Belinda and Aly were wonderful mothers.

No, really.

They always looked out for the best interests of their sons. Of course, Aly had to deal with the fact that Metis could not be denser, not without something imploding, and Belinda had to deal with Josh's slight tendency to punch people. And/or throw them against the wall.

Moral support: It is a gift from the gods.

xxx

"So, how has dear Metis been holding up?" Belinda asked, setting a glass of lemonade in front of Aly. It was a little late for lemonade, but Josh had been too busy brooding to drink any of it, so there was plenty extra.

"Pretty good, considering," Aly said, grinning slyly, "Maybe he's actually figured it out. Doubtfully."

"You have to admit, it does seem a bit unlikely, after all this time." Munch, munch. Aly made excellent brownies (Her secret: Hen House mixes. Mmm mm, good. Wait, wrong food item.)

"So, what about Josh, then?"

"Well, since we haven't heard from him this evening, I suppose he's feeling a bit down, understandably. He did, well…"

"Shoot himself in the foot? Screw himself over?" Aly rested her arm on the table, leaning on it with a raised eyebrow. "Any objections to my spot-on analysis?"

Belinda gave a little smile. "No, I suppose not. Well, there was bit of alcohol to account for, you know."

Aly waved a hand. "Not enough to account for everything. Though speaking of alcohol, I could do with some at the moment. Thinking about this for too long gives me a headache." She rubbed her temples.

With a knowing nod, Belinda grabbed a bottle of wine from the cabinet, along with a glass. "Well, I suppose I'll have some too," she said after a moment's consideration, and took a second glass.

"The more the merrier," Aly said cheerfully, downing the glass Belinda poured in one gulp.

"You know, that's not quite how you drink wine, typically."

"Well, I don't know about you, but I think my way is a lot more fun," Aly replied, pouring herself another glass, and filling Belinda's all the way to the top (She had only filled it a fourth of the way full, originally). "Come now, join the party."

Belinda laughed prettily, and took a gulp.

xxx

Three fourths or so of the bottle later, and neither of them was quite on the right side of sober.

Belinda giggled in a decidedly unladylike manner. "You, you know, this is a lot of fun, you're right."

Another sly grin. "Of course I am, always right, me."

"Always, no, wouldn't say always."

"You make really good lemonade, you know. Really good. 'Specially with wine. It's pink lemonade now, see?"

"Never tried that. Hmm."

"Here, taste." Aly took a gulp, and leaned over.

"You know, that's fun, too," Belinda said thoughtfully, after they broke apart.

Aly laughed a bit breathlessly, and pulled Belinda up by her arm. "C'mon!" she said, and dragged her upstairs.

xxx

When Josh woke up in the morning to find a woman he didn't know at all in his kitchen, munching happily on some waffles, he decided it best not to ask.