CJ was on the phone with Dean, talking him off of a ledge of sorts. He was angry about Seth coming near her and worried about what that might do to her, and he was tempted to leave his obligations behind just to make sure that Seth didn't try anything funny. As much as she would've loved having Dean's company, she knew that he needed to be on the road. He needed to release his frustrations on whoever he got into that ring with before he came home to her. She knew he'd never hurt her, but she wanted him to be in a good mood when he walked through her door.

"You're sure you'll be alright?"

"It's ten minutes at most, and I'm going to try my best to keep the conversation centered around the pregnancy." CJ assured, rubbing her stomach as she stared at Grumpy Smurf. "I need a better name for this fish other than Grumpy Smurf."

"Are you changing the subject on me?"

"Yes. Any suggestions?" She asked, smiling when he chuckled. "Don't just be sexy, help a sister out."

"Alright. Sorry. Name him McLovin'."

"McLovin'?"

"McLovin'." He repeated, and CJ could just picture the serious look on his face as he spoke.

"Isn't that the name of the kid from SuperBad?" She asked, tilting her head as she looked at her fish.

"Yeah. The name is great. I almost changed my name to McLovin'."

"Well now you can't because that's the fish's name." She teased as a knock sounded on the door. "I'll call you back, okay?"

"Alright. Be safe, baby."

"Ditto, Ambrose." CJ spoke before hanging up and heading over to the door. She saw Seth when she looked through the peephole and sighed, but told herself that she wasn't yelling at him unless he earned it. But she didn't say anything about being civil.

"CJ, I'm surprised you opened the door." Seth spoke with a nervous smile, hands in his pockets as she leaned against the doorframe.

"Yeah, well, I wasn't sure if you'd make a scene or not." She stated, trying to keep her face neural. "What do you want, Seth?"

"I was hoping to just talk to you about everything. Emotions were running high when we last spoke and now that we've both had some time apart to think about it all, I'd like to have one civil conversation where we don't yell at each other." Seth explained, watching as she bit her lip in thought. "Can I come in?"

He got his answer in the form of CJ walking away and leaving the door open, so he slowly entered her apartment and shut the door behind him. It was a small space, but he imagined that when Dean was in town they were together so she didn't need a big space to herself. It also made him wonder if they made plans to move in together in their future as a couple. But he shooed any thoughts about Dean from his mind because that would only upset him more.

"I see you have a fish."

"His name is McLovin'. Can I get you a drink?"

"What do you have?"

"Water, apple juice, orange juice, and lemonade." She listed, stepping back when Seth stood beside her to look into the fridge.

"Some lemonade would be nice."

"Here's a cup." CJ spoke softly, extending the cup out to him. His fingers brushed against hers as he took the cup and both felt that familiar spark, but CJ quickly pulled her hand away much to Seth's disappointment. But he poured her a glass when she set one done and watched as she sat down on the couch. He took a moment to check out her baby bump and smiled, finding himself longing to feel where his child was growing and developing. "Are you going to sit down?"

"Yeah. Sorry, I got caught up by your bump. It's adorable." He explained himself as he made his way to sit on the couch, but keeping his distance like he knew she'd want. "Can I just start by saying I'm sorry? I know it probably means nothing now that you're happy with Dean, but I truly am sorry for cheating and everything I said."

"It's not just what you did and said. I would've tried to work passed that." CJ mumbled, looking up at him briefly before looking back down at her drink. "But you changed, Seth. I couldn't handle that."

"How did I change?"

"You got all serious and everything was just business to you. The wardrobe change is something I would've adjusted to with time, but you weren't you. You weren't that goofy guy who was always smiling. You weren't my Sethie anymore, and I found myself worrying if you were going to see what we had was just a business relationship because I'm having your kid."

Seth knew he'd regret asking the question as soon as she started speaking, but he didn't know to what extent. But gradually her voice got quieter as she spoke and gradually he felt even more terrible as a person and boyfriend the quieter she got. He couldn't believe that it had gotten that bad and he was honestly ashamed of himself for ever thinking that the way he acted was going to be fine in the end game. If he even wanted to be anywhere near her in a friendly way, he had to right every wrong he had made by her. He had to be who he used to be again.

