Housewarming Party?

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“Well, I hate to tell you this, but it looks like you’re carrying the baby high. From my experience, that usually means it’s a boy.” Jo pouted a little knowing Melanie actually knew what she was talking about and then peaked down at her bump. She loved her little goblin no matter what was between its legs, but she sure hoped Mel was wrong. “Don’t get too excited, Bran. I’m not an obstetrician and I’ve been wrong before.” Jo looked at her boyfriend and scowled gently. She didn't want him to get what he wanted! She wanted what she wanted! She was carrying the damn thing! “Yeah, yeah, yeah…” The look she gave him wasn't a happy one. She looked annoyed and sad at the same exact time. "I’ll love it either way, but we both know I’m hoping it’ll be a boy.” Jo rolled her eyes, not wanting to get into it now. Neither could know for sure what it would be and there was no use arguing now just because he openly admitted he had a preference.

“So are you pretty good friends with Kevin’s sister? I didn’t even know you two knew each other, though it makes sense.” Jo looked across at Kevin feeling odd about it. He knew Kelsey through Kit. Kevin looked back at his food and she felt as though that was his permission to discuss in a way. "I mean, not close friends." She explained. "I've hung out with her a few times. Kevin and Kelsey used to come visit.. uhh.. well Kevin and Kit are best friends and we dated, so.." She didn't like talking about Kit in front of Brandon. It just seemed wrong, especially since she still had strange, deep seeded feelings for the alcoholic prick. She would always love that asshole. "So whenever Kevin came to town I was usually around for hang out sessions, and when the guys did guy stuff I usually stayed back and chilled with Kelsey. We've sort of kept in touch. It was nice when they moved to the city, I was able to show her around a little but shes sort of independent." It felt strange talking about her in front of Kevin so she looked down at her food, ignoring his gaze, unsure if he was even looking at her or not.

Jo needed to change the topic, but to what? "So how are you guys liking the whole sun thing? I mean.. well, I guess it didn't really effect you much Kevin, but.. well you've got to be feeling good, right Mel? And works been good?" She knew she was back at the hospital which was nice. She was glad everything seemed to be going back to normal for the most part.

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Kevin’s funny look at her didn’t escape Melanie’s eye but she quickly looked back to Jo for her answer. She was simply curious how well they all knew each other. “I mean, not close friends. I’ve hung out with her a few times. Kevin and Kelsey used to come visit…uh…well Kevin and Kit are best friends and we dated, so…” Melanie’s eyes now shifted to her brother, noticing he was glaring down at his plate and shoveling more food in his mouth. Oops…she hadn’t meant to bring up Kit, even if it was indirectly. She found it more than a little quizzical that she ended up with Kevin and Brandon ended up with Kevin’s best friend’s ex-girlfriend. At least it was better than if she had somehow ended up dating Kit. “So whenever Kevin came to town I was usually around for hang out sessions, and when the guys did guy stuff I usually stayed back and chilled with Kelsey. We’ve sort of kept in touch. It was nice when they moved to the city. I was able to show her around a little but she’s sort of independent.” That was an understatement. She wanted to pick Jo’s brain later about what Kelsey liked. The girl was not Melanie’s biggest fan so Melanie wanted to find out what she might be interested in. Asking Kevin about it was like pulling teeth—he could never pinpoint what it was his sister liked. Melanie ate more of her dinner while she mulled over how she would bring it up.

“So how are you guys liking the whole sun thing? I mean…well, I guess it didn’t really affect you much Kevin, but…well you’ve got to be feeling good, right Mel? And work’s been good?” With food in her mouth, Melanie chewed quickly and nodded her head in answer to Jo’s questions. The timer went off on the oven and she looked over at it before pushing out her chair and getting to her feet. “Yeah, I feel great! I have so much more energy now and my feathers have pretty much stopped molting. My clipped ones are finally growing back in, so I should be able to fly again in a few months.” With a big grin she made her way over to the oven as she chattered. When she tugged the oven door open, she found that the cookies were perfect. “And work’s been really busy. Good, but busy. A lot of kids are getting the flu right now, but they’re usually out within a couple days. I’ve had a few cases of pneumonia come in too. It’s not fun cleaning up after the poor things but I like making them smile when they feel so icky. There was one little girl, Kayla, who was so lethargic when she first came in—she had a severe case of pneumonia. She got used to seeing me because I had to check on her so often. By the time she left at the end of the week she was lighting up whenever I walked in the room. It was sweet.” Her smile was bright and warm as she took her seat at the table again, leaving the cookies on the stove to cool while they finished dinner.

