Thank you to everybody who read, left comments, or kudos for the last chapter. You are also lovely. Progress is being made.

You should also know that I've outlined the rest of the story. I don't know how many more chapters there will be, but I have a plan. I have up to chapter 49 currently in draft form. I'm slowly proofreading that batch.

I also ended up changing Austin and Justin's age. They're both 16 at this point in the story, but Austin is slightly older. In an earlier chapter, I implied that Austin was 15 1/2. I went back and changed it, so it's 16 1/2. I up their ages for a few reasons. The advantage of writing groups of chapters together means I can go back and make sure everything's cohesive for things I want to change later on.

I didn't have that luxury with the original stories since I literally wrote it live with the season.

Chapter 42: Building Bridges over Transatlantic Waters

July 13, 2010, 2:21 AM London time.

Tyler's idiot brother: Does the doctor know that Amanda is not as far along in her pregnancy as she thinks she Is?

Daniel: Do you realize it's 2:00 AM where I am?

Tyler's idiot brother: This is why I sent a text message instead of calling. I figured you would respond in the morning, not actually be up right now. I didn't want to put it off in case I would forget to ask later.

Daniel: How considerate of you.

Tyler's idiot brother: You know that Monique has me sitting up in the parenting magazine. One of their editors is out this week because their daughter has strep throat. Since I have editor experience, I'm filling in. I just spent the last hour editing an article about the dangers of Premature birth. There's a big difference between 24 weeks pregnant and being 32 weeks pregnant. I'm worried.

Tyler's idiot brother: Babies born at 32 weeks have a 95% chance of surviving.

Tyler's idiot brother: Babies aren't even considered viable until week 24. And even then, it's only 50 percent.

Daniel: I've convinced Amanda that I got her pregnant right before Christmas during our last time together and not during the Bahamas hook up. So she's only about 4 weeks less along than she thinks she is. Twins usually come a few weeks early. I think it will be okay.

Tyler's idiot brother: But what if she goes into labor tomorrow and she thinks the twins have an 80% survival chance. When it's really just 50 because she's only 24 weeks pregnant instead of 28?

Daniel: Take a deep breath and calm down. Amanda doesn't know, but Betty and I do. We will take every precaution. I did say twins have a tendency to come early. However, Wilhelmina told me that Amanda's biological mom actually was two weeks late with Amanda.

Daniel: Yes, I broke down and asked Wilhelmina about Faye's pregnancy after the gestational diabetes came to light. She was there for most of the pregnancy. Shockingly, she answered my questions.

Daniel: Apparently, Faye had similar complications and morning sickness for the full nine months. Everyone just assumed Faye was really bulimic.

Tyler's idiot brother: What if Amanda goes into labor, and you and Betty are not there? Does the doctor know the truth?

Daniel: No, she doesn't know, although she did say that Amanda is a little smaller than they should be. So, she may have her own suspicions. But I doubt Amanda is going to go into labor without one of us. She's working with Betty now.

Tyler's idiot brother: What if something does happen? What if there's a car accident, and both you and Betty are incapacitated, and Amanda goes into labor? What then? If we can't tell Amanda the truth, then at least the doctor should know.

Daniel: Do you want me to tell Amanda the truth? We only need your mom to believe that her trick with the DNA test actually worked.

Tyler's idiot brother: No, because it's still too dangerous. I think if she knew the truth, maybe she would try to come back. She's safe in London. Amanda never told you about my mother sending her congratulatory flowers that may have been a death threat?

Daniel: What? How do you even know that? I didn't realize they were from your mom. I thought they were from you because, according to Candy, she burned them in the garden after work.

Tyler's idiot brother: She told Monique, and Monique told me. This why I've made peace with Amanda not being here. I want her safe. She's not safe because of Victoria.

Tyler's idiot brother: After the wedding, Victoria sent a threatening note to Tiffany. She almost pulled Austin out of the mode summer program. It's also why she is ambivalent about Austin doing Mode Academy next semester. I'm pretty sure Monique moved Austin to Player just to put more distance between us. Bottom line, I don't trust my mother at all.

