Trent took a deep breath and then let it out slowly.

Today was the big day, and although he had made many strides, apparently, in handling his general anxiety and worry, this day felt like a backslide.

He was nervous.

In truth, he mostly wasn't even sure why he was so nervous, but he had just abruptly pieced it together: Bea.

Bea was acting strange.

That, in and of itself, wouldn't really be that much of a thing to worry about. Sometimes they each acted strange. But it was the way that she was acting, that was...off. He genuinely couldn't put his finger on what was happening. If it was just apprehension over the fact that it was her birthday, he could've brushed it off. People got nervous about that stuff. It was just…

Something else.

"Is everything all right?" Trent jerked slightly in surprise and realized that he had been crouched on the floor of Mae's old attic room for a while now. Probably too long. Turning around, he looked at Candy, who stood on the stairs.

She'd been acting weird, too.

"Uh, yeah," he replied, finishing his wrapping. "Just, uh, not great at wrapping, you know. And it's a big day. I'm a little distracted."

"I understand that," she murmured.

"You seem kinda distracted yourself," he said as he grabbed the hefty package and picked it up. "You okay?"

"I'm all right," she replied after an awkward pause. "I'll admit that I'm a little shaken up over the house, still. Which, again, thank you."

"You're welcome, Candy, and you don't have to keep thanking me. I'm not, like, holding it over you or anything. I never would."

She smiled. "I know, because you're a very kind person. I'm still adjusting to it all. Sorry if it makes you uncomfortable."

"No, it's fine. I get it," he replied. "Is there...anything else?"

"Well, I still feel kind of weird about the brownies. Poor Gregg is still over at your house. I think he might finally be done being stoned," she replied.

He laughed. "Yes, poor Gregg. He intentionally ate an entire brownie knowing it had too much weed in it. Honestly, you gave us all a really great time."

"Yeah, apparently," she replied.

"...what's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

She smirked. "I heard you and I think Bea and someone else going at it for a long time that night."

"Oh my fucking God," he groaned. "Were we seriously that loud?!"

"Okay, in truth, I think there's a somewhat unique correlation between our two houses, some acoustic thing that makes sound carry well at night, and the spot where I sleep, which is right next to our window, which I leave cracked year round, and it's not every night. Just when you're...especially vigorous."

"Oh my God Candy! Can we not talk about this? I just...can't today."

She laughed softly, then cleared her throat. "Probably for the best, yes. Sorry. I just...enjoy teasing you, for some reason."

"Every woman in my life enjoys it, apparently," he muttered. "Um, okay, is everything good? Nothing's gone wrong has it?"

"No. Or, at least, not that I know of," Candy replied. "I just realized you'd been up here for awhile and I was worried something might've happened is all."

"I appreciate it." They walked back downstairs to the ground level. "You got anything you want me to help carry over?"

"No, I'm still putting together the burritos together. I'll text you when it's done."

"Okay, cool."

As she checked on the burritos, Trent couldn't help but notice that she yet again had the air of someone who wanted to say something, but wasn't sure if it was a good idea, or maybe they just didn't know how to say it right. In the end, though, again, he said goodbye and walked away. Maybe it had to do with the city council thing. Probably it did. Well, they were still sitting on that one, trying to just enjoy themselves.

But that wouldn't last forever.

He had to get back to work after today. He had a lot of new content all of a sudden to polish up and prepare for publication, and then the next Demontower novel after that. At least it was just regular everyday problems and writing, though. Trent came back inside and heard someone shouting.

"This is what happens, Larry! This is what happens, Larry! This is what happens when you fuck! A stranger! In the ass!"

He then heard hysterical, gasping, debilitating laughter. Trent chuckled as he walked into the living room. Gregg was still basically in the same position he had been ever since he'd started feeling the effects of that brownie, Angus beside him, Ann beside Angus, all three of them stretched out on the foldout. Mae sat on the floor by their feet, grinning up at the screen.

