Author's Note: Not that this is over or anything but I wanna let you know that I'm going to be posting a story in the 'R' section...not now...but probably in Decemberish. It's a long one. One that you all will hate me at first. Then the second part you might like me. Then hate me. We'll have a love hate relationship. . A really awesome bi-atch is going to be reminding you about this so I'm just giving a head's up.

Yeah. I'm procrastinating. Psychology exam in the AM.

LM: I've started a story based on that song as you suggested. Including quite a few 'choice' scenes. You wanna see it? You know what you must do.

Mia- Here are some pictures from Thanksgiving...it wasn't the same without you around. We both miss you too much!

-HRH

PS: J'avais pris un cours français en ligne ainsi je peux enseigner Ellapendant qu'elle grandit. Comment est-il ? Grandmere approuvé ? I wrote in French here to show my new language skills. I had taken a course when I was a lot younger and remembered some of it. I just told her that i was talking a course online so that I could make sure Ella knew a language spoken in her home country. Also, wondered if Grandmere would approve of it

We only wrote short letters to one another. Anything else would be said when we finally saw one another. We weren't drifting apart, mind you, just were both trying to cope with the distance. I didn't want her to know exactly how stressful living with Ella was. How uncomfortable I was going out and buying new clothes for a little girl. What di I know anyways?

Case and Point:

Alex and I took Ella to the Baby Gap. I hated this place, but considering they don't make vintage t-shirts in baby sizes I thought this would be a good logical place to go. Besides, I think she'd look adorable in a pink jumper. Yes, I just said that so you can stop laughing at me right now. I said adorable.

My kid will be the best dressed baby at day care on the two days she is there. I'd dress her like the princess she really was. Not that anyone actually knew that she had a royal bloodline...or that she is the future ruler of a small European principality. I'm sure after everything comes out these little teachers will do interviews and say they knew they recognized Ella, which is impossible, but you know how people are.

Thanksgiving ......

Alex and I took her to my parents apartment for a family dinner (Lilly went over Rivers's place because my parents didn't like her life choices at the moment, I'm staying out of it).

"Michael, what is really going on here?" my mother asked.

"What do you mean?" I asked as I tested Ella's formula on my arm.

"Where is she from? Who is her mother?"

I told my parents that the adoption story I gave them was a lie. That Alex and I weren't just trying to solidify our relationship. BUt that I did in fact father the child. That the mother was some exchange student from my time in Spain. She didn't want the baby so she left her with me. That's why I wasn't at graduation. They understood after that. Not happy that I had a baby out of wedlock, but glad that I was taking responsibility for my actions.

"You don't know her."

She studied my face. "How long did you know her?"

"Well...I dunno. It...Mom, I don't want to talk about Ella's mother. It was really a messed up situation."

She took my hand, " It's perfectly fine with your father and I...you know, that you and Alex are together like this.... We just want to know."

"Mom...I'm in a weird spot right now. Can you just be happy for me?"

She smiled. "Fine. I hope everything works out for you honey."

So from there on in everyone thought I was gay. So I played the part, why not? I mean, Alex wanted to piss off his parents and prove to them that he could have a fulfilled life without a woman. But he couldn't introduce them to Evan considering he was still in the closet, so I took his place. Just like Alex took Mia's place and Evan took mine. We just swapped partners. Sick homo/hetero spouse swap (they were practically married).

At work, however, people still saw me as totally hetero. Alex and I worked together, but didn't act any different than we usually did. I mean, we were best friends and all, but we had to act professional. We never talked about Ella or Mia or Evan. Only work stuff. Everyone figured we were friends considering how often we had to work on projects together.

"Moscovitz," one of my co-workers, Rodney, said motioning for me to join him in the kitchen of the office.

"Yeah?"

"I have a favor to ask you, what are you doing tonight?"

I shrugged. Probably was going to hit the gym. I'd leave Ella in the babysitting room of my gym while I did five miles on the treadmill. "I'm going to the gym and hanging out with my daughter."

