Michael adjusts his coat before slipping on his gym bag. He turns back and looks at Tori. A deep sigh escapes his lips.

"I'm fine, Michael," Tori smiled. She walked up to him and placed both hands on his shoulders. "Honest."

Michael does another sigh again. This one a bit trembly. "Okay. Okay! Yes." He pulls at the strap of his bag. "You'll call me if you three need anything, yes?"

Tori shakes her head. "Um. No! I'll get them myself. The doctor said I needed to walk around more remember?"

"Oh. Right."

Tori couldn't help but roll her eyes at Michaels anxiousness. She grabs his hands. Lacing their fingers together. "I told you I'll be fine, and I need you to believe me."

"I do believe you," Michael lied. "It's just—"

"Mm-mm!" Tori cut him off. "Now you go and practice. I better see a gold medal in this flat by the end of February. Understand?"

He does a small chuckle. "Yes, Tori." He wraps his arms around her and gives her a tight squeeze. "I'll still be calling every few hours though."

"Ugh! What a smotherer!" Tori dryly said. "Now go."

Michael gives her a small nod before finally leaving the flat. Tori stood in the center of the room just staring at the door. It felt weird to her that Michael wasn't there as she had grown used to him constantly being around. She was happy that he was finally leaving the place because somehow it became his prison, but also, she couldn't deny that she missed him a bit.

She plopped herself on the couch and turned on a random channel on the T.V. As she watched, something in her changed. It was so random too. She wanted something, and not just anything. Something sweet. "Why do I want that?" Tori asked herself. That lemonade. That damn lemonade.

The diet lemonade that she loved throughout all her youth was one day discontinued due to poor sales. Tori tried every other diet lemonade that was sold in stores, but none of them could compare to her favorite brand. But now she wants it at this moment, and she wanted it bad…or at least that's what one of the babies wanted.

Tori pulled out her phone and went on Google to look up how to make it. "It's just diet lemonade. How hard could it be to make?"

Thousands of results pulled up. One-minute recipes. Twenty-minute recipes. There was even one that was six plus hours. She did about three scrolls and clicked on a random one that had barely any reviews and silently hoped it tasted like her favorite drink. She grabbed her keys and walked out of the flat.

Tori constantly checked her phone for ingredients the lemonade recipe called for. She found it odd that they used a lot of things in it. As she continued to look at her phone, she bumped her trolley into someone else's. She finally looked up from her phone. "Oh! Sorr—" she halted her sentence.

A woman with long brown hair that stopped at her waist and dark circular shades looked back at her. She pulled her shades over her head, revealing her greyish blue eyes. "Victoria?! Victoria Spring is that really you?!"

"Becky?"

Becky chuckled in amusement. "I haven't seen you in ages!"

Becky and Tori had a weird relationship in their adulthood. They would always drift apart and get back together. Drift apart once more, then get back together. Then one day, they drifted apart and never got back together again.

She continued to look at Tori with a huge smile, then her smile dropped when her eyes got to her stomach. "Tori?" she said, astounded. She then looked back at Tori's face. "Toriiii…" she dragged.

"Um! Ah... it's not what you think? It's Nick Nelson's—"

"NICK NELSON?!" Becky shouted. "You did the naked tango with you brother's boyfriend?"

Tori smacked herself in the forehead. "NO! No, I'm still with Michael and Charlie's still with Nick and… Jesus, it's a long fucking story, okay?"

Becky blinked three or four times at Tori who was still trying to collect her thoughts. She looked at her phone. "I got time for this long fucking story if you want to explain it to me," she said. "I don't live to far from here."

Tori thought on it for a bit. She has missed her former best friend. "Sure."

After purchasing their items, they headed off to Becky's place. She wasn't lying when she said she didn't live far. It was literally at a turn of a corner and up a single flight of stairs. As Becky unlocked the door, she looked at Tori. "Excuse the mess," she laughed. "Work has taken a bit of a toll on me."

She opened the door and revealed her flat. It had brick walls, movie posters, and vibrant colored furniture that didn't really match each other, but somehow worked well together. Her place was a mess. As if she had multiple arts and crafts projects going on. Tori couldn't help but ask. "What do you do for work?"

"Er… I work in marketing. Particularly for fashion and the designer I'm working with wanted about ten advertisement ideas by Monday." She sighs. "I don't even know why I'm trying so hard. She's probably gonna throw it all in my face or something like she always does." She looks over at Tori. "Where the hell are my manners? You want some juice or a snack or something pregnant lady?"

