"The One" – Part 73

Summary and additional notes in part 1.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! Wow, a lot of people aren't happy with Beth! That's understandable though. In this chapter, more OCs ahead, y'all! Enjoy :D

This is not related to my Degrassi timeline fics. (See my Author's profile for details!)

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Degrassi!

-oOo-

Fiona groaned as she looked at the time. She told Adam she was ten minutes away. That was ten minutes ago and they had barely moved! They were travelling up Eighth Avenue, but now she regretted not asking the cabbie to go up Tenth.

"We'll be there soon enough!"

Fiona turned to her friend and gave her a look.

Debbie was a graphic designer who had her own shop in Chelsea. She had short blonde hair and green eyes. The two of them met years ago when Fiona and Hanna needed a new logo for their fashion label.

"What? I'm just saying!" Debbie laughed.

"You're radiating with angst. Just take a few deeps breaths and you'll feel better," Pamela suggested.

She was a yoga instructor who was also well versed in Eastern Medicine. She had just returned to New York from a four month long retreat. She had shoulder length golden brown hair and dark brown eyes. Like Fiona she was from a well off family and resided in lower Manhattan. She had a four bedroom condo in the Financial District! It was close to the Coyne Penthouse, so the three of them had decided to share a cab.

Fiona quickly refuted her claim. "I am not!" However, she could acknowledge that she was a bit tightly wound. This afternoon had been annoying and she couldn't wait to see Adam again, but no. She was stuck here! In a stupid cab!

Debbie looked at Pamela, unconvinced. Her partner smirked as she looked back, but wisely withheld comment.

"I'm sure he went inside," Debbie remarked.

Fiona shrugged. "I know he probably did… I just wish I was there already."

Debbie sent her a knowing look. "This wouldn't have anything to do with FaceRange, would it?"

Fiona sighed. "Does everyone know about that?"

Pamela nodded. "And I don't even go on FaceRange!" she joked. Where she had been, they didn't have access to the internet! It was very peaceful, but she had missed her girlfriend terribly and was happy to be home.

Fiona snorted. "Well, of course Debbie would tell you about it!" she teased.

"My point is, we know the deal. Debbie and I are right here, with you in this cab. We're not going to take sides just because you guys broke up," Pamela asserted. She had been shocked when Debbie told her they had called a quits, because Fiona and Beth seemed like such a solid couple!

Debbie nodded. "Honestly, it's awkward but only because you and Beth aren't getting along. I really wish you guys would, but either way true friends don't take sides," she stated. "I'm looking forward to meeting Adam because it's obvious that he makes you happy."

Fiona grinned. "Thanks. It means a lot." She needed to hear that! She sat back in her seat and breathed in deeply.

-oOo-

Pete looked up with a smirk. Gretchen and Nona had returned to the table and they were not alone. The guy that came with them was hot! He was tall and had short medium brown hair and bright blue eyes. He was wearing a light plaid button down shirt and dark jeans. Pete was about to make a smart comment about him but Gretchen spoke first.

"Hey everyone, this is Adam!" she introduced him to the table.

Pete immediately raised an eyebrow, recognizing the name! He had seen his profile before, yet for some reason he hadn't made the connection. "Let me guess, Fiona's fashionably late?"

Everyone at the table chuckled. Pete saw Adam laugh as well, and thought that he had a cute smile.

"Yes, she's on her way," Adam affirmed.

He took a seat near Gretchen. Nona sat across from them.

"Appetizers should be here any minute," Tomás informed them. He glanced at his boyfriend, Pete, and sent him a knowing look for checking out the new guy. Realizing he had been caught, Pete chuckled in response.

"Great!" Gretchen said. She looked at Adam. "I'll do introductions."

He nodded.

"You met Nona," she started. Nona waved again. "Next to her are Raul and Simone." They waved. He had thick black hair, which he wore slicked back and dark brown eyes. She had auburn hair, worn in a pixie cut, and hazel eyes. "Across from them are Pete and Tomás." The two of them waved. Pete was British and wore black framed glasses. He had short dirty blond hair and light brown eyes. Tomás had shoulder length dark brown hair and eyes. He was originally from Argentina.

"Nice to meet you guys," Adam told them.

