Again, thank you guys so much for your lovely reviews. They make my day. I did find it interesting that in all of the reviews that no one mentioned Mellie. I'm not going to ramble, though. I hope you enjoy :-)

It is eight o'clock at night and Jordan and I are standing at Quinn's doorstep with our hands full of bags, waiting for her to open the door. Jordan hits the doorbell with her elbow once more.

"If this girl doesn't move her ass I'm leaving." She whines.

I laugh at her impatience but we have been waiting for a few minutes. Just as I open my mouth to respond, the door swings open to reveal a slightly disheveled Adam. Jordan and I roll our eyes at the site of him.

"This is why we've been waiting?!" I yell over Adam's shoulder at Quinn who is smiling meekly behind him. "There is a reason that this is called 'girls' night not 'let Quinn get laid while Jordan and Olivia stand outside cluelessly' night."

Adam chuckles and kisses my cheek before maneuvering his way between my sister and I.

"I'm sorry that you ladies had to wait but I will no longer be in your way so be happy about that." Adam assures. "Liv, you should be thanking me, Quinn has given me the job of making sure your men don't kill each other tonight."

"My men?" I question skeptically.

"Well, tonight is also guys night which both of your guys are attending and we are men so there's going to be beer, and because we're men, once we get a little drunk there's going to be an argument about who's dick is bigger which is usually fine but that always turns into a talk about women and you and I already know that if Edison even thinks your name the wrong way that your man Fitz is going to hit him. So, with that said, my job is to keep Edison from saying something stupid, Fitz has already been given the 'don't taunt' talk but I'm there to re-enforce it and make sure they don't bash each other's faces in." He grins after his little speech. "You're welcome."

I roll my eyes at him but I'm incredibly thankful that he's willing to play mediator on his one night off that's designated for him to drink and have fun with the guys.

"Thank you, Adam, but Fitz is not my man. I'm not responsible for him or his behavior."

He gives me a look and shakes his head in return.

"I'm not going to argue this with you seeing as I'm already late." He walks down the steps to his car while he speaks. "Bye, dolls, have fun. Don't get naked without filming it."

We all shake our heads at him and enter the house, going straight to the kitchen to unpack the bags we've brought in. Quinn happens to get the bag with the alcohol and raises her eyebrows at me.

"Tequila? I thought we were going classy tonight, as usual, I was expecting a Cabernet Sauvignon or at least a bottle of Merlot but tequila? I wasn't expecting that at all."

"I'm having a bad life, okay. I needed something that was going to work fast." I answer without taking my eyes off of the bag that I am unpacking.

"You're having a bad life?!" Jordan questions facetiously. "Not Miss. Happily Engaged!"

I throw her a look.

"Screw you."

"That's incestuous, you're disgusting Olivia."

Quinn interrupts be for we can digress any further.

"Alright ladies, we haven't even started drinking yet and the incest jokes have already started. Let's hold off for a little bit, okay."

Jordan and I nod, sticking our tongues out at each other as soon as Quinn turns her back. As much as my sister annoys me, it's great to be able to have these moments with her just to act like children again. We behave, though, turning our separate ways to finish unpacking and once the pizza has arrived and the popcorn is cooked, we all settle in the living room with a glass of wine and the bottle of tequila sitting front and center in the middle of the table.

"So, should we start with a movie or Olivia's troubled personal life?" Jordan asks in a faux cheery voice.

Quinn laughs but I know that if I don't show preference that we'll start with me. As sarcastic as Jordan is, I know that she's being serious.

"I vote for a movie so that I can eat my food in peace." I make known before they can start questioning me. "Please, I'm begging you."

They give each other a look but concede to my wishes.

"I pick the movie, though!" Quinn shouts, jumping off of the floor pillow to run towards the entertainment center, almost knocking over the bowl of popcorn. "And Liv, since you opted for a movie that means that you have to sit through it."

At that Jordan jumps up to join her but I don't find myself growing nervous, Fitz doesn't have any movies. I'm just incredibly glad that he isn't an actor because they would have chosen any of his work no doubt. I'm wrong though. I should have known that if Quinn was adamant about picking the movie then there must have been a reason why. The DVD that begins playing is a recording of the old series True Hollywood Story and of course the subject is none other than Fitzgerald Grant.

"Guys…really?" I whine, hoping that they'll take pity on me.