"Hey, where's Bea?" he asked, looking around.

"She went out to buy some stuff for the party," Ann replied, pausing The Big Lebowski.

"Hey, did my mom say anything to you?" Mae asked suddenly.

"Uh...nothing that really jumped out," Trent replied. "Why?"

"I dunno, thought maybe she had...just one of those feelings," Mae said.

Trent hesitated. Something definitely seemed off about how she'd worded that. Like she was lying. What could she have to be lying about? For a moment, he strongly considered pursuing it further, but he decided against it. Whatever was going on, it didn't feel dangerous or depressing, it felt like something that could wait, or maybe even something he just wasn't going to be privy to because it didn't really involve him. Maybe Mae and her mom were fighting again, although that didn't seem to be the case.

"All right, uh, Gregg, sorry to have to do this to you, but we gotta start getting this place in order. We've got an hour until people start showing up, so we gotta get the couch folded away."

"Ah yeah, no problem," Gregg replied, getting to his feet. He laughed and shook his head, stumbling a little. "Uh...probably not gonna do that again. I'm all stiff from not moving and sleeping so much. Like...wow that was super weed or something."

"You just ate too much of it," Angus replied.

"On purpose," Ann agreed, both of them getting up and beginning the process of putting the couch bed away.

"It was fun. My head swam for like three days," Gregg replied, grinning. "But, um...sorry. I realize that I kinda made you all, like, take care of me unexpectedly for three days, and I really, really appreciate that you did that, and I'm sorry for, you know, imposing."

"I accept and forgive you," Trent replied, setting Bea's present in the closet. "I also get it. Sometimes you just need to be stoned for three days."

"It was pretty fun," Angus murmured.

They spent some time straightening up the living room. Trent and Ann had mostly done all the preliminary cleaning already after they'd woken up this morning, so there wasn't a great deal left to do before everything was ready.

"Okay, okay...we got the presents?" Trent asked. Everyone responded affirmatively. "Okay. And the food, and drinks...wait where's Melody?"

"She went for a walk with Claire," Ann replied.

"Okay, cool. Um. Candy's working on the food still. And…" He checked his phone. "No new messages from anyone. I think we're actually good."

"Yep," Ann agreed.

"Can we get back to watching?" Gregg asked.

"Yes," Trent replied.

He decided to let himself relax and ended up on the recliner with Mae in his lap. By the time they finished out the movie, Claire and Melody were back, and then Bea showed up during the credits. She came in with an armful of groceries in a paper bag and he got up to help her as she went into the kitchen. He hesitated as she pulled out a six pack of something alcoholic.

"What?" she asked when she noticed his awkward stare.

"Nothing," he replied. "I just...didn't know you were one of the 'I want to get smashed on my twenty first birthday' people."

"I want to try it," she said. "I've barely ever actually touched alcohol in my life but now that I'm old enough and now that I've actually tried weed, I want to try it. And don't worry, I'm not going to drink anything until after everyone's left."

"All right," he said.

"...you seem weird about this."

"I'm...it's just...I dunno, I haven't had the best experiences around drunk people," he replied.

Bea opened her mouth, then stopped, a look of horror passing across her face. "Oh my God your dad. Oh my God Mae's dad. Oh man, I didn't even think-I'm sorry."

"It's fine," Trent said. "I'm not going to ask you to not get drunk around me. I mean if it was seriously a problem for me, I feel like we would've run into it when Molly got fucking wasted. But I can handle it. I just...worry, I guess." He very strongly considered telling her what her dad had said, but decided against it when he saw the uncertainty in her eyes.

"If you're sure," she murmured.

"Yeah, it'll be fine, babe. And it's your birthday. If you want to explore this, then I want you to be able to do so in a safe, fun environment, which this is."