Tori shook her head as she continued to look around the flat. She then stops at a picture of Becky with a woman with a huge midnight blue afro and a diamond nose piercing. Becky looked over her shoulder. "That's my girlfriend. Her name is Shannon. We met at work."

"Oh. So, you and that girl from the wedding are no longer together?"

"You mean Raine. No, unfortunately not."

"What happened, if you don't mind me asking."

Becky began to straighten up her coffee table. "Well, you know how you enter adulthood, and some people just stay the same and others change?"

Tori nods.

"Well, that's what happened with me and Raine. I kept changing and she didn't want to change with me. I eventually grew out of partying every other night and stuff like that… but she didn't. Even though I really wanted her to evolve with me, ya' know? I had high hopes that we'd be like this power couple or something. I didn't need her to get a job like mine but wanted her to take pride in whatever job she had. She kept getting fired or would just quit from multiple places and I got so tired of it."

"That's understandable," was all Tori was able to say.

Becky then gasped. "You won't believe who I developed a friendship with!"

"Who?"

"Remember Lucas?"

Tori choked. "You're joking!"

"He's not so awkward and shy anymore. University changed him, I guess. He works for a radio station, I think. Works under a pseudonym or some shit like that. Doesn't look like himself either. Tatted from head to toe. You should come out for drinks with us… I mean after you have the baby, of course," she laughs. "Speaking of which, care to explain why you're having Nick Nelson's kid and not Michael's?"

Tori sits down. "It all started in April. Nick and Charlie have been trying to adopt for a long while now but kept failing the interview process. Then Oliver, you know my baby brother, puts the thought into my head to have their kid. It took some time to convince Charlie, but he eventually agreed. I didn't sleep with Nick to get pregnant 'cause that's just weird. This was medically done! And I don't even like having sex anyway!"

Becky snorts. "I get it, Victoria. You're like their surrogate."

"Yes!"

Becky hummed. "That story wasn't that long," she laughed. "That's a cool thing you're doing for Charlie. Do you know what they're having yet?"

Tori shook her head. "I know it's twins though."

Becky gagged. "Girl, your poor, poor vagina!"

"Can everyone stop talking about my vagina, please?!" Tori asked as she glowed red.

"Call me up if they want to do a gender reveal or baby shower. I do decorating on the side too."

"I'll keep that in mind."

As Becky cleaned up some more, her eyes trailed to Tori's groceries. "Making lemonade?"

"Yeah, I had this weird craving for the lemonade I used to drink back in the day."

Becky scrunched her face in disgust. "That horrid diet lemonade?"

Tori's mouth dropped open. "How can you call it horrid. It used to be in your fridge every time I came over."

"Can I tell you a little secret?"

Tori raised an eyebrow.

"I used to buy those for you. I never really drank them." Tori and Becky looked at each other in silence before bursting out in laughter. "Um… You wanna have a go at it? Making the lemonade?"

Tori nodded. Becky picked up the ingredients from the floor and they both walked into the kitchen.

Becky didn't have the right tools, but they tried their best to make the lemonade. They would constantly get sidetracked with gossip, eating snacks, or random updates, making the lemonade process take longer than it was supposed to be.

Tori finally put the pitcher in the ice box. "Let's give it two hours." She faced Becky, who was sitting on the countertop.

Suddenly Tori felt weird. Something felt… off? "Can I use your bathroom?"

"First door on the right."

Tori fast walked into the bathroom. She undid her trousers and wadded up some toilet paper before wiping herself and checking the paper. Her pupils dilated when she saw the reddish-brown stain.

'Calm down, Victoria. Don't freak out. Don't freak out.'

She buckled back up her trousers, washed her hands and went back to where Becky was. "I have to go," Tori said. Trying her best not to sound panicked.

Becky gave her a confused look. "Tori, you okay, babes?" She walked up to her and pushed her hair to the side. "Jesus, you're whiter than usual."

Tori couldn't help but cry. Damn these fucking hormones.

"Tori!?"

Tori squeezed at her shoulders. "Please just take me to the hospital."

"Yes! Of course!" Becky squeezed on to Tori's hand and led them to the living room to grab her keys before heading out the door.

Becky peered into the room and saw Tori sitting on the table. "Is it okay to come in?"

Tori nodded. Becky awkwardly shuffled her way into the room and sat next to Tori. "What's happening?"

Tori stayed silent for a few moments before taking a deep breath. "I'm having some sort of complication," she said dryly. "I don't know what's going on, but sometime in July I believe, I started bleeding uncontrollably. Every time I come here, they just say that me and the babies are fine, but…"

"This is a consistent thing?"

Tori nodded. "The first time it happened it freaked Michael out to the point he began to neglect himself. I've been able to hide the others that happened after."