Daniel: I understand your concerns, especially with her threatening Tiffany again. Although what does Austin have to do with this?

Tyler's idiot brother: Brianna, didn't tell you?

Daniel: Brianna, didn't tell me what?

Tyler's idiot brother: I spent my entire childhood thinking that Brianna would be the closest thing I would ever have to a sibling. Only to end up finding two long-lost half-brothers within six months.

Daniel: Austin is your half-brother? So, Tiffany didn't miscarry?

Daniel: Wait, does this mean Austin's older than Justin?

Tyler's idiot brother: Yes, yes, and yes.

Daniel: So it is still not safe for Amanda to know the truth?

Tyler's idiot brother: Not yet. I'm mad that we have to do this, but I understand now.

Daniel: Is Austin the reason why you're staying at Meade right now?

Tyler's idiot brother: For the moment.

Daniel: Although maybe you should get out of the parenting magazine? It's obviously not good for you. I was doing the same thing until Betty took away my parenting books.

Tyler's idiot brother: Monique is pissed at me, so I doubt that will happen. I'm actually enjoying it, and I am learning a lot of useful stuff. I'm also taking a parenting class at the Hartley center. This is in addition to my volunteer work there, which I've also been enjoying. They need me after the whole Jody fuck up.

Daniel: Although you might be getting a little paranoid. [Message not sent]

Daniel: I'm glad you're taking this seriously regardless. Amanda's next check-up is on the 19th. A.k.a. the day after we get back from DJs weekend with his grandparents because I'm horrible at remembering my schedule.

Daniel: I'll take what you said under advisement.

Tyler's idiot brother: Thank you.

Xxx

"Who are you emailing at almost 3 AM?" Betty asked, half-asleep lying next to him.

"I'm not sending an email but a text message, and it's Matt," Daniel responded to his fiancée.

"Why is Matt texting you at 3:00 AM?"

"It's only 2:42 AM now. Apparently, he is sending a text message because it's not polite to call this late."

"It's still too late for text messaging. Or maybe too early," Betty yawned.

"Due to being at the parenting magazine, he was freaking out about worst-case scenarios if Amanda went into labor immediately. Apparently, at this point, there's only about a 50% viability of the Twins. However, at 28 weeks, AKA, the amount of time Amanda actually thinks she's pregnant, it goes up to 80%."

"So maybe we should tell Amanda the truth?" Betty asked.

"Her doctor, at least. Matt doesn't want us to tell Amanda yet due to complications with his mother."

"What sort of complications?"

"Did you know that the roses that Amanda burned were from Victoria and not Matt?" Daniel tells her. He was still upset Amanda didn't tell him.

"No, but I've been suspicious since I realized that Amanda is making 30% more than Betsy did. I almost think that Victoria is trying to give Amanda a reward for staying in London."

"I wouldn't be surprised. In addition to that, Victoria sent threatening yet cryptic messages to Austin's mom Tiffany. Tiffany was, unfortunately, another Hartley mistress who happened to get pregnant."

"I think Brianna mentioned this story to us, but she didn't say that this Tiffany was Austin's mom. Tiffany must have gotten pregnant again shortly after miscarrying." Sometimes Daniel is amazed at how the human mind tries to explain away stuff they're not ready to comprehend.

"You know, when my sister pushed Christine down the stairs, she didn't actually miscarry," Daniel said, trying to get Betty to put the pieces together. The look on Betty's face told Daniel she got it.

"Daniel, are you trying to tell me that my nephew is dating my ex-boyfriend's half-brother?" Betty asked.

"Yes." Maybe it wasn't his place to tell Betty the truth, but he doesn't want to keep secrets from his fiancée.

"Why didn't Brianna say something when she first told us about why we had to get Amanda out of New York?" Betty asked.

"I think maybe she didn't know yet. I'm going to have to ask her about it. As soon as I convince Monique to send Matt to a different magazine."

"So, he won't wake us up in the middle of the night again, freaking out about the pregnancy?"

