A/N: Didn't wait until Friday to update. So here is the next chapter. This one is pretty short but you'll be getting one Friday. The next couple chapters after this are really JoLu centric. Can't wait for everyone to read them.

Chapter Four

"You're glowing," turning to her best friend who just spoke after hanging up her jacket, she raised an eyebrow in question.

"Huh?"

"If I didn't know better I'd think you got some Lulu Spencer." Maxie voice was giddy as she stood up and move to stand in front of her best friend.

"No, nope. Just had a good morning," Lulu countered. Moving past her best friend and sitting at her desk. Pulling out the layout she had worked on last night. "Think I finally got the ad placements right."

"I know you're hiding something, I'll figure it out, you know?" She did, Maxie was like a dog with a bone but right now, she was keeping quiet and she rolled her eyes.

"Work Maxie."

Stepping off the elevator, Lulu held up the box lunches she had gotten from the Metro Court and moved further into the office. Seeing Maxie sitting at her desk waving a piece of paper and a few dozen of yellow roses behind her. A few dozen of sun flowers next to her. "Nathan?" she asked as she sat the food down.

"Nope. Mystery man for you." The gleam in Maxie eye's should scare her. Swallowing, she reached out for the duel cards. Seeing Johnny's scrawl, she couldn't hide the smile.

'Thanks for being my friend,' the first card read. The other had a short message as well, 'I still remember everything.'

Sunflowers were her favorite. He remembered and the yellow roses must have been for their friendship.

"Are you and Dante getting back together?" Maxie asked suddenly and Lulu couldn't stop the laugh that escaped her lips.

"No, no. Just a friend being nice Maxie."

"He's why you're glowing Lulu, obviously you're seeing someone," her best friend tone let Lulu know that she would not let this go. Plus she was bursting to tell someone.

Moving towards Maxie's desk, she placed one salad in front of Maxie's chair and placed another on the other side. "Sit and we'll eat...and I'll tell you're all about him."

Her friend literally jumped across the room and into her chair and Lulu laughed. Taking a breath, she leaned back in her chair. Both women ignoring their salads. "Johnny showed up at my door last night."

Maxie's mouth hung down and she crossed her arms. "Did he escape prison?" Lulu couldn't blame her friend for asking. It was a valid question, one she had first thought when she had seen him on the other side of the door.

"No, he's actually free. He got out a few months early for good behavior," smiling at her best friend's shocked face on the idea of Johnny getting out early for anything but for good behavior was almost laughable. "Really, he seems different Maxie." It was a trite thing to say but she felt the need to defend Johnny from Maxie.

"You know you can't be with him, right?" Lulu of course knew that but it stung to hear her friend say it. "I mean Valentin will yank away visitation so fast you're head will spin, not to mention how nuclear Dante will go."

They were all valid points and she had ended her marriage for her children, she wasn't about to lose them because of Johnny. Still, the attraction was there and so was the friendship. He understood her which was an amazing feeling to have after Dante's lack of understanding.

"I know, I do Maxie. Trust me. Me and Johnny are just friends. Nothing more. Plus it's not like he'll ever be around Char or Rocco. What I do in my personal time without them around is my business." She knew she was protesting to much and Maxie would see right through it but she wasn't going to stay away from Johnny just because of Valentin or Dante.

She would never bring Johnny around Charlotte or Rocco but on her free time without the kids, being around one of the best friends she had was fair.

"Who are you trying to convince Lulu, me or yourself?"

Shaking her head at Maxie she stood up and tossed the untouched salad into the garbage bin next to her desk and moved to her own desk. "We gotta get to work."

Balancing the flowers and her one bag of groceries was a challenged but when her mom flung open the door to her house, she sighed in relief. "Thank goodness you're here. I don't want to drop them." Lulu admitted as she passed her mom one of the vases.

"Someone has a fan!" Laura said with a grin and carried the two vases of yellow roses to the kitchen while Lulu followed with the two of sunflowers and groceries.

"Long story mom." she said, unsure how her mom would feel about her letting Johnny into her life again, even if she limited it.

"Well the kids are asleep, I got time." Her mom fussed at the sink with the flowers before turning to face her youngest child.

"Thanks again for grabbing them, the magazine is finally done, so I shouldn't have to pull any more late nights. Well until next month." The wave her mom gave her was normal for Laura. She loved spending time with her grand children and spoiling them. She was sure dinner wasn't as nutritious as Lulu would have liked but she owed her mom a lot. Too much so to fuss about what was probably a mac and cheese delight dinner.

"You change, I'll pour a red and meet you in the living room."

Lulu decided to go along with the idea. She did want to talk to someone less judgmental of Johnny then Maxie. Plus Laura had been through custody battles before she understood the idea. Her mom and dad's past was about to be pretty helpful.

Rushing to her room, she slid on a pair of pajama pants and a worn out tank top. Putting her hair in a bun on the top of her head, she removed her make up. Feeling like her normal mom self, a role she loved.

Heading back to the living room, she sat down and crossed her legs to face her mom, who handed her a glass of wine. Taking a fortifying sip, she let her mouth run. Telling her mom about Johnny showing up here last night, the breakfast, and finally the flowers. "I would never risk custody of Charlotte or Rocco mom, but it felt nice to talk to him. Be around him."

Laura sat her wine glass down and reached for her daughters free hand. Stroking it and squeezing it to offer comfort. "Oh I know that sweet heart, but you would see where if you began something serious with him, Valentin and Dante would have an issue."

Of course she could but she had no plans on having more than a friendship with Johnny. No matter how much he had changed, their time together had came to an end a long time ago.

"Of course mom, but me and Johnny are just friends."

"You two have a lot of unresolved feelings, if I remember correctly from nearly two years ago Lulu. Something about a new year's kiss." Feeling her cheeks pinking, she took another gulp of the wine before acknowledging her mom had a point.

"So what if there is some lingering lust still Mom, I mean I am divorced, I'm free to kiss or more with whomever I like. But I can keep my two lives separate." Being a woman and a mom were two different things and she was sure she could keep her lives separate. It had been a while since she had been with a man. Her and Dante were like roommates before she had asked for a divorce. And Johnny and her had always had sparks. Sharing intimate moments with him wouldn't be a trial.

"Sure, I think that would be fine. But you can't fall for the boy." Laura pointed out and Lulu nodded. Of course she couldn't. Because of her children and the life Johnny had led. She was not about to risk her children for anyone, including Johnny.

"Thanks mom, for the understanding."

"Oh sweetheart, come here. I will always support you, no matter what." Knowing that made Lulu's life a lot simpler. Knowing she always had someone in her corner made her feel invincible at times. Crawling over the couch, she let herself be wrapped in Laura's arms and soaked in that comfort.