Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon. If I did, my life would be happy and complete and I would have money to pay geneticists to make Pokémon real. Que triste.

Note: Green is male, Blue is female. It just makes more sense that way.

- / - / - / -

He walked up the steps to her front door and paused before knocking. I do not need to psych myself up for this. It's just HER. And it's just for a bet. So chill out. This night'll be over soon, and we can go back to being friends. Okay, he thought, raising his hand to the brass doorknocker, here goes.

She opened the door, looking irritated.

"You're late," Blue said. Green narrowed his eyes at her.

"It's not like this is a real date," Green retorted, "So I can be as late as I please."

"That's no way to talk to a girl, now is it?" Blue pouted. "I got all dressed up for you, too."

Green's eyes scanned Blue. She was wearing a bright green low-cut shirt and a very short black skirt. He raised his eyebrows.

"Let's just go, okay?"

"Have it your way, then," Blue said, closing the front door and following him down the front walk.

"I always do," Green said smugly.

"So, where're you taking me?" Blue asked in a low, sultry voice.

"No where. You said you were going to pick the restaurant," Green said, shooting her a look. "Seeing as you won the bet."

"Oh, damn it," Blue cursed. "I forgot."

"That's not really like you," Green noted. Blue shrugged. He slowed to a stop, and she stopped too. "So what exactly do you plan to do now, genius?"

"Well, we could go back to my house," Blue said slowly. Green shook his head. "Oh, calm down, I'm not trying to seduce you. We can make spaghetti or something and then you will have paid me back for beating you so spectacularly."

"That was at a game of Monopoly," Green said, stung. "It's not like you could beat me if, say, we had a battle."

"Make bets at what you know you can win next time, then," Blue advised. "So c'mon, let's go."

"This is ridiculous," Green said, turning and following Blue back to her front door. Blue opened the door with a flourish and invited him in. Green rolled his eyes and crossed the threshold. He wouldn't ever admit it, but he was intrigued; he'd never been in her house before.

"Kitchen's this way," Blue called as Green looked around. There were a few pictures on the wall of Blue and her parents in the Sevii Islands, but most of the pictures were of her friends: Red, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and himself, Green. He tried not to be flattered when he saw a picture of just Green and Blue as he followed her to the kitchen. It was, after all, the only picture that was of only two people.

"So, we're making spaghetti, are we?" Green asked when he reached the kitchen. "Then I can leave?"

"No, you have to eat it, too," Blue said absently as she searched the cabinets for noodles. She had to reach quite high in some cases, and Green tried (and failed) to not watch the hem of Blue's skirt as it edged towards the dangerous length of obscenely short. "Okay, so I can't find spaghetti noodles. But I have Penne and angelhair pasta. Your choice."

She held both bags out for his scrutiny. Green gave both bags a cursory glance before deciding on angelhair. Blue grinned.

"Good, that's my favorite. Now, get off your butt and help me," Blue ordered, turning and placing the bag of angelhair pasta on the counter and stowing the Penne back in the cupboard. Green stood and walked to stand behind her.

"What do you want me to do?" Green asked, rolling up the sleeves of his purple shirt. Blue was busy at the cupboards again, kneeling on the counter as she tried to reach the tomato sauces. Green because very interested in the refrigerator magnets to avoid looking up her skirt. Again, he told himself.

"Okay," Blue said, and Green heard her shoes hit the floor. He felt it was safe to look at her again. "We don't have pre-made sauce, so we're making it from scratch. Open these cans of tomato paste and I'll cut up the mushrooms to put in the sauce."

"You put mushrooms in your spaghetti sauce?" Green asked, making a face. Blue shot him a dirty look.

"Yes I do, and you're going to eat it, and you're going to like it," Blue said with finality. Green chuckled and searched the drawers for a can opener. He found it and set to work on opening the tomato paste.

