Yes, and they have a request.

Around my 24th birthday, I got a call from Talia. "Hey, buddy. We're coming into town soon! Rachel landed a gig at a theater in San Fran., so we'll actually be moving into the city close by you and Amy. Also, how crazy is it that you and her have a kid together? Did not see that coming."

We invited them over for dinner. Talia was just as I remembered her: curvaceous and perky, long dark hair in a choppy cut. Heavy eye make up, and revealing clothes. Her short jean shorts barely covered her rear, and she was wearing only a white tank top, which showed her dark nipples through the thin fabric. She hugged me, and I savored it.

"How do you get away with wearing that?" Amy asked.

"She's a criminal," Rachel stepped from behind her girlfriend.

Rachel had a little more meat on her bones than she'd had in high school, but was still petite and sharp. Her hair was a frosted blonde that I'd never seen her sport before, cut into a wavy close bob. She was also wearing a floral dress, somewhat out of character, but with a leather jacket and combat boots.

We introduced the girls to our toddler son, and sat him in the high chair while we chatted over drinks. Amy played hostess in a red t-shirt and jeans. She'd worked at getting back into shape, and it showed.

Rachel was surprisingly maternal toward Adam. She volunteered to help feed him, which left the three of us at the kitchen table.

"She's pretty good with him," Amy observed.

"Yeah. We've started... talking pretty seriously about kids."

"Woah." We reacted in unison.

"Don't look so surprised. In fact, seeing your posts online got us talking in the first place. Rachel wanted to travel, so we did that for a while. But I want a little more community, and if we're settling down, we're not going to do it half-assed."

Rachel had moved to playing with Adam on the rug.

"If you're thinking about kids, I want you to know two things:" Amy smiled, "you're not ready. And, no one ever is."

That made Talia smile too.

I spoke next. "What methods are you trying? Are you going to get a donor?"

The smile faded, replaced with a nervous look I'd never seen on her face. "Actually, that's one reason we decided to drop by today. We looked into it, and for anything sure, it's... it's more than we can afford."

The pause that followed this brought a bundle of nerves into my gut. I became hyper-aware of Amy sitting at my elbow. I tried and failed to get a read on her mood as both of us anticipated Talia's next words.

"I'll just say it. It's a crazy request. We want you to get us pregnant."