That seemed to make her relax. "...thanks," she said. "Maybe I should talk with Mae about it." She hesitated. "Maybe I should talk with everyone. It's just occurring to me that all of us might have had bad interactions with drunk people." She hesitated again. "Actually, that includes me. I have an extremely distant, vague memory of my mom screaming and crying at my dad after drinking a lot of...something. I almost thought it was a dream but I asked him about it once and he confirmed it happened. But then she stopped drinking…" She sighed and pushed the booze into the fridge, near the back. "Whatever."

"Whatever happens, I'm here for you, Bea," Trent replied.

She smiled. "That's such a generic statement, but it feels so authentic coming from you, and it actually makes me feel better."

He hugged her. "Good, that was the intent."

She laughed. "So...what'd you get me?"

"Oh my God, do not start with this, I'm not telling you. What is it with you and Mae about surprises and asking?"

"We know it bothers you," Bea replied, smiling sweetly at him.

He groaned. "Don't you dare use the f word today on me."

"But it's so tempting...ugh, fine. Can't promise I won't say it repeatedly at you once I'm smashed. I want to get fucking railed while I'm drunk."

"And I want to rail you while you're drunk. Though not too drunk."

"Oh whatever, you fucking love banging Mae when she's passed out, I'm sure you'll love taking advantage of my drunk pussy."

"It is deeply uncomfortable when you say it like that."

"Then you shouldn't have dated freaks," she replied.

"...that's a fair point."

"Just so you know we can definitely hear this part of the conversation," Claire called.

Bea sighed heavily and finished putting away the groceries she'd grabbed. "Of course you can. Okay, lemme go out there and talk with everyone."

"I'll come with you."

They walked out to the living room and Bea looked at everyone awkwardly. "Um, so...it didn't really occur to me to ask but...is anyone gonna be weird if I get drunk?" She paused, sighed. "Sorry, that came out wrong. Will anyone be uncomfortable if I get drunk? I know several of us have...bad history with alcohol."

"I'm cool with it," Mae said.

"Yeah. I'm glad you asked, but I'll be fine with it," Angus said.

"Same," Gregg agreed.

"I don't have a problem," Melody replied.

"Fine by me," Claire said.

"I'll be okay with it, Bea," Ann replied.

"Well all right then. Um, thanks," Bea said. "I'm gonna go have a lay down before everyone gets here, so I have more in my social tanks."

"We'll be here," Trent replied.

Bea paused, then grabbed his wrist. "You know, I am the birthday girl…"

He chuckled. "You are indeed. And the birthday girl gets what she wants."

"Right now I want oral sex," she replied, pulling him towards the stairs.

"Well okay then."

It was happening.

Bea was drinking.

Trent had grown more as opposed to less concerned as the party came and went. After fun with Bea and a quick shower, they'd lounged around until people started showing up. And a lot of people showed up. Candy and Stan showed up a little before everyone else, followed shortly by Jackie. Then Bea's dad. Ann's mom and Mister Chazokov came not much later. Lori and her whole family came by. Then Germ and a lot of his family.

For once, he actually ended up losing track of all the people who came and went. But it was a good time, thankfully. Bea had gotten almost all her presents. All but one. In the chaos, he'd actually forgotten to give her his present. And this is what he was thinking of as it became just them in the house, and the last of the guests left.

"All right babe, before you start seriously drinking…" Trent said as he walked over to the closet.

"What?" Bea asked.

"I have something for you."

"I was wondering. I mean I was fully willing to accept that putting together this party and that fucking bomb head you gave me earlier were your presents, but I was curious."

"Oh trust me, I have something for you," he replied.

"Whoa, that's kinda big," she murmured.

"That's what she said," Trent replied as he brought the box over. Mae immediately began giggling.

Bea rolled her eyes. "My God, you're all so immature."

"Like you aren't," he said, setting the present before her on the coffee table.

"Jeez, this has some heft," she muttered. "Feels expensive."

"Don't worry about how much it cost," he replied.

She sighed. "That means you spent a lot of money on it. Which is not super smart right now because we're kind of hard up for cash."

