"Are you sure you're ready, Jon?"

"Let's do it, Chloe."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chris was finally starting to get used to the whole "just friends" thing. It had taken a few months, but with the creation of the Bakery and the Beehive, taking away the stress of having to rent out small studios or using the guys' apartments, Chris and the rest of the band (and especially Phil) felt relieved in a sense. He had improved his relationship with Jonny, and the songs they made were starting to become happier.

The last song they had finished was Yes, which had really been the last dark song, in a sense. They had travelled the world a bit more, come up with some more good song ideas, and grown closer as a band.

They were currently in Barcelona, which Guy had really enjoyed the first time around, and had suggested they come back to record some more.

"Hold on a minute," Jonny said, his phone ringing in the middle of a session.

The guys groaned. "Why don't you go take a break, mates," Phil suggested, and no one argued. Jonny sat at one of the pews in the church, talking on the phone, and Chris sat next to him, both curious and concerned.

"Are... are you serious?" Jonny asked. Chris wondered if he was receiving good news or bad news.

"But... but that was one night. I didn't think-"

Chris frowned. Something was wrong.

"But we used-"

God, what could be happening right now? Who is he talking to? Is everything ok?

"Of course I'm happy! It's just... bad timing. We don't even live in the same country."

He was talking to Chloe. Chris was sure of it, now.

"You're right. I'm sorry."

Chris rubbed Jonny's back and Jonny gently grabbed Chris' hand to reassure him.

"Ok. Take care. Bye bye."

When he hung up the phone, he put his face in his hands and took a deep breath.

"Is everything ok, J?"

Jonny nodded and looked up at his friend. "Yeah. I just got some... big news, and I can't tell if it's good or bad yet."

Chris gave a tiny smile and squeezed Jonny's hand. "What is it? Are you ok?"

Jonny sighed and nodded. "I'm... I'm going to be a dad, Chris."

Time stood still as Chris imagined Jonny making love to Chloe. His beautiful lips travelling up her body, causing her to shiver, and making her moan. Jonny was going to be a dad. He was proud of his friend, as becoming a dad was a huge step in a man's life. But he was jealous that Chloe got all the fun.

Still, he forced a grin and encouraged his friend. "That's great news, J! Why would it be bad news? Having a kid is the best thing in the world!"

Jonny sighed. "Because Chloe lives in Argentina still. I wasn't ready to have a kid with her yet. I wanted to take it slow and wait until we had married and she had moved to London to live with me."

Chris nodded. "You can work it out, though. I'm sure she'll be by your side  before your child is born."

Jonny nodded and a silent tear rolled down his cheek. "I just don't kbow what will happen. I love her, but I don't know if I can handle everything. It's all happening so fast. I'll have to buy a bigger house, make room for her and our child, blah blah, blah, and we're not even married yet. I feel... dirty. I just wasn't ready yet."

Chris raised his eyebrows. "I mean, you were the one who fucked her..."

Jonny rolled his eyes and huffed. "We used protection, you knob! I don't know what happened!" More tears were sliding down his face, and Chris wiped them away with his finger.

"Don't cry, J. Everything is going to work out. You're going to be the best dad in the whole wide world! Even better than me, and I'm pretty fucking good," he said with a chuckle.

Jonny laughed and Chris felt a pang in his chest. I'm sorry it hurts you, J. It hurts me, too.

"So are you going to keep the baby?"

"Of course! At least, I want to. After all, it's my child, my creation."

Chris smiled. "It'll be amazing, J. You'll love being a dad."

"And you promise to be a good uncle, right?" Jonny was smiling now, and it made Chris so happy to see that his mood had improved after their talk.

"I'll be the best almost-uncle that you've ever met, Jonny Boy! Mark my words!" They both erupted into giggles, and Phil called them back to rehearsal.

"You blokes better get back here before Guy actually dies from boredom!" He shouted from across the room.

They all chuckled and quickly head back to their instruments, where Chris and Jonny shared a knowing look, a smile, and a brand new song.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Hello, again, Chloe!" Chris greeted sweetly. The pregnant woman smiled at him and asked for his help in bringing in her bags.

