When Ginger and Kris came home that night, Zac was lying on the living room couch with Jenny. Jenny had been nothing but a pain in the ass since Ginger left and Zac was finally happy to see Jenny act the way she normally did. It still was a lot of work for Zac and Taylor to take care of her, but Zac was glad to do it. However, he was so exhausted by eight o'clock he plopped onto the couch with Jenny and didn't move until Ginger came home. Jenny had fallen asleep and Zac was almost about to join her.
Ginger walked over to them and knelt down on the floor next to Zac. "How was she today?" Ginger asked, looking at her baby.
"A royal pain in the ass."
"Yeah, she can do that sometimes."
"I handled it, though. I'm a good father." Ginger smiled. "Taylor did absolutely nothing. It was all me."
"Sure, Zac," Ginger said. "I'm going to put her down. You should go to bed, you look downright exhausted." It was true. Zac reluctantly got up and walked into the bedroom where Ginger was putting Jenny in her crib.
"Did you eat?"
"No, I was going to make something in a minute."
"I'll make you dinner." Ginger looked back at him.
"That's okay, Zac. You're tired. Go to bed."
"I haven't eaten either," he said. "This isn't just for you." She rolled her eyes. "I'm thinking pasta."
"Sounds great." Zac walked out of the room and into the kitchen. He put some water on the stove to boil and sat down. Ginger came out of the bedroom and stood across from him. "Uh, I moved my stuff into your room this morning before I left. I didn't get a chance to tell you."
"Yeah, I noticed."
"We'll see if Jenny sleeps in her crib tonight," Ginger said. "She'll do it every once in a while, but most of the time if she's not with me she'll freak out. What kind of pasta are you making?"
"I haven't decided yet." Ginger walked over to the pantry and opened it up. She looked over it and paused.
"Spaghetti works for me," she said, taking it out and placing it on the counter. She closed the pantry door and sat down next to Zac at the counter. "Where are Taylor and Kris?"
"They're around. They haven't seen each other all day, you know," Zac said, rolling his eyes. "That's insane."
"You don't understand, Zac," Ginger said.
"Yeah, I don't seem to understand a lot of things."
"It's just, after you left Taylor moved in with Kris and they haven't spent more than a few days apart over this past year. They're always together. They're not used to being apart," she said. He didn't say anything and she sighed. "Can we talk about what happened this morning?"
"Ginger�"
"I want to talk about it." He sighed. "Did you mean that? What you said?"
"Yes I did." He looked at her but she wasn't looking at him. "I can't stand it when you don't look at me." She looked up at him and it was obvious why she was looking at him. She had tears in her eyes. "Ginger, I don't know how I'm supposed to act around you. I still love you and I know you still love me�"
"How do you know that?"
"I just know." She sighed. "What am I supposed to do?"
"I don't know, Zac. If you can't keep yourself in line while I'm living here, maybe I shouldn't be living here." Ginger got up and put the spaghetti in the pot of boiling water. "I didn't come here to start a relationship with you, Zac. I'm here because Jenny needs to know her father."
"Whatever, Ginger."
"Don't 'whatever' me, Zac."
"You know, the only reason you're getting defensive is because you feel the same way!" She gave him a look. "When was the last time you got laid?"
"What the hell kind of question is that?" she asked, obviously offended. "That is none of your business."
"I bet you haven't slept with anybody since me."
"That's not true," she lied, turning away.
"Oh, so you have?"
"Zac, I don't see how any of this is relevant," she said. He didn't say anything. "I was pregnant, Zac! I couldn't even leave my house for fear that someone would see me and find out I had a child, and then after she was born I was too busy to go out. I didn't exactly have the time to go out and meet someone. It wasn't like you. I didn't have anybody waiting for me." She turned back to the pasta. "It was impossible for me to see you two together." Zac got up and stood next to her. She looked up at him.
"I'm sorry," he said.
"You should be. You're so inappropriate sometimes." He sighed and walked back to the counter. She finished the spaghetti and he put out two plates at the counter. She sat next to him. They ate in silence. After dinner Zac went back into the bedroom. Ginger cleaned up in the kitchen, then went into the bedroom. She walked in and closed the door behind her. Zac walked in from the bathroom with his shirt off and stopped when he saw her. "I just came in to check on Jenny."
