"Jonah, can you grab the flour?" Monica asked with a small smile.

He went to cabinet and handed her the flour but also took out a bag of Cheetos she had and started to eat some.

"You're supposed to be helping," Monica chuckled.

"I am."

"By eating Cheetos?"

"Mhm."

"Not very helpful unless you shove one in my mouth."

Jonah gave her one and kept eating.

"I need peanut butter. Darling?"

"Yes, Dear?"

"It's in the cabinet by the fridge, if you wouldn't mind grabbing it."

Jonah nodded and wiped his hands before retrieving it.

"Thanks," Monica smiled.

"Hey, we're here!" Lucia called from the foyer.

"Hey, guys! In the kitchen," Jonah called, peeking out.

"It's good to see you both," Lucia smiled.

"Feels like a long time." Denny laid out on the couch.

"Yes, it does," Lucia chuckled. "You tired, Denny?"

"A little."

"Aw." Lucia kissed his forehead. "Want something to drink?"

"Nah. I'm fine, but thanks."

"Alright."

Denny smiled.

Lucia went to help Monica. "Um...aren't you guys supposed to be baking and not kissing?"

Monica pulled away from Jonah and blushed slightly. "Probably," she chuckled.

"Gosh," Lucia laughed. "You guys are too funny."

"What? We're madly in love," Jonah smiled cheekily.

"I see that."

Jonah nuzzled Monica's cheek with his nose.

"Okay, this is getting sickening," Lucia gagged.

"You just miss Sean."

"True," Lucia sighed.

"But you'll be like us when you have him back here."

"Oh, please. We were never like that," Lucia chuckled.

"You will be."

"God, I hope not."

Jonah chuckled.

"I'm starving," Denny interjected, entering the kitchen. "What do we have to eat?"

"We ordered pizza," Monica smiled. "It should be coming soon."

"Good," Denny grinned.

"It has sardines on it," Jonah smirked jokingly.

"Ick," Lucia frowned.

Jonah chuckled.

"Denny, we need better friends," Lucia sighed.

"I concur." Denny raised his hand in agreement.

"What edible food do we have?"

"I'm teasing," Jonah smiled.

"Good," Lucia sighed in relief. "So, I feel like it's been a while since we've all been together. We should all get each other caught up with what's going on."

"Yeah. Sounds good." Jonah sat down

Monica put the cookies in the oven before washing her hands and sitting down next to him. "Who's going first?"

"Jonah?" Lucia shrugged. "How about you?"

Jonah nodded. "I am still working at the zoo."

"Really?" Lucia frowned. "I thought you were going to quit."

"I decided against it."

"Why? You hate that job," Denny chuckled.

"It pays the bills. And having all kinds of jobs doesn't exactly flatter my resume."

"It's experience," Lucia laughed.

"But working only for a few months everywhere isn't awesome."

"True," Monica nodded.

Jonah nodded and looked at her. "Kay, Mon."

"My turn?"

"Yep."

"Let's see...I've been thinking about trying to find my parents," Monica nodded.

"Yeah? That's awesome," Lucia smiled.

"I don't know," Monica sighed. "They gave me up for a reason."

"Well, whatever you decide, we're all here for you," Lucia nodded.

Monica smiled. "I have to start researching."

"I'll help," Lucia smiled.

"Thanks, Luci."

"Your turn, Luci," Denny smiled.

"Okay, this is sort of big," Lucia sighed. "I walked in on my father kissing a woman in his living room."

Monica's mouth fell open. "No!"

"Yep," Lucia nodded. "It was so weird. I feel so betrayed."

Monica hugged her.

"He hasn't even tried to contact me."

"He will."

"You haven't heard the weirdest part."

"Okay."

"We saw him at the mall with her. The mall."

"Oh, wow."

"Yep," Lucia sighed. "It reminds me a bit of that time that Tom kissed me in high school. Remember that, Mon? He just came up and kissed me and then my boyfriend got so mad and punched Tom."

"Oh, yeah. I remember that."

"Yeah. Except I was more in my boyfriend's situation. I was hurt and upset and betrayed."

"I get it."

"Yeah," Lucia sighed.

"I remember that one time when we were in the eleventh grade and we met that hot college guy, and I pretended to also be a college student to get him to like me," Monica chuckled. "It didn't work."

"That was funny," Lucia laughed.

Monica giggled. "But it will work out, Luci."

"I hope so," Lucia nodded. "Hey, Jonah, did you ever do anything stupid in high school?"

"Oh, yeah. I pranked the teacher. Got suspended for two weeks," Jonah chuckled.

"No way!" Lucia laughed. "What'd you do?"

"Put super glue on the teacher's desk chair."

"Gosh," Monica chuckled. "I never would have taken you for a bad boy."

"I have many surprises."

"How mysterious."

Jonah wiggled his eyebrows and they all laughed.

"What about you, Denny?" Lucia chuckled. "Have any dark secrets?"

Denny looked down but didn't say anything.

"Denny?" Monica laughed. "Come on, tell us."

Denny murmured something inaudibly.

"What is it?" Lucia asked softly.

"I um...hate coffee."

Everyone gasped in unison.

"What?!" Lucia shrieked.

"I hate coffee," Denny said louder.

"I can't believe we're friends!" Monica frowned.

Lucia looked almost offended. "I'm disowning you!"

Denny hung his head in shame. "I like tea."

"What kind of a sick person are you?" Lucia frowned.

Denny sighed. "I'll just leave."

"N-no, that's fine," Lucia sighed.

"I'm sorry, guys."

