"Oh, wow! Congratulations, you guys. You know, after George's apprehensive attitude last time we spoke about children, I thought it would be years before you guys became parents. And even then, I was sceptical that it would happen at all. But I guess I was wrong. This is fantastic news."

George listens to Nancy's monologue about Stephanie's pregnancy impatiently, although doing his absolute best to hide this fact. The last few days, his sole existence has consisted of nothing but announcing the news that he's going to be a father, to family and friends. Naturally, the reactions have been that of excitement — with Andrew being the exception, due to his secret insight into George's true identity. As George glances discreetly across the room to his lifelong pal, he picks up on the subtle confusion and concern evident in his features. The silent exchange is only short-lived, as Stephanie turns to smile at her boyfriend; thus forcing him to break eye contact with Andrew, to look at her in return.

"Well, it would be a lie to say it wasn't a shock," George comments quickly, in a bid to eliminate the awkward lack of speech between them all. "Definitely a Christmas surprise, that's for certain."

"But a wonderful one," Nancy affirms. "Oh, I bet you're both so excited about the next few months."

"We're all going to be going on this journey together," Stephanie beams, sliding an arm around George to bring him in closer to her. "Our babies can be best friends for life. Doesn't that sound so cute?"

"It does." Nancy gives Stephanie a genuine smile, but her eyes flit briefly to George; for she still has her own reservations about the situation. "Have you got any names you like?"

"George said he doesn't mind about the name, so I get free reign," Stephanie brags. "Obviously we don't know the gender yet, but regardless, it would have to be a name that flows nicely with Panayiotou."

"I'm sure you'll figure it out, babe." George attempts to dismiss or divert the topic; the reason he wishes not to partake in the name selection is so that he doesn't form as much of an emotional attachment to his child. "But anyway ... how are wedding plans coming along for you guys?"

"That's actually another thing we wanted to talk about," Andrew responds. "Nancy and I had a couple of propositions."

"Oh?" George raises one brow curiously.

"Well, I'd like to think that it'll be obvious what I'm going to ask you, Yog." Andrew shakes his head in amusement, before his expression melts into one that's more serious. "George, would you be my best man?" He smiles faintly in anticipation of George's reaction, despite knowing the answer. "What do you say?"

"I say absolutely," George beams. He stands up, with Andrew following suit; the pair share a 'manly' hug. "I'd be honoured, mate."

"Excellent," Andrew grins. "I'm looking forward to having you by my side. Nancy also has something to ask Stephanie, too."

"Oooh, let's hear it," Stephanie encourages.

"Stephanie ... " Nancy takes Stephanie's hands in her own. "Would you like to be one of my bridesmaids?"

Stephanie's face lights up immediately; although her and Nancy have developed a legitimate friendship since they met, she never expected to be viewed so importantly. "Really? You want me to be a bridesmaid?"

"Of course!" Nancy chuckles at Stephanie's enthusiasm. "I think you're lovely, and you deserve the world." Once more, she gives George a doubtful side-glance.

"Thank you," Stephanie replies, before squealing. "Of course I'll be a bridesmaid! I'm so excited."

George catches the strange way Nancy is watching him; in result, he tugs at Andrew's arm. "Andy, would you mind coming with me into the kitchen? I need help carrying some drinks through for everyone."

"Yeah, 'course." Andrew is none-the-wiser as he trails behind his pal into the next room. Once they're out of earshot, Andrew's face contorts in confusion. "Everyone's drinks are topped up, George. We don't need more yet."

"What does Nancy know?" George asks abruptly, his voice a distressed whisper. "She keeps looking at me as if she knows I'm guilty of something."

"You know she's had suspicions about you before," Andrew reminds him. "That's probably all it is. Or maybe she just thinks you should help choose your kid's name. I don't know."

"Have you told her anything?" By now, George's expression heavily suggests frustration. "Because you promised me that you wouldn't say a single word to her about anything I've told you. If you've gone against that promise, I swear this friendship is ov—"

"Oh, shut up Yog. There's no way in hell I'd ever break a promise; not even for my own fiancée." He folds his arms, offended that his best friend would accuse him so strongly. "I thought you trusted me."

"Oh, come on Andrew. Don't start getting stroppy with me." George snickers, pinching Andrew's cheeks with his fingers. "You know I trust you. I just have to be sure. Come on. Let me see the smile, you tosser."

"Alright, alright." Andrew can't help but laugh at George's persuasion, as he swats the Greek's hands away from his face. "Fine. I'm not upset. I just don't want you to doubt me."

