Alexa wasn't sure how the planned excursion went from just Ronda, Bayley and her, to almost a dozen ZBZ's, but all in all it wasn't too bad an afternoon. Her day had actually started much earlier than she'd meant to, as she and Dean shared a quiet breakfast before church. The tiny blonde was surprised at how "normal" her first foray back to the House Of Worship had been, given the events of the last few weeks, but she found the singing and the Pastor's message comforting. Instead of guilt over the drugs and other vices she'd indulged in since her miscarriage, she felt only the soothing embrace of peace.

Running into Rebecca and Shawn Michaels was just an added bonus. They'd both given Dean and her big hugs, as though seeing them was the highlight of their week. That was one thing Shawn had going in his favor, Alexa noticed. The campus pastor was never too busy to take a few minutes with her fiance and herself.

After accepting an invitation to the Michaels home to dinner sometime in the next couple weeks, Alexa drove her man home, bid him good afternoon with a big kiss and a reminder that she wouldn't be too long, and set out for House ZBZ.

What awaited her there was far past what she'd expected for her afternoon out with Ronda and Bayley. Apparently, word had spread. By the time Alexa strode through the open doorway that led to the ZBZ sitting room, over a dozen sisters were gathered, all of whom looked anxious to begin the outing.

"Wha..?" Alexa trailed off, her mind temporarily frozen by the overwhelming group presence of sorority girls. Ronda, sensing her new friend's uncertainty, chimed in with a response she hadn't actually heard from anyone, but assumed was true based on context clues all around her.

"I let it slip that the three of us were going Formal dress hunting today, and I guess whoever heard me told two friends, and they told two friends, and they told two friends…"

Alexa shook her head, laughing wryly. "So now it's open season on sequins?"

Ronda giggled. "I guess." She looked over one shoulder. "There's Bayley. I think we're all here."

"We sure are," Alexa muttered, scanning the mass of ZBZ's assembled. With that, the girls were divided into smaller and more convenient groups by which to travel to Twin Pines Mall.

There were four attendees that concerned Alexa. Well, two pairs. Ronda was there, and Charlotte had decided at the last minute that she really needed a new dress, setting the stage for Roman Reigns' current girlfriend and former love to clash in somewhat spectacular fashion.

Then there was Natalya and Sasha. Thinking up until she actually arrived at the ZBZ house that there were only going to be three girls on the trip, nothing at all could've put Alexa more on edge at that moment than thinking of worst-case scenarios; hair pulling brawls, screaming matches, or some sort of stabbing, were all possibilities.

For the trip over, at least, there was peace amongst the almost two dozen sisters caravanning across town. The unofficial truce even lasted through lunch, when every one of the attendees sat together at a long table in the food court, like some sort of weird, unbelievably attractive take on "the First Thanksgiving," with adversaries sitting at the same surface.

The same couldn't be said once the gaggle of young women descended upon Shagadelic Dresses and Formal Wear. As soon as the first potential evening gown was pulled off the shelf, alliances were formed and battle lines were drawn. Alexa observed with a thoughtful smirk as the once united group of women dissolved into several smaller alliances.

None of that much mattered to Alexa at that instant. She was there for one thing: find a formal gown that would obliterate Dean Ambrose's consciousness on sight. For once, he was paying for nothing, and that meant Alexa wouldn't show him a single stitch of what would hopefully be the most beautiful article of clothing the young man had ever seen.

"Lexi? Lexi?" Ronda called, pulling Alexa from her train of thought.

"Yeah?" She returned, returning her focus to a subject that would actually help.

"What color are you thinking?"

The tiny blonde shrugged. "I'm not sure. I normally go with a black, dark blue, or silver, but I was thinking maybe a pale pink for this." Alexa slid a few hangers from right to left on the circular clothing rack, taking in her choices. "I like this white one, but there's no way a dress this white makes it through an entire Fraternity Formal without getting alcohol spilled all over it."

Ronda nodded thoughtfully. "I hadn't thought about that. I like this black one. I know Roman wears a lot of black, so maybe we can match."

"You guys haven't discussed a matching color scheme yet?"

Now the taller girl shook her head. "We haven't hung out alone very much yet. We actually just messed around for the first time in his dorm room yesterday. We're still getting to know each other."

Alexa grinned, trying to speak softly enough to where Charlotte couldn't hear their conversation. "That's good! I know it was hard for him to break up with Charlotte, and I hate that they aren't together anymore, but I'm glad he found someone nice to go to Formal with."

Ronda grinned, the infectious sort of smile she was growing more known for. "I'm glad too. And I'm glad I let Charlotte talk me into doing this Sorority shit. I didn't think it would be my style, but you guys are really fun and I like meeting lots of new people."

Alexa smiled brightly and prepared a response, but before she could speak, she felt a strong yet feminine hand slide onto her shoulder.

