Author's Note: Okay, this isn't a particularly long or eventful chapter, but at least it brings all of them together. After this chapter I'm now going to sit down and write out a chart of what I want to happen with each character's storyline and clarify exactly what aspects of season 2 are included in this story and which aren't because I'm confusing myself! So hopefully this chapter will be okay, and the next should be even better since it should all make more sense! And then I'll have more of a sense of direction instead of just kinda writing aimlessly like I often do. Again, I don't own anything in this story, unfortunately! Please read and review!

That Saturday night the girls gathered at Gabrielle's house for poker and gossip. In the past Gabrielle had rarely hosted their weekly get-togethers, but with Carlos in jail she had the whole house to herself and for the first time she felt that it was too big. She tried to keep herself busy and out of the house so she wouldn't feel so lonely in the house that now felt so empty. She spent this particular afternoon cooking a Mexican dinner for her friends.

"Mmm…Gaby, this is delicious!" Bree complimented.

"Yea, I didn't know you could cook." Lynette added, taking another bite.

"Well I've had a lot of free time lately." Gabrielle replied, half-smiling.

"So, Susan," she said changing the topic, "What's the deal with that guy Julie brought home yesterday?"

"Oooh young romance!" Edie teased.

"I don't know. He seemed a bit odd, but polite. And any guy is better than Zach." She joked.

"Yea, what's happening with Zach…and Mike?" Edie pried.

"Oh, I don't know! I'm gonna talk to him…soon."

"How's Karl?" she joked, "Still enjoying his company or are you ready to send him back to his slutty secretary?"

"Very funny," Edie retorted, "He's at home waiting for me with a glass of chardonnay and a movie."

"Ah, how nice."

"Okay," Lynette interrupted, "I'll raise. Your turn Bree."

Their game continued for a while longer before their topic of discussion turned to the Applewhites.

"Hey, what's with the strange noises coming from Betty Applewhite's house?" Susan wondered aloud, "Has anyone else noticed it?"

"Oh you just love to create drama, don't you?" Lynette joked.

Bree tucked a stray piece of red hair, which had fallen from her tight bun, behind her ear, "Come on guys Poor Betty is a widow; I'm sure she's suffered enough, let's not bother her." She looked down at her hands and touched her now empty left ring finger.

"She's also a talented piano player; the music at Rex's funeral was beautiful." Gabrielle added.

They nodded in agreement and dropped the subject.

As the girls were helping Gabrielle clean up, the date on the kitchen calendar caught Lynette's attention, "Guys, do you realize that next week is the one-year anniversary of Mary-Alice's death?"

They all stopped for a moment.

"Wow," Susan whispered, "it seems like just the other day she was here playing poker and sharing stories with us. I still can't believe how she kept all those secrets from us and yet appeared so normal and happy. I never would have guessed anything was wrong."

Edie spoke up, "Yea, she spent half her time competing with Bree over who had a more perfect life. I guess nobody won that competition; it didn't end too well for either of you!"

Susan shot her a look, and she glanced at Bree, who was staring down at the dish in her hands. Lynette reached over and took the dish from her to put it in the dishwasher, but Bree remained silent and didn't look up.

"Bree?" Gabrielle broke in, "Are you okay?"

She plastered on a smile, "Of course. I'm fine, really. I just spaced out for a minute."

"Okay. And thanks for coming guys. I really needed this to keep my mind off of the baby and Carlos and everything."

"No problem." Susan and Lynette both answered, smiling sympathetically.

"What are friends for?" Bree smiled.

"Yea, apparently friends are for taking your money in a poker game and gossiping about the neighbors to distract you from the fact that your husband is in jail, your lawyer wants to sleep with you, and you don't know the father of your unborn unplanned child!" Edie said smugly.

Susan shot her another look and asked the others, "Why did we invite her again?"

"What? I was just kidding! You should work on your sense of humor Mayer."

"Thanks, I'll make a note of that." She sarcastically replied.

Bon Jovi's Livin' On a Prayer started to play in one of the pocketbooks on the table.

"Ooh that's mine!" Susan reached for her bag and pulled out her cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi mom."

"Hey Julie! What's up?"

"Is it okay if Logan comes over again?"

"Now? It's kinda late."

"No, tomorrow. I'm just asking now because he has to go out and he wants to know."

"Oh, ok. Uh…sure."

"Great! Thanks; see you later!"

"Okay, love you, bye."

"What was that about?" Bree asked curiously.

"Julie wanted to check if Logan could come over tomorrow."

"Again?" questioned Gabrielle, "Hasn't he been over like every day this week after school?"

"Yes, and they've been chatting online at night."

"Wow."

"Yea. But isn't it odd that he always comes to our house and never invites Julie to his house?"

"Not really." Reasoned Lynette, "If he just moved in, they probably aren't completely unpacked so it's probably messy over there."

"That makes sense. I'd better go get some sleep; Mike and are going having dinner tomorrow to talk and I'll need all the energy I can get."

The girls gathered their purses and headed to the door. They each thanked Gabrielle, said goodnight, and went home.