#heath graff

As Heath scampered off with his tail between his legs, Saunders checked in with Melody.

"Are you OK? He didn't hurt you or anything did he?"

"Heath? Please, he isn't capable. Only thing he ever bruised of mine was my dignity. Now tell me, when did I become your wife?"

"Wife leaves more of an impact than girlfriend."

"Lukas." Mel shot him eyes.

"It got him to leave, right?" He sighed. "I know. And I won't ask again. I know you'll say no."

"Oh yeah? Well, don't give up on me. Maybe I'm close to saying yes."

He gave her a look of such warmness, she wanted to melt.

"You're doing it again. You're asking me to marry you with your eyes."

"It's only because you don't respond well to my words."

"Well, I respond well to this." She leaned in and kissed him deeply with a wordless I love you.

While Melody and Saunders were getting steamy, Heath was getting hot about their recent exchange.

"Mimi why didn't you warn me?! I was just over there and made a fool of myself hitting on her, and she's MARRIED?"

"What're you mad at me for, I told you she's married."

"I THOUGHT YOU WERE JOKING!"

"If you spent more time with me, you'd know my jokes are better than that."

"And she's pregnant too? You didn't say a thing about that. And that dude said it's not even their first one."

"I mean, no offense, Dad, but other people's kids are kind of none of your business."

"Look, kid, I just would've appreciated a heads up."

"Excuse me, is everything good hear?" Saunders had found them both as his Melody in peril sense was tingling.

"Heath was just leaving, Lukas."

"Sorry dude, but we're kind of in the middle of something, so if you don't mind giving us some space."

"Actually I do mind."

Saunders moved to Melody's side and placed his arm around her waist pulling her toward him.

"Cause ya see, I'm not all that keen on other men having moments alone with my wife."

"Wife?" Melody said incredulously under her breath, but Saunders shot her a look to just go with it.

"OK, very funny. Ya know Mimi told me that you were married and I thought she was joking. The two of you are terrible comediens."

"Actually, he was telling the truth. Melody 𝘪𝘴 my wife, and she's currently carrying my child, so I'd appreciate you not agitating her."

"That thing is real?!!" Heath was taken aback. "Mel?! You didn't marry him just cause he got you pregnant did you? I mean, you didn't have to."

"I married her before the pregnancy. It's not our first child. But even if it was, I love her. Why wouldn't I marry her?"

"Oh, I—I didn't mean—dude, I honestly I didn't know. I wouldn't have—ugh. Can we just forget this whole thing happened?"

"I can't foget you hitting on my wife, but I will give you a headstart to get lost before I hurt you."

"So I went by your mom's place," Heath approached Mimi without so much as a hi, "and that asian lady, Ms. Suzuki, she said she moved. Said she ran off with some guy and got married. She was joking, right?"

"Mom, married?"

"Yeah, that's not true is it?"

Mimi thinks a few beats... "Nope, it's totally true."

Despite Mimi's words, Heath shrugged off his answer, and went looking for Melody. He was fresh off a disatrous divorce from his wife Marien, and he knew Melody had exactly what he needed to make himself feel better about it. So when he ran into her, he couldn't hide his own elation.

"Woah, Melody! I thought you'd be here."

"Well, it's only my best friend's Spooky Day party, it's more surprising you got an invite."

"You know Andrea always invites me when Mimi's invited. I'm her dad."

"His dad. Thought she'd stop doing that now that he's an adult"

"Yeah, well it's lucky that she did otherwise I'd miss how hot you look in your Spooky Day costume. Pregnant cheerleader? That's sexy." He cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah, um thanks I guess." The compliment made her skin crawl. She attempted to leave but Heath stopped her.

"Not so fast, we should dance." Heath shot her a suggestive look.

"Yeah, I'm sure your wife would love that."

"No, didn't you hear? Marien and I ended things. So now you and I—"

"You and I? There is no you and I. Now if you'll excuse me—"

"Come on! I know I messed up last time. Should've told you about the Marien thing. But now that's not an issue. So dance with me. Later we might even be able to sneak off to an empty bedroom, and who knows, maybe we can make a real baby."

It was that time of year again.

When the weather grows colder and everyone is filled with mirth and good cheer.

Spooky Day of course 👻

And no one enjoyed the festivities of dressing up and getting in the Spooky Day spirit like Andrea Fletcher. So naturally, she got dressed up in the most wild costume she could find and spent the whole day prepping to host a big Spooky Day bash at Casa Fletcher.

Andros and new baby Fletcher were too small and too cranky to participate in the festivities this year, but the rest of the Fletcherlings were in perfect form as each one of them got dressed up in extravagent costumes, as deemed appropriate by Queen Dre. Least surprising costume of the bunch was Cordelia, all decked as a princess. Of course 😉

"So that's it? You don't even wanna talk about this and try and make this right?"

"Heath, what is there to talk about? You're married, I'm done, and don't call or text me unless it has to do with Mimi. Now I /have/ to go!"

Somehow, Mel had found herself early on a Monday morning doing the ultimate walk of shame. She didn't want to admit it, but she had reached 3 strikes in one day. First Akito, then Saunders, and now even Heath.

"Face it, Mel. Three strikes. You're out."

"What is it that we have, again? Years of us sliding into each other's DMs, sleeping with each other with no strings attached, while you barely spend any time with our kid and fail to pay child support?" Melody tried not to roll her eyes at the "treasured" memories.

"Ugh! Melody, you're always doing this! Focusing on all the wrong things. This is why you and I can never get anywhere and really be together like we're supposed to be."

Mel, yawned, "Heath, I can't do this with you. I gotta get out of here."

Heath let out an audible "ARGH."

"Mel, you're taking this all the wrong way. I'm a different person than I was back then. Can't you see? I'm finally ready to be with you, and I know you feel the same way. Otherwise you never would have come here. You love me too, admit it!"

"You know what, Heath? Coming here did confirm something for me, but it wasn't that I love you. It's that I want to be wanted by someone I actually want. And I don't want you."

"So that's it then, you're just gonna throw away everything we have?" Heath asked in a huff.

"And you conveniently forgot to tell me you got married until /after/ you slept with me? After you said all that garbage about loving me and wanting to be with me. I'm such an idiot!"

"No! Mel, she doesn't mean anything to me. I meant everything I said before."

"Heath, there's no way you could have because this isn't how you love someone! You don't marry someone for money when you're in love with someone else. You're impossible! You're the same deadbeat who got me pregnant and dipped when it got too hard. What am I even doing here?"