Kendal knocked at the door of Cara and Griffin's apartment and looked up and down the faded hallway; the place had seen better days. She could already hear Charlie's wails through the door before it was opened to an exhausted looking Cara, her hair all in disarray.

"Hi." said Kendal.

Cara gave her a sleepy grin.

"Hi," she opened the door to let Kendal in, "Sorry, we weren't expecting visitors."

The apartment was as tiny as Griffin described and every surface covered with laundry, towels and every kind of baby necessity.

"Griffin wasn't lying when he said you couldn't swing a cat in here." said Kendal.

"Well maybe a kitten." joked Cara, bouncing Charlie in her arms to try and stop the crying.

"For you." said Kendal, holding out a large bag. "It's Ian's old baby clothes and a few toys. I kept them just in case…"

"Thanks." said Cara, unable to take the gift, her arms too full of screaming infant.

Kendal put the bag down on a clear spot on the dining table.

"I'm sorry I haven't called by sooner, I've been a bad friend." said Kendal as they both settled on the couch avoiding the dirty laundry.

"Nonsense." said Cara, "I know things have been bad for Bianca lately."

"Well, I'm here now." said Kendal, she looked around the messy apartment. "Why don't I take you out to lunch? Maybe some fresh air will settle him down.

Cara bounced her still bawling baby in her arms.

"That sound like a wonderful idea." she said with a smile.

"Well give me your little man, go freshen up and I shall take you both out for a treat."

…

They walked through the park, Charlie's screams subsided as he dozed off in his stroller.

"This is wonderful." sighed Cara.

"Everyone needs a break every once in a while." said Kendal, sympathetically; Cara looked exhausted. "And kids are hard work."

"They are." said Cara, "I knew to expect sleepless nights and dirty diapers but they don't tell you about the dirty everything else. I don't think I have an item of clothing that doesn't have baby vomit, baby drool or baby… well you get the idea. I feel like I'm doing laundry every day."

"It's all part of the mystique of motherhood." said Kendal. "But one day he is going to give you a big grin and call you mommy and you'll know it was all worthwhile."

"Oh, I'm not complaining." said Cara, "He is amazing and I wouldn't change a thing."

"Not a thing?"

"Well maybe if he slept beyond three in the morning it would be nice." admitted Cara.

…

They settled at a table at Krystal's and flipped through the menus. Charlie was still sleeping.

"So has David been helping out?" Kendal asked.

"He comes by for a few hours every other night. He's taking care of Leora as well, so I understand. He is wonderful with him though. Ryan has been great as too."

"Ryan?" Kendal asked, her eyebrow raised.

"He comes by sometimes, takes me shopping, brings supplies. He brings Emma over every so often as well. He's a really good friend"

"I'm sure he is." said Kendal with a grin.

"Yeah," said Cara happily, oblivious to Kendal's tease. "Tad brings Jenny and Katie over sometimes as well."

"How is he doing now?" Kendal asked, she hadn't seen much of him since the trial.

"Okay." said Cara, "I think he misses Dixie still."

"Is she still staying in Llanview?"

"She's sticking by her son." said Cara sadly. "Poor Tad, I think she broke his heart, picking JR over him."

They sat in silence for a moment, thoughts of JR creeping into their heads dampening their mood.

Kendal sighed.

"What do you say we talk about happier things?"

"Such as?"

"Did you hear Madison is pregnant?"

"That is good news!" said Cara, she turned to check on Charlie, he was still sleeping peacefully in his stroller, a bubblel of drool dibbling down his chin. "So do we warn her about the true mystique of motherhood?"

"Oh, we wouldn't want to spoil it for her." said Kendal with a laugh.

…