“I’m so happy that you guys came to visit!" My grandma shouted as she made Mike and I coffee.

"It was my idea, by the way." Mike boasted as he stirred sugar in his coffee.

My grandma patted him on the back and kissed the top of his head, "I know it was, mijo."

"Whatever, grandma! I wanted to come, too."

"But it was his idea." She smiled at him and I just rolled my eyes.

"Where's my cousin?" I asked, speaking of Celina.

"She should be on her way. I told her that you were coming by." My grandma sat at the table across from us and glanced at us happily.

"What?" I asked once I noticed.

"Nothing. I'm just happy that you two are together." Her eyes lit up when she spoke.

"I am too." Mike added, grinning widely.

I was glad that my grandma loved Mike as much as she does. They have always had a lot to talk about and she was so interested in his life and what he had to say. I liked that. She for sure never did that to any of my other boyfriend's.

"I have a question; did Lucy ever bring her boyfriend's from LA here to meet you?" Mike asked curiously, while eyeing me suspiciously with his peripheralvision.

I grinned slyly, and then my grandma answered. "Uh, one. But he was super weird and after he met everyone, I believe you broke up with him, right?" She looked to me for an answer.

"Oh my god, that was not my boyfriend." I looked at Mike, "Alan came with me one time because we were going to Tino's and we stopped here first." I laughed loudly, "You thought he was weird, grandma?"

Mike chuckled, visualizing Alan with my loud-spoken grandma. "Yes! He was strange! I mean, he was nice, but really bizarre."

"So, you brought no actual boyfriends here?" Mike asked, reassuringly.

I shook my head, "No one was worth bringing over here. My first dude in LA moved to Miami, and I didn't want him to meet everyone. If I would've brought the second dude here to meet the family, he probably would've fucking proposed on the spot. He was so into the whole getting married and whatnot thing and I was like, 'Uh, I'm like 23."

"Did that little bitch Jakob meet anyone?"

"Ew, fuck no. I did not like him just from how she described him. Brandon always spoke badly of him, so I never liked him." My grandma answered for me.

Mike sat up a little taller and smiled bigger, "Good."

"So yes Michael, that does mean that you're the first boy to meet everyone. Mainly because you showed up here on Christmas Eve, uninvited." I winked at him, smiling big.

"You're stupid." He laughed at me, nudging me.

The doorbell rang and my grandma got up to answer it. Mike leaned in and kissed me on the lips. My nose scrunched up and I rested my head on his shoulder. "Where's my cousin?!" I heard shouting and I knew instantly it was Celina.

I got up, and so did Mike, and we walked into the living room. "I'm here!" I yelled back and she ran to me, hugging me tightly, almost knocking me down. Then she went to Mike and hugged him tightly. Joseph walked in after her, holding their daughter in his arms.

"Hey Joseph!" I greeted him and he gave me quick hug. "Where's my baby?" I asked as Celina took her daughter Abby out of Joseph's arms, whom was almost a year old now.

Celina handed Abby to me and I took her in my arms, "Hi darling." Abby smiled at me and held onto my arms.

"What are you two doing here?" Celina asked, plopping herself on the couch.

"Visiting." I answered, showing Mike the baby.

"Hi, little baby. Hi." He told her in a baby voice and she smiled at him.

"Aw, she smiled at him!"

"I feel weird because we literally talk to Ludo in the same voice." He muttered and I could have died laughing.

"You're dumb." I laughed, sitting next to Celina, and Mike sat down next to me.

"How's living together in LA?"

"Fabulous and amazing!" I smiled as Mike moved his arm around me, seemingly unaware that Celina asked us a question.

"How's work?" Joseph asked as he sat in a nearby chair, my grandma handing him a cup of hot coffee.

"It's going really well. I don't know if Celina told you but, I got a promotion! I'm the new editor-in-chief of the LA division." I smiled happily as his eyes grew.

"No way, Luce! Congratulations! Mike, how's your job?"

Mike grinned, "Fucking awesome as always. We're in the studio right now. I tracked all of my drums in one day." He held up one finger and grinned brighter than ever.

"So sick, man. When you guys have another hometown show, I have to go. I've missed too many at this point."

"Yeah dude, just let me or Luce know. We could get you in."

I watched Abby as she studied her surroundings, taking in everything. At this moment, she was learning sounds, and recognizing words and colors; it was incredible to me that at this second, she was learning, right before my eyes. She was so beautiful. With her small brown curls forming from her head, and her hazel eyes that she got from Joseph's side of the family, and her light colored skin, she was perfect.

I remember when Celina called me, freaking out that her water had broke. I left work early and sped down here to San Diego, so I could see my cousin and my goddaughter being born. Celina had a rough pregnancy; sick always, pain no matter what. She hated every second of it and I recall how sad that made everyone because she couldn't enjoy such a changing time in her life.

