Oh my God, this is chapter thirty. The beginning of the end! Help, this is making me really sad. D: It's bizarre, because I'm so excited to have this ending to write, but after it's done, it's done. Like a little piece of me kind of just… gets catalogued away. Filed by Basil, of course – intern equals slave. xD

Thanks to liznightangel for the review! I loved that – you totally had me laughing. Hopefully, this chapter is the start of that, yeah? :)

Warning! Double update today! Also, holy cow, I just opened the Pandora's Box of sass this chapter. No filters. Try to survive.

Field Day

The little pink bud bobbed in the light breeze of Gill marching by his desk to get his coat at the end of another long work day. The petals were just a few days from spreading out all of the way, wide and sunny in a perfect pink pansy.

Vaughn wasn't too worried about his masculinity being damaged with the pink flower on his desk. In fact, he rather liked how it had brightened up his work space the past couple of weeks. He even thought about keeping a plant at his desk permanently after Earth Day tomorrow when his pansy would be relinquished to the empty mulch bed by the road.

"I'm having parting anxiety!" Rod blubbered, sitting on Alice's desk. "I can't let go!"

"But don't you want it outside with all of its friends?" She sympathized, hands folded under her chin. "And my Charles will be right there beside him."

"I guess…" Rod sniffled.

"'Atta boy," she patted his hand.

"I'm feeling like Rod…" Molly stared at her own, little white flower. She had a light red jacket for the April air, and her bag was all packed and ready to go. "Though less dramatic, I admit."

"Popuri just said we'd all be planting them outside? In a crazy field day or something?" Vaughn asked, leaning with his back to her desk, elbows propped up.

"Right-o," Molly nodded with a sigh. She perked up after a thought. "But you know, I'm glad. It's really spring time again. I can't wait for summer and warm weather! Put the jackets away for a good while."

"Yeah…" Vaughn absent-mindedly agreed, juggling his briefcase handle.

"You're worried," she pegged him. "What's up?"

Vaughn shook his head with a slight smile of disbelief. "Yeah… nothing."

"Do you think you'll get it in time, then?" Vaughn asked, his body tense.

Taro hummed over the phone, the bad signal fuzzing his answer. "It's just a waiting game at this point, son. But don't get your hair in a tangle – my knees say it's clear skies ahead!"

"Hello? Earth to Vaughn," Molly was whistling behind him. Startled, he turned around. She was smirking. "Gee, you daydream quite a bit, don't you?"

"Yeah… I guess," he mumbled as an apology.

"And you're a pretty bad liar, too," she deduced, quirking her lips upwards.

"You a therapist now?" He grumbled, pulling at his tie in frustration.

Molly frowned. "Nah. But if things head south with Harvest Hobbies… you'd tell me, right?"

Vaughn wasn't sure he would. He definitely wouldn't be comfortable leading her on, letting her think they were on their way to victory when it was all crumbling down, but he didn't like the alternative so much either. That his slapdash, last minute plan was falling through. It was out of his hands, and he could only rely on Taro and the trust he still had for the old man.

He finally nodded. "Yeah. Of course."

"Hm…" Molly hummed skeptically.

"Vaughn! I knew I'd find you lingering here," Allen approached with a skip in his step, rolling out his shirt cuffs to keep them pristine under his suit coat.

Vaughn's face darkened, but he only muttered in retort. "What is it, Allen?"

"Oh, that tone!" The redhead appeared surprised. "Think I have a hidden agenda?"

"Yes," Vaughn and Molly replied in unison.

"Cute. Finishing sentences and all synced up now," Allen pursed his lips at them. He leant an elbow on Vaughn's shoulder, staggering when he moved and upset his balance. "See, I've come to collect! Not in the way I intended, but fate is fate, and she's quite the bit—"

"Collect?" Vaughn asked, already sounding annoyed.

"Why, yes!" Allen grinned devilishly. "See, you owe me one. Back when I covered for that forgotten sale of yours. Ringing any silver bells?"

Vaughn swatted at him as Allen knocked on his head. "Well?!"

"My apartment complex is being fumigated, so I'm out for a night," he cut to the chase.

