This Means War

What Did We Miss?

Brian was surprised to find that he'd stayed most of the evening with his ex wife. And it managed to be a decent time. She was sweet and charming...even more so than when they were married. He guessed it was because they didn't have any pressure to make things work...they could just relax and enjoy the company.

He didn't even mind when Val and Matt went upstairs to put River to bed, leaving he and Michelle alone in front of the small fire pit they'd lit in the pool area. He lounged on one of the fancy lawn chairs while Michelle settled herself comfortably on the chaise lounger. Through the flames, he caught her brown eyed stare more than once. She seemed to want to say something but couldn't make the words come out. 

"So you heard the news about the new baby?" he asked initiating conversation.

A slow sad smile spread across her face as she nodded slowly "I did. I'm so happy for them."

"That doesn't look like a happy smile," he nudged with a slight smirk before pulling a sip from his beer bottle.

She looked down at her hands as she rubbed them up and down her legs. "Oh...it is..I am happy for them...it's just...."

He waited and when she didn't reply, he asked "It's just what?"

She shrugged slightly. It was one of her nervous gestures. If he hadn't known her so well, he would have missed it but you can't be married to someone for so long and miss their cues. 

"Michelle," he said in a low voice.

She chuckled nervously. "I don't know Bri...I guess it just...well Val has two kids and I..."

"You don't have any," he finished for her, surprised that her reaction to finding out her sister and best friend having a baby was the same as his.

"Yeah," she said "I just thought by now I'd have a family started."

He squirmed a bit in his seat. "There is still time, Chell, it's not like you're ancient."

"Geez Bri, I know that," she shook her head. "That's not what I was saying, Bri."

"Then what are you saying?" he said knowing damn well what was going to come out of her mouth. He didn't think he necessarily wanted to hear it but he knew after all they'd been through, he at least owed her that much...to let her get it off of her chest after all this time.

She frowned and fussed with her perfect ponytail. "I guess I always thought that you and me...."

"We weren't ready," he blurted quickly cutting her train of thought. "We couldn't raise kids acting like kids."

She laughed at his immediate reaction. "I know that Bri...it doesn't make it any less sad. Right?"

He took a deep breath and listened to the flames crackle for a few seconds before replying. "You're right, Chelle."

She gave him a crooked smile. "So Val tells me you're seeing someone."

Marley's purple eyes and freckles popped into his mind and he knew he had to keep himself from smiling widely. He didn't want to hurt Michelle. "Just a few dates. Nothing serious," he replied.

She snorted softly "Must be serious if she makes your face light up like that."

Damn, he thought. So much for keeping the smile off of his face. "Just hanging out," he said in an even voice.. 

"I remember when you and I used to just hang out," she said matching his even tone.

He sipped his beer. She waited for him to reply but he refused to move on with the conversation.

She tried a different topic. "So when does that cast come off?"

He slammed the fiberglass on the chair arm. "Not soon enough."

"Another couple of weeks?" she asked as he struggled to yank on the cast.

"Tomorrow," he said giving up on being able to pull it off.

She gave a genuine laugh at that. "I guess you can't wait till tomorrow then."

He conjured Marley's face again and smiled. "Yeah...I can't wait."

She watched him intently over the flames again before they heard the sliding glass door crash open.

"Oh my God," Val said loudly as she returned holding a large glass of ice water. "I'm sorry that took so long. River was a bear to put down."

"No problem," Brian said downing the rest of his beer and Michelle downcast her eyes again.

"So," Val asked as Matt joined them and handed Brian a new bottle. "What did we miss?"