"I just have to be sure. This is a big deal to me." George sighs, leaning his back against the kitchen counter. "As nice as it'll be to have a baby, it's not exactly what I had in mind for my early twenties."

"I'm guessing it wasn't planned."

"Of course it wasn't. She dropped the bombshell on me a few days ago. The only reason I'm not interested in the name of this kid, is because I don't want to become too attached." He frowns, rubbing his face with the entirety of his hand. "I told Levi I wanted a family with him one day. I've always been dead-set against having children at all. But lately my mind has changed, and now I don't know how to feel. I'm excited in one sense about having a son or a daughter, but ... not with her."

"So let me get this straight." Andrew facepalms at his poor choice of phrasing again. "I need to get out of the habit of using that wording. But let me just clarify: you're excited about having a baby, but you don't want to become attached to said baby. Correct?"

"That's the idea, yeah." George shakes his head in shame. "This is why my head is so fucked up. I'm torn, Andrew. I told Levi that I wasn't happy about the situation — I'm not! But ... I just don't know what to do, now. I've been trying to rack my brain since I found out Steph was pregnant."

"I think the best solution is to tell Stephanie the truth," Andrew suggests. "Tell her you're interested in men, and that you've found someone new; but that you are willing to be there for the baby and co-parent."

"That makes me sound like the shittiest human being to grace the planet," George murmurs. "Plus, it may be difficult to be around for the baby once I've left Stephanie."

"Why?"

"Levi wants me to move to Goring to live with him." George spots Andrew's expression of surprise, so he doesn't allow him to voice an opinion. "I know! I know exactly what you're thinking. You don't need to say it. I'm trying to figure things out. I know I'm leaving my life here behind if I go there. I'd be neglecting my child; and I'd be ditching my family; and I wouldn't see you as often." His demeanour softens; he becomes suddenly much more vulnerable. "But nobody knows how much I love this man, Andrew. He's everything to me. I can't keep holding on to my past once I've jumped off the merry-go-round. It'll have taken me a lifetime, by that point, to be unapologetically myself ... I'll need to let go of some things in order to move on and be happy."

"How far away is Goring?" Andrew looks a little saddened at the idea of his friend moving away from London.

"It's not far from Reading, I guess. It's ... it's only a train journey away. I'll come and visit you, and you can visit me. I'll want to stick around for your child, too. And obviously my own. It's just a lot of ... you know, working stuff out. It's just the logistics of everything."

"But you'll figure it all out, won't you?" Andrew's eyes avert downwards to the floor, as he deems it inappropriate to make eye contact in this moment. "You'll make it all work out in the end?"

"Of course. If it's in the name of happiness, then I'll suss it out." He chuckles softly, almost in a self-deprecating manner. "Lord knows I need some happiness, with how miserable my existence has been."

"Hey — you're going to get back on track," Andrew reassures him, placing his hands on George's shoulders. "You've found the love of your life, and you've got a baby on the way. It may not be under the circumstances you wanted, but you're lucky to have two of the things you've yearned for — some for longer than others, sure — and that's what you need to focus on. Everything else will fall into place. It won't be plain-sailing — but once the shitstorm is over, you'll be great."

"When did you become so grown-up, hey?" George asks disparagingly. "Is the dad life really changing you this much?"

"You say that as if you won't end up the same." Although Andrew is laughing, he finds himself tearing up — something that never usually happens. "We really are growing up, aren't we? Both having children; I'm getting married; you're planning on moving away ... why did nobody tell us adult life was so challenging?"

"We aren't the ugly little kids we were in Year Seven anymore," George mocks gently. "We have responsibilities now. It sort of sucks, doesn't it?"

"I'm excited about the future, Yog. But at the same time, I miss how things used to be. We've had some good times, haven't we?"

"And we will continue to have good times, no matter where life takes us." George takes his turn at resting a comforting hand on Andrew's shoulder. "Having kids and being further apart doesn't mean our friendship is over. We're stuck with each other for life, so you'll just have to live with that."

• • •

George stands waiting, with the phone to his ear as it rings; eventually, he hears the voice that he's been waiting for.

"Hello?"

"Hey, you." The undeniable affection in George's voice is beautiful on the ears. "I've been waiting all day to call you."

"Did you have a nice time catching up with Andrew and Nancy?"

"Yeah, it was good. Andrew asked me to be best man for his wedding. Nancy asked Steph to be a bridesmaid."

"That was nice of them. When's the wedding?" Levi asks, in an attempt to maintain conversation.

"I know that they said it was in March next year. Unsure of the date. So it's about three months away."

"That's pretty soon, isn't it?"

