A/N: Thanks for all the votes! FYI our timeline won't quite line up with what happened in real life. We have to cheat a little to make events work.

If there was one thing Vanessa was realizing it was that carrying a baby as a college student, and carrying two in your thirties were very different things. She was just heading into her second trimester and already her pregnancy was differering from her first. Her boobs were sore, insomnia had begun to kick in, and the cravings were in full force. When Lin texted her on his way from the theatre if she needed anything, she thought she was going to cry tears of joy. Freakin' hormones.

"God, you're my hero," Vanessa said as Lin walked through the front door, courtesy of the apartment key Vanessa had given him.

"Can I record that so it can be my greeting anytime I walk into a room?" Lin said with a smile that made Vanessa swoon, despite the eye rolling at his corniness.

"I will call you whatever you want if you hand over the goods,"

Lin gave a boisterous laugh as he tossed the plastic bag onto Vanessa's lap, with a quick peck, before he flopped himself next to her on the couch. Vanessa opened the bag as if it was Christmas morning.

She immediately stuffed a neapolitan cookie into her mouth, "Mmmm. I don't even like these damn things, but I don't think anything has ever tasted better," The satisfaction to Vanessa was the equivalent to a glass of wine at the end of the day.

Lin chuckled, looking at Vanessa with pure awe, savoring the fact that he got to experience this pregnancy with her, "Did you have any crazy cravings with Lia?"

"Mango popsicles and fish," Vanessa said in between two more cookies, "which is probably why they are Lia's least favorite foods,"

Lin laughed, "How's she doing?"

"Okay," Vanessa replied, "She mostly stayed in her room all day, but came out to eat. She went to sleep about an hour ago. I wouldn't normally do this, but I think I'm going to adamantly suggest she stay home tomorrow. I don't think she'll fight me on it, and one more day away won't kill her."

Lin nodded in agreement, "Nothing I have scheduled for tomorrow I can't do from here, so I'll stay with her,"

Vanessa went to say that he didn't have to do that, but stopped herself. After doing things alone for so long, she'd have to remind herself at times that Lin wasn't just a friend helping her out; that he wanted to be there for Lia just as much as she did, "Alright."

Lin intertwined his fingers around Vanessa's, broaching a topic he had been thinking about for the past few hours, "Have you ever thought about Lia seeing a therapist?"

"You sound like your sister," Vanessa said with a smirk, "She asked the same thing at Thanksgiving,"

"The signs that you've been raised by a psychiatrist,"

The two shared a laugh.

"I think it might be a good idea to look into," Vanessa admitted once she finished her fourth and final cookie, "I don't know how she'll feel about it, but I think she needs an outlet. She's had so many changes happen, and more to come" she said looking down at her belly.

"And speaking of changes," Lin cleared his throat before continuing, "So you know the plan always was for me to do a year at Hamilton and then move on to other things,"

Lin waited for Vanessa to nod before continuing, "Which would be mid-July, which is also when the babies are due,"

"Which my OB said due to carrying multiples and my age, it wouldn't be shocking if I went into labor early," Vanessa chimed in.

"Right. So, I was already planning to see if I can move my end date up to June. I'm under contract and it would be something for my lawyers to moreso figure out, but I've always let them know."

Vanessa had a dopey smile on her face. She loved that Lin was so dedicated to putting their family first.

"My agent called me earlier today though and told me that Disney is offering me a role in a new film," he continued as Vanessa leaned in to listen, "I'm not allowed to say what it is until and if I sign onto it, but it sounds really freaking amazing. It's completely different from Hamilton, and the pay wouldn't be bad."

Vanessa loved the fact that Lia had inherited Lin's same tendency to ramble on whenever they were talking about something and didn't know what Vanessa's reaction would be. "So far it sounds like an incredible opportunity for you, but I'm also a lawyer and a mother and know when a huge 'but' is coming, so spill,"

"It films in the UK,"

Vanessa wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but it wasn't that, "The UK?"

Lin nodded, "Production would go from September to around November,"

Vanessa opened her mouth to respond, but instead grabbed for another cookie. She waited until she was finished eating it to respond, "Lin, the babies are going to be barely two months old, if that."