Becky's eyebrows furrowed. "Have you told Charlie?" She stayed silent. Becky leaned to get a better look at her friend. "You need to tell him."

Tori furiously shook her head. "The last person who needs to hear anything like this is Charlie."

"But Tori—"

"No!"

"But at least tell Michael!"

"Absolutely not!"

As the two friends argued, the vibrations of Tori's phone interrupted them. She looked at the screen and saw it was Michael calling her. Becky peered at the phone. "Are you going to answer it?"

Tori bit her bottom lip before answering. "Yes, Michael?"

"I was just checking in. I lost track of time," Michael said as he was trying to catch his breath. She could hear him skating off the ice. "Everything's okay, right?"

As soon as he asked that, Tori's eyes darted towards Becky, whose arms were crossed as she looked at her. She gestured for her to answer him. "Everything's fine. I'm actually hanging out with Becky."

"Becky?! Put her on the phone!"

Tori handed the phone to her, and she gave Tori a puzzled look before taking it. "Hello?"

"Becky? Becky it's Michael!"

"Hello Michael! I see you out there doing big things. Me and my girlfriend root for you every season."

"Aw really?"

"Yeah. You're so fast!"

They carried on with their friendly conversation until Michael asked, "Not to sound like a crazy partner, but is Tori really okay? She always lies to me when I ask."

Becky's smile disappeared. She looked at Tori and Tori looked back at her with dilated pupils, silently begging her not to tell Michael the truth. She bit her bottom lip before answering Michael's question. "Yes, Victoria is all good. She's been eating up all my snacks as we've been trying for hours to make that horrid lemonade she liked so much."

Tori finally released the breath she was holding.

"Jesus! Little does she know they did her a favor when they discontinued it. I honestly believe that shit would dye your liver orange," Michael laughed. "Anyway, tell her I'll be waiting for her at home."

"Yes. Bye Michael." Becky hung up. She then tossed the phone to Tori and Tori clumsily caught it. Becky then did a very low bow. "And scene!"

Some air escaped from Tori's lips. Becky then got closer to her and ruffled her hair. "Seriously?"

"You know this means I have to be your new helicopter parent, right?

Tori groaned. "Becky, I'll be fine. I don't want to be a burden to you."

She shook her head. "You're no burden. You're my friend." She took her hand and squeezed it. "I promise I won't go crazy like Michael but expect me to be at the place every other day."

Tori kept a blank expression, but her heart felt warm at hearing Becky's words.

"You wanna go back to mines and try the lemonade?"

Tori's lips curved into a small smile. "Yes."

Charlie was reading through Ben's story. This chapter: That time he got the message from Charlie.

What does he mean he doesn't want to meet anymore? Did I do something wrong? What did he see? Did he hear something from someone? I can't allow it to end like this. I have been messaging him over and over and he keeps fucking ignoring me. I know he sees me asking for an explanation. Damn it! Just as soon as I was going to try to go further than just kissing. I want to discuss this matter with him, but the bastard's never alone like he used to be. He's always with those outcast and most recently, Nathaniel, that cocky, rugby prick. What the fuck is going on with him? This isn't the first time he's played the silent game with me, but his time, it's super long. Like we'd meet in the library after his little tantrums, and I'd tell him some bullshit so he could forgive me, and we'd be right back to normal. Could it be that he's serious this time? There has to be a way for me to get him alone.

He began to rub his eyes. Was teenage him really that stupid? "God, this is exhausting," he mumbled. He was ahead of schedule with the story anyway, so it wouldn't hurt to take a bit of a break, right?

He shut his laptop and made his way to the kitchen to make himself something to eat. As he stared into the fridge and was pondering between eating the leftovers from his dinner last night or popping pizza roll ups in the air fryer, a powerful knock started at the door.

Charlie looked towards the direction of the knock. A few seconds passed before it started again, this one making Charlie jump. He quickly began to walk to the front door. He slams it open, and his eyebrows shot up in surprise at who he saw on the other side. "David? Why are you here?" David didn't acknowledge Charlie and pushed past him to get in. He looked around the house with an annoyed look on his face. Charlie studied him for a bit before talking again. "What do you want?"

"Where the fuck is he!?" David spat out. "I'm going to kill him!" His eyes darting around the house like some wild animal.

Charlie's mouth dropped. "I hope you're not talking about my husband!"

David did a small chuckle. "" My husband", he says." He looked back at Charlie. "Amazing. I thought Nick would've snapped out of it and left you by now."

"We've only been married for a year. Anyways, that's not important. Why are you here?"

"I want to speak to Nick," David said. "It's something important."

