Twenty-seven years later
Ned
Los Angeles, California
The shooting of the final episode of the second season of Ted's Guide to Surviving School was wrapping up and Ned Bigby the show's producer, director, and main writer had a lot on his mind.
His three daughters were in his office waiting for him to finish up because their nanny Kirsten, had dropped them off an hour ago because her mother had fallen down and was now in the hospital.
If that wasn't enough to deal with, he was still debating whether not he was going to go home that weekend.
Not his six-bedroom mansion in Beverly Hills, he meant Syracuse, New York.
The place where he grew up, went to school, and the place where his parents still lived.
"Ollie if you jump that shark you're a dead man,"Spencer Goodman, who's character Ted Rigby was based on Ned when he was in middle school, says.
"I have to guys if I don't I forfeit the dare, and my popularity goes down the toilet,"Samuel Ross,who's character Oliver St John was based off Ned's former best friend Cookie, says.
Ned really missed Cookie.
"Ollie,you have no popularity don't do this,"says Olivia Willis who's character Harper Hawkins was based on his ex-girlfriend, Moze.
"I'm doing it,"says Sam as he gets on the brightly colored motorcycle which matches the stupid jumpsuit they made him wear.
Sam starts the bike and drives it a few feet before, he gets off and trades spots with a stunt man.
The stunt man, Greg, drives the bike onto the ramp over the fake shark and onto the ground again, but the audience will just see a picture they took of Sam earlier that week looking scared and the words to be continued under it.
You know what they say always leave them wanting more.
"Alright, that is a wrap. Good job everybody,"Ned says as he stands up clapping.
"Alright,"Spencer yells hugging Olivia and Sam and giving Ned a high five.
"I want to thank everybody for a great second season and let's save some of that energy for a great third,"Ned says standing up on the box they were using for that scene and popped open the bottle of coke someone had handed him.
The actors and crew start cheering and hugging each other, while Ned hands Olivia the coke bottle and goes back to his office.
No one notices him leave.
His three daughters Holly,Kayla and Sarah are quietly playing with their barbies or watching the small tv in the corner of his office.
He just stands there for a few minutes watching them, they all look like their mother.
He really missed her sometimes.
"Hey, guys,"he says finally walking into his office.
"Hi Daddy,"Holly says, Sarah gives him a wave and goes back to her barbie, but Kayla doesn't even notice he's there or pretends not to.
"So how about we go home and order a pizza,"Ned says as he sits down on the couch next to Kayla.
"Okay,"Sarah says as she starts to clean up her barbie clothes.
"Can we get it from Pizza Hut?"Holly asks standing up and walking over to her Dad.
"Where else would we get it from Mars,"Ned asks as Holly exclaims in joy.
"Kay what do you think"Ned asks his daughter who still hasn't said anything.
"It's okay,"says Kayla as she gets off the couch and goes to help Sarah clean up her dolls.
Kayla had been ignoring him like that since Kim died, and that's been about six months.
"Alright let's go,"Ned says as he turns off the tv and him and his girls head out.
Once they get back to their house and Ned orders the pizza, he puts a Disney movie in for the girls so they're completely distracted.
While they're doing that Ned looks on his laptop for plane tickets.
If there were no available flights it was a sign he shouldn't go home, but there were four seats available in first class so that's a sign he should go.
Ned thought over the pros and cons.
Pro, he'd get the girls out of the city which would be good for them and they'd get to see their grandparents whom they haven't seen since Kim died.
Con, he'd have to see all of the people he left behind when he made it big, that wouldn't go over well.
But the pros outweigh the cons so he books the tickets, calls his Mom and tells her that he and the girls were coming.
It's been thirteen years he had to face the past some time.
Jennifer Mosley-Jones
Washington, D.C.
Jen was stressed out.
She had a meeting with her newest client which hadn't gone as well as she had hoped.
She'd been late to drop her kids off with Parker's friend's Mom, then she had to go to court, and she was really late, not the kind of impression you want to make when your fighting for sole custody of your kids.
Jen and her husband Jake started having problems three years ago when their youngest daughter was born and it hit an all-time low when her oldest son Parker, told her he'd walked in on his Dad and their neighbor Rachel, in bed together.
And Jake even had the nerve to try and bribe Parker for his silence, but Parker and his Dad had never been all that close so this just pushed Parker over the edge and he told her what happened the second she got home.
She kicked Jake out that night.
Of course, there was no parking at the court house so she had to drive around the block three times before she finally found a spot.
Way to make a great first impression Jen.
Days like this makes her want to take that offer from that firm from LA that has been hounding her for the last few months.
She raced the block to the courthouse to find her lawyer waiting outside of the courthouse doors for her.
"You're late,"says her lawyer, a middle age man named Andy Peters.
"I know,I'm sorry. Work and traffic. Have they started yet?"Jen asks as she straightens out her skirt.
"No lucky for you the last case went late.
They walk over to their court and Jen sees her soon to be ex-husband talking to his lawyer.
"Jake"Jen says as she walks up.
"Jenny,"he says at the same time.
Okay let's not start any fights here,let's be as civilized as possible"says Jake lawyer,Rachel.
Yes, that Rachel.
"Fine,"Jen says, she was to tired to fight.
"That's all I want,"Jake says, although Jen knew he liked to fight, he liked to win.
"Alright let's go,"Andy says as the doors open up and the last case walks through everybody giving each other dirty looks,guess it didn't go well.
They go in, Jen and Andy sits at one table while Jake and Rachel sit at the other.
The judge, an older man with snow white hair, enters and starts to speak,"The custody case of Parker Walker Jones, Alec Lucas Jones,Maddison Eddie Jones and Ryan Faith Jones. Are the defendants both present".