They don't. We've made it halfway through the movie before I start to feel uncomfortable. Most of the beginning was his illustrious backstory but now they're starting to talk about me and the campaign. A cute picture of us flashes across the screen and I can't help but smile. It was from when we first met. We had known each other less than a week when it was taken but we clicked instantaneously and spent most of that time period strategizing alone. It was before things got complicated. Before I knew that I loved him and that he loved me. Before we had to deal with the children and Mellie and the media and just a relationship in general. That picture gave me a lot to smile about. Everything was fresh and new and it's almost heartbreaking to know that we are never going to get that wide eyed beginning back.

"That was one of the best years of my life." I sigh softly from behind my glass of wine, suddenly wishing for something stronger.

What did I bring tequila for if no one was going to drink it?

"Why?" Quinn asks curiously.

"Because that was the year that I…it was the year that I finally figured out what I wanted to do with my life." I lie straight through my teeth.

Jordan's head pops up from her phone at my answer. I know that she thinks we don't know that she's sexting Elliott but we do.

"It was the year that you figured out what you wanted to do with your life?" She questions skeptically.

I can't tell them that it's because I met Fitz. I can't tell them that it's because I got to travel across the country with the one person that understands me more than anyone. I can't tell them that it's because being in close quarters like that for so long brought out an amazing relationship with Karen and Gerry that I couldn't possibly have imagined. I can't tell them any of it because I'm supposed be in love with my fiancé. Because the best year of my life is supposed to be the one where Edison and I met or when we moved in together or when he proposed. But it's not and we all know why.

"After I graduated I floundered a little bit, if you can recall, and working on the campaign made me realize that I wanted to open OPA. I didn't feel so lost anymore."

"Sure." Jordan acquiesces, knowing surely that I'm lying.

We're all silent as we turn back to the tv and conveniently they're talking about how we denied our personal relationship until after the election, showing several clips of people, including us, dodging the questions about how intimate our relationship truly was.

"Does he have a girlfriend?" I enquire out of the blue.

Quinn stops to look at me and then a grin crosses her face.

"Why? Is there someone that's interested?" She articulates in the creepiest voice I've ever heard. "I'd be happy to pass his number along to any female that would like it. No judgements."

I roll my eyes at her.

"I'm just curious. My asking a question doesn't mean anything."

Jordan scoffs loudly.

"He tried the dating circuit a few years back but fell flat. Currently, he's single." Quinn replies.

"Why, Liv? Would you be jealous if he was?"

"No. Absolutely not. I just wanted to know." I answer shaking my head emphatically. "Natural curiosity and all that jazz."

Quinn's phone pings from across the room and she dives for it like it's her last source of oxygen. Unexpectedly she holds up the phone and smiles at me.

"Speak of the devil, guess who left the man party early and is now bored?" She asks in a singsong manner.

I pretend not to care, ignoring her completely when her phone flies across the room and lands in my lap. I look up with a confused expression painted across my face.

"What is this for?"

"He doesn't want to talk me. He texted me but he said 'How's Liv? I hope you guys aren't so drunk that you'll be decommissioned all of tomorrow.'" She shakes her head as she speaks. "He's making it seem like he cares whether we're drunk or not but he asked about you first. That's what he really wants."

I shake my head at her but I unlock the phone to text him anyway.

I'm fine. It's Liv, by the way, Quinn handed over her phone to me.

Rightttt. I was just checking on you. Edison mentioned that you haven't been in the best mood lately. You alright?

I told you, I'm fine. Edison over exaggerates. I don't want to talk to you about him though. How was guy's night?

Uneventful. How's girl's night?

Same. We're watching a movie. What are you doing up so late if you're not with the guys? Insomnia still kicking your ass?

I'm watching some crap reality show because it has been more frequently. Especially since you showed up. I'm always up thinking.

I ignore his text. Twiddling my thumbs. I know what he's trying to do. Where he's trying to take me and I already know that I can't handle it in a room with one of my best friends and my sister. Thankfully another text comes through.

What movie are you guys watching?

It's actually your THS :- )

Haha. Who's choice? I'm going to take a wild guess here and say that it wasn't yours.

You would be correct. It was Quinn. I said I wanted to watch a movie, by default I didn't get to choose.

Of course. The standard home movie rule.

Are you happy that you're back? In California I mean.

I take a moment to think about his question. I still want to make sure that I'm maintaining a safe friend boundary.

It's weird because now that I'm here I don't even remember my reason for staying away. I feel at home.

Of course you do. This is your home. Sort of. Your parents have been here your entire adult life.

I know but…everything's different. Especially with me and you.