They worked in silence for several minutes before Blue started chattering about the rest of their friends. Green didn't often enjoy talking about their friends, because he didn't much care about the drama they created, but tonight he was more animated that usual. So he joined her in discussing Red's stupidity [because even if he didn't like talking about his friends, Red's stupidity was always a topic Green could get on board with] regarding Yellow, the love triangle between Gold, Silver, and Crystal, and the ridiculous love-hate relationship between Ruby and Sapphire.

After an hour or so, the sauce was bubbling, and the water for the pasta was boiling. Blue was sitting on her counter while Green stirred the angelhair pasta into the boiling water. Green felt they had exhausted the topic of their friends, but apparently Blue did not.

"And, really, can't Ruby just man up and tell Sapphire how he feels?" Blue exclaimed. "Why do you people do that? Tell, me, because I'm really very curious."

Green glanced at her. Blue was looking intently at him. He felt a heat creep inexplicably up his neck. Green did not blush. He just didn't.

"First of all, 'you people?'" Green asked. "And what exactly to we do that offends you so?"

"Fine then, you men.And I mean why do you refuse to admit how you feel, even when it's so obvious?"

"And we're talking about Ruby, right?"

Blue stared at him. "Yeah, sure."

Green had the feeling the conversation was shifting from Ruby to himself. "Well, I don't know. Perhaps he's afraid of rejection."

Blue waved that away with her hand. "I don't believe that for a second. Ruby and Sapphire's case is isolated, because everyone knows that Saph likes Ruby. So rejection isn't the case."

"I'm talking more generally. Often, people don't want to admit how they feel unless they have a guarantee," Green said. Blue was looking at him with a glint in her eye that he certainly didn't want to see. "But what do I know about that?"

"I dunno," Blue said. "What do you know about that?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"The pasta's ready," Green said. "Get a strainer or something."

Blue obliged, and within minutes, they had two bowls of steaming hot pasta smothered in homemade spaghetti sauce.

"Let's just eat in here," Blue said. Green shrugged.

They talked about Pokémon as they ate. Blue was curious as to how the Viridian Gym was running, and Green was happy to tell her that it was running very smoothly. Green then asked about her training, and Blue told him that she was focusing on training her Granbull at the moment. They sat and talked long after the pasta has disappeared from their bowls.

Green glanced at the clock; it read 11:10.

"It's late," Green said, surprised. Blue glanced at the clock too, just as it shifted to 11:11.

"It's 11:11. Make a wish," Blue commented, closing her eyes. Green frowned at her. He did not make wishes. She opened one eye and glared at him. "Do it! Make a wish!"

Green rolled his eyes, but closed his eyes along with her. What exactly am I supposed to wish for? Green wondered. Blue's face flickered behind his closed lids. He smiled slightly. I guess I wish for Blue, then. If I'm wishing at all, which is stupid, I may as well wish for her.

He opened his eyes and saw Blue's eyes fixed on his own.

"Did you make a wish?"

"Yes, obnoxious girl, I made a wish," Green answered. Blue grinned.

"It is late. You should probably go," Blue said quietly. Green nodded. "I'll walk you out."

She walked him to her door and opened it slowly.

"Thanks for this date," Blue smiled. "You definitely fulfilled your end of the bargain."

Green nodded again. He turned to go, but she caught his wrist. When he turned back, her face was barely an inch from his. The proximity made his neck warm for the second time that night. And he stopped thinking. He leaned in and kissed her softly. It was better than he thought it would be. She tasted like spaghetti. Best of all, she kissed him back. When they broke apart, Blue's eyes were still closed. They flickered open and her eyes were once again locked on his. She smiled at him.

"Finally," Blue whispered, leaning her head against his chest.

"Hmm?" Green replied, still in shock over what had just happened. What he had just done?

"Remember we were talking about Ruby and Saph before?" Blue asked. Green nodded. "Well, now I know how you feel."

Green smiled slightly. Maybe wishing at 11:11 really works, Green thought when he finally left Blue's house.

- / - / - / -

It had been nearly five months since their first 'date.' Green and Blue had started very slowly, not really trying to keep it a secret, though that's how it had seemed to their friends.

