"Lenny."

"Midge." He said with a smile, too, this time, she didn't pull back when he cautiously reached over to take her hand in his, it made his crooked smile grow.

"What are you doing here? Last I heard, you were living in Los Angeles."

"Living is a relative term, surviving was more like it."

"Lenny…"

"Wait, please. Don't say anything yet. Can we talk? Or, more accurately, can you let me talk? Not here, somewhere where not every single person is listening to us, waiting for a good story to tell."

Midge looked around and noticed that he was right, everyone was watching, as soon as she made eye contact with someone, they quickly turned their head away back to their meal or whoever they were dining with. She knew she should be strong and tell him no, but she also knew from the moment he asked she was going to agree to whatever he wanted. So she nodded and reached for her purse. She felt him hold on for a moment when she went to pull her hand away before reluctantly letting go.

They stood up to make their way out of the Deli, a small smile gracing her face when she felt his hand at her lower back, and it grew when he shrugged his coat off to rest on her shoulders as soon as they made it outside. They walked in silence for a few blocks before the silence got the better of her.

"Lenny…"

"Midge…" They said at the same time.

Midge opened her mouth to speak again but stopped when he held his hand up, "You promised to listen to me talk, remember?" She sighed but nodded, "I… well, Kitty lives in LA."

Midge turned to look at him, her eyes wide. Who was Kitty? His ex? Was he just shacking up with someone this whole time? Her anger eased at his next words. "My daughter, she's five. She lives with my Ma. Uh, okay, I'm not great at explaining myself, and never have been, I'm mixing this all up. I should probably start by saying I heard you, what you said in that Chinese restaurant all those months ago. And although you've probably moved past it, past me by now, I kept playing your words in my head over and over again these last months. It helped me hold on, knowing a woman like you, knowing you cared about me enough to want to be with me. So after Carnegie, what was sure to be my career high, I figured I had two ways to go, keep going down the path I was on, getting high, making just enough money to pay for the lawyers, Kit, and something to keep me going until I fuck up enough that no one would let me set foot on their stage, or one day I use too much and end up meeting God. I kinda been figuring that was how my life would go for a long time now, it's not like I ever expected to live till a ripe old age." Midge's gasp reminded him that he was getting off track, he put a little pressure on her back in comfort with his hand that was still resting there. "Or I could go lock up somewhere for a few weeks, dry myself out, and make a real go of getting my shit together. So that's what I did. Locked myself in some shady motel for two weeks close to my Ma's house, she checked up on me every few days just to make sure I was still kicking. After I was doing better, I went to stay with her and Kitty. After a few weeks together, we made a deal that Kitty would move in with me if I could stay clean for six months, so that's what I did."

"So you haven't been using that stuff for over six months now?"

"Seven."

Midge couldn't help herself, she smiled brightly, turned to him, and hugged him tightly. She felt him stiffen just long enough for her to worry she made a mistake before he curled into her and his hands slowly wrapped around her. She felt his nose at the top of her head while he inhaled, she just hugged him tighter, "I'm so happy for you, Lenny! I've been so worried, I know I shouldn't be. I know you can handle yourself, but I have been."

"Is it fucked up to say I'm happy that you were worried? Or at least I'm happy you still care enough to be worried about me?"

"No," She said, finally pulling back from the hug, again feeling his reluctance to let go, "It's not fucked up. At least no more fucked up than anything else. But uh, does this mean you're moving to California for good to be with Kitty?" She couldn't be mad if he did, but damn, would it hurt. She just got him back in her life, and she wasn't ready to lose him again.

"Oh God, no. Do I look like the type of person that would survive there for the rest of my life? All that sunshine and fake Hollywood bullshit happiness? I've been blacklisted from most of those clubs for years now anyway, Plus, more than an hour in the sun, and I'm red as a tomato. No, New York is the only real place I can live long-term. Kitty's coming here, I'm going to send for her once I get a place that's appropriate for a kid, whatever the fuck that means."

