"Boo!" She giggled, peeking up from behind her hands, and tickling the squealing 6-month-olds covered stomach, "Ahh, boo!"

"Mommy, dis one is jus f-ull" He announced, dragging the medium sized open cardboard box across the floor with pride.

Putting her hand out for a hive-five her brow rose up at him, "Good job buddy! Wait... is that one of Emma's teething cookies?"

Biting into it, he nodded vigorously, "I jus wike the b-nan-na ones!" She giggled again, going back to the game as the baby grinned wide, and let out an excited shriek.

A light knock came through the air, "Are we interrupting?" The occupants on the other side, smiling sheepishly as they stepped slowly into the room, "We heard about your mom selling the house... how are you?"

Sighing, Amy pulled the baby into her lap, and handed her a teething ring. Emma took it quickly, shoving it into her mouth and babbling incoherently. "I'm okay. It's time - it just sucks having to pack up everything... my whole life was here and now-"

A gasp sent her attention to the closet, her eyes wide as her toddler rushed over to her with something nestled into his hands. "Wook, mommy!"

Pursing her lips, she squinted at the object, "Bring that here a sec." Obeying, John galloped over, beaming as she took the toy from his hands and his sister started blowing spit bubbles from her mouth.

"I thought this thing was long gone... it was John's favorite toy when he was a baby. Do you remember this thing, bud?"

Lifting his head up from his game with his sister, he nodded, and took the toy back, cocking his head, "Yeh! Emma, hey - wook." Emma grunted, lunging forward for the toy her brother held up. Putting it on the floor, John grinned when the piece of hard plastic came to life and started making noises as it moved robotically in one place. She stared at it, watching Mickey Mouse covered in red pajamas, crawl away from her, her green eyes wide in wonder as it came closer and touched her covered foot - eliciting an excited squeal while flailing her little arms.

"We're really sorry about..." Madison started, pausing to look down at her friend who still held the child in her lap.

Amy waved it away, smiling at her daughters interaction with the toy, "It's fine. You didn't know, and I shouldn't have just left them there - it's my fault. And, she's fine." Craning her neck, she jostled the infant, "Huh, peanut - you're okay"

"Da-da-da-da" Emma responded, lunging for the crawling toy again, successful at grasping onto the soft ear and dragging it towards her.


"Hi, John, daddy's here. I love you" Ricky's voice was soft, standing as still as a statue holding their newborn son. She was nestled inside her covers, desperately wanting to slip into a never ending abyss of slumber to replenish every once she had lost in just a 3 day timespan. Their son was sleeping too - cradled in his father's arms, little cooing type noises coming from his incredibly tiny mouth.

Blink

"So, here's the thing - mommy has had a really bad day, and she's really tired... think we can let her sleep?" Ricky was gentle, pacing around the room late at night while she tried to get some rest in the nursery. He'd come over to pick John up for his first night in his apartment - a big deal for him - only for him to arrive to an asleep baby, who he stayed, sat in a chair by the bed, and watched sleep for over an hour straight without flinching. She knew because she heard a little whimper and went to tend to it, only for him to already pick John up and start trying to comfort him. He settled almost immediately in his arms, only whimpering again when he tried to lay them both down on the bed. He smiled at his little coos, kissing his temple and patting his back, "That's my boy."

Blink

"This seems weird." Ricky's brow was furrowed, tossing back a section of the orange frilly comforter he'd been sleeping with for 4 weeks.

She chuckled under her breath, taking the other side, and slipping under it, her muscles immediately starting to relax in the familiarity, "We're just sleeping in the same bed - what's so weird about it? We're not having sex or anything - it's perfectly normal for two people to actually just sleep in a bed without sex, Ricky"

He got inside too, pulling his gray t-shirt halfway off of his head before deciding against it and pulling it back down, giving her an awkward glance, "Can I tell you something serious?" Her face contorted in worry upon his question, half expecting the next words to be something that would devastate her. "You need a new mattress"

Her mouth fell open in both shock and relief, playfully slapping at his chest, "Don't scare me like that!"

His laughter filled the space between them, eyes squinted in amusement, "What? It's true! Might as well just sleep on a stone slab!"

Blink

"How is he?" Ricky walked cautiously into the room, carefully tiptoeing in case their son was sleeping.

"I think he's getting over it - just still really fussy" She was exhausted, running her right hand up and down John's small back soothingly, and tucking his dark brown baby hair behind his left ear

He took another step into the room, stopping and cocking his head in genuine concern at both their son, and her, "And you?"

She tried to give him a small smile, but it fell flat and became a frown, "Fingers crossed." John hiccupped once and started to whine, rubbing his fists into his eyes. She rubbed his back some more, shushing him gently with her mouth and craning her neck to pepper his cheeks in soft kisses. Ricky put his hand out too, stroking the back of his head with the pad of his thumb. "How are you not sick? We literally ate the same place!" Her tone was frustrated, trying to stand up from the bed, but falling back on it and holding her head after becoming dizzy.

He shrugged, "You had mayonnaise, and I didn't. You gave John some of your burger while he just nibbled on my fries."

"Dada!" John whined, outstretching his small hands towards his father.

She got up again, this time successful, "I'm gonna get him some more Pedialyte - can you -"

Pulling a bottle out of his back pocket, he held it up, angling it towards her, "Already got it."

Her face cooperated that time, lifting her cheeks to give him a tired smile "You're amazing", as she took it from his hand and moved their 11-month-old off his stomach and onto his back against the pillows, "Do you mind watching him for a few minutes? I could really use a shower" Her question was hesitant, digging her foot into the rug on the floor.