"Nancy's family are religious. They don't want her to have the baby out of wedlock — and I think they're due around May, June time." George laughs softly, for no particular reason. "They're due only a little before Stephanie is."

"Wow. They're really going to be little buddies for life, aren't they?" Levi jokes.

"That's what Stephanie keeps going on about. But I told Andrew that you wanted me to move to Goring once I've come out. He ... took it as well as you can imagine."

"It'll be hard for him to lose his best friend," Levi acknowledges sensitively. "You both grew up together."

"I know. But sometimes part of growing up is finding your own way and doing what makes you happy. Even if it means me having to move away from him and my family." George expels a small breath, almost taken aback at his mature outlook. "Although, he also said to me that he'd like you to attend the wedding. You know, so he can properly meet you. And so that I have my partner at my best friend's wedding."

"That's really kind of him," Levi answers; just by his tone, it's clear that he's genuinely grateful for this. "Tell him I'll be there. It's crazy how the people you're closest to know I exist now. It takes some element of stress away from creeping around."

"It does. But obviously, we can't really be seen acting too friendly on that day."

"Hang on a second."

"What?"

"You called me your partner," Levi points out. "I thought you didn't want to call me your boyfriend."

"It's just complex," George huffs in defeat. "I know what you are, but I guess I'm just nervous about saying it that way because of the situation."

"It's alright. I understand. But just remember that you have to leave Stephanie before you can come and be with me for good."

"I know. And I will, when I'm ready to. I promise. I won't be unreasonable. It's just fear."

"I get it. Just please remember that there's a line between me being accepting of how long you take, and finding the balance with making sure I don't waste my time. I'm willing to wait for you. But please don't fob me off by dragging it out for the sake of it."

"I'll try my best. I wouldn't want to abuse your trust in me. I'm figuring things out slowly; I need to navigate my way through Steph's pregnancy and everything. But I'll make it work. Everything will work out in the end." Despite having his own reservations about the future, George tries his hardest to remain optimistic. "Do you trust me?"

"Yeah," Levi answers. "I do. If I didn't, I wouldn't be so patient with you, darling."

"Well, I appreciate it." George smiles to himself, as his eyes flit to the ground below him. "Anyway, I'll have to go now. Stephanie will be back from the shop soon. She went out to buy some milk, or something. Mind you, she's taking her time. I won't complain, though."

"Probably taking her time to avoid hurting the baby or something."

"It wouldn't surprise me. She's excitable, but she's rather paranoid. I can barely touch her without her worrying about hurting the baby now." George finds light amusement in this. "Which I suppose isn't the worst thing. I've not had to do the deed with her for a little while now — which means I feel less guilty."

"Just don't get too comfortable with her," Levi advises. "The last thing you want, is to form an attachment to her when you're about to leave."

"I wouldn't. I'd have to be attracted to her for that."

Levi laughs. "That's true. Anyway, go and relax. You're back at work tomorrow, aren't you?"

"Unfortunately. I'd like to think my colleagues will be kind though."

"You'll be alright. I'll call you tomorrow evening, okay?"

"Sounds good to me," George beams. "I love you."

"I love you too, George," Levi replies. "Bye, for now."

"Bye."

George waits for the few seconds of silence; until he hears the all-too-familiar beep to signify that Levi has hung up the phone. He places it back on its receiver, before trudging over to the living room door; he opens it, entering the room to sit on the sofa. Leaning forward, he presses his chin to his hands, unsure on how to kill time before Stephanie returns. After a brief period of nothingness, the phone rings again; George furrows his brows, puzzled, as he makes his way back into the hallway. He grabs the phone, holding it to his ear.

"Hello?"

"George?"

"Mel? Why are you calling me so out-of-the-blue?"

"Tee's asking after you," she answers, referring to George's sweet little niece. "She's been in a bit of an accident, and she's asking for Uncle Yoggie. Would you be able to come and see her?"

"Oh my god," George gasps. "Is she okay? Fuck! Where are you guys?"

"We're at A&E," Melanie responds. "She's waiting to be seen by the doctors. Would you be able to come?"

"Of course. I'll leave a note for Steph, and then I'll be right over."

"Thank you Gogos. See you soon." With no more words spoken, Melanie hangs up the phone.

"Shit," George curses to himself; he frantically fumbles around for a pen and some paper to write a quick note to Stephanie.

Steph,

I'll be back later. Family emergency. It will be ok though. Sorry for the short notice. See you later on

George xx

After scrawling out the short letter, he leaves it by the telephone; he grabs his jacket and car keys, before heading out the door.

• • •

Chapter thirty-seven! Hope you're still enjoying the story. xx