Hero

"Sharp dressed man," I said, grinning as Henry walked over to me.

"Cordelia's not here yet. What if she forgot?"

"Don't stress yourself, man," I said, patting his chest.

"Hey, is that Henny?" He asked, his eyes lighting up.

I looked around me, grinning as I grabbed the bottle and handed it to him. "Your choice of drink."

He looked around before holding the bottle in the air and taking a few sips, smiling as he screwed the top back on.

"No wonder why they call you Henny."

"The man!" I yelled, throwing my arms around Granddad.

"The old man," he said, roughly patting my forearm.

"Nah, give yourself some credit," I said, smiling over at him.

Henry shook his head, wiping the corner of his mouth. "She forgot, bro."

"I doubt it. She's probably just being, you know, extra as fuck. Like Jo and Fran."

He took another sip of Hennessy before screwing the top back on, yet again. "What the fuck ever."

He brushed past me and I left granddad, jogging to catch up to him. "Hey, man, look alive."

"Look at the fucking door," He angrily said, "Josie and Fran just walked in. Where's Cordelia? Nowhere to be found."

"Henny," I said, grabbing his shoulders, "what's the saying? You've got ninety-nine problems-"

"She's not a bitch, Hero," he said, brushing past me.

I widened my eyes, following him. He attempted to call her, but her phone went to voicemail.

"Hi," Josie greeted, smiling at me.

"Hey, cuzzo," I greeted, "you look beautiful."

"Thanks," she said, "Henry, what's up your ass?"

"Cordelia hasn't showed up," I whispered down to her, making her sigh and tilt her head over. She pulled me to the food table, grabbing a cookie.

"I like Cordelia," she began, "but she just stresses him out, honestly."

"Yeah, you're telling me," I said, folding my arms over my chest.

"You're going to wrinkle your shirt," she grimaced, looking up at me.

"My little fashion icon," Granddad said, placing his hands on Josie's shoulders.

"Hi, granddad," she greeted, wrapping her arms around him gently for a hug.

"Don't treat him like glass," I said, "he may be old, but he's still fucking kicking."

He chuckled, shaking his head. "Where's Frannie?"

"Uhh," Josie muttered, looking around the crowded venue, "there she is. Sitting down, reading."

"She gets that trait from her mother," he said, pressing a kiss to Josie's forehead before making his way over to Fran.

"Have you seen Eros?" Josie hesitantly asked, tracing circles on the table.

"Why?" I asked, lifting an eyebrow.

"Well, he's technically supposed to be my date to this thing. You know, we've been jokingly coming together since we were six."

I chuckled, nodding. "Yeah. I haven't seen him, sorry."

She sighed, folding her arms over her chest. "I'm just gonna ask, since everyone's curious."

"Ask away," I said, watching a woman walk by.

"Why isn't Amelia here with you?"

I grimaced. "Amelia and I are just casual, Josie. Seriously."

"I don't know that Amelia thinks that way," she muttered, "but whatever you say."

She nodded down at the tray of cookies. "You should get one. They're so good. Your mom made them."

I looked down at the plate and back up. "I'm good, thanks."

"Hero, come on," she said, holding one out to me.

I turned my face away from it, my jaw taut.

"If you don't eat it, I will," she sang.

"Eat it," I softly said, looking over at her.

She shoved it in her mouth, shrugging. "Fine. If I'm willing to bloat in this dress, then you should be willing to eat a cookie. Just saying."

She patted my arm before walking away. "See you later."

"Yeah, you, too."

~*~

Fred

"You look beautiful."

Alexis looked over at me, a forced smile crossing her face. "Thank you."

Alexis and I were putting on- simple as that. I knew it'd somehow become public at some point, maybe when she was seen leaving an apartment building rather than her lavish spread, but we weren't ready for that just yet.

"How are you liking your place?" I asked, hoping she could detect even the slightest trace of pettiness in my tone.

She nodded. "It's nice. Josie likes it, it's very bright."

I clenched my jaw and took a sip of my champagne. "Hmm."

"Has she been okay at home?"

I nodded. "I can handle her, you know. I'm not clueless."

"I never said you were," she softly said, looking away from me.

"Seems like you think I am."