“By the way, I like the name Sky for a little girl! It’s cute and would be a nice tribute to her heritage if it’s a girl. Personally I go for the more traditional names or even last names as first names—that’s the new thing now and I like it. What if it’s a boy? Have you thought of a name yet?” Her eyes moved between Jo and Brandon. She liked this turn in their conversation. It got them off uncomfortable subjects and on to the most important event in their future—the baby!

[BRANDON GARCIA]

“I mean, not close friends. I’ve hung out with her a few times. Kevin and Kelsey used to come visit…uh…well Kevin and Kit are best friends and we dated, so…” Brandon didn’t like hearing Jo’s ex’s name or any reference to him. Over the months he’d been tempted to ask Kevin about him, to understand what it was Jo had loved so much in Kit. He knew they’d been on and off for a very long time and even though it hadn’t worked out between them, he still saw Kit as a threat. Jo was having his baby and would always be a part of his life, but Kit had been around a lot longer than he had. Until there was a ring on Jo’s finger, he wouldn’t feel comfortable with the memory of the man. He shoveled more food in his mouth to keep from making any comments on Jo’s relationship with Kit or Kelsey. What he did find interesting is that Kelsey seemed to like Jo’s company enough but had never liked Melanie’s. He’d never met the girl, but he felt like she was probably a snob considering his sister was as sweet as pie and more—it was difficult to not like her. Melanie had said it was more about the way Kevin and Kelsey grew up in virtual squalor and she and Brandon had grown up in a decent household even without their mother around and a father with mental problems. That didn’t seem like a fair enough reason not to like someone in Brandon’s opinion.

Jo changed the subject and Brandon was relieved she did. He was getting irritated just thinking about Kit and Kelsey, so hearing how Melanie was feeling these days would be nice. The timer went off which made him perk up and sniff the air, not having realized how much it smelled like cookies now. It was a divine smell. Melanie answered Jo’s questions as she moved to take the cookies out of the oven. “Yeah, I feel great! I have so much more energy now and my feathers have pretty much stopped molting. My clipped ones are finally growing back in, so I should be able to fly again in a few months.” Brandon smiled wide at that. He’d felt his strength coming back to him as well and his own clipped wings were growing out again. Maybe their first flight in months should be together. That sounded like a great plan and he’d have to talk to Mel about it when it got closer to the day. There was something more important to talk to her about tonight when they got a second alone. Melanie went on to talk about work and a little girl named Kayla and he munched on his corn cake while she talked. Someday she would make a great mom too, but he’d always known that.

“By the way, I like the name Sky for a little girl! It’s cute and would be a nice tribute to her heritage if it’s a girl.” At first Brandon gave her a warning glance before he considered the name as a tribute. He’d never thought of that before…when he considered it that way, it was kind of cute…maybe he should tell Jo that later. No way he was naming his son that, though. If his name was Sky he would asking for a beat down. “Personally I go for the more traditional names or even last names as first names—that’s the new thing now and I like it. What if it’s a boy? Have you thought of a name yet?” Brandon looked over at Jo and smiled warmly. “Well someone’s been very fixated on having a girl, so we haven’t tossed around a lot of boy’s names yet.” He turned his smile back to Melanie. “But Jo brought up a couple that I like. One was River, which I actually like a lot. River Garcia…it’s got a nice ring to it.” Melanie was beaming as she looked between him and Jo. “Oh, I love that! What do you think Kevin?” The guy looked shell-shocked by the question and Brandon laughed. “I’m still adjusting to the constant baby talk too, Kevin. Has Mel been talking your ear off about the baby?”

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

The mention of Kit made him stop and look up at Jo. Was she really bringing up his best friend at dinner? Relevant or not, Kit was better left out of all of this. His eyes moved to Brandon and then Melanie before back on his food. Better her than him. Realizing her faux pas, Jo was smart enough to change the subject. “So how are you guys liking the whole sun thing? I mean…well, I guess it didn’t really affect you much Kevin, but…well you’ve got to be feeling good, right Mel? And work’s been good?” With the focus off him once more he went back to eating. He would be happy if he could go the rest of the night without talking much, though he knew none of them would really let that happen. Kevin wasn't the most sociable person in the world. I came with his upbringing and part of that was just his nature. He couldn't help preferring to be a wallflower.