"What is it?"

"That's none of your business now, is it?" He began to look around again. "Nick! Nick!"

"He's not here, David."

David's skin began to glow red. He picked up a small snow globe that was sitting on a nearby table and slammed it on the floor. "GOD. FUCKING. DAMN IT!"

Charlie's right eye twitched a bit as his frown deepened at David. He then began to notice the state David was in. He looked extremely tired. His clothes were tattered. His hair a mess. There's no way this is the guy that he met that day when he and Nick were in secondary. "You look homeless."

David scoffed. "Oh, fuck you! I'm not fucking homeless, alright?" He ran a shaky hand through his long, greasy hair. "I'm… I'm sick."

Huh? Charlie crossed his arms. David is a piece of shit, but he couldn't help but feel…concerned? He is still family. Unfortunately. "How sick?"

"I need a kidney."

"Most people could live with just one—"

"I only have one left." David lifted his shirt and showed his faded scar. "I had that one removed about three years ago." He put his shirt down. "I've been trying to call Nick for ages now. Even calling him from private numbers and payphones, but he just keeps dodging me like some scared kitty."

"Well. I mean…" Charlie started, trying to be careful with his words. "You did say something on our wedding day that Nick found unforgivable. I don't know what you said, but if it was that offensive, Nick has every right to avoid you."

David gives Charlie a blank stare. "When is he coming home?"

Charlie scoffed. "I'm not telling you."

An astonished look grew on David's face. His mouth constantly opening and closing. "I just told you I'm sick!"

"I know and I feel for you, even though I know I shouldn't. But I also can see that you're still a shitty person and you expect Nick to show you kindness and do this grand gesture for you and that's not right you know," he spat out quickly. He then ran both hands through his hair. "Look, I'll tell him you stopped by, and if he decides to give you a call he will."

David's lips pressed into a thin line before he let out a rough sigh. "Fine." He passed by Charlie, knocking his shoulder with his. He then stopped. "I heard through the grapevine that you and Nick are having a kid."

Charlie doesn't turn around to look at David. "Yes."

David hums. "Don't worry. If it dies, I'll take good care of it in the afterlife."

His words made Charlie freeze in place. By the time he turned around, David was already gone. Charlie's legs felt like cement as he ran towards the door. When he opened it, David was gone, but another person was at his door. 'All these pests coming to my door' he thought. He rubbed his forehead. "Should I call the exterminator or something?" he mumbled.

"Huh?" Ben asked. He was still sporting a nose cast and you could still see a bit of bruising under it.

"Nothing. Why are you here?"

"I…I wanted to ask you about the book?"

"I thought I told you to email me if anything. Wait! How'd you get my address?"

Ben shoved his hands in his pockets and rocked back and forth for a bit. "May I come in?"

Charlie let out a short, manic laugh. "No!"

"Come on, Charlie! I just want to discuss the book!"

Charlie began to close the door. "Like I said, email me!" He tried to close it, but Ben shoved his foot between the door and the frame. "Move!"

"You're so short with me through email, that's why I'm here, okay? I promise we'll only discuss the book."

Charlie narrowed his eyes at him. He opened the door and Ben walked in. "I'll meet you in the living room. I was making myself something to eat."

Ben nodded. He looked around at each and every picture that was on the side tables or on the wall. He stopped at the picture of Charlie and Nick on their wedding day. It was of them walking out of the church. Rice was being thrown and Nick had his arm tightly around Charlie's waist as they walked down the velvety red stairs.

"Can you stop staring at it?"

Charlie's voice startled Ben. He turned to face Charlie, who was making his way to the couch with his meal. "You really married Nick Nelson?"

"Yes." Charlie looked up at him and Ben was back to studying the picture. He sighed. "You gonna study my photos all day or are you here to ask about the book?"

"Right! Sorry!" Ben sat down. "So…umm… How's editing going for you?"

Charlie looked Ben up and down. "It's fine I guess…" he dragged out. "I absolutely love reading over how much of a whore you thought I was," he said sarcastically.

"I was an angry kid, okay? I'm different now."

"Sure."

"It's like you don't believe me."

Charlie didn't say anything as he picked at the veggies on his plate for a bit.

Ben let out a rough sigh. "How accurate do you think the story is?"

Charlie pressed the handle of his fork against his lips. "I would say you portray yourself very accurately. Very manipulative. Very toxic. Just an all-around asshole." Ben sunk in the chair with every sentence he said.

Charlie took a bite of his food. "Overall, your story isn't boring. People like a good antagonist. But I've noticed something though and I think it's weird that you haven't touched on it."

"And what is that?"