She pushed herself off of the table and walked away from me, making me lift an eyebrow. I took another sip of my champagne, turning around when I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Fall back, Fred," Jo said, shaking his head, "she's not proud of what's happening."

"I don't even think she's sorry," I said, clenching my jaw.

"She is," he said, "and you need to stop acting like a child about it."

I lifted an eyebrow, looking over at him.

He patted my shoulder. "Look alive. We've got to be onstage in an hour."

I nodded and tipped back the rest of my champagne, looking over at Hero. He looked conflicted, looking down at the table of food.

"Hey, champ," I greeted, "did it get too hot for the coat, too?"

"Fuck, yeah," he groaned, looking over at me, "too many warm bodies in here."

I chuckled, nodding down at the cookies. "They're good. Like, good good."

"So I've heard," he said, grinning over at me.

"Why don't you have one?" I asked.

"Ah, not hungry," he said, rubbing his stomach, "see ya. Gonna go see if I can flirt with any older women."

I rolled my eyes, smiling as he walked away. Henry walked over to me, looking angry.

"Woah-"

"If Cordelia shows up, tell her to walk the fuck out," he said, making me knit my eyebrows together.

"Uh, any particular reason?"

He grabbed the bottle of Hennessy from beneath the table, making me grab it from him. "Your mother will kill me."

"I swear she's cheating on me, Dad."

My eyes went round, making me narrow them again. "Maybe you two should end things if you don't trust her."

"Yeah, maybe we should," he said, grabbing the bottle from me. I watched as he unscrewed the top, taking a long sip before closing it again.

"Maybe she'll show," I said, "you never know."

"Hey, think fast!"

I chuckled as Milo wrapped his arms around Henry, shaking my head. "When'd you show up?"

"Just walked in, bitch," he said, grinning at me.

Henry chuckled and pulled him into him for a hug. "The man."

"The man I am."

Alexis smiled, opening her arms. "Hi, love."

"Hey, sis," he greeted, "God, have you eaten at all in the past week?"

She pulled away from him, tilting her head over. "Nice to see you, too."

I knitted my brows together, looking over at her. I hadn't even thought to ask if she was okay.

Henry and Mi ran off, making me grab Alexis's arm. "Hey, seriously?"

She pulled away from me. "I'm fine, Fred. I've been eating."

Her eyes were like daggers cutting into me. "And since when do you care?"

"Lex, don't do me like that," I said, reaching for her arm.

She shook her head, walking away from me.

~*~

Josie

"Josie, shh," Eros whispered, looking over at me with wide eyes.

I giggled, shaking my head. "I can be as loud-"

He pressed his hand over my mouth. "Your dad is onstage."

I gasped, pushing his hand away from my mouth. "Go Dad!"

Dad's eyes averted over to me, making Eros rub his eyes. I giggled and rested my hand on Eros's thigh, leaning into him.

"Jo, get off," he said, "Henny and Hero are here."

I frowned and pulled away, scoffing. "If you're ashamed-"

"I'm n-"

"Let me finish!" I screeched, earning the eyes of everyone in the room.

I giggled and waved, making Eros grab my arm and pull me up out of my chair.

"Muah, muah!" I yelled, blowing kisses to everyone.

Eros was pulling me away from the crowd and into a secluded area, making me rip my arm away from him.

"E, babe," I muttered, grabbing his hand.

He pulled his hand away from me, angry eyes boring into my own.

"What is wrong with you?" I slurred, rubbing my hand down my face.

"I'm fucking pissed at you," he sneered.

I seemed to sober up in a second- I felt sadness take over me.

"I came here to be with you, Josephine," he harshly said, "not take care of you. Like a fucking infant."

I bit down on my lip, looking down at the ground.

"Now either you can sober up and act like an adult, or I can leave. Take your pick."

I looked up at him, parting my lips.

"Spit it out," he said, folding his arms over his chest.

"Eros," I sighed, rubbing my temples.

"You have five seconds-"

"Okay," I said, "I-I'll sober up."

"Thank you," he harshly said, walking away from me.

"Eros," I stumbled out, running after him. I grabbed his arm and pulled him into me, looking up at him.

"I'll get you some water," he quietly said, looking away from me.

He walked away from me, and I realized there was nothing I could do to get him to stay this time.

~*~

Milo

Hero turned around and flexed, grinning back at me.

