety levels were often higher than most peoples due to her job. He knew that his actions could trigger a panic attack, and he knew that even something that small could have an adverse reaction to Heidi and the baby.

And he did it anyway.

Brian wasn't feeling merciful for that reason alone.

"I'll tell you why," Brian hissed, shoving Michael away from him; he watched as Michael barely caught himself in time to keep from falling on his ass. Too bad. "Because you're a jealous, spiteful, little viper that eavesdropped on a phone conversation that had nothing to do with you and was none of your fucking business. And then, rather than using your few functioning brain cells to realize that letting sensitive information out was a bad idea, you used it to confront Justin in the middle of a fucking restaurant! Spewing your bile and venom for all to hear, including, potentially, the person that had perpetrated the crime in the first place! And then, rather than be a decent person, you blame my wife, triggering an anxiety attack."

"Wife...Michael started and then cut himself off as Brian swung his head and stared at him incredulously.

Michael's eyes widened until the whites were showing, fear filling them as he realized that hadn't been his wisest move. Brian laughed humorously at his reaction. Really? Out of all the things he had said, that was what he latched onto? Un-fucking-believable.

"Yes. Wife."Brian nodded, his lips compressing in a thin line as Michael winced.

Michael opened his mouth to protest but quickly snapped it shut once more as Brian threw him a filthy look; one that just dared Michael to give him a reason to shut it for him.

"So, what was it, Mikey?" Brian mocked, carefully placing his hands in his pockets as he walked up to Michael and got into his face. "You had a bad day and decided that Heidi was an easy target? First Justin and now, Heidi?. You are fucking jealous because I don't want yoyouou want me. I was you Justin and you were behaved like a prick. I found a new best friend, someone who respect me and love me and instead of dealing with it like a man, you've reverted to acting like petulant teenager lashing out at the world; or the most viable target. Did it make you feel better, Mikey? Were you hoping that she'd lose it?"

Michael's head snapped up, his eyes wide, mouth agape and seemed completely stunned that Brian would ever say that to him. That Brian would accuse him of doing something like that. But really, what was he supposed to think? Michael had become a rampaging nightmare from the moment that he and Heidi had announced their pregnancy. And as sad as it was to say, he could very well believe it of Michael; even if it had only been on a subconscious level.

"Because that could still happen," Brian said, his voice gone hoarse as he thought of Heidi, sitting at home on bed rest for the next two days in the hope that being in a calm, quiet, familiar environment would bring her blood pressure down to her normal level.

"She isn't out of danger yet. Shee could still go into labor, and having the baby at this stage could mean a death sentence for Sunbeam. Only about 20-35 percent of babies survive if they are born this early. And let me tell you, Michael; if that happens, there is no place you can hide where I won't find you. You better pray that I'm feeling merciful then; because if I'm not... Although the likelihood of my being merciful would be slim to nil at that point, so I suppose that's moot."

Michael looked away, and for a moment, Brian thought he might actually look ashamed of his actions; but then Brian remembered how many times Michael had done something similar and then 'apologized,' only turn right back around and go back to the same damned behaviors. There is a reason that 'sorry is bullshit' had become one of Brian's mottos. Michael had taught him that lesson to him a long time ago.

Michael looked at his hands and mumbled something.

"What was that?" Brian asked, dying to know what little piece of wisdom Mikey was trying to impart now; or more likely, what excuse he was offering up now.

"I said I was sorry," Michael said a bit tersely; and really, if you're going to fucking apologies, at least have the grace to pretend you mean it. Don't act like a petulant child being forced to say the words.

Brian stared at Michael for a long moment, wondering when he'd become this person in front of him – spiteful, mean, and bitter; a man that thought that nothing more than a few token words and a fake smile would heal the wounds he'd created.

Had he always been this person, and Brian had just ignored it because he was scared that he'd lose the only family that he'd ever known? Was he only willing to see it now because Heidi had come into his life and bought with him Jen and Molly and Tucker and Daphne and a wealth of other people that made up his new family?

He didn't know, but it ended here; it ended today.

"Sorry, doesn't cut it, Michael," Brian said, exhaustion washing over him as he stared at his long-time friend; especially when Michael's mouth gaped again. Brian gave a mirthless laugh. "Oh yeah; that wasn't what you expected to hear, was it? You were expecting me to say 'sorry is bullshit' and reassure you that everything would be fine in the end, weren't you?"

Brian shook his head as the look on Michael's face confirmed his suspicions.

"Not gonna happen," Brian said firmly, almost laughing when Michael's eyes bulged again. "Not now, not ever. You are lucky you are even standing at this point; because I am so close to ending you that I can barely stand to be in the same room as you. In fact, the only reason that you are is that I still respect and love your mother and wouldn't want to cause her undue pain by murdering her only child. Because let me tell you, it is so tempting right now."

Michael stared at him in disbelief and opened his mouth, but Brian held up a hand to ward him off because he really didn't trust himself to not give him the beating Michael so richly deserved. And he was terrified at the thought that if he started, he really wouldn't stop until Michael was no longer moving.

"Not to mention that I would be little good to Heidi if I was in a jail cell. Now, I need to go back home and make sure that my wife and our child isn't going to be in danger because of your thoughtless actions."

Brian stared at Michael, and watched as the walls started to build right before his eyes; watched as Michael started rewriting the script in his head to go in his favor and Brian just shook his head at Michael's complete lack of remorse.

"But, before I go, I will tell you this," Brian said, wanting to make his position very clear. And there was only one way he knew to do it where Michael would believe it without question. "And this is a promise from me to you, Michael; and you know I never go back on my promises."

