~Brie~

I smiled to myself as I slowly turned the doorknob to my parent's house. Aiden left a while back but I couldn't stop crying so I stayed back at my house a little. I couldn't wait to surprise my son.

I poked my head through the door.

“¡Hola Hola! (Hello! Hello!)” I sang loudly, closing the door. “¡Estoy en casa! (I'm home!)”

I strained my ears to hear the shriek from my mother, the thundering of energetic feet from my son, and my father's hearty laugh. But over a minute and the house was dead silent. I dropped the smile.

“Mom? Dad?” I called out. “Roman? Are you here?!”

I moved to the kitchen and a magazine was laid out beside a small bowl of soggy-looking cornflakes. I grimaced a little.

“Mom?!” I called out again, moving back into the living room. “Is Dad back to eating soggy cereal? It's still disgusting.”

I rubbed my arm.

“Could you be less condescending about soggy cereal, Bree-pickle? It's Sunday for God's sake.”

I whirled around.

Aubree?!

“Hello, little sister. I knew that Spanish class would come in handy” She smiled as she waddled towards me.

What's she doing here?!

I was going to ask but I knew the answer she would give me and I wasn't ready to start picking fights with a pregnant woman. I wasn't going to let her ruin my mood.

“Where's Mom?”

She touched a hand to her chest painfully.

“Not acknowledging my greetings? I'm hurt.”

I arched my brow at her.

“I sent them on an errand” she smiled.

“You sent our parents on an errand?”

She shrugged.

“I am their pride and joy after all.”

“Mm,” I hummed.

Aubree chuckled.

“They took Roman out for ice cream. It is Sunday... remember?”

“Mm,” I hummed again.

She folded her arms.

“You look good, Brie.”

“Mm.”

“Is 'Mm' the only reaction I'm going to get from you?” she chuckled.

I shrugged at her and she smiled.

“Well for what it's worth, I've missed you Bee.”

“Ew gross!” I exclaimed making her laugh.

“That's better” She smiled again and took a seat.

“Hey, Aubs... do you have any idea what you're going to do when your sister shows up tod.... ah Breanna!”

I cocked my head to the side and stared at Leslie.

“You're back!” he exclaimed nervously as he cradled the bowl of soggy cereal I'd found in the kitchen and glanced nervously at Aubree.

“I am” I replied. “And I have two questions for you Les. One, what are you doing in my house and why are you eating soggy cereal? And two...”

“That's already two questions” Aubree interrupted as she leaned back in her seat.

I gave her a side eye and turned back to Leslie.

“Two, why are you asking her what she's going to do when I show up today?”

He chuckled.

“Oh you know...” was all he said.

I eyed them.

“What are you two up to? And why are you really here, Aubree.”

“Vacation” Aubree smiled.

“And you brought your lapdog along?”

“Hey!” Leslie frowned at me.

Aubree smirked a little.

“He wouldn't be a lapdog if I didn't.”

“Hey!” he exclaimed at her this time.

“Hm,” I hummed, narrowing my eyes at her.

“Mm hm,” she hummed back, narrowing her eyes rather playfully at me.

She's up to something.

“We're back! There wasn't any cheese ice cream” Mom explained as she stepped in first. “So we got the next unusual flavor they had.”

“Honey jalapeño pickle ice cream” Dad chuckled.

“When did Brie say she's coming back?” Mom asked Dad, still not taking notice of me.

Then his small head pushed in between my parent's sides.

“Stop hogging the entrance, you guys!” he grunts. “Uncle Zach and I need to—”

His eyes meet mine and I smiled and opened my arms to him.

“Mommy!” he exulted and forced his way through the entrance, pushing my parents aside.

I didn't bother to scold him to be careful or ask him to walk. I just wanted to hold my little boy. Roman hurled himself into my arms, nearly knocking me down as his arms wrapped around me like chains.

“Oh, my beautiful, beautiful, boy” I cooed and clasped him so tightly we were nearly one person.