"Hey Lex," Charlotte began, not brightly, but not as sad as Alexa thought she'd sound while dress shopping with her ex's new love interest. "Can I talk to Ronda for a second?"

Alexa's brow furrowed, and she looked inquisitively at Bayley, who'd been silently perusing the dresses on the same rack as Ronda and Alexa. The latina just shrugged, as if to say "don't look at me!"

"Okay Charlotte," Ronda returned. "We can talk. What's up?"

Flair exhaled deeply, clearly intent on making a statement she'd been ruminating on for some time.

"First, I'm sorry of accusing you and Roman of having sex on Spring Break. As it turns out, I have it on good authority that you two actually weren't banging. And I also acknowledge that it wasn't your fault that we broke up at all. A couple of the girls asked me if I was pissed at you for 'breaking us up,' and I had to explain that you didn't. So I'm just saying it to your face."

Ronda smiled, a tight-lipped, appreciative gesture. "Thanks for saying that, Charlotte. I've felt bad since we got back from Cabo that you got mad at me and Roman. We didn't fuck that night. We still haven't, to be honest."

Charlotte grinned, a toothy smile teeming with fond memories. "He can be funny that way. He's got some odd sensibilities about relationships, but he's a really good boyfriend. He just wasn't good for me."

Ronda nodded. "I understand. And I appreciate you being so mature about all this. I'm sorry, too."

Alexa and Bayley couldn't mask the shocked expressions on their faces as they watched the proceedings. Neither of them would've bet on this particular exchange going down this way. Charlotte had a possessive streak a mile wide, as well as a deep well of petty boiling under her well-put together exterior, and Ronda didn't take shit off of anyone.

"Sorry for what?" Charlotte inquired.

"Well, for not talking to you before I started hanging out with Roman. For kind of being a bitch right after we got back from Spring Break and talking so loud to everyone about him asking me to formal. And for not taking our friendship into consideration these last couple weeks. You were really kind to me and I paid you back by spending Spring Break with your ex."

Charlotte shrugged. "We broke up. He didn't cheat on me. I'm not sure you and I can train together anymore, but I want to make sure we're on good terms. Is that fair?"

Ronda gave Charlotte a more reserved version of the grin she was becoming renowned for. "I get it, Charlotte. And I hope we can at least be friendly, if not friends."

The taller, more shapely girl nodded. "We can be friends. Like I said, I believe you didn't sleep with Roman while we were together if that's what you say. Roman and I made an adult decision about our future. I can't be mad at either of you for finding each other attractive."

Ronda wasn't entirely sure she believed Charlotte. At least, not about being completely okay with them dating. But, for the sake of keeping the peace, she simply patted Charlotte on the shoulder and resumed her small talk with Bayley and Alexa, who remained flabbergasted at the ability of the two blondes to keep civil.

Not every potential crisis was averted so successfully. Just two clothing racks over from the Alexa-led group, Sasha Banks was steaming. She'd found herself in a small group with Natalya, and every second she spent within slapping range of the buxom Junior was pure agony for the purple-haired Frosh.

Natalya had heard parts of the exchange between Ronda and Charlotte. Hearing those two reconcile and consider still getting along despite one of them seeing the other's ex thought about the purple-haired girl currently staring a hole through her head. Perhaps, if waters were trekked gently, they could also find common ground for the sake of ZBZ.

Nattie pretended to be looking for that perfect ash gray gown while slowly moving towards her ZBZ sister. Sasha, who was starting to fall in love with a sleeveless purple dress that matched her hair, had to hold back the animalistic urge to uppercut the blonde Canadian when Natalya came into her line of sight and far too close for Sasha's liking.

Natalya took a deep breath. "Hey, Sasha. Can I talk to you for a sec?"

Sasha clicked her tongue and put on the fakest smile she ever had in her entire life.

"What's up?" Sasha asked, her extreme frustration making a small appearance in her short response.

"I can't help but feel things are a little tense between us," Natalya began, trying to tiptoe in the metaphorical minefield she was sprinting through. "I'm sorry if seeing Becky these last few days make things weird."

Sasha furrowed her brow. "'Seeing' her? You and Becky aren't dating."

"Well, no. I'm just saying-"

"Which says a lot," Sasha said, cutting Natalya off. "It only took us twice before we were a thing. And she was sober during both times."

Natalya's eyes widened. A few feet away, Alexa and Bayley shared a wide-eyed glance, but continued searching the racks like they weren't listening to what was going on behind them.

Nattie scoffed, shaking her head slowly. "Look, I'm not trying to pick a fight with you, Sasha. I'm just trying to bury the hatchet. We should get along because we're in ZBZ and you know Becky would hate-"

"You don't know shit about what she wants. Got it?" Sasha turned her body, and her ice-cold glare directly at Natalya. She quickly lowered her voice to keep from drawing attention from the workers within the shop.