I pulled up to the hospital a couple of hours later, and marched my way to her room. I went in and it was silent, small whispers coming from Celina, Joseph, her mom, and our grandma. I saw a tiny baby girl in her arms, sleeping soundly. As soon as I looked at my cousin and my goddaughter, I was in tears. This was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. I remember calling Mike and telling him that everything went well and I sent him a picture of Abby. He fell in love just as I had.


Abby reached out her arms for me and I sat her on my lap. She looked up at me and smiled, her hazel eyes big and bright. I loved this little girl, and I'd do anything for her. She brought a joy in my life that I'd never had before. "She really likes you, huh?" Mike asked softly, removing me from my daydream.

I half-smiled, "I guess so." He continued to look at me for a little while, studying Abby and myself interact. I saw a small smile grow on his face as he took in this calm feeling.

"You know, Lucy? Whenever it happens, you're gonna be the most amazing mom." He said out of nowhere, causing me to look from Abby to him, smiling.

---

Once we had left my grandma's, we went to Mama and Papa Fuentes' house. I was so excited to see them. I always had such a good time whenever we were with them. We rang the doorbell and it swung open, Mike's dad behind it grinning. "Hey! I'm so glad you guys are here!" He greeted, giving both of us big hugs.

I walked in behind Mike and we went into the kitchen where Vivian was, of course, cooking up a storm. "Hey mom!" Mike went up to her and kissed her on the cheek. She turned around and smiled at me, grinning widely, and she hugged me tight.

Mike and I sat down at the island on the bar stools. "Are you hungry? Did you want coffee? Soda? Anything?" She questioned.

Mike and I shook our heads, "No mom, we're fine. But, thanks anyway." He snickered.

"How are you two doing?" Victor asked, sitting with her at the island.

"Great!" I answered, happily.

"Is living together still going okay?" Viv eyed me, laughing a little.

"Yes! We're not annoying one another that much anymore." Mike winked at me. "We were actually thinking of getting a bigger place, soon. Like, an actual house. Now, that Lucy got her promotion and we can both afford it."

"Congratulations on your promotion by the way, mija." His mother kissed my cheek. "And wow, a house? You two must be serious." She eyed us slyly, making Mike blush.

"Kinda sorta serious." I answered jokingly. "We could use the space, and it'd be perfect for like future stuff. And his stupid drums can have their own room now and it'll make me happy."

Mike stuck out his tongue at me, then laughed at himself. "Future stuff as in grandbabies for me?" Vivian asked, causing Mike and I to roll our eyes.

"Mom, ask Vic for grandchildren. Everyone keeps pushing kids on us and it's weird." Mike answered, a little flustered. "We're not ready for that. We're as in we are as in Lucy and I, are not ready to raise a flock of little ones."

"A flock?" I asked, smirking.

"Whatever! But seriously, ask Vic for grandbabies." He paused. "Well, I actually don't think he gets laid as often as I do."

"I don't think anyone gets laid as often as you do." I winked at Mike, making him grin so wide that his eyes almost closed. "But really Viv, it's all in good fun. Mike and I are far too busy for kids, and plus, we're raising Ludo!" Her and Papa Fuentes laughed, almost forgetting their "grandson" Ludo.

"How could I forget about my Ludo? It was just a question. Couples don't buy houses unless they are super serious about being together forever."

"We are gonna be together forever, mom." Mike stated matter-of-factly, shocking me to be quite honest. I was usually terrified of the word forever but something about Mike saying it comforted me. It wrapped it's arms around me and held me nice and snug, keeping me warm.

I guess it shocked her too because she spun on her heel, her eyes surprised. "Well, I believe you. You know I wouldn't want anyone else for my baby." She pinched his cheek and eyed me, happily. I loved when she said that, it made my entire life when she said that.

We continued chatting with his folks for a few more hours, then made our way back to Vic's house. Mike and I were sitting on the couch, watching this show called Ghost Adventures when Vic walked down the stairs and on the recliner. He sighed when he sat, then sighed again, making Mike and I turn to him.

"What?" Mike questioned, weirded out by his older brother's behavior.

"I feel guilty as fuck." He answered quickly, too quickly.

"Why?" I asked.

"Don't say anything, especially you Lucy, but I feel guilty because like, Katelynne and I..." He trailed off and my attention was now fully on him.

"You and her, what?" Mike pressed on.

"I cheated on Katelynne and I feel terrible because I've never cheated on anyone in my life, and I don't know what to do, guys. It just happened." He buried his face in his hands, obviously distraught.

I sat up and stared at him, "Vic, please tell me you're fucking joking."

He shook his head, "I wish I could."

My mouth dropped as Mike stared at Vic, wondering why he could do that to Katelynne of all people. "Well, you have to tell her!" Mike shouted.

"What? I can't tell her!"

