Jensen had met Maddox Tacoma various times over her time being with Miles. There were parties and holidays, birthdays and premieres. He was one of Miles' groomsmen at their wedding—probably would've been Miles' best man if Dayna hadn't beaten him out. Maddox had been at both of Rocky's birthdays no matter where he had been in the world filming the week before and hr helped Liberty and Dayna fight off cameras when she was born. In other words, Maddox was a fantastic person who Jensen was ecstatic to have around the house before she left for London.

            It hadn't taken her long to clean up the clothes she'd spread across her and Miles' bed. Making herself feel ready enough to go downstairs and pretend she hadn't been on the verge of breaking down took longer. Jensen didn't know if there was going to be a right time to go downstairs, so she slowly walked over to their stairs. She took a couple deep breaths before placing her hand on the railing and making her descent.

            As she made her way down the stairs, Jensen heard Miles and Maddox talking. No doubt after a hug that lasted at least a minute. It always did when they got to see each other.

            "Thanks again for letting me stay here, kid," Maddox said. He paused for a moment. Jensen continued her descent down the stairs as he continued, "Maybe I should stop calling you kid since you have one."

            "About that—" Miles started.

            But Maddox had already spotted Jensen, who held her hands out as if she were saying remember when you told me at Miles' 40th that I was wearing the baggiest shirt known to man? Yeah, well, surprise! Here's why! Maddox's jaw did all but slam against the floor as his arms dropped from pulling his curls into a ponytail that looked like a bun with the length of his hair. She hoped if he passed out, he'd land on the couch beside him and not hit the bricks on the fireplace behind him.

            Maddox looked back to Miles. Eyes still wide. Jaw still practically unhinged. "You have two?"

            "We're—how—" Miles asked. He turned to look at Jensen and his face relaxed. "Oh. Yeah. I was about to—" Looking back to Maddox, he was met with a smack to the bicep. "Ow!"

            "Why didn't you tell me?" Maddox asked. "I raised you better."

            "We met in university."

            "Those are developing years."

            "Hi, Maddox." Jensen walked over and hugged him. The less they bickered in front of Rocky—how ever good-naturedly—the better. She couldn't tell the difference. "How was the flight?"

            "Good, good."

Maddox hugged her back gently before pulling away. Jensen took a step back and hoped her eyes weren't swollen from crying, she didn't need him seeing that. Maybe him staying at their house would help keep her mind off her worries, if only so he didn't have to see her break down.

            "So," Maddox said, looking at Jensen's stomach and back to her over the rim of his round glasses. Teasingly, he continued, "anything new to report on?"

            "I signed a new producing deal for the studio yesterday," Miles said, putting a hand on the small of Jensen's back. "Read the script last week, it's phenomenal."

            Jensen grinned as she leaned into Miles' side gently. "I'm leaving for press next week."

            "I'm gonna be a big sister," Rocky said.

            "That," Maddox said, picking Rocky up. She giggled as he poked her in the stomach. "Was exactly what I was looking for, kiddo. Thank you."

            "Welcome, uncle Mads." Rocky hugged her little arms around his neck.

            "The baby in the room," Maddox said, smiling. "That's what I was aiming for."

            "Oh," Jensen said. Because if she was going to not be sad, she might as well be sarcastic. She placed her hands on her stomach. "You mean this?"

            Miles grinned, placing his hand over Jensen's. "Hardly new is it, Rhodes?"

            "No," Jensen said, shaking her head. "This is seven months old news."

            "Exactly," Miles said. He wrinkled his nose to sell it. "You don't want to hear about that."

            "That's news," Maddox said.

Miles waved his hand dismissively. "But it's old news. Practically ancient history."

            "Miles Kazimir—" Maddox took a deep breath in and adjusted how he was holding Rocky so he could point a finger at Miles. "I am not above hitting you again."

Miles laughed. Still the worst at pretending he wasn't. "I know you're not."

            A smile pulled at the corner of Maddox's lips despite his threat.  "Names?"

            Miles exchanged a look with Jensen and they both smiled. Jensen spoke up first. "We have some ideas."