Melanie went on about how great she was feeling, and he finally peaked up to give her attention as she spoke. He knew she was feeling better, and he loved every energetic second of it. She was turning into the girl he remembered before the camps, which was amazing. Not that he loved her much then. Well, he did, in a different way. Not like he did now. “By the way, I like the name Sky for a little girl! It’s cute and would be a nice tribute to her heritage if it’s a girl.” This made Kevin stop chewing as well. Heritage? Was Sky Mexican or something? He seemed confused and was suddenly wondering if Melanie would consider such dumb names when she got pregnant. If she got pregnant.. with his baby.. His heart pounded at the thought. “Personally I go for the more traditional names or even last names as first names—that’s the new thing now and I like it. What if it’s a boy? Have you thought of a name yet?” All his fear subsided and he shoved another heavy spoonful of rice into his mouth, pleased that Melanie had more sense when it came to names than Jo did.

“Well someone’s been very fixated on having a girl, so we haven’t tossed around a lot of boy’s names yet. But Jo brought up a couple that I like. One was River, which I actually like a lot. River Garcia…it’s got a nice ring to it.” His nose wrinkled a little, thinking they picked weird names. What was wrong with William or Samantha or something normal? “Oh, I love that! What do you think Kevin?” Kevin choked on his rice at the question and looked up between the three pairs of dark eyes staring his way. He cleared his throat wondering why she had put him on the spot like that. "Uhh.." “I’m still adjusting to the constant baby talk too, Kevin. Has Mel been talking your ear off about the baby?” Brandon his savior. Who'd have thought? He shrugged. "Sometimes I guess." He offered, looking at Mel nervously, afraid of saying something that could potentially upset her. "I mean.. she's excited, so.. yah know, it's cool. Being an aunt and all. It's sort of exciting I guess." Jo offered a look that was unreadable to him and he gulped. "Uhh... yeah." He nodded, biting his bottom lip. "Umm... so.. you guys thinking of getting married or anything? Some people do that I guess. Like, when they have babies." He said wanting to get them talking and leaving him alone once more. That was something they couldn't drag him back into. He reached for the rice bowl, filling his plate with seconds.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“Yeah, I feel great! I have so much more energy now and my feathers have pretty much stopped molting. My clipped ones are finally growing back in, so I should be able to fly again in a few months.” She beamed at the girl. "That's so great!" She gushed, glancing briefly at Brandon to see if he looked less moody now. She was glad he did. She shouldn't have talked about Kit, but it was relevant! “By the way, I like the name Sky for a little girl! It’s cute and would be a nice tribute to her heritage if it’s a girl.” Jo leaned over and jabbed Brandon with her elbow. "Seeee?" She hissed at him with an impish grin. “Personally I go for the more traditional names or even last names as first names—that’s the new thing now and I like it. What if it’s a boy? Have you thought of a name yet?” She wrinkled her nose, clearly not liking the idea of choosing a boys name, but by not doing so she knew she was jinxing herself, which was why she had thrown out some boy names to Brandon, though she hadn't officially fallen in love with any. But she knew that was because she was still convinced little Sky lay nestled in her belly. “Well someone’s been very fixated on having a girl, so we haven’t tossed around a lot of boy’s names yet. But Jo brought up a couple that I like. One was River, which I actually like a lot. River Garcia…it’s got a nice ring to it.” Jo gave a little nod. It did.. It was one they could potentially agree on if a wee wee popped up on the ultrasound. “Oh, I love that! What do you think Kevin?”

Kevin. Why did Kevin get a say in any of it? He didn't. She knew Melanie was just trying to include him and in a way she wished the girl wouldn't. It felt strange to know this entire conversation could be relayed back to Kit. He hadn't taken the news well, though he said he didn't care, but he hadn't shown his face anywhere near the places she frequents in months. “I’m still adjusting to the constant baby talk too, Kevin. Has Mel been talking your ear off about the baby?” This made Jo smile, knowing Melanie probably was going on and on about her future Niece. Or nephew. Maybe. "Sometimes I guess. I mean.. she's excited, so.. yah know, it's cool. Being an aunt and all. It's sort of exciting I guess." Their eyes met and she suddenly felt a little ticked he said it was sort of exciting. She was carrying a LIFE inside of her! That was more than a LITTLE exciting. It was REALLY exciting and he needed to stop being a butt! She tried to calm herself, knowing it was the hormones talking more than her, but she couldn't help but feel a little irked at her boyfriends sisters boyfriend who happened to be her ex boyfriends best friend! Ugh! "Uhh... yeah. Umm... so.. you guys thinking of getting married or anything? Some people do that I guess. Like, when they have babies." Leave it to Kevin to bring up the touchy subjects.