"Yes." He didn't want to do a favor for Matt, but this was more for himself.

"I think it's cute." Betty smiled at him. "It's wonderful that Matt cares about the baby so much."

"He didn't wake you up." Daniel groused.

"But you woke me up because you are all twisty when you text message. And now I probably won't fall back asleep. You know I have a long day ahead of me."

"I have something that might help." He leaned over to kiss Betty. "Orgasms can be very sleep-inducing. The kids have to be asleep by now." Betty responded by kissing him back and pinning him against the mattress. Daniel wasn't so mad about being woken up after that.

Although the next morning, he was informed by Justin and DJ that the walls are super thin and they were woken up by certain activities that nobody actually wants to talk about. Daniel never did get around to looking into soundproofing. He's going to need to make that a top priority.

XXXX

July 13, 2010, 10:33 AM EDT

EIC London Daniel: Is there anywhere else you can put Matt?

Monique: You know you can at least say hi. Although this is the work cell phone. So I assume this is probably business?

EIC London Daniel: We just talked on the phone yesterday. Although I can go with pleasantries. How are you? How's the restaurant? The official opening night was yesterday, right?

Monique: Yes, after a week of mostly serving my mom's country club friends to get the kinks worked out. Wilhelmina's idea of doing the Mode party at the restaurant actually paid off. The restaurant is booked solid for the next two months with reservations from the elites of New York. Who knew Wilhelmina could actually manage any place that served food.

EIC London Daniel: She was always better at marketing than I was.

Monique: She's good at the front of the house stuff. I will give you that. With her taking over that role, I get to concentrate on the magazine, which is good. Also, in her farewell article, Wilhelmina mentioned the restaurant.

EIC London Daniel: You're giving her a farewell article?

Monique: I just officially locked it in about 20 minutes ago. Marc wrote the article, and it is some of his best work. It definitely humanizes the myth that is Wilhelmina Slater. We gave you one even though you're just moving to the UK magazine so you can work in the same country as your fiance.

EIC London Daniel: That's fair. It's good for Marc to write. Also, Betty and I weren't even dating when I took the job.

Monique: You weren't acknowledging that you were dating. You guys have been together for a long time.

EIC London Daniel: You may have a point. How's your magazine going? You just locked in the August issue?

Monique: Almost, the deadline is tomorrow anyway. I just have a couple of last-minute things to go over in the book before your mom signs off on it. What about you? How's your second issue coming along?

EIC London Daniel: Also almost ready for me to sign off on. The new team is jelling together. Sometimes I think we should have just made Sumreen the EIC from the start. I don't think she actually needs me. Neither does my creative director, for that matter. Bless you for pointing Natalia in my direction.

Monique: You're welcome. Anyway, isn't that a good thing because you're not really just the EIC of Mode UK but in charge of all EU publications. I know you're the one who has to sign off on their books now.

EIC London Daniel: Yes, which is probably going to be the next few days of work. I don't think we can ever be as good as Mode Paris. Also, I really have to work on my French. Justin had to help me with the French articles. I am bringing him with me to my meetings in Paris Friday for translation help. Thankfully my Spanish is on point because my future father-in-law has been helping me with that for years.

Monique: You should because that's where your job is going. You should even add some German classes as well. Let's be honest, Sumreen is the real EIC. Once you get Mode UK stabilized, you can focus on just overseeing the other magazines and let Sumreen take over completely. We really have to strategize our move to a digital world.

Monique: You know the print market is shrinking. In 10 years, everybody's probably going to be reading our magazine on an electronic device. Good for the trees, bad for us. We need to be ready. I know we're going to have to consolidate some of our magazines soon. Mode and Player absorbing Hudson is just a first step.

EIC London Daniel: I think you did that just because you were mad that the other guy got the Hudson job.

Monique: I never let personal pettiness get in the way of business. This is especially because that guy never showed up, and it was better to move the staff to the other two magazines. This philosophy is why I can work with Wilhelmina. Mommy taught me that.

EIC London Daniel: Point. The website already gets more traffic.

Monique: So we need to work on monetizing that.

