"Phil, is there something wrong?" Audrey asks. Phil looks up and sees Audrey staring at him with a worried expression on her face. They had agreed to meet in a small-scale restaurant in Portland. Having to be there for a mission, Phil decided to make a pit stop to speak to Audrey about him and Melinda's…situation.
"No, nothing's wrong." Phil answers, shaking his head. "Why—why'd you ask?"
"Ever since I got here, you've been fidgety and normally you would talk much, but now you're not talking at all. You're just…staring." she says. "There's something wrong."
Phil sighs. "Audrey, I have to tell you something." Audrey raises her eyebrows expectedly at Phil.
"Go ahead, what is it?" Phil closes his eyes and takes a deep breath.
"I know in the end, I would just turn out to be the biggest asshole there is in the country," he starts. "But I need to do the right thing and tell you this." Audrey does not move muscle, listening to every word Phil says. "Melinda's pregnant, with my baby."
Audrey's eyes widen and blinks. She looks away and leans back on her chair. "Eight months pregnant," Phil adds. "And…I'm sorry I never told you this earlier."
Audrey looks at Phil in disbelief. "This happened when we were already together." she concludes.
"Technically, it was a week before I moved out of Portland and a few months before we officially got together." Phil mumbles. Audrey frowns and shakes her head.
"And with only four weeks away before she actually gives birth to your baby?"
"You're in Portland, I'm in New York, Audrey, we're both busy."
"You could've told me the last time we saw each other!" she exclaims.
"Last time we saw each other was also the night I found out, Audrey," Phil explains in a softer yet firmer tone. "And don't you think having to tell you personally would be better than having to tell you through the phone, if that's what you're suggesting."
"Yes, clearly it is," she says. "After months of not seeing each other, after missing out on each other on holidays, this is what you tell me. Let me guess, it was Melinda who suggested you to tell me, wasn't it?"
Technically, she did. "I was planning on telling you." he says.
"And you had to wait for a mission to bring you to Portland to tell me this?" she asks, completely feeling ridiculed.
"What was I supposed to do, abandon my work and any other assigned missions that day just to tell you, 'Hey, Audrey, just wanted to drop by and tell you my ex is pregnant with my baby. Hope you understand.' and rush back to New York?"
"Well, wouldn't that be so hard?" she asks in a mocking tone.
"You know my work very well, Audrey, and you out of all people should understand how hard this situation is for me, and for Melinda." he says in a low voice.
"What do you want me to do, feel sorry for the both of you?" she asks, her tone getting softer. "Phil, I'm sorry, but you put yourselves in your situation you're in right now, it's your problem."
"I'm not asking for sympathy, Audrey," Phil says, raising an eyebrow. "I'm asking you to understand."
"Understand what, Phil?" she asks, her voice soft. "That you're going to have a normal family with her, when you know that it's going to be completely impossible given the work the both of you have? Why do I have to understand that?"
Phil is silent. Audrey closes her eyes and buries her face in her arms. She takes a deep breath and looks back into his eyes. "Is she still the one for you, Phil?" she asks softly.
She was, still is. Phil thought. He won't lie. He can't. Melinda's still got a hold of him no matter how hard he tries to let go. And he must admit, there have been times that he tried to let go. Most of the times, it was painful. He couldn't. He wouldn't. Not now, not ever.
Audrey didn't need to hear Phil's answer as tears start to pool in her eyes. She slides her hands and takes Phil's in hers. She gives him a sad smile. "I do hope you really get to have the life you want with her someday." Phil's eyes soften as she lets go, grabs her bag and slowly leaves the restaurant. Phil watches her wipe her eyes with the back of her hand until she drowns in the sea of people in Portland.
Phil comes home to Melinda's apartment that late afternoon, only to find her asleep on the couch with the television turned on. He turns the television off and puts his things down on the floor. He kneels down in front of Melinda and strokes her hair softly. She stirs and slowly opens her eyes. Phil smiles at her and she smiles back at him.
"You're here." she says in a hoarse voice. Phil chuckles softly and helps her sit up.
"I came from Portland." Phil tells her. Melinda looks at him questioningly.
"You went to see Audrey?" she asks tentatively. Phil bites his bottom lip.
"We broke it off." he says. Melinda looks at him, surprised. "Technically, she did, but I didn't stop her."
"Phil, I'm so sorry." she tells him softly. Phil shakes his head.
"It's fine, it wasn't going anywhere, anyway." he sighs.
"What happened?" Melinda asks.
"I told her everything," he answers. "I told her about you, and she started asking if…" he trails off, looking at her. Melinda raises an eyebrow. "If you're still the one for me, and not her."
There is a pause. "Am I?" Melinda asks tentatively. Phil gives her a sad smile and brushes her cheek softly with her thumb.
"You still are." he answers softly. Melinda returns the sad smile and takes hold of his hand. This won't be easy.