Milkshake Hearts

Chapter 40: Kids on Camera

A/N: I had to double check what day it is because the week before christmas is wild, but it is indeed Wednesday morning my time so update time! Also, fluff-central for a few chapters and I quite like this section tbh

————————————————

Chris, Julie and the kids arrive in California mid-morning on the following Monday, staying at Shayne's parents house in Thousand Oaks. Courtney and Shayne request the Tuesday and Wednesday off, and they get it, except they have to work Tuesday morning to get a shoot done first.

"You know, Burbank is closer to Disney than Thousand Oaks, we can meet you at the office?" Chris suggests, on a phone call a couple of days beforehand.

"You sure, guys? That'd be ideal, we'll give you the directions," Shayne answers, and it is arranged.

They end up having a second video thrown into their schedule in their early morning meeting, and Shayne meets Courtney's eyes across the table when it's discussed.

"We know you've gotta go have your family time, we will try our best to be done by 11," Sarah reassures them, clearly seeing their look.

"Okay, okay," Shayne answers, relaxing back into his chair.

Their first shoot is a quick Pit sketch just screwing around with some tiktok challenges in the studio, and it's fine – they finish it right on time. The next, though, is another Family Style shoot, with Damien, Ian, Sarah, Courtney, Shayne and Tommy playing a silly two-player indie fighting game. The punishments aren't too intense, for once, and they're glad – the last thing they want is to have to rapidly clean up before their family turn up.

"Oh my god how long does this take," Shayne complains loudly, for the show of the camera, although everyone in the room knows he's being serious as the shoot drags on. Courtney is fighting increasingly hard not to look worried, although she knows from the clock on the bottom of one of the monitors opposite them that it is five minutes past when they were meant to meet their family outside their office.

"I'm sorry but our family were meant to be here seven minutes ago I need to shoot them a text," Shayne calls out, in the quiet space after Courtney endures her mild punishment – a mystery top hat that ends up being filled with confetti just large enough it shouldn't stick in her hair too much -, typing away at his phone to let Chris know they're stuck in a shoot.

"Are they outside? I can go let them into the building at least, it's Chris and Julie right?" Garret calls from behind the cameras.

"Yeah, could you?" Shayne replies, adding to his text. Garret nods, quickly slipping out of the room before they finally move onto their second-last match. It's another long one, to their annoyance, Damien and Ian battling it out for a full three minutes. It is at the end of their match that Garret reappears, glancing around the room, before he steps inside and holds the door open; Julie, Chris and the children walking in quietly behind him.

Nathan looks beyond excited, pointing at Shayne and silently bouncing on his toes, evidently having been told he had to be quiet because they were working. Rosie, for her part, is in her mother's arms, wide eyes roaming around the room until she peers between the TV and one of their cameras and sees Courtney, waving at her shyly in response. Courtney can't help but glance away from the cameras and smile warmly back at Rosie.

"Hey, so can we acknowledge that Shayne and Courtney just went like that because Shayne's brother and his family just walked in, kids included?" Ian points out, half-teasing and half-asking if he can indeed acknowledge their presence. Courtney laughs, glancing over to Shayne to see him shrug, although he is smiling warmly. Rosie, for her part, is now reaching out trying to get away from her mother, and it makes half the crew on set laugh too. Chris gives a thumbs up from behind the camera, signalling it's okay to acknowledge their presence.