He just had to figure out how.

"CJ, I didn't realize that I had been turning into such a dick."

"When you associate with dogs, you start to catch fleas." She muttered, setting her drink on the coffee table as Seth sighed.

"Why didn't you hit me sooner?"

"Violence is never the way to solve things. I thought that first break would've been enough for you to realize, but it only got worse and I couldn't handle it. I was stressing myself out over you and it wasn't healthy."

"I can understand. You were doing what was best for you and our babies and I appreciate that so fucking much, CJ." Seth spoke, his tone giving away just how sorry he was as he set his cup down and scooted closet to her. "I need you to understand that I could never think about what we had as a business relationship. I love you, CJ, and I always will. I love those babies more than anything and they're not even here yet."

"Even Dean's?"

"Even Dean's. We may not see eye to eye right now, and I'm not sure that we ever will after what I did, but his child is part of you. I love every little thing about you, CJ."

"Don't, Seth. Stop telling me that."

"That I love you? Never."

"I'm going to say this once. If you loved me, you wouldn't have cheated on me." CJ stated, looking up at him. The tears in her eyes threw him off, but he nodded in understanding. "Drunk or not, you knew it was wrong and you still went through with it. Not to mention the two blondes that were in your room when I went to get my bag."

"Hunter called them once he heard about our breakup. I didn't do anything with them other than cry and ramble about how much I missed you. They were gone in an hour." Seth explained, his eyes telling her that he was telling the truth. She could deny her love for him all she wanted, but she knew that Seth would always have a special place in her heart. "But how are the babies? Everything is fine, right?"

"Everything is great. I'm going to be a whale by the time this is all over, but they're healthy and that's what truly matters. I've actually got a baby question for you."

"Alright, shoot."

"Would you prefer a vaginal birth or c-section?"

"I get a say?"

"Duh. You've got one in here, too." CJ laughed, gently patting her stomach. "Dean and I have already talked about it but we both wanted your opinion, as well."

"Whatever you guys want is fine. I really don't know the difference but whatever is best for you and the babies is best for me."

"Alright then. Have you thought about names?" Seth asked and CJ nodded.

"Dean and I decided that if his is a boy we're naming him Oliver Dean and if we have a girl we're naming her Olivia Addison." Just the way she smiled as she spoke made Seth smile. Dean was making her really happy and it seemed like he was putting a lot into being a father. Seth knew he'd be lying if he said he wasn't jealous of the older man. "Have you thought about names?"

"I really like the name Amanda. And the name Brandon sticks out to me, too."

"I like that. Maybe like Amanda Leigh or Amanda Celine?"

"I like Amanda Celine. Brandon Gregory, maybe? Or Brandon Michael?"

"Brandon Michael is great." CJ stated, smiling up at Seth.

"Not as classy as Oliver Dean, though."

"We have time to come up with something you'd find classier, Seth." CJ assured, gently patting his knee. "I bought a book of names that we can look through, if you're not doing anything today."

"I have to check in with Hunter in about half an hour, so I can't stay much longer."

"Then you can take the book with you and text me about it." She stated, as if it were simple. "Just because things are a bit rocky between us, doesn't mean that you've got nothing to do with this pregnancy. Your opinion matters and even Dean agrees."

"That means so much to me, sweetheart." Seth whispered, kissing her head gently as he stood. "Thank you so much for talking to me, god knows that I didn't deserve this much."

"It'll be a long ass road to forgiveness, Seth, but you're taking a couple steps in the right direction." CJ stated, smiling when Seth helped her up so she could go get that book for him. "Thanks for that."

"Not a problem, CJ. You'll be in touch?" He asked as he watched her grab a book from the TV stand.

"Definitely. I underlined the names I thought you'd like that meshed well with the names Dean and I chose."

"Thank you, CJ. I'll definitely let you know what I've picked."

"Drive safe, Seth."

"For sure." Seth wasn't sure if he was allowed to hug her, but she hugged him tightly. "You don't know how much this means to me, CJ."

"If you ever obtain information about me without just asking me first, I promise that I'll kill you myself." She threatened as they stepped back, lightly tugging on his bead as her warning.

"I understand. I felt like I was out of options."

