I was content doing one fic. I had a small idea, I found a second plot, I expanded on it, I managed to come up with what I thought was a decent story. That should have been enough.

It was not.

I watch a lot of sitcoms, I take notice of tropes, I compare various sitcoms to wonder how said tropes were tackled. So I wondered: what if The Goldbergs did a birth episode? What would they do different or new? What COULD they do? Why am I forming legitimately coherent ideas? Holy Hell Batman, did I just do a complete outline?

Since the answer to the last questions are "yes", maybe this could apply to the first three. I mean I sincerely doubt it, but I just had more ideas I wanted to put out there for whoever reads this.

Back in the 80's: the situation comedy (or sitcom) had hit a peak. There are just way too many to mention and chances are I've seen them all. It was a huge deal whenever a sitcom did an event themed episode. Something centered around a proposal, a wedding, a new character, a controversial or taboo topic—usually drugs—a recent real world/global event, a celebrity guest, a death, and of course, a birth. This era was when shows were coming up with so many different, and often creative ways in which a blessed event occurs. Whenever things went wrong, that was sure to make it a more memorable episode. It was always fun to watch things go awry in such comically over-the-top ways that would NEVER happen in real life.

But eight days into November, with my sister's due date fast approaching, a series of events could give those shows a run for their money.

It was early November 1980-something. While the upcoming birth of our future niece or nephew—affectionately called 'Mini Peanut' by my parents and brother—was what everyone was looking forward to, Barry's separation from Joanne Schwartz had stopped us in our tracks. They both claimed it was a mutual decision: Barry for sure wanted children while Joanne wasn't sure she did and they agreed to take a break to figure things out. Still, he held onto hope things would work out in the end.

Then on the 7th, Barry found a flier that could change everything

…

"Lainey Lewis!" Barry had stormed in and slammed down a damaged flier on the coffee table. "My sister's best friend slash my first love and almost wife, who then moved to Los Angeles to seek a career in the music business."

"Hello to you too, Barry," Matt Bradley greeted from his seat beside two other members of the Jenkintown Posse.

"You do realize we already know all this Lainey stuff?" Andy Cogan pointed out.

"Did you know THIS?!" Barry aggressively pointed to the flier.

The three of them looked down at said flier. After "Naked" Rob Smith let out a "huh" of acknowledgment, he then summarized what the flier advertised. "Looks like Lainey's cover band is playing at Rutgers in New Jersey tomorrow."

"Good for Crimson and Cover!" Andy celebrated.

"Hopefully this will prove successful for them," Matt added. "Granted it's only college campuses during the daytime on various weekdays, but this is still a big deal."

"Wait," Barry interrupted, "you all knew Lainey was in a cover band?"

"It wasn't really a secret or anything," Naked Rob replied.

"And yet I did not know this WHY?!"

"Because you never listen," Matt replied.

"No one's interested in what you have to say, Matt Bradley!"

"Dude," Andy began, "we have no reason to keep in touch with your sister's best friend and your former almost wife lover."

Naked Rob nodded in agreement. "Whenever Lainey is mentioned, it's just kinda casually dropped into conversation by Geoff or Erica."

"Who you choose to not listen to, thus harkening back to what I said when you chose to ignore me," Matt concluded.

Barry contemplated this. "I suppose this is true: I don't like to listen to my sister and try to avoid Geoff when he talks too much. He's come up with so many different ways to remind everyone he impregnated my sister."

"He's just super excited and likes to keep reminding himself one of his dreams is about to be a reality. He's always wanted to be a father. Geoff is very happy and we're very happy for him."

"And the new baby can be like a bonus member of the JTP," Naked Rob added.

"JTP," Matt and Andy nonchalantly chanted in unison.

"Yeah, yeah, JTP," Barry brushed them as a thought formed in his head. "Guys: what if this is a sign?" The other three members exchanged confused glances. "A part of me always held onto hope that I'd end up with Lainey. What if this flier is the sign that we're meant to be together?"

Andy shifted nervously. "It does kinda seem that way."

"I have to see her. I need to at least talk to her and see if there's a chance."

"Is she coming to Philly?" Naked Rob inquired.

Barry picked up the flier. "No! In fact: the last touring date on here is November 11th and it's in stupid Detroit! What purpose would I ever have to go to Detroit, Minnesota?"

"Michigan," the JTP corrected.

"Unacceptable!" Barry quickly scanned over the dates. "My best option to see her is tomorrow in Jersey after her afternoon show." A beat. "None of you are gonna try and stop me or convince me it's a bad idea?"

"If we did," Matt started, "you'd still do it anyway."