"Sure. I got it." Ricky didn't even hesitate climbing into the bed and wrapping his arms around John, "Hey, buddy"

The bottle was in his mouth, clenched between his four teeth tightly, but fell onto his cheek upon his arm going around him "Daa-daa"

Ricky nuzzled in closer, putting his left open palm on the top of John's head, while his right thumb swiped across his chubby cheeks, "daddy's here"

She stood in the hallway, biting her bottom lip affectionately at the sweet sight.

Blink

"Hey - you okay?" Ricky ran after her, panic in his face

She was crying silently against the wall, rubbing her expanding belly affectionately, "I'm a terrible mother!"

The color came back into his face, knowing that whatever was causing her to cry wasn't critical and probably nothing to worry about, "What are you talking about, Amy? You're a good mom - the best even."

"If I was such a good mom... why is our son crying in the kitchen? Huh, why?" Her crying escalated

"Is this about -" He paused, clicking his tongue and chuckling under his breath, "Oh Amy..." He took a seat on the bed, pulling her hand to follow him and sit on his lap, "You're not a bad mom because you couldn't go trick-or-treating. You're not. And John is crying because he is 2, and very moody - just like yo-"

He was stopped by the open palm slap to his arm, her sniffling following, "So I'm not horrible?" Her voice was small, like John's was when he was afraid of getting in trouble. He shook his head, putting a hand on her covered stomach - "No. You're protecting our baby. And that makes you amazing." He pecked her lips, smirking playfully, "and besides, your dad took him like 20 minutes ago - and we get to divide the candy for him anyway. Win-win!"

Blink

"Ric-" She coughed, eyes starting to roll back and clutching the sheets as he increased his movements "Ohhh, Ri- mmmmm"

He chuckled under his breath, gripping her legs tighter as his thrust became deeper, "You're gonna wake up the whole house!" Her slow nods and loud moans encouraged him, shifting one of her legs she had on his shoulder, preparing to finish

She could feel the pressure building, as he dipped his head down and went to work on her neck again, his breath hot against her skin, "Oohh - I c-can't - R -" He smashed his lips against hers, drinking in her moans of pleasure and riding out his high, grasping onto one of her breasts as he spilled deep inside of her. Her right hand was in his sweaty dark curls, and the left clenched tightly around the base of his arm, pushing her head back into the mattress, unable to speak above a muffled whisper.

Fighting for air, he panted against her chest, his eyes heavy, "That. Was -" He gulped, reaching up and brushing the hair away from her eyes. Her mouth was still open, eyes screwed shut as he knew she was still feeling the effects of their crazy experiment. "When you said you wanted to be crazy - I didn't anticipate that."

She giggled lightly, staring down to meet his eyes, stroking his cheek with her nails, and lifting his chin up to meet her lips. He smirked against her mouth, rising up slowly on his hands: the small movement causing her to let out a low moan into his mouth since he was still buried deep inside her, as her tongue fought his. "Round 2?" She raised a brow tiredly, grasping at the hair on the nape of his neck, taking the initiative to switch their positions. He smirked again, allowing her to push him into the mattress as he moaned her name, "Amy..."

"Amy!" A shout and a loud cry came from the other side of the room, snapping her out of her trance

Staring blankly inside the empty closet, her head snapped up, startled, "What? Sorry."

Madison furrowed her brow at her, trying to be heard over the screeching, "How do you want these drawers emptied?"

"Just dump whatever in that box. It'll probably all get tossed out anyway." Amy walked over to the doorway, scanning the room, "Where's John?"

Lauren shrugged, taking a drawer out and dumping the contents into another cardboard box, "In the kitchen - something about a popsicle?"

Reaching down, Amy gathered the baby into her arms, Emma's loud cries turning to fussy whimpers as they made their way down the hallway and into the kitchen.

"Hey bud, what are you doing?" She asked, watching him slam the freezer door shut with his small hand

"I want a pa-sicle." John stated, trying to bite the plastic tip off with his teeth a few times before handing it over to her, "Will you jus h-elp me, mommy?"

Taking it from him, she tried her best to use scissors one handed to cut the plastic, spilling some of the blue dyed juice on the counter in the process, "Come on, we've got some more packing to do before grandma Nora comes back."


"I talked to Margaret - you can stay with her for a couple of weeks, but after that... I have an air mattress in the kids room" Ricky sighed into the receiver, "It's tight, but should be fine. Just until George and Kathleen get the guest house sorted out."

"I appreciate everything you're doing... but I think it's time I figure this out on my own." Nora smiled tiredly, "You've been nothing but supportive, and everything, and I love you - but... I went this morning and found this quiet little apartment that I really like. It's 20 minutes away, so I won't be able to see you, and Amy, and John, and Emma everyday but - "

A loud creak sounded, followed by a few loud pounds - giving her the indication that he was climbing stairs. "We will make it work - if that is what you really want to do." He paused, another creak coming through, "I just want you to be okay... you've been through enough."

She nodded slowly, "I will be. I've been okay since I showed up on your doormat two and a half years ago - I'll be okay now."

"I've got to go see my professor, but call me if you need anything?"

"You mean call you if your children need to be rescued from me?"

"Bye." She knew he was rolling his eyes without having to see him, "Mom... I love you."


"I don't know if she should go - what about Ricky?" Madison whispered a little too loudly

Amy's brow furrowed in confusion, "What about him? What are we talking about?"

