Notes: Thanks to Mari and Sammy for being their always awesome selves. You're the best, ladies!

Readers and REAL McRollers - Thank you for your amazing support! It is always appreciated. I especially appreciate all the love you've shown Cody over the years :-)

Hope you enjoy!

When the Time's Right (A McRoll in the REAL World Story)

"So … guess what?" Jess said as she dropped onto the couch next to Cody at his apartment.

"What?" he asked, shifting to face her more fully.

"Kelsey got the job."

His eyes widened. "The one in L.A.?"

She nodded. "Yeah."

"Whoa. That's huge. She said yes?"

"She did."

"Whoa," he said again. "Didn't she think she totally blew the interview?"

"Yeah, but … I guess they didn't agree."

"That's awesome. I mean, I know you're really gonna miss her. You two have been roommates forever."

"I am, but I'm really happy for her, too. It's like her dream job."

"Yeah." He blew out a breath, still amazed by the news.

"Yeah …" She echoed, voice trailing off. She raised an eyebrow questioningly and when he didn't say anything else, continued, "So … that thing we talked about before …"

He raised his eyes to hers and inhaled sharply, realizing what she was talking about. "Right …"

She reached over and put a hand on his. "I'm not bringing it up to put a bunch of pressure on you, it's just … if we're not gonna right now then …" She shrugged, gesturing with one hand. "I need to find a new roommate. Or a new apartment. I can't swing that rent by myself."

"I know," he said, nodding.

"And … we did talk about it, like, last month. It's hard not to see this as … maybe not a 'sign' exactly but … well, a pretty good time to make a decision."

"Yeah …" he said, his gaze dropping.

She shifted, swallowing hard. "Have you … thought about it anymore? After we talked about it, I mean."

He glanced back up at her and nodded. "Yeah, I … a lot, actually."

"Hey, sorry I'm late," Steve said as he reached the bench where Cody was sitting. Cody didn't seem to register his arrival, staring out at the water. "Earth to Cody." He nudged the young man's shoulder. "Hey."

Cody started, coming back to the present. "Hey." He shook himself. "Sorry, I was … thinking."

Steve chuckled, taking a seat beside him. "Must have been somethin' important."

"Yeah …" Cody said slowly. His eyes landed on the bag on his other side. "Oh, I got you a couple fish tacos." He took two wrapped items out of the bag and handed them to Steve.

"Thanks, I didn't get lunch yet." He opened one of the tacos and took a bite. "So you gonna tell me what's so important?"

Cody leaned his elbows on his knees, studying his hands. "Jess and I … we talked about … whether we maybe want to move in together … at some point." He glanced over at Steve who regarded him thoughtfully as he chewed.

"Okay."

Cody waited, but his mentor didn't say anything further. "That's it?"

"Well, that was a lot of qualifiers on that statement, Cody. You talked about whether you 'maybe' want to move in together 'at some point'? Did you decide anything?"

Cody straightened in his seat, shrugging. "We both like the idea in theory but …"

"But …?" Steve echoed, eyebrow raised.

"We've both got roommates to consider and …"

"And …?"

"And it's a big deal, isn't it? Moving in together."

Steve sat back against the bench with a sigh. "Yeah, yeah, it is a big deal."

"I mean, after you move in together, you don't usually go back to … not living together, right? And stay together, I mean."

"Probably not, no."

"So it's a huge deal. 'Cause what if we live together and it doesn't work? I don't want things to end with Jess, like, ever. I love her."

Steve studied him. "Why do you think it wouldn't work?"

"I don't know, it's just … scary to risk it."

Steve nodded. "I get that. Believe me, I get that. I get the impulse to play it safe and kind of … keep the status quo when it comes to relationships but … there's also something to be said for moving to the next level together."

Cody watched him, listening closely.

"You and Jess have something special, Cody," Steve continued. "Living together could make it even more special. I think that's worth a little risk when the time is right."

Cody exhaled, his gaze going back to the water. A slow smile crept onto his face. After a moment, he glanced back at Steve. "So how do we know when that is?"

"When it's the right time, you'll know."

Cody dropped his head to his chest, snorting a laugh. "I knew you were gonna say that."

Steve grinned. "I'm getting that predictable?"

"Next you're gonna say something about every relationship being on its own path–"

"All right, all right, so I've gotten predictable," Steve said, shoving him even as they both laughed. "Doesn't mean I'm wrong."

Cody's grin softened. "No, it doesn't." Feeling more relaxed, he reached into the forgotten lunch bag for his own food.

"And hey," Steve said, "I don't know Jess' roommate very well, but … I do know Jadon. I think he'll understand."

Cody looked at him. "We haven't decided anything yet."

"I know. But when you do … I think he might surprise you."

Cody smiled. "Thanks, Steve."

"You're welcome." His smile grew. "Let me know when you're ready to move. I do have a nice, big truck."

Cody grinned. "I'll let you know when the time's right."

"Cody?" Jess said, bringing him back to the present. "You still with me?"

He smiled, taking her hand. "Totally. And I think you're right."

"About … what?"

"About it being a sign, or … not a sign, but … an opportunity. I think we should move in together."

"Cody–" Jess started, surprised. "We don't have to decide this second. I mean, if you're not ready." She winced. "I shouldn't have said that thing about the rent. I don't want that to be why–" She stopped. "I can find another roommate. Lauren or maybe Kaila ..."

