Elliot and Cece stepped up onto the curb outside the cafe. Cece's ragged appearance had been left behind at the house and her head-turning self was back. Elliot moved forward, but Cece stopped, a look of unease slipping onto her features. Elliot looked back when she noticed Cece wasn't following.

"Unless you want to shout your speech to Milo," she said, "I suggest we enter the cafe."

Cece turned her attention away from the cafe entrance to Elliot.

"El," she said. "I can't do this."

Elliot walked back to her and stood in front of her.

"Yes. You can."

Cece tossed up her arms in disbelief.

"Really? Because I think we were both there yesterday and saw that I couldn't do it. What makes this times any different? Except for the fact that you are threatening me into doing this." 

Elliot scowled.

"Cece! Where is the strong minded, determined girl who flirted her way out of a parking ticket? Where is the stubborn girl who convinced a Russian mobster to release Tristan? For half the price!" 

Cece's lip curled. Elliot put her hands on Cece's shoulders.

"Where is the sister I look up to more than anyone else in the world? If she is still in there, tell her to come back and go get the only guy that has ever mattered to her."

Elliot let her hands fall, watching as the uncertainty left Cece's face. Cece nodded then frowned in annoyance.

"I don't know what to say," she said.

"You're a writer, how can you not know what to say?"

Cece crossed her arms.

"I'm serious," she said. "What do I even say to him? Especially after yesterday?"

Elliot waved her hand around.

"I don't know," she said. "Invite him to the wedding. Say you will pull A Philadelphia Story and elope with him to Vermont. Say you would face a thousand years of pain just to get one minute with him."

Cece made a face.

"I'm not sure I would do that last one," she said. "It seems really intense for not a lot of pay off. I mean a minute? That seems a bit dramatic."

Elliot growled.

"I don't care what you say, just say something," she said, "because I want to get coffee."

Cece shook her head.

"And now the truth comes out," she said. "You don't care about Milo and I being together. This is for purely selfish reasons."

"Of course it is," Elliot said. "I'm sorry I didn't make that completely clear from the beginning. Now move it!"

Cece rolled her eyes.

"And I thought you cared."

"Caring is for losers who don't have coffee addictions."

Elliot moved behind Cece and pushed her forward. Cece twisted back and swatted Elliot's hands, before heading towards the door. With a deep breath, she pulled it open. The cafe had hit a lull and only a couple tables were occupied. Milo stood in front of the counter, sweeping. He looked up at the sound of the bell and paused.

Cece strode forward with a confident air. Elliot followed behind. Beck sat at a nearby table and she gave him a quick glance. He looked up from his book, an interested light coming into his eyes. He met Elliot's gaze then they both focused on Cece. Milo put the broom off to the side and crossed his arms, looking at Cece with forced indifference.

"Hello, Milo," Cece said, her tone breezy.

"Hi," he said.

Cece smiled as if they were sharing an old joke and a bit of the stiffness in Milo's posture softened.

"I was wondering," Cece said, "if you have a suit for Michelle's wedding?"

Milo raised an eyebrow.

"A suit for Michelle's wedding?" he asked.

"Yes," Cece said.

"Michelle's wedding that's in California?"

"Yes."

"Michelle's wedding that's in California in a week?"

"Yes."

"No, I don't. Because I'm not going."

Cece scowled, though this only seemed to amuse Milo.

"Why not?"

Milo shrugged.

"Because you haven't asked me," he said.

"I just did."

Milo shook his head.

"No. You just asked me if I had a suit. You didn't ask me to go with you."

"It was implied," Cece said.

"I want you to ask me," he said.

"Ask you what?"

"Ask me to go with you?" He gave her a wide, taunting smile. "I want you to say, 'Milo, will you go with me to Michelle's wedding?' That is what I want."

"I'm not going to do that," Cece said, crossing her arms.

Elliot punched the back of Cece's arm causing Cece to roll her eyes in annoyance. Letting out a frustrated puff of air, she focused back on Milo, who still wore a taunting smile.

"Fine. Milo-"

"Yes, love?"

This brought a stupid smile to Cece's face which she tried to hid with an annoyed scowl.

