Epilogue

March

Jeff was sticking candles into a red and blue iced cake while the sounds of screaming children and crashing bowling pins echoed from behind him. It was Tyler's eighth birthday and Jeff had rented out the bowling alley for the party. It wasn't the venue he would have chosen, but it's what Tyler had requested, so here they were.

"Nice shoes."

Jeff looked over his shoulder to see Britta smirking at him. He glanced down at his brand new black and white bowling shoes and turned back to his cake decorating. "I wasn't about to wear rental shoes. Do you know how many other people have worn those?"

"I notice Tyler has some new shoes as well," She teased, taking a seat at the table that Jeff was busy setting up.

"I repeat: Do you know how many other people have worn those?" Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Britta's face. She was smiling at him very knowingly. He turned to face her. "What's that look for?" He asked.

"Nothing," Her tone was innocent, but she was still smiling at him.

"That look has never meant nothing."

She smiled wider and settled back in her chair. "Just thinking. You're pretty good at this Mr. Mom thing after all."

Jeff turned back to the cake. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Of course you don't," She said smugly, turning to watch as someone's bowling ball slammed into the pins. After a few seconds, she looked back at Jeff, her tone no longer smug, "Sorry that I doubted you."

"And you'll never do it again."

"I wouldn't go that far," She replied with a grin and got to her feet, heading back to the bowling area.

"What? You came over here to make fun of my shoes and leave?" Jeff called after her.

"It's my turn!" She called back from her lane. She hefted her bowling ball up for him to see. "I'm kicking Shirley's ass!"

"Only because she won't put her bag down! It's hard to bowl with a ten-pound purse on your arm!" Shirley shot him a scathing look and he grinned back wickedly.

Jeff turned back to his work. The cake was done, so he started on setting the table. He was placing paper plates and cups at each seat around the table when Annie approached. "Here, let me help." She took the plates from him and started laying them out.

"Thanks."

"So, how's the new job going?" Annie asked conversationally.

"Eh, it's slow going," Jeff said with a shrug. "It's nice to be my own boss and all, but I was hoping things would have picked up by now."

"Maybe you should advertise."

Jeff looked up at her skeptically. "Advertise?"

She kept her eyes on her work as she went around the table setting down plates and plasticware. "Yeah, like a commercial. You could hire Abed to make it for you."

Jeff screwed up his face at the thought. "I don't know. It would be pretty low-budget. I think it would just end up reminding people of Saul Goodman. Not really the association I want potential clients to make."

"Well. Your office is in a strip mall."

"Not cool, Annie!"

"Just think about it, okay?" She was giving him puppy dog eyes.

"You're just trying to get your roommate a job," He accused. She poked out her lip in response. She was on the verge of full-on Disney face. "Fine," He sighed. "I'll think about it."

Her face immediately split into a joyful smile. "Thanks, Jeff!"

"Annie!" Tyler came sprinting up to Annie and grabbed her arm.

"Hey, birthday boy," She greeted.

"Annie! You should come over tonight."

She was clearly taken aback. "Well, I-"

"Dad likes hanging out with you," Tyler interrupted. "He told me he wished you'd come over for dinner again."

"Did he now?" A sly grin spread over her face. Jeff stood stock still, mortified.

"See you tonight!" Tyler shouted as he turned to run off in the direction of the bowling lanes.

Annie took one look at Jeff and burst into laughter, "You're blushing."

Jeff felt himself go even redder. "Excuse me while I go murder my son," He muttered, heading in the direction that Tyler had just fled.

"Jeff!" Annie called to him, her voice still full of laughter. He hesitantly turned towards her, expecting to be teased some more. Instead he was met with her flirtatious smile. "See you tonight?"

He gaped at her for half a second before he composed himself and gave her a nod, trying to appear cool and collected. The way she laughed made him sure she saw right through it, but he didn't really care. He turned away from her again and had to take a couple deep breaths to calm the butterflies that had suddenly taken up residence in his stomach.

"Alright," He shouted in the direction of the bowling lanes, getting himself back into dad mode. "Who's ready for cake?"