"We are not hard up for cash. We've got like two grand in the bank," Trent replied.

"How much is still there? How much did you spend on this party?"

"Bea, we're fine," Ann said. "Enjoy yourself."

She sighed. "Yeah, you're all right. Sorry." She began tearing off the wrapping paper. "Okay, it's a box...no, a case. Man, this looks kinda fancy," she muttered. Bea tore the rest of the paper off and studied the gunmetal gray case. "Is it a suitcase?"

"More or less," Trent replied.

"I'm so curious…" She finally reached out and undid the latches, then slowly opened it up. Her eyes widened as she looked inside. "What…" she muttered, reaching out. She grasped a piece of paper that rested atop a collection of some thirty paperbacks, all of them smooth and shiny and new.

"What's it say?" Mae asked.

"It says...Dear Bea, your fiance reached out to me and let me know how much my stories meant to you when you were younger. He said that you were looking to get back into them. I had these cases made for the specific reason that I wanted fans to be able to have the entire thing in one neat package and, if they so desired, add a handwritten note. I hope the Cyber Wars continue to bring you joy. It's the literal author of Cyber Wars. It's handwritten. Are you shitting me, Trent?" she asked, slowly looking up at him.

"Nope," he replied.

"Well, you win the birthday," Gregg said, "because, like, that's amazing."

"Yeah, jeez," Mae agreed, looking into the case.

"I've never heard about this," Bea said, picking up one of the novels and staring at it. "How'd you find this?"

"They used to be more common but I think she kind of burned out on offering it after a few years, or it became more trouble than it was worth, I'm not sure. But it's still technically available if you know where to look. Basically, she just doesn't advertise it anymore."

"How'd you know where to look?" Bea asked.

"Tabby helped me, this is partially her present too, though she didn't really want me telling you that."

"Why?"

"She's weird about people thanking her for gifts? I'm not sure, but I kinda get it. She just wants you to be happy and was glad to help. So...happy birthday," he replied.

"Trent, I don't even...this is a lot. Like, a lot. This must have been really expensive."

"Probably not as much as you might be thinking, but it didn't break the bank or anything. Trust me, I just want you to enjoy this."

"I...will," she replied, putting the book and the note back and then securing the case again. She stood up, walked over to him, and gave him a long kiss and a longer hug. "Thank you," she whispered as he held her, "seriously. This is one of the most amazing gifts I've ever gotten, Trent."

"You're welcome, babe."

"Also, don't think I missed that 'fiance' thing," she said, grinning as she pulled back.

"Well...aren't I?" he asked.

She sighed. "I mean yes, but not...officially. I mean you haven't proposed, and you'd better remember when to, but…"

"We've committed to building a life together. I am not just your boyfriend, and you are not just my girlfriend," he replied.

"Wait, that's true of all of us," Mae said.

"So we're all fiances," he replied.

"That's hot," Mae said, making them all laugh.

"Well, um, before I get way too emotional, let's watch something stupid and funny, like...UHF, is everyone okay with that?" she asked.

"It's your birthday, babe, so yes," Trent replied.

"I've never even heard of that," Gregg said.

"It's fucking hilarious," Bea replied.

"You're Queen Bea today," Mae said.

"She's Queen Bea everyday, I feel like," Ann murmured, grinning.

"Today she's Empress Bea," Melody said.

"That sounds pretty dope, actually," Claire replied.

"Let's get this fired up," Trent said as he set to work.

Bea grabbed her bottle and took a long drink. "Let's do it!"

Trent put the movie on and they got settled into place. They watched the movie, they laughed, Bea and Claire drank, while Mae, Ann, Gregg, and Melody smoked some weed. Trent was tempted, but declined. He couldn't help but feel like he wasn't in the clear yet. Something was coming, though he had no idea why or how worried he should be.

Or if he was just being anxious for no reason.

But at some point towards the end of the movie, Trent began realizing that Bea was actually very drunk. There was something in the way she was laughing, and how often. It didn't truly hit home just how drunk she was until she stood up and immediately fell over.