"Milo, will you go with me to Michelle's wedding?" she said.

"Go with you to Michelle's wedding?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Michelle's wedding that's in California?"

"Yes."

"Michelle's wedding that's in California in a week?"

"Yes."

"Michelle's wedding that's in California in a week that I already bought a plane ticket for three months ago?"

"Ye-" Cece's eyes went wide. "Wait! What?!"

Elliot's mouth dropped open in surprise as she looked from Cece to Milo to Beck and back. Beck's eyebrows shot up as a grin slid onto his face. Cece stood there stunned, her mouth halfway open, her eyes glued on Milo. He winked at her, a smug grin taking over his face. The shock evaporated from Cece's expression, a scowl taking up residence. She put her hands on her hips.

"Oh!" she said. "And what?! You just assumed I would eventually come to you and ask you to go with me because you are that irresistible?!" She pointed at him, still scowling. "Well, I have news for you pal, you're not-"

Milo stepped forward, cupped Cece's face and kissed her.

Elliot's eyebrows jumped to her hairline as her eyes went wide. Beck let out a surprised laugh. Cece put her hands on Milo's chest and pulled back, but still remained in his hold.

"Did you really think you could just buy a ticket and invite-"

Milo kissed her again cutting off her stream of heated words. Cece pulled back again.

"You think just because you are attractive you can just kiss me and-"

He kissed her again. Elliot's shock reached new levels. Cece pushed away once more.

"I see you think you can kiss me and-"

Milo snatched the rest of her words away with his lips, his hold on her tightening. Cece tensed, about to pull back, but then melted into the kiss. Milo broke the kiss, looking at Cece.

"Are you done arguing yet?" he asked.

"Oh shut up and just kiss me," Cece said.

Milo smiled and kissed her again. Elliot stood there stunned, watching them. After a second, her shock subsided and she made a face.

"Is this going to be awkward now?" she asked.

Milo detached himself from Cece, his lips remaining inches from her, his eyes still holding her.

"Only if you keep standing there," he said.

Cece smiled and initiated the next kiss. Elliot made a disgusted sound and shook her head. Beck laughed at her annoyance and she walked over to his table and took a seat.

"It looks like I'm hanging out with you," she said.

"I'm honored to be your last resort," he said.

Elliot scoffed.

"Please," she said, "that's a place down in the Bahamas with three pools and a cabana boy named Miguel."

Beck raised a single eyebrow.

"Did Javier know about him?" he asked.

"No and it's better this way," she said.

Beck chuckled, the sound erasing Elliot's annoyance. She looked over at Milo and Cece.

"Do you think they plan on stopping anytime soon?" she asked.

"They eventually have to come up for air."

"True. Milo could lose his job over this."

"From where I'm sitting, it doesn't look like he cares all that much about it."

Elliot looked at him.

"I'm not seeing it," she said, "trade spots with me."

Before Beck could respond, Elliot was up and prodding him out of his seat. With an amused shake of his head, he stood and traded seats. Elliot rested her elbow on the table, looking at the intwined couple. She shook her head, her lips curving down.

"Nope," she said, "still can't see it."

"You must have not been kissed well enough then," Beck said.

"Not well enough to risk a job, where you barely do any work over, no." Elliot shrugged. "Now, if Rhett Butler kissed me, that would be a completely different story."

"And one that takes place in a very different time."

"On second thought I'm not sure I would risk being in the south during the Civil War just for one of Rhett's kisses."

"Best to find someone in this time and place," Beck said.

"Guess so."

Elliot looked over at Milo and Cece. They broke apart and Milo laced his hands through Cece's, their foreheads touching.

"I should get back to work," he said.

"Probably," Cece said, though neither of them made any sign of moving.

"You want coffee?" he asked.

"Yes, but as long as it takes you twenty minutes to bring it to me."

Milo smiled and kissed her again.

Elliot gagged.

"Gosh this is making me nauseous," she said. 

Beck laughed.

"You write romance," he said, then gestured to Milo and Cece "How can this bother you?"

"I write romance because it's easy and always light hearted. It doesn't mean I am a hopeless romantic."

