For those of you waiting for me to finish this story, I am pleased to announce that the revised version has finally made it to the new material. So if you want to see how the story ends, please check out Happily Ever After Is Just a Rumor under my profile. In the meantime, here's the first section of that chapter. It probably will make very little sense, so I recommend checking out the new story. 100% new material begins that chapter 37. Although many changes were made along the way.

Chapter 37: Listen to Your Aunt

Early morning June 14, 2010

Danny: Hey, just to let you know we are safe in London. DJ slept on top of me the entire car ride from the airport, but we're here.

Brianna: Good to know. Have you checked on Mandy?

Danny: I checked on Candy, who informed me that Amanda threw her cell phone out the window on the way home. She had about 50 text messages, and 45 of them were from Matt. She didn't even bother to check her voicemail.

Brianna: I'll talk to the wayward nephew about backing off. I know the sister-in-law doesn't want Amanda in contact with Matt, and she's not going to care who originated said contact.

Danny: Thank you. If you can make sure he doesn't mess things up for Marc with his baby, that would be great. Amanda told me the custody situation was already tenuous at best.

Brianna: Yesterday's incident has already disappeared. But I'll remind Matt to keep his mouth shut.

Danny: Thank you. I'll check in again in a couple of days. I'm going to try to get a couple of hours of sleep before having to go into work later this morning. I wonder how many people put in their resignation over the weekend?

Brianna: You should bring in pastries and chocolates.

Danny: I'll send a text to my soon to be co-EIC to see what would be appropriate. I'm not asking Candy because she might kill me. She's still not happy about the roommate thing.

Brianna: Good call.

XXXX

Later in the morning June 14, 2010

Brianna: Good morning, Wayward Nephew.

Brianna: I know you spent Sunday not only hungover but in jail, but I still expect you at the Hartley Center today to work with the kids. They're going to need you considering Jody got arrested.

Brianna: You would think that the embezzlement stuff would have came out in the background check. I'm going to have to talk to the director about that. Jody should have known not to fuck with one of Wilhelmina's kids. You should also value that lesson.

Wayward nephew: Marc punched me. You're my aunt. You should be on my side.

Brianna: He punched you because you're the reason why his best friend had to leave. I would hit you too. Also, my number one responsibility is to keep you from doing dumb shit. I'm failing miserably at that.

Brianna: Daniel texted me in the middle of the night to tell me to tell you to back off. Consider this my latest effort to keep you from doing dumb shit.

Wayward nephew: She left on her own. I had nothing to do with it.

Brianna: Your mom did. She had no choice but to leave the country to get away from her.

Wayward nephew: Yes, she faked a DNA test, but I told Amanda I was okay raising the kids regardless.

Brianna: Because you know that they're actually yours. What if the DNA test wasn't a lie?

Brianna: Also, you know that's not the only reason. Cliff told me that Marc showed you the note.

Wayward nephew: There's no point in worrying about if the result of the DNA test was different.

Brianna: There is a point. I think Amanda made the right decision because I don't believe you are ready for the lifelong commitment that being a parent truly is. I know you had a horrendous example in both of your parents, but it's not an excuse.

Wayward nephew: You turned out pretty well adjusted, so dad wasn't entirely horrible.

Brianna: Your mom is. She always hated and resented me for having to move in after my dad died. She considered me dirty for not being 100% white. Your mom's a bit of a bigot.

Wayward nephew: I'm aware.

Brianna: I'm pretty sure she doesn't want Amanda around because she's Jewish and Puerto Rican.

Wayward nephew: Also, aware.

Brianna: The not entirely heterosexual thing probably doesn't help matters either. She really hates us.

Wayward nephew: Also aware.

Wayward nephew: Is there a point to this Conversation?

Brianna: Monique and Daniel wanted me to make sure that you are going to make good on your promise to her and not press charges against Marc. With the Jody embezzlement/fraud thing, I feel like Jade deserves one parent not in jail.

Wayward nephew: I'm not. Amanda would never speak to me again if I press charges against Marc.

Brianna: I feel like she has multiple reasons not to speak to you again without that. I heard you actually believed her when she lied and said she slept with someone else. You are your father's son.

Wayward nephew: How was I supposed to know that she was lying then and not before?

Brianna: Daniel did.

Wayward nephew: That's because Daniel is allegedly perfect. Everybody loves Daniel more.

Brianna: He did manage to work through his prick behavior earlier than you. Speaking of working on your issues, when is your next therapy appointment?

Wayward nephew: Today, after my time at the center. I'm now going three times a week thanks to you checking me in last week.

Brianna: I was just fulfilling my duties as your aunt.

Wayward nephew: Also, Monique doesn't want me coming into the office until tomorrow. She's organizing a new office space for me.

Brianna: Is Monique still trying to figure out how to keep you and Marc 15 feet apart at all times?

Wayward nephew: Yes. Also, it makes more sense for him to have the nursery office now. I considered leaving all together. I was only sticking around Mead for Amanda.

Brianna: So, are you going to leave?

Wayward nephew: No. I have this new baby brother that I would like to get to know. Tiffany has already banned me from coming to her apartment. So Mode is going to be my only option.

Brianna: Good to know you're not shrugging off all your responsibilities. Maybe I was a better aunt than I thought.

Wayward nephew: I'm not running away.

Brianna: Good. Don't. You've done that too much.

Wayward nephew: Says the woman who ran away to Paris for years. And let us not forget what happened a couple of weeks ago.

Brianna: I just found out I was pregnant by someone who I thought committed suicide because of her asshole father. Also, your mom was awful.

Brianna: In regards to my so-called disappearing act, I was dealing with the fact that said ex-girlfriend needed to know about her daughter without the media watching. I wasn't running away; I was handling my business like a grown-up.

Wayward nephew: I know.

Brianna: Your dad was just upset that I got pregnant by a Mead. Although maybe he just realized how deep south that made us look. Tyler is my daughter's uncle and cousin.

Wayward nephew: This family is a bit much.

Brianna: So much.

If you want to see where this goes, please check out Happily Ever After Is Just a Rumor