Natalya lowered her voice too. "You sure? I'm pretty sure she came the last time I saw her."

Sasha clutched her hands at her sides, digging her fingernails into her palms. "At least she wanted to keep me around and be with me. You're a rebound, bitch. You always will be."

Finally, after sensing the pot about to boil over, Alexa stepped in-between the blonde Canadian and the Boston native.

"Guys, relax," Alexa pleaded, separating the two other women. "Let's just relax and take a break. We're supposed to be having fun and buying dresses. This doesn't need to be a battle about who did what with who."

Nattie nodded her head, sighing heavily. "You're right, Lex. I'm sorry. I'll take a break. Sasha, you know about breaks right?"

Sasha lunged at the other woman, ready to tear her head off. Luckily, at the last given moment, Ronda had her arms around Sasha's waist, caught her mid-air and pulled her back. With Sasha muttering angrily under her breath as Ronda led her out of the shop, Natalya went about her shopping like nothing happened. Alexa hung out for a minute in case Natalya wanted to say anything, but she decided things were tame for now and returned to Bayley's side.

Just outside the titular dress shop, Ronda had gotten Sasha far enough away from Natalya to assume the situation could escalate any further.

Sasha angrily muttered under her breath. Ronda stayed on her heels just to make sure she didn't end up doing something stupid that would effect her well being or the image of ZBZ.

Sasha parked herself on a nearby bench. "You don't have to follow me around!" She fired at Ronda. "I'm not a lost puppy, Ronda!"

Ronda blinked. "Ok, I'll pretend like you didn't just scream at me. But what the hell was that? You were two seconds from killing Nattie. I don't think she has a mean bone in her body."

"How about you just worry about Roman's bone in your body?" Sasha spat.

"Wow," Ronda scoffed. "If you wanna act like that, then go fuck yourself."

Sasha shook her head. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, ok? I'm just… I'm pissed at Natalya because she's been sleeping with Becky."

Ronda shrugged. "Why do you care if you two broke up?"

Sasha sighed. "Can I just have a second to calm down? I don't want to make myself look like a bigger bitch than I probably already do."

"Yeah, fine," Ronda said. "If you wanna talk, I don't mind listening to your shit. It's what ZBZ sisters are supposed to do, right?"

"I guess," Sasha mumbled.

Ronda nodded and headed back for the dress store. Sasha, leaning into her seat and trying to cool herself down, stared straight ahead at the wall opposite of her.


The only thing on Becky's mind that chilly morning was the tall, stunning blonde she had lunch with the day before; Not to mention her infectious smile, silky smooth skin, waterfall like blonde locks, and a glorious pair of… Becky shook her head before her mind wandered too far.

Sasha texted Becky a simple "don't come home. I'm with someone" about twenty minutes before; Becky had stepped out for a moment to grab some coffee or tea in hopes of running into her most recent target of affections, but had no such luck. Becky rolled her eyes but didn't respond to the text.

Becky didn't know who else would really be willing to listen to her problems this early in the morning. She texted Dean, but he didn't answer; He had talked to her late last year about her problem with Sasha surrounding the whole "Renee fiasco."

Becky did bound up the steps of Sammartino Hall, but wasn't going to bother Dean, Roman or Seth. Instead, Becky lightly knocked on the door of one of her closest friends, with whom she'd felt she'd been neglected in favor of Sasha recently.

After a few moments, the door creaked open. "Rebecca?" Finn greeted his old friend with a smirk and opened the door a little further. "What's up? Come on in."

Becky offered her friend a half smile and a hug. Finn chuckled under his breath and held Becky close to his chest.

"That rough, eh?" Finn asked, rubbing a hand soothingly over Becky's back.

Becky separated the hug and nodded. "Yeah, just more shite in t'e life of ol' Becky Lynch." She paused, taking notice of Finn's attire: just a pair of boxer-briefs. "You just get out of t'e shower?"

Finn shook his head. In that moment, a pretty blonde in Finn's SU baseball shirt shuffled out of Finn's bedroom.

"Becky?" Liv greeted the redhead with a smile. "It's so good to see you again."

Becky grinned. "I still can' believe you made Finn commit."

Liv pecked Finn on the underside of his chin. Finn rolled his eyes, feigning annoyance, but Becky caught him smirking when he thought no one was looking.

Becky sat on the loveseat across from the couch where Finn and Liv were cuddled up. The Jersey girl laid her head in Finn's lap with her feet propped up on the arm rest. Finn gently traced his fingertips over Liv's thigh.

"So what's up?" Finn asked Becky.

Becky shrugged. "Stupid lesbian problems again."

"Why do you always come to me wit' girl troubles, Rebecca?" Finn asked with a smirk.

"You apparently know them better than I do," Becky said with a shrug.

"Sasha still won' leave you alone?"

