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Chapter 44: Caught In It

"Oh, there's my girl!" Steve said picking Stephanie up. Julie smiled seeing them together. "What's up Mike?" Mikey smiled and high fived him.

"We brought cookies," Stephanie said. "Julie made them but I helped."

"You did?" Steve said. She nodded. "Then I bet they'll be extra yummy. Why don't you get them all set up in the kitchen, Mike, help her."

"Sure," Mikey nodded. They two kids walked into the apartment.

"Thanks for watching them," Julie said. He smiled. "Jimmy has an overnight at the hospital, otherwise."

"Come on, anytime," he shrugged, " I'm Steph's godfather and everything, plus Tammy spending her birthday night out with you is infinitely preferable to me than her spending it in with Dave." Julie smiled and kissed him on the cheek.

"Steve-o, I've got nothing for you." She sighed. "I like it better when you two are together, but Tammy stood by me during the whole Paulo thing, so…"

"Yeah," he nodded. "I know. What are you ladies doing anyway?"

"Just dinner," she shrugged. "We might go to a club or something. Very mellow, Tammy and I haven't had a lot of time me and her in a while." He nodded. "Anyway, thanks for babysitting, and um, what are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

"Well," he said. "My parents are going on an extended vacation to celebrate Dad's retirement, I assume I'm not welcome at the Vanderbilt Riley Duncan feast in Connecticut, which I assume is where you'll be…"

"God, no," Julie shook her head. "We're going to California."

"Really?" He said. She nodded. "Why? Doesn't Jimmy want to be with his family?"

"Yes," she nodded, "but we talked about it, and we decided that the most important thing for Steph and Mike this year for the holidays is to keep things normal and low key. Normal means Thanksgiving dinner in Newport with Jaime and Josh, and Casey and his parents."

"With you cooking?" He said.

"Who else would cook?" She shrugged. "I'm trying not to focus on the fact the Elyse always did it."

"Right," he said softly. "So am I invited?"

"Of course," she said. "You're not spending Thanksgiving alone. Plus Jaime wants as many people as possible without weirdness to keep things between her and Josh from going kablooie."

"Kablooie?" He said. She nodded. "Alright Cat, go, grill my ex, and get her to take me back."

"I'll work on it," she nodded. "Thanks again, Steve-o!" He nodded as she bounced away, he walked in.

"Steve," Mikey said.

"What's up?" He sat down.

"You're an idiot," Mikey shrugged. Steve looked at him. "Because, you let Jimmy get Julie and now you're letting some guy be with Tammy."

"Mikey," Steve laughed. "Someday you will understand that a man doesn't let a woman do anything. If they look at us, we take it."

"I wouldn't take the crap that you take," Mikey shrugged, "that's all I'm saying."

"God, you are so exactly like your sister," Steve laughed. Mikey nodded.

Dean smiled sitting outside of a building waiting for Kyla. It was a sunny fall day, the kind that was made for being outside.

"Hi," Kyla said walking up to him and kissing him. "I wasn't expecting you today."

"I figured I'd surprise you," he shrugged.

"Consider me surprised." She kissed him again. "Do you want to get something to eat?"

"I'm all for that," he nodded. They started walking.

"So how was Chicago?" She asked.

"Good," he said. "My nephew is moving to Denver with his father, so my sister is in a state of crisis, which means that she's trying to fix things, namely my love life, which means that I got a lot of grief about not bringing you." She laughed.

"Your sister's divorced?" She asked.

"Uh no," he said. "I was kind of hoping we could put off this explanation." He laughed awkwardly. "Lisa had David when she was seventeen, Patrick, his 'father' and I use the term loosely, took off on what was supposed to be their wedding day. He came back a few times, asking for money, usually. Anyway, then she reconnected with this old friend, they fell for each other, got married, they have two kids, live the neighborhood dream, you know."

"Oh," she said. "So, David is going to live with Patrick?" He nodded. "And this worries you?"

"The guy got my big sister pregnant and abandoned her." He said. "I don't trust him, and David's a special kid, I don't want that crushed." She looked at him and kissed him softly. "What was that for?"

"You're sweet," she said. "I never expect it, and then there you are." He smiled. "I kind of want to meet your sister," she smiled taking his hand and swinging their arms together, "and Tanya." He laughed.

"Good," he said, and held up an RSVP card. "Because I sort of need a date to this wedding, and I was hoping that you'd be up for it."

"So am I like your girlfriend now?" She asked.

"If you want," he shrugged. She squealed and he kissed him.

"I definitely want," she giggled. "So, I'm done with class for the day and I'm not working tonight, shall we celebrate this whole boyfriend girlfriend situation?"

"Sounds good," he said, she smiled and they kept walking together.

"OK," Dave said, watching Tammy get dressed, "here's what I don't understand, why aren't we spending your birthday together."

"Because," she sighed, "it's really hard for Julie to get a whole night away from the kids, as a matter of fact she usually can barely drag herself away from them. Plus we always spend our birthdays together."

