-July 14, 2010; Bastille Day; Pointe-Claire, Quebec-

Mornings in Quebec always felt different to mornings in LA. They felt calmer, less stressful and more peaceful. Maybe it was the lack of traffics outside and the lack of people on the streets or maybe it was because people in Quebec were less concerned that I had been on television, leaving me to walk around like everyone else.

After my morning shower I checked my cell phone and cursed the person who invented private numbers. There was a missed call from a number I could not ring back, so could only hope they would call again.

The time was only 9:30 and Mike wasn't due to arrive until 11. I pulled my laptop out of its case and smiled because I was finally able to write again. Due to the amount of travel I'd been doing I hadn't had much time to work on the story I'd been writing for ten years. It wasn't far from being finished. The next step, though, was getting it published.

The time passed quicker than it should have – before I knew it was the doorbell was ringing. Without any hesitation, I pushed my laptop onto the table, amongst all of my handwritten notes and ran t the front door.

I pulled it open and instantly wrapped my arms around Mike's neck and buried my head into his shoulder.

"Mikey!" I laughed childishly. I was confused as to why he hadn't hugged me back and as to why he tensed up when I hugged him.

"Claire..."I pulled back quickly when the person spoke and my face fell, hell it probably crumbled.

"You're not Mike... Alex, what are you doing here?" my voice was quiet, "Why isn't Mike here?"

"He got called by Vince really early this morning. He said he called you."

"That'' be the one missed call I have form an unknown number, I can't believe he sent you as his replacement. Disappointment laced my voice and I knew that I was probably sounding extremely rude.

"I, uh, I offered."

"But you shouldn't have had to. He should be here. Fuck, I went to Independence Day, didn't I? Shit, come on in."I stood aside and let the rookie through the door.

"I'm sorry." He said as I closed the door shut and we stood in the small space.

"No, don't apologise for him."I deadpanned, "Look, um, we aren't expected at le maison de mes parents pour a couple of hours and there's just about nothing to do in Pointe-Claire... And I actually don't have a television here." He quirked an eyebrow. You don't have to stay here; you can take a look around the town if you want." He denied my suggestion and instead took a seat in my front room, his eyes trailing to my laptop every now and then but it remained unmentioned.

"He was actually really looking forward to coming." Alex said after awhile and I couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"Sure he was," I responded sarcastically, "Mike doesn't like my dad or my brother, why would he be looking forward to it? He said 'no' plenty of times before he actually agreed to come." I looked at Alex and laughed, "Letting you know they probably won't like you. They don't like the guys I bring home."

Eventually, he leant forward and picked up a page of notes. U stood up quickly and snatched it from his hands and shuffled all the other pages together.

"No one's allowed to read it yet. When, if I get it published feel free. Right now, though... Not happening."

"Remember what I said."

"Do not repeat anything Benji says."

"And it might be best to avoid him. Even if he's the only person you'll understand. I'm apologising right now for putting you through this. This is your last chance to back out."

We were standing at the end of my parent's driveway and I honestly expected him to turn around and leave but he sent me a smile and told me that he was ready for anything my family were going to throw at him. I smiled back at him and we walked up to the front door.

I didn't say anything as I let us into the bustling household. People we walked past pulled me into hugs and kissed my cheeks even if I had no idea who they were. They did the same to Alex who was taken aback by the forwardness of everyone; he didn't object to the pretty French-Canadian girls, though.

"Voila!" I shouted at Benji when I snuck up behind him. "Salut, salut." I greeted him with a quick hug and kiss before I turned to Kayla and did the same.

"That isn't Mike." Benji noted, before adding that I could have done a better job at finding a look alike.

"No, it is not. He couldn't make it. Vince wanted him for something. So, I bought Kevin, Mike's Rookie, instead. Be nice, okay?"

"I'm always nice." Benji's smiled was mischievous and I instantly turned around and pulled Alex away with me.

