Previously:

Martine went into labor on Christmas morning. Charlie and Martine tried desperately to get in touch with Tyson, but he was out of town and didn't make it to the hospital in time for the birth of his son.

After disturbing visits from the ghosts of Christmas present and future, Giselle Ormand resolved to focus more on her family and less on the Highwind.

Miles began working at the Highwind Pro Shop after being fired from the X-Limit by his sister. He immediately hated his new job. He couldn't stand his stoner supervisor, Kev, and hoped to make a career change as soon as possible.

 

The Guthrie Home

Several weeks had passed since Brody Patrick LeBrock was born, and in that time, Martine and Tyson had been closer than ever. Sometimes they stayed at Tyson's apartment. Other times they tried to catch what little sleep they could at the Guthrie home. Either way, they hadn't spent a night apart in weeks. While Martine was grateful -- extremely grateful -- for all of his help, it felt strange to have someone by her side so consistently.

On this morning, Martine had just finished feeding Brody. She burped the baby, then laid him down in his crib.

Tyson came downstairs, freshly showered and looking invigorated, despite having spent a good portion of the night tending to the baby while Martine rested for a few, precious hours.

"When will you be home?" Martine asked, sipping the juice she'd blended.

Tyson shrugged. "I have appointments all afternoon, but I'll give you a call later. Are you coming to my place tonight, or are we staying here?"

"I don't know. I haven't thought that far ahead," Martine said. "You know, it's okay with me if you want a night to yourself. I feel bad. You've been the one taking care of him every time he wakes up in the middle of the night. You haven't had a decent night's sleep since he was born..."

"I don't mind. I still owe you for not being there during the delivery anyway, don't I?" Tyson smiled. Though he was in a pleasant mood as usual, Martine knew him well enough to recognize the tiredness in his eyes, a weariness hanging just beneath the surface.

"You don't owe me anything. I'm the one who owes you," she said. "I never imagined you'd be such a good father or that we'd be such a good team. I'm not used to having help. I don't think I slept for the first three years when I had Josie."

"Well, I'm here for you now. For you and for Brody. And you're right, we do make a great team," he said, flashing her a dimpled grin. "I never pictured us together like this when I met you." He rested a hand on her shoulder, stroking the sensitive skin at the base of her neck. "Now, I wouldn't have it any other way. I love you, and I've loved our son since the moment I laid eyes on him."

Martine flushed at his words. She knew he couldn't really mean what he said, at least not about loving her. It was just an expression -- something nice you said to someone you cared for -- but she appreciated the sentiment nevertheless.

"I want us to be a real family," he continued. "I know things were a little ... untraditional, the way we first met, but I really think we've got a shot at making this work."

Martine didn't know what to think. They'd been seeing each other for nearly a year. It was always so casual-seeming, but it couldn't stay that way anymore. Things were changing, deepening every day with Brody factored into the equation. They were seeing each other every single day -- being parents, as opposed to meeting up several times a week for dates, movie nights, or other frivolous encounters. Everything was going as great as it could, but she was scared of rushing into anything -- scared of scaring him away...

Tyson seemed to sense her anxiety, but he was undeterred. "The way things have been going ... it's been great," he said. "Now that we have Brody, I think maybe it would be easier, maybe it would be better for us both, if we took the next step. For Brody. Don't you think?"

He waited for her answer, but the only thing Martine could think was that it was all too much, too soon. She was afraid she might throw up.

 

The X-Limit - Offices

For the first time since the building's completion, the X-Limit team was hosting a meeting within their own walls. True, there were still some finishing touches that needed to take place, but the Highwind's extreme sports offshoot was a reality, soon to be open to the public.

And that was what that morning's meeting was about. Beau, Kerrigan, and Giselle sat in a second floor office discussing prospective ideas for the X-Limit's grand opening. "We want the X-Limit, and extreme sports in general, to be accessible to newcomers interested in learning more. But we know this business will be primarily tailored to a more experienced crowd," Kerri was saying.

"That's just the nature of this business, isn't it?" Giselle said. "The kids who are into this sort of thing are athletes, dedicated to their sport."

