God Bless NBC. . .yadda yadda. . .disclaimer. . .blah blah blah. . . don't own anything.

[x] i was bored with typing all that hoo-hah. im listening to the moulin rouge soundtrack so im in the mood for love and deception. . wahnananana!! lol and i made up some of J.J.'s friends names. . sorry. [x]

Meg pulled the car into a arking space in front of Meme's, her favorite hang-out resturant. J.J. stepped out of the car and looked around. Meg slammed her door and stared at him.

"Nothing has changed." he said. Meg shrugged.

"Does it ever?" she asked sarcastically.

"I like it." said J.J. Meg smiled and took her brother's arm and pushed through the door.

It was like J.J. had entered an afterschool eatery. Tommy was there with Nick, Brian, Adam, and Damien. J.J. walked right over to them.

"J.J.!" cried Tommy, hugging his friend. J.J. laughed and took a seat next to them, immediately falling back into step with his former self.

Meg smiled as she took a seat at the bar. Jimmy, the waiter, came up to her.

"What'll be, Blondest of Them All?" he asked, using his favorite nickname for his girlfriend.

[x]gasp[x]

Meg made a face and Jimmy laughed. She shrugged and thought for a moment.

"Meg, darling, you've come here practically everyday for the last year. Come on. I got a lot of customers." said Jimmy with some impatience.

"A coke." she said. Jimmy nodded and served her and quickly moved on to another waiting customer.

Meg sipped her soda and watched J.J. talking with his friends. She was just about to go and tell him to find a ride home because she was getting tired, when she heard the bell at the door.

"Meg!" greeted a familiar voice. Meg froze and turned around. Luke took a seat next to her. Meg gulped her soda hard.

"Hi." she said quietly. Luke smiled.

"Hello." he said. An awkward silence followed.

"You know, just because we broke up last month doesn't mean you can't talk to me." offered Luke. Meg forced a smile.

"I see that J.J.'s back. That's really great." he said. Meg let out a deep breath and nodded.

"He got home a couple of days ago. Everyone's really happy." she said.

Meg and Luke continued to talk and it slowly became easier and easier. About twenty minutes into the conversation, Meg heard her name from another mouth.

"Hey Meg!" said Beth, coming into the diner. Meg felt everything tense up. Beth took a seat next to Meg, out of view of J.J.

"So, what's new?" asked Beth.

"Uhm, well. . . wow. Uhm. . . " stuttered Meg. J.J. came up behind her.

"Hey Meg, let's get outta he- Beth?" he asked, surprised to see her.

"You're home." said Beth, her eyes welling up with tears and her voice sounded full of awe. J.J. tried a smile but all her gave was a strange look. Beth jumped from the barstool and hugged him.

Meg was afraid J.J. was going to pull back and walk out, but something inside him clicked when Beth's arms went around his neck. He wrapped his arms around her waist and buried his face into her hair.

Meg smiled softly. This was how things were supposed to be.

[x] awwwww, time for deception and fighting. . . [x]

Meg bit her bottom lip and smiled. Beth and J.J. walked out to her car hand in hand, leaving Meg to drive home by herself.

Luke glanced at his watch.

"Well, I gotta catch the bus. I'll se you around." he said with a smile.

"What? The bus? No, no, I'll take you. It's too late and you've been really nice." offered Meg. Luke was takne by surprise but conceded.

"That'd be great." he said. He and Meg got up to leave the diner. Jimmy stood at the bar, watching them leave.

Meg blushed as she saw J.J. and Beth in Beth's car doing their version of 'cathching up'. Luke opened her car door and Meg smiled. He was a gentlman. Luke got in on the other side and Meg went to start the car but dropped the keys.

She and Luke both bent down to get them and bumped heads.

"Oops!" she laughed. Luke smiled and nodded.

"You okay?" he asked, putting his hand on her head. She nodded. They sat, faces inches from one another, staring. Then, Meg leaned in and let Luke's lips touch hers.

[x] and who should come to the car window but. . .[x]

"Jimmy!" gasped Meg, pulling back and seeing her boyfriend at her car window.

"I just wanted to give you this," he said, handing her the pin that had fallen off her jacket. Her glared at Luke.

"Goodnight, then, Meg." he said angrily. Meg tried to speak but Jimmy stormed away. Meg and Luke sat in the car, looking directly into the back window of Beth's car, where J.J. and her were still 'catching up'.

They sat in silence for a few moments. Then, it was Meg who spoke next.

"I think its time to go home." she said. Luke sighed.

"Yep." he answered.