EIC London Daniel: Which is why you have Justin doing that Twitter diary or whatever about his time in London. In addition to taking over Amanda's blog.

Monique: Both of our accounts have 20,000 new followers since he started. Social media is part of the future. It's where we need to go.

EIC London Daniel: And you're going to take us there?

Monique: I'm going to try.

Monique: So why do you want to help Matt out? You kind of hate him.

EIC London Daniel: Because he's doing editor work at the parenting magazine, he called me freaking out about Amanda going into labor early and not realizing how early it is because she doesn't really know how pregnant she is. Betty says this is the parenting freak out rabbit hole. It happened to Hilda while she was pregnant with Justin.

Monique: I see it with Brittany, so you're not alone. She's convinced she's going to be a bad mother. Hell, I see it with Marc. We're having a baby proofing expert come to the office Monday.

EIC London Daniel: I should arrange for that for the house.

Monique: I see somebody is already in the baby freak out rabbit hole. I'm pretty sure your gynecologist will tell you that the babies are a little on the small side when they do their next ultrasound and will therefore air on the side of caution. Though probably blame it on being twins. You know, and not having an accurate conception date due to the fake DNA test. But it wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan.

EIC London Daniel: I think they're going to do one at the next appointment. It's on the 19. I'll try to figure out a way to explain the situation to the doctor without her calling the police on Matt's mom.

Monique: Not that it would do any good because the Hartleys own the police. I better get a copy.

EIC London Daniel: You will.

EIC London Daniel: I'm sending a copy to Matt as well. I've been designated his baby update contact.

Monique: Can I be glad that he's taking an interest in the babies, even though Amanda is in London and no longer on speaking terms with him? Because if he still wants to know about the babies, it's actually about the babies and not getting back into Amanda's good graces/panties. Which, at a minimum, puts him ahead of my father.

Monique: I'm now my future ex stepmom's birthing coach. He doesn't want anything to do with the new baby unless it's a boy. He's such a misogynistic asshole. I can't believe I have any of the same DNA as him.

EIC London Daniel: How did that happen?

EIC London Daniel: You can be happy about him showing progress. Betty is.

Monique: I was already going to be Amanda's birthing coach, and they were gracious enough to let me enroll in an earlier class. Only a couple more weeks to go. Maybe I'll drag Matt with me after liberating him from the parenting magazine.

EIC London Daniel: You're actually going to move him?

Monique: I put him there because I wanted him to at least be better at the parenting thing than my dad. Eventually, Amanda is going to have to know the truth. I'm hoping by the time she does know that Matt will be willing to stand up and be a grown-up. It feels like he's making baby steps in that direction, at least. That should be rewarded.

EIC London Daniel: I feel like you're more optimistic than I am.

Monique: Maybe I am, but my plan worked because Matt actually called you in the middle of the night concerned about possible premature labor and its complications. This tells me maybe I can let him go to one of the other magazines. I just have to choose which one.

EIC London Daniel: You sent Austin to Player, right?

Monique: Yep, because his stepdad is a homophobic prick and was worried that working at a fashion magazine will make his step son gay. I literally had to bite my tongue to keep from saying it was already too late. Does he think Justin is just a phase or something?

EIC London Daniel: Dad thought the high heel shoes were a phase for Alexis, who knows. God, I really should've realized what was going on earlier. All the dresses couldn't have been for hollowing costumes.

Monique: The important thing is you figured it out eventually.

EIC London Daniel: So instead, you have him as the intern of Corey James, your new EIC up there. Keeping alive the Player tradition of all the EICs being either gay men or women.

Monique: Don't forget we've had at least one pansexual transgender woman in charge pre-transition.

EIC London Daniel: Alexis did six months as EIC there before Hudson launched. She was trying to see if she could transition Player into Hudson, but it didn't quite work.

Monique: Which is funny because we are now going to transition Hudson into Player. Player has just taken on half the writing staff from there now that the consolidation plan is moving forward.

Monique: Good news, most of the staff that wanted to stay on, have been absorbed into other magazines. We had a lot of gaps because of a hiring freeze in place when Matt's father was in charge.