"We're waiting on Pamela and Debbie. They should be with Fiona," Gretchen finished.

He nodded. "Cool."

-oOo-

As they approached the table, the three women heard lots of laughter. Fiona and Debbie exchanged a look.

"See, it's all good," Debbie observed.

Fiona grinned. "Apparently!" she noted as her eyes fell on Adam. He was laughing along with the rest of the group, and seemed to fit right in.

Pamela playfully shook her head and grabbed Debbie's hand. "Let's go. I'm starving!"

At the table, Gretchen was sharing a wacky tale about one of the subjects she had photographed for her book. "So there we were at ten o'clock in the morning, down by the piers listening to a man who believed he was a pirate recant his tales as he intermittently sipped whiskey from a flask. I kid you not!" she told them.

They all laughed.

"It was certainly one of my strangest moments ever, but the lighting that day was absolutely beautiful. The way the sun reflected on the water came out perfect in the final portrait of him! It's definitely one of my favorite photos in the book," she revealed. "With the equipment I used for the setup I could have done it on my own, but I think I would have been too scared to return alone! So, I'm really glad Fiona was there with me."

Adam smiled at her words. Since sitting down at the table conversation had flowed through various topics. He was starting to get a sense of the dynamics between them. They were a close knit group of friends. Most of them went to school together at FIT and they were quite supportive of each other, in their professional goals and in their personal lives.

They all seemed to work in somewhat related fields, which he found interesting. Gretchen was a photographer. Nona was a make up artist for runway shows. Pete was a buyer for Armani. Tomás and Raul were both merchandise displayers. The two of them recently founded their own company, setting up window displays for high end fashion stores. Meanwhile Simone was a fashion publicist!

He had been worried about the reception he would receive, being the guy who "came between" Fiona and Beth, but to his relief they were warm, personable, and engaging. Although Pete joked earlier that he and Fiona must have shared "one helluva cup of coffee" when they first met up again!

"Oh pirate guy was harmless! He wanted to make you his first mate!" Fiona quipped as she came near.

Gretchen laughed as she shook her head. "No, I distinctly remember him saying that to you!" she fired back.

Fiona shrugged. "Let's agree to disagree!" To this day, they still hadn't sorted out which one he had been talking about!

The two of them laughed and shared a quick hug. Debbie and Pamela followed suit and the group went on to exchange a series of hugs amongst them.

Fiona smiled at Adam and felt as light as air when he met her eyes.

"Saved you a seat, princess," he told her. He was sitting next to Gretchen and there was an empty one on his left, next to Pete. "I can switch if you want."

She shook her head. "No, this is fine."

"Just fine?" Pete joked, feigning offense. She sent him a look of mock annoyance, but couldn't hold it long and they both chuckled.

She turned back to Adam as she went to sit down. The couple leaned in and shared a sweet kiss. She stayed close after pulling away. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she said softly, while looking into his eyes.

He grinned at her and quickly swept his eyes over her form. "It was worth the wait. You look amazing, Fi," he told her. She was wearing a lovely gray strapless party dress with a deep red band around the middle.

"Thanks," she responded. He returned his gaze to hers, and they stared at one another with open affection for a short moment.

Gretchen and Nona shared an amused look.

"So, you've met everyone?" Fiona asked him.

"We've made introductions," Gretchen affirmed. Adam nodded.

"Great," Fiona said happily.

"But we have yet to meet," Debbie reminded her, with a small grin which Pamela matched.

"Oh right!" Fiona stated somewhat distractedly.

They all laughed.

.

tbc

A/N: In the last chapter there was a description for Nona. In this one, we got ones for Pete and a slew of new OCs! Quite a bit of information, but they'll be around for a bit!

Debbie and Pamela are full of win, with their kind words to Fiona in the cab! And hmm… Fadam was definitely sharing a moment at the end!

By the way, for those who may not know, FIT stands for The Fashion Institute of Technology!

Review! You know you want to! :D

In the next chapter… lots of backstory, dialogue, Fadam cuteness and some talk of Toronto!

To the folks I cannot directly PM:

AAe - Thanks for the review to chapter #71! Haha, glad you enjoy cliffhangers! :D