"The party at the beach tonight... are you going? You and Ricky?" Lauren quickly stood up, taking another box into her hands

She shrugged, shifting the baby from her left arm to her right, "I haven't brought it up to him. He wants to see if his mom can take the kids tonight - give us some alone time."

"I think you guys should come. It's the last party before college!" Madison looked to Lauren, "The time to say goodbye to everyone."

"Everyone like who?" They gave each other another uneasy look. She pursed her lips, hiking the infant higher against her hip, annoyed, "Okay, what aren't you telling me? You've been weird the last week"

Lauren fidgeted with her string bracelet, trying to find the right words just as Madison blurted out "We... got into Berkley!" Amy's eyes grew wide, mouth slightly agape in surprise. Lauren took a step forward, "We wanted to wait to tell you until we both got our acceptance letters... we leave at the end of the month..."

"Why didn't you tell me? That's incredible!"

"You've been busy with your own life." Their eyes were low, watching their friend cradle the infant to sleep.

"It's been a hectic year..." she mumbled, gently swaying from side to side, patting the baby's back, and peppering light kisses against her dark brown curls, "I can't believe she's already 6 months old..." pausing and looking around the room, a sad, tired smile coming to her face, "How is it possible that we're graduating tonight?" They both shrugged, nodding and smiling. "Remember when you both first came here? It was like the third week of third grade, right?"

Madison grimaced at the thought, "I had braces back then - and wasn't that that day you're mom made us something to eat and -"

Lauren interrupted, trying to hold back her laughter, "Oh yeah! She made us some kind of snack and it got stuck in your braces - and then you slammed you head into the bathroom door because you tripped over your own feet!"

"We had a lot of good times in this place..." Amy trailed off, staring at the bed, "I brought John home here... and conceived this little one, here." Shaking her head in embarrassment as her friends cringed and silently gagged, she giggled, "Sorry" before pausing again and biting her lip to keep it from wobbling, "I'm sorry I've been such a bad friend these past few years - I'm happy for you guys, you'll both do great at Berkley. I'll just miss you"

Their eyes got glassy, moving in to wrap her in a hug, as they all started to cry, "We'll miss you too"

"Am I interrupting?" Nora lightly tapped her knuckles against the frame "You said noon, right?"

They broke apart, taking a few steps closer to the open doorway. "She's really tired so she should go down pretty easy," Amy stated, slipping the dozing infant into her mother-in-laws grasp, and making shushing sounds with her mouth when Emma started to whimper, "John hasn't had lunch yet, but a sandwich should be fine for him. Any questions call Ricky." Gathering her purse, she bent down to his level, "I'll see you later, buddy - be a good boy, okay?" He nodded slowly, the popsicle gripped between his teeth as he gave a lazy wave.


Tiptoeing across the floor, she slowly and gently placed the baby into the playpen, hoping with a held breath that she didn't wake up.

"Woah! Dis is a big b-ox!" He cheered, popping up from inside it and littering the floor with packing peanuts

With few words, Nora waved her hand at him and put a finger to her lips, hoping that he would get the message to stay quiet while his sister napped. He didn't, and instead went back to popping in and out of the box, scattering more debris.

"Are you jus sad wike mommy t-oo, gam-ma?" John asked, cocking his head and furrowing his small brow at the way his grandmother sat back down on the empty mattress; her shoulders slumped and eyes low.

She nodded sadly, "Yeah, I am."

"Why?"

"Things are changing, and change is hard. It sometimes makes people sad, and even mad - because they can't control it."

"Yeh..." picking up a few of the white packing peanuts, he stilled, fidgeting with them, his voice a raspy little whisper, "Mommy and daddy are ma-ad t-oo... and it jus ma-ak me, Em-ma sad t-oo"

This threw her for a loop, reaching out to touch her grandson's arm gently, "Are they always mad?"

John didn't look at her, just nodded slowly and moved to join her on the empty bed, "Uh huh... mommy and daddy f-igh-t all da t-ime!" Nora burrowed her brow nervously at her young grandson's demeanor before a fussy little whine turned into a small little hiccupping cry, drawing her attention away.

"You were supposed go stay asleep, little lady!" Gathering her up, she cradled Emma against her chest, swaying slowly to quiet her granddaughters loud whimpers into her shoulder. He stayed on the bed, pulling on a loose thread coming off his sock. "You know what cheers me up when I'm sad?" He shook his head absentmindedly "Chocolate ice cream - Should we get some?" His daddy's signature little smirk came to his face. She smiled at him and asked the infant determined to rip off the side of her cheek with those razor blades they called her fingernails, "What do you think? Should we get some ice cream?"

"Gam-ma Em-ma can't eat ice cweam! She jus has on-ne toof" John giggled, removing himself from the bed, taking his sister's small foot into his grasp, momentarily calming her down the way it did whenever his mom did it.

Nora shrugged, "Oh well, more for us."


"So what does all of this mean exactly? I'd be going to school in the summer?" Ricky's brow was raised, running a palm over his knee slowly

"Just this one class, yes." The professor nodded, "I think it would benefit you more coming for the 6 week course during the summer, versus the 10 week nighttime course in the fall. Given your school schedule, and work, and family life - a nighttime course might be too much."

"And how long is the course? If I'm going to weigh the options, I need to know how much time I'll have to take off work."

"It starts at 10 am, Two hours a day, one day a week, for 6 weeks. The nighttime course starts at 7:30 pm, twice a week for 10 weeks at 1 hour a class." Gathering a stack of papers, Professor Rodriguez circled a line towards the bottom and slid it over, "Taking the summer course would solidify your credit, and make it to where minimal work will be missed, and give you time to be with your family."