“I missed you so much” he whispered.

“I know baby. And I missed you so much more.”

“Promise you're not going to go away for so long again.”

“I promise. But if I ever have to, you're coming with me.”

He smiled as he pulled away and I kissed him on his forehead.

“Honey” my mom smiled and moved up to hug me. “I missed you.”

“Hi Mom. I missed you too.”

She let go and my dad grinned at me.

“Breanna,” he said and gave me one of his hugs that was so fierce on my ribs that it made it hard to move.

“Daddy” I chuckled.

He let go and kissed my forehead.

“You're not going away for that long again,” he said, trying to make a serious face.

“Okay,” I chuckled.

“How am I the one in charge of your dog?” Zachary's voice came from behind Dad.

I smiled at him.

“Breezy!” he exclaimed with a smile.

Dash let out a bark, his doggy body vibrating with joy. He run up to me and looked into my face. Then he stilled, leaned against my leg, and whined.

“I missed you too, boy” I melted to the floor, burying my face in his soft golden fur.

I chanced a look at Zach and he grinned at me

“I'm the hero of this story and the doggy gets a hug before me?”

I chuckled and opened my arms to him from the ground. He sank beside me to hug me and Dash draped his ninety-pound self across our laps in his version of a group hug.

“Why do you look so glowy” Zach chuckled as we stood up from the ground and Dash wagged his tail happily at Aubree.

“Glowly?” I asked. “I'm just happy to be back home.”

“Uh-huh,” he eyed me.

I chuckled.

“You're staying here tonight aren't you sweetheart?” Dad asked.

“Well...”

“Oh hey, Brie?” Aubree called from the couch where Dash now lay on her lap. “I err... cleared Roman's room. He can move back in. I'm not sure why I wanted the room in the first place” She chuckled a little at the end.

“Oh no that's okay” I shook my head at her and held my arm out for Roman. “I'm not letting this one go anytime soon” I smiled.

She nodded.

“And besides...” I faked a little grunt as I lifted my son to sit on my hip, “... we'll be completely moving out by the end of this week. We only have a few boxes remaining so...”

Aubree chuckled.

“Moving where?”

“To our new home,” I said and smiled at Roman, “With the fountains and the indoor pool...”

“And the hot tub” Dad, Zach, and Roman chorused.

I laughed.

“You... bought a house” my sister states.

“I bought a house” I repeat.

She slowly nods.

“Good for you.”

“It is good for me” I smiled.

“Hm,” she hummed.

“Mm,” I hummed back.

“Her boss helped her get the place” Zach chipped in as he stepped directly in front of me to stop the glaring contest that would have happened.

“He did?” Aubree asked.

“Yes. A really nice man” Dad added.

“And his sister is equally lovely” Mom smiled.

“Which reminds me that I need to call Iris,” I said and moved around with Roman to look for my phone.

“There, Mommy” he pointed.

“Thank you sweetheart” I smiled.

Roman wiggled out of my arms and back to Zachary as I spoke to Iris on the phone.

“It's okay Breanna. I loved helping to watch Roman. And Juanita loves him too.”

“Still Iris... thank you” I sighed happily.

“You're welcome.”

I chewed on my lip and glanced behind me.

“Is... your brother back?” I asked, trying not to smile.

“Oh yeah he is. I thought you all left Berlin together?”

“Err yeah... but not really. Our flights were at different times” I lied.

“Huh... okay” she muttered. “Hey, Breanna?”

“Yeah?”

“Did something happen on this trip?”

My heart skipped.

“Something? Something like what?” I asked.

“I don't know... did anything odd happen with Aiden?”

I shook my head and bit back a smile.

“No... not that I know of. W-why do you ask?”

“I don't know... he seems different... lighter even” she explained and I could feel her confusion through her voice.

“Really?”

“Yeah. There's a spring in his step.”

I smiled.

“Well if you scored that big of an investment I'm sure you'd be walking on sunshine too.”