"Whoa! Babe!" Trent cried, grabbing her and managing to at least soften the blow of her hitting the floor.

"I'm fine!" she replied immediately, shrugging him off and grasping the coffee table. "I'm not that drunk. I just tripped."

"Bea…" Trent said uncertainly.

"I'm fine!" she complained, getting up, standing still for a minute, then walking across the room. "I just need to pee," she slurred.

Everyone looked at each other uncomfortably as she disappeared into the bathroom. Trent looked at the coffee table. "Ah man, I didn't realize she got through four of these," he muttered.

"Is this going to be a problem?" Mae asked.

"I don't know," Trent replied.

"It depends on what happens next, I guess," Ann said.

"Will you guys get mad if I duck out? I'll stay if you want but I'm really tired," Claire said.

"It's fine, go get some sleep," Trent replied.

"Okay, um...give Bea my best."

She headed out and they began cleaning up.

"If you've got stuff to do, you two don't have to hang out and help," Trent said.

"Well...I do have work tomorrow," Angus said. "And it's bumping up against midnight now...but I want to make sure Bea's all right."

"She might be in there awhile," Gregg said. "The few times I've been pretty drunk, it seems to take forever to pee. I have no idea why."

"I think part of it is you forget why you're in there and just kind of stand there doing nothing...but yeah. All right, I guess I'll send a text message in the morning. Make sure she gets a lot of water," he said.

"We will," Trent replied. "Thanks for helping and everything else."

"You're welcome," they both said. Then they said their goodbyes, got their things, and headed out. Trent and the others continued cleaning for a while, then, when Bea still hadn't come out, got the couch bed made up again. It was getting crowded, trying to fit all of them on the bed thanks to Gregg taking up the couch, but now Melody would have it back.

"She's taking awhile," Mae murmured uncomfortably.

"Yeah, maybe…" Trent hesitated. He thought he heard something and hurried closer to the bathroom. "Oh shit," he whispered.

"What?" Ann asked immediately.

"She's crying." Trent stepped up to the door. "Bea, babe, what's going on?"

"Nothing! Just...go away!" she replied, and then another sob escaped her, and then suddenly he heard her let out a strange, awful noise, followed immediately by the sound of vomiting.

"I'm coming in!"

"No don't-" More vomiting.

Trent opened the door and very nearly stepped on her. Bea was curled up on the floor, moaning and crying in a widening pool of vomit.

"Oh God, Bea," Trent whispered. "Need some help here!"

He heard running footsteps as he knelt beside her.

"I want my mom!" Bea cried, and then vomited again, then she was crying even harder. "I miss my mom! I want to see her!"

"Oh, Bea, honey," he replied, carefully getting her up. "Oh sweetheart, it's okay, it's going to be okay."

"It isn't!" she yelled, but she hugged herself against him, crying into his shirt. "She's dead! She's dead and it's bullshit and it's not fair! I miss her so much!"

Trent could feel tears stinging his eyes as he kept trying to help her up. This wasn't just breaking his heart, it was shattering it and stomping on the pieces.

"I know, honey, but it'll be okay," he replied. "Here, come on, we need to get you-oop!"

He managed to get her to the toilet as he felt more vomit coming on. She at least took his meaning and puked into the toilet until she was dry heaving.

"Mae, get a trashcan next to the couch, make sure it's got a bag in it. Ann, get a washcloth and wet it with warm water," Trent said as he held onto Bea and waited for the dry heaves to pass.

As they did and he carefully helped her to her feet, he saw Melody hanging by awkwardly, looking worried and upset.

"Here, help me," he said as he carefully walked Bea out of the bathroom. She immediately stepped up and helped him support her. They got her across the living room and back onto the couch, laying her down gently as she kept coughing and crying.