EIC London Daniel: That's good. It makes sense because Player was already doing the same articles that Hudson did during the Alexis era. Also, recently Mode started covering men's fashion as well. Hudson was becoming redundant, and their subscriptions were way down.

Monique: That's why Hudson had to go when we realize a new EIC wasn't going to change things. I want Mode to be a fashion magazine, not just a women's fashion magazine. It may also be why I grab the Fashion editor and his team from Hudson for Mode.

EIC London Daniel: That's good. Your change in direction definitely helped increase subscriptions at Player. It's one of the few magazines at Meade publications that has grown. I think maybe you can do the same thing at Mode.

Monique: I hope so. However, some of the old guard is still there at Player even with the Hudson transplants. They were Damien's people, and I couldn't get all of them out while I was there.

Monique: Or maybe someone was good at keeping their head down but now that I'm gone, they've gotten sloppy.

EIC London Daniel: What happened?

Monique: Somebody said some really homophobic things about Cliff when they thought he wasn't in listening distance. They also said some homophobic things about Corey behind his back when Austin was in listening distance.

EIC London Daniel: Shit.

Monique: He told Antonella, who told me, and so now I do have a spot at Player for an editor. You know I have zero tolerance for that sort of thing.

EIC London Daniel: As you should. You should give the position to Matt. It will be good for him to spend more time with Austin.

Monique: You know?

EIC London Daniel: Matt told me. I've only told Betty.

Monique: Keep it that way. Tiffany doesn't want Austin to find out yet, and if you tell Justin, your nephew will tell Austin because you don't keep secrets like this from your partner.

EIC London Daniel: Which is why I told Betty.

Monique: Understandable. Victoria said something to Tiffany that freaked her out. Although she's not pulling Austin out of Meade publications altogether, she wants to limit how much time Austin spends around Matt. That's why she's ambivalent about letting Austin join Mode Academy with Justin and Antonella this fall.

EIC London Daniel: Yet you have Matt and Austin are working together on the black-and-white ball.

Monique: I'm cautious, but I'm not going to let Victoria screw everything up.

EIC London Daniel: So, don't let her make a business decision for you. Earlier, you said that you don't allow personal pettiness to influence business decisions. You know Matt's a good writer and a good editor. He did a lot of freelance work for you at Player.

Monique: This is true. I've also heard good things about him subbing at the parenting magazine for the last few days.

EIC London Daniel: So put him at Player.

Monique: Fine, I will move Matt to Player.

EIC London Daniel: Thank you.

Monique: I'll also put Austin on the protected employees list. This is why we have to hire a separate nanny/security guard for Jade. We need personal protection with Victoria around.

EIC London Daniel: Unfortunately, yes. Hopefully, it will get better eventually.

Monique: One can hope.

Xxx

July 15, 2010, 1:23 PM GMT time

Pretty boyfriend: You don't think there's any way to convince your uncle to let me come stay with you for the next two months? I'll even be happy to share a room with DJ. He loves baseball as much as I do.

Justin: He's mad that you guys didn't have time to go to a game together. I'm hopeful for next summer. Maybe the custody bull shit with his grandparents will be worked out by then. Although on the plus side, we get to go to Disney Paris this weekend. He is legally required to see his grandparents. Daniel wanted it to happen in a friendly neutral setting, so Disney Paris it is.

Pretty boyfriend: I've never even been to Disney World, and you're going to Disney Paris. That's so horrible. This is another reason why I should get to come to London.

Justin: I think Daniel would be okay with it, but I have no idea how we would get your mom to agree. You told me that Monique moved you to Player to keep your mom from pulling you out of the program.

Pretty boyfriend: That was because she was pacifying my stepdad. The problem is my mom cares more about appeasing my stepdad than anything else. At least Monique was being subversive by sending me to Player.

Justin: So you're not telling your stepdad that Corey is one of us?

Pretty boyfriend: That would require me to talk to him in the first place.