Iris chuckled.

“No, Breanna. This isn't about that investment. It feels... different.”

“I'm sure it's nothing big. But if you still feel curious, just ask him.”

“Nope. I don't want to jinx whatever it is” she chuckled softly. “When he's ready, he'll tell me.”

I smile.

“Okay.”

“Hey but if you hear anything... anything at all... let me know okay?”

I nodded, smiling.

“I will Iris. Thank you.”

“You're welcome, Brie. Give Manny a kiss for me okay?”

“I will. Bye.”

I hung up and pressed my phone to my chin with a smile.

“I thought you were never going to get off that thing.”

I turned.

“What do you want?”

“That's no way to talk to your older twin sister, Breanna.”

“If you want to annoy me, please do it another time when you're not pregnant so I can give you a befitting reply.”

She chuckled softly. I tried to move away from her but she blocked my path. I tried again and she blocked my path.

“Aub—”

“I'm not trying to annoy you, Breanna.”

“Really? Because that's exactly what you're doing right now” I eyed her.

She sighed. I moved away again and she blocked my path with her giant bump.

“Aubree...”

“I need a favor.”

“And what makes you think I want to be doing you any favors?”

“Because despite all this mess, I'm still your sister...”

I rolled my eyes.

Unfortunately.

“... and because you're a good person.”

“To those who don't hurt me or my son,” I frowned.

“Just hear me out please?”

I folded my arms.

“What do you want?”

“I need you to call Riccardo and ask him to bring Oliver here so I can spend time with him.”

I scoff.

“And you can't do that because?”

“Because he'll be the first person to attempt to shoot someone through the phone” she frowns. “And because he'll either hang up on me or not answer my calls at all.”

“And you blame him?”

“No. But I'm not going to come off as desperate to him either” She folded her arms.

I eyed her.

“But for my son's sale, I'm going to let you see how desperate I am, Brie” she sighed. “Just till the end of the year. It's almost Halloween... and it's his favorite holiday. Then it's Thanksgiving next, then Christmas and New Year's... that's all I want, Breanna.”

“And you're asking me to help you... why?”

“Because you're the only one in our entire family he doesn't hate. And he'll listen to you more than anyone else right now.”

I gave her a look.

“Breanna...”

“Maybe you should have thought about Oliver when you decided it was okay to break our homes and hurt our sons” I cut her off.

“Brea—”

“Fight your own battles, Aubree” I cut her off. “I'm sorry but I can't help you.”

Her face fell.

“Lucille” she sighed.

“Excuse me” I muttered and moved away from her.

I could feel her brown orbs staring at the back of my head.

“Everything okay, honey?” Dad asked, looking over my head at Aubree.

“Yep. Everything is fine” Aubree answered. “I was just letting her know how glad I am that she's back home.”

I turned to her.

“Roman missed you” she smiled at me.

“Well but at least now you'll be home for a least what... a week?” Zach asked. “You'll get to catch up on all you missed out on.”

I chuckled.

“A week? I'm going back to work tomorrow.”

“What?!” everyone chorused.

“Yeah,” I laughed.

“But why?” Mom asked. “You just got back and they want you to come in tomorrow?”

“Yes.”

“Well that's not fair” Leslie added. “I was away for eight months and I have the rest of the year to myself.”

“You're a doctor, I'm a photographer” I chuckled. “And I don't know if you've heard but... when the company you work for scores a ten million Kuwait dinar investment, you don't take more days than necessary off.”

Zach chuckled.

“And I'm filling in for the CEO's assistant.”

“Why? Where's his assistant?” Dad asked.

“Indispose. Appendix.”

“Ohh” Aubree lets out. “But why you? Don't they usually call and have them temporarily replaced?”

“Cynthia's my friend, okay?”

“But you're the company's photographer... not an assistant to the CEO.”

“There are other photographers in the marketing department, you know. And I'm not complaining about being Aiden's assistant till Cynthia gets back to work.”