Midge smiled, not just because his special brand of dry, dark humor always made her laugh but because he was staying, he wasn't using that poison anymore, maybe that meant they had a chance. However, she did have a thought that maybe she was pretty full of herself to think that when he came back here after not talking to her for almost a year, he'd want to be with her like she wanted to be with him. She had to know, she decided.

"Lenny…"

"Am I too late?" He cut her off.

"Too late? For what?"

"Too late, did you move on? Do I still have a chance with you, or did I miss my window? I heard what you said before: you couldn't be with me because of the dope, but that's gone, not just for now but for always, I'm done with it. I know it'll be hard, but I can do it, and for the first time, I want to do it." He reached up and cupped her cheek, lightly rubbing his thumb across it, he smiled a little when she leaned into his hand. There was a look in his eyes as if he was only saying this because he had no choice but to try even though, in his head, he already knew she was going to send him away. It broke her heart; she never wanted to see him look so defeated again, especially because of her. "You helped me through the worst of it, Midge, I couldn't have done it without you. I'm not saying you owe me anything, and I'm a putz for still hoping there is a chance, but when I locked myself in that motel, your words, your voice in my head, the possibility of a real someday, were the only things that got me through it. I know, I know I have no right to ask, but is there a chance…."

His words were cut off when she stood on her toes and kissed him, her hands snaking around his neck to pull him closer. She tried to convey with the kiss alone how desperately she missed him, how much she loved him, how much she never wanted him to leave again. She knew that was a lot for one kiss to say, but she also knew they always had this connection, this ability to know what the other meant from looks alone. She felt his hands land on her waist and enjoyed the tingle she felt wherever he touched her.

He broke the kiss to breathe but didn't pull away, leaning his forehead against hers. She opened her eyes in time to see him slowly open his, and they stared at each other for a few long moments before she smiled and saw his lips quirk, too. She laughed a little awkwardly when she realized they were standing in the middle of a busy New York sidewalk, taking up most of it and making people walk around them while they were staring at each other with their foreheads touching.

She grabbed his hand and moved to the side of the walk, closer to the buildings, so they weren't in anyone's way. She simply replies, "You're not too late."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I've missed you, Lenny. I'm glad you came back. I've tried to tell myself that it was fine you were gone, that it was just a one-night thing that was over now, but I knew I was lying to myself."

"So you're not, uh, involved with anyone right now?"

"Nope, completely uninvolved…Not involved? Whatever, what I mean is, I'm not seeing anyone."

"That's insane to me, I was positive someone would have come around and snatched you up by now." He had a few nightmares about it, actually. "What the fuck is wrong with the men around you? You're a knockout, the whole package."

"Nope, I mean, I went on a few dates, but nothing more than that."

"Oh, alright, good then." He looked away and sounded unhappy, even a little petulant.

"Mr. Bruce, are you jealous?" She said with a big smile.

He scoffed and looked at her as if she was dumb for even wondering, "Of course I am, I was jealous of the doctor too, and that ex-husband of yours that you ran off with that night at the gaslight during my set, which is extra fucked up on my part considering I was still married at the time."

Midge couldn't help but feel some womanly pride; he wanted her even back then, years ago. She smiled, "Well, there's no need to be, you're the only man I've wanted for a long time now."

He leaned in and kissed her again. Tentative wasn't a word Midge would normally connect to Lenny, but the kiss was tentative, almost as if he still didn't believe she'd accept it. She wanted him to get past that as soon as possible, so she kissed him back with everything she had. It was probably a mistake to do that because the passions grew between them, her hands going under the jacket of his suit to feel his back, him moving one of his hands from her waist to the swell of her back and the other up into her hair, gripping it, causing a breathy moan to leave her lips.

The sound was enough to bring her back to the moment, "Lenny," She said, breaking the kiss just long enough to speak before connecting their lips again.

"Hmm?" He hummed into her mouth.

"Wanna go back to my place?" It was the middle of the day; her parents were out at their jobs, and the kids were with Joel for the night, so the apartment was empty.