He took her other hand, shaking his head. "No, it's not that, really. I don't want you to find another roommate because … I want to live with you. It's a little scary, taking that step but … I think it's worth the risk. I want us to live together."

She smiled broadly. "You do? Really?"

He nodded. "Really. Do you?"

She nodded back eagerly. "I do." She laughed. "I didn't mean that like 'I do'."

"I know what you meant," he said, grinning.

She laughed. "Oh my god, did we just decide to move in together?"

"I think we did." He leaned in, kissing her. "I love you."

"I love you, too." She kissed him again, running her hands up his chest and coaxing him to lie back on the couch. "So … how do we celebrate?"

He grinned. "Mm, I've got a few ideas …"

Later that evening, Cody and Jess were back on the couch when Jadon came home. "Hey, roomies," he said in greeting, dropping his keys on the table by the door.

Cody and Jess exchanged a look and she stood.

"You're not staying?" Jadon asked, confused.

"Not tonight," she said and glanced between them meaningfully. "You guys need to talk."

Jadon laughed, looking at Cody. "We 'need to talk'? What, are you breaking up with me?"

Cody didn't answer and Jess leaned down to kiss him goodbye. "Talk to you later?"

"Yeah," he said, giving her a quick kiss.

She headed for the door, giving Jadon's arm a squeeze. "Later, J."

He watched her go, still confused, and looked back at Cody whose expression remained serious. "Wait, what's going on?" His eyes widened. "Oh, hell, you are breakin' up with me. I mean, you know what I mean." He pointed to the door where Jess had just left. "Are you and Jess moving in together?"

Cody's mouth opened in surprise. "How did you–?"

Jadon looked toward the ceiling. "Well, it's about time."

"What?"

Jadon rolled his eyes, dropping into the armchair next to the couch. "Cody, how many nights did Jess sleep over last week?"

Cody thought about it for a second. "Three."

"Uh huh, and how many nights did you sleep at her place?"

Cody winced, understanding the point his best friend was making. "Three."

"Yeah. Most of the time I feel like I either have two roommates, or none."

Cody blanched. "Dude, I'm sorry. I never meant to make you feel like a third wheel in your own apartment, or to … abandon you. I don't know which one is worse."

"You haven't, man, that's not what I meant. I love Jess, you know that. What I meant was … I've known this was coming." He shrugged. "Kinda hoped it was coming, actually."

"You have?"

"Yeah, man, you and Jess are so awesome together. You make each other really happy and that's … that's special. It's about time you moved in together. That's the next step, right? I think it's great."

"You do?"

"Yeah, of course."

Cody smiled. "It's actually … really good to hear that. This is a big step and I …that makes me feel better, man."

Jadon leaned over and slapped his arm. "Good."

Cody winced. "But I hate thinking I'm leaving you with all the rent on this place. Or having to find a new one since we haven't re-signed the lease yet."

Jadon waved him off. "Man, don't even worry about it. I told you, I saw this coming. I've been scoping out options."

Cody raised an eyebrow. "You've already got someone lined up to replace me?"

"Potentially. Or I might get a one-bedroom on my own, I'm making pretty good money now at the academy."

Cody nodded slowly and smiled. "Thanks for being so cool about this, J."

"Hey, man, it's been awesome living together the last couple years, but I knew it wasn't forever. I'm happy for you," he said genuinely.

"Thanks." Cody sat back on the couch. "So what do you want to do tonight?"

Jadon's brow furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

"You wanna watch a movie or–"

"Man, if you don't get out of here," Jadon said, trying to push him off the couch.

"What?"

"You just decided to move in with your girlfriend. I don't know a lot about relationships, obviously, but it seems to me that's something the two of you should be celebrating."

"We … did …" Cody said. "I thought ... if I'm moving out, shouldn't we hang out as much as we can?"

Jadon rolled his eyes. "Dude, you're not moving to the mainland, we're still gonna hang out. In fact, we might actually spend more time together if we're not living together."

Cody shook his head, chuckling. "Only you would come up with that logic."

Jadon grinned. "Yep, and you're gonna miss it."

Cody's expression softened. "Yeah, yeah I am."

"Aw, bring it in." Jadon stood, motioning for Cody to do the same. They clapped each other's backs in a quick hug. "Now go and let me start basking in the joy of living alone."

Cody rolled his eyes but smiled. "All right. I'll see you tomorrow." He picked up his phone from the coffee table. "Thanks again, J."

"Yep," Jadon said, settling himself comfortably in the center of the couch. "Just remember who your best man is gon' be."

"J–"

"Da dum dadum," Jadon tunelessly hummed the Bridal Chorus. "Da dum dadum."

Cody grabbed the back cushion from the armchair and chucked it at him. "And maybe I'm not gonna miss you after all," he said, heading for the door.

Jadon cackled after deflecting the cushion, and put his feet up on the coffee table and his arms behind his head. "You keep telling yourself that, Code-man."

Cody threw a wave over his shoulder as he walked out the apartment door, sending off two quick texts as he did.

To Jess he typed: J's cool - be there in 10 to continue celebrating ;-)

And to Steve: The time's right

With one last glance back at the door, he smiled.

"The time's right."

Hope you enjoyed!

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