Becky shook her head. "No. It's Charlotte. I think I'm starting to really like 'er. Which is fookin' scary cuz I jus' left Sasha. Then there's Nattie, who I just see whenever I need to… erm…"

"I'm not t'e only lady killer in t'e family, eh?" Finn chuckled.

Becky rolled her eyes. "No, I suppose no'. But I don' know wha' ta do. I like Charlotte, but she's straight. I know that for a fact this time. And I like Nattie, bu' I don' see 'er as a girlfriend. I told 'er that too. But…"

"You still love Sasha?" Finn asked.

Becky chuckled dryly. "See wha' I mean? I miss that stupid, purple-haired girl everyday. I see her all t'e time, bu' it's like we're strangers when we we're in the same room. I tried showin' Nattie off to get Sasha jealous. It worked, but…"

"Could try dating boys," Liv offered, playing with a diamond on her left ring finger.

Becky's eyes widened. "Boyo, that better not be what I t'ink it is."

Finn held an index finger over his lips, silently telling Becky to hush. As he did, his hand on Liv's leg moved to her stomach. Liv giggled under her breath and held Finn's hand against her belly.

Becky, her jaw slacked, stared in shock at Finn. Finn just shrugged and grinned.

"Erm…" Becky cleared her throat. "I've tried, Liv. Conversion therapy didn' work."

Liv giggled. "I was only kidding, Becky. Finndaline was telling me about high school."

Becky blinked. "Ev-everything?"

Liv held two fingers under her eyes, then pointed them at Becky, telling her that she was 'watching her'. When Becky hadn't looked any less embarrassed, Liv burst out laughing.

"Relax, Becky," Liv said. "Finndaline is all mine. I won't get jealous."

Liv rolled off the couch. She scratched her fingertips through Finn's hair and kissed him deeply. She then slipped into the bathroom and closed the door behind her.

"Ok, wha' t'e fuck?" Becky asked, chuckling as she went. "What's with t'e ring and t'e belly rubbin'?"

Finn's lips into the smallest of grins. "Nothin' is fer certain yet. We're waitin' on some test results, but she took six goddamn tests that all came back positive."

Becky threw her hands in the air. "What?! What the 'ell?"

Finn, smiling, shook his head. "You 'ave no idea."

Becky sighed. "I feel so stupid comin' in 'ere complainin' abou' me problems."

"It's alrigh', Beck," Finn assured. "To be fair, just go with yer gut. You thought Sasha was straight and look wha' 'appened. Who's ta say Charlotte won' switch too?"

Becky thought for a moment, then shook her head. "I don' t'ink that's how it works, but I t'ink I know what yer sayin'. I just feel horrible about all of t'is. I like Charlotte. I'll be honest, I want to see 'er naked. Like, badly. But Sasha…"

Finn shrugged. "She moved on. You can too."

Finn did have a point. Sasha had already moved on from Becky, with a boy no less. Maybe it wasn't so crazy to have feelings for another girl again so soon.

"She did kiss me on purpose," Becky told. "Charlotte. But she was drunk."

"Alcohol is truth serum," Finn said. "I bought Liv's ring drunk. Proposed durin' a date with a buzz."

"How did you afford a diamond ring?" Becky asked.

"Uber," Finn stated simply.

"What?"

"I work part time for Uber," Finn said. "A lot of the sororities tip me extra if I drive without my shirt on… Don't tell Liv."

"I won't," Becky promised with a laugh.

Liv, almost on cue, left the bedroom with her head hung low. Finn furrowed his brow and took her by the hand.

"Just had my period," Liv said under her breath.

Finn's brow lifted. "Oh."

"Six false positives?" Becky thought to herself.

Liv held out her ring hand. "Want this back?"

Finn shook his head. "Why would I? I still want you."

"Really?"

"Of course," Finn pulled Liv into his lap and kissed her cheek. "I'm set. I found mine."

Becky shook her head. "Why is every straight person on campus gettin' engaged?"

Finn chuckled. "I don't really know. But, if you ask me, go get 'er. Life is too short. I t'ink I've told you t'at before."

"You might've," Becky stood up from the couch with a sigh. "I'll probably go get meself drunk and end up with Nattie again. Which is… sad. Very sad."

"Call me if you need a ride," Finn said.

"I will. I won't tip if you take yer shirt off though," Becky shot back.

Liv cocked an eyebrow. "What is she talking about, Finn?"

Finn threw Becky a dirty look, which made the Irishwoman laugh out loud. Becky bid her friends farewell and stepped into the hallway again.


Dean thought he had seen the last of anybody under five-foot-five for at least a few hours. That was until he heard his front door open and a voice call out for his fiancee.

Groggy and a little irritated from getting woken up from his nap, Dean staggered into his living room to find Alexa's equally tiny best friend looking around the apartment. AJ's eyes widened with worry when she saw Dean emerge from the bedroom.