"Fuck yes." He almost growled, causing her to smile.

"Good, because you gave me the best sex of my life, and I have a little bet with myself going."

"Oh yeah? And what's that?" He asked with a smug smile, preening, obviously feeling proud of himself.

"I have a bet going about whether it was a fluke or not."

"Christ, I hope not." He said, smugness gone.

"Yeah, me too, it'd be a real disappointment."

"Great, no pressure at all then."

Midge laughed and stood on her toes to kiss him again; she knew from the fire of the kiss alone that he had nothing to worry about. Plus, she wanted him so bad she was pretty sure he could just lay there, and she'd still have a great fucking time.

She looked around, forgetting exactly where they were, when she remembered, she grabbed his hand and started looking for a cab, deciding that'd be the fastest way. Luckily for her, they found one almost immediately. The cab ride was mostly silent, just heated looks and hidden caresses. Lenny managed to sneak a few kisses in there, too, but Midge didn't let it go much further than that, being raised not to lose control of herself in public.

She nodded politely at the doorman as they walked by, a little embarrassed, she'd never brought a man up to her apartment in the middle of the day to sleep with him before. Maybe he didn't know that was what they were planning on doing. Oh well, even if he did, she was planning on having Lenny around a lot more, so it was a sight he'd have to get used to. She'd get him an extra black and white cookie this week to thank him for his discretion.

As soon as the door to her apartment was closed, Midge didn't even have a chance to be surprised. Lenny spun her around, and his lips found hers hungrily. He pushed her against the wall and took his jacket off her shoulders, his lips leaving hers, moving down to her chin, jaw, neck, kissing, licking, nibbling. Midge's breaths became quicker, shallower, more breathy, sounds of pleasure mixing in with them.

Lenny's mouth moved away from her skin only long enough for him to speak, "Fuck, Midge, I've missed you so much… thinking of this, thinking of you, was the only thing that got me through the last few months."

His words made her moan, just knowing he wanted this, missed this, yearned for this as much as she had was enough to make her frantic. She planted her hands on his chest and pushed him away just enough that she could get away from the wall, then she grabbed his tie and started walking backward to her room, looking at him with smoldering come-hither eyes. It was all the encouragement he needed because his lips were back on hers, his hands exploring her, reaching around, unzipping her dress. Midge followed his lead and pushed his suit coat off his shoulders, then loosened his tie, dropping them as they walked and stumbled their way to her room. Midge dropped her shoulders when he got the zipper all the way down to let her dress fall to the ground, seamlessly stepping out of it in their hallway. She shivered the first time Lenny's big hand made contact with the skin of her back, his hand spread wide and pushing her closer to him. Midge went for his pants and quickly took his belt off, dropping that, too.

Finally, they managed to make it inside the confounds of her room, Lenny using his foot to shut the door. Midge let out a surprised 'eep' when Lenny lifted her up, his hands on her hips, and threw her on the bed. She looked at him indignantly, not fond of being thrown around like a rag doll, but he was looking at her laying there like she was the most beautiful thing in the world, and her scowl slowly turned into a soft smile. She moved up the bed, so her head was on the pillows and watched him, waiting to see what he'd do next.

Lenny couldn't get enough of her, lying there in just her corset and underwear. Christ, she looked like perfection, and he needed a moment to take it in. Still having a hard time believing that this was really happening, that she was giving him another chance after his fuck ups. He promised himself that he'd do everything in his power to make sure he never messed up with her again. Slowly, he started walking towards the bed.

All of a sudden, Midge felt like she was a deer being stalked by a wolf with the way he was looking at her. He looked as if he was ready to devour her; it made her shiver in anticipation, she opened her legs, making it clear exactly where she wanted him. He unbuttoned his pants and let them fall to the ground as he crawled on the bed, on top of her, kissing her lips. Slowly, he moved down her body, his lips never leaving her skin, making sure to taste every inch of her possible. Slowly unhooking her corset one snap at a time, his lips kissing over the red marks that were left in its wake.

