The next morning, Addison and Owen sat at the island, eating breakfast while Alexis leaned against the counter on the opposite side with her phone, reviewing her calendar, drinking her coveted morning coffee. Ned walked in and kissed Alexis on the cheek, before making his way to the coffee pot. "Addie, Chloe is picking you up today and will bring you to the studio, ok?"

Addison hesitated, "Does that mean Sophie will be there, too?"

"I'm not sure, but probably." He said, not picking up on the hesitation, unlike Owen who looked at his sister questioningly.

"Owen, I should be done with my deposition in time to get you from practice, but if I'm not can you grab a ride from Will?"

"You know mom, this would be easier if I had a car." He said, flashing his dimples in the spitting image of his father.

"The kid has a point." Ned said amused.

"Although that may be true, the answer is still no." She said as she shot Ned a look that said don't encourage him.

"Dad, are you still taking me to the airport?" Kristen said, walking into the kitchen and standing by her mother.

"I am. You ready?" He said as he put his mug in the sink.

"I'll see you soon, bug." Alexis said as she hugged her daughter goodbye. "Call me when you land."

"I will. Bye guys," she said, directed at her siblings.

"Thanks for listening last night, sis."

"Text me later today, ok?" She said and Addison told her she would as she took a spoonful of her cereal.

"We've gotta go." Ned said, ushering her out of the room and stopping to kiss Alexis goodbye quickly. "I'll see you tonight," he said as he followed Kristen and left the kitchen to drive her to the airport and head to work. As was the case with Quartermaine family politics, he had stepped down as CEO of ELQ a few years ago and went back to L&B. He wasn't touring, but a break from the family company was needed as he focused more on his life with Alexis and their kids. He was still the family gatekeeper, that would never change, the move was about finding more balance and getting a break from the incessant corporate crisis'.

"It sounds like you had a nice visit with your sister?" Alexis inquired, hoping maybe Addison would open up a bit more about what's been going on in her life.

"Yeah."

She waited for her to expand, but it became clear she was only going to get a one word answer. "I'm glad she was here, then. Finish up, we need to leave in a few minutes."

"I'm all set," she said as she got up and put her dishes in the sink and went to grab her backpack.

"Me too." Owen replied heading towards the door as Alexis followed her children. She drove them both to school and then headed to her office to finish prepping for the depositions she had slated for the day. The current case she had been working on had been pulling her away from her family more than usual and she worried that because they didn't have her full attention she would miss something, especially now with Addison seemingly pulling away from her and isolating herself in her room most evenings. There had been a shift and she couldn't quite figure out what had changed in her relationship with her daughter. And then there was Owen, who she always worried didn't get enough of her attention. Pulled between work and her other children, her go with the flow middle child was sociable, outgoing, and thriving as he entered his Junior year. He never gave her much to worry about and she reminded herself to make more of a conscious effort to spend more time with him or as much time as he would allow.

That afternoon Addison arrived at L&B with Chloe and her daughter, Sophie Morgan Jacks. The car ride over had been quiet, mostly small talk, trying to keep Chloe from asking too many questions about why they were acting so out of character for the lifelong friends. "Addison, I think your dad is in the recording booth."

"Can I go back?"

"He should be done within the hour. Why don't you girls start some homework? I'll be in my office working on this dress I have to finish for a client in Milan, if you need anything."

"Ok, are you sure I can't go watch? He knew I was coming by."

"Just come start your homework with me, Addie," Sophie said from the conference table, having already taken out her books.

"Fine. I guess it has to get done."

"Is there something going on? You two are usually inseparable and you've barely said anything to each other the whole ride here."

"No, everything is ok, mom, really." Sophie said, nudging Addison.

"She's right Aunt Chloe, we're good." She agreed taking out her math homework.

"Ok, well, like I said: I'll be up in my studio." Chloe reminded, not fully believing them, as she went up the staircase.

"So, do you want to tell me why you wouldn't sit with me at lunch today?"

"I just have other friends I like to sit with sometimes. Isn't there anyone in your classes that you can sit with?"

"Not really."

"Well you have to talk to them, Addie. I know you miss your friends from your old school, but just try. It's not as bad as you think it is."

"All anyone cares about is grades, and making sure they're checking off the boxes to get into whatever Ivy League school they want to go to."

"I told you, you need to join myFace."