He stopped bouncing his knee, leaning toward the desk to get a better look at the sheet of paper, "Can I talk this over with my wife? I'd really like her input before I just make this decision on my own."

"Of course. Let me know Monday if you can."

"I will. I really appreciate everything you've done for me." He smiled nervously, standing and hiking the backpack higher on his shoulder, "I gotta get going - it's my wife's graduation today and she left our 3 year old, and our 6 month old with my mom while she went to school."

Her brow rose, shooing him away with her hands, "A toddler and a baby? Your poor mother - go."

He chuckled under his breath, "Thank you again."

Closing the door behind him, he pulled out his phone to check his messages, absent-mindedly starting to walk down the empty corridor before rounding the corner and colliding with another person

"Sorry -" they both said in unison, looking up to see who they rammed into

"Oh..." Her mouth opened quickly

His jaw went slack, picking up a sheet of paper that had fallen out of his hand, "Yeah... oh..."

"How are you?" Her voice was small, dusting off her shirt

He shook his head, annoyed, turning on his heel, "I'm not doing this"

Clementine sighed, reaching out and grabbing his jacket sleeve, "Ricky wait - I'm sorry -"

"No. Let me just stop you right there." Ricky held a hand up, "I read your letter, Clementine," eyes narrowing into angry slits, "Why didn't you tell me you had feelings for me? Before I introduced you to my wife!"

"I don't know, I just thought -"

"Thought what? That I would leave her when we got closer?" The silent way she shifted her weight and twisted her foot into the concrete giving him his answer. He clicked his tongue and took a breath, "I'm flattered you thought so much of me - enough to put your feelings out there - but I'm telling you face to face - It's never going to happen. Not with us." His tone lowered, pointing a finger into the air in frustration at her, "I have a lot of fond memories with you too - and I loved our friendship... but Amy and my kids mean everything to me. And I won't jeopardize my life with them... for you."

"Don't let your feelings of guilt and obligation get in the way of your happiness, Ricky." Clementine's eyes were glassy, a desperate plea trying to break as her voice cracked and her lip started to wobble, "Children know when their parents aren't happy - and you pretending that you are is only hurting them"

This angered him, taking a step closer until he was mere centimeters from her face, his tone hard and stern, "my children are happy. They have two parents who love them unconditionally, and I love their mother. And only her." He shook his head again, "Goodbye," turning sharply and bounding down the hallway, his boots making loud thuds against the concrete.


"Remember when I kissed you by that vending machine?" He reminisced, taking a spot by her locker

She rolled her eyes, ignoring his face and removing items from the short steel box, "I tend to block that time out of my mind."

"Is it because you don't want to remember when you were actually happy?" Ben sighed, shoving his hands into his pockets, raising his shoulders, "It's not too late, Amy. Walk away. Do what you want to do and go."

"You know what?" Amy slammed the locker, her face an angry shade of red as she attacked him, "I am happy, Ben. And I'll be even happier tonight when I walk across that stage and get my diploma and get the hell out of here! And you and me?" She scoffed, tucking the gold gown under her arm, "Well that'll just be another bad distant memory in these hallways."

Knocking into his shoulder, she stormed off, making him chuckle, "We'll see"


"John, quit running around - get ready!" She scolded from the doorway, holding a hot curling iron in her left palm

Galloping through the living room, he shouted, "I swup-er John!" Moving his flimsy dollar store cape between his hand with enthusiasm, "Woo-shhh!"

Amy giggled in amusement at him, "You're a little boy in his underwear and a cape, running around the living room - who needs to get ready to go to mommy's school." Turning towards the mirror, she twisted the curling iron slowly into her light brown hair, almost dropping it when a loud ear piercing shriek-turned-squeal sounded from the living room. John circled around the blanket, whipping the cape over Emma's head in quick steps while she grabbed at it excitedly and fell backwards, making her release a frustrated breath, as she started to cry, "Don't rile her up - hey!"

The door opened, his boot tip hitting the leg of the bookshelf, as the combination of noises filled his ears. Ricky raised a brow at his underwear clad son, his crying daughter, and the mess all over the floor, "What did I miss?"

John turned around, giggling as he continued his string of galloping around the room, "I swup-er John, daddy!"

She put the curling iron on the edge of the sink, meeting his confused face, and bringing the crying baby into her arms, "Your mom gave him ice cream for lunch"

Eyes going wide, Ricky pursed his lips, bringing something out from behind his back, "I brought you this -" and handing her the now drooping yellow tulip he took from the flower bed outside the butcher shop entrance.

Shooting him a smile, Amy took it and put it to her nose, "Thank you"

"Daddy! Daddy! Look!" John shouted, trying to be heard over his sister to get his father's attention as he balanced on the arm of the sofa.

Cupping his hands under Emma's arms, he took her from his wife, jostling her into a few fussy whines as she yanked on the buttons of his shirt and tried to bring them to her mouth. "Tonight's the night - you nervous?"

Curling another strand of hair, Amy paused, shaking her head and moving the device down lower, "not really - more like tired, but ready. Were you?"

"Oh yeah. Terrified."

"Okay... maybe I'm just a little nervous? Mainly about tripping though - the heels I'm going to be wearing I borrowed from Madison and you know how that is."

He chuckled under his breath, "You'll be fine. And hey, if you do trip, at least this thing will have some kind of entertainment -" She slapped his arm playfully, about to rebuttal as another cry bounced off the thin walls

"Owwwww!" John screamed atop the blanket, holding his elbow in his hand as the tears stained his red cheeks.