Blue visited Green at the Viridian Gym around noon and suggested they get lunch. Green had to stay at the Gym, so they compromised and had a sort of picnic on the battlefield. Blue lay on her stomach and Green sat across from her, just watching her. He could watch her for hours.

They talked about inconsequential things, but Green could tell there was something that Blue wanted to say, she just didn't know how to. He didn't press her, but he was curious (and, admittedly, nervous) about whatever was bothering her.

"So," Blue said uncomfortably. This is it, Green thought. "Do you. . . Well, do you ever think about the future?"

Green blinked at her. "Well, of course."

"Am. . .," Blue played with her hair. "Am I in it?"

"Yeah," Green said nonchalantly, suddenly understanding the reason for her visit. Blue's eyes widened.

"I love you, Green," Blue said impulsively. Green's eyes flicked to her.

"And I love you," Green answered, searching through the basket of food Blue had brought from his kitchen. "I thought I'd already established that. . . . Why did you bring this much sugar? You know it's not food if there's no nutritional value."

Blue smiled, happier than she'd been in weeks.

- / - / - / -

It was dark that night. And it was raining. And it was cold. And it was loud.

The Ten Dex Holders were huddled in the Viridian Gym. Green had protested this fiercely, but had, of course, been overruled by the driving rain.

"I'm so bored," Gold complained after only a few minutes. "Green, dude, you have any good board games?"

"This is a Gym, Gold," Green answered dryly. "And I am its leader. You really think I keep board games here?"

"He's got Monopoly," Blue said, giving Green a look. Monopoly was, in their minds, the reason they were together.

"That game takes so long," Emerald groaned.

"The rain's not stopping anytime soon," Red said. "I'll play."

"I'll play too," Yellow said, smiling shyly at Red.

"Gold's going to cheat," Emerald said. Crystal nodded in agreement.

"I don't need to cheat to win at Monopoly," Gold said defensively.

"I find that hard to believe," Silver snorted. Gold glared at him. Silver then continued, "I'll play, too."

"I'll play too," Sapphire said, cracking her knuckles. Ruby looked at her hands distastefully.

"I suppose I'll play," Ruby added. "That's six, right? Can we play with more?"

"I don't want to play," Green said. He glanced at Blue, who shrugged.

"I'll watch," Blue said.

"Well, I'll play if we can get enough pieces," Crystal said. Emerald mumbled something along the lines of 'I'll play too, I guess' and Blue volunteered to find the game. Green went with her.

"You know, Blue," Green started as they wandered through the Gym's labrynthian halls, "we've been together for. . . how long would you say?"

"About two years now," Blue answered. Green nodded.

"And. . . Well. . . I think it might be time for. . . A change," Green said, searching for the right words. He'd never been so fantastically inarticulate. Blue looked at him in silent panic.

"You and I. . . Well. . . What I'm trying to say is. . .," Green had stopped. Blue had tears in her eyes, but was fighting them valiantly. Green knelt to the ground, picking up a box he'd dropped. "Blue, will you marry me?"

Blue let out the breath she's been holding. The tears fell from her eyes. Green's eyes widened, and he stood up and looked at her, confused.

"Yes, Green, I'll marry you," Blue whispered. She threw herself into his arms. He held her thinking, Even after all this time, I still don't know why she reacts the way she does. . . At least she'll keep life interesting.

"Aw, how cute!" Gold squealed mockingly. Blue and Green turned in time to see Silver hit the back of Gold's head.

"Sorry," Silver apologized, grabbing Gold by the elbow and pulling him back down the hallway. "We didn't know you were going to do it now, Green."

"They knew?" Blue asked.

"Well, I had to ask your brother for permission," Green said as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. Blue kissed him.

"Hey now," Gold yelled. "I don't want to see that!"

"Then turn around," Blue called after him. She turned back to her fiancee. "I love you, Green."

"I love you," Green answered, tucking a lock of Blue's rain-soaked hair behind her ear. "That will never, ever change."