"Show off," I muttered, rolling my eyes.

"Hey, do the Superman pose," Josie said, nodding.

Hero did as she asked, making me chuckle. "I'll bet you're a heartbreaker."

"And proud of it," Francesca muttered, looking over at me.

I leaned back in my chair. "It's nothing to be proud of."

"Yeah, she's being a little dramatic," Hero said, sitting down next to me.

Josie gasped, bolting up from her chair.

"What?" I asked, concerned.

"It's Cecilia!" She squealed.

My eyes went wide. I hadn't seen nor heard from Cecilia in ages.

"My girl!" I heard Cecilia's bright, bubbly voice sing.

I avoided eye contact at all costs. How would I explain being at this thing alone? Oh, my nonexistent wife couldn't make it.

I cleared my throat and decided to be an adult. I stood up and smiled, turning around to face her. She was mid-hug with Henry, making me look down at the small child next to her.

And the man behind her.

I clenched my jaw, not too sure on what my next move should've been. I scratched my neck, and our eyes met when she pulled away from Henry.

"Well if it isn't Milo Parker," she said, tilting her head over with a smile.

"Hi," I said, smiling at her.

She wrapped her arms around my neck, rubbing my shoulders. "Hi."

"Hey," I said, pulling away from her.

"Uh, this is Lily," she said, smiling down at the little girl, "can you say hi?"

"Hi," she softly greeted.

"Hi," I said, kneeling down, "you look just like your mom."

She smiled. I stood upright and held out my hand, my eyes meeting her husband's. "I'm Milo Parker."

"I'm Luke Williams," he said, nodding with a smile.

"Nice to meet you," I said, "I hope you're treating her right."

"He is," Cecilia butted in, her eyes locked on mine.

I bit down on my lip and cleared my throat, nodding with a smile. "Excuse me."

I walked away from everyone, raking my hands through my hair. Cecilia Williams doesn't even sound right.

I braced my palms on the nearest table, looking over at Alexis. She smiled and rubbed my back. "How did that go?"

"Her husband and kid were a surprise."

"You didn't think she was just going to wait on you, did you?" She softly asked, looking over at me.

I cleared my throat and stood upright. "N-no. I'd never."

"You would," she muttered, grabbing a glass of champagne.

We stood in silence for a few seconds before she looked over at me, obviously dying to ask a question.

"Go ahead," I said, folding my arms over my chest.

"Is that why you never, you know?"

"What?" I asked.

"Why you never tried to get close to anyone else?"

"No," I said, pouring myself a glass of champagne, "I just knew that settling down wasn't my cup of tea. I was meant for the bachelor life."

She smiled a soft smile, nodding. "But it still stings."

I shook my head. "N-no, I'm happy for her."

"You'd be happier if it were you."

I looked over at the three of them, how happy they looked. Her husband was obviously head over heels for her, and the daughter they'd created together was a perfect mixture of the two.

I smiled over at her. "Maybe. But she's happy. I think that's what counts."

~*~

Henry

[From: Cordelia]
Can you please come outside? They won't let me in without you lol

I stared down at my phone in disbelief. I let out a chuckle and stood up from my chair, earning Hero's eyes.

"Stop manspreading, Hero," Josie said, "you're supposed to be formal at these things."

I showed the text to Hero, making him sit upright with a chuckle. "Show time, baby."

He stood up and placed his hands on my shoulders. "You're not letting her fucking in, are you?"

"No," I said, shaking my head.

"That's my boy," he said, his hand on the back of my neck, "put your foot down, King."

I nodded and walked towards the grand doors, opening one of them. I saw her standing on the sidewalk, her phone in her hand.

"Hey," I said, earning her eyes.

"Hey, babe," she greeted, walking towards me.

She reached for my hand but I pulled away from her, my eyes locked on hers.

"Henry," she sighed, looking away from me, "I was late-"

"Yeah, three hours late," I said, nodding.

She shrugged. "I do have a life outside of you."

I knitted my brows together. "Cordelia, you and I sat at your fucking dinner table and you showed me that your day was cleared off. You had nothing to do today."

"Maybe something came up last minute?" She questionably stated, "I mean, I can't just tailor my life to fit every second of yours."