Rushing past him to aid their son, Amy got down on her knees, "See! This is why we don't run around and jump on the furniture!" Pushing the cape over, she took his arm gently, "Lemme see" looking over it for any visible injuries; sighing in relief when one tiny little scrape barely bled on the bend of his elbow, "It's just a little bitty scrape, you're okay." Kissing his forehead, she gathered him from the floor, back onto the sofa, "You'll listen to me the next time I tell you not to run around, huh?" John nodded slowly, still shrieking in slobbery cries as his palms went into his eyes

She stood up, pushing on her lower back and sighed loudly, "I still have to get them both fed and dressed as well as myself, and get to the gym on time - "

Switching the infant from his left side to his right, Ricky put a hand on her shoulder, "Hey. Take a breath." Obeying, Amy closed her eyes and let out a long exhale through her lips. "Now, go in the bathroom and shut the door. I'll handle them and you get ready."

John's head popped up, reaching out with saliva covered fingers, "Mommmyyyyy"

Ricky saw her eyes shift focus, knowing that if he didn't get her away from their clingy kids she'd never leave the room, "Go. Shut the door. Otherwise you're going to be late for your own graduation."


"John - sit and eat, I'm not telling you again! Hey!" He scolded, gently pulling on his son's shift sleeve to keep him seated in his chair just as a glob of orange mush landed against his blue button down shirt. He shifted his attention, taking the spoon and moving it away from her grabby hands, "What was that about?"

"Do I look okay?" She inquired softly, stepping into full view in the kitchen lighting.

Smirking, Ricky stood from the table, stepping closer to her, "You look great." He brushed his lips against hers, eyeing the way her gown hugged her chest and the heels gave her legs a tighter look, as he tried to get close enough to seductively whisper in her ear, "What time do you have to be there?"

Knowing his motive, Amy pulled away, stifling a giggle, "6:15 I think" her brow rising in worry and her voice rising in pitch upon looking at the clock - the blue digits reading 5:43, "is it really that late? They're not ready yet?"

"You pwetty, mommy!" The three-year-old beamed, picking at the breading of the chicken nuggets on his plate before guiding them into his mouth

"Hey - back to the table, you can't get mommy's gown dirty." Maneuvering his son's small frame back to the chair he had escaped from while assuring his frustrated wife, "I will drive them in my car and meet you there." Adjusting the cap around her newly curled hair, Amy gave him a worried glance, and smiled weakly at their messy children.

"Give quick goodbyes before you're late. Traffic is a nightmare."

"I wanna go wit mommy!" John protested, chopping down on a ketchup covered bite that made his mouth look bloody

Ricky shook his head sternly, "You can't, mommy has to go to her school, and daddy is taking you and Emma there after you eat."

"I want mommy!"

Careful not to trip on her feet, Amy walked slowly over to the table, trying her best to bend in the gown, "Hey - hey listen to me. Eat your dinner, and let daddy get you ready, I'll see you when you get there, okay?" He stayed silent, arms crossed against his chest. She blew out a tired breath, running her hand through the hair covering his forehead, "Okay, buddy?"

Eyes cutting to the other side of the room, John picked up another piece of nugget, moving his head slowly, "O.k."

Standing back up, she kissed the top of his mop head and went to the highchair a few inches away. Ricky stepped next to her, ready to step in front of her if he needed to shield her attire from the mess their youngest child had created, "Unless you want to be covered in sweet potatoes... I'd advise against coming over here."

Amy chuckled lightly, holding her hair back with her left hand as she ran her right over their restrained daughter's curls, smiling down on her as she tried to grab the golden swinging tassel hanging over her cap. Emma whined, batting her hand against the highchair and pumping her legs in irritation.

Smiling again, she pecked her head like she'd done with John prior, and opened and closed one palm quickly, "Bye peanut, I'll see you later"

The heels clacked against the floor, echoing off the bookshelf wall as she stood next to the wooden front door, "Clothes are on John's bed, but I can't find Emma's sho-" Ricky crashed his lips against hers, shutting her up, and allowing her one moment of peace. Applying more pressure, Amy whimpered almost inaudibly when he pulled away, leaving his palms against her gown covered arms, before she reluctantly turned and opened the door, giving him another quick peck, "Bye. Love you"

"Love you too - now get going!"


"I don-t wike dis!" John yelled loudly, throwing the black short sleeved dress shirt that matched his dad's, on the ground

"I don't have time to argue with you, John. We're already running behind." Ricky muttered aloud, securing the button on the back of his daughter's black and white polka dotted dress as she squirmed and fussed against his efforts, crying with grabby fingers in protest at the obnoxious oversized bow Amy had bought for her hair. He nodded in understanding, "I know Emma, I wouldn't want to wear this thing either", tossing it to the sofa after the third failed attempt of getting it on her head.

John grunted in anger, trying to remove the matching black shorts from his body.

Frustrated with his whining daughter pressed into one arm, while he maneuvered around the small space gathering baby supplies with the other, Ricky's patience was wearing thinner, "I let you wear your shorts - you're wearing the nice shirt mommy picked out for you."

"I don-t wanna go to mommy's sk-owl!"


Holding the longer part of the golden gown, she ran into the packed gymnasium, eyes wandering around the faces of her peers until she spotted them by the door to the dodgeball closet, and walked over quickly to greet them, "Wow, you both look great." They smiled modeling subtlety to each other against the wall: faces quickly going sour upon his unwanted infiltration

"Ah, alone again are we?" Ben smirked, adjusting the blue cap on his thin head

Amy rolled her eyes, pursing her lips, "Don't you have something better to do? Like leave?"