- / - / - / -

The day would be perfect. The flowers were blooming beautifully, the candles were in exactly the right places, and the church was utterly magnificent. His tuxedo had been safely tucked away in his closet for the past month, and her wedding dress [hand-sewn by Ruby, who had insisted] was exquisitely beautiful. The three bridesmaids' dresses were a beautiful shade of green, and the best mens' tuxedos were appropriately handsome. The couple had asked Red to be their 'minister' several months beforehand, leaving Silver, Gold, Ruby, and Emerald to be his best men.

He was sure that she was the only one that he would ever want, confident that their life would be filled with happiness and adventure. She was only sure that she loved him, but that was enough.

She sat in a dressing room before the wedding, staring at he reflection. Ruby had been working on her hair and makeup, ignoring the near-constant jabs from Sapphire, up until a few minutes ago, when he'd had to go and help the groom. She'd thanked him and asked her bridesmaids [who were already ready] to check that their guests were seated. Now she was alone, anticipating walking down the aisle into her future with him. She couldn't be more excited.

"Hey, Blue? Everyone's seated. Are you ready?"

Blue turned her head and faced Yellow. Yellow's long blond hair was tightly curled and fell just past her shoulders, framing her face beautifully. The green satin dress accented her body very nicely. Too bad most people would be looking at Blue today. . . .

"I've been ready for this for as long as I can remember," Blue sighed happily. She stood and walked confidently to her best friend's side. She looked past Yellow and saw Crystal and Sapphire each holding two bouquets of flowers: there were three bouquets of yellow roses, and one bouquet of red and white roses. All three of her best friends looked stunning. She grinned at them all.

"We make a pretty bunch," Blue said, pointing to the mirror, where the four girls were reflected. They all twirled once, laughing.

"You ready?" Crystal asked, her eyes sparkling. Blue nodded.

The music began, and Crystal and Sapphire walked down the aisle first. Yellow gave Blue an encouraging smile before she followed them. Silver stood beside the door, holding his arm out to his best friend and sister. He would be giving her away. Blue took a deep breath as she and Silver left the antechamber, stepping into the fantastically decorated interior of the church. She didn't even see the beautiful flowers, or the candles, or any of the people. There was one. And he stood at the end of this aisle, tall and stunningly handsome in a black tuxedo with a bright blue tie. His light brown hair was carefully spiked, and his dark green eyes were locked on her own. She felt beautiful and sexy and loved whenever he looked at her. Her smile couldn't get any wider. And she wished she could walk faster to get to his side, but these damned heels. . .

After what felt like a century, she reached him. Their eyes never left one another. Silver squeezed her hand when they stopped, and went to stand beside Green.

"You are beautiful," Green whispered in Blue's ear.

She blushed and whispered back, "So are you."

"Ah-hem," Red cleared his throat pointedly, and the audience tittered. "Now, I'm not like, an official church guy, so bear with me. . ."

Red grinned at his two best friends.

"I've known Green for ten years now," Red began. "We met when were ten, and though we weren't friends all that quickly, now I'm proud to call him my best friend. I met Blue ten years ago as well. She was devious and tricky - and still is - but we too, became good friends."

Green and Blue still were looking only at one another.

"I've known them separately, and I've known them together. And I can't honestly say I've seen either of them half as happy as they've been since they got together," Red said, smiling at his friends. "I mean, really, they can't even take one second to look at their minister. That's true love right there."

The crowd laughed again, and Green and Blue grinned at Red.

"So, let me just finish by saying that I think these two will be blissfully and obnoxiously happy together," Red finished. "It's not the wording of a hallmark card, but hey, I'm no poet. Now, y'all do your vows."

"I'll go first," Blue said. She took a deep breath and continued. "Green, I can't think of enough words to describe you. Brilliant, confident, kind, and sinfully hot don't do you justice. You are Green, and every day I tell myself that I couldn't love you any more than I do. But every day you prove me wrong. You're my everything, Green. You're the love of my life, you're my prince, and you're my very best friend. I love you, Green Oak, and there's nothing you can ever do to change that."

Green stroked her face with the back of his index finger.