"Well, now you know. And if you tell anybody my name, consider this the last baby you'll ever make."

"Yes, ma'am. I talk to you soon, CJ." Seth said as he left her apartment and she smiled as she texted Dean.

'Seth just left. I'm fine.'

'What did you talk about?' Dean sent his reply, hoping that it didn't sound too overprotective. He knew that would've bothered her, because she could take care of herself, but he couldn't help it. He wanted to keep her safe.

'Why I left him and then we talked about the babies.'

'Did he come onto you?'

'No. He kept his distance and I didn't have to ask him to. There wasn't any begging for another shot or anything. It was weird. We might be getting Seth back.'

'I don't want him back. I'll tolerate him for you but I could care less about whether or not he changed.' Dean only hoped that CJ understood why He wasn't going to be as forgiving. Seth had destroyed a bond and broke CJ's heart all in the same week, and Dean never wanted to see her so broken ever again. The fact that Seth was the reason he had to see her like that was enough reason for Dean to do something seriously bad to Seth. But he wouldn't for CJ's sake.

'I understand. I was just saying...'

'I know Christina. It's fine. I'm not mad or anything.'

'I miss you'

'I miss you too sweets. It's only a couple more days.'

'I know.' He could only imagine the pout on her face and sighed, knowing that after dealing with Seth she probably just wanted to be held and the fact that he couldn't be there made him more upset than he already was about Seth being near her while he couldn't make sure she was okay.

'Are you sure you're not mad?'

'Im positive. Why are you asking?'

'I feel like you have an angry tone.' That wasn't what Dean was expecting. He expected something along the lines of "Seth was here and you weren't" or something to that effect.

'How could I have a tone in a text?'

'Its in how you type. I'm getting the vibe that you're being short with me.' Dean was done. He knew that she'd start getting insecure and questioning things, but him being short with her through texting was something that he'd never heard of and he needed to clear it all up.

He took to pacing the empty locker room, holding his phone to his ear with his shoulder while his fingers drummed against his collarbone. She wasn't answering right away and that worried him. But he wasn't going to snap. He couldn't.

"Sorry, my phone was on silent and I was talking to the fish."

"Talking to the fish?" Dean asked, surprise evident in his tone. He knew that the fish was meant to be a companion, but he didn't think she'd talk to it as if it were a person.

"I do it all the time. It's a bit more sane than talking to myself."

"I guess that makes sense." Dean mumbled, his fingers ceasing their movements momentarily. "I'm not mad at you, Christina."

"Really?"

"What reason would I have to be mad? Sure, Seth was there but you're alright so everything is fine." He assured, keeping his tone even to prove his point.

"Alright. Not to change the subject or anything but I can totally feel them moving in my stomach."

"Seriously? What's that feel like?"

"So weird. It's definitely something I have to get used to."

"Did you ask Seth about the c-section?" He asked, smile on his face since he loved talking about her pregnancy with her.

"Yeah, he's fine with that and I sent him away with that baby name book and told him to pick a couple out."

"Oh good. So do we make an appointment for that?"

"We go in for the ultrasound on Wednesday, so I'll ask about that then."

"Alright."

"Don't you have a match tonight?"

"I had it before you texted me. I was actually about to head out but I figured making sure that you knew I wasn't mad couldn't wait until I got to the hotel."

"I love you, Dean."

"I love you, too, Christina." He wished he could be home telling her these things, but it was only two days before he was. "We're going out to dinner while I'm home."

"Dinner?"

"Its time to show the world that we're together." He knew that his bright idea would have some pretty serious consequences. The social media uproar was one thing that CJ would probably deal with on her own, like he'd deal with the regular media on his own. Not to mention what he might have to deal with at work when the news broke out. Hopefully Seth and The Authority just backed off a bit, but he knew they would try to to take her from him. Everyone always took things from him.

But not her. He'd die before anybody took her away from him.

I'm still really sick, but I found the energy and focus to type this out before I take a nap before MITB starts. Good plan, right?

I'd like to thank you all for your well wishes and Id like to thank ArtisticLullaby, UntilNeverDawns, Sarcastic Nightmare, ChelleLew, and TaijiaK for reviewing the last chapter! I really really appreciate it!