"We've talked about it." Jo said honestly, talking more to Melanie than to Kevin, knowing his probing question was probably more from Kit than from him. "I didn't want to get married because of the baby. That's a bad reason to get hitched. We decided whenever it feels right we'll talk about it and make that final decision. No sense rushing into it since we have so much planning to do with the baby, a wedding would be disastrous right now." She smiled looking at Brandon and reaching for his hand, showing Kevin that she loved Brandon and she had every intention of being with him. "But I definitely think there might be some wedding bells in our future." She gave Brandon a playful smile. "If I haven't scared him off by the time this kids born."

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

“I’m still adjusting to the constant baby talk too, Kevin. Has Mel been talking your ear off about the baby?” Melanie gave her brother a smile and a narrowing of the eyes to let him know she was not amused by his comment, though she really was. She actually had gushed plenty of times about the baby, like what she wanted to buy for them or do for the baby shower and even what she could offer to do to help once the baby was born. “Sometimes I guess.”[/b] He looked so nervous that she had to grin. “I mean…she’s excited, so…yah know, it’s cool. Being an aunt and all. It’s sort of exciting I guess.”[/b] Melanie’s eyebrows furrowed as she smiled, giving him a curious look. He guessed it was sort of exciting? Of course it was exciting! If he found out Kelsey was having a baby he would be excited too. Well…after he’d finished worrying how Kelsey was going to pay for a baby and all. She turned her curious look to Jo and gave a bigger smile to let her know Melanie was very excited about her new niece or nephew and Kevin was being silly by being so evasive.

“Uhh…yeah. Umm…so…you guys thinking of getting married or anything? Some people do that I guess. Like, when they have babies.”[/b] He was being so awkward! Then again, he was sitting next to Jo. She had to keep reminding herself what Jo was to Kevin. Maybe years down the road it would stop being so awkward, but it wasn’t going to let up any time soon. She just wished it were easier for him to overcome that awkwardness and accept that Brandon was Jo’s boyfriend and baby daddy now. His loyalties still laid with Kit over her brother, though, and Melanie could certainly respect that. It was just hard being the only person in the room who was 100% friendly with everyone else. And the only one who hadn’t felt awkward until now. With Kevin’s question, though, there was a whole cloud of awkward settling over the table and Melanie turned her dark eyes nervously to Brandon and Jo. Brandon was giving her a nervous sort of look in return before looking at Jo as she began speaking.

“We’ve talked about it. I didn't want to get married because of the baby. That's a bad reason to get hitched. We decided whenever it feels right we'll talk about it and make that final decision. No sense rushing into it since we have so much planning to do with the baby, a wedding would be disastrous right now." The way Jo smiled at Brandon and reached for his hand, and the way Brandon grinned in return and took her hand firmly made Melanie beam. She didn’t care if Brandon and Jo got married or not as long as they were happy and as long as the baby was happy. That was more important than getting married just to ensure nobody judged their having a child. "But I definitely think there might be some wedding bells in our future. If I haven't scared him off by the time this kid’s born." Melanie gave a soft giggle watching as Brandon turned his mouth down and nodded his head from side to side. “It’s entirely possible you could scare me off.” He grinned wide at Jo to let everyone know he was kidding and Melanie took opportunity to lean over and smack his arm. “Be nice, Brandon! That’s your baby she’s carrying!” Brandon flinched away from Melanie a little bit, setting his fork down and releasing Jo’s hand so he could grab his head playfully. “They’re ganging up on me!” Melanie rolled her eyes playfully before looking over at Kevin. He wasn’t as amused by this exchange as they were, that was obvious, and it made Melanie feel sad that he was the odd one out here. She hadn’t meant to alienate Kevin by inviting Brandon and Jo over tonight. Silently she reached under the table and took a hold of his hand gently, giving him a concerned looked but a warm smile to go with it as if silently apologizing for putting him in a sticky spot. Of course with how he was trying to blend into the background, it was obvious he didn’t feel like talking much, so Melanie would take the spotlight off him. She smiled at Jo excitedly, still holding Kevin’s hand beneath the table but scooping up a forkful of rice. “So, have you thought of color schemes for my old room? I could totally help you paint it if you guys need help.”