"I could promise you," Green said softly, "to have and to hold you, to love you in sickness and in health. I could promise to love you as long as we both shall live, or until death do us part. But I won't. Those are words for optimistic couples, lovers full of hope. I am not optimistic. I am not full of hope."

The audience was murmuring quietly at his words. Even Red said, "Um, Green. . . Dude, what're you doing?"

"Let me finish," Green said. He smiled gently at Blue. "I am not optimistic or full of hope. I am sure. I know, deep within me, that I will love you for the rest of my life. You, too, are sure that you love me. We don't need empty promises when we have that knowledge. I love you, Blue."

Green finished, and the crowed sighed.

"Man, I was a little worried," Red laughed. "But that was adorable."

Green glared at him. "Now," Red continued, oblivious to Green's glare, "May I have the rings?"

Yellow stepped forward and handed Red a platinum wedding band. Silver, at the same moment, stepped forward and gave Red a smaller wedding band, which was also made of platinum. Red thanked them quietly before handing the respective to rings to Blue and Green.

Blue, again, went first. She took the platinum ring and slid it onto Green's ring finger silently. Green then slid the smaller band onto Blue's finger. It looked spectacular on her.

"Well, now," Red said happily, "I pronounce you two husband and wife. Green, you should kiss your bride before someone else does."

Blue laughed, and Green silenced her laugh with a kiss that burned with passion, love, and promises for the future.

"I'm so happy," Blue said when she pulled away. He leaned his forehead on hers as the onlookers clapped.

"I can't think of anything that could make me happier," Green agreed. Blue looked deep in his eyes.

"I can't either."

- / - / - / -

"Green! Green! Answer your phone. . . Green! Goddamn, why is this damn Gym so big?" a voice cursed frantically as the owner of the voice sprinted through the Viridian Gym's hallways, looking for the Gym Leader. He slid around the corner and into the battle arena, where Green was battling a young boy. "Green!"

The leader looked up from his battle, annoyed at the interruption. "What do you want, Silver? Can't you see that I'm a little busy?"

The battle was clearly not very taxing, he was just letting it drag on.

"I don't care that you're busy!" Silver yelled back. "You better get your ass to the hospital right freaking now!"

Green's eyes widened with fear. He recalled his Pokémon and sprinted to Silver.

"Hey!" the challenger called out indignantly.

Green ignored him and ran for the Gym's front doors. Silver was on his heels.

The Viridian City hospital wasn't terribly far from the Gym, so the two men ran through the August heat to get there. Green burst into the hospital first, before realizing he had no idea where to go. He saw the rest of his friends - Red, Yellow, Gold, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald - standing not too far from him. Yellow saw him first, and grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down the hall.

"It took you long enough!" Red yelled after him. Silver stopped in the hospital lobby, gasping for breath.

Her screams reached him before they got to the end of the hallway. Green pushed Yellow aside, thanking her briefly, and ran ahead into Blue's hospital room.

"WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN?" Blue screamed when he sprinted in. He ran to her side and took her hand.

"I'm so sorry, love, I -"

"Okay, Blue, I'm going to need one more big push, okay?" the labor and delivery nurse said calmly. "Just one more. One big one."

"I c-can't!" Blue cried. Green lifted her chin, trying to hide the panic in his eyes.

"You can do this, Blue," he told her. "You've gotta do it. Don't you want to meet our baby?"

"GO TO HELL, YOU HAVEN'T EVEN BEEN HERE!"

"Blue, you can do this," Green whispered in her ear.

"I - CAN'T!" Blue screamed as she pushed as hard as she could. A tiny baby's scream joined hers.

"And - it's - a - baby!" the nurse exclaimed happily. Blue collapsed into Green's arms.

"You did it, Blue," Green sighed in relief. "You did it."

"Thanks for getting here in time," Blue whispered. Green laughed and hugged her as the nurses cleaned off the baby.

"Here you go," the nurse said, coming over and handing the tiny baby to Blue. It was swathed in a soft yellow blanket, and was still screaming bloody murder.