"Really?" He said. She nodded. "She doesn't spend her birthday with Jimmy?"

"Nope," she shook her head. "That's what Birthday Eve is for."

"Birthday Eve?" He said. She nodded.

"Every year, the night before her birthday they spend the whole night together." She explained, "they eat tacos and watch Indiana Jones, it's all very sweet."

"It sounds like something a fifteen year old boy came up with," he said.

"That's because a fifteen year old boy did come up with it," she laughed. "And since Julie was pretty much a boy when we were fifteen, it was perfect." Dave nodded. "It's not that I don't want to be with you tonight, I just miss my friend."

"Hey," Julie walked in with a smile. "Hi Dave," the smiled disappeared.

"I'll leave you two to your night," he kissed Tammy softly. "Happy Birthday baby." He whispered.

"Thanks," she said as he walked out. Once he was gone Tammy looked at Julie. "You could be nicer."

"He's bad for you," Julie said. "Like heroin, or refined sugars."

"Haha," Tammy rolled her eyes. "Dave is nothing like Paulo."

"Older, dangerous, toxic," Julie listed. "He's exactly like Paulo, but I love you, so I'll deal."

"Did Jimmy stay with the kids?" Tammy asked.

"Uh no," Julie said. "They're with their godfather." Tammy looked at her.

"You can say his name you know," she frowned.

"Tam," Julie sighed. "I'm trying really hard to not take sides, I don't know how you did it for a year." Tammy laughed. "So anyway, let's go eat."

"You know, I think you'll really like Dave," Tammy said.

"I do really like Dave," Julie said. "And I like seeing you happy, but I just think that the problems you and Steve were having were mostly revolving around you not knowing who you were as an individual, and instead of figuring that out, you're jumping into a new relationship."

"Your opinion is noted," Tammy nodded. "Did you bring me cake?"

"I gave you enchiladas," Julie said. "You don't get a cake too!" Tammy raised her eyebrows. "It's in the fridge! You only get it because I have been super bored. I need to do something."

"Hm, gee, since you spend all of your extra time cooking," Tammy said. "What could you possibly do?"

"You know who are the only people in my life who don't bug me about opening my restaurant every conversation I have?" Julie said. "Stephanie and Steve," she said. Tammy rolled her eyes. "Maybe I'll only talk to them from now on."

"Blah blah blah," she rolled her eyes. "Kelly's really pissed that you're taking Jimmy away for Thanksgiving you know."

"Jimmy is free to do whatever he wants with his Thanksgiving," Julie said. "I however, am not going to subject Steph to the years of inferiority complexes that would happen if she spent the first holiday since her parents died with Connie Vanderbilt and her private wing full of brand new toys."

"Right," Tammy said. "That makes sense."

"Tanya?" Fulton walked into their apartment. "Are you home?" He walked back into their bedroom. She was standing looking at herself in the mirror in her wedding dress. "Wow," he whispered.

"Oh God!" She said, "you're not supposed to see me. It's bad luck."

"You're beautiful," he whispered and kissed her. She smiled. "I can't wait to marry you." She smiled.

"But still," she said. "Close your eyes, it's bad luck." He nodded and closed his eyes. "Keep them closed!" She said walking into the bathroom. "OK, you can open them." He smiled and saw her walk over, now wearing nothing.

"Oh I'm feeling the bad luck," he laughed as she kissed him.

"Good," she smiled. They kissed again.

Jimmy sighed walking out of a coffee shop. He'd had a half hour free, so he figured coffee was the way to go. He stopped seeing Bonnie coming around the corner. He took a deep breath.

"James?" She said. "Um, hi!"

"Hi," he said. "How are you?"

"I'm good," she said. "I'm good. You're on an overnight?"

"Uh yeah," he nodded. "I mean, well, yeah."

"Did you decide where you're doing residency yet?" She asked. "Are you staying here or,"

"I'm actually going to be in Portland," he said softly.

"You're moving to Oregon?" She said. "Wow, that's a big change!"

"Maine, actually," he said softly. "Portland, Maine." She looked at him, her head cocked to the side.

"What's in Maine?" She asked softly. He swallowed. "Oh, right." They both shifted their weight. "So then you two are…"

"Yeah," he nodded. "Kind of, it's," he looked down. "Yeah, we are."

"Good," she said. "Good for you. I'm um, dating someone too."

"Good," he said softly. "I'm happy for you. Anyone I know." She nodded.

"I mean, sort of," she sighed. "He's your sister's exboyfriend." He stopped.

"You're dating Steve?" He said. "That's a detail he's neglected to mention." She looked at him.

"Kelly's ex," she said.

"Tyler Kidman is in New York?" He said.

"Liam Nichols," she said.

"You're dating that douchebag?" He asked. She sighed. "God, Bonnie, you can do so much,"

"You don't get to do that," she said. "You don't get to tell me I can do better. Liam and I make sense." He nodded. "It was good to see you." She kissed him on the cheek.

"You too," he said.

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