As he walked slowly up to his apartment, he realized that despite everything, despite the fact that he would have the TALK- today would be different. Tomorrow… tomorrow would be the day he’d have to talk to Callie, the day when everything he knew would come crashing down. He knew with certainty that the woman he loved would be lost to him then, and the thought devastated him. But I have to know…and if she really loved me, she never would have done this to me…never. Still, he couldn’t deny that Callie was as dear to him and as vital to him as ever, and now, with the possibility that she was pregnant with HIS child, things would be more complicated than ever. What would he do?

As he paused outside his door, he took a deep breath. Tonight, he would be the old Frank Hardy, the one who loved the woman of his dreams more than ever. He’d be the person who adored his little brother, and was beyond grateful that he was alive, and seemed to be getting back to his funny and vibrant self. Because that’s really who I am, he thought, choking back his emotions. Yes, in spite of everything, I do love them both, and I want to believe them. And for tonight, for his birthday, for this one day out of the year before the earth would move, losing the old Frank forever, he would hold onto his true self, and cling to his old life. He’d let the faintest thought that they were being honest carry him through because he wanted it to be true so much. After all, if you believe a lie long enough, he added, it does become the truth.

Before he had a chance to put his key in the lock, the door was thrown open, and Joe shouted, "Surprise!", tossing confetti in his direction. Holding steady to his decision to live as he wished he could all the time, Frank smiled.

"Oh, wow," he said, laughing at his brother. "I am sooooo surprised you remembered me." He rolled his eyes at his brother’s enthusiasm.

Joe laughed, and gave Frank a big hug. "Of course I remembered!" Joe quipped, ushering his brother into the apartment. "I left a message for you last night! You could have returned the call, you know," he added, trying to keep things light.

Frank smiled, avoiding the dig. "Well, little brother, you were the first to wish me a happy birthday, as always!"

Joe smiled, happy that Frank still remembered their little tradition. "As always," he repeated.

"You’re late," Vanessa chided him, stepping forward to give him a quick hug. She was reluctant to show Frank any more emotion or happiness than he was entitled to, but she was struck at how HAPPY he appeared to be, and she looked at him quizzically.

"What?" Frank asked with a laugh. "You’re not happy to see me?!" He looked at her and did find himself actually truly happy to see her. She’s in almost the same situation I am, he thought. Then, he chided himself for thinking that. He had promised himself—tonight, the old Frank was back.

Finally, Vanessa returned the smile. Well, Frank did look normal, and he seemed genuinely happy to see her and Joe. She’d give him a chance—for Joe, for Callie. "You know, buddy, we waited on dinner for you. Joe and I brought it over!"

"You cooked?" he asked, seeming so shocked that both Joe and Vanessa started laughing. They were both notoriously horrible cooks, somehow surviving on take out, microwave dinners, and pasta… every night. He could just imagine what dinner would taste like.

"Don’t worry, big brother," Joe said with a chuckle. "I bought it—you won’t get poisoned or anything."

"I was worried," Frank laughed. "Was I that obvious?"

"Yeah!" they said together.

"Where’s Callie?" Frank asked, looking around.

Joe paused before answering. Callie had been so drained earlier, he had insisted that she lay down for a while. She had, and hadn’t been out of the bedroom since. He didn’t know if she was up to coming to dinner. "Um, she wasn’t feeling great, so she went to lie down," Joe answered.

"Is she okay?" Frank asked, genuinely concerned.

"Yeah," Joe answered, "but we figured a little rest might do her some good. Come on—catch us up on everything while Vanessa and I prepare dinner. Then, we can, you know… talk. Chat. Open presents!" he added, enthusiastically. This was Frank’s birthday, after all, and he was talking and being open with him. Joe was a little afraid that a talk would ruin the atmosphere. He was willing to hold off on the talk for a few hours to enjoy being with his brother.

Frank rolled his eyes. "I don’t know if I even trust you two to prepare dinner!" he joked with them. "And I hope my presents are good!" he added with a wink.

"You have no idea," Joe said seriously.

Laughing, Frank added, "I can only imagine!" Watching Vanessa set the table and hearing Joe’s laughter, Frank felt emotional. It was so good to see Joe healthy and enjoying life again. He had missed him so very much. Just Joe’s presence often had the effect of making him feel hopeful and happy about life. He was glad that Joe had come. Still, he had to do something. "Um, guys? I guess I’ll trust you with dinner, at least for a few minutes. Don’t burn down anything, okay? I just want to check on Callie."

Joe nodded, glad that Frank seemed concerned about her. "Okay," he replied. "But don’t be too long! You have no idea what can happen to a perfectly good meal in such a short amount of time!"

Shaking his head and grinning, Frank opened the door to their bedroom, and saw Callie standing by the bed and stretching. When she turned around, he noticed right away that she looked tired and her eyes were a little red. Had she been crying? Was it because of him? Not tonight, he said again to himself. It was so easy to live in a pretend world, especially when that world had once existed. And he would have it again, if only for one, last night.

"Callie?" he said to her.

"Hi," she replied with a small smile. "Happy birthday."

"Are you okay?" he asked, going to her and closing the door behind him.

