daphne shakes her head and offers her friend a small smile. "don't worry about it. things will be what they will be and i'm learning how to be okay with that. it's messed up but sometimes things are. i can still be amazing despite it all. i have a found family now," she says, nudging mei with her elbow and smiling a little wider. "please. you're going to listen to me bitch about baking for at least an hour. drinks is the least i can do."

mei's smile falters when daphne starts talking about her mother. she doesn't say much, but it's enough for mei to feel a sort of pang in her chest for her. "i don't mean to go back to it, but i'm sorry that things are complicated." she can't imagine not getting along with her mother. she's her biggest cheerleader. "drinks next time we go is perfect, but you don't have to pay me back."

"that's true. my mom... it's really complicated. and i always wished she got her shit together when i was little but if she had then bobby might not be here and he's the best part of my family. even if he is being a little punk now," she laughs, setting the ingredients out again. "you'll have to let me know how i can pay you back. coffee for a week. all drinks on me next time we go out. just name your price," she jokes.

"oh, you don't have to thank me. there's not much we wouldn't do for a sibling, right?" at least that's how mei feels. her siblings are some of the most precious people to her, even if she doesn't speak to her sister anymore. she looks at the pictures and smiles. she can definitely illusion something similar no problem. "you've got it. your brother will be so excited to see it."

"holy shit, thank you so much. i can definitely make it edible. fuck, thank you, seriously." if she doesn't have to worry about the decorations, she knows she can do the rest. daphne pulls out her phone to show mei the last few cakes her mother has made. "i know it doesn't look super fancy, and i don't think it needs to be, but if we could do just a little better than this, my pettiness will thank you."

"i don't mind at all. you worry about making it edible, i'll work on decorating it to make sure it looks perfect. i'll just need some inspiration pictures to see what you want it to look like." she could probably wing it, but she's assuming since the cake is for a special event that it's supposed to look a certain way.

"really? you don't mind helping? i know it's not what we had planned for today. i just really don't want bobby to be disappointed again. he tries to act all cool but this one hurt him." daphne sags in relief at the promise of reinforcements. "honestly, if we just make an edible cake, that might be enough."

"oh, well that's a very different situation. i'm sure we can figure this out for your brother. can i try and help? i don't usually bake but isn't there a saying like the more the merrier? something like that?" and maybe she's planning on using some of her magic, but that's a totally secret thing.

"so logically, yeah, someone else can make it. but my brother asked me to make it. my mom always makes this damn cake but she told him, and i quote 'i just can't be bothered this year' and it crushed him so he asked me all big-eyed and sad and i really shouldn't have promised that when i can't bake for shit.'

“not that i doubt your abilities, but couldn’t someone else make it? i mean, where i live, there’s someone for that. but it might be different here. plus, if they mess it up, it’s not on you.”

"with friends like these. and it's supposed to be a cake! for the spring festival! but it looks like it survived the winter outside after a bunch of raccoons got to it and now i need to remake it or it's going to be a disaster."

"i would hope it's not supposed to look like that. because, like i said, it's gross. what is it supposed to look like? do you have an example?"

"yes thank you, mei. very helpful input. i just don't know what i did wrong. i followed all the directions but it's not supposed to look like... that."

@thosebrightcitylights

“oh, yikes. i thought you were joking, but this is…yeah, this is gross.”

thinking of doing a thing...

Collins bites her lip to stop herself from smiling too widely. She wants to capture this moment and keep it with her forever. Pure happiness. She giggles a little at that. "Human filter is the perfect way to explain it. And I can promise you that I have no plans to dip. But here," she offers her hand for Vaughn to take. "You can keep track of me real easy this way," she teases.

Without a second thought, Vaughn leans down and presses a kiss to the top of Collins' head when she rests it on his shoulder. "Anything for you, Col." He smiles when she adjusts her posture. He loves seeing her be confident, be a little more out of her shell than normal. "Ah, so I'm your human filter for the night? Seems like a pretty easy gig as long as you don't try to dip on me."

