The Show Goes On All Night (Rosie)

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

Rose gave him a tear-filled smile, and kissed him back hungrily.After a while his face was wet from her tears. He just grinned and held her closer.When he eventually pulled away, he lead her over and helped her lay down on his bed. Rose's exhaustion radiated off of her.
Guillermo laid beside her, tugging her close, kissing her forehead gently.
"Is there anything you need? Do you want to stay here, or should I bring you back to your apartment?"
He wanted to stay with her. He had spent so much time away that he could spend forever with her in his arms.

THAT IS THE SHORTEST POST EVER. I APOLOGIZE.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth Foxworth looked a bit different than he had two and a half months ago. His hair had grown out some, still tufting, and darker from the past winter. Cigarette dangling from his lips, Seth climbed the stairs to the apartment, carrying up a couple bags of groceries behind him. There was a heaviness to him now, and not just in the hair region. He just seemed to carry himself a bit heavier. His best friend, despite claiming to be over her, was still hung up on Rose Mercer. He made a good show, smiled when he was suppose to, laughed a bit even. And Seth kept the concern to himself, because he knew how delicate Jeny was. Besides, what good would it do?

And he cleaned Rose Mercer's apartment, every other day, so that dust would not build. And it was all in the hope that Rose would return, and she would earn forgiveness for deserting. Seth didn't need the nitty gritty details. He knew it had been Guillermo who cut it off. And, according to Jen, it was because he felt he had to. For Rose's safety. But Rose should have known better. So when she returned, Seth would help her ease her way back into graces. He was a good friend, after all.

Unlocking the apartment, he entered, kicking off his boots and tossing the truck keys on the coffee table. The groceries went on the counter, and the perishables got put away. Guillermo wasn't in the living room, probably napping in his room again. Or, more likely, pretending to nap. Seth had been there. To depressed to face the world, easier just to pretend you could sleep for the rest of eternity. His friends suffering had eased young Seth, who had not experienced an episode the entire winter long. Seth was far too concerned with Guillermo's pain. With the milk and eggs in the fridge, Seth stepped out of his boots, kicking them off to the side. Might as well see if Guillermo wanted anything to ea-

As he stepped forward, something hard and cold hit his foot.

Looking down, Seth's pale blue eyes caught sight of a bullet shell beneath his raised foot.

What?

No.

NO!

Seth rushed back to Guillermo's room, expecting the worse.

And while it was not the worse, it certainly was not the best.

The door swung open quickly, Seth's honey brown hair pushed quickly out of his eyes. No blood. No dead Guillermo. No, he was very much alive, Guillermo was. And... with company. Rose. Seth stared with a quiet, shocked, expression crossing his angular face. There she was. Just laying there. As if the past two and a half months had never happened. As if she had been here the whole time. As if a chunk of Guillermo hadn't been torn away, seeming to vanish in a strong gust of wind.

Stepping further in, Seth's feet brushed against more bullets, though these ones were whole. His eyes scanned the floor, spotting the pistol sitting on top of the trash in Guillermo's bin. The amount of what the fuckery flowing out of Seth was unbelievable. Levels that hadn't been seen before, Seth was certain. "So." Seth let out, his voice stiff. The unlit cigarette hanging from his mouth fell from his lips, and into his hand, and placed into his ear, as he thought of what to say.

In a way he was happy to see his childhood best friend. His Chicken.

But in another way, rage swept through him like a tidal wave. His adult best friend, Guillermo, had been a zombie for two and a half months? And why? Because Rose didn't fight back. Now, Seth would admit, a lot of things could be said about Rose. More than half of it would be true. But he had never pegged her to run, not when it was a big thing. Not when it was it held in the balance the life that she was suppose to care more about than any other on the fucking planet.

Clearing his throat, he continued, his brows knitting, no smile crossing his lips. How much longer would she stick around this time. "So. Your back. Righto." Seth nodded, looking away from them. It was like the beginning. He couldn't stand to see them happy together. But not because he was in love with Rose, not anymore. It was because he loved Guillermo.

In a completely not gay way.

"When you scamper off again, try to remember to lock the door, yeah? Your shit'll get nabbed like that." With that he left the room, deciding now was the perfect fucking opportunity to put away the groceries.

