Blueeyeddevil06, thank you for being my beta!

Molly smiled at Stephen when he opened the door to the apartment. She then held up two Tupperware containers, "Lita and I made cookies. One is for you and David, the other is for Rick. I figured this way he has a chance of getting them."

"Come on in," he replied, smiling back at her. "You can drop Rick's in his room."

She shook her head, "I'd like to, so I shouldn't. I'm fighting my insecurities, and I'm not going in there."

"What?"

"I'm tempted because I did something similar with a high school boyfriend. I wasn't intending to check up on him, and yet I found another girl's panties by his bed."

Stephen shook his head, "The guy's an idiot. Really I was hoping you'd go in so you can see that he practically set up a shrine to you in there. When you come over, he puts it all away except for one picture. I think he knows the amount of pictures he has of you is - excessive."

She giggled, "He does like to take my picture a lot. I called him my paparazzi once." She smiled big. It meant a lot to hear that from his friend.

"Well, it's been fun to be able to give him shit about you. Especially since I used to think he'd still be hitting on the young nurses in the nursing home while he drooled into a cup." He then shrugged, "It's a bit annoying though. You're beautiful, and if he wasn't one of my best friends, I'd try to steal you."

She shifted uncomfortably, "I don't think you should say that…."

"Don't worry. I said it to his face too. I'm not talking behind his back." He let out a huge barking laugh and said, "Rick said he wouldn't fuck up to give me the chance."

Molly blushed, "He's… you don't stand a chance, Stephen." She wanted his friend to know she was committed to him.

"Good, because I tease, but I wouldn't really try anything. It would hurt him too much. He… he really likes you, Molly. You could destroy him if you wanted to." She was shocked at the amount of truth and vulnerability in his voice. He obviously cared about his friend a lot.

She looked him in the eyes, "Never. I care for him too much to ever hurt him."

"Good." He then took the containers of cookies from her and set them on the table. "Thank you for these." He then opened the top container and pulled out a cookie to eat. He took a bite and his eyes popped open wide, "Wow! These are really good!"

"Thank you. Lita is going to culinary school. They're her own recipe."

"Yeah, it's doubtful the guys are going to see any of these," he said, smiling broadly at her.

She rolled her eyes playfully and gave him a sassy look, "I'll make sure to ask what they thought of them."

"Damn. They'd kick my ass if I ate them all. Well played, Molly."

She winked at him and turned to leave. Just then, Rick stepped in with a beautiful woman, carrying what could only be described as an overnight bag. Molly looked at him owl-eyed and tried not to react. The woman was older and stunning. Molly instantly felt sick. It was blatantly obvious the woman he was with was going to spend the night. She was sent reeling from how much she physically ached.

"Well, I was just dropping off the cookies," she said, trying to sound upbeat to Stephen. She wouldn't look Rick in the eyes. She then wanted to make her escape. She wanted out before she broke down and cried.

"Molly," Rick said, taking a step towards her. He reached for her hand and noticed she flinched when he touched her.

"This is Molly?" The gorgeous woman said with a huge smile on her face. "It's so nice to meet you finally!"

Molly looked at her in shock and said, "Sorry, who are you? I don't…."

The beautiful older woman pulled her into a hug and said, "Mom and Dad are so glad you're dating this dork," she then pointed at Rick dramatically. "They were worried he'd be a serial dater."

"What?" Molly asked, still confused.

"Ricky, put my bag down. I'm going to get to know your girlfriend!" She then grabbed Molly's hand.

That was how Molly ended up sitting at the counter of the Crown Arcade with Rick's sister. Once she realized who the woman was, her stomach unclenched, and she liked her. That and she was happy for Rick that his sister was visiting and staying the night. His sister was so friendly and open. She'd told Molly all about how she was in town meeting with the professors for the grad program she had been accepted into.

Andrew then came over to take their order, and Molly almost giggled. He was looking at Rick's sister and blushing. Molly decided she needed to introduce him to the woman he was obviously attracted to. "Andrew, this is Rita, Rick's sister. She's moving here for the grad program in Biology. Rita, this is Andrew. He makes incredible milkshakes." She then burst out laughing. "I've been around Serena too long when she introduces you! I should say he's a friend. He's getting his business degree, and his parents own this place."

She then got a good look at Rita and realized the attraction Andrew had for her wasn't one-sided. She was looking at him with evident admiration. Molly wasn't surprised in the least. Molly and all her friends had each nursed crushes on him at one time or another.

She watched Rita smile at him and pass him her phone number. She was happy for the two of them.