"My mom just let me have a phone. She's not going to let me be on social media."

"Your brother is on it and you only need to be 13 to sign up. Your parents don't even need to know."

"I don't know."

"You're such a rule follower. Give me your phone."

"What are you doing?"

"What do you think?"

"Hi, girls." Ned said, walking fully into the room. "How was school?"

"Fine." They both said, as Addison quickly took back her phone.

"Because that wasn't suspicious at all. What are you two up to?"

"Nothing. Just homework."

"Ok, well I have a few things to finish up here and then we can head home, Addison."

"Can I help with anything?" She desperately wanted to set aside school and forget about Madison for a few hours.

"Actually there's a stack of demo CDs that need to be gone through. Feel like weeding out some music for me?"

"Sure. Two piles? One we like, one we don't?" She roped in Sophie. It was a task they had done many times before and she hoped that it would help them set aside the drama and just remember they actually are friends.

"That would be perfect." He smiled at his daughter. She hadn't come by the studio after school since starting at Madison and he hoped this was a sign she was finding her footing and feeling better about the change private school brought into her life. It was a choice they hadn't made lightly. They knew she was happy in public school and that academics hadn't always come easy for her like her siblings, she had to work at it and she did, which is why they ultimately decided that she should be at Madison. They wanted to give her every opportunity and didn't want it to seem like they thought she couldn't handle the demands like her brother, like her older sister. He left the room, after watching the girls' excitement as they started to listen to the CDs and went to finish up the notes for a distribution deal he needed Alexis to draft before they would head home.

Later that evening, after dinner, Ned and Alexis went to Madison together for conference night. They knew what to expect to hear. They knew their kids. After the event came to a close, they sat at Kelly's with coffee, sharing a piece of pie, wanting to find a way to spend time together, while also having conversations that needed to be had about what they learned that night. It was easier with Kristen they could both be there, but now with two kids so close in age they had to divide and conquer these types of school events.

"They really need a better way to do this. Following your child's schedule and waiting in line for 5 minutes of facetime with the teacher…scheduling longer follow-ups. It's insanity."

"I don't disagree. So, should we start with Owen?" Alexis asked.

"Sure. What did they say?"

"No surprises. His grades are solid, on track for honor roll, just a bit social. There was a lot of talk about how much potential he has and what a well rounded student he is. It's just unclear where he's going or what his goals are. They suggested meeting with his counselor about colleges. Talking with him about what he wants to do…it's junior year…"

"I know. I can't believe he's graduating next year."

"Me either. Has he said anything to you about what he's thinking?"

"No, not really. Nothing beyond wanting to continue to play soccer, which is great, but not what we'd like him to base his college decision on. Has he said anything to you?"

"No, but I agree. He can't make this choice about soccer." She took a bite of the pie before she asked, "What about Addison? Any surprises?"

"A couple actually."

"Oh, what?"

"There's some concern she's not integrating herself into the school. They want to see her join some activities."

"Well that's not too shocking. She's always been introverted. It takes her a while to warm up to new people."

"It does. She's doing well in English, history, and music. She's holding her own in science, but her math teacher, Mrs. Ryan is concerned she's having a hard time keeping up. I tried to explain that she's more of a humanities kid, because her grades seem fine and we see her working at it."

"We do and she is, no question. Anything else?"

"There was one more thing…her music teacher wants her to audition for the after school district chorus. I guess she's also been trying to get her to audition for a solo in the school's fall concert to no avail, which Addison hasn't mentioned to us once."

"She does have a beautiful voice. Did you say we're not pushing her to sing, that it needs to be her choice? She chose to take Music Theory over Chorus because she wasn't sure."

"I did. But, I think I'll talk to her about it. This could help her make some new friends, have something that's her own. She's working so hard. I wish she would let herself have some fun, do something she enjoys and is genuinely good at instead of losing herself in a book."

"Of our three kids, her personality…she's the most like me, you know."

"Oh I know." He joked and she rolled her eyes, smiling slightly as she shook her head at the remark.

"We know when we see her reading more, that something is up, and she has been lately. It's how she copes with stress. So just go into that conversation lightly."

"She doesn't have to do anything she's not comfortable doing; I just think she needs to know that a lot of people see something in her and that it could help her carve out a place for herself there. I know you're usually the Addison whisperer, but–"

"You don't need to convince me. I'm behind you."

"Thank you."