"Yes, your honor,"Andy says standing up.
"Now I have read the case file and I would like to hear from both of the defendants starting with Jacob Jones jr,"the judge says as Jake stands up with a grin on his face probably thinking because he's going first he's going to win.
"Your honor I have as much right to my children as my lovely wife here, and she'll be telling you why she deserves the kids instead of me but children need their father just as much as they need their mother, maybe even more. I was the one who spent days with them while she was busy working so shouldn't the parent who spend the most time with them get custody. Thank you for your time, your honor, I trust you'll make the better choice"Jake says as he sits down and gives Jen the same look.
"Thank you, Mr. Jones, now Mrs. Mosley-Jones, you may give your side,"The judge says as Jen stands up.
"Your honor my husband has made several good points but I would like to clear some things up. The reason he was the one to stay home with the kids is because he hasn't held down a job since we were in college and still hasn't been bothered to get one. He lives in a studio apartment and I still have the house our kids have grown up in. This isn't just my being angry with my husband, I won't even deny that I'm not, I still am but this is about my kids. They have not wanted to go to visitation day with their father because it is too stressful. Kids that age shouldn't have kind of stress, I am asking you to give me custody because I personally believe it is what is best for our children, and if you decide they are better off their father I'll believe you, but please do what's best for our children. Thank you"Jen says before she sits down and Andy tells her she did a good job.
The judge says he'll need some time to think it over and they'll be taking a short recess.
When Jen gets outside of the courtroom she checks her phone and sees a message from her Mom saying how excited she is to see her and the kids that weekend.
Damn, she completely forgot about that.
She momentarily considers backing out, but the kids had been so excited to see their Grandparents, and she couldn't take that away from them.
Just then Andy tells her the judge made his choice and they all head back to the courtroom.
The judge agrees with Jen and she is granted sole custody.
There are congratulations from Andy and a dirty look from Jake, but she knows that won't be the only dirty look she'll get that weekend.
Simon Nelson-Cook
Manhattan, New York
The release date for the new Cook phone was getting closer, so Simon was spending more and more nights sleeping on the couch in his office than at home with his wife and kids.
His wife Lisa wasn't too happy about it, she said that their kids had barely seen their father over the past week and she was getting tired of explaining that he was working.
Simon missed his wife and kids a lot but he had to keep working on the phone as there was still a few bugs to work out and with less than a month till they were supposed to be released that was time Simon didn't have.
But he did manage to sneak away around noon on Friday and went home.
The girls would be at school, but Lisa and Evan should be at home.
"Daddy's home,"Simon says as he opens the door with flowers for Lisa and a teddy bear for Evan in hand.
"Daddy"Evan yells as he runs toward his dad on his tiny two-year-old legs.
"Hey who's my favorite guy in the world,"Simon asks picking up his son into his arms.
"Me,"Evan asks fingering the teddy bear.
"That's right. Hey look what I got you,"Simon says as he sets Evan on the ground and hands Evan the teddy bear.
"Thank you, Daddy,"Evan says hugging his new toy.
Just then Lisa enters the room and watches the exchange between her husband and son, she smiles.
"Hey, buddy why don't you go play with your new friend while I talk to Mommy okay,"Simon says as he looks his two-year-old in the eye.
"Okay Daddy,"Evan says as he runs past his Mom still holding his teddy bear.
Simon stands up and picks up the flowers of the ground and hands them to his lovely wife.
"For you, my lady,"Simon says as she takes the flowers.
"Daisies you remembered,"Lisa says as she sniffs the flowers.
"How could I forget I had to talk you out of naming both of our daughters Daisy,"Simon says laughing at the memory.
"Well if we ever have another daughter..."Lisa says still pushing the name.
"No, how you been baby,"Simon says as he kisses his wife.
"Fine just packing and getting the kids ready,"Lisa says talking as if Simon knew what she was talking about.
"Are you taking the kids somewhere or something?"Simon asks to his wife's disappointed face.
"You forgot,"Lisa says as she goes into the kitchen.
"No, I didn't it's our anniversary,"Simon says to total silence.
"Your birthday,"he asks again.
Now completely out of ideas he says,"My birthday".
"It's nobody's birthday,"Lisa says coming back with a vase for the flowers.
"Then why are you mad at me,"Simon asks joining her in the dining room.
"Because you completely forgot about the reunion,"Lisa says putting the vase with the flowers on the dining room table.
"The reunion,"asks Simon still confused.
"You know James K. Polk Middle school,where we went the reunion is tomorrow and we're going,"Lisa says using the same no-nonsense voice she uses with the kids.
"I remember but I didn't realize it was this weekend, this weekend is no good,"Simon says although he knows what comes next.
"This weekend is good because we have barely seen you all week and we haven't seen our friends in at least fifteen years,"Lisa says coming over and standing right in front of him.
"I'm not getting out of this I'm I,"Simon asks although he knows what the answer is.
"No, you're not. Look we'll have the weekend then you can go back to work and work to your heart's content until the phone comes out, okay"says Lisa and Simon knew he was toast.
"Fine we'll go,"Simon says as Lisa kisses him on the cheek.
"I knew you would,"she says as she goes into the living room to check on Evan.
Simon wondered who would all be there.
Susie Crabgrass and Missy Meany, they'd be there for sure they live for this.
Loomer if he wasn't in prison.
What about Ned and Moze.
God, he hadn't seen them since that night.
Wow, has it been thirteen years already?
He knew now he would be there for sure just for a chance to see Bigfoot and Santa at the same time.