Jonah put a hand on his shoulder. "We're going to help you through this, man."

"Everything will be fine," Lucia said softly.

Denny smiled.

"First things first, you are quitting tea cold turkey. I'm throwing it out when we get back to your apartment," Lucia nodded.

"No! I love it!"

"No way. It's disgusting, and you will learn to love coffee as much as we do."

Denny sighed. "I don't need an intervention."

"Yes, you do. You can live without tea."

"No," Denny whined.

"Yes. You can do this," Monica nodded. "We have faith in you."

Denny sighed.

"So...you couldn't think of anything more interesting than your hatred for coffee, eh?" Lucia smirked.

"I don't do much."

"Aw. You're such a bean," Lucia teased.

Denny chuckled. "At least I have a girlfriend."

"Ooh, that's right. Denny met this nurse named Paisley Butler. They're going out on their second date tomorrow night."

Denny smiled shyly.

"I'm so proud of my little man."

Denny chuckled. "We bonded over my pain."

"That's...cute...I think," Jonah chuckled.

Denny chuckled again.

"I'm happy for you," Lucia smiled.

"Thanks, Luci."

—————

"I'm exhausted," Lucia sighed, flopping onto the couch.

Denny laughed. "You're funny."

"I'm dead. Bury me. Tell my father I loathe him."

"Oh, Lucia."

"What?"

"You're too funny. Very dramatic as well." Denny shook his head fondly.

"I can't move," Lucia chuckled. "I'm a cat with no legs."

Denny smiled and went to put the leftovers away. "Why did you come home with me? We were at your house."

"Because my stuff is here. Plus, Monica and Jonah were hanging out and they make me sick."

"Because they're kissing all the time?"

"Yep. I miss Sean. It's been awhile since he's texted me."

"You should text him."

"Yeah," Lucia nodded, picking up her phone. "Ugh. My dad texted."

"Read it."

"It says, 'Hi, Luci. I think there's a few things we need to talk about. Call me when you get a chance.' No. Not happening."

"Why not?"

"He's dead to me. I'm an orphan now."

"Lucia."

"What?" Lucia sighed.

"You're being unfair."

Lucia pouted. "Fine, I'll call him...next year."

"Lucia," Denny said again seriously, "call him now. In your room."

"Fine," Lucia grumbled, going into the guest room and shutting the door. She sat on the bed and called him.

"Lucia, thanks for calling me back," Leonardo said when he answered the phone.

"Mhm. Talk."

"You saw me with Holly."

"You mean cheating on my mother? Yeah. Yeah, I did."

"I am not cheating on your mother."

"Oh, yeah? Then how exactly would you describe what's going on between you two?"

"She's my girlfriend, Lucia. I have every right to do what I am doing."

"What about Mom, huh?" Lucia spat.

"Your mother passed away, and I will always have a place for her, Lucia. I loved her deeply. But I need partnership and that doesn't mean I don't still love your mom," Leonardo tried to explain.

"It's only been two years since Mom died. You can't justify this to me."

"Lucia, listen to me. Time cannot heal something like this. There is a huge void when someone has been married to someone else for thirty-five years and she dies. Would you rather me suffer and be sad all the time?"

"No, I wouldn't," Lucia sighed, "but I still don't think it's okay. Like you said, there's a void and you don't just go and fill it right away."

"I have waited two years. I'm not getting younger...You would like Holly."

"It...it just feels like you're trying to replace Mom."

"I understand. But she will never replace your mom. That would be impossible to do."

"I know...I'm just hurt that you didn't tell me sooner."

"I'm sorry. Really, Pumpkin," Leonardo sighed. "Would you please meet Holly soon?"

"I guess," Lucia mumbled.

"Thank you. She is very impressed with you, you know."

"What do you mean?"

"I brag about you."

Lucia smiled softly. "Really?"

"Mhm."

"Thanks, Daddy," Lucia said softly. "I guess...if I have to...I'll meet Holly. Just...maybe not too soon? I need some time to just think this over."

Leonardo nodded. "I understand, Lucia. Maybe we will do it over dinner."

"Alright," Lucia nodded. "So, remember how I said Sean turned out to be my pen pal?"

"Yes."

"Well, what I didn't get a chance to tell you is that we're dating again."

"Really? You happy?"

"Very," Lucia smiled. "I'm so happy that he was my pen pal. I really regretted not accepting his proposal after the graduation ceremony."

"I remember how sad you were."

"Yeah. But now I have him again. And it's wonderful. It's like we never broke up, you know? We sort of picked up right where we left off."

"That's very special, Lucia. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Daddy."

A crash could be heard from the kitchen.

"Oh, dear. I have to go check on Denny. I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Okay. Bye, Pumpkin." Her dad hung up.

Lucia set her phone aside and ran into the kitchen. "Denny, what happened?"

"I dropped a few pots on my foot," Denny winced.

"Are you alright?"

"Mhm. I think so," Denny sighed.

"Do you want me to help you to the couch?"

"No, I'm okay."

"Okay, good," Lucia nodded. "Gosh, Honey, you've gotta be more careful."

"I was putting away dishes and they fell."

"I know, but you have to be careful," Lucia sighed. "One of these days, you're going to kill yourself."

"Somehow, I always cheat death," Denny chuckled.

Lucia hugged him tightly. "I'm going to miss you when I go back to my place. I'm going to have to listen to Monica talk about Jonah all the time."

"Oh, you'll be fine," Denny smiled.

Lucia sighed. "I just wish Sean would move here."

"I know. Who knows what he has planned?"