[BRANDON GARCIA]

“Uhh…yeah. Umm…so…you guys thinking of getting married or anything? Some people do that I guess. Like, when they have babies.”[/b] Brandon looked up from his plate with a blank but slightly surprised look. That was an unexpected question…He looked at Melanie who was already giving him a slightly nervous look. If Jo hadn’t been there, that would be the perfect time to ask Melanie to help him pick out a ring. With Jo sitting right there, though, he couldn’t very well bring it up. He was relieved when Jo jumped in to answer the question herself. “We’ve talked about it. I didn't want to get married because of the baby. That's a bad reason to get hitched. We decided whenever it feels right we'll talk about it and make that final decision. No sense rushing into it since we have so much planning to do with the baby, a wedding would be disastrous right now." She reached for his hand and Brandon grinned warmly back at her, taking her hand firmly in his. There was no need to rush, but he was definitely excited for the day when she would become Mrs. Jordanna Garcia. "But I definitely think there might be some wedding bells in our future. If I haven't scared him off by the time this kid’s born." He was nervous about asking her to marry him, but when she said things like that, he felt confident she would say yes and that made him smile from ear to ear. It became less of an “if” she would be Mrs. Garcia and more of a “when.” Of course, he still had to bust her chops.

“It’s entirely possible you could scare me off.” His smile was wide and amused, knowing Jo couldn’t possibly scare him away. Was she annoying as hell when she was all hormonal? Yeah. Did he think it would get worse throughout the pregnancy? Absolutely. Yet he still couldn’t think of anything outside of cheating on him that would make him want to leave her. All of a sudden his left arm was burning and he flinched away to find Melanie smiling and scolding him. “Be nice, Brandon! That’s your baby she’s carrying!”[/b] That was exactly the same thing he told himself when Jo pissed him off these days! He didn’t want to get hit again so he put his hands on his head and flinched away from his little sister and his girlfriend, wondering if Jo would hit him too. “They’re ganging up on me!” he said in a mock terrified voice. There was some laughter and when he looked up at Jo again he felt safe enough to lower his arms. “I told you she beats me.” His voice was low but Melanie could have heard if she were paying attention. As it was she and Kevin were having a moment so Brandon looked away and grabbed Jo’s hand again. He lifted it to his lips to give her delicate fingers a kiss, certain it was entirely unnoticed by the other couple. When he lowered her hand again he smiled warmly at Jo, feeling better than he had in a few weeks even with Kevin being totally awkward. Thankfully his sister wasn’t nearly as awkward and she continued their baby conversation. “So, have you thought of color schemes for my old room? I could totally help you paint it if you guys need help.” Brandon might actually take her up on that offer.

The rest of the dinner pretty much went on without the guys much involved as the girls talked about new baby decorating schemes and color themes and all of that fun girly stuff. Brandon was more than happy Jo would find someone else to gush to about that stuff. He personally didn’t want much to do with the decision-making processes of decorating, though he certainly didn’t mind the set up when all was decided. Melanie would see this as a practice round and would totally get into prepping for the baby with Jo. It was nice that his sister and his girlfriend could get along so well. It gave him the opportunity to stuff his face with his sister’s cooking while throwing in a couple funny comments. By the time they were done Melanie and Jo had made plans to look through magazines for ideas the following weekend. Everyone pitched in with clearing off the table and placing the dishes in the sink. Melanie made sure to pack a couple things of Tupperware for Brandon to take home with him and promised to send some cookies with them too once they were done with dessert. She motioned to the cookie pan on the stove with a big smile. “Dig in, everybody!”[/b] He let everyone get their cookies but as everyone made their way to the living area, Brandon grabbed Melanie’s arm gently and smiled at the other two. “Can you guys give me a second to talk to Mel in private?” Melanie looked surprised but she soon looked to the others to see if they would raise any objections.

[KEVIN WHITFIELD]

The conversation continued on, nothing really concerning him much. He paid attention as he finished up his meal, smiling politely as they all goofed off with each other, but when Mel reached under the table and squeezed his knee, he knew she expected more from him. Her look was almost pleading and he wished he could tell her he was alright, but he didn't want to call more attention to himself than necessary. What did it matter if he was in the heart of things? He gave Mel a soft smile in return, as if to tell her he was fine but of course there was no way of her to really know what he was saying with a simple look.