Now both parties sat silently on opposite ends of the living room. Dean had offered AJ a beer while they waited for Alexa but she surprisingly refused. Dean collected a small armful for himself and cracked open the first as soon as he sat down.

Dean, now on his second icy beverage, tried to piece together something the two could talk about that wouldn't start a fight and possibly burn Sammartino Hall to the ground.

"AJ, I-"

"I'm sorry I fucked your wife, Ambrose," AJ stated, quickly cutting Dean off.

Dean furrowed his brow. "I wasn't gonna say anything about that."

AJ shrugged. "I'll admit it made things awkward between us. I don't know if she's pissed at me or she's forgotten I exist but I just really want to talk to her. I'm not sorry for helping her figure shit out though. She wanted it just as much as I did."

Dean nodded. "I know. Which is why I agreed to let her do it. I'm not gonna lie and pretend Cabo wasn't the best time of my fucking life. Y'all gave me the unreal chance of sleeping with two amazing, gorgeous women that are insanely sexy and great in bed. I can't a hundred percent hate you, AJ."

AJ sighed. "But the molly and what I said…"

Dean paused for a moment to think. "I won't let that happen again," he finally said. "Alexa is meant to be with me, AJ. I'm sorry you think differently, but that's what she wants too."

"Rub it in my face why don't you?" AJ said with a soft chuckle. "No, I know she wants you. I'm not here to try to win her over or convince her to leave you. If heaven is real and God makes someone for everyone, it's supposed to be you and her."

Dean smirked. "You sure you aren't sweet talking me so I'll let you go down on Lex again?"

AJ paused for a second like she was thinking, which made Dean laugh, but she then shook her head. "She's my friend. I'll always love her and we'll always have Cabo. Besides, Dana is back now and I can always go to her for some hot lesbian action when I need it."

"Yeah, I talked to her the other day at Roadie's. Glad she's back. Are you two dating again?"

"Nope. She wants to focus on school and I got more important shit to deal with. Do you know where Lexi is?"

"Shopping for dresses with some of the girls from ZBZ," Dean shuttered and took a sip of beer. "I can't imagine what kind of pain those employees are in. A dozen screeching girls giggling about dresses and dancing."

AJ stole a can of beer from Dean. "My dad died."

"Jesus, AJ, I'm so sorry," Dean rounded the coffee table and sat beside his fiance's best friend. He slid an arm around her tiny shoulders and felt relief when she eased into him and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Fuck, when did that happen?"

"Few days ago," AJ recalled. "I tried calling and texting Lexi but I guess she didn't see the messages or just doesn't give a shit anymore."

"Talk to her when she gets back," Dean suggested. "You're always welcome, AJ. I know I was pissed at you a little in Cabo, but that was just because you were getting Alexa high and trying to talk her into leaving me. I've had time to cool off and I know you both need each other. You guys are like soulmates."

AJ narrowed her eyes at Dean. "I have been saying that for years but some lameass from Tampa showed up and slipped her his 'meat rocket' and now she won't leave him alone."

Dean shrugged. "I prefer 'beef bazooka' but you do you, AJ."

AJ let her eyes go to Dean's crotch for a second before she scoffed. "Not the best dick I took that week but I'll still give you props, Ambrose."

Dean chuckled. "Who else did you hook up with?"

AJ looked off to the side. "Just… some local dude I could only understand half the time. Had one too many margaritas in me and he called me 'senorita' for the fifth time and my panties hit the ground so hard it caused an earthquake."

Dean found that reveal a little odd. He had heard from Alexa and AJ herself that she didn't do casual hookups unless she knew the person beforehand. Whoever that 'local' was must've been a real suave or AJ was lying about who she was sleeping with besides Dean and Alexa. It wasn't anything to really be concerned about, but Dean found it funny nevertheless.

"You are the second best at sucking cock," Dean said. "And believe me, I've had a lot of contestants in my life."

"Whore," AJ stated with a poke to Dean's side. "Lexi better be the only person that gives you head from now on."

This time Dean looked off to the side as his expression faded away. "Yeah, of course."

AJ was about to dwell deeper into that issue, but the front door swung open before she could say anything. The other five foot cheerleader, holding her brand new dress in her arms, skipped joyfully into the apartment as she started excitedly yelling for Dean.

Alexa quickly located her fiance in the living room, but her smile dropped when AJ stood up from the couch and shuffled into the kitchen. Alexa set her dress down on the counter. AJ flashed a tight lipped smile at her wayward friend.

"Hey…" AJ said, keeping her voice as neutral and approachable as possible.

Alexa brushed some hair behind her ear. "Hi…" She returned in an equally dull monotone.

At almost the same time, both women started tearing up and hurried across the room for each other. AJ and Alexa threw their arms around each other and held on tightly. Dean himself couldn't help but smile a bit to see two of the most important people in his life seemingly automatically pushing aside their issues to forgive one another.