A text comes through and I open it immediately thinking that it's Fitz, however, I'm pleasantly surprised by a graphic text from, which I'm hoping is a drunk, Adam.

I have to go. Quinn needs her phone back.

His reply comes almost instantaneously.

Text me from your phone. I know that you have my number.

I'm angry because he's right.

"Quinn, please don't continue this conversation now but Adam is texting you."

She looks up from the movie that I had altogether forgotten that we were watching. I had stopped paying attention as soon as I started talking to Fitz.

"You done sexting my boss from my phone, you pervert?" She mocks, stretching across the floor to grab her phone from me.

I ignore her and pick up my own phone, slightly eager to continue my conversation.

It's me.

I find it interesting that you had my number but I didn't have yours. Were you planning on prank calling the president?

I giggle at that. When we were together Jerry had gone through this phase where he was trying to fit in at his new school so he would prank call Fitz at every sleepover he went to because his friends thought it was cool that the President answered his own phone.

"I'm sure whoever you're talking to is providing some incredibly scintillating conversation with all of the giggling and smiling that's going on over there." Jordan throws over her shoulder as she gets up to turn off the, now finished, movie. "How is he?"

"Why do you think that I'm talking to a he?" I can tell by the look on her face that she's not going to play along. "If I were talking to the he that you think I'm talking to then I would assume that he's fine."

"Okay, then can you assume what he's doing that's so important that he left guy's night?"

I stare at her for a moment before I give in.

"He's watching tv."

She laughs and shakes her head.

"You are so easy."

I ignore her and focus my attention back on Fitz.

I wasn't before but now I am.

Would you be drunk when you did it? I know that a drunken Livi is a fun Livi.

I bite my lip, staring at the text. I could respond with something equally as inappropriate but would that equate to friendly banter or crossing a line? It's hard to know what friendship territory is with him because we were never friends at all. We went from zero to sixty in a matter of weeks and I completely refused to acknowledge his existence immediately after our break up. Should I, as a friend, know just how good he feels pressed up against me when we're both shirtless? Should his name completely take over my thought process? How people are friends with their exes, I will never understand.

"Liv?" Jordan's voice calls my attention. "You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

Quinn answers for her.

"Because you went from smiling, to conflicted, to confused, to weird almost turned on face, back to confused."

I just nod in response. They'll never let me live it down if I tell them what Fitz really said. It'll turn into a thirteen year old girl's sleepover where we all hover over my phone waiting for the next message before we dissect every word and agree on a response. Nah. I think I'll keep this one to myself.

"Hey, Liv?" Quinn says, her tone unreadable. "Can I ask you a really personal question?"

Jordan and I both give her a weird look. What could be more personal than the ever present, top of the list discussion about my sex life? I nod anyway, giving her the okay to continue.

"I always thought that you didn't come to California because you didn't want to see Fitz or interact with him but…" She sighs like she's trying to phrase her question right. "Did you really stay away because you were afraid of the feelings that you have for him? It's just that I've been watching how you've been with him these past few days and you're certainly not acting like someone that's trying to avoid him so I was trying to figure out what else it could be and that's all that I could come up with."

I turn to look at Jordan and by the expression on her face she agrees with Quinn. They've apparently been on the same page. The question is, do I tell the whole truth or do I dilute some of it? I opt for the first choice. Maybe it's the liquid courage. Maybe it's the fact that I never get to talk about things like this to people that aren't my therapist. I sigh heavily and empty the rest of my glass.

"Yes." I answer simply, looking her dead in the eyes. "It's just that…I was so good at locking everything that had to do with him in a box and putting that box in the back of my mind and then sealing the door and putting men in hazmat suits in front of it…I was good at ignoring everything about him. I think that's why Edison wanted to come so badly…because he wanted to know how I felt about Fitz without having me ignore him or make up some bull crap answer. When I got here I was really positive that everything was in the past. I honestly didn't think about Fitz my entire relationship with Edison but now he's here and he's saying things and breathing and…I just don't know anymore."

"You don't know?" Jordan queries curiously.

"I really thought I was over him." I whisper into the quiet room. "I guess seeing him made me think about the past…think about what we had together. I forgot how before the end and after the rocky beginning that we were kind of amazing."

"If my two cents are worth anything," Quinn starts. "I would like to say that I thought you guys had a lot together and I had only known you for a two years before you guys split up. You were really happy with him, Liv. Plus, I work with Fitz so I really get to see what an influence on him you are every single day. You were great together."

"Yeah, I know but so are Edison and I."

Jordan sighs and then raises her eyes to mine.