"Yes, you fucking do Vic. You brought this upon yourself." Mike said, his voice lowering once he said the last word. He slowly got up and went up to what used to be his room, leaving Vic and I alone.

I turned to him, "You have to tell her. Katelynne is the sweetest, most hard working person I've ever met and I thought you were, too. This doesn't have to follow you, but I'm sure you just lost her." I got up and went up the stairs, finding Mike laying on the bed, a confused look on his face.

I slowly closed the door then walked to sit by him, "What's wrong, buggie?"

"What I told Vic right now, is exactly what he told me when I-" He paused, furrowing his eyebrows.

I rubbed his arm softly, knowing that Vic cheating on Kate was very reminiscent to Mike cheating on his ex-girlfriend. "I know, babe."

"Like, I- I don't even know. I went to Vic, telling him what I did, and he pushed me to tell her. And, I did, knowing there was no way that her and I would be together. I felt fucking horrible because I did that to someone who cared about me. I couldn't even fucking imagine doing that to you. It's just weird hearing it from Vic. He'd never hurt a soul."

"Shit happens, Mike. Things happen for a reason, as cliche as it sounds. Maybe Katelynne and Vic weren't meant to be. You never know."

He looked from his hands to me and softly smiled, "I love you more than anything, you know? More than fucking anything."

"More than yourself?" I joked.

He smirked, "Well..." I lightly hit his arm and he grabbed my body and landed on top of me and kissed me.

"I love you too, Mikey. More than anything in the entire world." I kissed him softly, then we decided to go down with Vic again, since we sort of abandoned him in his time of need.

---

"I'm nervous, I can't do it." Vic said, looking out of the window, waiting for Katelynne to come over.

Mike and I were in the kitchen eating and watching him have a nervous breakdown. "Stop being a pussy. You did it, now you have to tell her."

Vic frowned as he walked towards us, "What if she cries?"

"Then she cries." I said blankly.

"That's it? That's all you got for me? No psychological answer or poetic meaning?"

"No. Because if she cries, she fucking cries. What do you want me to say? I hope she slaps you for how annoying you're being right now." I rolled my eyes, causing Mike to chuckle lightly.

Minutes later, the doorbell rang and Vic looked like he was about to throw up. Mike and I shot looks at him and slyly looked at the door, trying not to seem too suspicious. Vic went and opened the door, Katelynne walking in with a smile, looking cute in a black high-low sheer dress that had flower print on it, over it a denim jacket and her hair curled.

"Too bad she looks extra cute today just to cry." I mumbled in a whisper earning a nudge from Mike and a small laugh.

"Hey guys!" She walked over to us and hugged both of us. "Are you two leaving back to LA today?"

Mike nodded, "Yeah, our time in SD as ended."

"Well, as long as you guys had a good time." She smiled softly. Vic stood behind her, and I knew that his anxiety had risen even more than it was previously. She turned to him, "What'd you have to tell me?"

"Um, let's go upstairs real quick." He said softly, trying not to be too obvious that something was wrong. She nodded and they went up the stairs together, and Mike and I heard the door shut.

"Oh my god, I wanna listen!" I said softly, tugging on his arm.

"We can hear in my room, c'mon." He picked me up and carried me up to the room, making sure not to make his steps too heavy. The walls in this house were super thin, you could hear everything. Mike and I put our ears to the wall closet to Vic's room.

It was quiet for a few minutes, than he cleared his throat. "Um, I have to talk to you about something."

"Okay, but before you do, can I tell you something?" She asked. I could imagine them now. I knew both of them so well, that I could picture their facial expressions.

"Sure?"

"There was a couple of nights that I went out, a few weeks ago, and I got really drunk Vic, and I'm sorry, but I cheated on you." She dropped the bomb and mine and Mike's mouths dropped. I covered my mouth with my hand and Mike did the same. Well, isn't this a plot twist?

"What?" Vic said, sure this was unbelievable.

"I'm so sorry. I know how bad it is. I'm really sorry, Vic." She seemed to plead.

Mike and I decided to stop listening and go back downstairs, quietly. Once we reached the kitchen I said, "What the actual fuck?"

Mike laughed softly, "How in the hell does that happen? This is too weird."

"You're telling me." I sat on the bar stool and he came up and kissed the top of my head.

Vic and Katelynne came down the stairs and into the kitchen in that moment, seeming not too sad. She waved at Mike and I, making her way to the door, "See you tomorrow at work, Luce! Later Mike!" Then she left. Mike and I stood there fucking confused more than anything.

Vic sat beside me on the other bar stool and he said, "Well, we both cheated on each other. And, we just agreed we weren't into it anymore. End of story."

"What kind of fucking break up is that?" I questioned, stirring my straw that was sitting in my drink.

"Seriously." Mike nodded in agreement.

"I don't know, but I'm glad that's over with." He let out a sigh of relief and Mike and I couldn't help but laugh at his older brother.