"We expect the X-Limit to draw a significantly younger crowd, but a more consistent one, too. These aren't just tourists. Like you said, they're athletes," Beau said. "These kids are here every day practicing and training. They'll be loyal to our brand if we give them a reason to be. Hopefully, we'll even be hosting sporting events of our own, once this thing gets off the ground."

"And where do we stand right now, as far as getting things off the ground?" Giselle asked.

"We've done some decent business in selling advance memberships to our Highwind patrons," Kerri said. "Not quite enough to hit our projected target, but I'm sure a lot of people are still curious. They're waiting for the grand opening and waiting to see exactly what we have to offer."

"Have you come up with any ideas for the kickoff? A big opening event?"

Beau looked to Kerri. "That's still being determined. We're in the planning phase."

"We want something that really grabs our target audience and shows what we're all about. Maybe a concert, or something?" Kerri suggested.

Giselle arched an eyebrow. "A concert would get some attention for sure, but shouldn't you focus on what the X-Limit actually provides? Shouldn't they see what they're getting with their membership?"

"Like we said, we're still thinking about it," Beau said. "Who knows, maybe we should have a masquerade?" he joked.

"No!" Kerri cried in a pretend panic. "No more masquerades. And no more cruises either, for that matter! Definitely no more boats, like, ever..."

Beau and Kerri teased each other, while Giselle sat back in thought. "Well I hope for your sake you come up with something. I think this place is going to be great, I really do. You've kept the Highwind modern, and whatever you decide to do for the opening, it should reflect that."

Kerri was still thinking about the cruise, unable to stop herself from thinking of Miles. A part of her wished he was still involved with this project. He would know what to do. "Beau, do you think I was too rash in firing Miles? All of this planning is making me wonder..."

"Are you thinking of forgiving him?"

"No!" she said adamantly. "Definitely not." She thought about everything she'd been through with her brother. "It's not that I couldn't forgive him someday, if we both really made an effort ... it's just ... I can't forgive him until he comes clean with me. Until he tells me the truth, there's nothing worth forgiving."

She was so focused on her own thoughts, on Beau, that she nearly forgot Giselle was still in the room with them. Flustered now by that realization, she put a lid on her thoughts and returned to business. "The only reason I thought we needed him now was his extreme sports background. He is our demographic -- or he would be if he grew up with winter sports. Even so, as soon as he got here, he threw himself headfirst into this scene."

"Maybe we should consider taking him back," Beau suggested, waiting for Kerri's reaction. "If we put personal feelings aside and consider what's best for the business, this might be it."

Kerri shook her head. "I'm worried it would just be too weird with us still at odds."

While the two of them thought it over, Giselle had another idea altogether, feeling foolish for not having thought of it sooner. "Maybe there's another way..."

 

Bel Ami Club

"Hi, Miles," Remy said as his friend and newest employee arrived to work.

"Hey, Miles!" Josie Singer called, wiping down tables along one wall.

Miles had been working at the club for a couple of weeks now. When Remy saw how miserable he was working for Kev at the pro shop, he said he might be able to hook him up with a job, and Miles jumped at the chance. While the gig wasn't exactly his forte, working for Remy instead of Kev was a dramatic improvement.

"What's up, guys?" he asked, walking behind the bar. The three of them were opening the place today. Most likely, they wouldn't have much business for the next few hours. "Need any help?" He bumped into a stack of glasses and they fell to the floor, shattering. "Goddamn it!"

"How 'bout you start by cleaning that, then get back to me," Remy said, clapping a hand on his shoulder, as he brushed past him and into the kitchen.

"Don't worry, I break dishes right and left here," Josie said, a friendly smile on her lips, "But you might give me a run for my money if you keep that up."

"I suck at food service, sorry."

"What did you do before this, then?" she asked, coming closer to talk to him.

"I worked at the Highwind X-Limit, until my older sister fired my ass..."

"Ouch," Josie said, wincing.

"Yeah, but I deserved it," he said, not caring to elaborate. "Then I worked at the Highwind Pro Shop for about ... oh, I'd say an entire week. That was as much as I could handle."

"Do you know Kev?" she asked him.