"Do you think that you're over Fitz?"

"I don't even know anymore. I'm starting to overthink it, you know? Like, what if the feelings never went away and we were both just good at suppressing them?"

Quinn scoffs at the mere mention of suppression.

"Maybe you but definitely not him. He had nearly drunk himself to death when I started working for him. If anything he knows exactly how he feels because after the alcohol wore off he didn't even try to deny it."

I nod, taking in what she's saying.

"I'm just worried that I hid it for so long that I don't really know how I feel about him."

"So, you aren't over him." Jordan states matter of factly.

"No, I am!" I insist. "There's just something there that I didn't expect to feel."

"That's called love, Honey." Quinn says taunting me, rubbing my arm.

I shrug her off immediately, rejecting her comment.

"But I never felt this with Edison…" I wonder out loud.

Jordan laughs but says nothing as she reaches for the forgotten bottle of tequila and pops it open, handing it to me.

"Exactly." Is all she says as she smirks and sits back against the couch.

I understand perfectly the implications of her comment so I take her unspoken advice and start gulping the tequila like a fish out of water.

"Are you going shopping with us?"

"Shopping?" I ask with a bewildered expression.

"Yeah, Quinn, Adam, Fitz, sometimes Stephen and Georgia, Elliott and I do a little last minute Christmas shopping together. It's always really fun and it gives us a chance to buy gifts for each other. You wouldn't know because you never come home for Christmas." Jordan answers without looking up from her Essence magazine.

I scoff at her dramatically.

"Because when Fitz and I broke up, instead of doing the normal, good family thing and hating him, you were his best friends. You guys act like I don't watch the news," My voice deepens to emulate a male reporter. "President Grant was seen in California earlier this morning having breakfast with the Pope family. It's nice that after the split from the eldest Pope sibling, Olivia, that the families are still amicable and dare I say, friends."

Laughter racks through Jordan's body as she slams her magazine shut and slides off of the kitchen barstool and onto the tiled floor.

"It wasn't that funny." I insist petulantly.

When she finally sobers up she looks up at me from the floor with a huge smile on her face.

"Well, Edison has work to finish up so you should come. It'll be fun. Elliott's going to be here in fifteen minutes to pick me up and as an incentive you can ride with us."

She says that like it's really an incentive.

"I can't. My hair is still wet and I'm not dressed. Plus, I'm pretty sure that my breath still smells like a mixture of vomit and tequila."

I blame her for that. Some sister allowing me to drink most of the bottle by myself.

"Oh, whatever." Jordan chuckles. "Wear your hair curly, throw on some jeans and a t-shirt and brush your teeth again. You'll be as good as new."

I roll my eyes at her and make my way around the kitchen island to start up the side staircase.

"I'm only going because Christmas is in a few days and I don't have a gift for you." I throw over my shoulder. "Not because you're right."

She doesn't reply but instead begins mumbling loudly from the kitchen. When I push my bedroom door open Edison has his glasses on and is sitting against the headboard with his laptop on my pillow and his papers strewn all over the bed. I stand in the doorway, observing him for a moment.

"People that hover in doorways are people that are coming from nowhere or going nowhere." He quotes without looking up from his cellphone.

I don't respond, choosing to walk straight into the bathroom instead. I work some Aveda through my hair and then a little bit of mousse but my curls seem to be cooperating so I secure the front part of it in a clip so that only half of my hair is down. The less hair in my face the better. I walk into the closet and throw on the first pair of dark wash skinny jeans that my hands touch and a plain long sleeved white shirt with a red infinity scarf. Once I'm satisfied with my outfit I brush my teeth twice more and gargle some Listerine before stepping back into the bedroom.

"Which shoes do you like with this outfit more? Flats or converse?" I asks Edison, holding up both shoes.

He looks up briefly and does a double take.

"You're going out like that?"

I'm trying not to take is comment the wrong way but the tone in his voice leaves no room to make up a positive connotation.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

A guilty look comes across his face before he answers.

"I just meant that you never wear your hair like that in public. I thought that you said it was unprofessional?" He tries to smooth over.

"Yes, it's unprofessional when I'm in D.C. because at any point I may run into a client. Everything is business in Washington. I don't have to worry about that here and even if I did, I don't have time to straighten it anyway."

He hums under his breath.

"Well, I like it straight better."

I just stare at him, my face unmoving. I asked him for his opinion on my shoes not my hair.