"I never asked you to," I said, "I asked you to accompany me to this thing. I've been calling you all night, I've been texting you all night, and you couldn't even bother to respond to me? How fucking shitty is that?"

"Okay, well, Henry, a five hour gala is a lot-"

"Five hours with me is just too much?" I asked, shrugging.

She laughed and looked away from me. "Believe what you want."

"Where were you?" I blatantly asked.

"Why are you asking me that?"

"Where were you?" I asked, yet again.

"Henry," she said, tilting her head over.

"Why can't you just answer the fucking question?" I asked.

"Because every move I make is not your business, Henry," she said, looking up at me.

I clenched my jaw, nodding. "Fine."

I turned around and walked back towards the door, making her follow. "Are you going to let me in, or?"

"No, you can go home," I said, nodding.

"Henry, you're being ridiculous," she said.

"I don't give a shit," I said, shrugging.

"Of course you don't," she said, "of fucking course you don't."

"You were with someone else," I softly said, turning around to face her.

She knitted her heavily done eyebrows together, her lips parted as she shook her head.

"And you can't even say you weren't, Cordelia," I said, "that's what fucking sucks. You can't even lie to me."

"Henry," she said, her voice breaking.

"I have to go inside," I said, nodding, "you can get back to whatever, whoever the fuck you were doing."

~*~

Fran

"Mom and Dad are so in love," I said, watching them dance in the middle of the room.

Hero smiled. "Yeah, they are."

"I could have that, you know, if you'd back off," I said, looking over at him.

He chuckled, looking down. "Well, too bad that's never gonna happen."

I bit down on my lip and looked away from him. "Hey, I have a question."

He nodded, his focus only on me.

"Why?" I asked, shrugging.

"Because no one will ever be good enough for my baby sister," he confidently said, taking a sip of his water.

"How do you figure?"

"Just because I do."

I sighed, nodding. "Fair."

"Is there anything you need to talk about?" He asked, "anything been on your mind?"

Hero had his flaws, and plenty of them, to be frank. He was a skilled listener, though. I always wondered if he was overcompensating for not having anyone to spill his own problems to.

"Um, yeah, actually," I said, "b-but it's about you."

He nodded, obviously giving me his undivided attention. Even with the beautiful women walking around that would typically make Hero's head spin, I was the center of his world right now.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

I watched his shoulders stiffen up. "Yeah, why do you ask?"

"I've been noticing," I said, "a-and maybe I'm just looking too deep into it, I don't know."

"You've been noticing what?" He asked.

"I don't want to point anything out that you haven't really accepted y-"

He smiled. "Just say it, Fran."

"You know how you used to always have something to eat?" I asked, giggling.

He bit down on his lip, tracing circles on the table. "Y-yeah."

"Like, you always had a bag of something on you," I said, "skittles, twizzlers, marshmallows."

He smiled a soft smile.

"I haven't seen you do that recently," I said, "I-I haven't really seen you do much eating at all, actually."

He chuckled, looking away from me. "U-uh, no. God, no. I'm good. Coach just kinda got my ass about it, told me that my teeth would fall out if I kept eating that sweet shit. I need the pearly whites, you know."

He shot me a smile and I matched his smile, nodding. "That doesn't explain you-"

"Fran, really," he said, nodding, "I'm good. I was asking about you. If you needed to talk about anything."

"I did," I softly said, looking over at him.

He stood up, pressing a kiss to the top of my head. "Don't get into any trouble, alright?"

I nodded, watching as he walked off. Josie replaced him, her chin falling into her palm.

"I managed to piss Eros off," she muttered.

I took a sip of my water, looking over at her.

"Wanna have a sleepover tonight?" She asked, smiling a sweet smile.

"Sure," I said, nodding.

"Hey," she said, "don't look, but Mr. twelve o'clock is checking you out."

I looked up, looking back down quickly after I made eye contact with the man standing in the middle of the room.

"I'm fifteen, it feels illegal to look at him."

Josie giggled. "Fifteen and sixteen were lethal for me. All I was interested in was an older man."

"And now?"

"Well, I've got Eros," she said, "but I don't know. Now that I'm so close to being legal, it just doesn't sound as fun."

"That's kind of twisted-"

"What are we talking about, girls?" Hero asked, grinning down at us.

"How that totally hot older