"Really!? What are they?" he asks excitedly, following her into the bus. "Gah! I'm so excited!" he says with an almost childish glee.

"Oh, wow.." Sam says, sitting down. He's overwhelmed with the thought of being a father. "I really don't know. I'm not good at names...do you have any ideas?"

"How about Nichole Junior?" he says jokingly. "Or Smurfette. Smurfette Fischer. We'd be setting her up for a life of ridicule."

Sam wakes up next to Nichole and smiles, happy to be back together with his wife. Very carefully, so as not to wake her up, he slides out of bed and pulls some clothes on. He makes himself a cup of coffee and heads outside, looking for somebody to talk to.

"Erich!" Sam calls out, happy to see his friend. "How you been, man? It's been forever!" he extends his hand for handshake but then decides a hug is more appropriate. "How's the tour going?"

"It hasn't charted yet, but that's nothing new. Mainstream audiences aren't exactly appreciative of our style of music," he says back, laughing. "Yeah, I figured touring would be rough on her. I'm glad you and Ada are around to keep an eye on her." He looks back at the bus, a slightly dreamy look in his eyes. "I can't believe I'm gonna be a dad...it's totally surreal." He looks back to Erich. "That also means you're going to be an uncle. Be warned."

"Not at all," he says, looking a bit uneasy. "I'm sure I'll learn. The best way to learn is to make mistakes, right?"

"Hopefully.." Sam says. "I don't want to mess them up...what if they become, like, crazy serial killers or something?" he sighs. "It's scary."

"I wish kids were more like cats...if you leave a cat alone it doesn't die." Sam shrugs. "It can't be that bad...can it?" he asks. "I mean, you guys will help out, right?"

Mariko is sitting on her bed. Painting her toenails with one hand,eating Pizza rolls with the other. Her phone buzzes and then rings. The ringtone is the powerpuff girls theme. It's her cousin calling. Mariko picks it up.

Mariko:hitomi!

Erica: Mariko! How are you?

Mariko: um,fine. Why?

Erica: I saw what went on with you and vara. You ok?

Mariko: *sighs loudly* I hate her so much,hitomi. She is mean for the sake of being mean.

Erica: no. She is mean because you let her get away with it. Put that bitch in her place.

Mariko: she called me ugly.

Erica:so? She looks like one of those brats dolls

Mariko:*giggles* she totally does.

Erica: listen. You are In the music industry now. It's like high school,prison,and Disney land all combined. Quit trying to be the bigger person. Nobody admires that here. Go for the throat and don't let go until the blood stops flowing.

Mariko: um,why did you not do that with Nichole?

Erica: Nichole was still my friend through it all. I cared to maintain that relationship. Do you have any feelings like that towards vara?

Mariko: no. But I like Trent.he is very kind.

Erica: I am sure he knows the bitch she can be. Just like Sam knew how Nichole is. Vara is still on the bench in the minor leagues compared to Nichole's level of bitchiness.

Mariko: she compared me to you. It's like she knew just what to say to me.

Erica:*sighs* it's a cross I have to bear. Wot being the picture of Japanese beauty and all. *laughs*

Mariko:*laughs* silly hitomi-chan. Seriously,you know how that irritates me though. Maybe I should get surgery too.

Erica: Mariko,I did my surgery for me. Not because someone said a cross word to me. Before Italian stallion said anything to you,did you think you were pretty?

Mariko:*shrugs* a little. Envy always told me I was pretty. I do not think She would lie to me.

Erica: your face is unique and very pretty. In fact, if I weren't married and you weren't my cousin..

Mariko: creepy! You always make me feel better.

Erica: *giggles* good. Next time,cut that bitch off at the knees. Where is the Mariko who made the kid in the wheel chair cry?

Mariko: In my defense he started it.

Erica: you disabled his brakes and pushed him down a hill!

Mariko: he STARTED it. It's not like he felt it when his legs broke.

Erica: see? You are an evil bitch under that smile.



Mariko: ok,hitomi. I love you.

Erica: I love you too,Mariko. *hangs up*

Mariko lies back on her bed with the plate on her chest. She smirks and shuts her eyes to sleep.