Zack slowly sat up in his bed and yawned before looking at his alarm clock to see he still had an hour before he usually gets up. He laid back down and then he noticed he wasn't alone in his bed. Freddy was sleeping soundly beside him with Joey asleep on his chest. "Freddy, wake up." Zack whispered, shaking him lately. Freddy's eyes fluttered open who smiled at waking up to see Zack in the same bed as him.

"Good morning, Zack." He said looking down and smiling at the sight of Joey.

"Freddy, you should really go back to your place before school." Zack said climbing out of bed.

"Eh, I already have all my stuff here, there's really no point." Freddy explained, still looking down at Joey on his chest.

"Yeah, but do you really want my dad to see you here?" Zack asked, causing Freddy to shudder.

"I'll climb outside the window to meet you once Joey wakes up." Freddy decided. Almost as if on cue, Joey woke up. "Hey Buddy, you ready to go back to your sister?" Joey nodded in response. Freddy lifted him up and placed him on the bed before climbing out.

"I thought you slept naked?" Zack said, pulling his uniform out. Freddy was wearing the unbuttoned shirt of his uniform and a pair of light blue boxer-briefs.

"Zack, there was a baby in the bed." He reminded him.

"Oh right," Zack said as he turned around and began to get dressed. Freddy finished getting dressed and climbed out the window while Zack went downstairs to eat breakfast before leaving to walk to school.

"Thanks again for helping with Joey last night." Zack said as he feed Joey his bottle.

"No problem, I actually kind of liked when I'd have to watch Bart of my cousins." Freddy admitted.

"What's going on up ahead?" Zack asked, pointing out the small crowd around the front of the school. When they got closer they saw someone in the middle of the crowd was spray=painting the sign outside the school. What was even more surprising was who was in the middle of it. "Gordon?"

Gordon was indeed the one inside spraying different shapes all over the school's sign. Not well mind you. "Gordon Weissman, to the dean's office now!" An administrator yelled upon walking outside to see what was happening. Gordon shrugged and strolled inside with a sly smile.

"Wow, I never knew Gordon would do something like that." Zack said.

"I never knew he'd be such a horrible artist." Freddy noted.

"Freddy, I don't think that's the issue here."

"He really should've asked Bart for pointers." Freddy continued.

"Ok, I'm getting nowhere with you." Zack sighed handing Joey to Freddy. "Take him to Summer, you usually pass her class on the way to yours."

"Yes sir." Freddy said taking a hold of the baby before making his way through the school.

"Gordon, what were you think pulling a stunt like this?" The dean asked Gordon as he sat in her office.

"I don't know what to tell you Ms. Bliss, I guess I'm just a troubled child. Looks like you'll have to call my parents." He said.

"That won't be necessary Gordon. This was the first time you've ever broken to rules, so I think I'll just let you off with a warning this time. As long as you clean it off after school today." She told him.

"What? You can't do that. You're the dean Ms. Bliss, you need to hold students like me accountable for our actions. It's all about discipline!"

"Gordon, it's ok if you're having a bad day. It happens to all of us. Now please go to class." She said dismissing him. He sighed as left her office to walk down the hall.

"You actually liked it?" Lawrence asked Zack as he walked him to class.

"Yeah, taking care of a kid isn't so bad after all. Then again it was only for a few hours."

"Wasn't awkward hanging out with Freddy all night?"

"A little. Can I tell you a secret?" Zack asked him quietly.

"Of course, we're best friends bro, what's up?"

"Waking up this morning, seeing Freddy in bed with me, with Joey asleep on his chest, made me really happy. Something about it just felt right, ya know?" Zack admitted.

"Zack, do you like him again? Like the way you use to?"

"Am I in love with him? Is that what you're asking?"

"Yeah, that."

"I-I don't know. Larry what do I do?"

"I'm not sure. I've never been through something like this before. Maybe just try talking to Freddy." Lawrence suggested.

"I don't know, he seems like he's still seems like he's stuck me." Zack told him.

"Well I don't know what else to tell you man." The two of them heard the bell ring. "That's our cue to go, catch you later." He said walking off.

Zack walked into his class and found Gordon in his seat next to him as usual, but had his head down on the desk.

"Rough morning huh?" Gordon looked up at Zack before putting his head back down. "How many weeks did Ms. Bliss give you?" Zack asked amused.

"That's the problem, she didn't. She just wants me to clean the sign and then that's all."

"Oh sure, she gave me four days for missing the trash can toss, but you spray-paint the school's sign and she just wants you to clean it off. Why do you want to get in trouble anyways?"

"My dad's home," Gordon told him.

"Your dad? You never talk about your dad."

"Guess why," Gordon said. But before Zack could respond, the teacher entered the room and class began cutting off the conversation. Zack couldn't help but think of what Gordon's dad was like. Gordon really never has talked about his dad before so Zack just figured that Gordon doesn't know him or that maybe he was passed like Freddy's dad. That brought up another question, why was Gordon suddenly acting up now that his dad was in town?

The bell rang, signaling the end of class and Gordon got up fast to leave the classroom. Zack packed up his stuff and ran to catch up. "Hey Gordon, wait up." Zack called out. Gordon slowed down to wait for him. "What's up with your dad man? C'mon you can talk to me about this." Gordon took a deep breath before he finally answered.

"Well, you know how your dad was over involved in your life for the longest time?" Gordon asked.

"Still tries to be, but yeah."

"Well, my dad's the exact opposite. He hasn't been home since Thanksgiving, and even then he was only home for that day. We got a call from him on Hanukkah, but that's it."

"So, is that why you're acting up?" Zack asked.

"I figured that if I get in enough trouble before he leaves again, he'll have to come to school to see me."