"I missed you so much," Alexa cried, sobbing into AJ's shoulder.

"Why wouldn't you answer any of my calls?" AJ asked, crying into Alexa.

Alexa looked AJ in the eye. "I wanted to stop by your place but I've been so caught up with ZBZ and other stuff that I kept forgetting. I'm so sorry, AJ."

"I'm sorry for trying to make you leave your husband," AJ admitted, her tears choking up her words. "Stay with Dean and make more babies with him! Please!"

Alexa nodded. "Of course, AJ."

Eventually, Alexa and AJ made their way back to the living room. Alexa sat on one end of the couch while AJ sat in-between her and Dean. Dean made room for both girls and was silently glad things were going to be ok with them.

AJ took a deep breath. "About Cabo… it was fun but I think we shouldn't bring it up anymore. I was stupid for trying to break you two up and get Alexa hooked on molly. I love you both so much that sometimes it hurts. I would die if Lexi got her heartbroken by a boy again… after HE dies, I mean."

"I won't ever break her heart," Dean promised, looking at Alexa as he said that. "She's mine for good, whether she wants to be or not."

Alexa grinned. "I'm the best thing to ever happen to you and you know it."

Dean gave his girl a wink, which made Alexa giggle and hide her face.

"I did like eating you out, Lexi," AJ admitted, bringing in laughter from the others. "Obviously you liked doing it too, but you should only eat 'beef bazooka' from now on."

Alexa narrowed her eyes at Dean. "Why must you teach her terrible things?"

"You were in Cabo; She already knew terrible things," Dean stated.

Alexa held AJ's hand. "How come you called me a bunch of times the other day?"

AJ sighed. "My dad finally tapped out… I have to go in about an hour to get his ashes. Seth and Dana are gonna come with but I'd really like it if you came." She found Ambrose with her gaze. "You too, Dean."

Alexa's heart broke for her friend. She wrapped AJ in another hug. Dean joined in too, wrapping his arms around both tiny women.

AJ giggled. "The last time we were all cuddled this close together, Dean was inside me and Alexa was under me."

The three young people shared a laugh. Alexa offered a soft, yet appropriate kiss on AJ's cheek, then pulled her man in for a heavy smooch on the lips.

"Are we ok now?" AJ asked Alexa. "No more weird shit and ignoring each other?"

Alexa shook her head. "I've done all the experimenting I've wanted to do for now. We had a lot of fun with each other but I want to be a good wife to Dean from now on."

Dean and Alexa made eye contact as she said that. Coincidentally, Dean's staples started to itch and he rubbed the sore spot. Alexa eyes dropped with worry but Dean gave her a wink to try and reassure her.

"Seth and Dana, huh?" Dean asked, steering the conversation elsewhere. "I thought you wanted to kill Seth."

AJ shook her head. "No… life's too short to hate everyone. You should only reserve it for people who really deserve it."

Alexa and Dean made eye contact again. Alexa shrugged and Dean furrowed his brow. AJ's new liking towards Seth definitely was strange, but that was something they didn't need to worry about right now.

"Let's go pick them up then," Alexa stood and offered her hand to AJ. "I think Seth is in his apartment and we can get Dana after. Then…"

"We go get my dad," AJ said with a frown. She then chuckled. "Is it cool if we get ice cream after?"

Dean nodded. "Sure. My treat."

AJ smacked Dean on the ass as she shuffled past him with Alexa. Alexa offered her fiance a kiss on the lips and a breathy "I love you" in his ear as she passed. Dean, a small smile on his face, followed the two small cheerleaders to the door.


Bayley's morning sickness hadn't gone away. She had feared the worst, thinking she had managed to somehow slip up and get herself knocked up, but Zack was suffering similar ailments after their latest date to the once praised Spicolli's.

Bayley laid in bed with her soon-to-be husband's head cradled in her arms. Zack was sicker than he'd ever been. Bayley was feeling a little queasy too, but a few glasses of fizzy lemon and lime soda helped settle her stomach.

Zack, eyes closed tight, tried to clear his mind to help settle his stomach. Bayley's light humming and her fingertips brushing through his hair did help relax him a bit, but the undercooked food from a few nights prior was kicking the hell out of him.

"You don't need to baby me, babe," Zack said with a chuckle. "I'm perfectly fine with suffering alone."

"Hush, Zackary," Bayley giggled. "My hubby is sick and this is the only time I'm allowed to baby you where you can't argue with me."

Zack rolled his eyes. "Thanks, Bay. How are you not as sick as me?"

Bayley shrugged. "I don't know. I was this morning, but I guess because maybe I didn't eat all of my chicken parmesan. You ate my leftovers for breakfast, remember? You ate it cold too, silly."

Zack chuckled. "You got me there, babe. Hopefully I'll be better tomorrow and we can keep wedding planning."