[ROSE MERCER]

Guillermo was being careful with her, leading her to the bed as if she were made of glass. She couldn't help but wonder whether it was because of the reconciliation or because of the pregnancy. Still, laying down next to Guillermo, just to have him hold her, sounded like a dream. And she was exhausted, but she had no wish to sleep. Feeling his lips against her forehead, Rose couldn't help but smile at his doting. "Is there anything you need? Do you want to stay here, or should I bring you back to your apartment?" Shaking her head, Rose snuggled against him, smiling into the crook of his neck.

Everything was... perfection. It was better than Rose could have even dared to dream. In fact, Rose had only wanted to pursue a possible friendship with Guillermo. Not because her interest in him was not romantic. Guillermo, Rose had accepted, was the love of her life. But because she wanted to be... kind. She didn't want to manipulate her way back into his life, even by accident. And... she was pretty sure she hadn't. Sort of. He had offered to help her with her bags. He had asked her to dance. He had confessed his love.

Yesterday was now gone, and she would have a thousands of tomorrows with Guillermo. Because, Rose was not letting him go again. Not ever.

Life felt good.

Until the door swung open.

Rose shot up, seeing Seth in the doorway. His hair was longer, his shoulders a little broader, little shadows beneath his eyes. But otherwise unchanged. When he did not smile, when he did not greet her with their special little greeting, Rose felt her stomach clench. Instead of addressing them initially, he investigated the room, pale eyes falling on the bullets that were littered on the floor, before finding the gun resting in the trash. "So. So. You're back. Righto." He... he didn't sound happy. Rose shrank a little, eyes lowered.

If she had expected a warm welcome from anyone, it would have been Seth. Always, no matter what Rose had done, there was an instantaneous forgiveness. It would seem that this was no longer the case. "Yeah... just got back a little while ago." She replied, keeping up his clinical way of speaking. Polite. But Rose tried to lace in a small plea, almost for mercy.

"When you scamper off again, try to remember to lock the door, yeah? Your shit'll get nabbed like that." He turned and vanished out the door, leaving the horridly concealed accusation in the air. He was saying she'd leave again.

No. No! She wasn't just going to leave it like this. Almost all of the pieces of Rose's life were... right. She had to fix this. Quickly, she pressed her lips against Guillermo's, touching his cheek tenderly. "Want some lunch?" She was making an excuse to go out there, and so the kiss was fleeting, though her hand did tug Guillermo's, wanting her security blanket. "Come on..." She slid off the bed and headed down the hall, finding Seth putting away groceries. Now that she stood there though, a piece of her wanted to head back to the bedroom and hide in the safety of Guillermo's arms. "I'm making some sandwiches... want one?" An olive branch extended in the form of a lunch meat sandwich?

Yes.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

His bedroom door was flung open so hard that Guillermo actually jumped in surprise. Standing in the doorway was Seth, looking both afraid and confused. The confusion started to overcome the fear as he stared at Guillermo and Rose. Guillermo threw a guilty look at the wastebasket.
Bewildered, he frowned as Seth's expression morphed into one of barely suppressed anger.
"So. So. You're back. Righto." His voice was short and cold. Guillermo couldn't ever remember Seth talking to her like that.
"Yeah... just got back a little while ago." Rose spoke softly and seemed a tad guilty.
"When you scamper off again, try to remember to lock the door, yeah? Your shit'll get nabbed like that."
Seth spun and walked right back out.
He had been so upset about Rose leaving that he didn't even realize what an effect it might have on Seth.
Rose kissed him gently.
"Want some lunch? Come on..."
She was on a mission. Grabbing his hand, she lead him out into the kitchen.
"I'm making some sandwiches... want one?"
Guillermo sighed. Somehow he doubted that a sandwich was going to help Seth forgive her.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Seth wanted to go back. To hug her, sneak in a small cry on her shoulder, tell her how much he missed her. Make it all like how he remembered. Best friends. And with her and Guillermo all made up, they could all just... just finally be okay with each other. But no. No. NO! Rose didn't deserve it all just to go back to okay! She fucking left! She needed to know, to know that it wasn't okay just to fucking abandon people. That other people fucking matter!

He more or less tossed things in the general areas they belonged in, face squished in his own irritation. "I'm making some sandwiches... want one?" He turned, seeing Rose staring at him timidly in the entrance of the kitchen.

A sandwich?

A fucking sandwich?

"No, I'm good." He spoke, in a quiet, sharp, voice. Grabbing the a bowl, he poured himself some peanut butter crunch, not wanting to make small talk with her. Or Guillermo. Fuck, yeah, him too. Of course, he should have expected him to forgive her so quick. How fucking cliche Guillermo. Oh, whats that fucking psycho girl of my dreams? Step on my heart and break it into a thousand pieces, return a bit later as if nothing happened. Sounds like a motherfucking plan, Stan. And that gun. Fucking hell, Seth knew what all that was about.