Jonny had moved into his new place only a month before, and Chris had promised that he'd help Chloe and him move in together once she arrived.

He'd left Gwenyth with the kids for the week and stayed at Jonny's new house, waiting for Chloe to arrive with everything she needed to start her new life. The two had made sure that their time together was put to good use, so they did everything they could in the two days before Chloe arrived in London.

They'd fallen asleep on the couch together the night before, and were startled to awaken to Chloe's pleas for help outside.

Chris had done everything he could to help. He brought in her bags, he put stuff in its place, he showed her around, and even attempted to make her breakfast.

"Toast?" She asked him, slightly disappointed. Jonny laughed.

"Hey, be grateful you got anything. I burnt my hand twice just trying to get them out of the toaster!" Chris said with a giggle. Chloe joined the two of them.

"Do you want me to teach you how to cook, Chris? Me madre taught me plenty of cooking tricks."

Jonny scoffed. "Don't bother. I've been trying to teach him for years. He's simply unteachable!"

Chris gasped in mock surprise. "How dare you say such a thing, Jonny Boy? I can cook plenty!"

"Name one."

"Cereal."

There was silence for a moment before they all erupted into a fit of laughter. "You're hopeless, mate!" Jonny shouted through the giggles.

When they settled down, Chloe smiled at Chris. "That's alright, Chris. I can make you breakfast."

"Would you really?" Jonny asked.

Chloe nodded. "Of course! I love cooking! Especially when I know people will enjoy it." She winked at the guitarist, who blushed. It was true, in addition to being utterly gorgeous, funny, and bright, she was a fantastic chef.

"That would be so sweet of you, Chloe!" Chris said, expressing his gratitude, then laughing at his poor attempt at breakfast.

"My pleasure."

After breakfast, all of them talked nonsense, watched a movie, and Chris called his wife while Jonny and Chloe got accustomed to living together.

"I can't believe in a few months, I'll be a dad," J whispered. Chloe kissed his face gently.

"I wouldn't want anyone else to be the father of my child," she replied sweetly.

Chris came back to them making out on the couch, and pretended to be disgusted.

"Give us some privacy, you wanker!" Jonny teased. Chloe giggled and Chris smirked.

"You're the one who invited me over!"

"That doesn't mean you can interrupt our session!" Jonny said, the playful tone still in his voice.

Chris laughed. "My bad, J! I'll be leaving now!" He quickly retreated to the bedroom, but the romantic mood had already been ruined.

"Are you sleepy, love?" The word rolled off his tongue without a hitch, and he was suddenly glad that Chris wasn't in the room to hear the pet name for her.

"A little, but I'll manage."

The rest of the night was filled with  lazy activities, with the three of them, Chris feeling like a third wheel. "Should I leave you two alone?" He kept asking them.

It was always Jonny who answered with a firm, "No! Stay with us!" or a plead such as, "Please don't go, Chrissy." Hesitantly, Chris stayed every time Jonny told him to.

When Chloe fell asleep and it was just the two of them, Jonny asked for Chris to step outside with him.

"Is everything ok, J?"

He shrugged. "I just... are you ok, Chris? You've seemed a bit distant. I don't know."

Chris cocked his head in confusion. "What makes you say that, J?"

Jonny shrugged again. "You've just been trying to avoid me, it seems."

The other man grabbed his shoulders. "Why would I do that? I'm just trying to allow you and Chlo some time to get used to the idea of living together, you know?"

Jonny nodded, then chuckled. "Yeah... yeah, I don't know what I was thinking."

"J?"

"Don't worry about it. You're right. Sorry for bothering you."

Chris shook his head. "No, J. Tell me what's wrong. Please."

The man with the green eyes looked to the ground. How would I tell Chris that I still love him and was considering breaking up with Chloe if he was hurt? I would've done it for him.

"Nothing, Chris. I'm going to bed."

Jonny left him standing there without another word.