Phoebe's POV:

"I never thought that I'd find Phoebe Grey behind a desk," Teddy walked into my office.

He looked like the spitting image of my father in his business suit.

"What're you doing here?" I jumped out of my chair to hug him.

Even though we lived in the same city, it was hard trying to find time to see one another. I was hoping now that we moved back that we would see more of each other. Teddy and Gwen came to see us in London a couple of times and now that we were back, they still have not been to the new apartment.

"I had a meeting a couple of blocks from here and thought that I'd stop by. Gwen and I are still waiting for our invitation to come look at the new apartment."

They were not the only ones. I wanted to have a housewarming party, but with everything going on it was hard to find the perfect time.

"You'll be the first ones invited to the housewarming party," I promised.

"Mom has been dying to throw you a housewarming party. She wants to fly to town with dad and have everyone over."

My mother had turned into quite the party planner, I think she used it as a way to stay relevant in our lives. She wanted grandkids and was the one pushing for a wedding. For some reason she never pressured Gwen and I was jealous of that. I knew that my mother was already planning my wedding and she found ways of slipping anything relating to the wedding whenever we talked on the phone. I was used to my father being overbearing, now her.

"Of course she does. Why can't you and Gwen just have kids so that she'll leave me alone?" I walked back over to my desk chair.

"Don't even go there. Let mom plan the party and then she'll be out of your hair until the two of you finally set a wedding date," Teddy sat down across from me, "What's taking you so long?"

Thankfully I did not have to answer because Oliver walked into my office.

"If it isn't the two best siblings in America."

"Hey Oliver," Teddy waved.

"What brings you downtown?" Oliver laid down on my couch.

Teddy stood, "I'm trying to force my sister to have a housewarming party. Convince her, she listens to you."

"I'm starting to think this new fabulous apartment doesn't exist because I haven't been invited to it yet. It's either really ugly or you're hiding an escaped fugitive because the Phoebe that I know would never keep her best friend from seeing her posh new apartment."

"Alright, alright," I gave in, "I'll have a housewarming party! You're going to have to come up with my guest list Oliver because I have no clue who to invite. I want something small."

Oliver grinned, "Told you that it'd work."

I glared at him, he was supposed to be on my side. Teddy and Oliver ignored my look of annoyance and continued to talk like long lost friends. Teddy's phone rung in his suit pocket and he held the phone to my face to show me a picture of my mother.

"She's in," Teddy said on the phone, "She said something small though."

"Excuse me, some of us have to work."

Teddy rolled his eyes, "Yeah right. Call Gwen, she's been asking about you."

I watched Teddy walk out of my office and sighed. I had gone this far without having a housewarming party and it was long overdue. Oliver, the traitor, was probably already texting everyone their invites.

"Let's get lunch, I'm hungry," I stood up.

Oliver and I ate downstairs cafeteria in our usual spot.

"So who're you bringing to your, I mean my housewarming party."

"No one likes a sore loser," he cut his chicken up before taking a bite, "I haven't been on a date in weeks. Damien's father has been keeping me here until almost midnight every night working on this stupid project. I'm riding solo so if you have any other good looking gay friends I'll be sure to invite them."

Damien and his father shared a work ethic that benefited no one except the two of them.

"I can't wait for whatever they're working on to be done."

Damien was constantly bringing home work again and instead of complaining, I tried helping him. We had been doing great since our last argument and I did not want to jinx it. These past few nights involved less arguing and more sex or cuddling.

"Are you going to invite Blaine?"

Blaine and I were on good terms as friends and I wanted him to be there, but it was not just about what I wanted. I could understand if Damien did not want him there, it just sucked.

"I don't know. It'll be weird if I invite his stepmom and his sisters and not him. I know Damien won't like it and he's really been trying to accept Blaine so I don't want to push him."

Oliver rolled his eyes, "Poor you. There are two great looking guys fighting over you, life must be so hard."

"I'm serious," I laughed, "I just think that it would be good for everybody if Blaine wasn't there."

"It's not my relationship and I'm partially biased because I've known Damien longer, but I don't think you should. Damien is sucking up his ego for you. He hated seeing you like that after you and Blaine broke up. He was always coming to my desk asking me if it was finally the right time to ask you out."