For some reason, for Midge, that simple action was one of the most loving things someone had ever done for her. Realizing that made her already sensitive body go into overdrive. Especially when he finally made it to her underwear, keeping eye contact with her as he used his fingers to slowly pull them down, smiling a little when she lifted her hips to help him. He showed every part of her skin proper attention, even kissing her toes before working his way back up. The closer he got to her center, the quicker her breathing became, the wider she opened her legs, just wanting him to touch her there already.

Finally, finally, he made it, leaving a long, languid lick from the bottom of her slit up to her clit, a long moan left Midge at the sensation. She threw her head back, closed her eyes, and just enjoyed the feeling he was drawing out of her. Her moans grew in sound as Lenny picked up speed, he entered her with two fingers and pumped in time with his tongue swirling around her clit. It wasn't long before she felt her pleasure growing, her center tightening, she must have been making more noise than she realized because Lenny's hand came up and covered her mouth. Midge smiled and took two of his fingers into her mouth, sucking and rolling her tongue around them like she wanted to do with other parts of his body.

Midge bit his fingers as she fell over the edge to keep her quiet. Going by the loud groan he let out; he enjoyed it. She lay there, catching her breath, coming back down to earth as she felt him make his slow climb up her body. He kissed her roughly as she wrapped her arms around his neck and spread her legs wide, leaving him plenty of room to nestle in, she couldn't wait another moment to have him inside her, seven months was far too long.

He never broke the kiss as he lined himself up and entered her, moaning into her mouth. Christ, Lenny had spent many an hour thinking of this, remembering the feeling of being inside Midge. He never thought that it'd happen again, he never thought this was the reception he'd get when he came back to New York. He thought it was a fool's errand to ask her for another chance, but he had to try, it wasn't like he had much pride left to lose anyway.

Now, to think that she wanted him, that she worried about him, that she was as happy as he was that he was back, well, he was almost worried he got locked up in an insane asylum while he was trying to get off the dope and this was just what his crazy mind whipped up.

No, you couldn't make this up, this was really happening, he was with Midge, making love to her, and from the sounds of things, she didn't want this to be a one-time thing, an 'I'm glad you're better so here is a pity fuck'. No, her arms wrapped around him, pulling him close, so close he could feel the sweat in between them on every thrust. Her hands were caressing him, her kissing him nonstop. No, this was real, and she wanted to be with him.

At that thought, he started thrusting faster, twisting his hips, trying to reach that spot inside her, losing control. He moved his lips down to her neck and sucked anything to keep his mouth occupied so he couldn't do something idiotic like telling her he loved her, that would be sure to chase her away. Her hands that were around his neck moved to cup his face and lift it up so that they were looking at each other. The look in her eyes alone was enough to make him realize he wasn't going to last much longer.

"Fuck, Midge, god, you feel so good."

She pulled him in for another kiss as he snaked his hand down and played with her clit, bringing her close to falling over the edge again, hopefully before he did. She moaned into his mouth before breaking the kiss and turning her head to take his ear into her mouth, remembering that it was sensitive for him. His thrusts quickened, losing rhythm, his hand on her hip growing tighter, and she knew he was about to cum. She wrapped her legs around his hips and started moving her hips with him, close to losing it, too. Finally, Lenny touched clit and reached just the right spot, and she fell, "Oh God, Lenny, I love you."

Those words coming from her sweet lips were all he could take, he moaned into her ear as he fell over the edge with her. After he came back to himself, his first instinct was to just flop down, but thankfully, he stopped himself. Instead, he wrapped his arms around her and rolled them so that she was the one on top of him. They lay there in silence for a while, catching their breath, Lenny's fingers running up and down her spine, lost in thoughts, just enjoying the moment.

Eventually, Midge lifted her head up and rested her chin on his chest so that she could look at him. She looked a little sheepish, but he wasn't sure why. He decided to break the tension, "So, what's the verdict?"

"Lenny, you shouldn't use those types of words with people who have been in court so often, it makes us panic." Lenny laughed, not surprised she was just as good at breaking the tension.

