I don't own Melissa and Joey. If I did, I'd be a freaking billionaire.

Joe

I

t's been almost two weeks since Mel's accident. The doctor said that Mel can come back home after a week or so. That's been the only good news to my ears for a long time. The accident's like an eye – opener. Proves that all of us have lesser time than we think we do. I think that I'm gonna tell her the truth, when she comes home. Even if she doesn't feel the same way, I think she has a right to know. And I think it has been established that I can't ignore them, however much I want too. Every time I look at her, I just wanna kiss her and… GET YOU HEAD OUT OF THE GUTTER, JOE! SHE'S YOUR BOSS!

I just want everything to be back to normal, all of us at home, Mel drinking a glass of wine and talking to Stephanie, me cooking, Ryder and Lennox having one of their fights. And its obvious that it's not as simple as that.

And now len's coming at me, and she's probably gonna ask me permission for something. It's not every day that she has that expression on her face.

"Hey, Joe. Do you think we can all go out for a camping trip, once Aunt Mel gets out of the hospital."

Wow, I was not expecting that. I thought she wanted to go meet 'one of her friends' at the mall again.

"You have to agree, we all need a break. And we've become like a little family and it'll be fun to do something family – ish."
"yeah, but Mel needs to get better. And it's not like she just got the flu. It was a car accident. And I'm pretty sure that, Ryder wouldn't want to come." I said.
"no, it was mine and Ryder's idea, actually. And we don't have to go right away, we can go after a while." Lennox said.
"c'mon, can't we do this another time? Anyway, I need to check on Mel. So, we'll talk later."

Lennox

This is getting too hard. Joe is being too unreasonable. I still haven't asked Aunt Mel, so all hope is not lost. And joe didn't even let me make my argument about my dad and mom gone and that this is really important to me. This is gonna be a tough day. Anyway, here comes Ryder, perhaps he's had a better chance with Mel. "Hey, how did it go with Joe?" he asked me, and not with a cheerful expression on his face.
"He said no. he said that Mel needed rest once she got home. And didn't even get to tell him about how we both really need this since our real parents aren't there for us. What about you with Aunt Mel?"

"She said no too. She said that she would be really busy once she got home, with all her council – work. Especially, since the accident, she'd have to catch up." He said.
"I hate these two, don't they, realize that we want to help them. They're really adamant. You try with Joe this time. And try to be extra sad." I said. "Yeah , you try with Aunt Mel, and maybe add a few tears." He said, just reading my mind.

Mel

"What's with all the trip plans, Len? I haven't even got out of the hospital. And Ryder already asked me. I'm gonna be really busy, sweetie. I'm sorry." I said.
"Please, aunt mel, after mom and dad ditched us, we haven't exactly done anything family – ish. And we've become a little family, we both really wanna go." Lennox said.
"aw, that's really sweet, but cant we go another time, when none of us have jobs and things to do, maybe we can do it after a few months." I said.
"Please aunt mel, cant we go after a few weeks, please please please…." Lennox said or rambled.
"I really want to go, believe I need a break. I promise, we'll go, just not now." I said, but when I saw her face , my heart just melted. DAMN YOU, NICE AUNT MEL!
"Ok, sweetie, I'll think about it. But I'm not promising anything. But I really need to take some rest now." I said with a sigh.

Maybe this trip is not such a bad idea. It'll give me and joe some time to talk. I could tell him how I feel and then we'd kiss and then… COME ON, MEL! HE'S THE NANNY!

But I'm not gonna tell him, no matter what. It'll just make things awkward, and that's the last thing I need, searching for a new nanny. Once is enough.

Wow, this medication is making me sleepy. Yawn.

Ryder

"Please Joe, please. Me and lennox could really use this. I'll even do the laundry for a week." What the hell, ryder?! That's a lot. Don't offer up more house labour!
"One week, that's enough time for you to ruin all our clothes. So in conclusion, please don't do the laundry, I beg you" Joe said.
"Fine, so is that a yes? C'mon Joe, please" I said.
"That's not a yes that just means I'll think about it. God, what's it with you and Lennox, recently? Can't you just be like normal teenagers?" he said with a sigh and walked away.

Joe

Ryder and lennox are acting really weird today. They are being too nice. Maybe I should go and talk to mel. I'm sure they've asked her too.
"Hey mel, have lennox and ryder talked to you today about some camping trip?" I asked as my heart did a little flip.
"Yeah, that's what I wanted to ask you too. Ryder asked me first and then lennox came. I told no to both of them. Well, not exactly. Lennox looked so sad, so I just told her that I'll think about it." She said "she even said some stuff about us being a family. Why are they being so nice? Something is going on with them."

"Both ryder and lennox asked me. I told lennox no and then I told ryder I'd think about it." I said

Something's up. We just don't know what it is.

"Something is wrong. With ryder and lennxox." I said.

"I know, that's what I just said." she snapped. And after she saw my shocked expression she said "sorry, it's just I've been thinking about someone, something." She corrected herself quickly.

I hate that bitch who she's thinking about. Longo, just calm down.

"Yeah, but don't you wanna know what its about" I asked.

"Yeah, but I don't wanna go sneaking. Anyway Lennox will come and tell me when the time comes." she said.

And then after that it was just silence. Mel dozed off and I just watched her sleep. She was like an angel. But I couldn't help thinking if I should tell her how I feel. And this trip that lennox is talking might be the perfect time. And it's not like she hates me, she does like me, and it was evident when we were talking and um, kissing in the apartment.

"Longo, can you pick up the magazine? On the floor?" she asked breaking the silence.

"huh?"

"the magazine. On the floor. The doctor asked me not to bend, so can you pick it up for me?"

"yeah sure"

I reached down to pick it up, and when I came up to give it her, our faces were inches away from each other.