"And that's what hotels are for," Vaughn finished for him, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Aw, but it's just one night…" Molly pouted. The boys whirled to find her there, having the audacity to appear startled she was still there at her own desk. She leaned on one hand, tilting her head to the side. "You can't put him up for just a day?"

"Yeah, Vaughn, just one night!" Allen echoed with a rising, teasing smirk on his face.

"I don't do slumber parties…" Vaughn said, still firmly on the fence.

"But you have to admit, he helped you out when he didn't have to," Molly defended.

"She has a point, Vaughn~" Allen sang. He shot her a winning smile. "I like you, Molly! Keep it up – he'll crack."

"Not happening. He can afford the hotel easy," Vaughn argued. He pointed an accusing finger at the be-speckled snark artist. "He just wants to make fun of my lousy apartment. If he was really in trouble, he'd be asking Rod."

"Wrong, my good sir!" Allen snapped his fingers. "Little Rod has a picky landlord that doesn't tolerate overnight guests of any sort, and he's in violation of his lease if he allows me to stay."

"Just one night? Hot dang. Poor guy," Molly whistled low. "What kind of a landlord monitors overnight guests?"

"His religious grandmother who already fears he's a homosexual," Allen announced like it was the winning answer on a quiz show.

"Fair enough…" Vaughn grudgingly agreed.

"Hey, Allen, it's just one night, and I'd be happy to put you up in my apartment if Vaughn won't," Molly suggested, twisting the end of her skirt in embarrassment.

"Oh, Molly, would you~?" He doted, practically wagging his tail.

"You'd what?" Vaughn snapped. He went ignored.

"Sure!" Molly chuckled lightly, poking at the bun atop her head.

"How gracious of you, darling," Allen feigned timidity. "As long as I'm not imposing, of course!"

"You've got to be kidding me…" Vaughn looked between them. Allen had to know that less than a full year ago, Molly was praying for an opportunity like this. It almost made Vaughn wonder if she still felt that way about him, or if things somehow changed.

"Not at all!" Molly shook her head. She shrugged bashfully, making a grimace. "My place is a little small, though. I don't have a couch, but the bed's plenty big, so—"

"Alright! That's it!" Vaughn shouted above her. He rudely wrenched Allen's arm and directed him away from the secretary's desk. "You're staying with me."

"So forceful! It's like you can't wait to get me home, Vaughn!" Allen purposefully spoke at a high decibel for any co-workers to overhear.

"I'd be happy to let you sleep in a dumpster," Vaughn growled.

"But not in front of Molly, eh?" Allen guessed with a quirked brow.

Vaughn hit the elevator arrow with his briefcase, illuminating the down button. "Yeah."

Allen quieted in content. As the doors opened and Vaughn stepped inside, Allen turned and called back to Molly one last time across the room, blowing her a kiss. "So long, darling! I appreciate your lovely offer, but I have some blackmail to abandon with this favor!"

"Bye, guys! Have fun! Vaughn, don't kill him!" Molly called back. She waved and exited through the stairwell.

"What a wonderful lady," Allen mused, the doors gliding closed. He took the corner Vaughn wasn't brooding in. He happily examined the old elevator room. "Don't you think so? About Miss Molly?"

"You're pushing it," Vaughn stated, letting go of his anger in a breath through his nose.

"Very well. Sore topic," Allen agreed. He hummed as the box rattled, and the doors rumbled open to the first floor.

"You can follow me in your car," Vaughn said, taking long strides across the lobby. He was disappointed Allen was tall enough to casually keep up with him.

"Oh, I left it at the car park outside my apartment. I took the subway today. Sat with a lovely girl who just so happened to be taking the blue line—"

"You are so cock sure I'm not going to deck you the second we're off company property, aren't you?" Vaughn asked, opening the front door for him, almost challenging Allen to take the chance and leave the sanctuary.

Allen paused, gauging just how far he had pushed Vaughn to the edge. As they were blocking the door, an irate person behind them attempted to push by between them.

"If you're done flirting, some people would like to get home," Gill taunted, using his briefcase as a shield to get through.

"Get your panties in a bunch somewhere else, pop tart," Vaughn said. He continued to hold open the door, inviting Gill out now. "Why don't you go ahead and pass me? See what happens? I beg you."

Gill just stared at him incredulously. "Are you threatening me? I'll have you know that's an immediate dismissal offense!"