"When people write stories that focus on teenagers, they talk about their life at school but also are able to squeeze in how their homelife is. It gives readers a bit more understanding of why the character is the way they are. You only talk about life at school and outside of school. Hell, you even talk about the homes of the friends you had during school. What was going on at your home?"

Ben began to rub at his knuckle as he pressed his lips tightly together. Charlie furrowed his eyebrows as he looked at him. His expression was somber and even though Ben was tall, he seemed small in his seat. Charlie leaned in a bit to study Ben more. "Ben?"

"Charlie, writing about my home life creates some type of sympathy for me and I don't want that."

"Huh? Why?"

"It took me a while to come to terms with it, but I honestly believe I don't deserve it. I was really awful to you. To Becky. To everyone." He then looks up at Charlie. "I know I'm like fourteen or fifteen years too late or whatever, but—" he pauses. He then sucks his teeth. "You're right. I shouldn't have come here." Ben gets up and begins his way back to the door.

Charlie couldn't help but feel confused. Was he just trying to apologize? He sat his plate on the table and began to follow after him. "Hold on!"

Ben was halfway out the door before he halted. "I really have to go."

"You should still write about what happened at home!" Charlie yelled. "It will make your story good. Trust me!"

Ben furrowed his eyebrows as he studied Charlie. "I'll think about it, okay?" They stared at each other for a bit before Ben spoke up. "Um, should I speak to Josiah about getting another editor?"

Charlie scoffs. "I'm already a month in. Don't fuck with my money."

Ben's taken aback by Charlie's change in attitude. He couldn't help but let out a small laugh. "You've changed a lot, Spring."

Charlie just shrugs at his remark.

Ben looked at his phone. "Anyway, I really do have to go. It's my weekend with my kid, so—"

"Kid?" Charlie cut him off. Kid? Ben has a kid? Of all people?

Ben looked away a bit, like he was embarrassed. "I… I have a son. I had him in my first year of university."

Holy shit! Charlie thought to himself. Ben couldn't have changed that much during that time. Who's the poor girl that he impregnated?

"I know what you're thinking. 'He must've still been an asshole, so who's the poor girl he knocked up?' Right?"

Charlie hummed, too embarrassed to admit it was true.

"Well, you're right. I was. I treated her like shit for all those nine months and before I knew it, Fitz was here."

"Fitz?" Charlie let out a small laugh. "That sounds like a cat's name."

Ben let out a long, dramatic sigh. "It's short for Fitzwilliam or some nonsense like that," he said rolling his eyes. "His mum really liked Pride and Prejudice for whatever reason. But, when he was born, it was like something changed. I wanted to be a better person for him and that's when I started going to therapy and trying my best to be different. I don't want him to end up the way I did. Angry, a jerk, and too afraid to come out the closet when he's almost thirty if he really is like me," he chuckled. He then finally gave proper eye contact to Charlie. "I want to be better than my dad at least."

Charlie fought with himself to spit out his next sentence. "I'm… I'm sure you're an alright dad."

Ben nodded. "I'm sure you'll be an alright dad too."

"Thank you."

A mischievous smile grew on Ben's face. "I wish they were OUR kids though."

Charlie was unamused at Ben's joke as he looked at Ben with hooded eyes. 'This is what I get for being nice'. "Get out."

He let out a small laugh before heading out the door.

A heavy sigh escaped Charlie's lips. David AND Ben showing up at the door back-to-back? How overstimulating. He decided he needed to get out of the house and fast before another overstimulating person, like his mum or maybe even Harry, showed up. A realization suddenly popped in his head. He went to the living room to get his phone off the couch and called Tori.

After about three rings, Tori picked up. "Hey Charlie."

"Hey. You home?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. I'm coming over."

"Huh? Wait, Char—"

Charlie hung up and began to search for his keys.

Tori stared blankly at her phone.

Becky appeared with a basket full of laundry. "What's up?"

"Charlie's coming over."

Becky gave a gasp of excitement. "Charlie? I haven't seen him in forever!" She quickly ran to the bedroom to sit the clothes down. "You say it like it's a bad thing," she called out.

"Because it is! What if I start bleeding again while he's here?"

Becky reappeared from the room and looks at Tori with her hands on her hips. "You wouldn't be this edgy if you'd just tell him the truth," she sings. She sits beside Tori, who was still looking down at her phone, and moves her bangs away from her face. "I know you care for him, but Charlie's not your little baby brother anymore. He's a grown ass man. You need to tell him."

"But, what if—"

Becky screeches out a sound that sounds like the wrong answer noise. "You don't need to tell him now. But you need to tell him eventually. Preferably soon, Victoria."