            "Keep your secrets," Maddox said. "But is Maddox an option?"

            "Always," Miles said.

            "Better not be lying to me, Fox," Maddox said.

            "Ah, ah, ah." Miles held his finger in the air. "That's not my name."

            Maddox raised a challenging eyebrow. "You'll be Walker-Vinogradov if you keep pushing it."

            "Noted." Miles pocketed his hand to make sure his finger didn't protest again.

"And on that note, I'm going to go stab myself in the leg with a needle before I forget," Maddox said, putting Rocky down. He pulled a small bag out from his suitcase and tucked it under his arm. "See you in a couple minutes. Figure out what you're going to tell me about this baby y'all have been keeping secret for seven months."

*

While Maddox settled in, Miles took Rocky to find something they could have for dinner. And somehow, Rocky was the easiest to find food for. Between Miles not able to eat dairy, Jensen being vegetarian—which sprouted from her pregnancy with Rocky and she never started eating meat again—and Maddox not eating gluten while he prepared for a role, Miles had his work cut out for him in finding a restaurant to purchase from. Although he hadn't said where he was going, Jensen was certain it was a hidden hole-in-the-wall vegan restaurant because she wasn't sure where else it would be, frankly. No matter where he'd gone, he still had to read the menu carefully, so she assumed he and Rocky would be gone for a while.

            Jensen decided to take one little peek at the newest episode of Cami & Gio's. If they didn't mention her or her family in their episode itinerary, she would turn it off. Probably. Hopefully. She wished she could say definitely, but Jensen Rhodes was not a liar.

            The introduction was as usual, Camilla and Giovanni said their names and sponsors and went right into their first topic. It took about three seconds for a lump to form in Jensen's throat.

            "So, a development in the Rhodes baby watch happened the other day," Camilla said. No doubt with a satisfied smirk on her face.

            Jensen should've turned off the podcast.

            "That's right," Giovanni said, "photos have been released via Real Hollywood of Miles Rhodes and daughter Raquel exiting a baby store. While Miles had bags in his hands, their daughter had a telling breast pump box in her hand."

            Jensen needed to turn off the podcast.

            "Do you think this is confirmation that Rhodes baby two is on the way?" Camilla asked. "Because for me, it's a solid yes."

            "I think it's a yes that we'll be seeing a new Rhodes baby anytime now," Giovanni said, "or that they're getting geared up for another kid in the near future."

            "We'll start a poll on our website about what you think this could mean," Camilla said. "Are the Rhodes expecting baby number two?"

            "Or are they preparing to try?" Giovanni finished. "Let us know by voting at CamiGio.com."

            "Either way, hopefully we'll get some of those gorgeous sunset photos from our favourite doting dad and husband soon for confirmation," Camilla said. "Can't have a Rhodes pregnancy without some beach photos, am I right?"

            Jensen tugged her headphones out of her ears. Camilla and Giovanni would not taint her moments with Miles. The only time she almost enjoyed having her photo taken was when Miles held the camera. If she had anything to say about it, they would not take that away from her.

            Running a hand down her face, Jensen took a deep breath in. Miles was right. She needed to stop listening to Cami & Gio's. She was going to stop listening to Cami & Gio's.

            "Are you—"

            Jensen jumped and turned in the direction the voice had come from. She relaxed when she realized who it was.

            "Sorry." Maddox smiled guiltily. "Didn't mean to scare you."

            "No, it's—" Jensen took a deep breath in. "No worries."

            "Forgive me if it's not my place," Maddox said, walking over and sitting beside Jensen on the couch. "But you look panicked."

            "I—um." Another breath. Eyes closed, then opened again. "Yeah. A little."

            "Can I help?"

            "You," Jensen said, holding out her phone toward Maddox. "Can take this away from me. And never give it back."

            "Headphones and all?"

            "Headphones and all." Jensen nodded.

            "I—" Maddox took the phone from her and stuffed it in the pocket of his jeans. "I can do that. When do you want it back? Never doesn't sound realistic."

            "When it's possible to block out every iteration of every celebrity podcast ever."