"I know," Lin knew going into the conversation that the additional detail of the filming location would change the tone, "And if you think this is a bad idea, then I won't take it,"

"I've done the single mother with a newborn thing when I was 19," Vanessa stated with a sigh, "How the hell could you possibly think I could handle it at times two at 33 with a teenager on the side?"

Lin gave her a confused look, "Single mother?"

Vanessa rolled her eyes at his apparent insistence on semantics, "Okay, sure, I know you're going to be in their lives, but I'm going to be the one alone here up all hours of the night dividing and conquering between two screaming babies,"

The lightbulb in Lin's head went off and he grabbed Vanessa's hand, "Hold up, V. I think you misunderstood me,"

"I misunderstood you?" Vanessa quipped, "You want to film a movie halfway around the world two months after I push two humans out of me,"

"Okay, yes?"

"Not to mention you're going to have to explain this one to Emilia because she already has this complex about your relationship, and you leaving three months isn't going to help that much,"

"V,"

"What, Lin?"

"I want you to come with me,"

Vanessa's irritated face softened a bit after a few seconds of her processing what Lin had said, "What?"

Lin flashed a smile, "There's no way in hell I would leave any of you for longer than a weekend trip for work, let alone three months. I want you, Lia, and the babies to come with me to the UK."

Vanessa looked into his eyes looking for any sense that he could be joking, and couldn't find anything, "You're serious?"

"Dead ass."

"That's a big deal, Lin," Vanessa said, although she couldn't deny that she felt a million times better knowing he wanted them to come, "The babies are going to be so young.  Lia had school. I have work,"

Lin took the hand that Vanessa was using to count off all the reasons and brought it to his lips. Vanessa would normally say something about him trying to distract her, but she also didn't mind the affection.

"I looked up online that Hunter offers an online program. Lia would be taking the exact same classes, and would have full access to her teachers. She could pick right up the next semester."

"She's having a hard enough time in person; I don't know how she's going to feel basically being homeschooled."

"And we can talk to her," Lin reasoned, "And if she's not good with the idea, or you're not, we don't do it."

"You're making it seem so easy,"

Lin shrugged his shoulders, "Because it is. We go or we don't go."

Vanessa gave him a look, "Lin. I know you. If you didn't want to do it, you wouldn't have even brought it up." She knew it had nothing to do with money. Although he didn't boast about it, Vanessa knew that Lin was more than financially stable. He wanted this because of his passion for the project.

Lin adjusted himself on the couch, leaning onto the headrest, "Yeah, I want it. Not only for the job, but I think it would give us time away from all of this," he admitted, "Just the five of us. But I want our family together more," his expression was serious, "I missed so many years of Lia's life, and being with you. No job is going to be more important than that,"

Vanessa instantly felt tears come to her eyes, in part because she loved the man sitting next to her as he gently stroked her hand; the other part hormones.

"When do you have to let them know?"

"A few weeks. We'll table it, not say anything to Lia unless we decide it could be a good idea, and then talk to her and go from there."

Vanessa smiled, leaning in to give him a kiss.

"So, do I get to be called a hero again?"

Vanessa let out a boisterous laugh as Lin whispered into her ear, as if he was being romantic.

"Why don't we go into the bedroom and let me think up some more creative things to call you?" The look on Vanessa's face was enough for Lin to quickly help her up and the two rushed off, locking the door behind them. Cookies weren't the only craving that intensified with pregnancy.

—-

Lia had been on edge since receiving the threat of exposure about cheating. She couldn't let it go public. Lin and her mom would be so disappointed and it would make him look bad. And it wasn't his fault at all.  It was because she wasn't smart enough to go to Hunter.

Her stomach ache wasn't going away. She was feeling nervous all the time along with the guilt. Her mother had insisted she stayed home again today which was fine with her. If she could avoid the laughs and judgment she was perfectly fine with that.

There was a knock on her door. Lin. It's not like she needed a babysitter but he'd insisted on hanging around their apartment. He'd been here more and more since they'd found out about the twins.

"Come in," she called reluctantly from her desk where she was starting some Algebra. Lin stepped inside with a plate of French toast. He set it on top of her pile of textbooks.

"Thought you could use some brain food," he told her, kissing the top of her head. "How's the work coming?"

"Fine," she mumbled, in a bad mood. Her life sucked right now. "Lin, could I have fifty bucks?"

"What for?" He asked.