"Not off company property. Like this parking lot," Vaughn challenged.

Allen and Gill looked between each other. The redhead held his hand out first. "After you!"

Gill took the first step, casting nervous glances to Vaughn as he went. He finally squeaked, holding up his briefcase to his head, and sped through to his Kia.

"Hm. He runs quicker than I thought…" Allen observed, walking through the door without fear.

Vaughn let it close behind them and pointed to the middle row of cars. "It's over there."

"Why, thank you!" Allen jauntily made the stroll with Vaughn trudging along beside him. Vaughn unlocked Allen's passenger door first, making his way around to unlock his own side in turn. "Such service!"

Vaughn slammed his car door, feeling the vein pulsating at his temple as Allen scooted in and closed his door, too. He studied him, a sincere smile coming to his face for once. "You know, I really am grateful. Just an intolerable ass about it."

"You said it, not me," Vaughn said in agreement, turning the key and revving the engine. Since that girl Phoebe worked on it, his car hadn't been giving him any trouble at all. It made him want to take his car in for service more often.

As they sped out onto the street, Allen got a taste of Vaughn's driving abilities. Rather, lack thereof. He was immediately regretting the decision to pester Vaughn about favors and wished his seatbelt was a full, roller coaster harness.

"Good God, how are you licensed?!" Allen asked as they hopped the curb on the right turn.

"I'm not," Vaughn answered. When he received a horrified look, he chuckled. "Ha, kidding. You'll just get used to it."

"Used to this?!" Allen had to close his eyes as he was sure they were going to hit that old woman jay walking. When they passed without a thump, he nearly heaved in relief. "If the goal was to make me shut up, congratulations! Will you slow down?!"

"No, but it's a happy side effect," Vaughn admitted.

"You're absolutely wicked," Allen accused, hugging his briefcase for dear life.

"These turned tables are amusing," Vaughn mimicked Allen's haughty voice.

"Please tell me this wretched complex is where you live," Allen gripped the door handle.

"Ten points to Slytherin," Vaughn remarked, pulling around the back. He parked his car in his usual spot, but he didn't come to a complete stop before Allen freed himself from the contraption, backing into the white sedan parked beside the beater.

Vaughn casually took his time getting his briefcase and unbuckling his seatbelt. He whistled as he took his keys and shut his door with a kick.

"You're enjoying this too much not to be a sadist," Allen said, hesitantly following after him as Vaughn walked around the side of the building. His arms were locked over his briefcase out of his control, still racked with trauma.

Vaughn jogged up the few steps, already holding the key to unlock the front door. Allen wearily tagged along behind him, catching the door before it closed. But at least his arms were unstuck from the reflex against getting hit in the face.

When Vaughn went to the stairs, Allen didn't complain. When they passed the second floor, he started to whine again. "How much further? You'll have to carry me if it's another flight."

"It's one floor…" Vaughn said, exhaustion evident in his voice. "Is this how it's going to be until six tomorrow?"

"More or less," Allen admitted honestly.

He pushed open the floor's hall door, and Allen traipsed in after him. "Hm. You live on the third floor."

"Keen observation, Sherlock," Vaughn snidely remarked, lingering in front of door sixty-eight as he went through his key ring.

"Same as the office," Allen grinned happily.

Vaughn pushed the door open and flicked the switch, waiting for the worst. The comments on how his drapes were wrinkled and old. That his sofa didn't go with his coffee table. That none of his cups or mugs matched in a set. How he hadn't put away the laundry hamper in the corner.

But Allen eyed the room with a poker face. "Quaint! Very cozy place you have, Vaughn."

"Thanks…" he nodded unsurely. He tossed his briefcase down and slung his coat across the back of the couch.

Allen followed suit, appearing not to be bothered that his Armani was going to wrinkle next to Vaughn's. He leaned against the back of the sofa, watching Vaughn curiously as he moved about the room. "What to do, what to do…?"

Vaughn opened the fridge, trying to ignore him. Sadly, he still hadn't kept his food stocked well enough for guests. He supposed they could suffer on bologna sandwiches, but he wanted something to keep Allen occupied for a while, so he wouldn't be bothering him.

It was too late. When Vaughn turned around, Allen was already inspecting his television and small bureau. "Looking for something?"