Pretty boyfriend: Also, I don't think he'll believe me even if I told him that the super masculine magazine at Meade has been mostly overseen by women or gay men. I think your uncle was the straightest EIC that Player ever had.

Justin: DJ's mom Alexis was also the head of the magazine for a few months pre-transition. Uncle Daniel has acknowledged he did sleep with one of his male tutors back in college. He doesn't consider himself straight. Actually, I think he considers himself Betty-sexual currently.

Pretty boyfriend: Wait, DJ's mom was at Player? I think I may have read that in the tabloids about your uncle, but I didn't know it was true.

Justin: What was in the tabloid was mostly false, but there is some truth to it. Also, subversion at Player magazine is a grand tradition I think Monique wants to keep alive. Who understands toxic hyper-masculinity better than women and non-heterosexual men?

Pretty boyfriend: This is true. I think I really like her.

Justin: Everyone does. So why are you not speaking to your stepdad? Obviously, it's bad enough that you want to come to another country.

Pretty boyfriend: I really miss you. I know we talk on the phone all the time, during work hours no less. I hate being so far away from you.

Justin: I miss you too. Trust me, I wish you could be here. If I'm coming back next summer to work for Daniel, we will figure out a way for you to go too.

Pretty boyfriend: You're too perfect.

Justin: Not perfect enough to know that you're misdirecting. What's going on with your stepdad?

Pretty boyfriend: Yesterday, when I came home from work, the girl who kept throwing her cleavage in my face at the Fourth of July party was waiting for me. Apparently, the stepdad invited her for dinner. I wanted to email you about it, but I realize it was already 2 AM, so I waited until morning.

Justin: Ambush blind date? Do you actually know her name yet?

Pretty boyfriend: Yes and no. I actually have no desire to learn her name.

Pretty boyfriend: I've told him I'm not interested, yet he keeps doing stuff like this. My mom just smiles and accepts it. I think that's worse than him doing it. She says she's okay with me dating you, but she lets her husband pull stuff like this. I'm sick of it.

Justin: I'm sorry.

Pretty boyfriend: It's fine. My George is not okay with me being gay, and I'm starting to think he never will. I'm working on trying to accept that.

Justin: I'm really sorry. You know I wouldn't be upset if you had to go on one of those dates to keep the peace.

Pretty boyfriend: I would be. I really don't know what to do. I'm not going to hide anymore.

Justin: Maybe you could talk to Marc. He went through some really messed up stuff with his mom. I think he would understand.

Pretty boyfriend: The whole building knows about his mom. She tried to sneak in yesterday to talk to him. She was dragged off by security and is now permanently banned from the building. Apparently, she thinks Jade existing means he has seen the light.

Justin: Okay, now I have to call Marc myself after this. His mom was awful. I can ask him to talk to you.

Pretty boyfriend: Don't. He's so busy, especially with his new daughter. I don't know when he would have the time to help me with my crisis.

Justin: I know, and he's planning grandpa's going away party too. I've been trying to help remotely, but it's still a lot. He has the baby stuff with Cliff.

Pretty boyfriend: Also, I'm busy. I'm not just doing photocopying at Player. This also means I don't have time to sneak down to the Mode offices.

Justin: You could talk to Matt. You're still working with him on the black-and-white ball, right?

Pretty boyfriend: Yes, more so now that I'm at Player. You're actually suggesting that I talk to Matt? You hate Matt.

Justin: I think Matt is a fucking moron. You don't get back together with somebody who you know is in love with someone else. You also don't sleep with somebody when you're planning to move to another country after you broke up with my aunt about 24 hours earlier.

Pretty boyfriend: All valid points.

Justin: You also don't shriek on your duties.

Pretty boyfriend: I thought the Twins are biologically your uncle's kids?

Justin: Yeah, well, they broke up because Matt doesn't want to raise someone else's children. He's a prick.

Pretty boyfriend: My stepdad is a prick in a lot of ways, but that's never been one of them. Even I think the not accepting that I'm gay thing is because he's scared. But it still hurts. He's the only dad I know, and he doesn't want me as I am. Now I'm reevaluating my entire relationship with George, and I'm not liking what I'm finding. It's a lot.