"I'm sorry," she moaned as Trent took the washcloth from Ann and began wiping her mouth and face off. She apparently had managed to get most of it on the floor or the toilet, and had entirely missed her clothes. Her face wasn't too bad. "I'm so stupid…"

"You aren't stupid, Bea," he muttered as he finished wiping her face off. "Thanks," he said, passing the rag back to Ann. He glanced at the bathroom. "I should probably go clean-"

"No!" she cried, grabbing his wrist. "Please don't go, Trent."

"I'll do it," Mae said.

"Thank you, Mae."

She opened her mouth, then started crying again, burying her face in his chest once more. "I want my mom!" she cried.

Trent held her, hugging her against himself, and felt utterly bewildered. He didn't know what to do. He genuinely didn't know what to do beyond just comforting her and taking care of her. But she seemed inconsolable.

Abruptly an idea occurred to him and he waved Ann over. Leaning in, he whispered, "Find her dad, get him here right now."

"You got it," she replied, accepting his phone, as he had Allan's number. She walked out the back door and Trent just stood there, holding her.

"I'm sorry, Melody!" Bea cried. "This is so embarrassing! But I can't-just-oh my God! It hurts so much!"

"It's okay, Bea," Melody replied, sitting down next to her. "I'm so sorry about her. I wish I could help."

"Nobody can!" she cried. "She's dead and there's nothing anyone can do about it and I'll never see her again for the rest of my life!"

Trent was still standing beside the couch, holding her as she sat there with her face in his chest, hugging him and crying, when the back door opened up. He expected to see Ann, and he did, but he also saw Allan coming in, a worried look on his face.

"Bea?" he asked, hurrying over.

"Wha...dad...what the fuck are you doing here?" she asked, pulling away from Trent and wiping her eyes.

"I wanted to make sure you're okay," he replied. Trent realized that he must've been hanging out over at Candy's and Stan's house. Had he known something like this would happen? From the annoyed look he gave Trent, probably he had. Trent just shrugged helplessly.

"I want mom!" Bea cried, looking back and forth between Trent and her dad, and then she hugged her dad and resumed crying. "Why did we move out!? Why did you give up the house!? I miss it! I miss her!"

"Oh Bea," he said, holding her, "I'm sorry, honey. I'm so sorry. I..I just couldn't do it anymore."

"Wh-what?" she asked, looking up again. "What do you mean? Couldn't do what?"

"I couldn't live there anymore, Bea. I couldn't stand it," he replied, and Trent realized with a start that he himself was fighting not to cry.

"Maybe we should give you guys some privacy-" he began, but Bea again grabbed him in a panic.

"No!" she cried. "Don't leave, please. I need you all right now! Oh fuck, I'm such a mess," she moaned.

"We're here, Bea," Mae said, and Trent realized she'd come back over. "It's okay, BeaBea."

Bea tried to say something, coughed, and rubbed at her eyes again. "What do you mean?" she asked, looking back up at her dad.

"I couldn't live there anymore, Bea. I just couldn't. It hurt too much. I'm sorry honey, it just reminded me of her so much and I couldn't stand it." He sniffed and wiped at his own eyes.

"Oh man...I'm sorry, dad," she whispered, then coughed a few more times. "Oh God. This is so awful."

"How much did you drink?" he asked.

"Not that much! I'm an adult, goddamnit! I had to be! I ran that store for two fucking years!" she snarled. For a moment, Allen looked as caught and bewildered as Trent felt. "I'm sorry, dad," she said immediately, hugging him again. "I'm sorry! I'm so mad! And sad! And everything is fucked up!"

"I'm the one who's sorry, Bea," he said. "I shouldn't have done that to you. You're right, about everything. You are an adult, even if you'll always be my little girl, you're an adult, and you had to be an adult because I stopped being one, and I'm sorry for that."

"I forgive you," she slurred into his chest, sniffing. "I'm so mad about it but it wasn't your fault."

"Some of it was," he replied. "I should've been stronger, should've handled it better, should've been more of a father to you."