No! Callie screamed inwardly. I’m not. Can’t you see that?! But, out loud, she said to him, "Oh, yeah. I’m okay. I’m glad you’re home." Then, she found herself nervously walking around the room, straightening things, and making idle small talk. "Did you see Joe? Van? Wasn’t it nice of them to come all the way here? Geez… did you know they even brought dinner? That was sweet. You…"

"Callie," Frank said, cutting her off. He had come up to her, and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

"Yes?" she asked, instinctively leaning back against him. She felt so nervous, and she didn’t know why.

"Look at me," she heard him say, and she turned around, barely able to meet his eyes.

"Callie," he said again, tilting her face to his, "sit down for a second, okay?"

Numbly, Callie did exactly that, moving away from Frank and sitting on the bed.

Frank felt his heart beating hard in his chest as he looked at her. He knew she was hurting, and he knew it was because of him. He also knew that tomorrow everything would change. He had one last opportunity to make things right with her before they did. He wished to God that the things he was about to say wouldn’t be on false pretenses, because he would mean them… every word. And he would mean them with Joe later, too.

"Cal," he said to her, taking her hand gently. "Tomorrow…" he found himself choking on the word, as he knew what it would bring… "Tomorrow, baby, we’re going to talk… about everything."

Shocked, Callie looked up. Had she heard him correctly? She’d been waiting for him to say that for over three months. She was almost afraid to hope.

Frank felt horribly looking at her. Oh, God. I can’t believe I’ve hurt her so badly. In that moment, that was the only thought on his mind.

"Really?" she finally whispered.

Swallowing hard, he answered her. "Yes, really." If only she knew… that I know…. That the conversation won’t be what she thinks it will…but not tonight.

Tears in her eyes, she looked up at him. "About…" she whispered, mad at herself that she was barely able to find the words.

"About… everything," he said to her, releasing her hand and wrapping an arm around her. "What’s been wrong…" he gulped back air before continuing, "the …baby…my behavior… there’s… a reason…." Yes, there is. And I owe her at least that… for all our years…for all our love…

"Oh, Frank," she said softly, burying her face in his shoulder and choking back a sob, "thank you."

"I’m sorry," he said gently back to her, reaching out for her and pulling her tightly to him. And he was. Things never should have gotten this far. Fighting back a transient thought that he had nothing to do with it, he held her closer. Yes, he did. Even though she had betrayed him, and Joe had, he should have said something right away, done something. Maybe then he would have been able to salvage some parts of his life. Now, he didn’t know if he could.

As he held her, he felt her trembling in his arms and fought back the lump in his throat Maybe she felt badly about what had happened… maybe she was sorry… it was unforgivable, but he couldn’t hate her. He just couldn’t. In fact, he found himself wishing he couldn’t love her as much as he did. That reminded him… he might as well be honest for this last night.

"Baby?" He whispered to her.

Pulling slowly away from him, Callie met his eyes. It had felt…so wonderful… to be held again, as if he meant it. But, all good things must come to an end.

"What about the baby?" she asked, brushing back the last of her tears. Lord, she had cried a lot today.

Frank smiled tenderly at her. "I was talking to you, not ABOUT the baby," he said.

"Oh," she replied with a small laugh.

"Anyway," he said with an eye roll, and, with that, he reached out for her and kissed her deeply. As he did so, a thousand emotions rolled through him. THIS was what it had felt like for so many years, to love her totally and completely, and to just live in the moment, to live only for each other…He didn’t want to stop.

Neither did Callie, but after almost five minutes, she reluctantly pulled away from him. "We have guests," she said, breathlessly, part of her not really caring. Still, it wasn’t completely right…not yet, although it was more than she had dared to hope for in a long, long time. She stood up and gave him a smile, still warm from his touch, which she had missed for so long.

Following after her, he stopped her as she was about to open the door, and turned her around to face him.

"Before you go," he said to her, wanting desperately to hold onto the moment.

"Yeah?" she asked, looking up at him, not wanting to go, herself.

"I love you." It was truer than she would ever know.

Callie covered her mouth with her hand and knew she was trembling again. Had he… had he just said it…she felt her heart fill up and, unexpectedly, tears slipped from her eyes again. She stared at him, stunned.

Frank looked at her, fighting back his own tears as he wondered if this was the last day that he’d ever say those words to her, the last day that he’d ever hear them from her. Had he really made her feel so empty by not telling her how he felt? I guess so. I used to tell her every day, all day. I didn’t think it was possible to feel that much joy with anyone…

He hugged her tightly against him, clinging to her for his own sake. At once, he kissed her again, even more passionately than before, desperate to have this moment last… to freeze time.

Callie finally pulled back, overjoyed beyond her wildest imagination. Whatever had made Frank come to his senses, she really didn’t care. All she knew was that she would do anything to keep him here, to not let him go.

"I love you, too," she said at last, catching her breath, and smiling from ear to ear.

Frank kissed her again, needing this moment. "We’ll definitely continue this later," he said to her, continuing to give her little kisses. And, knowing how much that moment had meant to Callie, he wanted to tell her…one last time…

"I love you, Callie."

Hugging her, he added, and he meant it, despite the terrible pain in his heart…. "Always."

Holding her hand tightly, he exited the bedroom, knowing that he needed to talk to Joe as well, and to tell him the same thing on this one night.

Because it was true.