"Yes, actually," Allen said, noting the dusty surface. He had his hands wound behind his back, observing the place like he was at an art exhibit in a museum. "No pictures. No family or friends in frames, littered about to clutter the place. No art projects from childhood or gaudy gifts like knick-knacks from a nobody shop. Quite frankly, there's nothing to identify that you live here."

"I like to keep it neat," Vaughn shortly answered, already picking up the phone book he kept for takeout emergencies like these.

"Who are you, Vaughn?" Allen asked, his expression growing more somber. "What kind of a person keeps himself so cut and dried away from the rest of the world and all of the people in it?"

Vaughn felt cornered at the change in tone, almost wishing he let Molly take this loon home with her. "I have a question – why did you want to come here?"

"I asked first," he said simply, brushing off Vaughn's interrogations as inconsequential. "And I want to know more about the man in love with our little, office secretary."

"What?" Vaughn asked, openly laughing at the accusation. "You're crazy."

"No, you're crazy," Allen accused. He calmly folded his arms and leaned against the back of the overstuffed armchair.

"Why do you always bring this up?" Vaughn asked, trying to keep his cool as well as the other was. "Do you have some sort of claim on her?"

Allen shrugged. "Maybe I'm in love with Molly. So I want to know what's best for her."

"Bullshit," Vaughn snorted with an eye roll. "And what gives you the right to pick and choose anyways?"

"I just don't want anything getting confused between the two of you. Everything can be laid out perfectly clear right here and now," Allen spread out his hands as if to wash clean the metaphorical table.

"Why are you so fixated on this?!" Vaughn burst, truly flabbergasted with Allen's obsessive nature. "Every time you open your mouth, you're pushing this romance that doesn't exist!"

"Because I watch as you daily ignore the chance of a lifetime."

Vaughn faltered. He stood back.

As Allen had made his point and it hit home, the apartment became agonizingly silent. Yet Allen still seemed even-tempered whereas Vaughn had lost his hostility and moved straight into avoidance. He went to the television and turned it on for white noise.

"Your apartment isn't being fumigated," Vaughn finally stated, staring at the snow, unable to find a working channel. Finally, a news station passed by followed by a fuzzy wrestling ring.

"Nope. Termites on the first floor," Allen turned and rested his elbows on the armchair.

"Sure…" Vaughn muttered, settling on the news station. He sat and watched it for a few moments.

"You were right about one thing though," Allen finally said, his jaw bobbing as he talked on his hand with his eyes glued to the anchormen on the television. "That one part. It was bullshit."

Vaughn shook his head.

He didn't need to be prompted further. "I suppose I finally got tired of watching yet another person letting something else slip through their fingers due to laziness or denial. Yours is rather an irritating mix of the two."

"Thanks."

"So I've pestered and pried, but to no avail. You two are just too stubborn, so perhaps it's a moot point after all," Allen sighed dismally. "To think setting up Alice on the right path was as easy as handing her a rod with mistletoe tied to the end. Like leading a horse with a carrot."

Baffled, Vaughn finally turned to face him again, sitting back on his heels. "What? You some kind of life coach fairy?"

Allen actually laughed at that. "No, that's silly… but I don't like seeing careless mistakes with easy solutions. And I like to meddle."

"I got that last one," Vaughn said.

"Ah, my apologies… I didn't mean to put any cards of my own on the table. Allow me to buy food, as you're obviously at a loss in your own kitchen," Allen said, rising and looking around for the telephone.

"Still an asshole…" he muttered, going to the phone book.

They ordered takeout from the China King down the block. The food helped release the built up tension. They vied to sit on opposite ends of the coffee table on the floor, listening to a Spanish drama in the background, as it was the only working channel anymore. Allen finished up his vegetable lo mein as Vaughn picked through his fried pork. It was quickly becoming a 'no more bullshit' evening for the duo.

"Pot sticker?" Vaughn passed the tin to him.

Allen denied it vehemently. "Those things are disgusting. I can't believe you bought them."

"You're such a child," he tossed the dumplings down and went back to his pork.

"Says the toddler," Allen quipped right back.