"Yeah�" She kissed him. He stopped her. "Are you sure?"
"Yes." Ginger stepped back to the bed and sat down on it. "Come here." He kissed her again, pushing her back down on the bed.
The next morning Zac woke up with Ginger in his arms. He smiled. He forgot what it was like to make love to someone he was in love with. He turned over and looked at the clock. Ginger had to leave soon. He turned back over and shook her shoulder. "Ginger," he said. "Ginger, wake up."
"What?" she asked, waking up.
"You have to be at the studio in an hour."
"Okay, okay, I'm getting up," she said. She sat up and looked back down at him. "I don't want to go."
"You have to go." She laid back down and put his arm around her again. "Ginger�get up."
"No."
"I'll throw you in the shower."
"Zac, you're such a bastard," she said, elbowing him in the stomach. It hurt her more than it hurt him. "I hate you."
"I love you."
"I love you too." She kissed him. "Zac�"
"What?"
"We can't do this." He sat up.
"I knew it," he said. "I knew it was too good to be true." She sat up as well, putting her head against his shoulder.
"Zac, you knew it shouldn't have happened. If we get back together and it doesn't work out�"
"What makes you think it won't work out?" he asked. "What makes you think it won't be forever this time? I'm sure." She sighed. "I want to be with you. It's not all about me either; Jenny deserves to have a family. She shouldn't have to juggle between two parents who can't see what's in front of them!"
"Zac," Ginger said, shaking her head. "No."
"Fine. If we can't be together," Zac said, getting out of the bed, "then you shouldn't have a problem with me seeing other people."
"What? No!"
"Why not?" he asked. "I don't want to sit around here and waste my time on something that's not going to happen. You can continue to live here and I'll still be Jenny's father. She'll just end up with a step-mother."
"I cannot believe you," she said. He shrugged.
"It's your decision."
"Ugh," she said. "You are lucky I'm going to be at work all day." Ginger got up and walked into the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. Zac sighed. Jenny woke up and started whimpering.
"Oh, Jenny," Zac said, picking her up. "Did Mommy's attitude wake you up? I think she woke everybody up." He put on some pants and walked out to the kitchen. Taylor was already there. "How is it you manage to wake up every day before me?"
"Just lucky I guess," Taylor said. "I heard you and Ginger fighting."
"Did you?"
"What happened?"
"I made the mistake of sleeping with her," Zac said. He opened the refrigerator and took out a bottle to heat up from Jenny. He didn't see Taylor's surprised look until he turned around. "What?"
"You slept with her?"
"Yeah. Everything was all fine and good until she said 'We shouldn't do this.' I don't get it. She sleeps with me, it's okay. She says she loves me, it's okay. But then all of a sudden it isn't okay?" Zac sighed. "I don't get her and I probably never will. Thank God she's going to be working all the time now."
From behind him he felt a sharp jab to his arm. He turned around and Kris was standing there, her hands on her hips. "Ow! Hello, I have a baby in my arms!" Zac said. Kris gave him a look and he was sure she didn't care what he had in his arms.
"What the fuck did you do?"
"Exactly," Zac said. "And watch your language around my daughter." Kris looked confused. She stood there a moment, then her eyes lit up and she hit him again. "Taylor, take care of Jenny." Taylor took Jenny from Zac.
"You slept with her?"
"Yes I did. Let's tell the world! Oh wait, let me call my mom, I'm sure she'd love to hear it." Zac sat down. "But don't worry. It's not like it's ever going to happen again. Ever." He looked away. "I am never going to get laid again."
"What makes you think that?" Taylor asked.
"Well she's never going to do it again and I'm not allowed to see other people, so it's just never going to happen." He sighed and slowly turned his to Kris. She shook her head. "Aww, man�" Ginger walked out of the bedroom, dressed and sorting through her purse for her keys.
"Kris, you ready?"
"Yeah, Ginger."
"Okay. Taylor, you know what to do with Jenny; everything should be set for you." Ginger gave her daughter a kiss. "I'll see you later, sweetie." She looked at Zac and her face turned to scowl. "I'll deal with you later." She left with Kris. Zac got up and walked back to the bathroom. This was getting to be too much for him.