Stupid bastard.

Shoving his spoon into the bowl, he offered his best friend a deeply offended scowl. Moving past Guillermo, he went into the common-way, picking up the bullet shell, pressing it to Guillermo's chest, anger searing his pale blue eyes. "Get that gun and shit out of here, before Jen gets back. She realizes what sort of fucking idiocy almost happened, she'll have a fucking conniption." Releasing the shell, he went back to his bowl, fuming.

It wasn't a request.

It was a fucking order.

Seth was so beyond pissed at the two people he could easily claim he cared about more than anyone on the face of the planet, he was surprised he was able to fucking function.

Leaning against the counter, he angrily chewed his cereal, scowling into the bowl. He could understand wanting to kill yourself. Seth had wanted to, many a times. But to do it, where ones loved ones would find him. Where Jeny could have decided to skip class, and come home early. Stupid, selfish, prick.

"So, I was thinking it might be time for me to go. Get my own place and shit." Seth muttered, voice a little garbled by the fact that his mouth was full. He couldn't look at them.

He just couldn't...

[ROSE MERCER]

It felt like his words were made of pins and needles. "No, I'm good." Rose blinked, as she watched him get himself a bowl of cereal. Sighing, she started making Guillermo a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, noticing how not even a trace of peanut butter was in jelly. "Get that gun and shit out of here, before Jen gets back. She realizes what sort of fucking idiocy almost happened, she'll have a fucking conniption." Protectively, she looked up at Seth, scowling at his harshness at Guillermo.

If anyone should be able to understand.

But pain wasn't about empathy, was it? In a way, Seth's two best friends had dealt unthinkable blows to him. He had a right to be angry. "So, I was thinking it might be time for me to go. Get my own place and shit." Well... that seemed drastic. Rose stopped what she was doing, shooting him an incredulous glare.

Seriously?

Was he that pissed to see her?

What did he want? For her to get on her fucking knees and beg for forgiveness? He can go suck what ever dick he rode in on, because Rose wasn't about to go and do that! She had needed time! She had needed space! And she was so fucking sorry if her heartbreak and inner turmoil had inconvenienced him! But she was back, and things were going to be better! Things were going to be just how Seth had wanted them! Returning to the sandwich, she spoke in a low voice. "Do what you gotta do, Foxy. But, um, if I don't see you for a bit, figure you should know I'm knocked up..." Putting the peanut butter butterknife in her mouth, she started on the other side with a fresh knife, with the jelly.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

"No, I'm good."
Something about Seth's voice told him that he was disgusted by this peace offering. He couldn't really blame him.
No sandwich could solve the world's problems.
Seth threw him a look that could peel paint. Guillermo cringed as Seth bent down and picked up the shell, and shoved it into Guillermo's chest.
"Get that gun and shit out of here, before Jen gets back. She realizes what sort of fucking idiocy almost happened, she'll have a fucking conniption."
He caught the shell as Seth moved away and looked at his feet guiltily. He pocketed the shell for the time being and glanced at Seth timidly.
He had every right to be furious..
"So, I was thinking it might be time for me to go. Get my own place and shit."
Guillermo, who had been staring at his feet in shame, snapped his head up in horror.
What!?
Seth couldn't leave!
He was his roomie, Rose's friend, Jeny's friend.
He was Guillermo's BEST friend..
Rose stared incredulously at Seth.
"Do what you gotta do, Foxy. But, um, if I don't see you for a bit, figure you should know I'm knocked up..."
Guillermo swallowed, bracing himself for Seth's reaction.

[SETH FOXWORTH]

Guillermo stayed quiet. It almost made Seth feel bad, how his best friend took the verbal beating. Like Seth was drilling in what Guillermo had been thinking himself.

Good.

He should feel bad.

He should know that it wasn't okay.

No one loved Seth, how they loved Guillermo. He didn't have a Jeny, or even a Rose as fucked as their relationship was. Rose, on the other hand, stayed obstinate as always. If Seth knew anything about Rose Mercer, and he believed he did, she probably felt bad. But she was too stubborn to admit it. "Do what you gotta do, Foxy. But, um, if I don't see you for a bit, figure you should know I'm knocked up..."