Bayley's heart fluttered at the mere mention of her marriage to Zack in a few months. Bayley kissed Zack's forehead, then his cheek, then several quick pecks to his lips before settling in for a deeper smooch.

Zack smirked. "How'd dress shopping go?"

Bayley cringed. "Sasha almost beat up Nattie, but Ronda and Charlotte are cool with each other. I don't get why people are so crazy over jealousy."

Zack cocked an eyebrow. "You nearly beat up the barista yesterday when she called me handsome."

"I'm the only one allowed to say that!" Bayley exclaimed.

Zack chuckled. "My point exactly."

Even with the food bug sitting in her gut, and with the stange bursts of rage she'd been feeling whenever Zack was admired by another female, part of Bayley wanted to nurse Zack back to health just so they could partake in their favorite bedroom activity.

Bayley kissed Zack's forehead. "Are you better yet?"

Zack grinned weakly. "If I move, I might blow up."

"You are not allowed to blow up, mister," Bayley scratched her fingernails under Zack's t-shirt. "You just lay here and torture me."

"Torture you how?" Zack asked.

"Well, if you move you'll blow up. So that means you can't make me feel good. Ya know…"

Zack shook his head with another chuckle. "What's gotten into you? Like, seriously. The last week you've been all over me, and ready to kill anyone who looks at me, and hungry as hell…"

Bayley's right hand ventured from Zack's chin to his waistline and then snaked into his basketball shorts. Zack's voice trailed off, realizing what was going on with both his fiancee and his own anatomy.

"Babe, I love you, don't ever forget that," Zack exhaled a sharp breath. "But I don't think I have the energy to make love. I'm so sorry."

"I know, silly," Bayley set Zack's head on a pillow and knelt beside him. "That's why you shush and let me do everything."

"Well, if you insist…" Zack snickered.

Bayley pecked her lips against Zack's. She hesitated for a second, feeling her stomach churn. She pushed through it and tugged Zack's shorts down past his knees. She offered a shy giggle, then leaned over to begin.

Just as Zack started to relax, Bayley suddenly lurched forward and vomited in Zack's lap. Zack sat up in a flash, exclaiming at the sudden mess covering his legs and the bed around him. Bayley hurried for the bathroom while Zack followed her and immediately jumped in the shower.

Bayley threw up again, this time making it to the toilet. "I'm so sorry, Zack!" She cried, trying to control her stomach.

"It's fine, I'm fine." As Zack stopped talking, he also lurched forward and deposited his breakfast down the shower drain. "I… I think we stop going to Spicolli's for a little while."

Bayley took a deep breath. "Deal…"

Steadily, the hugger got to her feet. Seeing her favorite hoodie was covered in puke, Bayley groaned in disgust at herself and stripped her ruined clothes from her body. She rubbed her stomach and gave herself a funny look, but she rolled her eyes and stepped in the shower with her fiance.

"Hey," Zack groaned, wrapping Bayley in his arms.

"I'm sorry I threw up on your thingy." Bayley muttered into her lover's chest.

Zack placed a soft peck on the top of Bayley's head. "It's ok, baby… I think we just relax for the rest of the year, huh?"

Bayley giggled. "I like that idea a lot."

Zack stepped back, bringing himself and Bayley into the stream of warm water. Bayley sighed, feeling herself relax into the soothing shower washing over her sore body.

Bayley offered a quick kiss to Zack's chin. Zack smiled, then pulled his beloved in closer for another hug.


Sullivan Eternal Rest Chapel was without a doubt the last place the small collection of college students wanted to be on a Sunday, AJ especially.

The smallest cheerleader, next to Alexa, was front and center while the owner of the funeral home talked about the several options regarding a ceremony for her father. Clutched in her arms, held against her chest, was a silver urn containing all that remained of her beloved parental figure physically. To AJ, to see her father's entire earthly being compacted into such a small container was so surreal and so unsettling. How was cremation even possible? She didn't know, nor did she really care what Mr. Sullivan was trying to tell her.

"...arrangements can be made within the next few months if you would like a discount on the funeral itself…"

AJ narrowed her eyes at the man. Not because of what he was saying to her, but it was clear from AJ's perspective that he missed a few spots during his morning shave.

"AJ, honey?" Alexa whispered to her friend, looping a hand through her arm. "What do you think?"

AJ just held the urn close to her chest. She didn't want to be here, talking about burying her dad, thinking about what came after life, or having to wonder if there was a god or not. She just wanted to be back at her dorm drawing or torturing Seth or, if things were different, in bed with Dana. But life just wasn't so simple, especially for her and her family.

"Can I just wait a little while?" AJ asked, cutting off the morgue owner. "I don't want to bury him right away. Can't I just hang onto him for a few weeks?"

"Of course," Mr. Sullivan assured. "You're more than welcome to keep the ashes as long as you desire. If the time comes to lay the passed on to rest, you can call and set up the funeral."

