Thank you all so much for your incredible feedback (I know that I must be sounding repetitive, but I have to show my gratitude somehow)

Mizzle fo' Rizzle & dandan2300: I will let you both know now that Olivia is not pregnant and she is not cheating on Will.

Rachelle- Your Almighty Vampire: Hmm, I don't know. Zepherelli Joe as the baby's name...I can promise you that will not be the case. I think that you would all kill me if I did that!

"Marshall's back." Vaughn commented as he peered out of the kitchen window. "And Carrie's with him. You might want to hide…" He turned around just in time to see Sydney scoop out a large portion of peanut butter on her index finger. "What are you doing?"

"I felt like some peanut butter," Sydney replied as if it were the most obvious fact in the world. She began licking it off as she walked towards the window. Sure enough, Carrie was hauling a suitcase out of the boot of Marshall's car. She looked at Vaughn. "Are they living together now?"

Vaughn shrugged. "How should I know?"

"Well, you and Marshall always seem to be having a chat."

"Yeah, but I don't understand half the things he says. And," Vaughn turned away from the window, "if I asked him to repeat something he laughs and says something about him getting the brains and me getting the looks."

Vaughn looked so indignant that Sydney had to bite her bottom lip in order to stop herself from laughing.

"Syd!" Vaughn exclaimed. "It's not funny."

"Uh, yeah, it kind of is." Sydney grinned. She glanced back out the window. "Now I'm going shopping…or walking…or whatever. I'm just going to get out of the house before Carrie comes a knocking." She leaned up and gave Vaughn a quick kiss. "I'll see you later."

"Syd." Vaughn said the next morning. She looked up from the Sunday paper. He was standing at the kitchen bench, knife in hand, looking a little perplexed.

"Yeah?"

"Where's the peanut butter?"

Sydney looked at him for a few seconds before averting his gaze and looking back down at the paper. "I ate it."

Vaughn blinked. "You ate all of it?" He sounded doubtful "But there was almost a full jar there yesterday."

"I know that." Sydney said defensively. "But I woke up during the night and felt like peanut butter. So I ate it."

"With what?"

"Nothing. Just on it's own."

"The entire jar?" Vaughn looked sickened at the thought.

"Yeah…" Sydney paused and looked up. "I wouldn't recommend it though. You feel kinda queasy afterwards."

Vaughn laughed. "I wonder why. An entire jar…" he chuckled. "You know, Weiss would be so proud."

Hearing Vaughn's car pull up Monday afternoon, Sydney jumped up from the couch, where she had been doing their folding and flew to the door. Flinging it open, she headed to the car, where Vaughn was pulling out a few shopping bags.

"Well, well, well, since when are you so happy to see me?" he joked, closing the boot.

"Since always." Sydney kissed him quickly. "Did you get it?"

"Get what?" Vaughn asked, his expression blank.

"Don't." Sydney laughed. "You have no idea what I am going through right now. Did you get it?"

Vaughn nodded towards the car. "The backseat."

Sydney opened the door and pulled out a shopping bag. It was filled with jars of peanut butter. "Oh," she moaned, almost ecstatically. "Michael Vaughn, I love you so much."

Inside, Sydney had just settled back on the couch, spoon and jar in hand when there was a knock on the door. Her mouth full, she looked up at Vaughn.

"I'll get it," he laughed.

"Thanks," Sydney replied, thickly. Seconds later, he appeared again. "It's for you. Carrie."

Struggling to swallow the large amount of peanut butter, Sydney headed to the door.

"Hey Syd." Carrie greeted her with a warm smile.

"Hey," Sydney replied as she continued to work on the roof of her mouth. "Come in."

"Thanks, but this is just a quick visit. I wanted to ask you something."

"What?" Sydney knew exactly what.

"I know this is really early notice, but I was wondering if you would consider stage managing the production this year." Before Sydney could reply, Carrie hurriedly went on. "Look, I know I kind of freaked you out last year, but I promise this year won't be as bad. I've been improving each year as I do it."

'Improvement? Last year had been a improvement.' Sydney couldn't help but think. 'An improvement to what?'

"Anyway," Carrie was still speaking. "I would love if it you could help out."

"Look Carrie, I'm afraid that I can't." Sydney said apologetically.

"Sure you can. You did a great job with Little Shop. Why could you do it again?"

"Oh, I didn't mean that I don't think I can, I mean that I really can't. I won't be returning after the Christmas break."

"What? Why? Are you moving?" Carrie's eyes widened. "You're not resigning are you? You can't quit- you're a great teacher! You have to stay. What have those bastards in administration done? Just tell me and I can sort it out. I know people who know people."