Tori sighed before looking up at Becky. She didn't say it out right, but the look on her face was saying that her friend was right. Becky gave her a warm smile before she reached up and bopped her on the nose with her finger. "Boop!"

"Really, Becky?"

A knock was then heard at the door. Becky got up and opened it. "Hey Charlie!"

Charlie's mouth dropped open. "Becky? Is that really you?" They gave each other a hug. "You look so different."

She snorted. "I hope in a good way."

Charlie quickly walks up to Tori and leans over to give her a hug. "Not to sound like I'm not grateful for the visit, but why do you wanna hang out with me all of a sudden?"

"We don't hang out enough," Charlie said as he pulled away. He sat beside her. "Babies need to hear their parents' voice. It's only a matter of time before they start thinking Michael's their dad."

"I don't think that's how it works, Charlie."

Charlie ignores her and leans into her stomach. "Thor? Loki? You okay in there?"

"Please don't tell me you guys settled on those awful names!" Tori scolded.

"Of course not! They're place holders for now. Nick and I have been so busy we haven't sat down and discussed names."

"Has there been a name that you always liked?" Becky asked. "Like I always liked people who are named after flowers so I always told myself that if I had kids they would be named after flowers. People think it's weird, but I kind of want to name my son Rose or something."

Charlie repeatedly tapped his finger on his chin. Now that she mentioned it, no he's never thought of baby names.

"Has Nick ever said anything?"

He shook his head back and forth.

Becky and Tori looked at each other, mirroring the same judgy look. "Men," they scoffed in unison.

Becky got up and dug in her tote bag for a notebook and her pen. She flipped to the very last page. "We're going to start spit balling names! Go!"

"Umm! Er… uh…" Charlie stammered.

"Pasley!" Tori shouted out. "But, like, it's spelt all crazy like… P-A-Y-Z-L-E-E," she laughed.

"TORI!" Charlie whined."

Becky snickered as she wrote down the name. "I'm gonna suggest Renesmee!"

Charlie snapped his head around. "BECKY!" The friends cackled as they continued to throw out names such as: Thanos, Katniss, Whiskers, Tuesday, Bartholomew, and Bob. There was even a point where Michael called to check in on Tori and they asked his opinion, and he shouted out Goku. They even called Oliver and his response was no better as he suggested Hennessy and Tequila as names because it was "unique" and would make them "stand out".

Charlie's face began to glow red. "Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!" he groaned. He did an inhale as he ran a hand through his hair. "Okay… umm… How about…" he began to tap his foot as he made a continuous ticking sound with his mouth. "Orion?"

Becky and Tori looked at each other. "That's actually kind of pretty," Becky said. She jotted it down. "Anything else?"

He crossed his arms and looked up. "Umm… How about… Athena?"

"Greek names. Love that theme," Becky said as she jotted down the name.

"Romona's pretty too," he said. "I like Manuel too, I think."

"There we go, Charles! You're finally getting into it!" Becky excitedly shouted. "I just wish Nick could be here to put in his input."

Charlie reached for his phone and dialed Nick's number. "Hello?"

"Nick, how busy are you?"

"I'm pretty busy, but I could use a small break. What is it?"

Charlie puts Nick on speaker. "I'm with Tori and Becky and we're thinking of baby names. Have you got any?"

Nick laughed. "Hold on, let me pull up my notes app." Charlie became dumbfounded. Was he really the only one who didn't think of names? Nick cleared his throat. "Okay, so I came up with Loralie. I like the name Asia. I also really like Theodore, 'cause we could call them Teddy or Theo for short. I like Dahlia. Those were the flowers that were at our wedding, and I asked the venue owner what they were called and when he told me, I was like, 'That be a beautiful name for a girl.' I also really like—". He continued. Charlie couldn't help but smile. Every name Nick said sounded like he put a lot of thought into it. "I also like the name Orion."

Everyone's eyes widened. "Shut up! Really?" Charlie gasped.

"Yeah. Is it bad?"

"No! No. It's just that I picked out that name too. Like from out of thin air."

Nick laughed again. "Are you joking?"

Charlie then began laughing too. "No. That's so crazy."

"We're so in synced, Charlie. We should get married or something."

Charlie began to turn red. "You are so corny!"

A knock was heard on Nick's end followed by a voice telling him that they needed to make their way out. "I have to go. Can you believe I'm interviewing Michael?"

"Are you going to be home on time?"

"Of course. We should order in and come up with more names, okay?"

"Okay."

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you, too." A long pause grew between them. "Are you going to hang up?"

Nick hummed. "I want you to hang up."