"Daughter?"

I had never called Ella my daughter to my co-workers, only to the higher ups that needed to know. Always just referred to her as the little girl I was taking care of to those I saw on a daily basis. But she deserved more than that. "Yeah. I adopted."

"Why the hell would you do that?"

Now that is not his business. "Because I wanted to. Why should you care? It's my life."

"Well, you know Sara Beth from the accounting department, right?"

I didn't like where this was going. "Yeah."

"I'm taking her out tonight, but she only agreed to come with me if I got you to go on a date with her friend Katie. Come on, we'll double. Katie has had the hots for you since you started back in September."

I sighed. "I'm seeing someone right now. Her name is Ella, she's great. Sorry."

"Ella? No man, that's cool. What's she like?"

I smiled, "She's perfect. I completely adore her," I said, not exactly lying. Only telling the half truth. "Blonde hair, blue eyes..."

"How old is she? Is she from college or what?"

"No. She's a little younger than me."

"Hmm, well, good luck with that. What about your friend Alex? Is he seeing someone?"

How did he not see that Alex was gay? I mean, the man coordinates his socks with his ties. "He's kind of seeing a guy right now."

"He's a butt pirate?" he said, shocked.

I laughed, "He is a homosexual, yes. I don't think 'butt pirate' is really PC." Alex and I always joked around with homosexual names. I sometimes called him mo, and he called me ho. Cuz I'm such a ho. A big time manwhore. The original.

"Oh, sorry. But I'm just surprised. I mean, he totally....I don't know. You guys are best friends aren't you?"

"Yeah. We share an apartment," I replied pouring a cup of coffee.

"So isn't that a little weird for you? Does he bring his boyfriend over a lot?"

"Not really. I mean, he's just my friend. It wouldn't be weird if like, a girl friend had a guy coming over. It isn't different really."

"You don't hear them...you know, going at it, do you?"

I rolled my eyes. "No. We do have some decency."

"How the hell am I going to get Sara Beth to go on a date with me?"

I shrugged. "Why bother if she isn't interested in going on a solo date?"

"Good point, but I wouldn't mind banging her. Isn't she hot? I mean, I know you have that Ella chick, but Sara is a good piece of ass."

I shrugged. "I'm almost positive you aren't supposed to be saying that at work. Isn't it sexual harassment?"

"Yeah, like anyone pays attention to that?"

"Whatever. I have to get back to work. You should consider that as well," I replied.

"Maybe. I'll see you later man."

I went to the gym that night and did some running and lifted weights for a few minutes. The babysitter had me paged because Ella needed a diaper change. "I only see you bring her in here, what about your wife?" the young babysitter asked. When I say young, I am saying probably about a twenty year old girl. Even if that is only two years younger than me it seems like decades.

I shrugged. "She's busy at work," I replied. Not a lie.

"Oh, you are married?" she asked. "I didn't see a ring."

"Then why did you ask about my wife?" I said, sounding more harsh than I intended.

"Do you just have custody?" she asked, batting her eyes. "I think it's really hot for a guy so young-"
"Who are you exactly?" I asked. "I mean, you are asking really personal questions."

"Sorry...it's just...well, you've been coming in here a lot. And you used to come in with some girl over the summer. I thought you were with her...but now you don't. So I was thinking maybe you were single again?"

What the hell? Do I have a stamp on my forehead asking people to flirt with me? "I'm not seeing anyone right now," I replied. That was the truth. Mia was in Genovia so literally I was not seeing her.

"Ella is your daughter, right?" she asked carefully.

"Look, her...it's none of your business." I made a mental note not to bring Ella to the gym anymore. Then I wouldn't have to interact with the babysitters. I mean, I COULD get her fired, but that'd be uncool having a twenty year old gym babysitter fired. I'd really be da man if I did that.

"Sorry....it's just, I kind of like you...."

"You don't know me," I snapped. "Sorry, but I got to go."