"Oh right, how foolish of me."

"What verdict?"

"Was it a fluke? Or was the sex just as good?"

She slapped his arm, "Stop fishing for compliments."

"I'm going to take that as a good sign."

Midge opened her mouth to reply something sarcastic, but she was stopped when she heard the telltale sound of someone entering the apartment. Shit, she was supposed to have a few more hours until her parents got home. She looked around, trying to find her dress, and her eyes opened wide, remembering her dress, along with their shoes and his jacket, were all haphazardly thrown in the apartment from the front door to hers in their rush to get the other naked and in bed.

Part of her was panicking, but her overall reaction was to laugh, imagining how her mama and papa would handle that. Lenny, on the other hand, wasn't thinking this was nearly as funny as she did. He met her parents a few times before; he didn't come off as particularly charming in either of the interactions.

"I thought you said they were going to be out for a while." He whispered.

"I thought they were."

"Midge, where are you?!"

"Mommy!"

"Oh shit. Okay, stay here, I'll find at least enough of your clothes that you're somewhat presentable." Midge laughed as she got up off of him and went for her ride. She was worried about why Joel and the kids were there, and she wasn't in the mood to go for another round with her ex-husband, so she hoped this would be fast. Plus, she was hoping to spend a lazy day in bed with Lenny while figuring out where to go from here.

She took a step away from the bed before backtracking and leaning over Lenny, kissing him slowly before pulling away with a smile on her face, "I'll be right back."

She opened the door slowly and sneaked out of it when she saw no one was in the hall, not wanting anyone to see the mess they made of her room and certainly not the kids to see a naked man they didn't know, she already did enough to traumatize them, she didn't need to add that. She turned into the living room, where she heard the voices and saw the kids already in front of the television while Joel's eyes were flicking back and forth between the shoe Lenny lost along the way and his belt. Fuck, this wasn't going to be a fun conversation.

She cleared her throat. "What are you guys doing here?"

Joel kind of shook himself back into the current and turned to look at her. She started moving around the room, picking up everything that was put out of place earlier, looking for whatever clothes of Lenny's she could find. When he didn't say anything and instead kept looking at her, Midge tried again, "Hello, Joel?"

"I have a work emergency… never mind that what's going on here?"

"So you have to leave the kids with me for the night, or you'll be back after you fix whatever work problems you have? Because I have shown tonight, and really, I'm kind of busy myself."

"Yeah, I can see that." He spits out.

"Fuck. Fine, Joel, I'll keep them, just go do your work things, I don't want to deal with this right now."

"What? No! I'm not leaving them here when you have some random man in your room. We have rules!"

"There's a man in mommy's room?"

"Real nice, Joel." She turned to Esther, "Uh, yeah, baby, I have a friend over, and we're going to go out and get something to eat. How does that sound?"

"Pizza?"

"Sure."

"Yay!"

"Midge, no. you're not introducing and taking my kids out with someone I don't know."

"They've already met him before. Granted, it was a while ago, and he was asleep for most of it."

"What?"

"It doesn't matter. Just go, we'll talk about this later."

"No, no way. I need to meet him first. Those are the rules. And what? You've been dating him for a while? What about…."

"No." She cut him off, sure Lenny could hear everything, and not wanting him to find out about that night she almost had with Joel like this. "Ugh, fine. Stay here."

She said, finally finding his sock, scooping it up, and going back to her room.

"Wait, you want me to meet this guy now?" She heard Joel say from the other room.

"I'm not the one who made the rules." She snarked.

She opened the bedroom door to find Lenny comfortably sitting up on the bed, a cigarette in his mouth, and him lazily flipping through her joke notebook, still completely naked with just her sheet covering him. "You're lucky"

"And why is that?"

"I don't let anyone touch my joke book; I've hurt people for less. In fact, don't tell Susie, she'd never let me live it down."

He started laughing, and he pointed at the book, "That's a good one."