"Because you brought it up earlier today…" Vaughn began, wondering how to not phrase it as awkwardly as he was. He went for the blunt approach. "Don't take it the wrong way either, but are you gay?"

Allen smirked. He had a coy look about him like could be lying, but Vaughn felt he was sincere. "I'm going to say no… but I keep an open mind."

"Oh?" Vaughn asked between bites.

Allen paused with a carrot strip in his chopsticks. "I wanted to be a cosmetologist in high school. I've heard every joke in the book."

Vaughn swallowed with an understanding nod, knowing how teenagers could find the tiniest of baits to sink their teeth into. "Yeah, that'd do it."

"What about you?" Allen asked, juggling a few noodles and accidentally letting them slip back into the container.

"I think you know the answer to that," Vaughn grumped, after all of the accusations flying earlier about Molly. They weren't untrue, but he was still finding them hard to swallow.

"No, I mean about the pictures. You never answered that. Don't you have a family?" Allen asked with a hint of worry he was treading dangerous ground.

Vaughn shrugged, nonchalant. "Not really, no. I was dropped off when I was a kid. Raised by friends of my father's. I call them cousins, but they're really not blood related."

"That explains why Julia's so much prettier than you," Allen chided at Vaughn's fibbing.

Vaughn was surprised he remembered her name. He slouched against the foot of the sofa. "Okay, so what's this about you plotting around Alice? I thought the rumor was the two of you on Gill's desk."

"Really?" Allen asked, genuine surprise sparking his features. He chuckled at that, finishing his noodles and clapping his hands of them. "No, no. Not Alice. That was Tina."

Vaughn choked. "What?! You and Tina?"

"You really shouldn't believe everything you hear secondhand," Allen shrugged, unable to stop the snide grin.

There was a long pause as a woman cried on the television. Allen watched the scene for a few minutes, a little disturbed at the phony dramatics.

"Even if it was true…" Vaughn vaguely admitted to an earlier point, poking at the last strip of pork in the bottom of the carton. "It's against office policy. With all of the hard work we've put into not losing our jobs, it'd be a pretty shitty thing to throw it away."

"Would it though?" Allen hummed. He clicked his chopsticks as if the sound they made was interesting. "I had a suspicion, you know. As the unlikely hero, you'd swoop in and save the company with some silly scheme. Since you're so infamous for your prank ideas, it wouldn't be such a surprise that you'd figure something out for the higher ups."

Vaughn wanted to smack himself in the head for admitting so much to Allen. Especially about Harvest Hobbies, considering he seemed to be all knowing to the relationship aspects amongst the people at Persuasive Papers Inc. already. No secrets to be had from him there. But with the deal still unstable, it was dangerous promising victory at any angle.

Allen noted his silence. He stretched out his legs and tapped his shoes together like a little kid. "Well, well, well. This has been such an informative visit."

"I have to say, I hate you less somehow," Vaughn balled up his napkin and tossed it into his empty box.

"I'm flattered," Allen bowed from his seat. "Now promise me you'll think about it."

"What?" He asked, rising to his knees and switching off the TV at long last.

"With Molly, you forgetful oaf!" Allen sighed in exasperation. "Promise that you'll think it over seriously. No more jokes or teases or all of those delightful tidbits I love to exploit."

"This shipping obsession has reached the creepy tipping point," Vaughn said, shaking his head.

"Humor me," Allen persisted.

"You sound so much like Julia…" Vaughn grumbled.

"So you'll introduce us~?" Allen perked up considerably.

"On a cold day in hell," Vaughn stood, collecting the trash.

Allen pouted. "Oh, you'll come around… you always do."

"Will you stop pretending you're omniscient?!" Vaughn shouted from the kitchen.

"It's not pretending~!" Allen sang.

Vaughn threw a pot sticker at his head, instantly shutting him up.

Luckily for the employees of Persuasive Papers, Earth Day was bright and sunny. It was a beautiful, late April day as everyone gathered before Popuri. She was there as promised before the mulch beds, praising the lovely pansies the workers had managed to keep alive.

Though she hadn't anticipated to be concerned for the opposite of neglect. Rod was having some serious issues leaving his purple pansy all alone, and he'd probably need some counselling. Louis' flower had grown fast and was the first to blossom, so it was looking a little on the wilted side since it had been open for a good week prior. He felt miserable about it, no matter what Popuri said.