"Carrie, stop." Sydney tried hard not to laugh. "I have no qualms with the people in the administration and I'm not quitting. I'm going on leave. Maternity leave."

"Oh, ok. Just as long…"Carrie trailed off as realization dawned upon her face. "Maternity leave? You're having a baby?"

Sydney nodded and then almost had the wind knocked out of her as Carrie flung her arms around her.

"Sydney, that is fantastic. You must be over the moon."

"Kind of." Sydney smiled.

"Well, I'd best be off, but before I go." Carrie turned to Sydney, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Could I ask you a favour?"

"Sure."

"Next time you do the whole baby thing, do you think you could work the due date around the production?"

"Hey." Will greeted Olivia at his door Tuesday night with a kiss. "How was work?" he asked, stepping aside to let her in.

"Horrible." She grimaced as she glanced around the apartment. "Where's Craig?"

"He volunteered for night shifts this week." Will replied, returning to the kitchen bench where he had been preparing dinner for the two of them.

"He volunteered? Why would he do that?" Olivia asked, sitting at the bench.

Will laughed. "There's this big outdoor music festival thing Friday night. He really wanted to go but couldn't get tickets. By doing night shifts, he managed to wing it so that he is one of the patrolling officers there. This way he gets to see the concert…and gets paid for being there."

Olivia smiled. "I guess it makes sense now."

"Yeah. Hey, speaking of Friday night, are you busy?"

"Um, I don't think so. Why? What have you got planned for us?"

"Nothing specific, but Eric and Ainsley were talking about doing something as a group. I actually think Eric wanted to go bowling.

"Oh." Olivia's face fell for a split second. "That sounds like fun, but I just remembered that mum wanted me to go around for dinner."

Will placed down his knife and looked at her curiously. "You just said that you were free."

"I know. I forgot." Olivia shrugged.

"Ok then, why don't you just come and join us after dinner then."

"I don't think so." Olivia shook her head. "Mum would get upset if I left early. Why don't we just organise to do something Saturday. Just the two of us."

Will's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you really have to go to your mum's or do you just not want to go out with my friends?"

Olivia coughed lightly. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me. You were completely willing to go out until you found out that it wouldn't be just the two of us."

Olivia just stared at him, prompting Will to speak again.

"Well? Is that it? You don't want to go out with my friends."

"What would you say if I said yes?"

"I would ask why."

Abruptly, Olivia stood up. "I don't have to defend myself to you."

"Hang on a second. Who said anything about defending? I am not attacking you. I asked a simple question. What is your problem with my friends?"

"I'm not the one with the problem."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Will demanded.

"I think I should go." Olivia headed towards the front door.

"I don't think so." Will stepped across and grabbed her hand. "I think I deserve an explanation."

"Fine." Olivia ripped her hand from his grip. "I just think it's a little bit odd that you spend so much time with those people—"

"Those people? Is that how you view my friends?"

Olivia ignored the question. "And what I find the most strange is that the two you are closest two are both women, one of whom you used to be in a relationship with!"

"Oh god!" Will let out a frustrated sigh as he rolled his eyes. "There is no need to get all insecure about me and Francie. It is ancient history."

"Is it?" Olivia asked. "You always seem to be with her."

"Yeah, that tends to happen when you've been friends with somebody for over ten years."

"Yeah, will I don't want to hand around and be made a fool of."

"You're delusional."

Olivia's expression hardened. "Wow. Thanks for that, Will." She turned to the door.

"Olivia, wait. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that. Please stay, we can talk."

Olivia looked back over her shoulder. "Go and talk to your friends."

"Have you spoken to Will?" Francie asked Sydney as the two of them sat down in a small café.

"No," Sydney replied. "But Vaughn was speaking to Craig and apparently he had a fight with Olivia Tuesday night."

"About what?"

"Didn't know. Will didn't give any specifics."

"Oh well, we'll find out soon enough." Francie reached for her bag as her mobile started ringing. Mouthing 'sorry' to Sydney, she flipped it open. "Hello…oh, hey." Her face broke in a grin. "Ok…how about Sunday? I've given myself the night off…ok, great…I'll see you then…Bye."

Flipping the phone shut, Francie looked at Sydney, her expression almost giddy.

"Craig?" Sydney inquired, though it was more of a statement than a question.

Francie nodded. "He's taking me out Sunday night."

"Finally. The two of you are getting your act together."

"I know." The grin suddenly dropped off Francie's face, as her eyes widened. "Oh god. What am I going to wear?"