"Wow, that makes alot of sense actually." Zack admitted.

"I'll talk to you later, I got a math class I need to go fail." Gordon said leaving. Zack walked the other way to history class, still thinking about Gordon and his dad.

He couldn't think of what it'd be like to just have a parent that was almost completely uninvolved in his life. His parents, especially his dad, have always made sure to play a big part of his life. They've eased up now that he's in high school, but trying to think of them barely there was weird to him.

"Zack, you sleeping with your eyes open again?" Freddy's voice brought him back to reality.

"Sorry, I was just thinking-what do you mean again?" Zack stopped explaining once he realized what Freddy said.

"I haven't really said until now, but you sometimes sleep with your eyes slightly open. It's creepy." Freddy said, nervously.

"How often?" Zack asked, feeling self-conscious.

"Only when you're really tired." Freddy told him.

"So always then? Anyways, I was just thinking about Gordon."

"Oh, new crush huh?" Freddy asked with a laugh.

"Cute, he's just dealing with family stuff that's all."

"Gotcha." Freddy said before the fell silent. "I miss Joey."

"You really liked taking care of him huh?"

"With you, I did." Freddy told him. Zack felt himself blush and looked away. "Zack I-"

"Alright everyone, butts in chairs!" The teacher said walking in the classroom.

"Later ok?" Zack asked, turning to face the front.

"Ok people, just because Summer isn't here doesn't mean you all get to slack off. The Enchantment Under the Sea dance is only two weeks away, So I wanna see you all taking today's practice seriously." Leonard told everyone.

"Wow, you're doing of good job of taking charge when she's not around." Chiaki told him.

"Thanks, now I just need to master how to lead someone on long enough that it completely shatters them when I leave." He said walking off.

"I'm glad we're not bitter ex's." Zack said to Freddy. Freddy nodded in agreement.

"Hey Zack, can we talk now?" Freddy asked. The two were sitting by the window while most of the other band members were all practicing or setting things up.

"Actually, can I ask you something first?"

"Um, yeah, ask me anything." Freddy said, getting nervous.

"Do you miss it? Miss us I mean? Being together and stuff." Zack asked, intertwining their pinkie fingers. Freddy's heart began to pound incredibly fast and his breathing became heavy. He wanted so badly to say yes but…

"Get out."

"Zack I-"

"Don't. I don't want to-"

Freddy couldn't help but remember last night. He knew they shouldn't be. "Nah, I mean we had alot of fun being together, but I like what we have now. I think it's nice being friends you know?" Freddy lied and flashed a convincing smile.

"Oh, ok." Zack said looking down, a touch of sadness in his voice.

Well, what did you want me to say Zack? Freddy thought.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm late." Gordon said walking in.

"No biggie, go help out Marco with the lights. He's in the gym right now." Chiaki told him.

"Got it, on my way." He said leaving the room. He was heading down the hall when Marta stepped out after him.

"Gordon, wait. Zack told me about your dad."

"Of course he did." Gordon said annoyed.

"I can't imagine what it must be like living with that." She said.

"That's just it, it's not living with it that hurts. It's living without it that makes it worse." He told her. Marta ran up and hugged him tightly.

"You need to talk to him Gordon." She said.

"That's the problem Marta, I literally can't. He's always on his phone for work."

"You have to put your foot down. Make him listen to you." She told him. He thought for a minute about his dad and what Marta just said.

"You're right, I've gotta do it. Thanks Marta." He said, kissing kissing her on the forehead.

Gordon was sitting in his room at home. He had asked his dad to talk to him upstairs and he said he'd be up in a minute. He saw his door open and his dad walk in still on his phone. "Ok, ok, I'll have to call you back in just a minute. My son wants to have a word with me." He said to whoever was on the other end. Yeah, a word, that's probably all I'll get out. Gordon thought. "Ok son, what's up?" He said sitting on his bed.

"Dad, I've wanted to say this for awhile. I want to spend more time with you." He told him.

"What do you call what we're doing right now?" He asked.

"No, Dad that's not what I meant. When's the last time we went out to do something together? When's the last time we went out fishing or bowling or anything?"

"Gordon, I know you want me to spend more time at home, but you have to understand that I have to work very hard to support this family." He explained.

"I understand Dad, but I need you here a little more often." His dad was about to respond when his phone began to ring.

"Just a minute Son, Weissman here. I know, i know, I'll catch a plane ride out to Portland tomorrow."

"Dad," Gordon tugged on his shirt. His father looked back at him.

"Listen, I'm back home right now and I want to spend time with my son. Can't I just-yes. Yes I understand. Gordon, I'm sorry but my hands are tied right now. I hope you understand."

"Dad please, I just want-" He was cut off by his father's phone ringing again. Gordon rolled his eyes and turned away.

"Hello, yes I'm aware. I'll be heading out tomorrow, I just told Donovan. He didn't call you? Hang on, I have another call coming. Hello?"

"Dad," Gordon's voice came through.

"Gordon?" He turned around to see his son on his phone.

"Is this the only way I can get your attention?!" He cried.

"Son,"

"I know what you do is important. I know you do it for me and for Mom, so we can live here an I can go to school with my friends, but I need you here. I just want to do things with my dad again." He said with his eyes beginning to tear up.

"Gordon, I-I didn't know-"

"Of course you didn't. This is the longest conversation we've had in years." He said before the two of them hugged. "Can you please stay? Just for a little longer?" He heard his dad's phone ringing again and let out a sigh.

"Weissman. Yeah, of course." He looked back over at the disappointed look on Gordon's face. "Actually, I'm afraid I'll have to cancel. I'm going to take time off to stay home with my family. Good day." He said hanging up. Gordon couldn't help but smile and hug his father again.