Tina and Luke threw their flowers in the ground like a football player after a touchdown, and the rulers were immediately brought out. When it was determined their pansies were exactly the same height, they refused to settle on a draw and began the next phase of planting a few tree saplings as fast as they could in a race against one another.

Molly was kneeling in the dirt beside Vaughn. She was one of the few to remember to wear outdoor clothes. Poor Alice was struggling in a skirt. Patting her white flower into place, she clapped her hands free of dirt and watched as Vaughn chipped away with the trowel. She shook her head. "Here – give me that. You're going to take all day."

"I didn't know you were a gardener," Vaughn said, handing the little shovel over to her.

"Well… yeah, I guess I am," Molly admitted, quickly scooping out a hole and un-potting his plant. She easily buried it firmly in place, pressing back the mulch around it. "When I was little, I'd dig up my mother's garden and replant everything constantly until she gave me seeds of my own. I always wanted to be a farmer."

"I wouldn't have guessed," Vaughn said in all sincerity. Though he was annoyed Allen had actually gotten to him, he was slowly seeing her in a new light. Molly wasn't some accidental love interest out of the blue. The more he thought about it, they'd been instant friends from the day they were both hired. Not too far apart, either. They bonded over being new and making fun of their peers, eventually upgrading to pulling pranks on their favorites. Vaughn had only stopped noticing Molly when Candace came along. It wasn't fair to do that to her. So he was working on reversing it, but he also knew he couldn't get back to that happy, casual comradery they had before. Mostly because he couldn't stop staring at her. There was that in the way now.

"Why is he wearing your clothes?" She asked, a humorous smile on her lips as she beckoned her head towards Allen.

"Oh. That. Who'd have thought we were the same size?" Vaughn idly mused.

"Vaughn! How do you wear these terrible fabrics? It's like having itchy cardboard hugging you all day!" Allen complained, pulling at the sleeves rolled up to his elbows to keep them from the dirt.

"Then maybe you should have packed more than a toothbrush, dimwit," he said, annoyed Allen was sticking by him all day. If he wanted Vaughn to learn more about Molly, why was he third-wheeling? No one made any sense in this office… He should have known that by now.

"Aw, you two are so cute together," Molly teased. She addressed Allen. "Should I be jealous?"

"Darling! Vaughn would never two time you," Allen feigned he was scandalized, but he was still careful to keep his dirt covered hands a fair distance from his face as he did his signature arm to the forehead routine. "Lest you wanted some group action, of course~"

"Are you both dating Molly, or…?" Rod piped up from beside Allen, rearranging the haphazardly planted flowers into neater groups that were more appealing to the eye.

"Rod, how could you? I thought we were dating!" Molly gasped.

"Oh my gosh, really?! I'm so sorry! Did I miss our anniversary?!" Rod panicked.

"Ah, what's a girl to do with all these gentlemen callers?" Molly rolled her eyes, having had enough of the joke. She tossed down her garden gloves she brought from home. "You guys date yourselves. I'm getting some juice."

After she marched away, Allen tsked and clicked his tongue at Vaughn. "You're going to have to try harder than that, Casanova."

"I will wring your neck," Vaughn casually threatened, using Molly's technique to plant a magnolia.

"Wait, Vaughn, you really like Molly?" Rod asked. "That's so cute! I'll be rooting for you guys! Not shipping, though. That's totally different."

"Hush, Rod, dear," Allen warned, sitting back. He was satisfied with watching the work from here on out. "It's a sensitive subject. One should not poke bears with sticks."

"Damn right, you friggin'—" Vaughn's language grew more colorful as he planted faster and faster in his building rage against his embarrassment. It shouldn't have been so easy to rile him, but it was something that was involuntary at this point.

"Well, the company picnic would be a great first date…" Rod suggested innocently.

"Ah! The spring picnic! I had nearly forgotten," Allen agreed. "The week after next, yes? May. Good month. Flowers in bloom, summer on the way, love in the air—mmf!"

Vaughn jammed one of Molly's discarded gloves in his mouth. Allen shrieked and spit it out, writhing at the dirt now on his tongue. Vaughn attempted not to laugh as Molly came back and asked why Allen was currently seizing.