Justin: I'm suggesting Matt because of his aunt.

Just in: I wish I could hug you right now.

Pretty boyfriend: The one who is the mother of your uncle's brand-new niece Alexis Jr?

Justin: Yes. She's pansexual and was raised by shitty homophobic people. Maybe he can put you in contact with her.

Justin: My uncle is reading my private text messages over my shoulder. He just informed me that Matt is a Kinsey 2 and was raised by the same shitty homophobic people, i.e., his mother. Daniel thinks that he will have some survival tips. Although he's willing to give you Ms. West Hartley's number so you can call her directly.

Pretty boyfriend: Good to know. I'll think about it. Maybe I could even talk to Cory as well if it comes up.

Justin: There is also Cliff. There's actually a lot of people at Mead publications that can help you. Reach out. Even my mom is there. She'll help, possibly by punching out your stepdad. You already trigger her mama bear instincts.

Pretty boyfriend: I believe that. I have to eat breakfast real quick before hopping on the train to work, but I'll call you later.

Justin: Okay, have a good day at work. Miss you.

Pretty boyfriend: I miss you too.

XXXX

10 minutes later.

Daniel M: You should know that Monique sent Austin to Player because his stepdad is a homophobic asshole. He keeps setting Austin up with random girls hoping it will turn him straight. Considering what Justin said about his recent treatment of him, I am not shocked or surprised. However, I thought you should know.

Matt: Thank you for actually telling me this.

Daniel M: Well, I thought about telling Brianna, but she's in Cleveland busy with Alexis. If you're staying at Meade for Austin, then I figured you might want to try to have a relationship with him. This might be a place where you can bond. I suggested that he come talk to you.

Matt: I will help him out in any way I can if he does come to talk to me. Although I should probably just pass him over to Brianna.

Matt: I didn't even come out to Victoria until a couple of months ago. Dad knew and didn't care as long as I was discrete. Victoria does care. She keeps trying to set me up with random country club princesses, so I understand that part. I need to find a good fake boyfriend.

Daniel M: Fake boyfriend?

Matt: Victoria ruined my relationship with Amanda just because she wasn't the type of person she wanted me to date. So I'm not going to do her any favors right now by staying publicly in the closet. It is essential to set a good example for baby brother anyway.

Daniel M: I was more objecting to the fake part.

Daniel M: You know it's over, right? Even when it's safe to tell Amanda that you are the father of her children, she isn't going to just magically forgive you. You two have a lot to work through, and you may not be able to work through it beyond being amicable co-parents.

Daniel M: Marc and Cliff are doing well in that regard even though they're not together anymore.

Matt: There's a baby shower soon for Marc. I think it was initially going to be Amanda's, but Monique decided to repurpose it. Technically, I was invited, but I know better than to show up.

Daniel M: I think it was originally for Monique stepmom Brittany. I'm sending a present.

Matt: I would, but I am sure it would end up in the trash. I have a bunch of newborn stuff that I bought for the twins. Although Cliff likes me so I should at least send him a present.

Daniel M: Send it here. Babies can never have too much stuff.

Matt: I will. I know Amanda and I are not getting back together, at least not anytime soon. A lot is going on right now, and I don't think I need to add another relationship to it.

Daniel M: I see therapy has been working.

Matt: I'm trying. I'll keep an eye on Austin. Although it's hard with me being at the parenting magazine.

Daniel M: Have you talked to Monique recently?

Matt: We were supposed to meet yesterday, but she had to cancel last minute. There was some sort of crisis at Player that lead to somebody being escorted out by security. She said she would text or email me later.

Matt: Why do you ask?

Daniel M: Monique told me that she needed to talk to you about something. It's a good thing, I promise.

Matt: I'll take your word for it.

XXXX

20 minutes later (after Daniel called Monique to remind her to offer the position to Matt again).

Boss Monique: How would you feel about no longer having an office in the parenting magazine?