"Unfortunately, yes," he said, then looked slightly stricken. "You ... you're not friends with him or anything, are you?"

"No!" she said, horrified. "He tried to hit on me once when I was buying a pair of snow boots for my boyfriend ... the boyfriend I told him I was there shopping for, yet he still hit on me..."

"He's just completely oblivious to society and its norms. You almost can't even hold it against him. He's killed so many brain cells, it's a wonder he can even function."

Josie cracked up. "Well, I'm glad you're working here with us now, Miles."

"Me too. I think I might like this job more than I expected," he smiled. "I mean, minus the whole 'breaking everything I come into contact with' thing."

"You'll get the hang of it," Remy said, reappearing from the kitchen now. "Just don't spill any drinks on the customers, please."

"Or break any glasses over their heads," Josie added.

"Unless we have a bar fight. Then you can break a glass over someone's head. At your discretion, of course."

Miles swallowed hard. "Are you guys serious? Does that actually happen?"

Josie and Remy exchanged looks and burst out laughing.

"I hate you both," he said, walking away from them to grab the broom and dustpan from the supply closet. He started sweeping the broken glass from the floor, and Josie returned to her work.

Remy's cell phone rang and he answered it, surprised by the call.

Miles and Josie pretended not to listen, working away while Remy talked. When he finished, he turned to them. "I've gotta run for a bit, guys. Can you hold the place down?"

"Of course we can," Josie said.

Miles nodded in agreement. His eyes trailed after Remy who tucked his phone back into the pocket of his jeans and walked off.

Josie watched Miles as he watched Remy, oblivious to the world around him for that one moment. With Remy gone, Miles caught Josie staring in his direction and quickly snatched up his dustpan, dumping the broken glass into the trash.

When he turned around again, Josie was somehow behind him. She looked to the door Remy disappeared through, then returned to appraise Miles. "You're into him, aren't you?" She broke into a grin, as Miles averted his eyes. So it wasn't just her imagination... "Do you have a thing for Remy?"

 

The Guthrie Home

Martine suffocated, her throat closing itself off in panic. Tyson had asked her to move in with him. Tyson wanted to live with her. Tyson wanted an answer...

"You want to move in together because it would be easier?" Martine said when she could finally speak. "I'm sorry if our arrangement hasn't been convenient enough for you--"

"--That's not what this is about, and you know that's not what I meant," Tyson said, taking her attitude in stride. "Yes, it would be easier for us to raise Brody as a couple if we lived under the same roof, but that's not why I'm asking you to move in with me."

Martine cast her eyes to the ground, guilty. She didn't know why she'd snapped at him like that. "I just don't want you to think we have to be together because we share a child. I don't want you to feel obligated."

"I don't. I want to live with you because, well ... I want you, plain and simple. I've been wanting you, wanting a more serious commitment for months now. I didn't know how to ask you or how to convince you until now. I thought maybe having Brody as part of the package might help sway you," he confessed, his lips curling into a smirk. "Are you sold?"

A part of her was crying out in agreement. Of course she'd move in with him! She had no reason not to. He was a great guy, a great father to their son, and nobody had ever made her feel so wanted and so special...

But she was still hesitant, because she knew that neither of them were thinking about this rationally. She knew it was only a matter of time before something went wrong between them, before it all came tumbling down, before he discovered the flaws in her that he'd somehow overlooked up to this point.

"I don't know," she said, a thousand different scenarios running rampant in her mind. "I don't know if I can."

He took her hands gently. "I know you're still trying to figure out if this is right, but I know what I want. You don't have to promise me anything." He looked into her eyes, through her eyes, as if trying to get a glimpse into her mind. "I know it seems like a big step, but I'm not asking for anything else to change between us."

"What about Josie?" Martine deflected. "I can't just forget about my daughter."

"And I wouldn't ask you to," he said. "You know she'd be welcome to stay with us if that's what you both want."

Martine was too overwhelmed by everything Tyson laid out to even begin to make a decision on the matter. She was grateful for the distraction when she heard Brody's cries coming from the baby monitor on the table. "Brody's awake."

"I should get to work," he said, glancing at his watch. Disappointment marred his expression. He went for the door, but Martine stopped him.