Kevin decided he would try to pitch in more conversation, but just as he made that conscious decision, the girls took over, talking about paint and the baby's room and all the dumb things they would need. Brandon wasn't adding much, which meant Kevin wouldn't be expected to either. He was practically waiting for them to ask him to help build something. Maybe they wouldn't, though. He'd told Mel he'd do some maintenance things with her brother around the house when she asked since they had to baby proof, but he supposed that wasn't part of this conversation, not while they were at dinner. But dinner soon ended and Kevin was glad to retire to the other room. Maybe they would put a show on or play a game which meant he wouldn't be expected to converse much aside from what was happening in the game. And then Brandon threw a damn wrench into all his plans. At least momentarily.

“Can you guys give me a second to talk to Mel in private?” Brandon asked just as they were all about to go into the living room. Kevin's lips pursed gently as he looked at Mel who seemed surprised and then at Jo who he would have to entertain for a few minutes. Alone. "Sure!" Jo chirped though he was sure she wasn't nearly as pleased as she sounded about this. Kevin nodded and brought his cookies into the living room and slumped onto the couch. Jo sat down on the arm chair and nibbled on her own cookie.

Kevin could feel the tension as they silently sat eating, occasionally looking at each other and offering polite smiles. Could this be any more awkward? Couldn't Brandon talk to his sister another time? "So how's the Jack Kit?" She asked conversationally and Kevin looked up before rolling his shoulders, knowing what she was really asking; How's Kit? "Yah know.. the same.." He offered not really knowing how to answer that question. "That's good.." "Yeah.." More silence. He looked up at the door, wondering what was taking those two so long.

[JORDANNA HAILE GARCIA]

“It’s entirely possible you could scare me off.” Brandon grinned but she immediately pouted, though it was obvious that it was somewhat playful. Melanie reached over and smacked her brother for her, though. “Be nice, Brandon! That’s your baby she’s carrying!” "Yeah!" She added, refraining from hitting him too, though part of her wanted to. “They’re ganging up on me!” he cried out and Jo rolled her eyes and shook her head in Melanie's direction, as if to say What a baby!. “I told you she beats me.” Jo scoffed softly and Brandon's hand reached out to take hers, so she darted her tongue out at him for being such a goof. He rewarded her impish behavior with a gentle kiss to her knuckles which made her stomach flutter. Or was it the baby? Either way she felt sappy towards him again. Ah, what pregnancy hormones did to her.. “So, have you thought of color schemes for my old room? I could totally help you paint it if you guys need help.” Her eyes lit up immediately. "Well! As a matter of fact I have some amaaazing ideas for the baby's room..."

Jo gladly talked Melanie's ear off through the rest of the meal, throwing out color pallets for either a boys room or a girls room, along with some theme ideas. Most of the ideas were nature themed of course, except for the one aviator theme for a boy that she'd seen on pinterest. When dinner was done she helped clean up and then helped herself to a few cookies when Mel insisted they all dig in. She was more than a little excited for the leftovers Melanie had packed away for them to take, knowing she would be eating that delicious supper for lunch the next day, and with any luck it would agree with her as much then as it did now.

“Can you guys give me a second to talk to Mel in private?” Jo stopped and looked over at Brandon curiously. Mel looked shocked and her stomach did a weird sort of twist at knowing she would be left alone with Kevin, as if things weren't awkward enough between them already. "Sure!" She said with more enthusiasm than she felt and she watched them as she moved into the other room, taking a seat on the armchair as Kevin sat down on the couch, his long lanky frame seeming to dominate the cushion he was on and dwarf the whole couch. Silence ensued and Jo pursed her lips and swooshed them to the side, back and forth occasionally nibbling her cookie as she searched for something to make conversation with. "So how's the Jack Kit?" She finally asked and Kevin looked up before rolling his shoulders. "Yah know.. the same.." Could he be any more vague? "That's good.." "Yeah.." Jo shoved half a cookie in her mouth to try and give herself a reason not to try and fill the silent void between them. Why did he have to be this way? Why couldn't he just talk? Then again he'd never been the most social person she knew. He was better around Kit, but, well, that was Kit. "Things don't have to be weird between us, yah know." She told him after she'd swallowed her cookie, and he looked up at her which immediately made her blush a little. "I mean.. we're sort of stuck together, so.. we should just sort of forget our past and move on, right? I don't see either of us splitting with the Garcia's which means you're sort of stuck with me so.. we could, like, not make it awkward." She bit her lower lip and watched him carefully. He was silent for a moment and then he shrugged. "Okay." Was all he said. That was it? Really? Then again she knew not to expect much from him, but who knew. Maybe this could be a turning point. "Okay." She said in response, not knowing what else to say. Why couldn't he be less of a butt?