"Which one?" She couldn't help but ask, then a second later, she shook her head, "No, tell me later, now you have to get dressed."

"Kicking me out already?" He couldn't say it was unexpected, he tried to make it sound like a joke but was sure his feelings came through.

"What? No. You have to meet my ex. It's a rule: no boyfriends or girlfriends meet the kids without meeting the other."

"Boyfriend, am I?" He asked smoothly.

Midge felt her cheeks blush but covered it quickly by stealing the cigarette from Lenny. "Just get dressed."

"Who am I to refuse a lady?" He asked as he got up and quickly threw his clothes on, "Uh, Midge, this isn't my sock. And where's my tie?"

"Oh, it must be my Papa's," She said as she threw it in her hamper, "I don't know, I didn't see it."

"Damn, that's the second tie of mine that's gotten eaten up in your apartment. Now that I think about it, it might actually be the same exact tie, I have two, or had two, now none, I guess."

"Oh yeah, you're never getting that tie back. Esther found it, and now her teddy bear is a businessman. She asks about you sometimes, calls you tie guy."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. She loves that tie, and because it came from you, you're one of her favorite people."

"Huh," He said. He tried to think of that morning, but it was all kind of a blur for him, it was at the tail end of one of his hardest and longest benders. It wasn't often that he gave up trying to get home and instead decided the sidewalk would do. He looked at Midge and knew she was thinking about finding him like that too, fuck, he really wished she never saw him like that. He wished that he had gotten clean just a month earlier, then all that night and the night in the blue room wouldn't be tainted like he couldn't help but think they were.

She saw him thinking hard; she had a feeling they were dark thoughts, and she didn't want him to be upset right now. She knew they still had to talk and figure out where to go from here, but now she just wanted to enjoy being around him. So she smiled and held out her hand to him, "Come on. It's time for you to meet Joel."

He took her hand, and they started walking back to the living room, "I feel like I already know him, I've seen enough of your shows. One of my favorites was 'I got attacked by my husband's girlfriend at work.'"

She laughed, "That was a good one. Fuck, I'm hilarious,"

He squeezed her hand, "The arrogance, I've created a monster!"

She laughed, remembering the last time he told her that, and she had no clue but to stop and kiss him.

Joel's eyes kept growing wider and wider, first hearing Midge through the door with someone. It was all muffled, but the cadence sounded familiar. As soon as the door opened and he could hear clearly, he knew who it was. He had about five seconds of denial, wondering how the fuck Midge, his ex-wife, was just in bed with Lenny Bruce, his comedy idol, but that wasn't able to last too long because then the memories from that night a few months ago came back in vivid technicolor. Hearing their banter back and forth solidified it, he shook his head and tried to get ahold of himself. Apparently, Lenny Bruce had seen enough of his wife's shows to know a lot about him, er- ex-wife's shows. That means that he probably didn't like Joel too much, which, if he was being honest, completely sucked because he wanted an autograph. Sure, he felt strange that this man was sleeping with Midge, but he was still Lenny Bruce. Fuck, he was feeling really confused right now. Oh god, and now they were kissing, he could hear it all the way from the other room. Part of him, a big part, wanted to leave; he wasn't ready for this, and this was something he would want time to prepare for. Yeah, leaving was the best option, that's what he'd do, then when he came to pick up the kids later, he'd be proud, he wouldn't be babbling nervous Joel, he'd be Mr. Maisel, the business owner and entrepreneur. He turned to leave the house but was stopped.

"Joel? Where are you going?"

"Oh, nowhere! Just checking on the kids." He turned to face them, and his awestruck was set back by the fact that Lenny Bruce clearly had 'recently fucked' hair and clothes. That made anger boil up in him.

"Okay? Well, Lenny, this is my ex-husband Joel. Joel, this is Lenny, though you already know that." Lenny looked at her with an eyebrow quirked and Midge knew what he was wondering, "Oh yeah, he's a big fan. Actually, I don't think I ever told you this before, but he took me to one of your shows at the strip club for our first date."

