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A/N: Faithful reviewer Brit asked if this was going to be a romantic pairing of Langston and Cole and yes it is. I just wanted to see what it would be like to write them as a couple and I like it. However, I'm totally rooting for Sole on the show and Langston and Markko as well!

Chapter Twelve: A Blossoming Friendship

Langston beamed at Cole as they walked into the diner still laughing hysterically from the impromptu snowball fight they had outside. It was nice having someone to talk to over winter break since Starr was in Colorado or somewhere with her parents.

She was also glad things weren't weird between the two of them considering all of the things that had gone down between Cole and Starr who was still her best friend. Little did she know Cole was thinking the same thing.

"So what's going on with your Mom? I mean you don't have to tell me if you don't want to or anything. But um when we were decorating the tree and all she didn't seem to recognize me. I mean I know before that we had never officially met or whatever but it still felt really hinky."

"Yeah, I know what you mean. When my Mom got into her car accident she apparently hit her head, and according to Dr. McBain and Dr. Miller she's got some kind of temporary memory loss," Cole explains, "She doesn't remember anything that's happened over the past two years. Even worse she doesn't remember John at all."

"Oh my God. Are you serious? He must be all torn up inside what with the baby on the way and all. You must be too." She whispered sympathy evident in her voice.

"Yeah, I am," Cole admitted, "John is too but we can't let Mom know. We're supposed to let her remember on her own. I just don't want to scare her with all the stuff that went down and all."

A smile broke out on Langston's face her brown eyes suddenly so alive as she wadded up a paper napkin. Tossing it at Cole she hit him square in the face and laughed, "God, Thornhart you're such a downer thank God you have me to lighten things up!"

"Oh please! You're the one that brought up my Mom," Cole accused paying Langston back by tossing his own rolled up napkin at her.

She returned the favor and soon they were pelting napkins at each other and turning their corner booth into a war zone just as a familiar face walked into the diner.

Eve McBain sighed as she hung up her cell phone after talking with her younger son Michael who had updated her on what was going on with Marty and her grandchild. She now felt even worse than she had when she got off the plane.

Looking around the diner, she spotted Marty's son Cole and a young girl she didn't recognize with dark brown hair throwing napkins at each other in a corner booth. Smiling solemnly at the young boy from her distance, she thought about how hard it must have been for him and Johnny, Marty not remembering anything from the past two years.

Walking over to Cole and his friend she realized just how much she needed to see a familiar face before going to the hospital.

Clearing her throat she said, "Hey, Cole you wouldn't mind if I joined you and your friend for breakfast would you?"

Cole instantly felt a warm and comforting feeling come over him when he heard the familiar strong yet soft voice of Eve McBain, John's Mom. Looking to his left, he smiled at the older woman whose presence always seemed to have a calming effect on him; like the Grandmother he never had.

Patting the seat next to him he said, "Of course we wouldn't mind. Mrs. McBain, this is my friend Langston Wilde. Langston, this is Eve McBain, John's Mom."

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. McBain."

"It's nice to meet you as well, Langston. You have such a pretty name."

"Thanks."

"How are you holding up kiddo? Michael has explained everything that's happened over the past couple of days to me." Eve informed wrapping an arm around Cole.

"I'm doing okay I guess. Just putting one foot in front of the other, you know."

"Well, after breakfast I'm going to visit Johnny who's probably already at the hospital with Marty and you're coming with me. And on the way there you're going to tell me how you're really handling this situation, young man. No more putting on a brave face or this one foot in front of the other horse puckey."

Cole shook his head knowing Eve could see right through him just like she could see right through her sons. The trio of Langston, Cole and Eve then enjoyed a nice breakfast together and Langston smiled more than Cole had ever seen her before. Eve of course had noticed how comfortable the two teenagers were with each other and also how easily the young girl had assimilated to her presence.

"I'm going to go," Langston said putting her fork on her plate, "I had a good time. It was really nice meeting you, Mrs. McBain."

As she stood up, she put on her black parka and began fishing through one of the pockets for her wallet to pay for her share when a warm hand stopped her as Eve said, "I don't think so Langston. Not this time. Cole and I can cover you. You can do the honors of paying next time."

"Next time?" Langston asked confused.

"I have a funny feeling they'll be a next time." Eve replied with an all knowing wink causing Langston's throat to turn crimson.

Cole watched as Langston left the diner and thought about what Eve said, about them having breakfast another time and a fluttery butterfly like feeling went through his body before landing in his stomach, which was turning upside down. Shaking his head as if to stop the feelings he was having he let Eve pay for the meal knowing it was useless to argue with her.

"So you like Langston, Eve?" Cole queried wrapping the red scarf she had knitted for him last Christmas around his neck.

"I do. She's got moxie and you know us Irish, we love our moxie. So you two are friends huh?" She asked nudging Cole in the shoulder.

"Just friends Eve, just friends. Besides we don't talk that much anyway. I mean she's still Starr's best friend and all. I'm just glad things aren't all weird between us, you know? But we're still just friends." He clarified again.

"Well there's nothing wrong with a blossoming friendship kiddo." Eve smiled tossing her shiny silver hair over her shoulder that was still mixed with the dark brown from her youth that both of her sons had inherited as they exited the diner together.