Michael swallowed thickly, his eyes welling up as Brian stared at him with no little amount of distrust, disgust and keen disappointment.

"If you so much as breathe on Heidi wrong over the next few months, there will be no end to the pain I will cause you. You will be done. Do you hear me? I have put up with this bullshit for years because I know that Heidi can take care of herself; she doesn't need me to fight her battles. But that ends right here, right now. Because right now, she is taking care of herself and my unborn child; and that comes first and foremost. Anything else, anyone else that causes her even a hint of stress or pain will have to come through me first. And you don't want to be on that list. Stay the fuck away from me, and my wife; you aren't welcome any longer."

Brian spun on his heel and walked back towards the house. Michael made a distressed noise that sounded suspiciously like a sob, but it didn't melt Brian's heart one bit. All he had to do was visualize Heidi lying in a hospital bed, crying her eyes out as the doctors told her that unless they got her blood pressure under control, the baby would be in danger since he couldn't take most of the meds available. That single thought had chilled Brian to the bone and hardened him against any small stray strand of sympathy that he might have felt for his former friend.

"Oh, and Michael," Brian said as he opened the door, casting one last hard look his way. "If you ever call my wife a lot again, I will make sure that you will meet Heidi`s ex-husband

Heidi could feel her heart pounding in her chest, could hear her blood rushing past her ears. Her chest burnt as her lungs heaved with the effort of each intake of breath.

Brown eyes. Impossible brown eyes. Eyes she'd dreamed about over and over for the past year.

She blinked, taking a small step back.

It was jarring, having those eyes on her again, familiar and yet foreign all at once.

They seemed softer, sadder somehow, which didn't make sense, not considering where they'd been the last time she'd looked into those deep pools of brown.

"Heidi," Melanie said quietly, voice wavering on just a single word.

Heidi felt her throat grow tight as she took another step back, blinking furiously against the sudden wetness in her eyes. She'd never thought she'd hear her name said in that tone, in that voice, from those lips, ever again.

She swallowed hard, nausea bubbling in her stomach.

"I need to know whether or not you hate me," Heidi said in a rush, cutting Melanie off before she can get a word in.

"You married him."

Heidi shook her head. "No. No, you don't get to say that," she choked out, running a shaky hand through her hair.

"Heidi–"

"No!"

Her shout echoed in the space around them, bouncing off the wall behind Melanie. A strange mix of guilt and satisfaction twisted deep in her stomach at the resulting wince, at the shame that crept up on Melanie's face.

She ought to feel ashamed.

"Why are you here?" Heidi asked, taking a tentative step forward.

Melanie leaned into her space, almost like she didn't realize she was doing it, as though the action was completely out of her control. Once upon a time, Melanie might have believed it was.

"Because I missed–"

Heidi cut her off with a vicious, somewhat hysterical laugh. "You don't get to just say you missed me when you went back to your ex-wife"

"You're scared of feeling anything, so you push me away."Melanie hated the way her voice cracked, the way her vision blurred over. She took a deep, shaky breath, pinching the bridge of her nose."And know you are married to a man. Forgive me for being the one to point this out but I feel like someone needs to state the obvious here — you're lesbian "

"What's your point?" Heidi asked tiredly.

"My point is that maybe I'm not the one whose disappointment you need to worry about."

Heidi shook her head again. "I'm not disappointed in myself if that's what you're implying."

Melanie couldn't quite contain her skepticism. "Really?"

"No." Heidi didn't say it sharply, or defiantly. She said the word calmly as if she'd spent a long time thinking about it. "If anything, I'm proud of myself. Because I finally know what I want."

Melanie sneered. "You want to live a lie?"

Heidi sighed. "I want to be happy," she said simply. "I want a family. And this is my opportunity to have everything I've ever wanted."

"You could be happy with me," Melanie said softly, sighing before scrubbing a hand across her face and saying, as carefully and as non-accusatory as she could,

"But do you still love me?" Melanie asked, desperation in her voice. Then she held her breath.

Heidi's expression was unreadable. "I love you," she said, and every word was like a knife in Melanie's chest. "I've always loved you, Mel."

"Then why—"

"Because I'm choosing this. You and I—" Heidi broke off, his expression is pained. "God, Mel, if I thought it would work, I would walk away from this wedding right now, I swear to my sons. But it wouldn't. For so many reasons." Shee broke off, taking a deep, steadying breath. "So I'm choosing what I know I can make work. And I hope one day you choose what makes you happy."

"But It doesn't matter because I'm not leaving Brian." Heidi then raised her hand to stop Melanie from speaking. "Whatever arguments you've come up with won't work. I love him, and even if it's not romantic it doesn't matter. Our marriage is important.

Heidi's stomach churned at the wounded look on Melanie's face, but she folded her arms across her chest defiantly. It felt childish and petty, but to say anything more would be putting her heart out there again, and she couldn't do that.

"I am so sorry that we have not loved each other at the same time," she said, giving Melanie's hand a small squeeze before letting go. "I really am."

Melanie gave a small jerk of her head, barely a nod. "As am I," she said without looking up.

"Thank you. For making me believe I deserve to be loved." Heidi said quietly, closing the door before Melanie could get another word in before she could win Heidi over with a simple look, a gesture, a word.

Heidibdrew a shuddering breath in as she slowly slid down the door, an overwhelming sense of grief taking over her, dragging her under. She could feel the tears on her face as her body shuddered with suppressed sobs.

It wasn't fair that, after all this time, Melanie Marcus still had her heart.