"Tyson, wait. I'll think about it, okay? It's not that I don't want to. It's not that I don't want you," she said emphatically. "It's just a big step. It's a big step this time, because I actually like you a lot, and I don't want to ruin what we've got going for us."

He opened up to her, holding her close and cradling her head to his shoulder. Martine didn't want him to let go of her.

"I'll think about it," she promised, "and I'll see what Josie wants to do."

He nodded. "Give Brody a kiss for me, will you? See you tonight."

She gave a little wave and watched him leave, her hand falling to her side. He'd put it all on the table for her, while she just stood there like some emotionless mannequin. As she climbed the stairs to the nursery, she found herself brimming with affection for him and his understanding. Maybe next time, she'd be able to find a way to show him how much she cared.

 

Bel Ami Club

Miles couldn't bring himself to meet Josie's eyes, but he knew the longer he went without saying anything, the more convinced she would be that she was right about him. "What are you talking about?" he asked, realizing how lame his response must have sounded the second it left his lips. Maybe the fact that she caught you ogling your best and only friend in this town? Miles thought to himself.

Josie tried to keep from laughing to herself. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you. I don't want you to hate me or anything. I just thought..."

"Why would you think I have a thing for him?" Miles asked, hoping she couldn't see that he was inches from jumping out of his skin. Maybe if he found out what it was that had given him away, he could avoid making the same mistake twice.

"I saw you looking at him. That's all," Josie said, playing it down. She didn't intend to cause any friction with him. She just wanted him to open up a bit more. "I'm pretty good at reading people, but it doesn't take an expert to see you were totally checking him out. Trust me, I've given him the same look before. Hundreds of times," she added, her embarrassment evident.

Miles knew he was caught. He wondered if it was too late to go crawling back to Kev at the Highwind Pro Shop. Even that was preferable to this humiliation. What if she told Remy? What if this ruined their friendship?

"I'm not into him, okay?" Miles said. "I think we both know he's into women, so it's not like that. I was just ... looking," he admitted.

"I can appreciate that. He is, like, disturbingly hot, isn't he?" Josie gave him an apologetic smile, hoping he didn't resent her questioning. "I'm sorry I put you on the spot like that. I was only trying to get you know you better. I've really come to like you, and I'm glad you're working here now."

"Thanks," he said, surprised that he felt as comfortable with her as he did, given how little they knew of each other until today. "You're not ... going to tell Remy, are you?"

"That you're gay? Of course not," she said.

"I'm not -- I mean ... I just don't want him to think I have some crush on him or something. Because I really don't!"

Josie shook her head. "If you say so. But you shouldn't bother fighting it. I've known him for years now, but sometimes when he looks at me, I still get a little riled up."

"I thought you said you had a boyfriend?" Miles laughed.

"I do. But what he doesn't know won't hurt him!" she joked. "Not that it matters, because nothing's ever going to happen between me and Remy. He's in a completely different league. A completely different ... plane of existence! Seriously!"

"Do you need me to hose you down?" Miles offered, grabbing up the soda gun from behind the bar and aiming it at her.

"No, don't!" she cried through her laughter, snapping her towel at him. "Put that away right now, or I'll tell Remy all of your naked fantasies about him!"

Miles cocked his head. "Ohh... that was a low blow," he said, squirting a stream of water dangerously close to her.

"Okay! Fine! You can have him!" she conceded, throwing her arms up in surrender.

"I told you, I don't want him," Miles grinned. "I'm not interested in him as anything other than a friend. He's like the only friend I have here, and I don't want to ruin that. So you win. He's all yours. Whenever your done with that guy you're seeing, that is."

"Good," Josie said, lifting her chin. "Because if you were after him, I don't know how we could ever manage to be friends."

"Who says I would ever be friends with you anyway, after the way you've treated me?" Miles challenged, raising an eyebrow.

"Because you just said Remy is your only friend in St. Laurent. If I say we're friends, you're not exactly in a position to turn me down, are you?"

Miles had no response other than a meek, "I hate when you're right."