Charlie threw himself back on the couch and began to kick his feet in the air. "I don't wanna hang up on you. You hang up first."

"If you hang up, I'll have the strength to continue working. You hang up first."

"We've been so busy that I haven't properly seen you and I miss you so much! So, I don't want to hang up. You hang up first!"

"No! You!"

"You two are so disgustingly sweet that it's making me sick!" Becky yelled out. "Both of you hang up at the same time!"

"Okay Nick, on the count of three, okay?" They both counted to three before hanging up.

Becky flipped to another blank page. "Charlie, are you gonna have a baby shower because I know an AMAZING planner."

"And is there anything you want to say to the young viewers who are watching at home?" Nick asked as he leaned the mic back towards Michael.

"Drop out of school!" Michael cackled. His laugh attack immediately stopped when he saw the look on his manager's face. He leaned back into the mic. "I'm joking obviously. Do your best in school and never give up on your dreams." He then points to the camera. "Never give up!"

Nick faced back to the camera. "And that's it for the Road to the Winter Olympics. Next week we focus on the figure skating division as the have a fresh new face that believes they'll be skating the UK straight to victory. Back to you, Andre." He continues to smile until the producer raises his hand to signal that it's a wrap.

"That is so fucking scary," Michael said as he looked at Nick.

"Whatever! At least I'm not trying to get canceled by every parent in the country. 'Drop out of school'? What the hell are you thinking?"

Michael shrugged. "I let the intrusive thoughts win." He stood up. "Your people can edit that out, right?"

"Michael… we were live."

His mouth dropped open at the news. "They didn't tell me that."

"MICHAEL!" Nick and Michael looked in the direction of the angry voice and saw Michael's manager stomping towards them.

"Uh-oh. That's my cue to leave." To Nick's amazement, Michael could run in skates. He continued to run and darted back on the ice rink.

"This isn't over!" she called out as he skated away. Nick couldn't help but sympathize with her. He just knew Michael drove her crazy.

Monica then walked up to Nick while reading over whatever was on her clipboard. "SN. Ruben wants to know if you could take on some of Nancy's workload since she's on maternity leave and all."

"I can't. This Olympics thing has taken up so much of my time that I haven't had any real personal time with my husband. We still have to set up the nursery and everything. We don't even have names."

"And your husband's too busy to do all that on his own?"

Nick scoffed. "Monica, parenthood is a team effort. I can't just chunk everything on Charlie. And yes, Charlie is busy, he's working on another story, so most of his time is taken up by the author."

Monica looked at Nick from the corner of her eye with a raised eyebrow. "Is the author a man?"

"What are you implying?" Nick asked as he narrowed his eyes. She shrugged as she turned around to leave. Nick followed closely behind her. "You think Charlie's gonna leave me for the author or something?"

"I didn't say that."

"But it's what you're implying."

Monica chuckled. "Listen, I know you guys are head over heels for each other, but what if the author just happens to be Charlie's type? That's another reason why Chuck left me you know."

"Chuck was cheating as well?"

Monica moved her hands in a fast circular motion. "Mmm… Not really. I would call the relationship mainly driven by emotion, and with a person I would least expect it with! Like really? Getting closer to one of your shittiest ex's?"

Nick stopped walking for a second. His blood ran cold. He began to follow her again. "Can you elaborate?"

Monica did a small smile Nick couldn't see. She turned up the theatrics a bit. "One of his ex-girlfriend's ended up landing a job in his department. He came home all angry about it. Then their boss put them on a project together, and all it took was them to have some weird heart to heart on their business trip for them to get all close or whatever. Claimed she was a changed woman." She began to force some tears to come out of her eyes. She looked up a bit. "But just last week, I caught them having dinner with each other. They looked so in love."

Nick studied Monica before looking straight ahead. 'Charlie wouldn't do that to me,' he thought. 'I mean, Ben was awful to him. There's just no way. But Chuck… No! Charlie's not Chuck! Charlie loves you! Stop thinking that way!' Nick furiously shook his head. "Charlie has worked with plenty of authors. He keeps it professional all the time. He wouldn't just do that."

Monica did a villainous chuckle as she shook her head back and forth. "Nick, Nick, Nick. So naïve." They both stopped walking and stood under a light that was constantly flickering. She began to lean in close to Nick, all the way to the point that he backed into the wall behind him. "I've seen that picture you keep on your desk. He's really cute. Do you really think not one of those authors have made a move on him?" Nick opens his mouth to say something, but Monica cuts him off. "And let's not forget he was your bisexual awakening. You think he can't do it again?"

She continued to look deep into Nick's eyes. His eyes were practically shaking. She internally smiled. 'I've got you'.

