Chapter theme song: "Here We Go Again" by: Demi Lovato

Gerald

I sipped my coffee, giving Arnold another through look over. "What's really going on?"

He shrugged, grinning, taking another sip of tea. He gave it a good twirl of his spoon for good measure before meeting my perplexed gaze. He lifted a single brow. "What?"

"You're hiding something."

"No, no , no." he insisted, raising his hands in defense. "I just called to ask you to lunch since you have been so busy lately. I can't treat my best bud to lunch anymore?"

I chuckled. "I know you, Arnold. As much as I never turn down a free meal, I know you have an ulterior motive."

He laughed. "You really think I am that much of a condescending person?"

"Yes." I answered much too quickly for his taste. There was a small pause before we exchanged laughs again. I picked up my coffee mug and downed the rest of my bitter tasting drink before nursing it down with a bite of my fresh-baked banana muffin. Arnold had offered to treat me to lunch at a more upscale joint but a simple coffee shop was a welcomed change of pace. I was damn-near suffocating in my suit and tie events with my colleagues and senior partners on the nightly basis. I cannot even remember the last time I actually had a home cooked meal. It felt good to just relax for once in a simple jean and- my infamous- red jersey sweatshirt. "So, what's really going on?"

He let out an exasperated sigh, running a single hand along his face. "Before you blow a gasket, remember, this is all HELGA'S idea."

I rolled my eyes. "So you're blaming your wife now?"

"But it is true." He defended. "I tried to talk her out of it but she insisted you were not only the best person for the job but, also, the most qualified lawyer she knew."

"Go on."

"…I need to ask you a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"A favor to help a…mutual friend get out of a sticky situation."

Arnold definitely had my attention. I set my muffin back down atop of the saucer resting beside my newspaper, grabbing my bottle water. I took a small sip before answering. "What did Curly do this time?"

Arnold chuckled. "Surprisingly, Curly has remained out of trouble…for now…but it's another friend we are familiar with."

I urged him to continue. "And?"

He breathed. "I need for you to keep a level head right now, Gerald."

I was not seriously interested and highly curious. If Curly was not out breaking animals free from the zoo or peeping through young girl's windows, who was? "Arnold, who are you talking about? Stinky? Harold? Sid?"

He shook his head in response. "It's…"

"Gerald!" I turned to see my fiancée, Chandra, walk through the front doors of the coffee shop; shopping bags in tow as sashayed across the room to greet me and Arnold. She kissed me before reaching across the table to hug Arnold. I watched her set her bags in the vacant seat beside me before sitting in the one across from me next to Arnold. "I didn't know you came here often."

"I don't." I replied. "Arnold wanted to treat me to lunch but I was not really in the mood for actual food and with this being one of his favorite spots, we decided to come here."

Chandra smiled, reaching across Arnold to snatch my muffin. She took a small bite, giggling, before giving it back to me. "That's a good muffin."

"I know, that's why I got it." I laughed.

"So, what are you boys up to?" she asked, trying to ease into the conversation.

Arnold stood, pushing up his chair. He looked at his watch before tossing away his trash. "Actually, I was on my way out. I have to get to the hospital."

"Emergency?"

"No, but I have a…thing to go to. I'll just call you later, Gerald."

Arnold and I exchanged looks, me looking more confused as Arnold looked as if he were about to shit his pants. "Arnold, what's with the change of attitude?"

He shrugged. "I just remembered I had my thing to do to; that's all." He pleaded, but I did not buy it. I scanned him one last time before I just gave up and dismissed his strange behavior altogether.

"Alright, man. Give me a buzz later. But before you go, who does Helga need me to represent?"

Arnold's face flushed, he diverting his stare between Chandra and myself. I was not officially curious. Arnold stuffed his hands in his pockets, kicking imaginary rocks before letting out a nervous cough. "I'll just tell you later, Gerald."

"Why can't you tell me now?" Arnold gave a 'look', bulging his eyes towards Chandra while tilting his head in her direction ever-so-slightly. I didn't get it. "Well?"