"Wh-" Green swallowed. "What kind is it?"

Blue laughed at him, but she too looked intently at the nurse. They'd decided not to find out the sex of the baby until now.

"Oh," the nurse laughed. "Meet your stunningly handsome son."

"A boy!" Blue and Green smiled blissfully at each other. "Thank you."

The nurses left the happy trio.

"We still need to decide on a name for him," Blue said, rocking her son. He stopped screaming.

"That's true," Green said, leaning in and planting a kiss on his son's forehead. Blue then leaned in and kissed Green.

"Hey, can we come in?" Yellow asked from the door. Blue and Green broke apart, and Green waved them in.

Red, Yellow, Gold, Silver, Crystal, Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald filed into the small hospital room. Their eyes were all fixed on the little human in Blue's arms.

"What is it?" Gold asked, leaning close to the baby. The room laughed.

"This is our son," Green said, sitting on the bed beside his wife and child.

"Does he have a name yet?" Crystal asked. "You didn't tell us any of your choices."

"I bet they named him after me," Gold said, only half-joking. Silver rolled his eyes.

"Well. . . We haven't totally decided. . .," Green said. "We have it narrowed down to two. Kevin and Andrew."

"No," Blue said suddenly. "No, that's not his name."

"What do you mean?" Emerald asked. Blue just shook his head.

"He doesn't feel like a Kevin. Or an Andrew," Blue said stubbornly. She handed him to Green. "Does he?"

Green shrugged. It was a baby, how was he supposed to know what name it 'felt' like? "I don't know. What name fits him, do you think?"

Blue looked long and hard at her son, before sighing in frustration. "I don't know!"

"Can I?" Ruby asked. Green handed him the baby. Ruby tucked the baby into his arm as though he'd done it all his life. Ruby looked intently at the baby.

"I have a name," Sapphire said, her chin resting on Ruby's shoulder, looking down at the baby as well.

"What is it?"

Sapphire looked at the baby for another minute. "What about. . . Mason?"

Blue looked at her son again. He face broke into a smile. "I think. . . I think that's it, Saph!"

Green looked at the baby as well. The sleeping face didn't give him much to go on, but he did think that the name suited his son. "I think that this is Mason."

"Nice," Gold whispered to Sapphire, who smiled. Ruby handed the baby to Sapphire, who held him awkwardly for a second before passing him to Yellow. Red and Silver both looked over her shoulder at Mason.

"Silver. . . Yellow. . .," Green said, after getting the go-ahead nod from Blue, "Will you be Mason's Godparents?"

"You. . . You mean it?" Silver asked as Yellow nodded in excitement. The parents nodded. Silver smiled and answered, "I'd love to."

Mason was passed around the room and eventually found his way back to his mother's arms. The rest of the Dex Holders left Blue and Green and Mason.

"Mason," Blue cooed. She looked at Green. "Remember when I said I couldn't think of anything that could make me happier?"

Green nodded, recalling their wedding day.

"This was it."

Green nodded again, looking down at his son. "I love you, Blue."

"I love you," Blue answered. She gazed at their son. "We made one good-looking kid, Green."

Green laughed. "We do. He's perfect."

- / - / - / -

"Where are you?" she demanded of him. "God damn it! Where the hell are you when I need you?"

"Don't get like that," he said quietly. He knew her well, and knew that this, like all of their recent fights, would blow over quickly. They'd fought a lot in the two years since Mason had been born. Fortunately, tonight, he was at Red and Yellow's house.

"Don't tell me what to do," she shot back, grabbing a flower-filled vase and chucking it with all her might at the opposite wall. "Don't you ever tell me what to do. Don't you know what this does to me? Do you care?"

"I'm sorry," he said, taking a tentative step towards her and hugging her. "I love you."

"Get away from me!" she snarled, staggering back out of his arms. "That doesn't make it better! I love you, I love you. . . They're just words! Words, Green. You can't fix everything with your damn words all the time. They mean nothing! You don't care, and you sure as hell don't change. I can't keep having this same fight with you. . . All the time. . ."