"Dad," she said, and she sounded more like herself as she pulled back and looked up at him, "I have Trent now, and I know that if he died, I would be an absolute wreck for...months, years maybe. I would be such a mess. I can't even imagine how bad it was for you. I know you and mom had some differences, and you thought I didn't know when you fought, but I did, but I also know that you loved each other a lot, and you worked hard to make it work. So I understand. No one knows what to do when...when that happens."

Her face screwed up suddenly and she began to cry once more.

"Oh sweetheart, shh," he murmured.

Trent felt...a lot of things. Mostly just awful and awkward. Bea had hold of him still, one arm wrapped around her father, her other hand attached to his wrist. Mae, Ann, and Melody hovered nearby uncertainly.

"I warned you about this," Allan growled at Trent.

"I didn't-" Trent began, but Bea interrupted, looking up again.

"No, dad! It's not his fault! It's my fault, okay? Don't you dare be mad at him!"

"I warned him about this, though, Bea. I know you were too young to remember, but...your mother had a problem with drinking, and I don't want to see you go down that road, too."

"I know, dad," she said. "I know about mom."

"...how?"

"We talked about it, dad, when I was like sixteen. It was the first time I ever tried alcohol. I was at Cindy's birthday party, and I tried a little, enough to get tipsy, nothing crazy, and everything was fine, but she could tell when she came to pick me up. We had a talk about it. I thought...I could handle it. And I was responsible! I waited until I was twenty one! And they didn't know! We were watching a movie and it was dark and I kept drinking, they didn't know how much I'd had! And I kept going because...I'm a moron."

"Bea, goddamnit, you are not a moron," Allan said. "You're smart, you're smarter than me and most of this town. You just...didn't know your limits. It's all right, it happens to the best of us. It happens to damn near all of us."

"Okay, fine," she said, "but I really mean it: you are not allowed to get mad at Trent or anyone else because they were watching out for me, okay? I...kinda did this on purpose. But I didn't know it-that-the emotions! They're so strong! And I'm really dizzy…"

"Bea, why didn't you tell me?" Trent asked.

"Because...you'd try to stop me," she murmured. "And I wanted to know what would happen, but...I was scared to do it alone, and I knew you'd take care of me if something went wrong. Ugh God I'm such a bitch."

"You aren't a bitch, Bea," both Trent and Allan said at the same time.

She chuckled, then started laughing, then kept laughing, then abruptly stopped. "Oh...mmm. Stomach is still...oh shit." She leaned over the trashcan Mae had brought suddenly and vomited. Not much, but some. After dry-heaving for a bit, she accept the papertowel that Trent pushed into her hand and mumbled 'thank you' and wiped at her mouth.

"Can I just sleep?" she mumbled. "I'm tired and just...really embarrassed."

"So long as someone is watching you and you make sure you're on your side," Allan replied.

"We'll take care of her, Mister Santello," Ann said.

"You know we won't let anything happen to her," Trent said.

Allan looked at Bea for a moment, then sighed softly. "Yeah, they always told me there comes a point where you gotta let go, you gotta accept that your kid won't be coming to you anymore to help with their problems."

Bea blinked sleepily. "I'm sorry, dad...I just…"

"It's okay, Bea, you don't have to say anything. You don't have to explain yourself. It's how it should be. We should watch out for ourselves, but we all need help. And you know that I'll help you for the rest of my life, but we should have someone who looks out for us, and we both have our own lives, Bea, and your life is with Trent, and Ann and Mae, and that's good. They'll take care of you, and I'm extremely grateful for that."

"...thanks, dad," she murmured. Bea sniffed, blinked a few times. "I'm never drinking again," she said. "Can you help me up to bed?"

"Yes, dear," Trent replied.

She got unsteadily to her feet, then frowned and looked down. She still had hold of his wrist. "I'm not going to want to let go," she murmured.

"We'll handle things down here, go on," Ann said.

"Thank you," Trent replied, and he helped Bea get upstairs.