“Ohh he helped you get the house” Aubree chuckled.

I frowned.

“What are you insinuating, Aubree?”

“That he helped you get your house so it's very understandable that you'd feel indebted to him hence your decision to play temporary assistant to him.”

I folded my arms.

“Where is Beckett anyways?” I asked.

She shrugged.

“Ohh you know... working.”

“Hmm,” I hummed. “Working?”

“On a trip. Yes.”

“Without you?”

“It's for work, Breanna” she smiled.

“Work” I repeat and lean back a little. “Let's see... it's the middle of the October so lemme guess... press tour?”

Aubree smiled.

“Ding ding” she made bell noises.

“And lemme guess, Ramsey thought it was time to get back out there? And they'd be promoting a new movie?”

“Ding ding!” Aubree chuckled. “Breanna wins.”

I scoffed.

“Why are you really here?”

“I don't know” she shrugged. “Why do you think I'm here?”

“Brie...”

“Because you crave drama, Aubree. Your husband has bailed on you... when you're so close to term. So why not come back to your hometown and ruin other people's lives?”

“Breanna, stop” Leslie frowned at me. “She just wants to be close to her family. How's that a bad thing?”

“Close to her family?” I chuckled. “Sure.”

“Honey, I understand if you're upset” Mom begins. “But despite everything, she's still our daughter. She's still your twin sister and we're still her family. So if she wants to be close to her family then—”

“Mom, Mom” I interrupted.

She always takes her side.

“I don't care if she stays or goes” I shake my head. “I really don't. I just don't want any part of it” I turned to Aubree, “Please keep me out and away from whatever plan you have cooked up.”

She gave me a half smile.

“I'm not sure I can keep you out of my plans.”

“Aubree” Mom scolded.

“See?” I eyed her. “Stay far away from me, Aubree. I mean it. I'm not letting you ruin anything else for me. And so if you will excuse me, I'm going to go be with my son now.”

Her smile faltered a little.

“Goodnight.”

°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°

I kissed Roman's eyelids when I knew he wasn't going to open them again and threw the covers around him.

“My beautiful boy” I whispered.

Aiden's child came to mind and my heart sank.

“There's a child around your age, Manny. Who has never seen their dad before... and probably thinks he doesn't love them.”

I moved his hair away from his forehead.

“Oh Aiden” I muttered. “I don't know you've been doing it for ten years. Me? I would have been dead from all the worrying if someone took my baby away.”

I should call him.

I smiled down at my son.

“I love you so much, Roman” I whispered and kissed him one last time before getting up to go find my phone.

Just as I was about to call, someone knocked on the door. I moved over to open it.

“Hey, I thought you left already.”

“Nahh. I took Dash for a walk.”

“Is he back?”

“Yeah. He went into Aubree's room.”

Oh yeah... inseparable.

“Is everything okay with you?”

I blinked.

“Yeah. Why?”

“You look... worried.”

I smiled.

“I'm fine Zachary. Don't worry. Come on in.”

I stepped aside and he entered.

“He's going to sleep like a baby tonight” he chuckled at Roman's sleeping figure as I closed the door.

I smiled.

“Balcony?” he asked.

“Yeah, sure. Let me just get the lights” I said and turned off the lights in my room to let Roman's nightlight do the illuminating.

I followed Zach to my balcony.

“Oh there they are” he gestured with his head at Aubree's balcony where she sat in the love seat with Dash whose head was on her bump.

I joined Zach in my swing chair.

“How are things going with you and Dove?” I asked.

“Good.”

“No fights?”

He chuckled.

“Argument last week.”

“What about?”

“Iris Corleone.”

I looked at him.

“What?!”

He laughed.

“Relax. I only gave her a ride to her house so I could go pick up Roman.”

“And Dove?”

“She jumped to conclusions” he rolled his eyes. “You women always do.”

I chuckled.

“I mean Rissa is cute. And funny. And incredibly smart.”