Monica stepped back and did a shrug. "But hey, that's just me."

Nick smoothed his hair back. "Yeah."

"Hey, SN!"

Nick and Monica turned in the direction of the voice and Jason was walking up to them as he waved. A smile appeared on Nick's face. They grabbed each other's hand firmly and pulled themselves into a hug. "Are you back back now?"

Jason laughed. "Yes Nick." He pulled away, keeping his hands on Nick's shoulders. "I can't have you cover the Olympics without me." He then looked over at Monica, who had her mouth twisted to the side as she looked at him. Jason furrowed his eyebrows. "Um… Hey SN. May I speak to you in private?" Nick nodded.

As they passed Monica, Jason took the clipboard from her hand. "Thank you," he sung.

Monica watched as they walked down the hallway and turned a corner. Her eye twitched. She then made her way to walk out of the building. As she walked to her car, a voice stopped her. "Uhm, excuse me?"

She turned around and saw a man with tattered long blond hair approach her. His face was very angular, his clothes were a bit baggy, and his eyes looked tired. She couldn't help but think how handsome he'd look if he just cleaned up himself. "Sorry, I don't carry change."

The man's eyes widened in surprise before he let out a small laugh. "No, I'm not homeless. I was wondering if you knew Nick Nelson?"

Monica studied him in confusion.

"You see, my name's David and I'm his older brother, but Nick's—"

"Hold on. Older brother? He's never mentioned you." David felt a slight pain in his chest. Monica walked closer to him. "You do kind of look like him, I guess. But anyway, what do you want with SN?"

"It's kind of a family matter."

Monica tilted her head to the side. "I have time. We can talk in a park that nearby."

David thought on it before he reluctantly agreed. "You promise not to kill me, right?"

Monica laughed. "I should be asking you that."

"Kidney failure? But you're so young."

David shrugged. "It's not like I lived the healthiest lifestyle anyway."

"Does anyone in your family know?"

He shook his head. "Well, I mean, Nick's little boy toy knows if you wanna count that as family. Overall, I feel like this is something that has to be said face to face. That's why I've been hunting down my jerk of a brother for months." David then looked over at Monica and began to study her.

Her eyes darted left and right before she looked back at him. "What is it?" She tucked a hair behind her ear. "Is their something on my face?"

"No, no. It's just… you say you work with Nick?"

Monica nodded. David looked at her in astonishment before throwing his head back to do a short laugh. She cocked an eyebrow. "What?"

"I'm just surprised that he really wants to stay loyal to that guy while he's working with someone like you." He looked at her from the corner of his eye. "You're like, totally his type."

Monica felt her heart get warm. "Am I?"

"Yeah. He used to be into Zooey Deschanel and that lady from Pirates of the Caribbean. You fit the bill perfectly." He scooted closer to her as he looked deep into her eyes with a small smirk. "If I was Nick, I'd be all over you."

Monica looked away as her face turned red. "What are you saying?"

David chuckled before scooting away. "But even if Nick was single, he sucks in the lady's department." He began to look out at the empty playground in front of them. "But I really can't believe they're still together. It's like the kid has him in a trance or something. And to the point the kid can get away with what I saw today. There's just no way."

Monica's ear's perked up. "What did you see?"

"So, after I pour my heart out to this kid, he still refuses to tell me when Nick will be home. Can you believe that shit? Anyways, as I'm walking out, some guy is walking in. Even asked if he was home. That guy is definitely his type. Tall with a good build. There's no way nothing happened."

Monica started to put the pieces together in her head. The way Nick reacted to her lie with a mix of this information. A smile creeped on her face. 'No way. It's too easy.' She then turned to face David. "Look David, I'll help you get to Nick."

He sat up, holding back his excitement. "You will?"

"Yes. I wasn't lying when I said I work under him. I know his schedule like the back of my hand."

"Oh wow. Thank you! Thank you so much—"

Monica held up her hand. "But in return, I need you to help me."

David was confused but nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I'll help you with anything."

She looked back at the playground as she laced her fingers together. "You see, I'm in love with your brother and I want him. I want him bad."

David furrowed his eyebrows. "But he's married."

"I don't care, and now with this new information, he's fair game." She pulled out a pen and paper from her purse and began to jot some things down. "This is my personal number. I can set up something for you to make it look like a meeting on his end."

David took the piece of paper and began to rub the edges with his fingers.

"David?" Monica's voice snaps him out of his thoughts. She holds out her hand. "We got a deal?"

David looked at her hand. Was he really going to do this? Reluctantly, he took Monica's hand into his and shook it.