"Apparently not, because that scene right there could melt any heart. Unless it was made of stone."

Elliot poked around her chest experimentally.

"I always knew there was something wrong with my heart," she said. "Now I know. Rocks! That sucks. I wonder what the repercussions of it will be later in life?"

"Heart attack, no doubt."

"At least I have that to look forward to," she said. "Hopefully some cute EMT will give me the kiss of life."

"And you say you're not a romantic."

Elliot made a face and shrugged. Cece broke away from Milo and dazedly made her way over to the table. She pulled out a chair and sat down, smiling. Elliot frowned.

"Can you please tone down your smile," she said, "you're blinding me with your teeth and happiness."

Cece returned to herself and scowled at Elliot.

"Oh thank goodness," Elliot said. "For a second there I thought I was going to have to knock you out to get rid of the air of smugness."

Cece's lips curled into a mocking smile.

"I am still capable of being smug," she said.

"Yes," Elliot said, "but at least you are aware that you are being smug now. Before it was happening unintentionally and it was killing me."

"Pity your heart didn't give out faster," Cece said.

Elliot crossed her arms, grinning manically.

"Don't worry," she said, "I have a heart made of stone. Nothing can kill me."

Cece rolled her eyes and Beck smiled. Elliot's phone rang and she dug it out of her pocket. A bright smile slipped onto her face as she answered.

"Hello, mother dearest!" she said.

Cece looked over at her, interested.

"Hello darling!" her mother said. "I have sad new!"

"You sold your property on the moon?"

Beck gave Elliot a curious look.

"Yes," her mother said. "To a lovely couple. I think they will enjoy it for years to come."

"I'm sure they will," Elliot said, "just as we did."

"Indeed. Now to my news."

"I'm tickled with anticipation."

"As you should be. I have just received a phone call from Michelle, apparently her fiancé's appendix burst."

"Really?" Elliot frowned. "Is he okay?"

"He'll be fine but the wedding is being pushed back two weeks so he can recover from surgery," her mother said.

Elliot stood up, shocked, almost knocking over the table, but succeeding in knocking over her chair.

"Are you serious?" she asked. "We get to delay going to California for two weeks?!"

Cece looked up, surprise and hope darting through her expression.

"That is correct!"

"Oh happy day!" Elliot said.

"Exactly," her mother said, chuckling. "Now before I hang up, and let you celebrate by eating yourself into an ice cream coma, tell me, is there an update on Cece?"Elliot scowled.

"Yes," she said, glumly. "Her and Milo are together now."

Cece smiled to herself and Elliot rolled her eyes.

"Oh how lovely," her mother said. "That means both you and Tristan owe me $20. I know my daughter and you shouldn't have bet on the astroid."

"Hey, it seemed like a safe bet at the time."

"Your loss. I'll talk to you later sweetheart! Tell Cece I'm proud of her."

"Only because you now get forty bucks."

"Of course. Bye darling."

"Bye."

Elliot hung up and righted her chair before sinking into it.

"You told her about me and Milo," Cece said. "What did she say?" 

"You're rubbish and you should have waited longer," Elliot said. "Give the whole thing a more dramatic effect."

"Lost a bet, huh?"

Elliot scowled in reply.

"What was I up against?" Cece asked.

"An astroid falling to Earth."

"When?"

"Eight months."

Cece nodded seriously.

"I'm with you. I would have put my money on the astroid."

**********************************************************************

Tomato Juice! (Yeah, I'm rethinking that one too.)

Alright, alright, that's what I'm talking about! (If you're a Hamilton fan, as you should all be, this quote works perfectly, slightly.) Finally CELO lives! Gosh it took long enough right?! What was that dang author thinking when she dragged it out? She should really be shot.

(You're the author)

Oh, right. Doesn't mean I wasn't annoyed with myself. Just the same though we should probably not murder me. That way you wouldn't get the end of the book. That would be the real tragedy in my death.

I vote for the day. Lean on your comment and hope that you will follow your heart! (Hey, just trying to change it up a bit, I know it wasn't great. I'm working on it.)