I smiled.

“But she and I? Nah. I don't see myself with anyone else either... except Dove.”

I playfully shoulder-bumped him.

“Look at you... so in love” I teased.

He chuckled.

"Well, what about you?".

“What about me?”

“Are you in love?”

“With who?” I smiled at him and he shrugged playfully.

“With the person who has given you the glow.”

“Will you stop it with the glow?” I laughed.

“Not until you spill.”

“There's nothing to spill, Zachary Hart.”

“I don't believe you, Breanna Nolan” he replied in the same tone.

I smiled.

“There's nothing to spill Zach... at least not now.”

“Ohh so there is someone.”

I rolled my eyes with a smile and tucked my hair away behind my ears.

“Whose he? Or is it a she?”

“Oh shut up, Hart” I laughed.

“What's his name?”

“I can't tell you.”

“Where'd you meet him?”

“I can't tell that either.”

“Well, do I know him?”

“I wouldn't know.”

“What can you tell me then?”

“That he's not a criminal” I laughed.

Zachary chuckled.

“And...” I fiddled with my fingers.

“And?”

I looked up at my best friend.

“And that I love him.”

Zach's eyes widened and a wide grin spread across his face.

“You do?”

I nodded.

“I do Zee” I whispered and put a hand to my chest. “And I don't know how I did almost seventeen years without him.”

He chuckled.

“Ow wow Breezy. That deep huh?”

I sighed happily.

“Wait how long has this been going on?”

“I can't tell you” I laughed.

He frowned.

“Oh come on, Breanna. If you're comparing how he makes you feel to your years of being married to Beckett then it's been long.”

I looked at him.

“I don't need to go twenty years to know how I feel about someone, Zach. And this man... oh God.”

His eyebrows shot up. Then they fell and his eyes widened.

“What?” I asked.

Zachary shifted his weight and grabbed me by my arms.

“You got some didn't you?” he gasped.

“What” I looked away with a chuckle as my face flushed.

“Breanna!”

“Shushhh!” I whisper-yelled at him as I tried hard not to laugh. “My son's sleeping!”

He laughed, then made a serious face.

“Was it... good?” he whispered.

I leaned into his face.

“Out of this world.”

His eyes went wide again and I laughed.

“Hey don't mess with me, Breezy.”

“I'm not.”

“Then tell me who he is.”

“No. I've already said too much” I chuckled. “And you can't tell anyone about this.”

He frowned.

“You haven't told me anything, Bee.”

“I've said more than enough, Zach.”

He gave me a look and I mirrored it. He rolled his eyes.

“Go home. It's late” I smiled at him.

“Absolutely not. I'm staying here.:

I laughed.

“Don't you have work in the morning?”

“I do. And so do you so c'mon. Bedtime.”

“Zach....”

“Up,” he said and tugged me to my feet.

I laughed.

“We're picking up this conversation in the morning.”

I chuckled.

“There's nothing to pick up.”

He smiled and looked over at Aubree's balcony. I followed his gaze.

“Why do you think she's back?” I asked.

Zach shrugged.

“I don't know why... but I believe she's back to be close to her family.”

I scoffed.

“I don't. She has an ulterior motive.”

“Mm I don't know. She's been different since she got back. No shenanigans.”

“Yeah because her target wasn't here.”

“You?”

“Of course me” I frowned.

Zach shook his head.

“I don't think so Breanna. I mean if it were you, she could have done something to Roman, right? He being in distress would put you in distress. But not once did she ever yell at him.”

I shook my head.

“I don't trust her, Zach. She ruined our family. And all of a sudden I'm supposed to believe that she's changed? No way.”

I watched her absentmindedly stroke Dash's fur with one hand as the other rested on her bump.

“No way.”

I folded my arms and watched her carefully.

I'm not going to let her ruin something else for me. Not again... not this one.

I shook my head again.

“No way in hell.”

Thank you so much for reading! ✨