"Tushy."

"Not how you say it," Andy was compelled to say.

"Hold up," Naked Rob started, "we know Barry wants to see Lainey, but does Lainey wanna see Barry?"

"Who wouldn't want to see Barry?" Barry questioned back.

"He's got a point, Bro," Matt agreed with Naked Rob. "I mean we were all there that infamous 'Steve Weekend' when your exes bought their respective Steves with them."

"I still think about how beautiful of a man Stephan is," Andy quietly stated aloud.

"Lainey could still be with Steve."

"So if you go," Naked Rob began, "maybe bring someone else with you."

"Preferably someone Lainey would also like to see."

"Someone Lainey would like to see," Barry repeated as he considered that. "Well, that eliminates the three of you."

"Hurtful." (Matt)

"Ouch." (Naked Rob)

"I may be in love with Stephan." (Andy)

Barry sighed in a sort of defeat. "I can't think of any other person except my sister."

"Not even Lainey's father?" Naked Rob asked.

Another semi-defeated sigh. "I guess I'll just have to take Erica."

"Are you sure that's a good idea in her condition?" Matt questioned. "Her due date is less than two weeks away."

"And there's no way Geoff would be cool with her going," Naked Rob added.

"Do I need to sort stuff out?" Andy was still on his own thing.

Barry had a sort of evil look on his face. "Geoff isn't going to find out."

Matt had a bad feeling about this. "I don't like that knowing, yet devious smirk."

"Lainey is in New Jersey tomorrow, a Tuesday. As we already know: Geoff does his externship at his father's office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. I just need to come up with a reason to convince Erica to come with me tomorrow morning, have her back before Geoff gets home, and Geoff will be none the wiser."

"How about telling her that her best friend is playing in New Jersey and it would be a nice surprise to go and see her?"

"A-HA! JTP, I'm gonna need your help."

"This can't be good," Naked Rob noted, "but I am curious to see where he's going with this."

"Since Erica talks about Lainey, it makes sense that she keeps in touch with her and already knows about this tour. So, I use said tour as a basis for a fortunate happenstance. I bond better with my sister through spa visits—hence the term 'Spa Siblings'. Therefore, I need you guys to help me create a legitimate looking ad for a free visit to a very exclusive spa that just happens to be near Rutgers. Something like…I dunno, a 'free sibling day' thing that takes place on the 8th. I convince Erica to go, she leaves some sort of message for Geoff, on the road I wait for a mention that Lainey will be in New Jersey or a time to work that fact into a conversation, I then suggest we go see Lainey instead, talk with Lainey, and then leave with Erica in time to be back before Geoff gets home. If we're a little late coming home, he'll think we went to a spa because that's what Erica would have told him."

"I can't really see Geoff being too opposed to Erica relaxing and staying off her feet," did Matt Bradley of all people think this was a decent idea?

"And I'm sure Erica would be happy to see her best friend in person," Andy pointed out.

"True," Barry nodded in agreement. "Plus, this may be the last chance my sister can do anything remotely exciting before her life is over." He noticed the looks he was getting from the JTP. "In the nicest way a life can be over, I mean."

"I actually think Barry's idea could work," it appeared Matt Bradley affirmed that the idea wasn't totally terrible. "It appears he has thought it out and is even asking for us to help fake proof so it wouldn't look like Barry's handiwork. I can't believe I'm saying this: but I'm in."

"Me too," Naked Rob affirmed.

"We should put Stephan's face on the flier!" Andy excitedly suggested.

"Dude, where is this coming from?"

"Then it's settled!" Barry announced. He triumphantly put his hands on his hip. "I've got a good feeling about this. I think I'll even wear my special jacket tomorrow."

Andy looked to the other members. "Special jacket?"

"That ugly jacket he won in that raffle that he never wears," Matt explained.

"Ah."

So yeah: mostly a setup chapter to get things in motion. Obviously, there are some things of note that will come into play later. I also wanted to feature the JTP (JTP!) at some point. Also: anyone catch the subtle Schooled reference

Let me state for the record: I don't know if there is an actual band out there with the name Crimson and Cover. I chose that name specifically because

I made Lainey a member of a cover band so I could put her in a band and not make up any songs

Joan Jett was clearly an inspiration when Lainey, Erica, and Valley Erica were in The Tangles. She sang the song "Crimson and Clover" in 1982. If I took away the 'L' in 'clover' it would form the word 'cover', so there was that thinking

FUN FACT: Joan Jett's version of "Crimson and Clover" is actually a cover. Therefore, it's a cover band named after a cover. I may have tried a meta joke there