She cried quietly for a few minutes before looking up steadily at Green. "We're heading for a heart-heartbreak," she cried, stumbling over the last word.

"I love you," Green said helplessly. "I love you so much, Blue."

"Don't say you love me!" Blue sobbed. "Don't even! You wouldn't do this to me if you loved me. . ."

Green stared at her. How could he make her understand that he did this because he loved her?

"We both know I'll get over this by tomorrow," Blue sniffed. "We'll be fine. We always are."

Green watched her.

"No," Green said firmly. "No, Blue. This. . . this is too much. I won't do this anymore. I can't. I love you. . . I love you so much, Blue. . ."

Blue wiped her eyes and said, "I love you, too."

She smiled ever so slightly. And that did it.

"No!" Green yelled, suddenly inexplicably enraged. He punched the wall beside their bedroom door furiously. "It's not enough! It's just not enough! I can't do this, I can't have this fight every single week. I'm leaving. I need to go, I need to get out of h-"

"No!" Blue gasped, staggering forward and grabbing Green's forearm. "No, Green, you can't! You can't leave me!"

Green's rage evaporated as he looked at her, replaced by a feeling of helplessness and emptiness.

"I have to," he whispered, tears welling up in his own eyes.

"Green," Blue said weakly as Green wrenched his arm out of her grasp. "No! Green, please. . . You can't go. Y-you can't. Stay with me. . . We can figure this out, we have to figure this out. We will. I need you. . ."

He turned and looked at her full in the face, tears leaking out of his eyes against his will. "You don't."

Blue froze, staring. "You. . . you can't be serious, Green. Please. Just. . . Let's just go to sleep, and we'll figure this out in the morning. We can make this work, Green, we can -"

"Blue!" Green interrupted angrily. She fell silent instantly. "I am not staying. Not this time. I've stayed every time you've asked me to. I won't stay. Not tonight. Not ever again."

"Please. . .," Blue whispered. "Green. . . I love you. . . Please. . ."

"I. . .," Green swallowed and shook his head. "I can't just keep believing that. Just let me go, Blue. Just let go. Please let me go. You say you love me. . . But you don't know who I am anymore. I don't know who you are. That's not love, Blue. . . It's. . . It's routine. We stay together because we're used to it. We stay together for Mason. Call it whatever you like. But we stay together out of habit. I am breaking this habit. Now. Tonight. You need to wake up and do the same, Blue!"

Green stormed out of the room and slammed the door to their bedroom. A soft click indicated that he'd locked the door behind him. Blue stood, dumbfounded, refusing to believe what he'd just said. She heard, almost as though underwater, Green slamming drawers in their bedroom. He was packing. He was serious. He was leaving her. He was leaving -!

That thought woke Blue from her daze. She fell forward into the locked door. "Green!" Blue sobbed hoarsely. "Green, open the door, open it, open, open it, please! Green, you can't leave me like this. Please! Open the door, Green, open the door, please, God, please!"

She cried and pleaded with him until she fell asleep. But he didn't hear any of it. He'd gone out the window.

- / - / - / -

Blue did not awaken until about noon the next day. She hadn't really wanted to wake up. She knew she'd find an empty house, and she couldn't bear the thought of trying to walk through the house that, until last night, had been theirs. But she was awakened by a loud knock on the front door. She opened her eyes wearily. She was staring at the bottom of their still-locked bedroom door. The knock came again, louder this time. Blue sat up slowly. She didn't want to get the door. Behind the door was the real world. She. . . wait. The front door? Did he take his keys when he left? Maybe. . . Maybe. . . No. But. . . could it be. . . him?

The thought that it could be Green propelled her to her feet. She sprinted for the front door and wrenched it open. Yellow stood on the front porch, holding Mason in her arms. Red sat in the driver's seat of their car, which was idling by the curb.

"Thank God, Blue," Yellow sighed in relief. "You were making me. . . What happened?"

