A/N: This is set after Charles returns from writing his book. Liza continues to run the company, while Charles has been focused on his writing career. They have found their way back to each other and have settled into a healthy relationship.

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Part 1 - The Babysitters Club

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Liza had been looking forward to this lecture for weeks. She was all set to go to Columbia University to listen to a talk from a rare book collector, Dr. Stanley Capshaw. The traveling professor had been nearly impossible to track down, but it was their luck that Charles pulled a few strings and obtained seats at the prestigious event.

Liza felt like a bit of a book nerd with how excited she had been all day. Maggie laughed at her fangirling, but it was all in good fun. Liza completed her day of work early and returned home. Maggie had left for the airport, taking a work-related trip this weekend.

Liza got dressed for the literary event, grabbed her purse and started to put on her makeup. She was startled by a buzz from the apartment intercom.

"I need your help. Can we please come up?" Josh asked desperately.

"Sure," Liza said, curious what 'we' meant. She heard Josh coming up the steps as she approached her door, unlocking it so he could come in. He had brought his two year old daughter, Gemma, with him.

"I need you to watch Gemma this weekend. Please? My grandmother is in the hospital in West Virginia. I have to leave now, I just booked a last minute flight. Clare will be here Sunday to pick her up." Josh was carrying a stuffed diaper bag and a travel crib.

"Um, I want to help you. But I'm getting ready to go out for the evening. Can't Lauren help? Or that girl you've been seeing?"

"Lauren said she would, but I can't find her now. And you're so much better with babies. Liza, I can't ask someone I just started dating either. Please? After all I've done to help you over these few years, can you please help me this one time?" His eyes were tearful. She knew she had to say yes.

"I feel bad for you, this is rough," Liza paused. "So I will do it. I'll have to cancel my plans with Charles."

"I knew I could count on you. We are always by each other's sides when we need each other." Josh flashed that familiar smile, the one that made her feel guilty for almost saying no. He hugged her and left in a hurry. She picked up her phone to make a call.

Charles started out the door, ready to leave the house and meet the woman he loved for a much anticipated event. They had been together about a year now, and he knew Liza loved surprises. Although this wasn't a big anniversary gift, it was something she had talked about for a while, meeting this traveling book collector. So when Charles told her he had a special invite to this limited audience at Columbia, Liza screamed and hugged him tightly. Her enthusiasm was one of his favorite things about her. Her phone call an hour before they were to set out came as a shock. "I'm sorry, I can't make it to the lecture. I have to help Josh with Gemma this weekend, all weekend," Liza said, frustration in her voice.

Liza heard him sigh loudly. She knew Charles was probably upset that her cancellation involved Josh. "Ok, I'll probably just stay at home and tell Pauline not to pick up the girls," Charles decided.

"I am so sorry. It's his grandmother. She's in the hospital. He didn't want to take the baby along."

Then, Charles' voice seemed a little different, like he was considering this new information. "It's really okay. The girls and I can play board games tonight. We can try to get to the next lecture when possible." He knew this might be their only opportunity this year, but understood her dilemma.

Liza got off the phone, glad that was over. She felt tense every time she was asked for a favor from Josh. Even though she no longer had feelings for him, and was in a long-term relationship, she had agreed to stay friends. But lately these babysitting requests had been coming up a lot. Last week, she watched Gemma when he had an important client. Before that, it had been so he could show a new property he was trying to rent. Liza was becoming a favorite babysitter for Gemma, however unintentionally.

Liza loved children, and it was usually just for a few hours, so she hadn't said no yet. This was the first time Josh went away for a weekend. 'But it is an emergency, ' she told herself. 'He's right, all the times he helped me out and was there for me.'

Liza started to think of how Josh had been there for her in difficult times. He helped her rediscover her fun side after her divorce. He had kept her secret for a long time. He had helped her and Kelsey start Inkubator. This had been instrumental in Kelsey's future. And Josh had called Liza once when she was going through a difficult time, after her long-kept secret was revealed to everyone. 'I guess there had to be other times, I just can't remember right now,' she thought.

Liza had been there several times for him too. She thought back to all she had done to help advance his business, help with his wedding, and now with the baby. Looking back, she suddenly realized there had been an imbalance in their friendship. She had done a lot for Josh lately, but was he really there for her as much as he led her to believe with his sweet words and captivating looks? He was a persuasive guy, and she couldn't help but fall for his charms over and over. There would always be something about Josh that pulled her in, made her want to help him. He had, after all, helped her rediscover herself.

These last few years had been the hardest of her life. Liza wasn't a fundamentally dishonest person, but had started to believe this to be true after Josh told her she was a liar and a cheater. She felt determined to make it up to him, to show him how deep her loyalty went. When he called on her for different reasons, picking out baby gear, saying goodbye to his motorcycle, she was reminded of his words, when he told her she owed him. Liza felt that she was in debt to Josh. What she had asked him to keep secret was a lot of baggage for anyone that young to carry around.

'I shouldn't be thinking this. Not with his grandmother being sick.' Liza shook off her thoughts and focused on the baby. Gemma was almost two years old now, and they had started playing simple games and practiced saying words from her alphabet book.

Liza was relieved that Josh had the opportunity to be a father. They had disagreed on this, and it was the one thing Josh had asked of her that she couldn't go along with. Liza had caved to a number of his unusual requests to step beyond her comfort zone, but she just didn't want to be a mother again. That ship had sailed, and she wanted her career to take precedence. But this baby girl sure was cute to watch for a few hours. She lost herself in her role as babysitter and was surprised to hear the intercom buzz again.

"Who's there?" Liza asked, feeling jumpy.

"It's us," said Nicole excitedly. Liza heard shuffling and voices in the background.

"Oh wow! Come on up," she directed Nicole.

Liza was pleased to see Charles with his girls. "I hope you don't mind. I explained to Nicole and Bianca what happened and they insisted on helping out." Charles was loaded down with a backpack and other items. The girls were carrying a few bags as well.

"That's so sweet. But it's for the whole weekend and you didn't bring -"

"Our sleeping bags?" said Bianca, grabbing her carrying case out of her father's arms. "We brought lots of stuff for our babysitting job. Sleeping bags and everything!"

"I'm sorry," Charles explained. "They are unstoppable when they get an idea in their heads. But really, if you don't want overnight guests, just say so. We don't have to stay long." He leaned over and kissed Liza's cheek.

"I would love overnight guests! Who wants to learn how to change a diaper?" Liza laughed. After a pause with no response from the girls, she continued. "No takers? Ok. Be right back." She went into Maggie's room with Gemma to do a quick diaper change. Luckily, Maggie was out of town this weekend, at a women in visual media conference in Boston.

As the evening went on, Liza was grateful to have help from Charles and the girls. She was exhausted after a long day.

"How are we going to make it until Sunday?" Liza asked.

"I don't know," Charles shared. "I'm just grateful to be past this age with my girls. You should call Josh and see how his grandmother is doing."

"I think I'll wait until tomorrow. Right now I'm just too tired. Let's go to sleep." Liza checked on the baby. The girls were sleeping next to Gemma's crib, on the floor in Maggie's room. They had been watching her sleep, and drifted off in the process. "They're all asleep," she whispered to him.

"Looks like Aunt Liza needs to get some sleep, too," Charles whispered back, kissing her softly.

"You're the best, you know?" She told him.

"I didn't want to upset my girls by not coming over."

"Well, I think all your girls are glad you did. Goodnight." She snuggled up next to him and fell asleep.