"He's already plotting to get you into trouble."

My mother was in the kitchen and very happy to meet a new person. I was relieved, but unsurprised, when she spoke to Alex in English and treated him just like she would have Mike, Randy, Cody or Ted. But when she turned her attention back to me she looked worried.

"Votre nez, Claire. Qu'avez-vous fait?" I covered my nose and gasped.

"Rien, Mama." I spoke firmly but I was internally – and metaphorically – crapping myself that she had noticed. I thought I had done a good enough job to hide what hadn't healed yet.

"You broke it, non?" I shook my head. "You fight?" I shook my head again. "Did Michael hit you?"

"What? No! Forget about it! It was an accident! I didn't break it, I promise."

"Are you lying?" I wished she was speaking in French because then Alex wouldn't have known what we were arguing about. He was smirking.

"No! Look, it was an accident. And, no, it was not Michael."

"Excuse me, ma'am. It wasn't Mike." Alex added and I smiled at him gratefully, "Ted-"

"Theodore?"

"Mama! No! I was wrestling, d'accord?" she shook her head at me in disappoint but quickly pulled me into a hug. "Mum."

"Ça va?"

"Bien."

"Ou est Michael?"

"He had to work, but he says hi and sorry that he couldn't come." I lied to her then, but she didn't have to know that Mike bailed at the last minute. That was going to be something my family didn't need to know.

The next person we had to visit was my father. He was sitting outside with his friends – all of the smoking – and laughing loudly. He stopped, though, when he saw me walk out with Alex.

"Papa!" I smiled at him and gave him the typical French greeting. "Voila Kevin! Il est l'amie de Michael." As soon as I spoke I wish I hadn't. My dad doesn't like Mike.

My father stood and looked at Alex who had his hand out stretched, waiting for a handshake. I breathed a loud sigh of relief as their hands connected and a firm handshake was given.

"Bonjour, Kevin. Je m'appelle Bernard." My eyes nearly bugged out of my head at the introduction. He just gave Kevin permission to use his first name.

"Bonjour, sir." Alex had done a good job and made a good first impression. Maybe my father wouldn't hate him. He had been given the honour of being able to use my dad's first name, something that Randy had only gotten once we stopped dating; Ted had been given permission once he proved to my father that he could catch a fish, Bernard doesn't even fish so I don't see how that even made sense; Cody was still waiting for the privilege, just like Mike.

"You should date Kevin." I was alone with my dad at the time and I froze. "He's nice and he's polite. He's a gentleman. Much better than Michael."

"Papa..." That was all I was given the chance to say because he left the room. The use of English meant that he was serious in what he was saying and I bit my lip.

"We all like Kevin more than we like Mike." Benji told me and I shrugged, "Except maybe Mama."

"I don't care," I admitted, "I love Mike."

"We know." He made me sit down on the couch and he sat down beside me, "We don't doubt that."

"You don't think he loves me, do you?" I asked quietly and he looked at me sadly.

"More than Randy, but not as much as you love him. We want you to be happy, sis."

"I want you to be happy, too. But you're about to marry Kayla."

"I love her and she loves me."

"Really? Because all you ever do is fight."

"Have you ever tried to plan a wedding? That's a lot of stress." He explained the reason for their fighting with a small smile, "It'll all be back to normal soon."

"I'm not-"

"Where is he? Where's Mike? If he really loved you, Claire... He'd have taken the day off. He'd be here like he promised he would be. I spoke to Kevin, he told me what happened."

"Why did he do that?"

"Because he wants you to be happy, too."

a/n alright, so we are getting to the interesting bits now... The next chapter definitely shouldn't take as long because I've had it written out for awhile! I shouldn't keep apologising because saying 'sorry' means it's not going to happen again... And my updates are slow and will be for awhile, me thinks. Thanks to Showni13, Julzi and tvrox12 for reviewing! And yeah there's some French that I CBF translating... Sorry.