Blue must have looked like hell. She glanced at the mirror that hung by the front door. Her shirt was wrinkled, her eyes were bloodshot, and what remained of yesterday's makeup was smeared. Her hair was knotted. Blue sighed and began sobbing again. Yellow stared at her in horror.

"Oh, no. Honey. . . Red!" Yellow yelled. He looked at her. She waved him over, and he turned off the car and ran up the steps to her side. She heaved Mason into his arms and turned to hug Blue. Red looked from his friend to his fiancee, looking really frightened.

"Wh. . . What happened?" Red asked stupidly. "Where's Green?"

At the mention of his name, Blue sobbed harder and Yellow glared at Red. Red looked bewildered. He edged past the women and into the house. It only took a glance to know that they'd been fighting. Again. There was a broken crystalline vase and a dent in the wall. He placed Mason, who was crying shrilly, in his crib and pulled out his cell phone. He dialed Green's number quickly and headed for the kitchen, where he knew Blue wouldn't be able to hear him. The phone rang several times before Green picked up.

"Hullo?" Green answered, sounding utterly exhausted.

"Dude, what happened?" Red whispered. "We came to drop off Mason. . . Blue's a wreck, the house is a mess, and you're not here. What happened?"

"I. . .," Green began. Red knew that Green was kneading his forehead in his free hand. "We had a fight. A big fight, Red. I. . . I left."

"Well, when're you coming back?"

"I'm not, Red," Green said tiredly. Red stared blankly at his phone.

"I know you guys have problems, but. . .," Red sputtered hopelessly. "C'mon. This is Blue. You love her. She loves you."

"It's not enough anymore, Red," Green explained halfheartedly. "I don't know how to make you understand. You have Yellow, and you're happy. . . But you're just starting. With me and Blue. . . It's gotten to where it doesn't matter that I love her. The other problems are just too big."

"But. . .," Red tried again.

"Red. . . It's done," Green said.

"Well, what are you going to do?" Red asked finally. Green sighed heavily.

"I'm trying to get in contact with a divorce lawyer. . . ."

- / - / - / -

This is the worst day of my life. . . Blue thought miserably as she entered the plush room with the shiny hardwood floors and huge leather armchairs. Blue crossed the room and sat in one of the chairs. She tried desperately not to look at the man sitting in the chair across from her. Of course, she failed.

Green was slouched in the chair opposite her. He was wearing dark jeans, a white button-down shirt, and a loose green tie. He gazed back at her, misery etched in every line in his face. If you're this miserable too, why are we doing this?Blue wanted to scream at him.

"Hello, Miss Blue," an elderly man greeted her. She nodded at him, tearing her eyes away from Green. "Well, let's get this started. . . ."

He withdrew a set of papers from a briefcase. Blue looked at them as though they'd be her death sentence. Green, strangely, was eying them in the same way.

"Well, you both know the deal. . . Everything, property, furniture, etc., will be split down the middle," the man said uncomfortably. "Blue has custody of Mason, though Green has visiting rights whenever he'd like them. So. . . If you'll just sign here. . ."

He handed the papers to Green, who took them.

"Wait," Blue heard herself say. Green looked quickly at her. "Are. . . Are you sure you want to do this?"

Green stared at her for a long moment.

"I don't see that we have a choice," Green said stiffly. Blue cringed. That was worse than anything else. He was acting like he didn't know her.

"O-k-kay," Blue said. She didn't cry. . . She hadn't in the year since the fight that had determined the course of her life. Green snatched a pen from the lawyer's desk and quickly signed all of the papers. He threw the papers and the pen at Blue. She signed each page slowly, and each signature was like a knife in her heart was being twisted.

"Very well," the man said, taking the papers back. "I will get you both copies of these. . . Your divorce is final."

"Thank you," Green said, standing and heading for the door. "You'll have them sent to Viridian Gym, won't you?"

"Of course, sir."

Green left abruptly, and Blue followed him. She was walking as though through molasses. It's really over. . . He couldn't wait to sign those papers and get away from me. . .

-End Chapter-