"I like the flats." Jordan says, poking her head into the room. "Your leather jacket is hanging on the banister of the front stairs, it'll look cute with that outfit. I just came to tell you that Elliott's here so I'm going to go get in the car."

I nod at her and slip on my shoes, grabbing my purse off of the bureau.

"I didn't mean to offend you, Liv." Edison apologizes. "It's just my preference."

"It's fine. I'm fine." I assure him, leaning over to peck his lips quickly. "I'll see you later."

With that, I exit the room and bound down the stairs two at a time. Slipping on my jacket, I make my way out into the slightly chilled Californian air and jump into the backseat. Once I'm settled I lean forward to kiss Elliott's right cheek.

"Hey, little bro."

"What do you want?" He questions wearily.

"I'm just happy that I have you in my life."

He laughs and pays me no attention.

"How long 'til we get there?"

"Olivia," Jordan says in a low voice. "Elliott and I don't have children because we don't need a backseat heckler. Sit still and be quiet."

"I just want to know if we're going to be late." I defend myself. "Can you at least tell me that?"

"For someone that didn't want to go you're sure eager to get there. What, is Fitz texting you right now and taunting you about how long it takes you to get ready?" She jokes, laughing at herself.

When I don't answer she turns around in her seat with a large grin on her face.

"We're trying to be friends. Why do you care so much?" I answer in a monotone voice trying my hardest not to give anything away.

She smiles at me and then turns back around to smirk at Elliott.

"Sit back little duckling, we'll have you to Fitz as soon as possible." She croons as she turns on the radio effectively shutting me up.

And we don't talk for the rest of the ride.

Thirty minutes later we're pulling into a parking spot and making our way to a meeting spot with our lists and cellphones in hand. As we approach the group I silently curse Elliott in my head for driving so slow because it looks like everyone has been standing here for a little while.

"Oh, look who finally decided to show up." Fitz says loudly, clearly only pointing me out even though I arrived with two other people.

Jordan throws me a look but thankfully says nothing as we get to them. Fitz and I move toward each other and as soon as he opens his arms I'm in them but I pull away quickly so that we don't draw attention to ourselves, moving over to hug to Gerry.

"Riley, I didn't know that you stayed with Ger last night." I state after hugging Gerry.

"Yeah, well, Mom said that you might be coming in early this morning in a not so family friendly state so she kicked me out and from what I overheard from Quinn, it's probably a good thing that I wasn't home to see you stumble in drunk." He answers my unspoken question while wiggling his eyebrows at me.

I sneer in return.

"You don't know what you're talking about, I wasn't drunk, I was slightly tipsy."

The entire group breaks into laughter before Elliott speaks up.

"So, do we want to start shopping for friends or family first?"

Fitz, Jordan, Gerry and I state a preference for family while the others pick friends.

"I changed my mind. I want to shop for friends first." Jordan spits out once we've all spoken.

"Well, I guess Dad and Liv should do their shopping together since they're the only ones that want to do family first." Gerry suggests.

"Um, no I'm pretty sure you said family, too." I retort.

"No I didn't. Have fun guys."

And with that they all turn to walk in the opposite direction. Fitz has no qualms. He turns me by my shoulders and begins walking like we haven't been forced together.

"Our families are so obsessed with us." I joke, breaking the silence.

He laughs heartily at me.

"You would think they had a bet going." He chuckles. "How much do you want to bet that they have a bet going?"

I nudge him with my shoulder.

"Let's just forget about them. Where do you need to go first?"

"Why don't you choose? I only need one more thing for Gerry. Everyone else is taken care of."

I nod looking around the outdoor pavilion.

"How about Michael Kors?" I offer up. "Jordan has been eyeballing this purse but she won't buy it for herself because Elliott would kill her for buying a $3,000 purse."

"So, you're being a good sister and getting it for her?" He raises his eyebrows at me.

I smirk in return.

"They're having a fifty percent off sale today. I checked in the car."

He laughs at that but ushers me to the store, with his hand on the small of my back, anyway. As soon as we enter I see the purse and beeline for it, leaving Fitz at the entrance. That was my first mistake. The purse is so high up that I find myself jumping for it and looking around, I can't find a sales associate that isn't busy. As I reach to jump for it one more time, Fitz' body presses against mine from behind and he easily grabs the bag from it space and hands it to me with a grin on his face.

"What if you were with Edison? He wouldn't have been able to reach that." He inquires sarcastically. "Do you guys shop at midget stores?"

I ignore him and walk straight to the register without acknowledging him and surprisingly he's quiet until we leave the store.