His mouth opened for a comeback, Henry's loud shout of his name stopping him. Narrowing his eyes, he mumbled, "You should probably get in line - we've all been waiting on you to finally get here."


Sprinting through the open doorway, he gave the gentleman propping it open a small wave, "Thanks," guiding the small boy by the hand who didn't want to move his feet

Nora paced by a row of lockers, exhaling in relief upon their arrival, "Finally! What took you so long?"

"You try to wrangle two small children, and feed them while getting them ready - then tell me how on time you are." Letting go of John's hand, and taking out his phone to silence it, Ricky handed her the squirmy baby, his expression filled with annoyance, "Thanks for giving him ice cream by the way"

Waving him off, Nora started walking towards the double doors, "Everyone's already here."

Stopping at the end of two row of chairs with members from their family scattered throughout. She waved her hand over for Margaret and Anne to move their legs so Ricky could get by, Anne giving him an uneasy look as her grandson slid past her. "I saved you a seat, but it's pretty tight - John might have to sit on someone's lap."

Knowing he wouldn't be happy next to Anne, nor be able to sit in the sardine seat Nora had saved for him, he took the seat next to George - which must have been Nora's given the way she took the seat next to Anne begrudgingly - his father-in-law giving him a concerned glance, "It's about time, the ceremony is about to start."

Taking the seat, Ricky straightened out his dress shirt, checking his watch just as the band started playing the flat opening of Pomp & Circumstance, and the students started their decent to the stage from the back doors where they sat.

"Mommy!" He heard his son shriek behind him, no doubt also pointing at his wife and embarrassing her, "Daddy, I see mommy!"

Turning around quickly, he put his hand on his shoulder, lowering his voice to talk to him, "I see her too, buddy, but you have to be quiet okay?"

Ignoring him, John started to wave at Amy, and shout louder - causing the people on the other side of the row to stare, "Hi, mommy!" Amy gave a small wave back, a nervous and excited smile on her face. He slipped past his grandmother's, determined to join the line and be with his mom. Ricky saw John's black dress shirt slip by through the corner of his eye, quickly putting his arm out to prevent him from going any further - or embarrassing her more.

John protested against his father's arm, "I wanna go see mommmmyyyy..." before being swept back and placed on his lap

"No, you have to stay here." Ricky's voice was stern, holding him in place against his legs. "Mommy is up there, and now you really have to be quiet - other people are going to start talking."

She watched the toddler buck and squirm in irritation, knowing from being around him that he was going to have a tantrum very soon. Kathy stood up, walking slowly past Ethan who she had to sit by given the limited seating, and Grace's mother whose hand was clasped tightly into George's. Tapping his shoulder, "Wanna switch seats? He can probably see Amy better over here."

Ricky nodded, carting his son by the waist in the bend of his left arm as they made their way down the aisle, "Thank you, Kathy."

Getting situated, he sat them down again, craning his neck down to whisper into his ear, "Now, can you see mommy?" John nodded slowly, chewing on his fingers and lying back against his dad's chest. "Good. Quiet remember?"


Ricky checked his watch, feeling the vibration of his son's yawn against his chest, and pursed his lips at the fact that the principal had been talking for almost 45 minutes. He glanced up at Amy, knowing that she was probably up there giving some serious eye rolls when her head was turned away from the crowd. He smirked amused at the thought, but quickly frowned when the principal dropped the microphone accidently and it sent a loud, ear splitting, ring of feedback through the auditorium - the echo bouncing off the high ceilings only aiding in everyone shielding their ears - and waking one very sleep deprived infant who let the room know it by releasing a howling cry.

"Nice going Juergens" Ben sneered under his breath, getting the attention of their fellow peers who also started snickering and scoffing at her. Amy bit her lip, determined not to allow their remarks to bother her, and instead glanced quickly into the crowd to find her distraught child as Lauren stomped on his foot with her heel in her defense.

The mic drop had startled Emma awake, and knowing that regardless of how much shushing and patting his mom did, she wasn't going to calm down for anyone but him or Amy - especially when she was tired. Patting his leg, "Hey buddy, can you scoot over a little bit?" Ricky shifted John's body, placing him very close to his foster brother who just rolled his eyes like normal, "You're being such a good boy, good job."

They played pass along, the screaming baby changing the hands of her grandparents before being given to him. Ricky put Emma on his knee, gently bouncing her and making shushing noises as he held the pacifier in her mouth with his fingers - even though she could almost put it in herself, but almost always dropped it in the most inconvenient places. Her screeching calmed to fussy whimpers, as his voice pitched and his finger pointed to the stage, "Look, Emma - there's mama." Emma mimicked him, her little fingers reaching out, as she grunted, "yeah, there's mama" When Ricky glanced up again, their eyes met, and be could tell Amy was upset, embarrassed, and about to cry by the way she shifted in her seat, and clasped her palms together in her lap. He lowered his head, smiling down at the baby battling her hand against his thigh, and kissed her temple.

Another hour passed, thankfully at the point in the long ceremony that the graduates actually walked up on stage. One by one as the names were read, he held a breath, waiting for her name. And when it was read, their whole section cheered, complete with Nora's loud whistling and John's hollering. Ricky had finally gotten Emma back into a state of calm over the last hour, only for it to be ruined when the guy after Amy caused the room to erupt in a mixture of thunderous applause, and hollering a weird chant - causing the infant to become startled and cry yet again. This time, he sighed and moved out of the aisle and out of the room, stopping when he reached his old locker, and leaned against it. "You're not being very cooperative today, are you?" Ricky teased, pecking his daughter's temple, and brushing her bare left leg with the pad of this thumb.