Matt: It depends on where you're going to put me. I don't want to come back to Mode. Everyone there is still mad about Amanda leaving.

Boss Monique: Not Mode, Player. We're just getting back to equilibrium after all the staff changes and absorbing parts of Hudson. I don't want to throw things off.

Matt: I don't think my therapist will be happy with me going to a magazine called Player. She is still amazed that I've been celibate for this long.

Boss Monique: I thought you were celibate when you were in Africa even after the break-up, or did you just break up with Amanda so you could fuck around there?

Matt: I was celibate the entire time I was there, but I don't think I told my therapist that before today. We've been working through a lot of things.

Boss Monique: Understandable.

Matt: My therapist is trying to talk me out of coming out publicly as bisexual just to spite my mom.

Boss Monique: Normally, I would totally join your therapist in this. But I really hate your mother, and I know all the things that she put Brianna through over the years. She's a bit of a Bitch.

Matt: She is a Bitch. There's no bit about it, along with being racist and homophobic and everything else.

Boss Monique: It's okay for you to say that about your mom, but I was trying to be polite.

Matt: I'm through being polite about Victoria. I'm done. As far as I'm concerned, I had an egg donor.

Boss Monique: So, regardless of what your therapist thinks, I think you would be a good fit for Player. We need some new people there anyway now that Cory is the new EIC. We've been cleaning house.

Matt: Now that you're a partial owner of the company, you can fire everyone Wilhelmina wouldn't let you fire.

Boss Monique: It wasn't just Wilhelmina. Because being a woman at Player was hard enough without making too many waves. But with Damien gone and then my guy in place, I have an editor's job available, and I want you to fill it.

Matt: You couldn't find anyone else? Even with having to absorb most of Hudson? Is this why somebody was escorted out by security yesterday?

Boss Monique: Yes. Some people don't take getting fired for breaking the companies no tolerance policy very well. You've done some excellent writing work for me.

Matt: You're still mad at me about Amanda.

Boss Monique: We've been talking, and maybe not everything that happened was entirely your fault. I can understand the family stuff. Vivian's mom still doesn't acknowledge that I exist.

Boss Monique: She blames me for my mom losing a respectable husband even though he was a misogynistic asshole. It's why I don't refer to her as my grandmother.

Matt: Because he fucked the babysitter.

Boss Monique: She doesn't see it that way. Of course, she never resorted to death threats to break things up. Although, Senator Slater is a little terrified of her. So who knows.

Matt: Wilhelmina's father?

Boss Monique: My mom almost married her dad. But mom eventually realized he was kind of a prick. Although the senator still adores me, which is why I was able to call in some favors. Although he won't like me for much longer since I'm helping Wilhelmina save face and expose a deep family secret very soon.

Matt: Do I want to know?

Boss Monique: You will see when the August issue hit stands at the end of the month.

Matt: I'll make sure to get my copy.

Boss Monique: If you're still not sure about going to Player, I am replacing someone because they said something really homophobic about Cory in front of Austin.

Boss Monique: I think it would just be the icing on the cake if we replace the guy with an openly bisexual editor. We could even write up an article for your introductory piece. We could put it in the October issue because October 11 is national coming out Day.

Matt: A coming out piece in Player by a Hartley would definitely increase circulation.

Boss Monique: More importantly, it will help you be a good big brother to Austin even if he doesn't realize it.

Matt: You know?

Boss Monique: Yep, I've been trying to get you time with Austin while simultaneously making Tiffany happy, which is really hard. But I want you to be able to bond with your brother. It's essential to connect with your family.

Matt: At least Austin hates me less than Tyler right now. He hasn't actually talked to me since the wedding.

Boss Monique: Have you considered apology chocolates?

Matt: I'll think of something, and I will take the job. I'll even come out in my first issue. It would be better than showing up to the black-and-white ball with an escort pretending to be my boyfriend.

Boss Monique: Although I kind of want you to do that anyway, to fuck with your mom. Too bad Cliff is with Marc because he would've been perfect and would totally volunteer to do it. He hates your mom too.

Matt: Don't we all.

To be continued.