"Are you mad at me?" He asks quietly. "It was just a joke, Liv."

We stop and turn to look at each other.

"I know…I just…I don't want to talk about Edison when I'm with you. So, can we just not?" I'm not really asking but begging him not to bring up my fiancé.

He nods and then points to a jewelry store in front of us.

"You think you might find something in here?"

I smile at his attempt to drop the conversation.

"Eh…why not." I approve and begin walking in that direction.

When we get there, a jewelry case full of lockets immediately catches both of our attention. He ends up getting one for Karen because he insisted that even though the gift was from me, I shouldn't be spending that type of money on his children. I know that it's just because he wants his name on the gift as well so I let it slide. As he's swiping his card I see his eyes wander over to a watch which he continues to stare at while the transaction is being made.

"Like it much?" I joke as his eyes immediately focus back in front of him. "Excuse me, can he see that watch?"

The woman behind the counter takes it out and I can tell that he's in love with it by the way his breath catches as soon as it touches the glass. Instantly my phone is out of my purse and I'm texting Riley.

Tell Gerry to call Fitz ASAP. I need a distraction while I get his gift.

Fitz' phone is ringing in less than ten seconds. Have I mentioned how much I love those boys? Fitz answers with his eyes lingering on the jewelry and barely says hello before his face looks irate and he excuses himself to finish the call. I didn't want Gerry to get himself in trouble but whatever he said accomplished exactly what I needed.

"Can I buy that watch? Quickly before he comes back in." I ask the woman in a low voice but before she can began ringing it up I stop her. "Does that come with engraving?"

She checks a paper on the register and I'm starting to get nervous that he'll come back in.

"It does actually, up to fifty characters. It's an extra twenty dollars." She answers and hands me a form to fill out.

I'm right at forty-five characters but I smile thinking about how much he'll enjoy unwrapping this. As soon as she confirms my order and I sign for the transaction, Fitz joins me at the register.

"What did you end up getting?" He questions in a slightly irritated tone.

"Oh, um, a locket for my mom. I figured she might like that."

He nods without commenting but begins to stroke my arm. Whatever Gerry said in that call has him fired up but I'm eternally grateful for it.

"Alright, Ms. Pope, it'll be ready for you to pick in about an hour."

I nod appreciatively and grab Fitz' hand to exit the shop.

"Why do you have to wait an hour? We got Karen's right then."

"Engraving." I answer shortly. "What was that phone call about?"

He huffs before answering.

"He wants me to give him my card because he wants a new wardrobe for Christmas. He said and I quote 'c'mon dad, it could be my own Christmas gift to myself'." He uses his middle finger and his thumb to rub his eyes before pinching the bridge of his nose. "Livi, don't ever have kids, okay."

I laugh at him and grab his hand, intertwining our fingers.

"You wanted four kids, remember?" He shakes his head at me. "'As soon as we get married you're going to be knocked up until the end of my presidency. It'll be you, me, and our six kids in Vermont.' That jog your memory a little bit."

He groans at the conversation that I'm referencing.

"What the hell was I thinking?" He asks himself, shaking his head. "You know what, Gerry and Karen weren't teenagers yet. They were still good. You and me, though? We could have handled six kids. You're militant with everything that Ger and Karen need. Even now, they wait until they get your gifts for birthdays and Christmas' because they now it'll be their favorite. You don't forget anything. That's good mom material."

"A minute ago you were telling me that I didn't need any children."

"Not if they're not mine." He jokes but the importance of what he's said isn't lost upon either of us.

We're silent as we stand on the sidewalk, our fingers still intertwined. He begins to run his fingers over my ring.

"I didn't mean that." He apologizes softly.

I chuckle lightly, looking up into his eyes.

"Yes you did. It's okay we just got caught up."

He nods slowly.

"Yeah…caught up." He repeats under his breath. "Let's swing by that game stop place before we head back to the jewelry store."

I nod and follow his lead as he begins to walk, resting my head on his arm with my left hand joined with his right, tucked firmly in his pocket. I wasn't expecting this trip to go so well. I'm falling in love with California.

I realized that I usually have most of a chapter typed but I can never figure out the beginning/end so instead of making you guys wait forever for a new chapter, people that review and include the word 'preview' will get a snippit of the new chapter in their inbox (clearly you have to have an account for this to work but if you have a tumblr or prefer email I might be able to accommodate you). With that said, I don't know when they'll be sent out because my debate schedule is craaazy but it will definitely be before the chapter is done so that you guys don't have to wait so long :-)

Go review!