"A field trip," she lied.

"Uhh, sure," he said. "I'll leave it on the counter."

She'd scrounged up $50 herself but needed another fifty to appease the anonymous bully. She was supposed to leave it inside a book in the library by tomorrow afternoon.

"Thanks," she said. Lin never asked many questions, unlike her mother.

Lin sat down as she continued trying to work. "Listen, I wanted to talk to you about something.
Yesterday at school you seemed to be having a panic attack. Has that happened before?"

"I guess," she said. "A few times."

Lin nodded. "And you're feeling nervous and upset a lot?"

Lia shrugged. She hated talking about feelings.

"Well your mom and I were talking," he continued. "And we think it might be a good idea to see a therapist."

Lia looked at him, incredulous. "Seriously?" She groaned. "I don't need a therapist."

"Why not?"

"Because that's for people who are messed up," she explained. "I'm not a freak."

"You're not a freak if you see a therapist," Lin disagreed. "I've seen a therapist before. Your abuela is a therapist."

Lia didn't respond as she continued her assignment. She just wanted this conversation to be over.

"Think about it," he told her, standing up. Lin noticed she hadn't touched her French toast. "Don't forget to eat. What do you want for lunch later?"

"I'm not hungry," she said dismissively.

Lin sighed a little and decided to let it go for now. She seemed to be in a mood. Reluctantly, he shut the door and let her be.

—

The next day Lia went back to school for the first time in two days. Before first period she went to the library and found the pre-arranged book in non-fiction. She looked around and then discreetly slipped the money between the pages, hoping that would be the end of it. She'd decided she needed to take Ayden's advice and stop buying the tests. It wasn't right and it didn't feel good, even though she was getting an A in the class now.

After school she went to the Richard Rodgers to hang out with Lin for the evening when she received another message. The price had now doubled to keep the culprit quiet. Lia's heart dropped and she felt cornered. Why was this continuing? What the hell was she supposed to do?

Lin walked in after a meeting with still a couple hours before the show. He noticed his daughter sitting on the couch, head in her hands.

"Sweetheart, what's wrong?" He asked, instantly sitting next to her, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"I...I don't know," she told him. Lia knew she needed help but asking for it would mean telling her parents the truth - she had been cheating to get ahead in history. They'd be so disappointed and she didn't want to upset her mother during her pregnancy.

"Something's bothering you," Lin pointed out gently. "You can tell me anything."

Lia knew he meant it but she also knew how parents worked. When you did something as big as this wrong there would be consequences.

"This kid at school is bothering me," she began, unsure of how much to tell.

"How so?" He prompted.

"He...or she...wants money to keep something secret. That's why I asked you for $50 the other day."

"Jesus," Lin said. "Who is it?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "It's an anonymous account. And now they want $200."

Lin ran a hand over his hair. "Wow," he said. "Well you can't let that person keep blackmailing you. They're gonna keep asking for more. What are they threatening?"

Lia felt the tears spilling over, wiping at her face. It was so awful she didn't want to say it. "I...I can't tell you."

Lin rubbed at her back. He liked to think they were starting to form more of a relationship. He wanted her to let him be the dad he'd missed out on being. Her problems were bigger than skinned knees now, but he still thought he could help.

"You can tell me, Lia," he urged her. "I won't get mad."

"Yes you will!" She cried, not able to stop crying now. "I'm such an awful person."

"I know for a fact that isn't true," he corrected her. "You're a great kid but maybe you made a mistake. Is that it?"

She nodded, wiping under her eyes again.

"Well I promise I won't hate you," he told her. "Tell me. You'll feel better."

Lia took a big breath and let it out. She confessed the whole thing. How she'd finally reached her breaking point with Mr. Martin and she'd resorted to buying his exams.

Lin let it set in. It wasn't the worst thing she could've done by far but he knew it bothered her. It wasn't something to make a habit of, and it sounded like she was already remorseful.

"I won't do it again," she said. "I promise. Just don't tell Mom?"

Lin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Lia, I think we do if you're having this much trouble. We can get you a tutor."

"I don't need a tutor," she spat automatically. Admitting she needed help felt like failure.

"Then what do you need?" Lin asked. Lia sighed and let her forehead rest on the desk.

"I don't know," she admitted.

Lin hung his head, wishing he knew the answers.