"Shitty first date." He joked, "Oh, that's how you knew my airplane bit. I retired that years ago, so I wondered."

"When did I bring up your airplane bit?" She remembered the bit but didn't remember ever talking about it with him before.

He laughed, covering his mouth with his hand, "Not surprised you don't remember, it was when I took you to that jazz club as thanks for bailing me out. You were so stoned you didn't even remember to introduce the band."

"Stoned?" Joel asked.

"So you were really at one of my shows? It's hard to believe I wouldn't notice you."

"I was blonde at the time." She said, her blush returning. This time, both his eyebrows quirked, and he tilted his head, staring at her. "What?!"

"Just trying to imagine it." He shook his head, "Oh well, it's probably for the best, If I woulda met you back then, my marriage woulda probably have crashed and burned a lot sooner. Which would suck because I really love Kitty, she's one cool cat."

"Yeah, for the best, mine are pretty great, too. Sometimes, anyway." Joel cleared his throat, reminding both of them that they weren't alone right now.

"Oh right," Lenny said, nodding his head slightly and waving his two fingers, which were still holding his cigarette at him, "How's it going?"

Even though Joel was sure that he'd be overthinking this whole interaction and the conversation he just witnessed for the rest of his life, especially the part where they both pretty much admitted that if they'd had met that night, neither of their marriages would have happened, Joel couldn't help but let the fan in him take over. He held his hand out to shake, "Mr. Bruce, it's an honor to meet you."

"Lenny, please, Mr. Bruce is my mother,

"Mr. Bruce is his mother," They said at the same time, then looked at each other and laughed. Joel had to admit it was a strange thing to witness.

"Stealing my lines again, are we?"

"Maybe it's time to get some new ones."

Lenny grabbed at his heart like he was in pain, "Oh, Upper West Side, you wound me."

She laughed and rested her hand on his shoulder, turning her attention back to Joel, who looked confused and star-struck in equal measure. "Okay, Joel, don't you have a work emergency?"

"Oh, right, yeah. I have to go."

"Okay…" Midge said, kind of confused when Joel didn't move.

"I- I just gotta say, I'm a huge fan, have been for a long time. I have all your records."

"Wow, I don't even have all of them. Thanks, though, always happy to meet a fan, even in such an uncomfortable situation." He joked, and Midge laughed. He didn't like the guy at all, from what he gathered, the man was an idiot with a complex about his woman outshining him who couldn't keep his dick in his pants, but he'd play nice if it'd make this with Midge, whatever it was, easier.

"Right, okay, well, I'll be back for the kids tonight." He said and quickly hugged the kids before leaving.

"Huh," Midge said, surprised, "That went a lot better than I expected."

Lenny wrapped his arms around her and rested them on her waist, pulling her close. He leaned down and kissed her. "Yeah, not what I was expecting from the stories I've heard." A second later, he laughed, "I think he was one second away from asking for an autograph."

She laughed into his chest, "Oh, I'd be willing to bet money that he asks you for one when he comes and picks up the kids."

"Well, it's the least I could do, I suppose."

"What do you mean?"

"If he wasn't such an idiotic putz, I wouldn't be with you right now."

"Aww, Lenny Bruce, a romantic, who woulda guessed."

"Just don't tell anyone, I have a reputation to maintain." He joked, leaning down for another kiss, still surprised that she was letting him touch her, let alone kiss her right now.

"Okay, I promised the kids pizza, are you hungry?"

"Sure, you made me work up quite the appetite."

She slapped his chest in reprimand but still smiled when she pulled away and walked into the living room, "Okay, guys, are you ready to go?"

They screamed, "Yeah!" In a high-pitched unison.

Lenny couldn't help the quirk of his lips when he heard their running little feet coming towards him. He wondered where 'pitter patter' came from because that was nothing less than a stomping stampede. He chuckled when two jokes popped into his head, one of which he could work into his new set.

"Tie Guy!" Esther yelled, causing Lenny to laugh. He could tell he was going to like her.