 

The X-Limit - Offices

Remy Ormand wasn't sure what he was doing or why he'd been called to the X-Limit, but his mother told him she needed to see him immediately. He would have been annoyed at the way she just expected him to drop whatever he had going on to cater to her whims, but ... they both knew he had nothing of particular importance to do. Besides, Remy could see that Giselle was trying to make an effort to reach out to her family lately, so he was doing his best to indulge her.

As he walked into the X-Limit, he was amazed by the amount of progress that had been made in the past few months. The last time was there, the building was little more than a hollow shell. A lot had changed, he thought to himself, as he headed up the stairs to the offices.

"Yo! Anybody home?"

"Hello," Giselle said, stepping from the conference room to meet him. "Right this way," she said, leading him into the office.

Remy was beginning to wonder what he got himself into, but when he entered the room, only Beau and Kerri were seated at the table. "What's up, bro?" He took a seat next to Beau.

"What is this all about?" Beau asked as Giselle returned to her chair.

Giselle smiled, clasping her hands together atop the table. "You need someone to fill the vacancy left by Miles Burke, don't you? I asked Remy to come in. I think you should take him on board."

Remy and Beau turned to each other, equally shocked by Giselle's suggestion.

"Are you kidding me? Remy's not responsible enough to commit to such a large-scale project," Beau said, giving his brother a sheepish look. "No offense."

"None taken," Remy brushed it off. "You're right, I'm not. Definitely not responsible..."

"Oh, that's nonsense!" Giselle argued. "I've seen you be motivated when the project's worth your effort. Besides, nobody's saying Remy has to run the operation. All I'm saying is that it wouldn't hurt to incorporate some of his ideas. Isn't that what Miles's role in this project was all about? A fresh perspective?"

Kerri nodded apprehensively.

"Well, he's your target demographic," Giselle determined.

Beau still wasn't convinced. "I don't know..."

"He knows extreme sports, he likes this 'snowboarding' nonsense, and he's young and innovative. I think you'd be fools not to at least consult with him on a creative level."

"What is this really about?" Beau asked, skeptical of his mother's motives. He stood from the table, crossing over to her. "Can I talk to you alone for a second?"

Giselle followed him to the hall, where they could speak in private.

"I don't understand why you're pushing so hard for this. Did the two of you cook this up together? What are you up to?"

"Remy didn't know anything about this until today -- until I heard you and Kerrigan talking about Miles. I just thought this would be good for him. For both of you! That's all. If you'd stop questioning everything so much, you'd see where I'm coming from with this."

Beau didn't respond. He seemed to consider her proposal. "I thought you were so adamant about taking a step back from the Highwind. Isn't that what you said at Christmas? But you can't leave things alone. Now, you're trying to wedge your way into the X-Limit, too?"

"The X-Limit is the Highwind. A part of it, at least. Of course I have a vested interest," she said. "But you're wrong about my intentions. My motivation isn't to control the X-Limit or the way you choose to operate things. I'm doing this for Remy. I just want him to be happy and to make something of himself. He needs something to take pride in!"

"Who says he even wants to work for me? He has the club to consider."

"I don't necessarily think that club is the best influence on him," Giselle said. "It's hardly an appropriate environment for an alcoholic and recovering drug addict."

Beau shook his head at his mother's exaggerations. "I don't know about this, Mom..."

"I only want him to straighten his life out a bit," she said, her voice all concern. "He needs to mature and grow out of this phase he's been going through. It wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if you happened to rub off on him a bit, would it?"

The gears began working on Beau's head, wondering if it was really possible to have a positive effect on his brother. Did Remy see him as a role model?

"There are a lot of changes coming to the Highwind, Beau. You'll see that I'm serious," Giselle said, her words sounding almost ominous to him. "But I'm also serious about keeping this family together. The Highwind is going to be a family business from this point onward -- not just a Giselle business."

Giselle seemed so sincere. Her words struck a chord with Beau. He wanted so badly to believe her, but he'd been burned by her so many times in the past...

"Fine. Remy's in," Beau said. "But if he's not cut out for the job, I won't hesitate to replace him."

Giselle beamed in approval. He was sure she must be satisfied with the way he'd played right into her hands, but he didn't care. Her points did make sense. Maybe he wasn't giving his little brother enough credit...