"Mom are you sure you can watch him?" Hilda asked worriedly, watching her mother coo over her son.

Hilda's son giggled as his grandmother peppered his face with kisses, "Hilda, love, you're being dramatic!"

"Mooooom" Hilda whined.

Hilda's mother turned to her daughter's husband, "Don't tell me you're going to be like this too"

N's posture was tense, "No" he said, his voice octaves higher than normal.

Hilda's mother rolled her eyes, "You two need a night out more than I thought"

Hilda pouted, "I don't think-"

"-I want to hear no more complaining. You two are going to go out and spend time with your friends if it kills you"

"It might!" N argued. N's son giggled and reached out for his father only to have the boy's grandmother walk away from the couple.

"You two have no discipline, do you?" The boy's grandmother sighed, placing the young child on the floor to play.

"But Illusion needs us!" Hilda cried.

"When's the last time you two have gone out?"

N and Hilda exchanged looks, "Um...never" Hilda confirmed.

Hilda's mother tsked, "My point exactly! You two need a night. Even if you'll spend it with your friends"

"But-"

"-Honey, I know you're worried, but Illusion will be fine! I have raised my own child, you know" The grandmother argued, placing her hands on her hips.

The couple sighed, "Okay" they said simultaneously.

"Good! Now if you two are to need me to watch the boy for the night..." Her mother suggested.

"Mom!" Hilda scolded, flustered, "Not in front of the precious child!"

"He's only one"

"I was talking about N"

"Hey!" N protested.

"Just go! Have fun!" Hilda's mother ushered, pushing the couple out the door.

"But I wanna say goodbye to-"

The door slammed.

"Illusion..." Hilda grumbled.

"Is this a bad idea?" N asked.

"Yes! Definitely!" Hilda said.

"Are you crying?"

Hilda sniffled, "No!" She lied, rubbing her eyes.

"Well...I trust your mother, Hilda. We'll only be out for a few hours..." N said trailing off.

"No that's too long!" He added.

"I know!" Hilda agreed.

"But I do trust her"

Hilda got a text from her mother.

Get going

~~~

"Hilda! N!" Rosa yelled, waving her friends over to their table.

They were at a fairly busy restaurant, with waiters and waitresses scurrying about, carrying food or drinks.

The couple sat in the chairs next to their friends Bianca and Cheren, and across from Rosa and Hugh.

"So! Your first official night out since the baby's been born? How's that going?" Bianca asked.

"Oh well just great" Hilda said sarcastically, "I only want to cry thanks for asking"

"Don't be so dramatic" Cheren said, looking through the drinks menu.

"I'm not being dramatic!"

"Are too"

"Are not"

"Are too"

"Are not"

"Are too"

Hilda sighed and swiped the menu from Cheren, "I need a drink"

"Yes that's right. Sin" Rosa encouraged.

Hilda rolled her eyes and looked up at her husband, "Want one?"

N shook his head, "No. I'll stick with water, I think"

"Damn N slow down don't get too crazy" Hugh mumbled.

N narrowed his eyes at Hugh, "Someone has to take care of the baby when someone else is wasted"

"Hilda isn't gonna get wasted" Bianca argued.

"I am gonna get so wasted" Hilda murmured, scanning the drink menu.

When the groups waiter came around everyone but Rosa and N ordered alcoholic beverages. They both got water.

"What's with the water, Rosa?" Cheren asked.

"Yeah you normally don't not drink" Bianca said.

"Designated driver" Rosa stated, though she sounded unsure.

Hilda eyed Rosa suspiciously, but said nothing.

"So uh...food?" Hugh suggested.

Bianca nodded, "Oh yeah! I'm starving!"

Cheren smiled and rolled his eyes, "Aren't you always?"

"What's your point?"

"Preach" Hugh said.

"Are we going to order or are we going to be idiots?" Hilda snapped as the waiter came by and handed everyone their drinks.

Cheren scooted his chair away from Hilda, "Okay we'll get food"

"Good"

~~~

After dinner, the group of friends retreated to Bianca and Cheren's house. Hilda, N, and Cheren sat on the couch while Hugh and Rosa shared a recliner. Bianca was making coffee in the kitchen.

"I miss Illusion!" Hilda cried, nuzzling herself into her husband's torso.

"If I end up like you, I'll have to re-evaluate my priorities" Rosa mumbled, snuggling into Hugh.

"You don't understand! He needs us!" Hilda argued.

"C'mon Hilda! I'm sure your mom is taking good care of him" Bianca assured, emerging from the kitchen and sitting on the arm of the couch.

"Well duh. That's not why I'm nervous. I'm nervous because I'm not there!"

Cheren sighed, "You're no fun anymore" he complained.

"What?" Hilda asked, shocked.

"You heard me- You never hang out with us anymore. And when you do, you always bring Illusion because you don't want to leave him. I get that you love and miss him, but you need time too. And now that you're out with us tonight, you can't stop complaining. You might as well not even be here" Cheren said harshly.

N flinched at look down at his wife who looked near tears.

"Do...Do you all feel this way?" She asked the room.

Rosa and Bianca avoided eye contact. Hugh nodded, but Rosa elbowed him in the ribs.

"Ow!" He complained.

"Fine!" Hilda shot, getting up from the couch, "I don't need this!" She yelled, storming out of the house.

The house fell silent for awhile before N piped in, "I'd better follow her. I don't want to get in trouble"

N swiftly exited the house to follow Hilda.

"You had to say something?" Bianca hissed.

"What? You know you were all thinking the same thing!" Cheren defended.

"Well duh but ya don't gotta say it" Hugh argued.

"Whatever. She was being a bother"

"You're a bother..." Bianca mumbled.

"Now we have to go fix the damage"