"Gerald…"

"Well?" I repeated, getting irritated. He sighed. "Who is it?"

"Gerald…"

"Well?"

There was a small pause before he spoke again. "Phoebe."

I chocked on my coffee, trying to catch my breath. I looked at Arnold, in an utter state of shock and confusion, then at Chandra who looked mighty pissed. She bit her bottom lip lightly, twitching her half-balled fists before grabbing my muffin again. She took an agitated bite before setting it back down on the saucer. I was so busy trying to decipher what she was thinking that I completely missed the fact that she and Arnold were beginning to argue. "What the hell does she want?"

"That's between her and Gerald." Arnold began. "I rather have him discuss the details with Phoebe first before I involve other people in her business."

"What does she want with Gerald? Can't she find another goddamn lawyer?"

Arnold sighed, rubbing a hand along his face. I began to see why he wanted to discuss this with me when Chandra was not present. "Again, Chandra, I rather let Gerald…"

She cut him off, putting up her hand to his face. "Stop right there." She turned to me, full attitude blazing. "Why the hell is your ex asking you for legal advice?"

"Chandra…" I began, stuttering. I had no chance to gather my thoughts, let alone fully register what was happening. One minute Arnold and I are having a friendly conversation over coffee on one of my seldom off days and the next, I have an angry Black woman on my case ready to bash me over the head with banana muffin. "Baby…"

"Don't 'baby' me!" she spat. She literally went from zero to sixty in less than a minute. "Why does that bitch keep coming into our lives?"

Something inside of snapped. I didn't like that 'word' being used to refer to the only woman, aside from Chandra, I loved more than life itself. I pushed back my chair, slamming my fists on the coffee table before glaring directly at my fuming fiancée. She jerked a bit, slightly stunned. "Don't call her that!" I roared. "Phoebe is not a bitch."

She grew mute, Arnold's mouth gaping as we earned a few glances our way. I took a moment to settle down, clearing my throat as I sat back down to the table. I took a nonchalant sip of my coffee, trying to simmer the situation. I was beginning to get a migraine. Out of all the days for this to happen, today had to be the day. Chandra and I just got back together the day before yesterday, I proposed to her-again- last night over dinner with her folks, and we just made love this morning. Things were going well for us and I was not trying to muddle everything up because Arnold wanted to drop an atomic bomb over coffee. I sighed.

"Chandra…I'm sorry."

She remained quiet, brushing a stray curl behind her ear before grabbing her purse and shopping bags. "I'm leaving." I jumped up to grab her arm to stop her but she retaliated by stinging me in the face with a cold, hard slap. Her nails scratched underneath my left eyelid and drew a miniscule amount of blood. I held my face, breathing deeply in an effort to ebb my sudden rush of anger. "Don't touch me!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Arnold interjected, getting in between Chandra and I. "Let's not resort to violence."

"You want to get hit to, Arnold?"

"Chandra, please, calm down." Arnold rationalized. "You are driven off emotion right now and I am going to need for you to not make a scene like we are in some dramatic soap opera."

"Then why in the hell is that…that…woman asking Gerald for help?!" she yelled, stomping her pumps on the tiled floor of the coffee shop. We certainly had a small audience now. I groaned.

"Chandra…" I began, "Calm down. Can we talk about this when I get home?"

She shook her head, folding her arms across her protruding chest; tapping her foot as she waited for an answer. Arnold looked at me and I returned the favor; both of us confused on how to best resolve the situation. I watched Arnold shuffle through his hair before he faced Chandra. "Chandra, Phoebe is asking for Gerald's help only because she has no other options."

"Bull!" she spat with the venom of a snake. She sucked in her teeth. "There are plenty of lawyers in the damn city!"