20 minutes later they reentered the doorway, just in time for the principal to introduce the new graduating class while they all threw their caps in the air, and the flat notes of the song started again.

Taking the opportunity while everyone was occupied, Ricky quickly gathered the diaper bag, and their son, and exited the room again, ushering the boy by the hand to the row of lockers.


The hall felt different, its long corridor of dim lights threading back to the well lit gymnasium; the mixture of sobs, laughter, and loud chanting filling her ears as she walked silently down it clutching the black booklet that housed her diploma. The diploma she worked her ass of for. The diploma that would propel her dreams forward. The diploma he helped her accomplish by being there every night and helping her until they both collapsed from sheer mental exhaustion more times than one. Giving small smiles and waves as the onlookers, teachers, and random parents mumbled their congratulations to her as they walked by to join in the festivities, Amy wiped the tears starting to roll down her cheeks, and took off in search of her little - disruptive - family.

Rounding the corner to put the gown back into her old locker, she jumped back a little startled at the sight of them standing there. "You d-id it, you d-id it!" John cheered, bouncing on the balls of his feet in glee as he gripped a small bundle of flowers and held up a crinkled homemade sign etched in Ricky's handwriting reading: "We are so proud of you, mommy!"

Ricky's smile spanned his entire face, trying his best to embrace her with their squirmy 6-month-old in his right arm, kissing her lips, "You did it, Ames. You officially can leave these hallways forever - how you feeling?" Emma answered for her, releasing a squeal and a few incoherent babbles as she grabbed onto the golden tassel dangling from her cap.

Amy giggled at their baby, scrunching up her nose playfully, "Tired," and leaned in to give her a kiss on the cheek, which Emma denied by batting her hand against her mother's head in an effort to prevent her from taking the shiny golden thing grasped between her small fingers.

John giggled at her reaction, wrapping his arms around Amy's gown covered legs, burying his head as she raked her hand through his slightly sweaty dirty blonde locks.

Footsteps slapped heavy against the tiles, making her groan into Ricky's shoulder, "Ugh, my dad is coming... and he has a camera." He groaned with her, not quick enough in turning around that her dad didn't catch them.

Noticing their faces, George waved a hand through the air dismissively, "Groan all you want but I'm getting pictures. Smile and pose."

Taking the cap off her head as the infant kept pulling at it, Amy ran a hand through her bangs, blowing air from her cheeks, "Dad we're all tired and we need to get the kids to bed -"

"It'll be quick" He assured, adjusting the bulky digital camera against his face while also waving over the other family members taking their time walking the dingy hallway.


The smiles plastered on their faces were very evident by the 18th round of photos he insisted on continuing to take to get the perfect shot.

"I think you have plenty - we're done now." Ricky declared, trying to balance both cranky kids in his arms and blinking rapidly from the flashes that still continued. His brow furrowed, and lips pursed out, signifying that he was getting annoyed and running out of patience with his father-in-law. George caught on, putting his left hand up in surrender, giving Amy a hug, and silently walking away towards the other end of the hallway where Kathleen was waiting for him. Ricky turned to say something to Amy, but was interrupted by a series of loud squealing and clinking barreling down the hallway

"Amy! There you are!" Madison practically yelled, holding her dress so she could do a makeshift sprint to the lockers, Lauren following behind her with a shy smile on her face upon seeing them together, "So have you decided yet?"

"Decided what?" Ricky's brow rose, adjusting John against his right hip better

"Oh, hey Ricky." Madison gave a small wave, momentarily acknowledging his presence before ignoring him and going straight back to Amy, "Have you decided about the party on the beach? We're all getting ready to head over there - we can all go together!"

Amy looked from her friends to him, "I think we're just going to go home." Sighing tiredly as she brushed the dozing infant's arm with her hand, "It's way past their bedtime."

"But it's graduation night! Who knows when our class will be together again!" Lauren countered, grasping her diploma

Madison agreed, nodding, "Yeah, come on Amy!"

She turned to Ricky again, taking hold of his arm and laying her head on the sliver of his left shoulder that wasn't occupied by their children, "Let's go, I'm tired."

Ricky glanced at her friends disappointed faces, knowing that she was only denying the opportunity for his benefit, "Actually... maybe you should go."

Her eyes lit up, upon the suggestion, the evident sadness lifting ever so subtlety, "You sure? I thought we were dropping them off with your moms so we can spend some time together?"

"Mom had an emergency at the clinic - I can put them to bed. You should go and have some fun. I trust you."

"You're sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure - I'll be there when you get home," Deep down be wanted her to say no, and go home with their family but he tried to sound supportive and convincing, and just smirked, leaning into her neck to seductively whisper into her ear. "And then me and you can have some alone time..."

Amy bit her lip at his words, "I won't be long," and pecked his lips, gently patting each child's back before turning on her heels and walking backwards behind her friends, issuing a small wave, "Bye."

Ricky sighed, watching the door close with a thud behind her, and turned to gather up all their belongings - not thinking it through when he decided that carrying both tired kids in his arms would limit his ability to move and grab things.

"Mighty big of you to let your... wife just go off like that - never know someone might hit on her while your pulling daddy duty." Ben scoffed, taking an unwanted spot next to him, his lanky figure casting a shadow against the orange metal lockers.