            "Wouldn't that be nice?" Maddox asked. "Those are worse than gossip magazines."

            "How do you avoid it?" Jensen asked. "Because it's been six years and I still can't stop."

            "I stopped looking at them when they were about me," Maddox said, "because every time my name was mentioned, they put pictures of me pre-T. And that's not me."

            "That's disgusting," Jensen said.

"It only affects you as much as you let it."

            Jensen looked at him for a moment. Eyebrows knit together.

            "As much as you can try to make sure you're unaffected," Maddox said. He paused for a moment. "Well, we all have our good days. And with good days..."

            "Come bad days." Jensen nodded. "Yeah."

            "Jensen."

            "Yes?"

            "You're allowed to have bad days."

            "Sometimes—" Jensen swallowed hard. "Sometimes it feels like those are the only days I have."

            Maddox gave her a small smile. Too sad to be a smile, but too curved to be anything else. "That bad, huh?"

            "It's..." Jensen looked up and spotted the photos hanging on the opposite wall.

Photos on the wall were the first thing Miles did when they had moved into their house. They had been rearranged, but they were the constant. Furniture changed, walls were knocked down. But the photos were always there. There were all different poses, different days of their lives. Her and Miles. Rocky, Miles, and her. Some of only Rocky. Only Miles. Only Jensen. Some were of Dayna and Liberty. Some of Miles and Maddox.

            Jensen stared at her favourite one for a moment. Right in the middle of the frames. Since they'd had the photo printed, Miles hadn't moved it from the middle. They were in front of a gap in trees overlooking a lake. Diez Vistas Trail, one of Jensen's favourites. Miles was on one knee in front of Jensen, who had her hands over her mouth.

            Even though he'd proposed in the parking lot because damn it, Rhodes, I can't wait any longer. They still had to make the hike and Miles had to hold the ring in his pocket even though she'd already agreed. How could she not have? Their greatest acting performance wasn't Sparks Fly, it was pretending they weren't already engaged when they reached the spot Miles had originally picked out to propose to her. (Their second greatest acting performance was pretending their second wedding was their first one.) (For the last three years, and for the rest of their lives.)

            Jensen looked at Maddox. "I don't think I'll ever be used to people caring who I am."

            "It doesn't get easier the longer you're part of it," Maddox said. "I'm not sure that's reassuring, but it is the truth."

            "He's told me to stop listening. But it's hard not to when I feel..." Jensen waved her hand like she was trying to collect the right words to say.

            "Like you need to be six steps ahead?" Maddox suggested.

            "Is that crazy?"

            "It's crazy that you had your privacy invaded and you're the one who feels bad."

            "Can..." Jensen trailed off. "You won't tell Miles I listened to the podcast, right?"

            "I won't," Maddox said. "But you should."

            Jensen nodded. "I should."

            "Maybe after he's over the spoils of attempting to find food the three of us can eat." Maddox laughed.

            Jensen joined in his laughter. "He's never going to want to go for food ever again."

            "Tell him when he learns how to digest lactose, he can complain," Maddox said. "I had to eat dairy free pizza with him in the American pizza capital of the world for six years."

            Jensen let out a small snort. "Tell me about it."

            "I've still got a year on you, Jensen," Maddox teased. "You're almost there."

            "If he's dairy free, I'm dairy free. I've got the rest of my life to deal with it."

            "You're not going to explode if you eat it though," Maddox said. "There's a difference."

            "That's true." Jensen laughed.

She caught a glimpse of the photo wall again, spying a picture of Miles and Maddox from when they were at NYU. Miles didn't keep a lot of photos from that time in his life, but the ones that did survive were ones where he was with Maddox or Dayna. The ones who kept him grounded. The ones who helped him survive.

            "Thank you," Jensen said, turning to look at Maddox again. "For listening to that. And... you know, taking my phone. Understanding. The whole situation. I appreciate it."

            "You'll never guess what I got for dinner," Miles announced as he walked into the room.