"None that will be willing to do pro-bono work while still putting their all into her case!" He snapped back, getting in her face. That stunned me a bit. I watched as Arnold calmed down, facing me with solemn eyes. "Look, Gerald, I know you just made partner eight months ago but Phoebe called Helga in a complete emotional mess a few days ago saying that Kato was going to try and get full-custody of Haruhi and relocate her to Japan for an extended period of time. She has no money, works as a part-time waitress as some diner up on Clark, and has no one else to turn to."

I remained quiet, thinking. Damn. I honestly did not know how to respond. That rich bastard was willing to hurt Phoebe that much by taking away their only child? I did not know Phoebe had it that bad where the divorce caused that much of a rift between she and Kato. Last I seen her was eight months ago, during my celebratory party to congratulate me making partner. No one but Arnold and Helga knew I had seen Phoebe that day, let alone spoke to her. We had an emotional reunion after being separated for seven years, me nearly molesting her against the cement walls of my firms parking structure before I finally came to my senses. I decided it was best to say out goodbyes and officially part ways; but not before a nice drive to the countryside where we had a nice picnic lunch under the mid-afternoon sun, munching on seedless grapes, cherries, pineapples, and finger sandwiches before we made love for the last time. Now, eight months later, Phoebe was back in the picture but this time needing my help to keep the one thing precious she had left in her life, her daughter. She already lost her husband because of his infidelity and her affair with me, her family because she had outgrown their bigotry, and me…she could not stand to lose her baby girl.

After a few moments of silence, I looked at Chandra, then at Arnold; both clinging for an answer. I took a second to glance around the coffee shop. It was utter silence as the patrons all hung to the edge of their seats waiting for me to speak. I let out a low groan, weighing the pros and cons of the situation. Of course I had colleagues, and interns, who were willing to do some pro-bono work to earn them a few notches in their belts under 'community service' but Arnold made a valid point; none of them would do more than the bare minimum for Phoebe and wouldn't bat an eyelash if she ended up losing her daughter in the custody battle. But then if I did take up Phoebe's case, I'd have my fiancée, the woman I just got back into my life after realizing I had to let Phoebe out of my life for good, suspicious of my every move and angry with me for God knows how long. Then it came to if I didn't; would be I be able to live with myself in the event that Phoebe lost her only child because I could not separate business from pleasure? I was the best lawyer in my firm; not only did I know it, but even my senior partners knew it. I had the drive and passion that could wrangle with the fiercest of bob cats in and out of the court room. If anyone was going to win Phoebe's case, it would certainly be me.

I gave Arnold one last look before silently nodding my head. He smiled, patting me on the shoulder before we did out signature handshake. "Thanks, Gerald. I'll be sure to let Helga know to tell Phoebe to call you so you two can set up a time to meet to discuss her case."

"Sure." I mumbled, keeping my eyes glued on Chandra. She suddenly became more interested in the coffee shop owner's choice of carpeting for the dining area before she grabbed her things and stormed out. I called out after her but she was already hailing a taxi to head anywhere but where I was standing. I cursed. "I did it again."

Arnold sympathized with me, giving a good chuckle to lighten to mood. "Give her some time. She knows it's nothing going on between you and Phoebe, right?"

"She should." I grumbled, looking through the shop window to see if she magically decided to come back so we could talk. She was still gone. "Dammit, Arnold! Why does this keep happening to me?"

He grew quiet, unsure of what to say. "I mean, really, I just got Chandra back in my life and now Phoebe wants to pop back up again. What type of shit is that, man?"

"Gerald, you don't have to take her case. I can have my other lawyer take it on. He is looking for some work and if I put in a good word for Phoebe, maybe he'll charge her a little less than usual."

"No, man." I sighed, again. "Don't do that. If Phoebe is just some part-time waitress, even working forty hour shifts would not be able to afford a good lawyer."

"So what are you going to do?" He paused, coming to realization. "You don't….still love her…do you?"

Ignored my best friend before grabbing my leather jacket, thanking him for the coffee. I took out my sunglasses and allowed myself to be met with the damp winds of the early spring breeze. I drew in a deep breath before I walked aimlessly down the sidewalk.

Here we go again…