"Oh, you think so? I never can tell." He grins at her, his cheeks still flushing where her lips touch despite all the kisses she's given him. Cooper laughs at that. "Sweetheart, we could have the tree up all year if it would make you happy. Just let me know when you want it up by and you can put me to work," he promises. Cooper looks by the window and nods. "It would look nice there. That's a good tree window."

"I'm pretty sure she more than just likes you," she plays along, tilting her head up to press a soft kiss to his cheek. "...is this your way of telling me you'll let me put the tree up early?" she teases, looking over the room again. "I think we might need to rethink where to move the bar cart because the tree would look so pretty in front of the window."

Tension seeps out of Campbell's shoulders. Having such unwavering support was more than she could ask for. "I think it's everything all at once. We got some more bad news about Dad," she admits, looking down at the stoop and using her nail to pick at a small crack. "I think... I don't even know. I think I'm being very negative about the whole thing and everyone else is so hopeful and upbeat still and I just want them to stop but how do I say that when it's how they're coping?

"You can tell me as little or as much as you want," Gardner assures her, adjusting in her spot so she's facing Campbell more straight on so she knows she has her full attention while they're talking. "Is it a specific feeling or is it just sort of everything all at once?"

Finch sighs and nods his head. "It is real now, isn't it?" He shakes his head. "I didn't think I'd be so scared to do it on my own and go out there without Lark. I think she was more of a crutch than I thought." Finch covers Emily's hand with his own and squeezes gently. "Please. It would help a lot to know I have someone on my side so close."

Emily reaches over and rests her hand gently on Finch's knee. "You're not a pain. And I'm still nervous. The whole anonymous thing when I'm making music isn't just a gimmick," she says with a shrug. "Of course it feels more real now. You're on your own and it's your music. Do you want me to hang out on the wings while you're on?"

She returns his grin with one of her own, leaning her head on his shoulder for a moment. "Thanks, Vaughn," she says softly, touched that he always shows up for her. Collins straightens up and squares her shoulders. "I wouldn't worry too much about impressing people. You're very impressive without trying. Your mission tonight is really making sure I don't say anything too rude which is much more challenging."

Vaughn looks over at her and smiles. "Of course, Collins. Always happy to be your plus one whenever you need one." He means it, too. Whatever's going on between them hasn't really been defined, but as long as Collins is in his life, he's fine with that. "So, who am I trying to impress tonight?"

"Well, that and there's this really great gal I've somehow convinced to like me. That's made me a little confident too," he jokes, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her even closer. "Switch the table. Got it. But before we do that... should we decide where we're putting the tree this year? Because it might mean moving stuff again."

"That's the only thing that keeps you confident, huh?" she teases back. Skye reaches out for Cooper and wraps her arms around his waist while she studies the room. "I like that idea. Bar cart by the window and then maybe switch the table to the other side of the love seat? To balance it all out?"

"It feels like it's been a month of bad days," Campbell sighs. "I'm usually so much more put together than this. And I think I want to talk about it but I really don't know where to start. I don't know what's going on with me, Gardner. I think I'm starting to lose it."

Gardner tucks her hand's into her coat pockets and takes a seat on the stoop next to Campbell. "Hey, we all have bad days," she says, looking over at her. "Do you want to talk about it? Or do you want to just pretend it didn't happen for a bit?"

Finch groans and runs his hands through his already messy hair. "Sorry. I don't mean to be a pain," he offers a small smile. "Were you this nervous? The first time you performed by yourself? Because I've performed before hundreds of crowds and it's never felt this real before."

"I'm not just saying it. I'm a terrible liar so if I didn't believe in you, it would be a very different pep talk about how if you feel like you have to cancel, then that's what's right for you. You're the one being your own dream crusher here."

"I do like it, you did a nice job." She smiles as she takes his arm. "No, I suppose not. I will admit that your slight delay was nice in a way. I'm glad I don't have to go in alone." Collins turns to him. "Thanks for coming with me."

“Oh, the bowtie. We don’t need to talk about how long it took me to get this thing just right, but I’m glad you like it. At least enough to comment on it.�� He offers Collins his arm. “Probably shouldn’t waste too much more time.”