Seth didn't react at first. Mostly because the words hadn't processed until the cereal in his mouth was half chewed. Maybe it was the softness of her voice when she said it. Had she screamed the news, Seth was pretty sure he wouldn't have missed it. But, point is, he missed it. And as it settled in, his eyes widened, but he tried to hold back any indication of surprise. "Well, congrats on that, Chicken." He said through his full mouth, eyes glancing over at Guillermo. How the hell was he taking this so well? Some random French Francois or English Nigel knocked up his girl.

Stirring his cereal in his bowl, he looked back at Rose. She must be having a freak out, inside. Rose hadn't ever wanted to be a parent. When Seth was doing the being-in-love-with-Rose thing, and dreaming of marrying Rose some day, Seth had accepted that Rose and he would never breed. In hindsight, that might have been the smartest thing he had ever thought in that clusterfuck. Him and Rose engineering a life. What a scary child that would be.

"So, is that why you came back? Afraid Moe and I would miss the baby shower?" Seth all but sneered, shoving a generous bite into his mouth.

[ROSE MERCER]

His reaction would almost be comical, were she not in such a sensitive way at the moment. Watching the news sink in. Hell, she almost thought he would choke on his cereal for a moment there. He spoke with his mouth full of food, carrying on in Seth's usual uncouth way of carrying on. "Well, congrats on that, Chicken." Only congrats for her? What about the sperminator over there? Rose's eyes narrowed, as Seth's icy tone carried on, between bites of cereal. "So, is that why you came back? Afraid Moe and I would miss the baby shower?" What the fuck was that suppose to mean?

Rose didn't comment, to begin with, bringing Guillermo his peanut butter and jelly sandwich. What honestly could she say to that? In part, she wished she had taken a bit more time with Guillermo's sandwich. At least it had given her something to do. Something to occupy her attention. Though... maybe it was better for her not to have a knife in her hand. Even if it was just a butter knife. "I guess I figured Guillermo should know. Seeing as how it's his..." Her voice was soft, almost casual.

She had not been expecting a warm reception, honestly. Not from Guillermo, as she had thought he hated her. And not from Jeny, despite the strange repertoire they had established. Even her coworkers, Rose had been a little iffy on possible reactions. But Seth...

Seth had been her truest, longest, friend. Faithful til the end. Did that end, when she had thrown a possible romance between herself and him out the window. Could Rose now do wrong in Seth's eyes? It wasn't fair! True, it was healthier, she supposed. But it still wasn't fair. Rose loved what they had. They were thicker than thieves! Why was she being punished, now that the dynamic changed? Was he only so kind to her, in the past, because of his supposed love for her? Did he look at her now, and feel nothing but contempt?

Her blue eyes lined with tears, though Rose fought them back. Fine. He wanted to be a dick? Fine. That was just fine. She could do that too! It wasn't fair for him to jump ship on their friendship just because Rose wasn't about to jump his bones! A scowl formed on her thin face, bitterness apparent, staring at her best friend in the world. "Sorry. Did I break the slut illusion you've built up in your head about me, Seth? Figured I was tramping around Europe these last couple months?" Her nostrils flared, her face flushed.

Rose wanted to hit him.

She wanted to hug him.

She wanted everything to go back to how it was when they were young.

But looking at Guillermo, Rose knew that wasn't true.

Though, she was still offended as shit. Looking at both of them, though Guillermo had done nothing wrong, Rose's voice trembled ever so slightly, as she set the record straight. "Well, I wasn't! I wasn't with anyone! Not one fucking person! Is that so hard to believe?" She looked away from them, wiping her eyes quickly.

[GUILLERMO SALAS-ORTIZ]

After choking briefly on his food, Seth regained his composure and his attitude.
"Well, congrats on that, Chicken. So, is that why you came back? Afraid Moe and I would miss the baby shower?"
Seth's meaning sank in and Guillermo felt a heated wave of jealousy, even though he knew Seth was wrong.
"I guess I figured Guillermo should know. Seeing as how it's his..." Rose's voice was dangerously gentle and Guillermo felt uneasy as he stood watching Seth and Rose carefully.
"Sorry. Did I break the slut illusion you've built up in your head about me, Seth? Figured I was tramping around Europe these last couple months? Well, I wasn't! I wasn't with anyone! Not one fucking person! Is that so hard to believe?"
Rose wiped at her face and Guillermo knew that Seth had hit a nerve.
He threw Seth a glare.
Okay, so he was mad at Rose. But since when did he get off on making her angry? The girl was pregnant, for fucks sake! Show a little mercy..
"Rose, he doesn't mean it, he's just mad, okay?"