Ain't no mountain high enough

 

It was a new world, even if Yuki wasn't sure about her step-mommy role. True, she felt a little bit more like a dad, but that was Axton's role.

He finally came clean about what was going on with the preschool. He was still waiting to find out when he could return to class. Yes, she knew he was feeling down even if he was trying to be his happy self with  Em and Baby Rory. 

"I'm sure you aren't going to lose your job," she said she had heard from someone who used to work there how many were moving to other places to work. She knew it was hard working at a government job. 

Axton said the waiting was horrible, but he was glad to have Chili to come home too. After all, he'd moved out of the basement, even if she wished he could stay over a night or two to help out with Rory. Yuki was not going to ask.

Yet, he surprised her. He said he could stay a couple of nights on the couch if she'd let him. 

"Of course, I want to see all your newborn skills," Yuki's smile was open. She said she promised him a homemade meal every night.

It was good, they could be so agreeable. Still, she wasn't sure she could be friends with Remi. Somehow, she would never want to be alone with her ex, even if Remi was married with a baby on the way.

Of course, there was word about Melissa and Riley when Brandon and Declan dropped by with diapers and food.

"Did you see them?" Brandon was worried.

"No, Melissa wasn't with Riley," Yuki shrugged. "Melissa went to her sister's."

"They broke up," Brandon said as he loaded up the fridge with cold salads and veggies.

"What?" Yuki cracked a laugh as if this must be a late April Fool's joke. "They wouldn't." She remembered how long they'd been together. Yet they weren't married. Yuki hugged herself, thinking of Em. Really, they needed to have their own wedding. She hoped it would be soon.

"Well," Brandon sighed. "Riley wants a baby. Melissa doesn't."

"That's it?" Yuki thought it would have been something worse. She scowled as if this was a big surprise.

"Melissa hasn't moved out," Brandon squinted as if there was a chance they would make up, somehow.

"Oh, you aren't going to help them are you?" Yuki wanted to know.

"What do you mean?" Brandon's face tensed as he kept his arms crossed looking at Yuki as if she was crazy.

"You know, possibly your sperm," Yuki told him that Riley always thought a lot of him. She could see that happening.

"Well, it's not." Brandon sounded as if there was no wiggle room about it. About then Axton roamed in to see what Brandon brought. They both looked at him.

"What?" He winced as if maybe it was not OK to take a brownie on the table. 

"Nothing." Brandon and Yuki said in unison with a blank look on their faces.