Chapter 1: Over When It's Over...

Melanie Thieriot is the twin sister of Max Thieriot. Max was born 15 minutes before Mel, and he never let her forget that as a kid. Max jumped into acting in their teens, while Mel asked their parents if she could focus more on cosmetology school. She had one hell of a knack for unique FX looks and classic makeup looks. For the last 8 years, she happened to be in Japan and Tampa after getting stuck into professional wrestling. Although being great at it and won a few of her own titles, her marriage was souring. And in a crazy turn of events, so was her brother's marriage. His divorce was more startling as they basically were high school sweethearts with kids.

While both going through their divorces, they end up working on a whole new hit tv show together, and neither expected it to blow up this much.

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Mel's best friend since kindergarten is LC Collins. She almost became Mel's sister-in-law - she was engaged to Mel's now ex--husband's brother. The girls did what they could wrestling, but it was well-known LC wanted more. LC did any acting she could but couldn't fall into it as quickly as Max did. 

Fresh out of wrestling, she gets the surprise of her life with a relationship and career change. 

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*Max's POV*

Never in a million years would I think I'd be sharing a house with my twin sister and two sons after we had both just experienced our divorces. I grabbed drinks from the fridge for myself and Mel before heading back into my yard full of giggles. My sister Mel, had my oldest Beaux climbing up her shoulders to jump in the pool.

One thing about Mel is when she's upset, she always wears sunglasses. Months after my ex-wife Lexi and I had one of our sons, Mel would be pregnant with her now ex-husband Tama. Shortly after filing for divorce, Mel discovered she was pregnant again and hoped she'd make it full term. But, unfortunately, four months ago, she miscarried yet again. My heart is breaking for her as today would have been the baby's due date. 

I would hear the pinging of her phone for a text, but it's obvious she was trying to keep her mind off it for a little longer. Even if that means baking in the California sun with her nephews again.

--Later that night-- 

In the light of the flames from the firepit, I caught the tears rolling down her face, which she was not hiding well. 

"Mel.."

"Max, I don't want to talk about this, but I feel you're going to make me."

"Well, you're not wrong."

She turned away from me and sighed before talking. "I spoke with Tama earlier. Even with everything, he doesn't blame me anymore like he first did. In a way, I'm glad. I wouldn't want to do a Florida-Calforina parental swap."

"Until you just said that, I...I never thought that would be something the two of you would have to do with the baby."

"I didn't either until like 20 minutes ago when I was talking with LC."

"What's going on with her anyway?"

"She dropped the engagement to Tama's brother Leo. So she's moving back here too."

"Great. Like I needed double trouble again."

"That's what you call the boys, though."

"Okay, you and LC are the OG-double trouble!"

"AH, HA! Max finally admitted it!" LC jumped out from behind the wall that separated the fire pit area in our yard.

"When the hell did you get here?!" I helped her jump over the wall.

"Did you not hear Mel say I spoke to her almost a half hour ago." So now both of the girls are laughing at me.

"Dear god, this is like the summer after we all graduated high school all over again."

"Wait till the morning, when you have 2 times the double trouble annoying you during breakfast," LC said.

"As much as I hat-dislike you both, that's too accurate." So now all three of us are laughing.

"Bro, here's something you probably didn't know, I never legally changed my last name to Tama's for the last 10 years. I kept it." Both LC and I looked at each other, then at Mel.

"I could have sworn you changed it."

"Is this why you told me not to change it with Leo?"

"Yuppp. I only did it for wrestling, but I made a name for myself before marriage with my last name. So I wasn't about to change that shit for him."

"One of the smartest moves you've done."

"Tell that to dad. He told me not to."

"Your father said the same to me with Leo. Something tells me it's good you got that divorce."

"I'm just glad Max listened to me and filed simultaneously. Especially since Lexi is pregnant."

"Want to run that by me again?"

"Lexi is pregnant again. Tama's the dad."

"That's just fucked up on so many levels."

"I feel horrible for the boys. First, Tama was their uncle, now "stepdad."" Mel shuddered, and so did I.

"Thanks for making me hate when she comes to pick them up tomorrow."

"Tama spilled that. I'm just passing it long."

"How would he just slip that out to you?"

""Mel, I'm sorry for hating you after losing the baby, and hopefully, you don't hate that Lexi's pregnant.", is how he told me. Verbatim."

"It's one thing to break up one marriage, let alone 2 more," LC said.

"You were engaged, I thought?" I asked as Mel went to the house to check on the boys and give us more drinks. 

"Nope, I eloped with Leo in Vegas. I filed for an annulment after Leo confessed to keeping the cheating a secret from Mel and me."

--Next Morning--

When I got up, Mel had my boys up and had the oldest helping her mix pancake batter. 

"Oh, thank god you made coffee." I nearly ripped the cabinet door off the hinges to get to the coffee cups. LC went to bed, but Mel and I stayed up. I'm surprised she's awake before I am.

"You really think I wouldn't have? I need an IV of coffee. Now buddy, go sit by daddy so Auntie Mel can cook the pancakes."

"Pweaseee."

"Buddy, Auntie Mel is not about to have you get a burn from the griddle. I've gotten burned by it. It's not fun."

"What kind of pancakes are you guys making?"

"Chocolate chip!"

"Mels making chocolate chip pancakes!?! Those are the best!!"

After breakfast, Lexi was here with Tama in toe to pick up my kids. I need to contact my lawyer and add that he is not around during pickup and drop-offs with my kids. I'm still pissed off at him.

"Now, what does Auntie Mel always tell you?" I heard Mel say as she helped my youngest into his car seat as I stood back to talk to Lexi. Tama was in the Tahoe.

"Behave for your mommy, boys!" 

"Mel, I'm sorry."

"No, your not Lexi. But have fun with the boys this week."

"You going to add anything to what your sister said?"

"No, because she said exactly what I was thinking. Have fun this week."