He kicked the door shut behind him as Rocky walked up to Jensen to give her a hug. Jensen picked her up and sat her on her lap, hugging her tightly. Rocky had chosen her Batgirl outfit for her outing with Miles and happily kicked her yellow-booted feet as Jensen held her.

            Maddox gave Jensen a small nod of recognition before turning to Miles. "Salad?"

            "Not just any salad," Miles said, "likely the best salad you've ever tasted."

            "Big shoes to fill there, Milo."

            "Babe, it's a salad," Jensen said.

            "That may be true, love of my life," Miles said. "But, that does no mean that they're not the best ever. And do we know why?"

            "I'm sure you're going to tell us." Maddox laughed softly.

            Miles walked into their living room, sitting in an armchair closest to Jensen. She was too busy hugging Rocky to mention that their dining room table might've been better for eating at than on their white furniture. There was also a strong feeling of Jensen not wanting to get up. The days were getting hotter, Jensen was getting farther along in her pregnancy. A deadly mix.

            "I have found—" Miles looked at Maddox and Jensen expectantly. "Where's my drum roll?"

            "You better tell us," Maddox said.

            "Or what?"

            "I'll eat your finger."

            "Am I gluten free?"

            "I'll make an exception if you're not."

            "You used to be fun."

            "Must be the old age, kid," Maddox said. A whole two months older than Miles. Which he never failed to point out at every opportunity he had. "You'll figure it out soon."

            "Careful Maddox," Jensen said with a small laugh. "You'll walk into a silver Rhodes talk."

            "Rhodes!" Miles' laugh betrayed his fake annoyance.

            Rocky laughed with him and cuddled Jensen tighter. Jensen smiled softly.

            Maddox gaped at Miles. "Don't tell me it's because you didn't want to be silver fo—"

            "We were talking about food," Miles said, shaking off what was sure to be mockery from Maddox. "I'm still waiting for my drum roll."

            Jensen stole a glance at the bag in front of Miles. Not yet on their coffee table, but Jensen could see it. "Babe?"

            "Yes?"

            "Was your big food announcement that you went to Chipotle for burrito bowls?" Jensen pressed her hand to her mouth to stifle her laugh.

            Miles' eyes darted down to the bag. He looked back at Jensen, his lips pressed together. Awful at pretending he wasn't laughing. "They had everything we needed, Rhodes."

            "You really built us up," Maddox started, "for Chipotle?"

            "Next time," Miles said, "you can be the one to find vegetarian, gluten free, and dairy free food in one spot and I'm not going to be excited when you find it."

            "There's a difference between you not ordering cheese or sour cream and finding somewhere dairy free," Maddox said.

            "Sometimes you need to take the wins where you can get them," Miles said. "You'll get it when you're older."

            Jensen was certain if she wasn't sitting between Miles and Maddox, one of them might've smacked the other one. Especially judging from the look Maddox was shooting Miles.

            "How rude," Maddox said.

            "How would you feel if I gave you your dinner?" Miles asked.

            "Better."

            "That's what I thought." Miles opened the bag and pulled out the food. Reading the label quickly, he held his hand out. "Kid's meal."

            Jensen took it from his hand and handed it to Rocky. "What do you say?"

            "Thanks, daddy." Rocky smiled.

            "You're welcome, Snips." Miles held another container out. "Gluten free."

            Maddox got up and took the container from him. "Thanks, daddy."

            "You're welc—" Miles caught himself and looked up at Maddox with wide eyes.

            Maddox snorted. "Exposed."

            Miles cleared his throat as he held out another container. "Vegetarian."

            Jensen stifled a small laugh. "Thanks, babe."

            Tossing forks out to the group, Miles settled into his chair. The four of them ate quietly.

            Jensen found herself staring at the photos on the wall again. Their posed engagement photo still stood out. Still called her eyes to it. Because it was her and Miles. Always. Somewhere she knew that. They would make it through anything that was thrown at them.

            Jensen felt a small touch on her knee. She looked away from the photos toward Miles.

Eyebrows knit together, eyes shining with too much sympathy. He mouthed, "Are you okay?"

            Jensen nodded. If she did it enough times, maybe she'd believe it.