Oliver was right, we both knew it.

"Alright, no Blaine, but I'm still inviting his sisters and Abby. They would kill me if I didn't invite them to the party."

Blithe, Oliver, and I had gone out for drinks together a few times and we always had fun. They were my two single friends who kept me informed about today's dating world. After lunch I was busy with making sure everything was set for the next publication.

At the end of the day, Batman and Robin welcomed me at the front door, barking with excitement. I was exhausted, but happy to see them; they were my kids.

"Hello my babies," I picked them up, "How about a walk?"

My evenings were usually spent with them until Damien came home and this night was no different. I was soaking in the bathtub when Damien opened the bathroom door.

"Room for one more?"

I moved forward to make room for him as he stripped.

"How was your day?" I leaned back into his chest.

I heard him sigh, "No work talk, this is the first moment that I've been able to relax all day. I must've been overworking myself because I could have sworn that I saw Teddy in the building."

"He came to visit me today," I played with our hands, "What do you think of having a housewarming party?"

"I feel like my opinion isn't really going to matter. Since when do you want a housewarming party?"

Shrugging, I sat up, "My mom wants to throw us one and I think we should let her. Plus, think of all of the gifts we'll get."

Damien knew there was no point in arguing, it was an argument that would end up with him losing. He pretty much allowed me to do what I wanted—within reason and I loved him for it. Plus, if it made my mother love him even more, he was all for it.

"I have to go to London for a couple of days next week, but when I get back we can."

"My mother will be so happy," I kissed him on the lips, "Who should we invite?"

He shook his head, "My contribution to the party will be my checkbook. I'll have my assistant send over a few names from the company and that's it. Whatever else you and your mom can pick out, I have complete faith in your party planning capabilities."

"Is this how you're going to be when we get married?"

"Of course not. A house planning party is not even close to being on the same level as the wedding of the decade. I told you, I plan on being married only once and I want the wedding to be perfect."

"You're no fun," I pouted.

"That's what I have you for," he stood up from the tub, "I need to go to sleep, I have an early meeting tomorrow."

Blaine's POV:

"And now I introduce to you the new and improved," Abby grinned, "Abby's World!"

Music blasted from the newly installed speakers and Abby jumped in excitement. This place was just like her – loud yet lovable. I would have gone for more subtle paint colors, but Abby wanted the place to match her personality. She had inherited the gym from its previous owners and now that she was able to make the place into how she envisioned it, she was happy. My father leaned down to kiss her, seeming genuinely happy and proud of her. Caden clapped in my arms and tried to jump up and catch the confetti. Heather stood by my side, talking with Elizabeth. The two of them got along surprisingly well which made everything easier on me. My real problem was Phoebe. Phoebe came solo to Abby's opening and stood near Blithe on the other side of the room from me. We made eye contact earlier, but neither one of us had attempted to talk to one another.

I watched Phoebe hug Abby. My father and Phoebe gave each other a small smile, nothing compared to the hug that she gave Abby. I knew that he was happy to no longer have to pretend to like Phoebe.

"Are you going to go say hi?" Heather asked over the music.

"Not right now."

Phoebe was the one who made the first move towards us. I tried to think of her in a friend way and not check her out. Once Phoebe reached us, she gave me a hug.

"I'm glad you could make it," I said.

Her eyes shifted towards Elizabeth, "Hi, I'm Phoebe."

"This is," I paused not knowing what to call Elizabeth.

We had been on a few dates and definitely liked each other, I just did not know if we were official or labeling what we were. Elizabeth waited for me to finish my sentence, but I did not know what to say.

"I'm Elizabeth," she held her hand out to Phoebe, "It's nice to finally meet you."

Phoebe smiled back at her, "Nice to meet you too."

"No Damien tonight?"

"He's in London," Phoebe said, "He really wished that he could be here."

Right.

"I'm going to go say hi to your grandparents," Phoebe excused herself.

My grandparents always liked Phoebe and I knew they were happy to see her again.

"She's very pretty," Elizabeth said as Phoebe walked away.

"I know, but I think you're prettier," I kissed her, "Much prettier."

She rolled her eyes, "You're such a terrible liar, but I like that about you."

"Let's go congratulate Abby," I changed the conversation.