[MELANIE WHITFIELD]

Melanie felt bad for Kevin and Jo as they slunk off into the other room. She knew they didn’t like each other, or at least didn’t feel comfortable with each other, and now they would be left to their own devices for a few minutes. What did her brother need to talk about? She led the way into hers and Kevin’s bedroom so they would have a door between them and Kevin and Jo since this was obviously a secret. When she’d shut the door, she looked at Brandon and saw he was gazing around their room almost suspiciously. “What’re you looking for?” Brandon looked back at her and shrugged innocently. “Nothing…you guys sleep in the same bed?” Melanie rolled her eyes and gave a little sigh. “Of course we do, just like you and Jo do. Any other personal details you want to know about me and Kevin’s bedroom?” Her brother cringed making her giggle. “No, God, please.” She crossed her arms over her chest with a wide smile. “Then why did you want to talk to me?” Brandon looked to the door as if they would be standing right outside eavesdropping, but Melanie could hear their soft voices talking and knew they weren’t listening in. Still her brother’s voice was just above a whisper when he spoke again. “Okay, but first I need you to promise me you won’t make any loud sounds. Got it?” Melanie gave him a curious fold of her brow but then nodded her head slowly. “Okaaay…I promise not to make any loud sounds.” What was he getting at? Her own voice was a whisper to keep in line with his wishes.

Brandon nodded and then took a deep breath, reaching out and taking Melanie’s shoulders as if to steady her. Should she be worried? She watched him with nervous eyes as he built himself up. “I’m going to ask Jo to marry me.” With a soft gasp, Melanie’s whole face changed from nervous to shocked and delighted. Slowly a huge smile formed on her open mouth and she grabbed Brandon’s arms and started hopping in place, fighting against his hands to do so. He was wearing his own wide smile as he tried to steady her. She began laughing silently and squealing very quietly, which made him try to shush her. “When?!” she demanded in a whisper. “After the baby’s born.” Again she started hopping in excitement, tears glistening in her eyes and again he was trying to shush her. “I don’t want them to hear!” She ignored him and threw her arms around his shoulders, squeezing tight as tears of joy began trickling down her cheeks. He gave in and wrapped his arms around her in return, his chin rested on her shoulder. Melanie couldn’t describe how happy she was. After all of these years she and her brother were finally getting everything they ever wanted. A big part of her wished their father was there to see it, or even their mother, which made her cry more, but she firmly believed they were in Heaven looking down on them. Maybe they were even jumping up and down too and hugging each other.

When Melanie pulled back, she gave a soft giggle and wiped her tears away thoroughly. Brandon even looked like he was getting choked up, which caused two more tears to fall onto her waiting fingers. “I can’t believe it! I’m going to get a niece or nephew and an awesome sister-in-law! Can I tell Kevin?” At that Brandon looked hesitant, but Melanie seized his hands with a pleading look. “Please, please, please! I won’t be able to hold it in until July!” With a heavy sigh Brandon nodded his head. “Alright, fine. You can tell him. But he better not tell Kit.” Melanie sincerely believed Kevin would try to hide it from Kit as long as possible. The last thing Kit needed was another excuse to drink. She would still throw that in there just for good measure, though. With a shake of her head she assured Brandon that Kit would remain in the dark. “Okay. But I need your help picking out the ring. You think you could get some idea from Jo about what she wants?” Melanie grinned from ear to ear and nodded. “Yup! I’ve got my ways! Trust me, she’ll never know.” With another big smile and a hug, she moved back to the door. “Okay, we should go back out there before they get suspicious.” Brandon nodded and she wiped her cheeks one more time and gave a little sniffle so she wouldn’t let on that she’d been crying. Back out in the common room, the air was definitely tense, but she gave a bright smile to make it disappear. “So, who knows how to play Rummy?”

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