Ricky rolled his eyes, "Well Amy can do what she wants, but at the end of the day she's coming home to me, in our bed." Smirking, he turned to face Ben, "More than I can say for you."

Chuckling he put a hand on Ricky's shoulder and patted it mockingly, "Whatever you say, buddy"

The action caused John's head to shoot up at the disturbance, a little whine coming from his mouth, "Ready to go?" Ricky jostled him hoping that his movements wouldn't wake his sleeping sister pressed against his other arm.

Another round of clacking floated into the otherwise silent hallway, and the shrill voice that followed made him close his eyes in frustration. "You just missed Amy - she went to some party with her friends." He explained quickly, glancing towards the door

Kaitlyn pursed her lips in thought, a closed fist slicing through the air between them, "Shoot. Well tell her I said congratulations and I'm so happy she had a change of heart - the four of you will be so happy in New York, I just know it!"

He took a second to respond: not quite understanding the context of her words - change of heart? What did she have a change of heart about? Happy in New York? What? Trying hard to combat his facial expressions from his inner thoughts as to not give his sheer confusion completely away, Ricky just stared a minute before chuckling robotically, "My brain is a little foggy - what are you talking about?"

"The final acceptance" She said it with such enthusiasm, "I can't believe she got the admissions office to do it at such short notice - but I'm glad she did." Nodding with a huge smile on her face, she glanced quickly between the two sleeping children, even reaching out her hand to touch the infant's arm, "This will be a great fresh start for both of you"

The lilt in her voice upon saying those words made him want to hurl something into the lockers. Surely she heard wrong - Amy wouldn't do that... and if she did she wouldn't have put up the lie this long... would she?

He was taking to long to answer, he could tell by the way Kaitlyn creased her brow at him the way she did when he had to sit in her office all those times. Seeing his hands were occupied, she bent down and retrieved the diaper bag on the floor, handing it to his open palm, the smile coming back to her thin face. Swallowing the lump forming in his throat, Ricky managed a forced smile at her and nodded, "Right... I gotta get them home. Lots to do still - but I'll let Amy know what you said."


After an eventful 12 minutes of trying his best to maneuver two sleeping children into car seats with limited use of his arms and hands, Ricky managed to successfully start the drive back to the apartment - a slightly irritated John trying to keep from nodding off each time after having been awoken from his father's unsuccessful attempts of getting them both in and buckled up properly.

The music was low, it's methodic sounds duetting with the gentle humming of the dark highway before being cut off roughly by a loud ringing.

His brow creased in worry, taking one hand off the wheel to touch the screen, "Mom?" There was rustling in the background, a sniffle as well. "What's wrong?"

"Did you know?" Was all she said, Nora's voice was small, sad even, "Is she really going to do it?"

He didn't have the words, nor the answers to give her. He was just as much in the dark about everything as she was. And who knows, maybe there isn't anything to know? Maybe it was a mistake and someone just got their stories mixed up? His hopeful thoughts weren't aiding as he sighed deeply and turned the corner, "I'm almost home - I'll call you when I get there."


He took a seat on the sand, Ben's bare feet flexing into it, and taking a sip from the red solo cup nestled into his palm, "Just think, we can spend every night like this. No responsibilities, no ex drama - just you and me."

"The fact that you believe that is very laughable - is that even soda in that cup?" Amy wasn't in the mood for his snide remarks or baseless comments.

"Touche" He nodded, taking another sip, "You've decided, didn't you?" His question was low, almost inaudible against the rush of water crashing against the nearby rocks, making the muggy June air slightly colder. "That's why you're out here - you pulled the plug."

"It's not that easy. You don't understand" She was crying, wiping the tears streaming down her face with her hands; heart feeling as if it's going to stop at any given moment.

"Sure I do." Ben said, drawing his knees into his chest and keeping them there by linking his skinny arms together, "You're not in love with him, and you want your freedom. What more is there to understand, Amy?" It was silent, she was still crying into her hands, "You have the opportunity to leave - so tell him the truth: rip the band aid off, and go. Leave this town behind and don't look back, because you know, and I know, you want to."

Amy's voice came out strangled, choking on her own mixture of tears and saliva as another round of water crashed against the rocks. "I want them both.


"Ricky?" The apartment was dark, pitch black other than one shred of light coming from the closed door of their children's shared bedroom.

It was unusual for it to be that dark and she knew that, which both concerned her and made her brow rise, whispering out into the room, "Ricky?" No answer. Taking slow footsteps into the kitchen Amy searched for the light switch and whispered again, "Ric - you scared me!" His back was to her, the black button down he was wearing earlier only aiding in hiding him, "Why are you sitting in the dark?"

He turned slowly, not looking at her face as he spoke, "When were you going to tell me?"

"What are you talking about -"

"Don't lie to me!" Ricky boomed, pounding his open palm squarely against the table, "Not about this!" It was silent for a few seconds, before his voice broke through again, this time small, "I know, okay? Nora heard everything... the counselor wished you well by the way..." He sniffled, pushing back the chair to stand, legs shaky as they took two steps forward towards the sink.

"When is it happening, Amy?" Knuckles white as they grasped the counter top, trying to keep all the emotions bubbling to the surface at bay. He sniffled twice, slowly turning on his boot heel to face her, his glassy eyes red from letting the tears fall from his eyes prior to her arrival home after midnight. "When are you leaving me for New York?"

Amy's face fell ashen at his words; frozen in terror of the one thing she tried so desperately to keep hidden, now being pushed to the forefront.