AJ nodded and thanked the man with a quick mutter. Her friends watched her shuffle from the room, each a various level of worry between them. AJ clung to what remained and headed for the front door.

Once outside, AJ sat down in the grass on the front lawn of the funeral home. Behind her, Seth, Alexa, Dean and Dana cautiously followed. Things were obviously very fragile at the moment and, knowing how unpredictable AJ could be, neither of them wanted to try anything that might upset their friend.

Alexa, taking a careful step in AJ's direction, knelt beside her friend and offered a hug around the shoulders. AJ, still staring absentmindedly into the distance, leaned into the blonde without another thought.

"You ok?" Alexa asked, stroking her best friend's hair with her fingertips to try and soothe her.

AJ shrugged. "Kinda wish my dad was here, but otherwise I'm fucking peachy."

Dana was next to offer comfort. She sat beside AJ and leaned her head against the tiny woman's shoulder. AJ kept her left arm locked around her dad, but her right draped over Dana's shoulder.

"Wanna go to Roadie's and drink to your dad?" Dana asked.

AJ shook her head. "I still owe a tab there and I don't have any money to pay them. I'd rather go back to my place and get fucked up."

"Ok, well we can go," Alexa said, looking back at her fiance and Seth. "Dean and I have to run home quick so he can clean his staples, but we can meet you there."

"How did he hit his head again?" AJ asked, muttering against the steel urn.

Alexa gave Dean a worried look. Dean just scratched his head and shrugged his shoulders, not really knowing what to say for once.

"He fell in the bathroom, hun," Alexa explained, not technically lying to her friend.

AJ nodded once. "Ok, that serves him right for stealing my soul mate. I think I'm ready to head home."

Dean raised an arm in question at his side. Alexa rolled her eyes and held an index finger against her lips. While the engaged couple made their way to Dean's car after a pair of hugs for AJ, Dana fished her car keys from her pocket.

"I'll get some food from Roadie's, ok?" Dana said. "My treat."

AJ nodded. "Thanks Dana. That's why I love you."

Dana smiled sadly and placed a kiss to the top of AJ's head. The buxom blonde headed for her own vehicle, leaving Seth alone with AJ on the front lawn of the funeral home.

Without saying anything, Seth and AJ headed for his Impala. The drive to AJ's apartment had the same lack of dialogue between them; Seth hadn't tried to spark conversation and AJ wasn't too keen on trying to bust Seth's balls for once. They just sat in silence, listening to the classic rock playing over the radio waves as they crossed town back to the campus grounds.

AJ led the path into her basement apartment. She finally released her grip around her father's final resting place and set him on the coffee table. Instead of sitting next to Seth on the sofa, she ventured to the kitchen and fetched a few cans of beer. She did come back to the couch, offering one of the cold cans to Seth, keeping one for herself, and cracking open the third and placing it next to her dad.

"Wanna watch a movie?" Seth asked, speaking his first words since arriving to the funeral home with the others.

AJ nodded. She wrapped both arms around one of Seth's and sat as close to him as possible without sitting on top of him. Seth used his free arm to pick a movie from the TV to pass the time until the other's came back.

With Seth settling on the original Terminator movie, AJ managed a small smile as she relaxed into her friend.

"This was my dad's favorite," AJ quipped, taking a few sips from her beer.

Seth nodded. "Your dad had great taste, AJ. I feel like we could've been good friends."

"You might've," AJ figured. "He liked classic rock and old cars. Course, he would've killed you if he knew what you made his little girl do."

Seth smirked. "I didn't make you do anything, AJ."

AJ lifted herself on her knees to offer the taller boy a kiss on the cheek. It wasn't much by any standard, but it made Seth smile. AJ was starting to let her guard down around him and he was happy she was. When not threatening to kill him or mutilating his prized car, AJ was a genuinely nice person that Seth truly cared about.

"Dana's coming down," AJ announced via a text on her phone. "That was quick. Which is great because I'm fucking hungry."

Seth sat up. "You think-"

AJ gripped Seth's shirt collar and pulled him in for a full kiss on the lips. He hadn't known what happened until AJ shoved him back and hurdled the couch for the blonde entering the apartment with an armful of delicacies.

Seth, his head still spinning, stood to aid with the food. AJ pretended not to notice the boy's smirk and stole one of the containers with something deep fried.

Soon after Dana arrived, Dean and Alexa let themselves in the apartment. The five friends sat around AJ's living room, talking about anything that came to mind, drank beer, and tried to focus on the many movies AJ insisted they watch. No one noticed the wink AJ gave Seth, much like Seth tried to pretend he wasn't jealous Dana was cuddling close with the tiny cheerleader instead of him. Dean caught a weird vibe from the two, but his focus was taken by his fiancee before he could make any final conclusion.