Abby wrapped her arms around me, "I'm so happy that you're here!"

"I'm really happy for you Abs," I kissed her cheek, "This place is great."

Elizabeth and Abby hugged, leaving me to deal with my father.

My father pulled me aside, "Is it really a good idea for Phoebe to be here?"

"Abby wanted her here, I didn't invite her if that's what you're implying."

Our families needed to leave us alone. I know what we put them through, but we were at a different point of our lives now. Phoebe was with Damien and I was with Elizabeth, why did everyone have to keep bringing up the past?

"I'm not implying anything," my father straightened, "I just want you to be careful, you have Caden to think about now."

"Thanks for reminding me, I forgot I had a son."

"That's not what I meant, you just forget to think clearly whenever she's around."

"She" being Phoebe.

"Well I'm so lucky to have you here to constantly remind me."

Abby tried to stop me from leaving, but I sidestepped her. She would only take my father's side and that was not what I needed to hear right now. I needed a break from the party and made my way up to the roof for fresh air. I wanted something to keep my mind off of what was going on downstairs, it was moments like these that I wish that I could be passed out drunk again.

"Is everything alright?" Phoebe closed the door behind her.

I laughed, "Why wouldn't it be?"

"Don't push me away, what's wrong?"

"You being here is complicating things."

Phoebe frowned, "I'm sorry that me being here is causing trouble for you, but I'm here for Abby."

"Then why are you up here with me?"

"I thought we were friends."

Annoyance built up inside of me, "How can we be friends when everyone wants to bring up our past every time we get in a room together? We're different people now, why can't they see that?"

"We ruined each other, but we ruined those around us too."

She was right and I hated to admit that. My family was the one who kept me from falling apart after Phoebe left. They were the ones who saw me nearly self-destruct –twice and put me back together again. The second time was easier because I had Caden to keep me going, not like the first time Phoebe left.

"I just need some air, I'll be back down in a minute."

Phoebe walked over to where I was standing, "I'll wait with you."

Neither one of us said anything for a while and it was nice. We stood watching the cars and people down below, letting others do the talking for us.

"I wish you were still in London."

Phoebe turned to look at me, "What?"

"When you were in London I didn't have to see you or think about what you were doing. Now I work for you and having to see you all the time isn't as easy as I thought it would be," I admitted, "How is it so easy for you?"

"It's not," I heard her swallow, "I don't let it get to me though. I tell myself that we've both changed and the people we changed into are two different people than we used to know."

"Are we that different?"

The wind blew Phoebe's hair around, "I like to think that we are."

"I missed you when you were gone."

She was quiet for a second, "I missed you too."

"Then why didn't you call?"

"What would be the point of calling? You had Caden to take care of and calling would only make things more complicated. I loved living in London and you had a life here that didn't include me."

"It could have!"

This was not how I wanted our conversation to go, but I was tired of keeping all of these emotions bottled up.

"I asked you to stay with me, but you said no."

Phoebe shook her head, "Do you honestly think I was ready to be a stepmother to Caden?"

"You never tried."

"I'm going to go back inside," Phoebe walked away.

"I loved you!" I yelled at her, "I would've done anything for you, but none of that mattered, did it? You chose someone who could give you all the things that you wanted."

"So now I'm a gold digger?" Phoebe turned towards me, "I'm with Damien because I love him."

"You love him as much as you loved me?" I challenged her.

"Yes."

She was lying and we both knew it. I needed her to change her mind and finally realize that we were meant to be together. My hands pulled her body towards mine. I did not care about anything in that moment, all I needed was Phoebe. Our tongues intertwined and we both moaned. I missed how she tasted, she was intoxicating. I didn't want to pull away and I wouldn't have if I didn't need air.

"You've got to be kidding me."

Phoebe and I jumped away from each other. My father stood near the entrance leading back downstairs. His face was reddening as he observed me and Phoebe.

"I think you should go Ms. Grey."

Phoebe said nothing as she ran past my father. My mouth was too frozen to call for her.

"You need to clean yourself up before going back downstairs. This is Abby's night so stop thinking with your dick for once and use that brain of yours. She's engaged Blaine, you work for her fiancé!"

"Dad, I love her."

My father stared at me, "You have five minutes."

He shut the door behind him.